Tactical Suggestions

[Brummbar]

Nice work on your AAR RERomine. Keep up the good work!

[RERomine]

Originally Posted by Brummbar

Nice work on your AAR RERomine. Keep up the good work!

Thanks!!

[RERomine]

Turn 10

Top edge enemy advance still stalled. They are pushing more infantry up. StuGs just about out of 75mm HE, but the MGs still do the job. The three supporting recon tracks are SdKfz 250/8s are also armed with 75mm and still have plenty of HE. Artillery still hitting the enemy. The enemy suffered moderate casualties from the StuG, track and artillery fire. I'll continue bringing in artillery to disrupt the enemy advance.

The enemy's attack on hill 2 has been broken for the moment. Most of the infantry has withdrawn behind the hill and are out of sight. One Valentine III is still slowly moving toward the gap between hills 2 and 3 with a track and a couple infantry sections. A couple of enemy tracks got hit East of hill 1, but I believe those were from the hill 2 attack. One track is immobilized (by a scout) in the open, but I don't have anything heavy to finish it in the area. The other track got zapped by an MG-42 from above. Since the enemy advance has stalled, I'm going to let my artillery finish firing their plots and allow supply to catch up. If time permits, I will relocate the SPAs.

The enemy advance on hill 3 from the Southeast has resumed. Approximately a whole infantry company is visible. In addition to the supporting Valentine IX tanks, Valentine IIIs and truck mounted 6pdrs are now visible. To meet this, on the Southeast corner of hill 3, there is one infantry squad, one MG-42 unit, one 75mm ATG, two StuGs and three scout units. Seems kind of thin. I'm shifting an infantry platoon and another MG-42 down to support. The reserve tank platoon is still moving around hill 3 and won't be in position until turn 13. In the meantime, the two StuGs are waiting in ambush to try to get a careless Valentine IX or two. I'll shift my supporting artillery up in this sector and leave my recon tracks to handle the infantry heading toward them.

There is a lull in the enemy artillery. I suspect they are re-plotting to hit hill 2 since that is where the most contact has been lately.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero

Enemy: Four tracks destroyed, estimated 30 infantry casualties.

[RERomine]

Turn 11

Enemy top edge advance is still stalled. Hit enemy with direct and indirect fire. One platoon is visible, but the rest of the company is hidden behind the slope of the hill.

Still very few enemy infantry units are visible. One Valentine III tank is still lumbering slowly toward the Southeast corner of hill 2. Another one has appeared heading toward the gap between hills 1 and 2. The track immobilized in the open was killed by a top hit from an MG-42. Supporting Valentine IX and III tanks are advancing West toward gap between hills 2 and 3. They are 600-800 meters out still I pulled my tank company back so I can pick my shots when the time comes.

At hill 3, the StuG ambush paid off. Three Valentine IX tanks were destroyed without any shots taken at the StuGs. One Valentine IX remains. There are also four Valentine IIIs, but the 2pdr isn't as big of a concern against the front armor of the StuG. One truck mounted 6pdr was destroyed by small arms. Artillery hit the troops in the open, but was more harassing fire than anything. I want to slow the infantry down while I continue my troop shift. The advance along the bottom edge of the map has either stalled or the troops shifted to the attack on hill 3. I don't have eyes on them beyond the edge of the hill, but there had been a platoon and a half there last turn. Maybe the artillery has them running.

Still no enemy artillery. With 13 batteries, it will disrupt whatever it hits. I just hope it's too late to help the enemy.

Casualties

Friendly: One casualty

Enemy: Three Valentine IX tanks, one truck mounted 6pdr destroyed, one infantry section dispersed, estimated 15 infantry casualties.

[PanzerBob]

Well done AAR and you seem to have things under control. The only thing I would advise at this time is watch for Matildas, they could be still lumbering forward out of sight. Good Hunting Commander.

Bob out

[RERomine]

Originally Posted by PanzerBob

Well done AAR and you seem to have things under control. The only thing I would advise at this time is watch for Matildas, they could be still lumbering forward out of sight. Good Hunting Commander.

Bob out

At this time, I would welcome a good old-fashioned Matilida mounting a 2pdr. I don't like those 6pdrs, but have kept them from firing so far

[RERomine]

Turn 12

Turn 12 goes to the AI. The king of battle finally showed up, primarily targeting the Northern flank guard. It was the heavy stuff, 5.5in. They got one StuG and one recon track. No crew survivors . Time for the remaining two StuGs and recon tracks to shift. The only good thing that came out of that artillery is some was short and probably hit some hidden infantry as well. It's small consolation, however.

There are now two Valentine IIIs heading toward the gaps between hills 1 and 2. I'm moving one platoon of my tank reserve toward that gap, just in case. This platoon is short two tanks damaged in during the enemy prep fire. There are still four Valentine IXs and two Valentine IIIs heading toward the gap between hills 2 and 3, but tank platoon I withdrew earlier is there. Most of my reserves have been deployed, but the tanks around hills 1 and 2 should be able to return shortly. One battery of 25pdrs also hit the Southern part if hill 2.

The StuG ambush at hill 3 got the last Valentine IX in this area. Small arms got three truck mounted 6pdrs, also. That leaves a few Valentine IIIs and infantry. My artillery hit the infantry near hill 3 and the infantry close to the Southern flank guard.

Some of my scouts in quiet locations have managed to push through and will post near enemy controlled victory hexes. Once the enemy attacks are broken, my units will advance forward. My estimates on enemy strength before the battle seem to be close, but I still feel there should be more enemy tanks.

I've attached a zip file with zoomed out screen prints of the three primary battle locations. Sorry if they are a bit difficult to see, but they had to be zoomed out to see the action in the area. There are a lot of enemy infantry units not visible on the maps due to smoke, low visibility and hiding behind hills, unless I did more damage than I know.

The action is done for the night

Casualties

Friendly: One SdKfz 250/8, one StuG IIIf, estimated 5 infantry casualties.

Enemy: One Valentine IX tank, three truck mounted 6pdrs destroyed, estimated 15 infantry casualties.