The Colonel passed me his binoculars while letting out a long vodka burp and said 'Vasily... what do you see over there?' He pointed across to the woods and hills in the distance...
I looked and saw Germans camouflaging their tanks in the tree line.
'Fascist Pigs!' I spat.
'Not just any fascist pigs though Vasily... Look again' The Colonel ordered between swigs of more vodka. The summer weather made him drink even more than the Winter it seemed.
I looked more closely, training the binos on the insignia of the vehicles I could see clearly. Then I realised.
'Well that is a coincidence is it not?' I said, turning to my colonel who had a wide grin on his face...
The very same unit we had faced at the frozen river, now sat across from us. They were building up for something big. Stavka had reported armoured concentrations all around the Kursk area. We had been detailed to recon and strike in force in order to disrupt the German plans... It seems our old enemies had been well reinforced since we parted... but then, so had we... we wasted no time in running back to our tank and ordering the general advance....
Summer Fury
Moderator: MOD_SPWaW
Sitting in our tank the colonel calls for the radio mike, I give it to him and he makes a call to our rear HQ...
'yeah, it's Belchovka, put me through to Nikita will you?' He looks over and smiles, the scars on his face all creasing at once.
'Nikita? It's Belchi here! Yes I need to ask you a favour...'
'Colonel?' I ask after a few minutes silence...'What is this favour you are asking?'
The Colonel's eyes turn skyward as the unmistakable drone of a Tupolev passes overhead, followed by another...
Glorious paratroopers have struck at the heart of the German rear, already they report they have spotted enemy artillery positions and destroyed an ammunition truck!
and all our force moves forward...
'yeah, it's Belchovka, put me through to Nikita will you?' He looks over and smiles, the scars on his face all creasing at once.
'Nikita? It's Belchi here! Yes I need to ask you a favour...'
'Colonel?' I ask after a few minutes silence...'What is this favour you are asking?'
The Colonel's eyes turn skyward as the unmistakable drone of a Tupolev passes overhead, followed by another...
Glorious paratroopers have struck at the heart of the German rear, already they report they have spotted enemy artillery positions and destroyed an ammunition truck!
and all our force moves forward...
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Belisarius
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Orzel Bialy
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Sommer von Fury...
Oberst Thielemann and I are standing by at the front of "Annaliesa" looking over a map as Karl and Michael go about their work of placing sections of cut underbrush to her superstructure.
The camo job is necessary even more, now that summer has arrived...perfect weather for those swarms of Il-2's to take to the air like locust.
The warmth of the early summer sun is a stark contrast and welcomed change from the cold of the winter we endured south of Kharkov. The trees and steppe here in central Ukraine are alive with the colors of bloomed trees and plants. However the swarms of flies and mosquitoes that come with this weather do tend to be an annoyance. However, that is a small price to pay in our eyes.
After the bloody battle south of Kharkov our unit was pulled from the line and re-fitted. This remarkable achievement is the result of a true Panzer-man being made General Inspector of Armored Forces...the much respected Heinz Guderian. All along the line our weary, depleted Panzer formations are being over-hauled and re-fitted. There is word that the IG is determined to return our formations to their original strengths, so as to be better able to cope with the mounting number of Russian panzers our forces are having to cope with. There can be no more welcomed words as these to the Panzer Corps.
Already we have seen replacement tanks and crews arrive...and even an influx of support elements. The only question is will we have the time to prepare these men for warfare here on the Ost Front? Most have seen duty elsewhere...so combat is not completely new to them...but they have not seen how savage it can be here in Russia.
As things stand now we are holding a sector of the line between Kharkov and Kursk. Our goal is to keep Ivan from widening the salient he formed around that railhead (Kursk) over the winter. Rumors have it we will be looking to eliminate that bulge in our line soon....but that is only speculation.
We glance at the map and look it over...trying to plan for future events.
"Ivan wird unsere Linien prüfen." herr Oberst says as he runs his finger along the map...along the area of our front lines. I agree with his assessment of Ivan's probable plans for battle.
"wir müssen ein herzliches Willkommen für ihn ordnen." I reply with a smile....Thielemann laughs and pats me on the shoulder.
Suddenly, as we look over the map the radio starts to chatter and we hear yelling and commotion among the Flak units assigned to us.
"Flugzeug nähern sich!" yells one member of a nearby Flak crew.
"Fluch!" I yell as we man our panzer. Ivan isn't wasting any time this morning.
All over the nearby fields the guns of both stationary and tracked Flak units swing upwards. Tense moments indeed. After a few moments we hear the first drone of engines...but they are not the drone of groundattack planes...they are those of higher level planes. Strategic bombing? Here? That would not make sense.
Soon we see the first planes appear over the treelines.
"Mein Gott!" herr Oberst gasps as we realize what is about to happen. Ivan is actually dropping airborne units among our lines!
The flak units open fire and dirty smudges of black smoke begin to fill the air, along with tracer fire. The planes don't seem to be affected by the hail of shot however and they glide on...then we see the black dots fall from them, followed by the blossom of their chutes.
"Dummköpfe" Karl mutters as we all watch them descend.
Already there is the sound of our HT's as they fire up their engines and begin to move out to greet our guests.
It looks as if Ivan has begun his probing of our lines.
The camo job is necessary even more, now that summer has arrived...perfect weather for those swarms of Il-2's to take to the air like locust.
The warmth of the early summer sun is a stark contrast and welcomed change from the cold of the winter we endured south of Kharkov. The trees and steppe here in central Ukraine are alive with the colors of bloomed trees and plants. However the swarms of flies and mosquitoes that come with this weather do tend to be an annoyance. However, that is a small price to pay in our eyes.
After the bloody battle south of Kharkov our unit was pulled from the line and re-fitted. This remarkable achievement is the result of a true Panzer-man being made General Inspector of Armored Forces...the much respected Heinz Guderian. All along the line our weary, depleted Panzer formations are being over-hauled and re-fitted. There is word that the IG is determined to return our formations to their original strengths, so as to be better able to cope with the mounting number of Russian panzers our forces are having to cope with. There can be no more welcomed words as these to the Panzer Corps.
Already we have seen replacement tanks and crews arrive...and even an influx of support elements. The only question is will we have the time to prepare these men for warfare here on the Ost Front? Most have seen duty elsewhere...so combat is not completely new to them...but they have not seen how savage it can be here in Russia.
As things stand now we are holding a sector of the line between Kharkov and Kursk. Our goal is to keep Ivan from widening the salient he formed around that railhead (Kursk) over the winter. Rumors have it we will be looking to eliminate that bulge in our line soon....but that is only speculation.
We glance at the map and look it over...trying to plan for future events.
"Ivan wird unsere Linien prüfen." herr Oberst says as he runs his finger along the map...along the area of our front lines. I agree with his assessment of Ivan's probable plans for battle.
"wir müssen ein herzliches Willkommen für ihn ordnen." I reply with a smile....Thielemann laughs and pats me on the shoulder.
Suddenly, as we look over the map the radio starts to chatter and we hear yelling and commotion among the Flak units assigned to us.
"Flugzeug nähern sich!" yells one member of a nearby Flak crew.
"Fluch!" I yell as we man our panzer. Ivan isn't wasting any time this morning.
All over the nearby fields the guns of both stationary and tracked Flak units swing upwards. Tense moments indeed. After a few moments we hear the first drone of engines...but they are not the drone of groundattack planes...they are those of higher level planes. Strategic bombing? Here? That would not make sense.
Soon we see the first planes appear over the treelines.
"Mein Gott!" herr Oberst gasps as we realize what is about to happen. Ivan is actually dropping airborne units among our lines!
The flak units open fire and dirty smudges of black smoke begin to fill the air, along with tracer fire. The planes don't seem to be affected by the hail of shot however and they glide on...then we see the black dots fall from them, followed by the blossom of their chutes.
"Dummköpfe" Karl mutters as we all watch them descend.
Already there is the sound of our HT's as they fire up their engines and begin to move out to greet our guests.
It looks as if Ivan has begun his probing of our lines.
The Colonel is upset... reports from the front tell of the Germans using captured T-34s! The radio is busy as our forward units report sightings of enemy tanks. One skirmish broke out with an enemy Flak HT, which has been neutralised. However, we hear the enemy AA open up once more as another Tupolev passes overhead, it's destination - the enemy rear area. I wonder what will be their fate as our first paratroopers, after their stunning success, have been all but eliminated. I hear a clap of thunder as an SU122 fires it weapon... they report to having sighted and destroyed an enemy halftrack on the road. As more skirmishes break out, I realise that once again this will be a day of battle...
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Orzel Bialy
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Armor sighted!
We listen to the reports of our HT crews filter in.
They have chased down the Russian paratroopers that have landed and killed off most of them, although there are reports of a few POW's being taken.
Then as the ground-fire starts to slacken...the flak crews cry out another warning. More aircraft have been spotted!
"Ivan wird zu diesem Morgen festgestellt." Herr Oberst says as we stand on the engine deck, watching in dis-belief as more troop transports appear over the treeline. Once more the Flak batteries open fire...and once more the plane sails through and unload their cargo. Even as they float to earth, our ground units are en route to meet them.
As we watch the airshow above the voice of Hauptman Keller bursts over the radio.
"Russische Rüstung! " comes the warning.
We turn our heads back earthward to see the sight of Russian armor pressing forward. T-34's and HT's...and a couple of those new Russian assault guns with those massive 122mm guns.
"Ivan holte seine grossen Spielwaren heute." Karl says as he slides into the turret completely.
From all along the front reports begin to flow in of enemy sightings. HT's here....panzers there....recon units here. One of the new units attached to use swing into action...ironically they are manning captured T-34's as they wait for new production model panzers to arrive from Germany. While crude in terms of their finish...the tanks are said to be robust and the sloped armor far better at deflecting shots than our beloved PzIV's.
"Die Russen scheinen, uns dieses mal zu hetzen." I say to herr Oberst as we slide into the turret ourselves.
This attack seems to be different that previous encounters...Ivan seems intent on a bull-rush to break into our positions...not what we have come to expect. Then, to add to our surprise, comes the word from our radio intercept units...these are the same elements of Popov's Armored forces we had encountered around Kharkov in Febuary!
"so treffen wir wieder." Thielemann says as he scans the advancing Ivan armor with his binoculars. "so sei es." he adds as we swing into action.
They have chased down the Russian paratroopers that have landed and killed off most of them, although there are reports of a few POW's being taken.
Then as the ground-fire starts to slacken...the flak crews cry out another warning. More aircraft have been spotted!
"Ivan wird zu diesem Morgen festgestellt." Herr Oberst says as we stand on the engine deck, watching in dis-belief as more troop transports appear over the treeline. Once more the Flak batteries open fire...and once more the plane sails through and unload their cargo. Even as they float to earth, our ground units are en route to meet them.
As we watch the airshow above the voice of Hauptman Keller bursts over the radio.
"Russische Rüstung! " comes the warning.
We turn our heads back earthward to see the sight of Russian armor pressing forward. T-34's and HT's...and a couple of those new Russian assault guns with those massive 122mm guns.
"Ivan holte seine grossen Spielwaren heute." Karl says as he slides into the turret completely.
From all along the front reports begin to flow in of enemy sightings. HT's here....panzers there....recon units here. One of the new units attached to use swing into action...ironically they are manning captured T-34's as they wait for new production model panzers to arrive from Germany. While crude in terms of their finish...the tanks are said to be robust and the sloped armor far better at deflecting shots than our beloved PzIV's.
"Die Russen scheinen, uns dieses mal zu hetzen." I say to herr Oberst as we slide into the turret ourselves.
This attack seems to be different that previous encounters...Ivan seems intent on a bull-rush to break into our positions...not what we have come to expect. Then, to add to our surprise, comes the word from our radio intercept units...these are the same elements of Popov's Armored forces we had encountered around Kharkov in Febuary!
"so treffen wir wieder." Thielemann says as he scans the advancing Ivan armor with his binoculars. "so sei es." he adds as we swing into action.
As yet another tupolev passes over me I hear the guns of the tanks at the front open up on the enemy forward positions. Some of our recon units encounter mines among the summer hedges. To give support to the brave paratroopers we target as many AA positions as we can and rain down our artillery on theirs wherever it can be found. The fascists will taste our vengeance! 
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Orzel Bialy
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Fate Plays Strange Hands...
...when it comes to war. We could not have been luckier to have happened to share our sector with a newly formed Flak Battalion this day when Ivan decided to rain down paratroopers on us.
As yet another Russian transport flies over our lines, once more the AA fire climbs up to greet it. Seeing how Ivan's artillery has even begun to pay these gallant lads ( our Flak crews ) some attention...Herr Oberst says he believes there will be even more Russian airborne activity.
As the AA shells arch skyward and explode in numerous puffs of black smoke...on the ground there is action reported as well. It would seem that Ivan has begun to probe our lines...and has stumbled upon a couple of the mines our engineers placed earlier in the month...while the sector was being used as a re-fit center for weary panzer units. Again, we count our blessings that our over-haul had just been completed.
The skirmishes flare here and there as Herr Oberst scans the developing field of battle. He orders me to inform our units to be sure to remain "fluid" targets so Ivan can not pin us down with his ability to land enormous amounts of arty fire....some of which has already begun to land in the rear of our area...an attempt it would seem to knock out our Flak and Arty positions that may have been indentified by his, thus far, badly mauled airborne forces.
"gekommen auf Ivan. Zeigen Sie Ihre Absichten." I hear Thielemann say softly to himself.
This fight is only beginning.
As yet another Russian transport flies over our lines, once more the AA fire climbs up to greet it. Seeing how Ivan's artillery has even begun to pay these gallant lads ( our Flak crews ) some attention...Herr Oberst says he believes there will be even more Russian airborne activity.
As the AA shells arch skyward and explode in numerous puffs of black smoke...on the ground there is action reported as well. It would seem that Ivan has begun to probe our lines...and has stumbled upon a couple of the mines our engineers placed earlier in the month...while the sector was being used as a re-fit center for weary panzer units. Again, we count our blessings that our over-haul had just been completed.
The skirmishes flare here and there as Herr Oberst scans the developing field of battle. He orders me to inform our units to be sure to remain "fluid" targets so Ivan can not pin us down with his ability to land enormous amounts of arty fire....some of which has already begun to land in the rear of our area...an attempt it would seem to knock out our Flak and Arty positions that may have been indentified by his, thus far, badly mauled airborne forces.
"gekommen auf Ivan. Zeigen Sie Ihre Absichten." I hear Thielemann say softly to himself.
This fight is only beginning.
The Fascist pigs have a disgusting amount of mines... they must have been here for some time! However, we have given them a bloody nose now and blown one of their captured t-34s off the top of a hill as well as a Stug and some more of his flak. There has been no word from our glorious people's paratroopers for some time however.
As the now familiar drone of another Tupolev approaches it is mixed with another sound. I take the Colonel's binoculars and train them skyward. Surely not the luftwaffe?!
My heart jumps to see a glorious soviet attack plane strafe a Tiger and then a flash as it bursts into flames. A cheer goes up along our lines at this wonderful display while yet another stick of parachutes descend slowly over the battlefield.
As the now familiar drone of another Tupolev approaches it is mixed with another sound. I take the Colonel's binoculars and train them skyward. Surely not the luftwaffe?!
My heart jumps to see a glorious soviet attack plane strafe a Tiger and then a flash as it bursts into flames. A cheer goes up along our lines at this wonderful display while yet another stick of parachutes descend slowly over the battlefield.
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Orzel Bialy
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Luftwaffe...who are they?
We watch as yet another transport glides across the sky and unloads it's cargo of brave, if not foolish, men. Once more they will be met by our forces as they descend...for we have hunting parties out en masse.
Oberst Thielemann issues me several more orders to pass along to our units as the gunfire along the front picks up. Everywhere there seems to be Russian HT's and recon teams.
An explosion rocks the groung nearby...another one of our mines seems to have caught Ivan off guard. These rather nasty, secret, gardens of death have done well in throwing off Ivans rush in places.
Hauptman Kleinamen radios in that he is dispatching a couple HT's to deal with some Russians who are trying to gain ground on a hill in his area. Herr Oberst agrees with the order and soon there is the sound of sustained MG fire. The first reports come back with positive results...Ivan has been pushed back.
Then from the southern sector comes a report from Major Kappel...more Russian HT's and armor lurking about down there as well. Herr Oberst gives the Major permission to act accordingly.
As we watch the battle unfold we here the sound that we have come to dread...the growl of Ivan's ground attack planes. There from the southwest comes another one...our Flak opens up a barrage of fire. The screaming plane seems to be too quick of a target for our already over-worked Flak teams...as it flies on through the wall of lead being sent up to greet it. We brace ourselves for another attack...as an earlier one has already destroyed one of our Tigers...
Then comes a fierce explosion...but not on the ground as expected. A 20mm burst from one of our flak units tears the tail off of the diving Russian aircraft! Just as it was about to open fire too...what a God send. Almost in slow motion the Russian plane cart-wheels through the air, spinning off a sheet of flame and debris before it slams into the woods. A mushroom cloud of ugly orange and red flames erupts into the air...the gravemarker of one dead Russian crew. What a horrible death that must have been to endure!
The bark of panzer fire re-directs our attention back to the ground...we have work to do.
Oberst Thielemann issues me several more orders to pass along to our units as the gunfire along the front picks up. Everywhere there seems to be Russian HT's and recon teams.
An explosion rocks the groung nearby...another one of our mines seems to have caught Ivan off guard. These rather nasty, secret, gardens of death have done well in throwing off Ivans rush in places.
Hauptman Kleinamen radios in that he is dispatching a couple HT's to deal with some Russians who are trying to gain ground on a hill in his area. Herr Oberst agrees with the order and soon there is the sound of sustained MG fire. The first reports come back with positive results...Ivan has been pushed back.
Then from the southern sector comes a report from Major Kappel...more Russian HT's and armor lurking about down there as well. Herr Oberst gives the Major permission to act accordingly.
As we watch the battle unfold we here the sound that we have come to dread...the growl of Ivan's ground attack planes. There from the southwest comes another one...our Flak opens up a barrage of fire. The screaming plane seems to be too quick of a target for our already over-worked Flak teams...as it flies on through the wall of lead being sent up to greet it. We brace ourselves for another attack...as an earlier one has already destroyed one of our Tigers...
Then comes a fierce explosion...but not on the ground as expected. A 20mm burst from one of our flak units tears the tail off of the diving Russian aircraft! Just as it was about to open fire too...what a God send. Almost in slow motion the Russian plane cart-wheels through the air, spinning off a sheet of flame and debris before it slams into the woods. A mushroom cloud of ugly orange and red flames erupts into the air...the gravemarker of one dead Russian crew. What a horrible death that must have been to endure!
The bark of panzer fire re-directs our attention back to the ground...we have work to do.
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Orzel Bialy
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Out of Character Post #1
Well here's the low-down thus far.
Hellcat has been dropping sticks of airborne, recon, field kitchen crews and whatever/whoever else is available at the airbases his transports are taking off from. (I think I've seen some Partisans too!)
All this in an obvious attempt to destroy the rear area of my front and take out whatever artillery I may have posted there.
So far...I think I have been able to hunt down a good portion of these airdropped annoyances...but I'm sure a couple have got through my net of "hunter groups" and will at some point cause some form of grief for me.
He has also demostrated that he was allowed to select air sections...as I lost a Tiger to one strike already.
I, on the other hand, will not be seeing anything of the great Luftwaffe so it's completely up to my ground forces in this fight.
Fortunately...again...I did decide to take a rather large amount of Flak units and these have assisted in spotting the airborne assaults and even shooting down an attack plane!
Outside of the air/counter-air section of this battle...in order to counter the fact that I had taken such a large number of Flak units (and therefore not as much armor as I would have liked to have) I also had to spend some points on mines. These I planted around the front in "trip wire" fashion..with the intention of delay. Hellcat has already found a number of my "gardens" and I'm going to venture to say that it has slowed his advance at least a little.
In typical Russian fashion...there seems to be an ambundance of Ivan Infantry and armor rolling about the front...and that damned artillery park has plowed up my rear areas something terrible!
Outside of that...for my part...I have been shooting and scooting in order to keep his arty from pinning down large sections of my forces...while also trying to keep a balance of forces deployed to counter both his units that I will meet along the front and those he has been dropping behind the front.
So over-all...I would sum this up as still in the beginning phase of each of us trying to feel out the others lines for a weak spot. The big blasts are probably just around the corner.
Hellcat has been dropping sticks of airborne, recon, field kitchen crews and whatever/whoever else is available at the airbases his transports are taking off from. (I think I've seen some Partisans too!)
All this in an obvious attempt to destroy the rear area of my front and take out whatever artillery I may have posted there.
So far...I think I have been able to hunt down a good portion of these airdropped annoyances...but I'm sure a couple have got through my net of "hunter groups" and will at some point cause some form of grief for me.
He has also demostrated that he was allowed to select air sections...as I lost a Tiger to one strike already.
I, on the other hand, will not be seeing anything of the great Luftwaffe so it's completely up to my ground forces in this fight. Fortunately...again...I did decide to take a rather large amount of Flak units and these have assisted in spotting the airborne assaults and even shooting down an attack plane!
Outside of the air/counter-air section of this battle...in order to counter the fact that I had taken such a large number of Flak units (and therefore not as much armor as I would have liked to have) I also had to spend some points on mines. These I planted around the front in "trip wire" fashion..with the intention of delay. Hellcat has already found a number of my "gardens" and I'm going to venture to say that it has slowed his advance at least a little.
In typical Russian fashion...there seems to be an ambundance of Ivan Infantry and armor rolling about the front...and that damned artillery park has plowed up my rear areas something terrible!
Outside of that...for my part...I have been shooting and scooting in order to keep his arty from pinning down large sections of my forces...while also trying to keep a balance of forces deployed to counter both his units that I will meet along the front and those he has been dropping behind the front.
So over-all...I would sum this up as still in the beginning phase of each of us trying to feel out the others lines for a weak spot. The big blasts are probably just around the corner.
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Orzel Bialy
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Pin-Prick attacks....
Oberst Thielemann stretches a map out upon his knee and points to two places on the map where he believes Ivan is looking to make a breakthrough.
As he speaks we hear the drone of yet another Russian transport plane go overhead...and in typical fashion the bark of AA fire that raises up to greet it. Once again we hear, even from within the turret of our panzer, a loud "thwack" sound.
"Ein Erfolg! Ein anderes Flugzeug geht unten!" the excited voice of one of the Flak crews crackles over the radio. It would seem they have claimed another victim. Then another gunner comes over the R/T..."sie springen heraus." Those poor bastards are jumping from the burning aircraft...and into the teeth of the "Jägergruppens" herr Oberst has stationed around the front to deal with these airborne pests.
We return to the map and herr Oberst tells me what orders he wants relayed to the various units in the areas he thinks Ivan will conduct his main pushes in.
As I go about relaying these orders more and more reports flow in from along our entire front. It would seem our engineer-planted mine fields are taking a heavy toll of Ivans HT's...five are reported out of action already...and Ivan's infantry have been caught up in them as well. Just as planned...for our meager forces could not deal with both airborne and ground forces all at once...these mines will buy us just enough time it seems. We had forgot that herr Oberst had been promoted from a unit of the 21st Panzer Division...which had served with Das Afrika Korps under Field Marshal Rommel...a master of using mines against the Tommies! So far the tactic has paid off handsomely.
To the north we get reports of Infantry probing the woods...in the town his scouts have been seen and fire-fights have resulted...to the center Ivan seems to be making a push to take a small hill with a vital road running over it...and to the south he has assembled and moved forward a large body of men. The fights here have cost us two captured T-34' s and a StuG...but we re-buff the assault for now. To top off everything we lose a HT to Russian armor that is attempting to flank our extreme southern positions...the battle is really starting to heat up it seems.
As he speaks we hear the drone of yet another Russian transport plane go overhead...and in typical fashion the bark of AA fire that raises up to greet it. Once again we hear, even from within the turret of our panzer, a loud "thwack" sound.
"Ein Erfolg! Ein anderes Flugzeug geht unten!" the excited voice of one of the Flak crews crackles over the radio. It would seem they have claimed another victim. Then another gunner comes over the R/T..."sie springen heraus." Those poor bastards are jumping from the burning aircraft...and into the teeth of the "Jägergruppens" herr Oberst has stationed around the front to deal with these airborne pests.
We return to the map and herr Oberst tells me what orders he wants relayed to the various units in the areas he thinks Ivan will conduct his main pushes in.
As I go about relaying these orders more and more reports flow in from along our entire front. It would seem our engineer-planted mine fields are taking a heavy toll of Ivans HT's...five are reported out of action already...and Ivan's infantry have been caught up in them as well. Just as planned...for our meager forces could not deal with both airborne and ground forces all at once...these mines will buy us just enough time it seems. We had forgot that herr Oberst had been promoted from a unit of the 21st Panzer Division...which had served with Das Afrika Korps under Field Marshal Rommel...a master of using mines against the Tommies! So far the tactic has paid off handsomely.
To the north we get reports of Infantry probing the woods...in the town his scouts have been seen and fire-fights have resulted...to the center Ivan seems to be making a push to take a small hill with a vital road running over it...and to the south he has assembled and moved forward a large body of men. The fights here have cost us two captured T-34' s and a StuG...but we re-buff the assault for now. To top off everything we lose a HT to Russian armor that is attempting to flank our extreme southern positions...the battle is really starting to heat up it seems.
we watch as the glorious people's army advances, it is a tremendous site, parachutes descending while our airforce strafes and the infantry and armour press the German fascist pig lines. The mines are a big problem for us but they will not slow us down for long. We have also come into range of the enemy 88s. The germans have made themselves comfortable while they have been here... it's time to make them uncomfortable!
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Orzel Bialy
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The Assault Continues
We are becoming immune to the drone of Ivan's Tupolev's...it has become so familiar now. Though I must admit we are all surprised by how determined the Russians are to keep at their drops despite the grim losses they have taken.
So far reports coming in from the field place the number of dead paratroopers between 150 to 200...not including the 50 or so prisoners that have been rounded up.
Herr Oberst gives me another round of orders to issue to our forces in the field. Ivan has stepped up his pushes within the town and to the south along a wooded hill...these two area's have seen the most fighting so far.
As I relay an order to Hauptmann Keller several quick salvos of 88's ATG's shatter the summer air. Our AT screen has joined the fray as well now! Over the headsets I hear the cheers of the gun crews as two T-34's are stopped dead in their tracks...and turn into masses of twisted metal and flames. Burning debris showers down upon the grasslands of the steppe...starting small fires that mix with those from the burning petrol which leaks from the shattered hulks. Quickly the blue sky of summer is being marred by thick columns of smoke that billow up to the heavens...mixing with the smears of AA bursts as they fade in the wind.
The crescendo of battle descends upon the entire front rapidly. Everywhere we can hear the thwack of AA fire, the thud of artillery, the blasts of Panzer cannon fire and the rattle of small arms. Then there are the explosions...some rubble like distant thunder...and roll in over the land. Others are more sudden and jarring....and you feel your insides literally quake enough to bring on a second or two of queeziness.
I pass along a report to Oberst Thielemann from Major Kappel...he has taken out a large KV tank to the south...but was then attacked by a Russian Aircraft. He has sent a man out to assess the damage. Even with an entire battalion of flak guns, Ivan still pours in through the air. It is enough to make me reflect and wish for the return of the "good times"....when we had such support from our Luftwaffe. How things have changed.
So far reports coming in from the field place the number of dead paratroopers between 150 to 200...not including the 50 or so prisoners that have been rounded up.
Herr Oberst gives me another round of orders to issue to our forces in the field. Ivan has stepped up his pushes within the town and to the south along a wooded hill...these two area's have seen the most fighting so far.
As I relay an order to Hauptmann Keller several quick salvos of 88's ATG's shatter the summer air. Our AT screen has joined the fray as well now! Over the headsets I hear the cheers of the gun crews as two T-34's are stopped dead in their tracks...and turn into masses of twisted metal and flames. Burning debris showers down upon the grasslands of the steppe...starting small fires that mix with those from the burning petrol which leaks from the shattered hulks. Quickly the blue sky of summer is being marred by thick columns of smoke that billow up to the heavens...mixing with the smears of AA bursts as they fade in the wind.
The crescendo of battle descends upon the entire front rapidly. Everywhere we can hear the thwack of AA fire, the thud of artillery, the blasts of Panzer cannon fire and the rattle of small arms. Then there are the explosions...some rubble like distant thunder...and roll in over the land. Others are more sudden and jarring....and you feel your insides literally quake enough to bring on a second or two of queeziness.
I pass along a report to Oberst Thielemann from Major Kappel...he has taken out a large KV tank to the south...but was then attacked by a Russian Aircraft. He has sent a man out to assess the damage. Even with an entire battalion of flak guns, Ivan still pours in through the air. It is enough to make me reflect and wish for the return of the "good times"....when we had such support from our Luftwaffe. How things have changed.
'here, here and here' I show the colonel where we are breaking through on the map. He nods enthusiastically and I am amazed he is not too drunk yet!
I ask him why our paras are dropping in single sticks rather than in one large landing and he explains to me that there is only transport plane available and it must return to the base to pick up the next units. I fear this tactic has left many men vulnerable on the ground without support and that we can expect little help from them.
Enemy Tiger Tanks are still picking off some of our tanks but most of our armour is biding it's time, waiting for the moment of breakthru!
I ask him why our paras are dropping in single sticks rather than in one large landing and he explains to me that there is only transport plane available and it must return to the base to pick up the next units. I fear this tactic has left many men vulnerable on the ground without support and that we can expect little help from them.
Enemy Tiger Tanks are still picking off some of our tanks but most of our armour is biding it's time, waiting for the moment of breakthru!
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Orzel Bialy
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Ivan's Regard for Life....
Yet another airdrop reported by our "Jagergruppens" and once more they are set upon by these hunter groups that are prowling about. The dead bodies of these Russian troops litter the fields in our rear area...some still have their parachutes attached and these torn, white death shrouds softly billow just above the ground...flapping in the wind.
"Russische Infanterie rücken nach dem Hügel vor." comes the call from Hauptman Briess.
"Wo? Was Sektor?" asks Thielemann.
I relay the inquiry immediately to Briess and he gives the reply quickly, "zentraler Sektor, des Hügels 85."
Herr Oberst looks at the map as I lean over to see it as well. Ivan has been busy testing our lines...perhaps he believes he has found an area where he can attempt a breakthrough?
"Erklären Sie Briess, daß ich Unterstützung sende." Herr Oberst says after he studies the map for a moment. He points to a unit symbol on the map and tells me to order them to advance towards Briess' position. I do so immediately.
Outside the battle continues to rage...and grow. Ivan does not rush his panzers forward any more...but instead uses his infantry and HT's to probe and test. We know fully well he will try to push through his panzers when he thinks he can press an advantage. We must, therefore, do everything to keep him from breaching the dam.
"Russische Infanterie rücken nach dem Hügel vor." comes the call from Hauptman Briess.
"Wo? Was Sektor?" asks Thielemann.
I relay the inquiry immediately to Briess and he gives the reply quickly, "zentraler Sektor, des Hügels 85."
Herr Oberst looks at the map as I lean over to see it as well. Ivan has been busy testing our lines...perhaps he believes he has found an area where he can attempt a breakthrough?
"Erklären Sie Briess, daß ich Unterstützung sende." Herr Oberst says after he studies the map for a moment. He points to a unit symbol on the map and tells me to order them to advance towards Briess' position. I do so immediately.
Outside the battle continues to rage...and grow. Ivan does not rush his panzers forward any more...but instead uses his infantry and HT's to probe and test. We know fully well he will try to push through his panzers when he thinks he can press an advantage. We must, therefore, do everything to keep him from breaching the dam.
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Orzel Bialy
- Posts: 2569
- Joined: Thu Apr 04, 2002 5:39 am
- Location: Wisconsin USA
- Contact:
Fire-fights...
The rattle of small arms fire seems to dominate the landscape suddenly now....only every minute or so do you hear the thunderclap of artillery or the roar of a panzer cannon.
I pass along to Herr Oberst report after report of Russian infantry pressing the advance along our line. In most spots he is repulsed with heavy losses...but here and there Ivan seems to be creeping through ever so slightly.
"Sollte ich für Infanterieunterstützung senden?" I ask herr Oberst.
"Nr. nicht schon." Oberst Thielemann replies with a slight wave of his hand. Herr Oberst would like to wait and see Ivan commit his panzers first it seems.
As the gunfire continues to grow in intensity all along the front we are again forced to strain our ears to make out yet another sound...once more comes the drone of a Tupolev. Once more the Flak rises up and scores hits...and once more foolish Russian soldiers jump into the arms of waiting death.
"I Pity jene Männer." herr Oberst says softly as we listen to the swell of gunfire that erupts as our Jagergruppens attack these poor bastards. Over the radio you can, at times, hear the screams of the Russian paratroopers as they are gunned down...some while still in the air.
At times it seems a sad waste really.
I pass along to Herr Oberst report after report of Russian infantry pressing the advance along our line. In most spots he is repulsed with heavy losses...but here and there Ivan seems to be creeping through ever so slightly.
"Sollte ich für Infanterieunterstützung senden?" I ask herr Oberst.
"Nr. nicht schon." Oberst Thielemann replies with a slight wave of his hand. Herr Oberst would like to wait and see Ivan commit his panzers first it seems.
As the gunfire continues to grow in intensity all along the front we are again forced to strain our ears to make out yet another sound...once more comes the drone of a Tupolev. Once more the Flak rises up and scores hits...and once more foolish Russian soldiers jump into the arms of waiting death.
"I Pity jene Männer." herr Oberst says softly as we listen to the swell of gunfire that erupts as our Jagergruppens attack these poor bastards. Over the radio you can, at times, hear the screams of the Russian paratroopers as they are gunned down...some while still in the air.
At times it seems a sad waste really.
A Tupolev gets shot down before dropping it's men... my plans to drop a plane load every round for 12 rounds was designed to upset my opponent but with all his flak, the mines and what not it has not been a success, apart from the first few rounds. It's not that the plan was unsound, rather in this specific setup it has not worked. never mind.
we shot out the gun on the Stug guarding the pass to the South, but that still leaves a Tiger there. Elsewhere we're shot up some support vehicles and are still waiting for the moment of breakthru...
we shot out the gun on the Stug guarding the pass to the South, but that still leaves a Tiger there. Elsewhere we're shot up some support vehicles and are still waiting for the moment of breakthru...