[Hermit]

Progress in this snow is such slow going that Division sent up some transports for us. Its the new all-tracked vehicles with some cover overhead. That'll sure help keep us warmer with this cold weather, and ward off some of that shrapnel from artillery barrages, but it's going to be more difficult to watch out for the enemy. Unfortunately, they're not powerful enough to pull the big AT guns with the battalion, so we've had to leave those behind. That's a shame, because they sure come in handy to blunt enemy counterattacks that try to do a flanking maneuver. Let's hope the Colonel puts out some flanking units of our own to keep an eye out.

The attack has been split into 4 prongs, 1/2 of each battalion going behind the mech infantry platoons that were sent up from division. Those guys get cushy jobs back in the reserve, but they always seem to get put out ahead when its their turn to get called up to the front. I'm not sure I'd trade with them.

Helos scouted the open terrain on the northern edge of the area, overlooked by a 20 meter hill. Sure enough, there were a few enemy squads forming a blocking force there. Some of the spare APC's (the one's that couldn't pull the big guns, duh!) and two of the Chaffee light tanks were manuevering up there for a look-see as well, followed by our recon platoon. The APC crews pulled into a shelter in the hill and climbed out to check things out, and immediately were taken under fire by some RG assault squads that remained unobserved with their winter white camoflage uniforms. One of the poor crewmen was killed, and the other guy ran off. The helos circled around blasting the area with their MG"s, but soon had to go back to re-arm. By that time, our recon platoon arrived and dismounted. The APC's provided suppression fire as the scouts moved in for a closer look, and our sniper team succeeded in taking out some of the enemy assault squads. The Chafees also provided longer range suppression with their cannon. Finding no heavier weapons in the area, Section A of 1st Battalion has been diverted to this area as a possible route through the enemy defenses.

Section B of 1st battalion has been stalled in the saddle of the ridgeline, as advance infantry sent through the saddle came under both tank and AT gun fire from another wooded hilltop about 1.5 km ahead. Smoke was place to block their line-of-sight, but flanking fire was then taken from the heavily wooded area off the the South once the pass was transversed. Units are dispersing behind the pass in case we were spotted and enemy artillery is inbound. They'll be held in reserve pending the progress of the other spearheads.

Section A of 2nd battalion has begun moving forward down the dirt road in the center of the map, with mech recon elements well ahead. Good thing, since they uncovered two 100mm enemy AT guns in the second woody ridge, that faces the first one we must cross. 10 minutes of friendly artillery fire convinced both crews to run (and then disperse). Long range tank fire was also received as our tanks crested the ridge, but manuevering through the woods avoided most of it, and none of our vehicles were hit. It was decided not to engage the enemy at long range due to the unnecessary risk.

The lead elements of Section B are just arriving on the scene of a hot firefight between the advance mech infantry platoon and enemy infantry in a clearing where a village abuts the Southern E-W road. About a company of enemy infantry was ultimately located, with several enemy teams destroyed at a cost of several of our men. The integral .30-cal MG team was pretty well taken out when enemy infantry was able to get close while enemy 60mm mortars provided heavy suppression fire. Had it not been for our own suppression fire from the APC's and the SPA 60mm mortar, it could have turned out badly. The enemy have been cleared from all five buildings, thanks in large part to the well placed shots of the bazooka boys, and direct fire from the SPA mortar. There are still several healthy enemy squads in the woods SW of the village, but they will now be bypassed for the support tanks to eliminate.