AAR: Balkans N. Africa Leg

[Imp]

Smoke blocks LOS from centre to crossroads, hunt for ATGs goes first.
Near village find 2 76s & 45 to go with 2 already there, they are pinned as dropped arty.
Get all but one to route status, it does not have a view out of the local area though. If they recover Ram 231 & HT are targets.
Move into the village proper having trouble with a couple of new squads but one of my squads has made it to the N>S road, lots of runners
2 tanks move to take on squads SE of croosroads, squad has to help as find another but control the area.
There is smoke on the E>W road 100m past the crossroads, lead squad enters more runners kill 3 of, get MMG here by taxi then in exitment to kill em move 231 a bit further. It dies to a 37AA at the side of the road asked for that.
Central guys can't find thier gun(s) but kill an AAMG a 2 more squads appear by the village. Vehicles still carefull but taxis break cover to pick up guys near the road, we need to get a shift on runners now have a good head start.
South again does not go to well but only one more squad joins in. For some reason this turn my rally attempts have gone to pot, think out of those tried only 1 managed it.
North, freed up from ATGs move on MMG & squads routing another 45 then M3s take out all but one T-35
AIT> No arty that turn but if anything went to Soviets.
N found another 45 number 6 hes pinned
ATGs in wood killed or routed 45 & 76 but a new one showed up to NE so lost 231 & HT
Road they routed MMG & killed his truck.
Centre we won here a few runners taken out & found & routed 76ATG
South think we did slightly better but 2 of my squads are now half squads, its getting critical.
T11
NF> Route ATG & another they find then destroy a mortar & last T-35
Village 2 squads kill closest 76 others are moving toward the other down the road. Have taken several flags & starting to cross into woods now, but a bit of a firefight is going on which we win, cannot pussue runners down E>W road due to AAgun. Some tanks & taxis that loaded last go head into woods South of the road to get position on AAgun & they kill the 76.
Continue moving forward in space between woods & South village recieve more fire from village & to East a sniper, decide tanks can risk coming out but we lose several men over the next bit.
South village has a line of trees running / just behind & smoke screen is nearly gone, scout moves through it & requests help.
Sniper routes 2 maxims bfore scout pops smoke as apart from runners there are 2 squads here & a T-26.
Squad enters village from the North its full of AA, he manages to route one, next squad fails but find excluding excluding runners.
2 squads E of village covering road, 2 more in it & 3 AA guns.
Each AA gun is positioned so attacking one gives another track hits, squads manage to silence one at some cost allowing 2 M3s that can reach to take on others. Other squads have to draw fire to allow trucks to close safely. Its all a bit hairy & some smoke is dropped but 2 AAguns are killed & squads routed.
In the process though 2 more AAguns take part. As I said lost a few men here.
The exitment in the village means the only support SF gets is an ATG & one squad at range, however I think morale has gone, another squad joins in but they are folding. HQ decides its time to break cover & is closing, so does 223Fu who so far has stayed out of things, tanks move forward to better firing positions.
AIT> arty returns, have outrun most of it but units near South village & clearing North of take a couple of solid hits.
No more ATGs up North but AI is on the move. M3 destroys T-26 by North village & one is engaged at the other village.
Sniper is found & destroyed by a huge volley from M3s
In the village 1 squad is in critical shape but killed 4 AAgun crew
South, we are moving no further here they have started heading for village & flags outnumbered by more than 3:1 again.
T12
First squad to try his luck vs 76 is routed, second does little better but Pioneer places a DC killing it outright.
North group finaly start to become a flanking force & head forward.
Around the village & its woods the race is on to see if we can catch the runners before they exit. 2 M3s get the AAgun routed then Ht drives up squad finnishing it.
Little moment then as M3 heads down the road straight into the arms of 3 T-26s, range 100m but all are moving, get him some help another M3 but first 2 flaks Z fire on 2 of them, kill without taking a hit. Take all flags here.
Rally seems to have returned to normal so most units can clear arty however some end up possibly heading into it at the village.
Its all getting a bit worrying round here 2/3rds of my force is to the North chasing units.
To the South do what we can but its more a case of hanging on, 3 more squads appear & while i do manage to get all 3 ATGs helping the odds here are now becoming silly.
Tanks just North of village turn NE & head for it & a bit of fighting kills AA guns & T-26 who only fired once, combination of move & low experience I think means few shots. Would explain earlier tank exchange.
Now the reason for heading into arty, squad & scout make it to far side of village recieving fire from over a dozen squads meaning they cannot place smoke.
Scouts position is critical 4 squads within 100m, manage to reduce this to 1 but still dont think its enough & expect more armour to come to villages defence.
The only good thing so long as it misses my scout is rocket had reloaded & is about to fire here
AIT> Oh hell arty missed in town just but SF has been stuck for a while so arty is coming down on them & the ATGs & theres more. To the South of the depresion 6 T-26s & 2 T-28s have shown up. More may have made it into the depression. A few more squads appeared to. One of my squads in the village is critical but scout survives. Lots of blood was spilt on both sides but we did get the upper hand. Should have left 223Fu alone AAgun somewhere in S woods killed him, no survivors.
At least the North is now a done deal its becoming a case of can I transfer help quick enough.

[Imp]

North we are out of the trees & just mowing down runners, the odd one has rallied but nothing to worry about. Should get most runners going down the road I think, picking up anyone I can & transfering unit cohesion be damned.
At the village tanks trying to move to engage enemy armour get stuck in the fight there. Still over 2 comp of Soviets south of the village & the scout is living dangerously finding more & 3 AAguns but hes now out of smoke, have engaged to little effect. The sniper is doing a great job though of keeping the scout safe
Far South most units dont fire smoking & trying to clear arty. Reposition 1 ATG trying to move others might lose the trucks so did not load just near.
A couple of tanks might get armour targets next go.
AIT> To my joy find I have plotted all 3 rockets in the vicinity of the AAguns, let fly & thats that but another one has turned up. My arty is mainly hitting just South of village should all be running now so can support South from behind once sort out tanks. M3 gets a T-28. Most arty missed managed to clear it just.
HTs are taking direct fire from artilery now all but 2 tanks have vanished.
T14
Killing arty pieces 4 left by the looks of it but the big question is where did the tanks go. At the depresion so think they are in the woods heading for SF. They have also come underattack by maxims but slowly getting reinforced. The village is ours as we are aproaching equal numbers & the road nearby is chock full of trafic. Next go we will probably outnumber him everywhere.
AIT> They are still putting up a fight one particulary hardy squad killed 3 of my men despite the fact he was taking fire from 2M3s 2 squads & a HT, the tanks headed back for the depresion all fire exchanged missed. Its looking like my South force is out of the woods now they just held on without losing a squad.

[Imp]

SF> is accepting losses to save 2 squads reduced to 4 & 5 men but has help now, tanks die easily as greatly outnumbered its just a case of keeping guys in trouble alive & taking the last flag. There are still more soviet squads turning up though.
T16
Hurt troops are withdrawn if they can avoid arty will survive. Have a minor moment when thought I had missed a tank but realise there are another 4 or so, still have a lot of armour here now so they succumb quickly. All arty stops
T-17
Never a dull moment HT has kittens as 3 BT-7 arrive as reinforcements, only armour near is a Ram & M2 but they get one a piece then squad unloads from HT walks up to & kills the other. The fun continues as units going after 122s start recieving fire from them, manage to destroy one but HQ has joined in as well & the few tanks here dealt with BT-7s or moved there in case more turn up. The good news is in South scout has made it to where new squads keep apearing & think thats about it. Taking last flag next go & it turns out moved arty just in time, one was hit but will be moved next turn.
T20
Its all over I think a couple of units escaped but there is not a Soviet unit left on the map.
Men 164>1893
Guns 1?>64
AFV 4>43
Score 6507>889
Marginal
Thats 3 marginal 8 decisive so far, paying the price for not playing for a long time as wish I had not upgraded all my tanks. Germany did not have the better equipment at the start of the war but it certainly does now. Apart from the odd ATGs you do not need to look after your armour much which could become boring.

[Imp]

Quite day so here you go.
Missed the location but meeting vis 51 turns 31
Map open ground is mainly high grass & a large level 2 hill in the middle.
A strip of woods runs over it from the bottom left to top right corner. It gets a bit sparse with a couple of small gaps my side of halfway point on the map.
1.5Km South at the base of the hill are more woods, this clearing as it heads East opens up to 2Km with a clump of trees in the middle like so ---O
So trees all round it & a clump in the middle.
Flags are on the clump & further forward in top & bottom row of trees.
The bit to the North is mainly open but probably will not come into play.
Map included.

Force
Decide if anything should downgrade make a few changes for no real reason
Swap 2 MkII for MkIVf1 as main roll is infantry.
Swap 1 231 for 251/10HT plan to swap all 3 & buy enough HT so 1 company is equiped with in next battle or 2
The Plan
Each company is heading for a set of flags.
ATGs most MMG & half of the armour is heading down the centre to crest the hill.
The group going for North flags should hopefully be screened by woods for a while & have a reasonable amount of armour with them.
Hope is they can move to get flank shots depending on what Soviets come at me with or act as a firefight force.
Start
No pre bombard so start the race for objectives.
By the end of turn 2 I can see half a dozen BT-7s heading for S flags & a mix of BT-7s & T-28s heading between central & S flags.
Have some units on the hill & grass does some funny things with LOS, move 1 hex & you are hidden the next back in view using speed of 231s to find hidy spots. Unload in a few places time to see if I have judged it right think range is to great for them to try firing.
T3 They don't fire & nor do I keep closing range for the turkey shoot. N & S made good speed trucks within 400m of flags, have to pop smoke in 2 places in South to protect taxis as could be in LOS when he moves. In the centre several troops unloaded but have found one area can stay loaded for a good distance.
Can see a lot of Soviet cruiser tanks heading for C & S flags details next go as can probably start picking off. They will start taking S flags this turn.
T4
The majority of tanks are BT-s 2 through 7, Also some T-28 & T-26 & 3 BA-10 armored cars some have left my sight.
NF> Squads & Pioneers are entering woods, tanks are still moving to position & 4 are going NE as lone squad on sentry duty there reports a dozen tanks heading down. Coming from the East mainly towards S & C flags are 40 plus tanks. 231s have ended up here & could end up engaging at about 500m when they move to level 1
CF> Move to position should be able to start engaging shortly range still generaly 1.5km
SF> They have taken some flags, can't see as in woods but 4 or 5 BTs, squads & Pioneers head in for ambush. 3 M3s Ram & 251/10 are here along with a MkII who kills a BT-7 at 500m
No arty plotted yet & AA is in position, taxis retreating but trying to guess arty fall.
AIT> Yeah gads there are a lot of them can now see 17 flanking to the North my view is not good here.
231 damaged a BT-8 but only expected a couple 6 made level 1.
They took central flag & from what I can see main push is between centre & South flags but I cannot see much to the North East as woods block
At S flag Pioneers have killed & forced abandonment of 2 BTs, bit of fire here to but it missed.
T5
SF> We move forward 100m as low exp seeing squads in woods moving 1 hex should be hard for tanks is my theory.
It holds 2 BT-7s die to a squad & 2 Pioneers then M3 & M2 both get a BA-6 trying to come round the left flank.
CF> Holding central hill majority of force is still on level 2 but a few have moved to level 1.
A BA-10 made it to level 1 & several tanks are just over 1km away so open up.
Kill a BA-10, 3 BTs, T-28 & immob another with a flank shot. T-28s have riders squad & maxim
I have 10 M3 here & 2ATGs one in position half the M3s move forward but have to be careful about flank shots from the North now.
NF> Squads take 2 flags & 231s kill a BT-8 & damage a BT-2, not sure its wise to leave them here they are having trouble penetrating at 500m
& tanks & ATG here are not quite in position.
FF> (Flank force far North) 3 tanks enter LOS hoping to tempt in my direction as we took flags.
AIT> Well luckily the fire improved a bit BA-10 took about 10 shots to hit but still mainly missing.
CF> got BA-10 eventualy plus 5 or 6 BTs & rider unloaded.
SF> only got 2 targets but missed
NF> 231s somehow survived & damaged 2 BTs, squads in wood slightly North of flags engaged cavalry & smoke dropped near 231s is blocking ATGs fire lane.
FF> Lots of smoke dropped here & they are charging on Westward

[Imp]

SF> M3 kills 2 BTs at 30m another is buttoned for some reason so 251/10 engages at 200m & kills, all but one M3 move forward.
There are 11 Bts on L1 1O of them near the 231s but recent smoke means they can only see one, some of the others will enter ATGs LOS at 200m range. 231s kill BT-8 but one is damaged so they head off to join FF
CF> manage to kill 3 tanks on L1 & damage another, 2 tanks move to achieve this.
ATG gets T-28 & a BT the other kills immobile T-28, M3s kill another 5 BTs & 3 tanks move up as does the infantry.
NF> take all flags & use quite a bit of Z fire moving forward there is a MkIV in woods with the squads & we route 4 cavalry.
FF> One M3 fires but only damages the others move SW to intercept, a scout & MMG are en route.
AIT> I plot some arty behind cavalry, AI fires a bit more smoke & some arty hits CF & SF 76s & Mtrs no batts.
Kill 9 BTs coming for the hill 2 make it 2 level 2, one destroyed the other runs. Pioneer in South gets another coming through the woods.
2 more cav are routed in woods, squad on the flank can see a cav unit 200m away.
Can now see a couple of squads at 500m between N & C flags
T7
FF> Destroy a BT but most are still moving to position, bit worried here trying to extract 2 platoons to assist one each from NF + CF, another MMG is on the way & 2 Northern ATGs are loading up. M4 heading there & hopefully free some M3s next turn. My fault considered a reserve & NF was going to be but decided to head straight into woods as intel was sketchy round here.
SF> Continue moving forward adj to flags now, find a BA10 & 251/10 kills. Squad checking for flank move finds 2 tanks & losses a man before placing smoke. Ram & M2 move to cover likely path of one & M3 destroys the other. The other 2 M3s are in position to move to woods edge.
CF> 10 tanks made it to level 1 again most at North end & SF has noticed a squad near level 1, Kill 5 then have to move to find targets, get another 3 for a total of 8 inc one T-28. The majority of tanks & all squads move partly to avoid arty but also working slightly NE
Tanks coming from the East look severly depleted now I can only see about 20, there are more but wrecks are blocking view esp in the North.
Can see GazAA trucks in the distance & arty tell tales several fairly near the map edge. decide to CB them poor morale should get them off the map.
NF> get a bit ambitious pushing forward lose 3 men as turns out a ready squad was among the pinned lot. they lost about 6 men & can see 6 runners & 1 ready
AIT> Right that was a lot of artillery aimed mainly at SF & south of CF, most infantry got hit, tanks moved so it missed the majority of them.
2 IL6s did a pass on SF as well & my AA is covering the others, lost a HT & 2nd immobile. Facing air for first time & sending armour out from my umbrella is probably not sensible so need to rethink SF as they were going to try & flank.
CF> only got 2-3 tanks here as most moved but only 4 end on L1, I think though this is because focus has shifted to the South.
SF> Mk2 hits for no effect Ram did not get a target. M3 on the flank engaged 4 tanks at 400m killing a T-28 so ex rider here, one has vanished.
NF> not sure think more cav squads turned up a scout definetly did. Repulsed attack causing reasonable damage but run out of shots in one area resulting in scout losing 2 men.
FF> B@#%£ I think they have turned back so all but one tank is out of position, 231 will check it out but lone tank is facing 5 at between 300-500m & only damaged one. They seem to be heading SE to cut through woods towards N flags, another cav sqd has turned up fire was exchanged but for no effect.
My squads in woods could have cavalry coming from North as well. Hmmm

[Imp]

FF> 231 moves for a look 7 tanks are still heading West & 5 more could go either way, they are to far away for him about 750m but both M3s & Ram move to engage resulting in a kill immob & damage results.
Realise lone tank is the same as in the last battle AQ1 & weigh up his odds, faces 5 at range that could hurt but Russian accuracy has been pitifull, think I have taken less than 5 hits so far. Also squad can smoke if it all goes pear shaped so we open up, they have very low rates of fire or something only 2 fire back & closest did not possibly he was buttoned. I love this guy 5 shots 4 kills & other 231 who has lost his MG damages the other.
MMG scout & squad attack cav routing & killing 9 men. Another MMG & sniper are in the area others still on the way. Have to unload back a bit or tanks will fire at trucks.
NF> We need to rescue the scout so one scout moves up undetected & routes clearing path for a sqaud to try as can't risk firing the wounded scout. He is detected but manages to route the squad. A few squads move forward as arty fell just ahead & we kill one & the rest are in a sorry state. 2 tanks are behind trees in a position to move on flags so both Pioners set up possible ambushes, Mk4 moves behind to exploit if don't kill. 2 M3s move to cover as best they can.
MMGs here were going to use rough on the ridge but LOS from now is very restricted. A scout is heading out looking for Soviet troops
CF> M3s kill 2 & ATG gets 3rd Platoon transfering here is on the way but all other squads are stuck. All armour moves forward 1 M3 leaves hill & kills another BT that I knew was routed behind some wrecks, another goes to exit & recieves fire from squad & T-26, T-26 is at range though & Pioneer LMG in SF routes the squad
SF> Russians definetly do not fire much Mk2 kills BT but it takes a few hits even at 150m, M3 on flank kills another 2 BT. They fired 2 shots between em all missed.
Now its tricky half my troops are pinned but I know 2 BTs are on the other side of woods in same hex & I want a look before CF moved up.
Units furthest South took least arty & have a brandenflash equiped squad by tanks. They are ready so its a risk but he moves into trees as has Pioneer for backup. Looks like arty hit a few of his forces theres a routed squad adj & a buttoned T-28 100m away. Assaults first tank immob &, loses a man to fire to the other before killing with W key then does the same to the other. Pioneer has moves up to T-28 it fires but misses as firer is paniced so flames it routing, he moves onto flag & losses a man to a squad, places smoke. Ram kills T-28 & 2 squads + Mk2 move to cover flank heading for the ex rider.
Scout & squad head out for a look taking another flag within 300m are squad maxim & 3 T-26s, further on we can see 2 more T-26, 2 T28 & a BT at 500-700m
These are hidden from CF & as its a meeting its only right I attack, one tank in CF can see 2 of these tanks & one did fire at him so MK3 moves into trees recieving 2 shots at 13% & seeing another BT fires & misses but is hit for no effect by BT as more tanks start firing. Other Mk3 moves up recieiving more fire at last all but T-28s who are furthest back are firing. Have to pick targets carefuly & 251/10 has to help as miss quite a bit. Destroy one & damage another T-26 3 times so hes running. Wreck now blocks view to all but running tank, as I said pick targets
Scout & squad route maxim, HTs are moving to flank in a vain attempt at AA defence while avoiding arty
AA is covering flank force & trying to get position to at least fire after the event down South, lots of arty though.
AIT> Arty seemed less that go mainly batteries firing about 4 76 & 2 122 only one soviet tank hit for no effect
FF> They seem to have mainly turned back all fire by group furthest West missed But AQ1 killed & damaged one while 231 here got another
NF> No cav came forward this turn & tanks avoided Pioneers but walked into the path of both M3s
CF+SF> All fire missed things look a bit er dodgy down South

T9
As arty died a bit AA makes a move to get closer, hope planes wont be back till next turn
FF> West party kill all 4 visible tanks strangely closest was the tough one taking 3 hits then 231 sticks a nose out sees 4 tanks heading SE & draws fire so nips back to break the lock before moving back & making it 3. They are now heading back but BTs are fast so we won't make it.
AQ1 & 231 get one a piece & both move 1 hex to try & get a better view round the woods. Due to wrecks 3 tanks I know about will not arrive this turn but stuff could be closer. Squad sniper & scout are heading for a look round the woods to. Other squads coming here have veered into woods as think cav & tanks are running through. Mk4 is close & ATG has deployed to assist AQ1
NF> Minor problem here 2 pinned cav in same hex bit of Z fire including the MK4, scout moves up routes one & still not seen, tries against other it fires back so squad comes to help. All move forward killing 4 cav Northern most find 3 squads pinned by my arty over 100m clearing, manage to route 2 without loss killing 6 in one squad. The other scout is being rushed to my rear to save him.
M3 near here kills only tank to make it to level one & 3 are heading for the woods, there is a 50m by 250m straight clearing just North of flags that units coming from FF will probably cross.
The forward scout moves & finds 2 squads nearby so withdraws to cover, moving to intecept pioneer finds another, man down but flamer deals with him.
CF> Arty let up means troops move forward pick up ATG as they seem magnets for the stuff.
Armour needs to help out SF but the avenue in the smoke seems to have shrunk, it may still be possible to bother a couple but the attempt fails.
PioneerLMG routes squad near tank then we are facing 3 BTs hard to get to as trees cover & 3 T-26s wrecks are a problem here.
Mk3 thats just come off the hill has 5 in sight range to BTs is passable & others will have to engage close up so it kills a T-26 getting hit once but ok, another immob a 2nd T-26 its running so low priority.
First tank to move on BTs takes loads of fire spot 6 more soviet squads 3 within 150m as my lead troops have a restricted view now. Mk3 is heavily suppressed so backs up to protect flank & manages to route a squad. Next Mk3 engages BT at 150m but it takes 3 hits to kill him that was not in the script.
Gets worse as realise LOS is blocked when next tank tries, had hoped these 3 tanks would destroy BTs as short moves but have only got one. Now 2 tanks that were going to try & support SF albeiet limitedly have to save this lot. They get one but have to engage T-26 as its their major threat, kill it but we end the turn in a vulnerable position tanks have no troop support & turning to engage could allow flanks not to mention assaults could be on the cards. Due to low exp they should not make it though as need to move first.
SF> 350m away are 3 T-26s & a BT, just behind are 3 T-28s, consider pulling back but decide not to.
Mk3 Fires at BT misses as does all fire at except a squad with mortar who hits so my squad routes him.
Other Mk3 fires T-26 down & he takes light damage, alternate fire if we can take down another T-26 may restrict view.
T-26 down one T-28 obscured, 251/10 kills another hiding 2nd T-28, It takes 3 hits by Mk3 to kill BT.
251 has very restricted view & is nearly out of APCR but moves & engages T-28 buttoning with 2 hits before moving to increase range & cover area behind wrecks. I know there are 2 tanks in there possibly more & both these & some CF tanks are targets.
Squads move & face a scout & 10 squads one routed, kill the scouts then get 3 squads running but mainly concentrate on squad in hex with T-28 buttoning further. 2 HTs fire at this squad to & while exposed are in position against air or to become targets. Ram breaks cover briefly scoring 2 hits on T-28 before seeking cover.
Squad on the flank moves to engage but finds another squad & T-28 within 100m, facing 3 targets with only Mk2 in range to support withdraw & units here set up a possible ambush inc flank Mk3
AIT> no arty at all but the battle has stepped up a gear as infantry engagement becomes more frantic, we probably killed 3 times as many but there were problems.
FF> nothing to report but cav has made it quite far through woods & is coming from more to the South than expected. caught my lone squad here napping killing 3 & destroying truck that dropped him off.
NF> lost a couple of men but killed a cav, more new squads than I would have liked we are outgunned quite badly.
CF> All squads are routed & all tanks on both sides survive unscathed including a T-26 that makes it to level 1, its routed though & BT does not look to happy
SF> Few problems here visibility changed & the 2 squads that were supposed to ambush became visible through trees, one was routed & the other lost a man managed to route Soviet squad. 2 other T-28s here turned towards units by the flags.
Flag force is all intact & killed buttoned T-28 & something else but it was a bit tense I think only inacuracy of fire saved the day. Big infantry firefight here as well but most of his tanks are probably gone now.

T10
FF> We have missed the boat here, scout moves out past the trees there are the remains of 2 cav but also 4 BT-7s heading for the trees. Mk3 here would have poor accuracy if moved to engage so stays put with ATG to engage 3 I know are on the way. As the BTs are pretty fast I could have problems getting into position before they arrive near flags & some could well be in the woods already. MMG can see 3 conscripts to NW, don't bother firing as nearly 1k away & will give position away to the tanks.
NF> facing some big problems here stuff coming from flank is arriving quicker than I had anticipated & in the woods I have 4 squads faced off against 9 ready ones whom originaly I was trying to flank but we just do not have enough men in the area.
Firstly slightly South kill T-26 then deal with 2 squads find a 3rd & get him running to. Scout confirms my fear by having alook round the smoke from a line of wrecks. He sees a conscript & there are bound to be more so I can only spare a few units here to go help in the woods. 3 tanks + a few squads enter & manage to get the ATG sort of in position. He needs to be in a place to take on armour but thats protected from cav, only time will tell if it was a wise choice.
2 squads take up position as well.
Time for the faceoff in the woods,
Scout moves up fires & routes then decide to move up Mk4 as it can engage 3 at 150m & manages to route one.
Squad fires managing to route another but a new squad is seen as it returns fire.
Switch to pioneer LMG & he gets off several shots before he is spotted routing 2 more.
A bit more fire is exchanged & a couple of my squads have to leave the safety of the trees to get targets so we are more vulnerable next time but at the end of it we only lost a man have 3 targets in sight one of whom is routed.
SF> there is no middle force now really they are one force Mk3 kills lone tank then another fires at T-28 coming from the flank but as I thought just out of range to damage, another moves up & kills it. This leaves the original 2 Mk3s facing 2 T-28s one of which dies instantly the other turns out to be a tough cookie taking 4 hits before dying. A few tanks have moved but on the whole I do not want to move them esp the couple of HT that are in position to interdict air threat, few that have targets fire at the dozen or so squads & I decide the Ram is in a place air is likely to go for so move it. Troops manage to move forward slightly take all flags & find more squads, there are few casulties on either side we lose 2 them maybe 5 or so. Units on the flank are not in a position to move forward but do manage to strip tanks of their escorting troops getting them running here.
AIT> My FOOs can't see a thing but have given up attacking on board arty as switching most to support NF in an attempt to stop them getting squeezed.
Only light arty hitting NF in area cav will appear from, looks like the AI had the same idea.
Planes did not come in so could have got better AA positions, the thing is now do I stay with a small chance of hitting planes or bug out as arty is a real posibility.
FF> He let me down all fire missed, scout can see 7 tanks running for the woods
NF> Managed to beat them off but at least half a dozen new squads piled in. Scout on North corner needs to withdraw as he reports they are flanking.
Cav scout appeared to near to my ATG but 2 sqauds that had just made it to the area killed him.
In the centre BT-8 & T-28 were routed.
SF> Stuff here mainly did not move but 2 new T-28s showed up ones now burning. Also think vision changed slightly as my mortar droped on a group of about 8 causing all but 2 of them to vanish, they could be using wrecks for cover though as now have 6 in a line.

[Imp]

T11
FF> ATG kills its only target then all vehicles move killing 4 tanks & causing light damage to another, MMGs then hose down both remaining tanks
NF> Units are still getting in position to recieve forces from the NW, they will also have to deal with anything that flanks from the East.
Woods force has no problems Mk4 routes 2 & squads get the other 2, nobody visible in the clearing so move forward slightly.
At the south edge of the woods 2 Pioneers sniper, scout & a supporting MK3 route 2 squads here & move forward to come round the corner of the woods & attack units piling into it, they spot 4 T-26s in the distance. This just leaves MMGs & a couple of MK3s that have just moved over to deal with what comes through the wreck line but think its mainly conscripts so they should be able to hold. Destroyed the tank here to.
SF> The major consideration is the expected air attack a Mk3 takes out the T-28 in the middle but I cannot attack other armour without moving.
Squad on flank moves into woods adj to buttoned T-28 he is unseen but a pinned squad can see him. Another squad tries to get into position against the squad but loses a man to the other T-28 here which there is no way to get position on. Squad decides to assault the first, its a kill & blocks LOS to the squad so unit under fire by T-28 places smoke to let others get in position. All infantry move forward a couple reaching the wreck line & some going towards the mentioned T-28, few shots fired but not many targets concentrating more on leaving the area. Mk3 moves & takes out T-28 but only a couple of others move, going to risk weathering any arty & see if we can get a plane several HTs are mixed in with tanks so hope it targets those & placed some smoke to make trucks easier targets. Yes I know its gamey having suicidal truck drivers but only use this way against air.
AIT> No arty was forthcoming & mine was a bit wayward. The air came in though to very heavy fire, the first made it through taking out a truck but the second was hit 3 times errupting into a ball of flame before it could carry out its run.
FF> Damaged tank did nothing & the other was taken out in a 3 vs 1 battle, sporadic fire at conscripts & regulars moving onto the hill.
NF> East attack was lighter this time with only 5 participants who were repulsed for the loss of a man only one not running.
3 BTs moved adj to the clearing further to the North than I had hoped for, ATG damages one & hit by some arty.
SF> Attack was not great & easily repulsed need some caution when move forward catching runners would be nice & 3 tanks are bolting for friendly lines but it might be prudent to let them go.

T12
FF> 231 kills damaged tank then it & a MK3 move off the hill to see if more units are there as seem to be coming from here, scout is on his way.
have 4 squads on the hill so MMG is given all clear engages routing 2 before units move out sending another packing.
NF> ATG kills only BT it can see others are only visible to a squad, the best option here would be for the whole force to move East but trying means I run into stiff opposition so squads here actually move NW towards expected troops with the aim of expanding our area & limiting arty effects. Scout finds a squad trying to flank & manages to surprise him so we at least have a little space to operate in now, M3 damages one of the BTs.
Next scout & 2 Mk3s coming round the wood have a look.
The units in the clearing have in close proximity 4 squads to NE & 8 or so directly East, further back are 3 Maxims & a few squads most of these are pinned. Slightly South where scout & pioneers are coming from are 7 runners
Further South heading towards wreck line several more ready squads are seen, scout drops smoke to block there line of fire after sniper & Mk3s have a go.
Route 2 maxims & a couple of squads then Pioneers & squads add there fire, its not enough really heavily outnumbered a HT & its passenger come to help.
In the clearing Mk4 routes only target & squad gets one to the NE running & takes up position to recieve the others.
The other 2 squads here go to move East into area thats been fired at but first is down 2 men & routed as turns out hex is more visible than I thought. The remaining squad & Mk4 take up position to recieve visitors as another 4 or 5 squads have come into view. This does not look good where we have been repulsing the attacks there are like 4 squads a hex we are going to run out of shots if most get past pinn status.
MMGs to South move forward & AAMG grabs a ride to try & give some cover over woods.
SF> On the flank getting a bead on the T-28 is not easy but troops find a place 150m away. Several squads move taking on Soviet infantry most is running so only 1 casualty. Take another as attack squad in tanks hex but we have moved forward about 100m, Mk2 moves to the attack hex & kills with first shot.
In the centre we stretch nearly to the central flags but are mainly concentrated just north of South flags.
Furthest North squad is realy a pair of eyes for 2 M3s here & routes a squad before moving up, squads at wreck line enter for a look & this prompts me to throw caution to the wind.
Squads & tanks head into the huge pile of wrecks with little problem, if squad recovers which is doubtfull with amount of wrecks in the area one tank is at risk.
What we can see is about 30 infantry units 4 tanks all running, at 600m or so there are 2 GazAA. the 4 tanks taht make it far enough to see kill 3 of the tanks & fire at Gazs but have no effect. AA sets off in pursuit while all transport here is moving to pick up units, seems a lot of it I suppose because its being mainly sitting things out rather than in use.
AIT> wanted to drop a bit of smoke in centre to cover advanvce against ATG but realise have nothing like enough arty to go round so concentrate on North.
Arty came down mostly at SF old location so no problems otherwise not much to report
FF + SF> some fire for little effect & running tank has vanished from view.
NF> turns out Mk3 could support the clearing group so they repulsed attacks again, think without loss. Nothing else appeared from NW, Mk3 fired at tank causing no damage but it did not return fire probably as was already buttoned, the damaged tank did nothing. T-26s here are still to distant to be worth engaging but need thinking about.

T13
FF> Scout moves out & finds a company coming our way just north of the hill. Also on the hill in the woods to the East can see a platoon of conscripts.
while moving to engage find a sniper & 223Fu kills him before heading for low ground. Of the 6 squads on the hill we route 5 of them.
NF> Mk3 Takes out both BTs they missed even at 100m, I have come to the conclusion not as much escaped the FF as I thought so send my squads into the woods finding nothing. Pushing forward in the centre is to dangerous as trees block view so decide to outflank AIs flankers & approach from both sides.
Leave 2 squads holding the clearing while others head North, scouts lose a man but route 2 squads & think we now outflank them in the woods.
In the open takes 2 Mk3s to route the maxim, sniper HT & Mk4 from clearing support sqauds as they recieve fire but move forward agresivly losing a couple of men in the process. Scout at South end has to place more smoke to cover fire from squads further South & a squad has a little look here as well, bringing up MMGs.
The situation is as follows
In woods I have 4 squads 3 tanks & a scout + 2 squads enroute vs about 20 squads.
Coming round from the South 2 each of Scout, Pioneer, Squad, Mk3 + sniper & HT facing about 12 squads 3 maxims & have to keep HT safe from T-26s that are inbound.
I also have 2 MMGs & Mk3s enroute but have discovered a mixed bag of 15 or more regulars & conscripts approaching from slightly South hence the reason I had to smoke them out of the current fight. A squad & M3 from the centre have moved to engage.
So including units 6 units enroute I have 26 vs 50, making a forcefull move to gain 100m was not that easy & pulling off encirclement is questionable.
SF> The situation here is not a lot better the one plus being nearly everyone is running but now they are getting distance from the carnage recovery is becoming more likely. This is when more arty would be handy to keep them running but that would just be boring.
On the flank chasing through the woods we have a bit over half a dozen units chasing more than twice that.
In the middle every move reveals more men & things like MMG are still trying to catch up & I need everything I can muster. So far 8 tanks & same number of infantry have made it through the mess along with a HT & ATG. concentrated on killing both Gazs & found & hurt that tank again along with killing a couple of squads. So all we seem to be facing is 50 or so infantry & thats the ones I have seen, sharing the love to keep this lot running is not going to be that easy even when the MMGs turn up. Its a good thing his armour is nearly gone all I have to do now is clean up 8 or 9 companies of infantry & I have just realised some of them will be leaving the reach of half my arty.
I want a battle against KVs & T-34s but if the next is an advance or assault I am going to load a city map, the sheer numbers should cause me problems & have not had one yet.
AIT> I will give you the highlights as it looks like a mad 10 minutes is on the cards.
More arty fell the new stuff is hitting my mortars, ones routed & 2 trucks are gone.
We won the exchange but not by much especialy in the North though losses on either side were not that high considering the amount of fire.
More units turned up virtualy everywhere exept the FF, NF has started engaging T-26s but missed.
The major fun was in the North as it turns out my outflank failed as conscripts are coming through the woods, engaging them point blank is not good some have Molotovs.
2 maybe 3 more tanks appeared from the NW one of my squads running but another getting a kill.
The MMGs & 2 Mk3s moving in support nearly got overwhelmed, have a FOO here to & he was using his SMG to hold them back.
Even so everyone ran out of shots & a conscript killed men in nearby scouts, close call anymore of them & I would have had no answer.
I need to figure out a way to encircle & kill off some pretty quick or this is going to become costly.