Crisis in the Balkans; Enhanced (sorta)

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Crisis in the Balkans; Enhanced (sorta) - 9/6/2006 6:29:08 AM

azraelck

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Since the new version of Enhanced came out, I decided to start with a fresh slate. A campaign in the Balkans should do it. I deleted all of my previous saves, so those toher incomplete AARs are toast.

North of Zenica, Feb 21, 1945

Things have gotten bad as of late. Our adventure in the Ardennes has not gone well, and in the east; the Bolsheviks have steadily smashed us back at every engagement.

My company has been given orders to secure the route of retreat for a large number of retreating men; some 50,000. It is a large number to lay upon my company's head, which is now a mixture of mostly green troops with to little training, and a few battle hardened veterans. We have been reinforced with a platoon of armored cars, equipped with 20mm cannons for heavy fire support, and two platoons of light mortars for additional indirect fire support.

Our objectives in the immediate area are to secure a farm that is being used as a strongpoint for the nationalists in the region, and to secure the woods to the south and hills to the north of the railway.

Our foes are Yugoslavian nationalists, equipped with a scattering of equipment. We've identified our own Mausers, American and British LMGs, and Russin ATGs so far.

1st and 2nd Platoon are advancing directly to the farm, using the woods to the west as cover in their advance. 3 of the Armored cars are giving them covering fire. 3rd Platoon is advancing north of the railway, securing our left flank and covering the hills to our north.

3rd Platoon thus far has not encountered enemy fire; though their car has got an overly aggressive driver, and advanced far ahead of it's infantry support. After coming under heavy fire, it withdrew to relative saftey behind some trees to wait it's infantry support.

1st and 2nd Platoons have made the outer wall of the farm, coming under fire from both enemy forces at the farm house, and a Maxim MG in some nearby trees. 1st Platoon has continued to advance across the field, with help from our Mortars suppressing the house itself. 2nd Platoon has wiped out the MG crew, taking 5 casualties in the process. They are the only ones to suffer any casualties in this operation thus far. I fear many more are coming.

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RE: Crisis in the Balkans; Enhanced (sorta) - 9/6/2006 4:18:13 PM

Alby

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Are you playing the actual 'Balkan Crisis' campaign?
sounds familiar

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RE: Crisis in the Balkans; Enhanced (sorta) - 9/6/2006 7:10:58 PM

azraelck

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Yep, "Crisis in the Balkans" is the actual name IIRC. It's actually going slow, it took 7 turns for my troops to get to where they're getting fired on. And only 3 squads have really gotten fired on at all.It's the original version, so I'm probably going to run into weird stuff soon enough.

--Edit, AAR--

Our advance has begun to meet with an increasing amount of opposition. 2nd Platoon's 1st squad was decimated by heavy fire on their left flank. The rest of 2nd returned fire, driving the nationalists out of the house. 1st Platoon's HQ took two casualties when an enemy mortar shell hit their position. To the teams' credit, they continued the advance despite this. 3rd Platoon's entire 2nd squad was wipped out by those Mortars as well. This is not going to be an easy battle...

All is not bad news however. 1st and 2nd Platoons have almost secured the farm. The farm house is in our hands now, and soon we will have the gateway. The 20mm cannon of the armored cars has proven to be quite effective, driving a group of the nationalists out of their holes along the north wall, where they had struck from suprise and destroyed the other car.

--end AAR--

Stupid UOSO... didn't take my screens like I wanted... :P

< Message edited by azraelck -- 9/6/2006 8:02:56 PM >

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RE: Crisis in the Balkans; Enhanced (sorta) - 9/6/2006 7:57:04 PM

Alby

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that campaign was re done for Enhanced if you want it.

You will run into some wierd stuff, if your are using the original campaign with Enhanced, Russian tanks with infantry icons is one I recall. Take care of your troops, you can't repair them.

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RE: Crisis in the Balkans; Enhanced (sorta) - 9/6/2006 8:06:54 PM

azraelck

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I figured that. So now I'm down to 8 squads, and 3 ACs. 1 Squad is weakened to the point of no combat effectiveness. I'm beginning to wish I had some heavier mortars, those light ones are a pain, since I have to go through their HQ to direct their fire, and the lack of range means I have to move them up into the farm to support the next leg of this battle. My 81mms are having no trouble, sitting way back, of taking care of any and all indirect fire needs my men have. My battalion and company HQs may be used more aggressively in the next battle; as of now it'd take them the rest of the battle to catch up.

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RE: Crisis in the Balkans; Enhanced (sorta) - 9/10/2006 5:32:42 AM

azraelck

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As the battle winds down, our casualties mount, as do those of the accursed nationalists hiding like cowards in the hills. An ATG took out another of our cars, and damaged the suspension on another, who was forced to withdrawl to cover.

1st Platoon decimated several squads of horse mounted calvary who mistakenly charged at them, however suffered the loss of nearly an entire squad when a HMG opened fire from across the railway. If only all the nationalists were a dumb as those who thought charging men with rifles and MGs with drawn sabers was the optimal tactic to employ! This was would be over by now.

2nd Platoon has taken the hill to the south, actually one of the two remaining armored cars took the hill unaided, it's 20mm cannon and MG leaving only dead and dying enemy soldiers. They have not sufferend any casualties since their earlier encounter at the farm.

3rd Platoon pushed into the hills and encountered the largest group of enemy soldiers. It figures as well, since 3rd has suffered the heaviest casualties. This time, they were able to take out two MG placements, as well as drive back two groups of enemy soldiers. Despite their loss, or perhaps because of it, they are fighting much harder and more effectively than either 1st or 2nd Platoons.

It appears we have failed one of our objectives though. 1st and 3rd are not going to be able to reach the final objective, even if they marched full speed, in the remaining time we're alloted for this particular mission. 2nd is simply too far away to do anything now; I've ordered them to set up a perimiter around the southern hill, and to dig in.

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RE: Crisis in the Balkans; Enhanced (sorta) - 9/10/2006 7:21:50 PM

azraelck

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This battle is over for now. The remaining nationalists have withdrew and entrenched in the town of Zenica. Our losses are heavy for the gain; we lost a total of three entire squads, 1 panzershrek team, and two of our armored cars.

Our next objective is the town of Zenica itself. Intelligence indicates that it is weakly held, with no armor support. I expect three companies of heavy tanks, an entire squadron of fighters, and an entire regiment of infantry. I have re-organized, giving me two platoons, and giving each a panzershrek team, armored car, and a MG42 for support. My light Mortars are divided, one platoon of each to support a single platoon. In addition, we have limited air support to call upon should we need it. I wish to gain a better understanding and more accurate intelligence before using it, so it will remain held back for now.

Our immediate objectives are to secure a graveyard north of the town, town hall, the railyard, and a hospital. 1st platoon will advance towards city hall, while 2nd will go for the graveyard. Then, 2nd will move south for the railyard, while 1st fights across town to the hospital.

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RE: Crisis in the Balkans; Enhanced (sorta) - 9/13/2006 4:12:14 AM

azraelck

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Our attack on Zenica has been somewhat quiet, with a few serious mishaps thus far. Snipers opened fire on both platoons, killing a man in each. They were killed, but the sniper who opened fire on 2nd Platoon proved to be both a master shot, and extremely lucky. His shot slipped into the turret of 2nd's armored car, and managed to find some of the ammunition... A sniper. destroyed. an armored car. with a. rifle... I will heap praises and curses upon his corpse later, as there is an operation to manage.

2nd platoon is approaching a ridge which provides cover from the graveyard. My plan is to set their mortars on the west side of the hill to provide support, and set their medium MG on top of the hill to provide a base of fire for their advance. My intention was to have both the MG and the AC firing from the hill, but now I will have to make due with just the MG. Once the graveyard is captured, they will advance south to take the railyard.

1st has hit rought terrain, and once past that has no cover in the approach to the town. It is for this reason that they will recieve support form the 81mms. Their light mortars will set just to the north of a ridge before the approach, while the rest of the platoon will have to move forward, hoping to find a good position for the AC and MMG. After taking City Hall, they will continue across town towards the Hospital.

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RE: Crisis in the Balkans; Enhanced (sorta) - 9/20/2006 2:34:41 AM

Alby

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did they ever take the town????

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RE: Crisis in the Balkans; Enhanced (sorta) - 9/20/2006 3:55:38 AM

azraelck

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Keep your kilt on, Alby. I've had three bad days in a row, and I'm more in the mood for strees relief rather than trying to worry whether my decisions will cause some guys to not go home to their wives and children, or go home maimed and disfigured.

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RE: Crisis in the Balkans; Enhanced (sorta) - 9/20/2006 3:30:30 PM

Alby

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quote:

ORIGINAL: azraelck

Keep your kilt on, Alby. I've had three bad days in a row, and I'm more in the mood for strees relief rather than trying to worry whether my decisions will cause some guys to not go home to their wives and children, or go home maimed and disfigured.

NO, play your damn turns!!!

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RE: Crisis in the Balkans; Enhanced (sorta) - 9/20/2006 5:55:16 PM

azraelck

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RE: Crisis in the Balkans; Enhanced (sorta) - 9/21/2006 1:09:57 AM

Alby

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quote:

ORIGINAL: azraelck

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< Message edited by Alby -- 9/21/2006 1:11:24 AM >

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RE: Crisis in the Balkans; Enhanced (sorta) - 9/21/2006 1:29:55 AM

azraelck

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The battle for Zenica is over, for now at least. We managed to take control over the town with only 13 casualties, plus the loss of out armored car. Tito withdrew his forces after being battered around by us, though he did not suffer too terrible losses.

Some elements of the retreating force have passed through, but word has come that the Soviets are planning to take the town soon. So my men are to hold out against the Soviet assault, to give more time for the others to withdrawl. This will not likely be an easy fight...

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RE: Crisis in the Balkans; Enhanced (sorta) - 9/26/2006 12:11:50 PM

deadcat

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a few words about the historical background. the action around Zenica & Mount Igman (which took place more or less simultaneously as the 13th respectively the 14th reg. were deployed) was part of the Operation "Feuerwehr" (firefighter). The retreat of the Heeresgruppe E was over by Dec. '44.
To save the Heeresgruppe E, the 7th SS fought delaying actions at Nis (end of sept.-mid oct. '44) vs. Soviet/Bulgarians and in nov. at Kraljievo (Sperriegel Kralijevo). This would be a more likeley capaign to save the Heeresgruppe E, as, by the time Zenica resp. Mt. Igman were attacked, that crisis was over and the operation "Feuerwehr" served only to save the 181 ID.

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RE: Crisis in the Balkans; Enhanced (sorta) - 9/26/2006 4:46:07 PM

Alby

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Here is the TEXT from that campaign...

By the end of 1944 the Yugoslav Army of National Liberation (JANL) was no longer just a partisan force. Over the course of three years it had grown from a number of scattered bands to an organized army, and this growth had given it, not parity with, but superiority over, the German forces. It was now so qualitatively and quantitively superior to its opponent that Field Marshall Loehr's Army Group E had been forced into fighting a defensive campaign. This is not to say that his hard-pressed formations mounted no offensive operations; this they certainly did, and among the most aggressive units in the Balkan theatre of operations was the 7th SS Gebirgs Division 'Prinz Eugen'.*
*
The story of this unit during the last months of the war is a bewildering kaleidoscope of furious attack and staunch defence, as the whole division or at times its individual regiments, were rushed from one crisis point to another. By this point in the war, there were very few crack units anywhere in the German Army still capable of withstanding massive enemy attacks, or of leading daring assaults. The 7th SS Gebirgs Division was one such unit, and its prowess in conducting 'fire brigade' operations meant that it was selected time and again to stiffen a battle line that threatened to rupture, or to spearhead a berserker charge in some short-lived but reputedly vital mission. And those who called upon the 7th knew that it would never fail to respond to the call.*
*
*
Formation of the 7th SS Gebirgs Division 'Prinz Eugen'
*
Recruited predominently from the Volksdeutsche community in Croatia and the Banat, this unit was founded in March 1942 as the SS Freiwilligen Gebirgs Division, receiving the honourific 'Prinz Eugen' a month later. By October 1942 its title had reached the final form, the unit being accorded seventh place in the order of battle of Waffen-SS divisions.*
*
The division, however, was a volunteer unit in name only. Almost from the beginning, volunteer recruitment was backed up by widespread coercion and conscription. A number of Serbs, Romanians and Hungarians also found their way into the division.*
Although the manpower required to raise the unit to divisional status was found through various means, acquiring equipment to arm the unit was to be more problematic. As it was intended to utilise 'Prinz Eugen' for internal security and anti-partisan duties, the Germans were unwilling to give it large quantities of first-rate arms and equipment. As a result, a large supply of obsolete and obsolescent material, including French, Belgian, Yugoslavian, Czech and even Italian weapons, found its way into the division arsenal. Even so, the division was comparatively well-manned and certainly fully, if variably, equipped, even to the extent of boasting a panzer detachment equipped with captured French tanks.

Text reproduced from the following sources:
Hitlers Mountain Troops by James Lucas*
The SS, Hitler's Instrument of Terror by Gordon Williamson

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RE: Crisis in the Balkans; Enhanced (sorta) - 9/26/2006 5:26:05 PM

deadcat

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well, one of the former commanders of the unit, SS-Brigadef�hrer Otto Kumm, wrote one of the few divisional histories of the 7th SS (quite cumbersome to read as the language is very military oriented, as to expect from an old soldier).
according to him, while it is true that the division has been initialy equipped with captured weapons (mostly czech), this changed later. for example on 7.7.43, the division recived a shipment of 500 MG42s, 6 modern (IIRC) 105cm, 2 150cm FH and some mortars.
in the fall of '44, the SS-Stug. Abt. 105 (which was actually a battery) under the (later postumely awarded) KC holder Harry Palleta (fielding 9 StugIII G early version w/o skirts) was attached to the 7th SS, so the unit didn't field captured french tanks only.
however it is true that the division was never 100% equipped with german equipment, bespoken commander complained in a report in late '44 that the train units still had "only czech machineguns".

also it was the romanian and bulgarian switch that brought the red army to the balkans which forced the evacuation of greece. without that, the partisan threat, while being a major nuisance, was by far not enough to evict the german troops from the balkans.

however, as i said, the operations around Mt. Igman opened a corridor to save the encircled 181 ID.
the campaign text in "my" (8.4 standard) version suggest, that the capture and holding of zenica served to keep the line of retreat of the Heeresgruppe E open, which, is not the case. that "story" took place during oct./nov. '44 at Nis and even more, at Kraljievo.

of course, my comment is nothing more than nitpicking, as the campaign description as-it-is doesnt take away the enjoyment playing it (for me at least).
i was taking intrest in the 7th SS mainly because both my grandfather and my uncle served with it, the latter fell during the zenica/mt. Igman operation.

"Vorw�rts, Prinz Eugen!", Otto Kumm
"German Mountain & Ski Troops 1939�45" from Osprey Publishing

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RE: Crisis in the Balkans; Enhanced (sorta) - 9/27/2006 3:00:28 AM

azraelck

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This is why I love this forum, and keep coming to it daily. While there have been a rare few problems, most of the time even a simple game will evoke a response that allows me to learn something new. I chose this campaign randomly, yet it's AAR has brought out valuable history. This is a testament to the game, the men it represents, and the players and community who play and support it for various reasons.

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RE: Crisis in the Balkans; Enhanced (sorta) - 9/27/2006 4:15:41 AM

Alby

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I figured I would give this one a try
took the approaches to Zenica fairly easy, now have to take the town.
Lost both my armored cars in in first battle, that will hurt.

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RE: Crisis in the Balkans; Enhanced (sorta) - 9/27/2006 4:26:44 AM

Alby

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zoom out

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RE: Crisis in the Balkans; Enhanced (sorta) - 9/27/2006 4:27:22 AM

Alby

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forces
2 armored cars lost in first battle

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RE: Crisis in the Balkans; Enhanced (sorta) - 9/27/2006 4:38:49 AM

Alby

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advancing cautiously, snipers, MGs and infantry opening up on me.
I fear I may not have time to take the town in the few turns left.
Turn 7 of 15 now

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RE: Crisis in the Balkans; Enhanced (sorta) - 9/27/2006 4:39:24 AM

Alby

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more to the south

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RE: Crisis in the Balkans; Enhanced (sorta) - 9/27/2006 5:08:41 AM

azraelck

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Thread Hijacker!

You have more armored support than me, but less artillery and infantry. Your probably still in a better position than me, I doubt a Panzerkampfwagen V ausf. G will be knocked out by a sniper's bullet.

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RE: Crisis in the Balkans; Enhanced (sorta) - 9/27/2006 5:12:11 AM

Alby

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I know there are Russians coming later...LOL
sorry for the hijack but WTH

< Message edited by Alby -- 9/27/2006 5:39:29 AM >

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RE: Crisis in the Balkans; Enhanced (sorta) - 9/27/2006 5:14:07 AM

Alby

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Zenica attack turn 13
2 turns left, one more objective to take, house to house fighting intense, the Yugoslav troops seem more intent on delay than stopping our advance..
could this be a trap???

plus my mortars are out of ammo!!

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RE: Crisis in the Balkans; Enhanced (sorta) - 9/27/2006 5:23:58 AM

Alby

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Hmmm Battle ended on turn 14
A small counter attack delayed me enough to keep me from getting last objective.
However, High command is pleased and has given me my next mission.
I have informed them , the planes given me for support were basically worthless against infantry hiding in houses.

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RE: Crisis in the Balkans; Enhanced (sorta) - 9/27/2006 5:24:39 AM

Alby

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End of battle briefing
anyone notice it IS the 7th Gebirgs Divison , so thought buying Gebirgsjaegers made sense..

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RE: Crisis in the Balkans; Enhanced (sorta) - 9/27/2006 5:30:41 AM

Alby

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NEXT Mission briefing...Soviet forces are in the area!!

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RE: Crisis in the Balkans; Enhanced (sorta) - 9/27/2006 5:43:50 AM

azraelck

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Is it sad that you've gotten to the same point as me... in less than a 10th of the time? ;p

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