i'm at the beginning of the third battle of the new stalingrad camp...and it's been fantastic so far (since im at the beginning of the third battle all "irregular" forces/platoons have been upgraded since the beginning, attached, etc, etc)
heres my force comp, grouped the way i generally use them on the battlefield
(i play with all realism options turned on, limited ammo and C&C ON)
-HQ-
1 Kommandeur
1 SS Command Squad (for the SS Company)
-Infantry Company-
3 Platoons of SS Infantry ( each platoon consists of: 4xInf Squads w/sMG42 & AT Rifle attached)
-Recon Element-
1 Elite Mech Platoon (2xSdKfz 250/9, 3xSdKfz 250/1, 3xSpaeher Troops, 2xSpaehers)
1 Mixed Recon Platoon (3xKradschuetzen attached to 3xSdKfz 231 8Rad)
1 Light Recon Detachment (2xSchwimmwagen, 1xSpaeher Troop)
1 Light SP Artillery Detachment (2xSdKfz 250/7)
1 Spec Op Platoon (3xBrandenburgers)
-Armor Support-
1 Platoon PzIVf2 long barrel (x4)
1 Platoon StuG 4f (x3)
-Artillery Support-
1 Platoon SP Artillery (5xSdKfz 250/7, 1xFO)
1 Platoon AAA (4xSdKfz 7/1 20mm FlaK Vierling)
most units are veteran or elite after two battles
the first scenario was a relative cakewalk...i was kicking partisan a** all over the map...IIRC i lost a truck or two and a couple motorcyclists...got all my core & convoy units off the map
the second scenario went well until i hit the T-50s....they slowed me down but my PzIVs made short work of them....then the soviets started attacking again in the "nameless village"
(and what an attack it was....holy crap!) .... they ambushed a convoy of empty trucks there......my Flak Trucks (escorting the convoy) were barely holding them off....some quick reassignment of objectives & i had my third platoon of infantry & my motorcycle/8Rad platoon there...managed to beat them back and retake the VHs
so i managed to get decisive victories on the first two scenarios....and now im on the thresh-hold of jumping headfirst into the third one
from checking out everybody elses AARs i've gotten a lil apprehensive........this will be my core's first run-in with the "soviet hordes" and i'm dreading the casualities i know i'll sustain...
i've tried not to absord much of the "spoiler" information, so i'm going into #3 relatively "cherry" (so to speak) & i think itll be quite a mess (for the soviets, hopefully!)
my supporting units are:
3xPlatoons of 5 HTs each (for infantry)
1xDetachment of 2 Hts (for the HQs)
1xKrupp Truck (the truck with the AAMG...for my FO)
2xStukas
2xHenschels w/ 3cm Rockets
1xHenschel w/AP Cluster thingamajogs (heh)
ive deployed my forces as follows
A: nothing but aux units
B: the bulk of my forces (2nd & 3rd inf platoons, HQ detachment, PzIVs, Flak Trucks, Mortar/FO Platoon)
C: All Recon Units, StuGs, 1st inf platoon
my plan:
A: After clearing the right side soviet-held hilltop with inf and CS tanks, I'll have the 5cm armed Pzs & marders initially take up overwatch high up on the hill while my infantry advance on the right and left soviet held woods areas...the left PzIVf2s will support the left side recon forces, inf platoon, and CS PzIVs in clearing the left treeline and large left stand of trees...the center PzIVf2s will escort/protect a platoon of infantry advancing on the center village....right side recon & the PzII 20mm platoon will move to the right and assist
B: the PzIIIs will escort the three inf platoons (1 AUX, 2 Core) as they move on the center village...the core PzIVf2s, flak trucks, AUX motorcyclists & mortar/FO platoon will move to the right along the ridgeline & clear it as they go...my HQ detachment will move to the small pond/farm near the center village w/the marders
C: recon elements will clear the lower village and flank & secure the woods, infantry and StuGs will support
few plans survive initial contact w/the enemy, so i expect i'll be changing objectives & missions as the situation evolves
i've gotta fly back to OH this morning but i'll update as soon as i finish the scenario
also, i'll be installing the h2h mod eventually.......
ok....next report from the don river is pending completion of the mission objectives
here i go...