hellcat vs belisarius - back in the summer of '42

[hellcat]

The people's army have a river to the back of them and the commisars have said anyone who retreats will be shot... I'm glad that didn't include Belisarius' preliminary Nebelwerfer bombardment as it did scare the horses (!) and knock over several motorcycles - like dominoes all in a line.

The Germans were sighted by my eagle eyed peoples glorious motorcycles however, including the laughable SiG33 whence a modest artillery barrage was called for. Other motorcycle units managed to immobilise themselves (why does that always happen to me? What has my commisar got against mechanics anyway?)

we're trundling, knowing that out there be Tigers... probably...

hellcat -

[Goblin]

Not until December! Fear not the weak Tiger comrade! Destroy the invaders!

Goblin- A Goblin cheers for commies

[Belisarius]

Actually, I did have pre-production Tigers at my disposal, but I opted for other solutions...I hope they'll hurt as much

Map is around Maikop, the village is in the center, with a large hill to the north and a smaller to the south. West side is flat with scattered trees, east side has a river, several stone walls and roads. I'm starting from west, Hellcat from east.

[Belisarius]

Ah, the mighty Wehrmacht rolls forward once again! We are approaching our positions without hassle from arty or enemy. Tip to the Soviet People's Artillerty Academy - you're supposed bring the shells to land before the enemy moves out from his position.
But maybe Comrade Hellcat has gone mole-hunting?

We can see some T-34's and KV-1's, as well as some fresh horsemeat! Great, toghether with the radishes you blasted out of the ground, they'll make a great stew after this little skirmish!

Surrender now, and we might treat you to some before sending you of to the POW camps!

[hellcat]

pah! The People's glorious artillery is ready comrade soon to be powski. We just wait unit we 'know' where you are before unleashing hell. And they were not radishes in fact, they were beetroots! And I suppose every villager is a partisan too hmm?? (actually you may be right about that...)

[hellcat]

hmm lots of pzivgs and stug fs to the South... your sniper has been shot! my motorcycles keep breaking down

[Belisarius]

My sniper? Bah, nobody liked him anyway

See you've been breeding MC's as well (curses for Soviet cheap-a$$ troops!), but they're in for more than they bargained for!

Another round of moving forward with caution. All seemed well until the heaven was filled with toothpick-looking flying things - Katyushas! and BM-13's at that! Hug ground boys, this'll get loud! Fortunately, most of Hellcat's scouts are rather cross-eyed.

[hellcat]

that elusive SiG33 has now been popped open... and the peoples revolutionary airforce have scratched one pziv too. Bel' is coming on strong in the Southern sector of the map where at least a platoon of pzivs and stugs have taken up residence on the heights... my (glorious) tanks are at this very moment beginning to exchange fire with them. I'm sure you will all celebrate with me the sight of the first smoking German tank! Meanwhile many motorcycle units are returning, I'm sure it is to report further events at the front, after all they know the rules on retreating!

All hell (cat) should be breaking loose sometime very soon...

[Belisarius]

Well, the Wehrmacht has evened the score - scratch one LaGG-3 from the People's Revolutionary Air Force. Yep, it's that heap burning right in front of you. (yay! I never *downed* an aircraft before!)

I think I'm gonna let that MC run around for a while back there. He ain't gonna get to something valuable anyway...

One SiG down, the other decided to slug it out with a 76.2 AT gun, who survived the ordeal with a bad case of tinnitus. That may well apply to the stack of T-34's/Horsemeat/infantry further down south as well Tip of the day; If you know the artillery is locked on you - move. That's why I'm not up on that hill no more.

My greyclads are slowly advancing towards their objectives, through the traditional rain of mixed 122/107/82mm mortar grenades. Woohoo if I ever get to your FO's...

[hellcat]

aha! That was no lone motorcycle unit but the spearhead of my Glorious peoples Northern attacking force who are even now laying waste to a company of infantry and staking claim to the Northern heights...

My commisar was almost about to smile when I told him the news, except it was with great sadness I had to report the loss of two of our finest (and most glorious) t-34 tanks in the Southern sector where the Germans have occupied the heights with substantial armor.

you're right about nothing being at the back though.. our partisans ahem villagers report nothing to be seen at all!

[Belisarius]

Should have seen that coming considering the amount of 122's and 107's you dropped over the area :rolleyes: Ah well a slight setback but if I can rally the troops all should be well.

(I was so in doubt the last turn if I should let those guys in the north stay put or advance, but after much hesitation I opted for the latter, considering those "#¤%#¤&&#%# 122's )

Resistance in the middle and south is deceptively light. Hellcat's tubes has also turned their attention to the center village. Is this a preparation for another push, or just to keep me busy?

Ah! KV-1's! In company with some brownies! Do you think you can pull a pincher on me, Hellcat?

The single thing that bothers me most is the mortars - Soviets can, at this time, field a lot fast-response big tubes while I have nothing bigger than 82mm.

[hellcat]

The glorious peoples Northern Attack Force continue to clear the heights of the facist oppressor... our part ahem villagers report armour sighted in the German rear areas... meanwhile we're probing the central town and not surprised to find it occupied by more fascists...

I hope you had more than one fwd obs! hee hee

[Belisarius]

We are not running away, we're regrouping! Hear that?!

The probing bolsheviks at the eastern edge of the village got their nose in a bit too deep, but who cares I guess the T-34's will come in any minute.

In the meantime, the divisional artillery mistook their training rounds for live ones, and pounded the northern flank with wooden duds! Not even a T-60!

The revolutionary artillery continues to drop those 122's and 107's on me, including straight into one of the SiG's *kaboom*

It seems as if the KV crews has taken gunnery lessons, they're getting remarkably good at taking out StuG's - StuG fire is ofcourse useless. With a pen of 143@10 hexes, you'd think they had a chance... silly :rolleyes:

Really, I can't express my hatred for the KV's enough. In combination with being ¤%#¤& EVERYWHERE and the mortar artillery, I'm stuck. As usual the meeting engagement has turned into a Russian advance. Well, it will cost them dearly!

[hellcat]

The Glorious peoples Northern attack force has notched up two more Stugs on the Northern heights. There will be an extra potatoe for these valiant comrades - to share of course.

Meanwhile the attack on the central town has been called off after the sudden disappearance of the recon force we sent in. German scouts and infantry are also probing our centre line and we are exchanging fire.

Plans for a general encirclement of the German force have been approved!

[Belisarius]

I must protest to the Red Army's disrespectful treatment of the Heer's equipment! Those fine StuG's had a purpose you know, other than serving as a bbq bed! :p

We see bolshevik's everywhere, and although the center flank is still holding together, we're about to be overlapped to the north and south. (I see flametanks! Aiigh) It's Kessel Time - we're about to be in our element!

Most of the northern flank has started to take up stabilizing positions, but one platoon is still milling around in confusion up on the plateau, not knowing where to go. Watch out for those T-34's, Männer! If the south flank can hold on to the initial Tank push, we might stand a chance. (as I'm writing this, I really regret not pulling that AT gun out of harm's way...ouch again)

The divisional artillery does not yet again fail to disappoint me.
Hellcat will have a real easy round. :rolleyes:

(btw, Nebelwerfers are supposed to reload how fast? 90 secs IRL, but in the game? They're listed as 'out of ammo' ever since the pre-game bombardment )

[hellcat]

'camrade commisar... I can report our troops are now in possession of the northern heights and awaiting further orders'

commisar - 'tell them to crush the fascists!'

'camrade commisar we are bearking up the resistance in the South'

a smile begins to curl up on the commisar's face...

'but we lost two t34s...'

any hint of a smile is gone

'We did find and eliminate another forward observer however!'

commisar ' What about the town? What is taking so long? Shall I call for reinforcements?'

'I think we can handle it camrade commisar'

commisar 'well hurry up about it or I'll also request a new commander when I request reinforcements...'

[hellcat]

commisar 'well? have you taken the town and exterminated the fascist presence there?'

'er no camrade commisar, not yet'

commisar 'what?! why not? That's it I am sending for troops who can do this job, I knew this command would be too much for you'

'no...wait camrade commisar, we are moving into position'

commisar 'this is your last chance colonel...'

needless to say... Belisarius' remaining defence is proving tough to break...

[Belisarius]

A strange lull in the fighting. A few sporadic shots all over the front, and a Sapper team that decided to go home, but otherwise the only sound that can be heard is that of German jackboots.

And a strange roaring and grinding noise coming from the west... :p

We're slowly collapsing the fronts to be able to put up a good defense. Initiative is completely with the Red Army, but they will have a rough time achieving their goals. The Wehrmacht still holds on to the town VH's, but as they are on the far east side without good cover, we will probably lose them soon.

[hellcat]

a t-34 explodes heralding the arrival of Belisarius' Tigers!

'where are those reinforcements you have been going on about?'

commisar 'but I thought you said you can handle it?'

'listen! that's 88s you can hear! That means one thing... Tigers!'

commisar (eyes wide) 'Tigers?! I shall return to the rear and personally supervise your reinforcements colonel'

no gains. change of plan. Belisarius skillful defence is still holding out in the centre, all ideas of an encirclement must be shelved for the time being now the Tigers are here...

[Belisarius]

Another PzIVg claimed by a KV-1. It was trying to dash for cover, but to no avail. Lines are holding all over, as the troops keep falling back to the defense area. The platoons holding the eastern edge of the village are under a lot of pressure, as the central parts of the fronts are making contact. '34s, KV-1's, infantry and Gaz-quads along with some utility vehicles. Hmm are they carrying MMG's? :p

A small but very welcomed relief from the west, as Sgt. Reichmann and 2nd lt. Stoltz from the nearby SS Panzer division has volounteered their platoons to aid us in our glorious fight! A Tiger is a beautiful sight! One of them immediately embedded an 88 shell in a T-34's engine deck. A very volatile combination, apparently.