Elephant Hunt: Semi-Interactive AAR

[Mad Russian]

2nd Tank Company is ordered to the north and east to put eyes on the terrain. We need to make sure that there is no enemy force moving through the trees to our north or east.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

3rd Tank Company is ordered to push the recon forward about 100 meters further, while at the same time, moving the entire rest of the company forward to just south of current location of the company commander.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

The orders we have given look like this. 1st Infantry Platoon continues to move due north up the face of Hill 254. Slowly but steadily.

So far, nothing new to report. 1 additional German HT was hit and destroyed. The others pulled back and now all is quiet.

To quiet.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

A runner just brought a message from 1st Infantry Platoon but he was so out of breath that I couldn't understand what he was saying. I made him take a deep breath and repeat the message.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

He looked at me wild eyed and shouted, "Elephants, they come!"

I certainly got the message that time.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

Not only the western most squad of the platoon but the entire platoon was encountering the monsters all across their front.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

Moving rapidly to a point where I could see what was happening on the western side of Hill 254, I looked with my own eyes.

There they were. 3 of the biggest German vehicles. These were the monsters that had been used at Ponyri Station just days before.

These were the ones that proved so susceptible to infantry attack. The one commodity in such short supply to us here. These are the monsters we will get to deal with now with tank guns.

For Mother Russia we accept this challenge.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

What to do now?

At least we know where the enemy is. That means we know where he isn't as well.

The orders go out.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

2nd Tank Company is to immediately stop it's redeployment to the north and east.

All other orders stand as given.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

The 2nd Tank Company is to hold it's current position.

1st Tank Company's orders will allow for it to move directly to the south of the German armor. 3rd Tank Company's orders will allow it to move to the west flank of the German formation.

Currently no shots have been traded with the German machines.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

1st Infantry Platoon holds it's position and keeps the enemy in sight.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

And so the dance continues.

1st Tank Company moves up into the trees just behind 2nd Infantry Platoon.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

The rest of 1st Tank Company has orders to move forward.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

2nd Tank Company continues to regroup and face to the west. Something to think about are those questionable location markers.

Are those more recon HT's or infantry? Nothing to worry about if they are HT's but if they are infantry that's a whole other kettle of fish.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

While the 3rd Tank Company continues to move around the western flank of Hill 254 the commander gets some kind of indication that he has company other than his tanks.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

The tension rises. We know where the Germans are, and we can see 3 of the huge beasts, but there are unsettling indications that we still don't have the full German force sitting in front of us.

Just how strong is this force?

How long before the shooting starts and will we be in position on the western flank when it does?

It's a race against time.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

Two things are obvious, the Germans have moved into the area in two separate columns/groups.

Our initial contact with them was what seems to have been a recon or screening element on the German eastern flank. Whether this was a recon element or screening element has yet to be determined.

We aren't sure if the Germans were always coming forward in two groups or if the contact with our 2nd Tank Company diverted the second German group to further to the west.

Presently several of the recon HT's have been destroyed. However there are more to been seen with the heavy armor elements that are advancing more or less over the top of Hill 254.

While we are maneuvering to attack the grouping that contains the heavy armored elements there is a chance that there is more to this attack than we have met to this point.

We have moved out at 1400 exactly and it has now been 12 minutes and we have successfully initiated contact. While we have inflicted damage on the enemy we have sustained no damage to our own units. At present we have a single tank in 2nd Tank Company that has some drive train issues. Otherwise the battalion is fully operational and prepared to engage.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

The German elements move slowly forward. Each has it's commander with an open hatch scanning the terrain for Soviet threats.

They know we are here somewhere.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

I want my tank companies to hit these beasts in their vulnerable flanks.

This is the view I hope to get for every tank gunner in my battalion.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

1st Tank Company continues to move forward into the woods. The movement is very slow. Cautiously the tanks move forward. They don't want to give away their positions too early. The German guns will have no problem killing a T-34.

Good Hunting.

MR