AAR: A runamia AAR

[a_ver_est]

Sixth Battle ( Delay - 42 turn - visibility 39 )



Pre-Battle:




After our failure to get a decisive victory the enemy seemed ready to launch a counter attack, we were ordered to delay their advance. The enemy armor was every day more advanced, we have concerns about our capacity to stop it. 




Battle plan:




There was a road at the north which cross all the map from east to west, no river this time. Two victory objective were next to the road, they were behind a forest. The third victory objective was far at the south, also a behind small forest. Between them there was a big plain.



Company A will be deployed at the north forest supported by two AT-guns. Company B will be deployed at the south forest supported by two AT-guns also.

We will cover the gap between them with two AT-guns more plus the HMG section of the company C and snipers.

Two AT-guns more, tanks plus company C without their HMG will be the reserve.



The plan was simple, keept the ground. Use reserve as movile reinforcement.



Go:



After few minutes of calm some groups of light tanks (T60) could be spotted along all the front, orders were to hold the fire until enemy was really near. This was because the poor performance of out AT weapons vs the newer enemy armor.



After successfully destroying the most of the light tanks their big brothers come, a big group of T-28 multiturrets at the north and center, A group of Valentine III at the south, and still more light tanks supporting them. 

Also some cavalry squads at the north and a big infantry group at the south. The firsts ones were neutralized by HMG fire, but our fire power was to low to stop the infantry.



Heavy artillery was plotted over the T-28 groups, the advance at the center was fast neutralized, trough the north road the enemy advanced routing our AT-gun crews and entered into the forest. AT-teams were ready to ambush them, but they were far outnumbered.



Also it become obvious that the south flank was so weak, a tank manage to do an encirclement and reach the victory objective, the engineers section engaged it in close combat and successfully destroyed. But there was a big concern about the possibility of a big group doing the same maneuver. One of the central HMG were ordered to reinforce this flank.



At the south the Valentines III proved to be protected against our AT-guns even at short distance. So heavy artillery was requested to try to stop them

.

At the north forest enemy tanks advanced, orders were retread into the forest while fighting, set and ambush then move back and set a new ambush ... Our infantry close assaulted the enemy tanks all the time, the loses of Russian were huge.

A remarkable action was done by the Caporal Duca Squad. Two tanks next to the south road border were to annihilate the Caporal Muru squad, Duca and his men were hidden at the north border of the road, when tanks were to attack he leaded his squads and attacked them at the back with hand grenades. They knocked a T-28, then another T-28 and finally a T-26. Three tanks in less than 10 minutes. Great !!!!




(off topic: please add a game option to give medals for this kind of actions)



At the south forest similar orders were dispatched, with similar results, as soon as tanks went inside the forest were assaulted taking heavy causalities, also enemy infantry squads were ambushed.



Despite the valor of our men actions the situation of noth forest front was desperate , fight was very hard. Soviets were blasting the area with heavy artillery, many of their men died by friendly fire, also his tanks were suppressed by their fire. But at our lines the situation was chaotic, many squads were unable to move, neither advance or retread and were taking heavy loses. Company A have had about 60% of causalities. The only good thing was that enemies who arrives at the forest border was being destroyed by our tanks and AT-guns.



At the south forest things went better, defense was solid, enemy lost many tanks and their artillery wasn't a big problem by now. Also C company arrived allowing an in depth defense which probed very effective.



Then after the biggest artillery fire which we ever had seen the front at the north forest collapse, all men remaining of the A company flies, the forest was on Russian hands, now our tanks had to defend the forest border at any price.



Fortunately enemy tanks reached the forest border one by one, rather than in a compact block, so our tiny defenses can deal with them. Also some infantry reached the victory objectives by the road, our mortars fired over them, after few fire exchange they routed.



Finally enemy attack lost their force and we were able to take the control of the forest back to our hands.



Marginal victory for us !!




Post Battle thoughts:



It was a hard battle, enemy number were really big, enemy armor was far better than our self, for example 3 R2 have fired to a 1 Valentine at 100m without being able to knock it, even our AT-guns had problems in medium range distance (more than 500m).



As example of numbers, enemy deployed:



--------------Total---destroyed---routed


T28--------------19-----18---------1
T60--------------13-----13---------0

Valentine III----27-----18---------9

T26--------------20-----19---------1



Everything vs 6xR2 tanks and 8x47 mm AT-guns. Obviously infantry had to play a big antitank role.



The worst is that enemy will kept improving their numbers and material while we can expect anything new for a long time.


[Imp]

Three tanks in less than 10 minutes. Great !!!!

I still remember when I first started playing this game defending with the Germans on the Eastern front in the early years.
I had one platoon of engineers & one squad virtually single handidly killed a couple of squads & 8 tanks or caused them to bail. I had other problems so all he got was the odd squad to help him but they kept running. His valient actions meant managed to free some units to bail him out by which time all he had was rifle rounds left.
Never seen it repeated they held at all costs & were not even dug in.

[a_ver_est]

Seventh Battle ( Advance - 46 turn - visibility 26 )



Pre-Battle:




In recognition of the battalion victories Lt Cap. Samoila has received a Steyr 440 car for his personal use.




Battle plan:



Winter was here, first snow had fallen. The area of operations was plain with two small hills at the north-center and a forest in front of the second hill, there was a road at the south going west to east.

Victory objectives were one at north, another one at the center into a small valley (both behind the hills) and the last one at the south near the road into a small forest.



Company A and B will advance supported by tanks against the north objective. Company C will be the reserve on trucks. The goal was overrun north defenders, then turn to south and attack the center and south objectives from their rear.



Go:



At the edge of the north hill some enemy infantry squads were ready to defend the way. Our snipers did a good job, and they routed fast. Once over the objective defense was weak the major problem were a few ambush done by enemy HMG, but they were neutralized by mortar fire.



At the center objective two T-34 were located by our scouts, our large guns were ordered to fire over them, one was destroyed with the first rounds but the second one looked invulnerable. Far to the east an enemy armor reserve were located, it was formed by 3 T-26 and 3 Matilda II. 



As always when enemy heavy armor makes presence our advance go stop. Our own tanks had to be withdrawal, they couldn’t deal with enemy ones. They were ordered to do an encirclement protected by the hill and advance through the road. Infantry reserve joined them.





After some fight and more artillery fire the crew of the surviving T-34 abandoned the tank, also the T-26 were destroyed by our AT-guns and Matilda's crews seemed to be too afraid to kept fighting. Two of them was destroyed meanwhile retreating.



We had to cross the valley to reach the third objective, some enemy squads were firing us from the other border of it, artillery, snipers and our LMG took care of them letting the way clear to advance.



Both attack vectors (tanks through the road and infantry through the valley) reached the third objective at same time, resistance here was very weak, defenders were overrun and objective secured. Soviet HQ was located at the end of the road and destroyed. 



Decisive Victory for us !!!!!





Post Battle thoughts:



A short and easy battle.

[a_ver_est]

Eight Battle ( Meeting engagement - 48 turn - visibility 22 )

Pre-Battle:

With the arrival of the winter army logistics become a chaos. Division HQ reclaimed our heavy trucks. Those had been a key part of the battalion allowing archive deception many times and moving troops to reinforce the front in critical moments.

Lt. Cpt. Samoila protested and HQ promised alternative vehicles. Once received he went to inspect them, - where are the new trucks corporal ? - corporal answered - They are eating hay, sir - Trucks were a few famished horses.

Dam it !!!!

After a hard discussion new trucks were promised again, after few days 3 old ford light trucks arrived. Then Samoila requested his car to go at division HQ to protest directly, his assistant answered, - Soldiers who brought the new trucks had orders to bring your car back sir, I though you were informed. -


Battle plan:

The battle area was a central plain surrounded by hilly terrain. Two roads started at the north-east edge, one in north-west direction, and the other one in south-west direction. All the area was snow, movement was very difficult. The lack of heavy trucks will be a great problem.

One victory objective was at the south, on the top of a hill next to our deploy area. The central objective was also at the top of a hill, in front of them there was another hill with a small village on it. The north objective was also on a hill, but next to the north road.

We will deploy our force between the central and the south targets, Company A will advance and take the control of the south objective, from this position will cover the north-west to south-est road with AT-guns and HMG.

Company C plus tanks will advance and take the control of the small village, from there they will try to engage enemy which will try to capture the central objective, also has to cover the north flank.

Company B will be deployed at the plain, advancing through the road and ready to support A or C if needed, light trucks will go with them but they haven't enough carry capacity for more than a section.

Horses will be used to keep HMG with their companies.

One potter plane was available.





Go:

Company A advanced and secured the south objective in few turns, then took defensive positions and waited. Company C advanced and took positions into the hill, tanks were with them. One of his sections were move to the north hill to cover this flank. Company B advanced through the plain, one section on trucks advanced and took a reverse slope position at the hill with the road.

First contact were done by C company, some T-60 were detected through the north road, also 3 BT-7 advanced over the central objective. Our spotter plane detected a big armor group, about 20 tanks, approaching to the center objective, mainly Valentines III, Matilda II and a few T-28. Heavy artillery was plotted over them.

At the south a medium sized infantry group (about 2 companies) tried to reach the objective, our defenders old the line without problems with the support of mortars.

After taking the north objective enemy forces there turned over the central objective so we have 2 attack vectors, one form the north and the other one at the center. At-guns proved to be effective against t-60 so the north vector was stopped with heavy losses for Soviets. But they probed to be absolutely useless against heavy tanks, also our tanks were in danger, they were over the hill in firing position against the incoming enemy, they were suppressed by enemy artillery and one of them was immobilized, then they become under enemy tank fire, looking that their guns weren't unable to do any damage to the enemy they were ordered to hide at the hill rear. One was lost during this short fight and the immobilized has to be abandoned due its exposed position.

Heavy artillery didn't proved to be very effective this time, some heavy tanks still were able to advance, our defender at the slope done a successful ambush destroying 2 Valentines but they were overhelmed by enemy because their number, they tried to withdraw pooping some smoke but enemy kept firing over them it was a real butcher, now about 10 tanks were reaching the plains.

At same time our spotter plane detected a big group of infantry reaching the town hill, Lt. Col Samiola though that if we lost that hill the battle was over so artillery shifted over them. Also he noticed that all remaining enemy armor at the north sector was a few T-60 and T-26 and all the heavy tanks were next to the plains. So he ordered to our tanks to do an encirclement behind the town hill and attack the north vector rear. Heavy tanks wouldn't have LOS over us.



The situation at the plains were bad, B company were unable to hold the line, C company flank was exposed and there didn't seem to be anything able to stop those tanks. All remaining artillery were ordered to fire a smoke screen, some squads of C company were ordered to hide inside smoke, and survivors of B company were ordered to simulate a break.

Samoila looking that enemy was doing a major effort at the center judged that north objective might have a weak defense, so a small recon force was sent there.

At the plains our trickery worked, enemy tanks pursuit our B company, C squads were waiting for them, moving from the smoke they close assaulted the tanks and routed the few infantry support that they have. In few minutes the plain was covered with burning scrap metal.

Our north recon force checked that victory objective were protected by two AA-trucks, they were destroyed and the objective destroyed. Our tanks with some artillery support also did a great job versus the infantry masses, routing them after a short fight.

Finally Soviets still have humor to try an assault at the south objective which was firmly refused.

Decisive victory for us !!


Post Battle thoughts:

A surprising battle, when I studied the map I had very bad feeling, there weren't any forest, river, ... to articulate my plan, objectives were to far and my infantry can advance only 2 hex turn and we don't have heavy trucks anymore. I was thinking to do 3 attacks vector, one per objective but I felt that spreading my force in such way wasn't a good idea.

Finally I decided concentrate our efforts in just two objectives and pray for a marginal victory or even a draw, perhaps try to get the third objective if i feel that the enemy was so weak after fighting and there were still turns, what I never though that it gonna be a Decisive victory in just 30 turns.

Obviously I had the idea to use a smoke screen from the start, but I didn't have many hopes that it will work, there were to much tanks with heavy armor in a very compact group. My men outperformed my expectations, BRAVO !!!

[a_ver_est]

Ninth Battle ( Assailt - 47 turn - visibility 66 )



Battle plan:

The map was snow, There was a road at the south which cross the map from east to west. There was also an iced river which cross the map from north to south at the center.

There were only two objectives this time both behind the river, one big at the map center behind two hills with a thin pass between them. Those hill dominate the north approach avenue.

The other objective was further south next to the road and covered by a forest plus a hill.


The plan was simple, advance with all forces through the north path, The main force will be Company A plus C, A will secure the hills, Company C will cross the river and capture north objective. After that our forces will turn to the south and capture the remaining target. Engineers section will go between both companies to clear the path of mines if needed.

Recon force will advance 100 meters in front of the main force.

Company B and tanks will be the reserve, they will advance 400 meters behind of the main force ready to join to the assault.




Go:

As expected the hills in front of the objectives were well defended, recon force engaged the defenders with snipers, also HMG provided support fire from the rear, Companies A and C slowly advanced.

One AT-gun was detected hidden in the north forest, engaged and destroyed but a few casualties were taken, when C company were to reach the river they went under gun fire, a pillbox was detected far at the other river bank, artillery was ordered to lay a smoke curtain to blind it.

The fight at the hills progressed slowly, enemy resist at their foxholes, the first section of company A armed with SBM was dispatched to assault it, using smoke grenades closed range and were able to start evicting the enemy.

The river crossing was slow, a few times the pillbox was able to fire causing big casualties. One infantry section tried to assault it many times with no luck. Finally an engineer section was able to destroy it, when we though that the path was clear a second pillbox opened fire, again it was blind by smoke and was destroyed by engineers a bit later. After that Company C took the control of the north objective destroying the last defenders there.

At same time company A was able to fully control the hills, infantry reserve was joined to them, both companies were ready to move towards the south victory objective.

Then enemy launched a counter attack to recover the north objective, many infantry units move out of the south forest another group were coming from the road area, they were supported by HMG and snipers.



And infantry duel caused many casualties to both sides, our artillery was unlucky and failed many shots. Lt. Col. Samoila decided to launch our tanks against enemy infantry despite we weren't sure if there was AT-guns or tanks at the area.

With the support of tanks and the artillery the enemy counter attack was stopped and routed.

Finally our tanks and a few infantry squads advanced through the road and took the control of the objective without more opposition.


Decisive victory for us !!


Post Battle thoughts:

Two curiosities about this battle, it is the first one were enemy was full infantry, no armor of any type, also there wasn't a mine belt, or barbed wire, etc despite it were an assault.

I had many infantry casualties due the pillboxes and the enemy counterattack which I can't block as fast as desirable.

[a_ver_est]

Tenth battle ( Stop enemy Counterattack ( SB delay) - 45 turn - visibility 66 )



Pre-battle:

This time there wasn't reinforcements, so we must fight which what we had. One of the infantry companies was badly damage, it was at 40% more or less. The other two companies had only some casualties.

The recon force was also badly damage, just one team was at 100%, all others were missing or understrength. At least we had our 3 snipers.

We had all our AT-guns but some of them had some crew missing. Tanks were at 100%, they had few usage in the previous battle. Artillery was also at 100%.

After a general review we can say that battalion was at 70%, being infantry the weaker part, but we must keep in mind that they plus artillery were the core of the fighting force because all other weapons were really obsolete and near useless versus latest enemy armor.


Battle plan:

Map was snow, the north area was clear dominated by two small hills, the objective farther north was on the top of one, the center objective was next to the hills in front of a tiny line of trees.

At the south there was a road in east-west direction, near the west border it crosses a forest, the victory objective was set on a small hill next to the road, all the area was forest. Another road cross the map diagonally from north-west to south-east. Finally the north-east map edge was crossed by an iced river.

The north area will be covered by AT-guns, because its poor performance they were ordered to hold the fire until the enemy was at 400m. Also HMG will provide fire cover vs infantry. Finally company C will be deployed in a reverse slope position at the hills, a one section will be deployed into the line of trees.

Company B will take positions into the forest ready to ambush forces which try to use the road, also it will deploy a section at the border of the forest objective.

Company A was to damage to fight so it was deployed at the rear and will be engaged only if the situation become critical.

Engineers will be divided into two groups ready to support the weakest area.

Tanks deployed at the north will be the reserve.



Go:

The enemy was detected early on, at the north a medium sized armor group fast advance directly to us, the worst was the confirmation that many T-34 tanks were part of the group. AA guns were used in AT role, the idea was pin the tanks and led time to heavy artillery to plot the position and fire.

At the south road some enemy tanks were detected also, infantry took positions into the forest at the road border to ambush them. Through the center area huge infantry groups were detected, many were sky troops with good mobility, 75 mm artillery and mortars were plotted over them.

The enemy north group returned fire to our AA guns, surprising it was to accurate, it destroyed our guns or forced crew to abandon them, btw artillery was able to immobilize one T-34.

At the south road more and more enemy vehicles were coming, our squads were lucky destroying few of them but when they wanted to break the contact and withdraw to a new position they couldn't because they were under fire all the time. Even worst T-34 were seen into this group also.

Heavy artillery was called, rounds started to fall over them but nothing seems to be able to stop them, our men were decisive engaged, pinned and overwhelm. The next few minutes were the worst of the battalion history, company B just ceased to exist.

At the north, after losing the AA guns, defenders hold the fire and led enemy to reach the objective, then opened fire. After some shots our AT-guns were able to knock the T-34, a total of 6 were destroyed. At least the north flank seemed secure.

Things always can go worse, after the annihilation of the C company the enemy armor force turned to the north against the objective, at same time enemy infantry was reaching the forest border and for our desperation they were supported by M3 Lee tanks.

Engineers squads were sent to reinforce the south flank, also tank reserve were committed, even the company A which was half depleted from the previous battle was sent to reinforce the objective. The shock between attackers armor and our defenders were brutal. Our men close assault the tanks again and again, enemy artillery started to fire a rain of fire despite hitting their own forces, we also fired our largest guns over them with also some friendly casualties, soviets had heavy losses but their numbers were so huge that they pushed our infantry out of the forest. Our tanks had token positions at the forest border, there were many smoke from grenades, fire, explosions, etc. When an enemy tank showed their nose out of the forest our tanks fired all at same time, to destroy a single T-34 were needed 16 hitting shots from us, Two of our tanks were immobilized because artillery fire, one of them has to be abandoned since it was so exposed. A third one had their main gun damage, also crews had some casualties. It looked like they were to break our lines definitively.

At the north and center objective enemy infantry started to arrive, both objective were defended by a single infantry company. Enemy size might be a battalion. Mortars and a two 75mm guns shift his fire over the new problem. Snipers did a good job, also HMG provided a good fire power. Our men were able to delay the enemy, two AT-guns were send to the south to try to help stopping the enemy.

It looked like enemy was losing their force at the south objective, many tanks were now smoking trash, they still had a huge number of infantry but they got suppressed by our artillery. After the huge losses enemy moral seemed to fall, some units begin to route. We were able to reorganize something similar to a defensive line with the incoming engineers and a few infantry squads from the A company, but all of them had several casualties and got suppressed easily even by forest fire.

At the north and center objective our men advanced recovering the victory hexes which was under enemy control, there were still many enemy infantry squads trying to advance, our remaining tanks which were still operative were sent to help dealing with enemy infantry, one of them was lost due a enemy long range shot, we were forced to take cover. Fortunately crew survived with only one casualty.

There was still more surprises ready to do his appearance, some slow T-28 tanks were reaching the front line now, at the north and center they were destroyed by AT-teams and infantry because AT-guns were suppressed or destroyed by enemy artillery. At the south more T-28 were detected but looking the panorama they retreated without attacking.

A last try was done by soviets, a small group of 6 T-60 with infantry support tried to assault the central objective. But we had enough time to rally a pair AT-guns so they were destroyed with the help of our infantry and AT-teams.


Marginal victory for us !!

Detail of the south objective at the end of the fight.



Post Battle thoughts:

We win, but which has been the price ?

Obviously my plan was flawed, in previous battles I had really bad experiences when forced to fight in open field. When I took a look of the map I was really worried about the north area, it was a big zone cleared of any obstacle, protection, etc. I though that I will hard time to defend it. That's why almost all AT-gun were there.

Also previously I had really good results using infantry in forest using close combat to destroy tanks, obviously I overestimated the possibilities of B company.

Even when it had to be clear that the south flank were in danger I still was fearing my north flank and those T-34 approaching. When I realized that the main attack were at the south and that there were so few troops to deal with it, was too late.

The disaster only could be avoided with the sacrifice of invaluable resources.

Only 18 men of about 140 of the company B are alive, Company A and C also have had big losses, many squads are reduced to 3-4 men, all AA guns are lost, most of the AT-guns are lost, just 2 snipers are left from the recon company. Tanks are the only group which survived with few losses but it is because the very conservative use which we have done because they huge limitations, I want to remember that they are Pz.Kpfw. 35(t) light tanks.

I feel like all the work to raise the experience, train our men, etc has been lost in a single battle. Yeah !! we have won but we have paid a big price for our victory, perhaps too big.

[a_ver_est]

Battalion Summary After 10 battles.


We have reached February of 1942. The campaign numbers are:

- 7 Decisive Victories
- 3 Marginal Victories

The battalion structure is like

- 1 x HQ

- 1 x Artillery Company

- 1 x Off-board gun battery ( 3 x 150mm tubes )
- 1 x field gun battery ( 4 x 75mm tubes plus 1 x AAG squad )
- 1 x 82mm mortar platoon ( 3 x 82mm tubes)
- 1 x Artillery observer

- 1 x Light tank weakened company - 6 x R2 light tanks (aka Pz.Kpfw. 35(t))

- 2 x AT-gun platoons

- 4 x 47mm At-gun
- 4 x TKS tractor

- 1 x Recon Company

- 2 x Motorbikes
- 3 x recon platoons

- 1 x sniper
- 2 x scouts

- 3 x infantry companies

- 1 x HQ
- 1 x Heavy infantry with 60mm mortar (only direct fire)
- 2 x AT-teams
- 1 x Assault platoon

- 3 x Rifle squads armed with Rifle, LMG, Hand Grenade and SMG

- 2 x Infantry platoons

- 3 x Rifle squads armed with Rifle, LMG, and Hand Grenade

- 1 x HMG platoon

- 2 x HMG

- 1 x Engineers platoon

- 4 x engineers squad

- 1 x AA guns platoon

- 4 x 20mm gun.

- 1 x support

- 3 x Ford light trucks
- 3 x pack of horses
- 4 x Ammo Trucks

This is the combat troop experience:

- Green squads: 48
- Veteran squads: 43
- Elite squads: 2 (both are Off-board guns.)

If we analyze only the infantry companies experience we can see:

- Company A: 9 of 11 infantry squad, 1 of 2 HMG and 0 of 2 At-teams are veteran.
- Company B: 4 of 11 infantry squad, 0 of 2 HMG and 0 of 2 At-teams are veteran.
- Company C: 10 of 11 infantry squad, 1 of 2 HMG and 0 of 2 At-teams are veteran.

The worst is that all company HQ are green with really penalize the rally changes, also we don't have any elite unit still.

Kill Numbers:

The top one is an 150mm Off-board gun with 29 kills.
The second one is another 150mm of board gun with with 28 kills.
The third one is an R2 (aka Pz.Kpfw. 35(t)) with 21 kills.

The top infantry unit is the I2 squad with 14 kills.

The best of the At-guns has 10 kills.