Belphegor Vs MBelew

[mbelew]

[center]Belphegor Vs MBelew[/center]
[center]Myshkova River Crossing
December 18, 1942[/center]


[center]Belphegor is German, attacking
MBelew is Russian, defending[/center]

[mbelew]

Before the battle started I announced on the forums I was looking for an opponent. My forum post was titled “Bring It”. Well, I have to say “It” was brought.

December 18, 1942
The battle started out heavily in my favor. I was defending, so I automatically have victory points in my toward my score. I could also see quite a bit of the battlefield since I had some infantry in a tower. The first order of business is to blanket the area with artillery. Within the first four turns, I had popped three panzers. Things were going well, Belphegor ordered a retreat into the woods for regroup.

[mbelew]

My next genius tactical decision probably cost me the game. I ordered my right flank to cross the frozen Myshkova in order to take down those cowardly Germans. To my dismay, a platoon of Panzers popped out of the woods directly in front of my T-34’s. The T-34’s were caught with their pants down, and were easily taken out.

Lucky for me, I had some spare units I could send to support the right flank. However, they were both destroyed within the same phase. In fact, I think I lost up to five armored units in that phase. Things were starting to look bad. The tide was turning. I needed a beer.

[mbelew]

I refused to stand down though, as the Germans still had to cross the river to claim the final objective. I had an anti tank gun pounding away at them while they were near the bridge. I kept the artillery coming.

[mbelew]

The artillery was also raining down from the German side. My anti tank gun got the worst of it. After the AT gun loss, the bridge was left unprotected. It was up to my last T34 to sneak up on them as they crossed. I’m pretty sure he didn’t even get a shot off before biting the dust.

[mbelew]

[center]Marginal Loss[/center]

For me, this was a really fun match. I held two of the flags for most of the game keeping it fairly close. There were also a few moments of sheer happiness, one of which was when my artillery struck a direct hit on one of his Panzer's. I'm pretty sure Belphegor had the same euphoria when my AT gun was finally destroyed, "happiness is an artillery direct hit on a pesky AT gun".

We'll meet again, Belphegor!

[Belphegor]

I didn't keep any screenshots... sorry next time

I started out with my pz units well back. I had some dismounted infantry forward near the edge of the woods to spot what was waiting for me. Most of my units began on my right side, with 1 platoon of Pz on the left to stir things up once he focussed on my main attack.

Getting into position was a real pain, he spotted me and ranged me much further back than I expected, I lost momentum early getting my pz's knocked out by his tanks, ATs and artillery (of all things) So I stopped where I was and started shooting back.

For a few turns the only things exploding were my tanks and my blood pressure. The flank platoon on the left took forerver to get in place and then promptly took hits from T34s I knew were there (spotted by inf).

The next round, as you know. Went my way almost completely.

I arty'd the heck out of the woods on the far side of the bridge (there was at least one AT gun there) and mounted up my other inf for an assault over the river and up the hill.

Tanks across the bridge (mainly so I wouldn't get my inf surprised and give him something to look at. Inf dismounted below the crest of the far bank and were advancing into the woods when the time ended. My flanking pzs were taking the AT guns emplaced in town under fire; my remaining tanks finally crossing the bridge.

I took 2 of the 3 objectives, but lost a lot. I also was very much held up by the defence and spent too much time trying to make sure my river crossing wasn't going to be the disaster my approach was.

Great game!

[Erik Rutins]

Nice AAR, thanks! Panzer Command really is a lot of fun in PBEM against another human. I encourage everyone to give it a try as it really gives each battle new life when in a human's hands.