Mini Hofen AAR by Daz

[dazkaz15]

Slide 41

[Phoenix100]

1-752 has lost about 10 men, I guess, a little under 10% of what they started with. Morale is awful too, though I guess it started out only around 40%. That's certainly a feature of this scenario - that aside from the fusiliers everyone seems dispirited and knackered to start with, and still time is against you, so it's not surprising this kind of thing happens, no? What else can you do? I wonder if they'll be attacked and end up surrendering? Do you know, Daz, at what level of fatigue they become unable to move except by routing?

[dazkaz15]

Yeah morale always starts low.
I guess my moral would not be very high in the conditions these guys had to fight in, even before I saw any action!

When fatigue gets into the 80%-90% zone they start to have big problems, with completing orders, and bunkering down.
I can't recall ever seeing one over 90% as I think they automatically rest before then, no matter how hard you kick them [:'(]

[dazkaz15]

Slide 42

[dazkaz15]

Slide 43

[dazkaz15]

Slide 44

[loki100]

good to see your defensive lines holding up so well, despite possibly over-extending in your night attack

seems as if the Americans are reduced to making isolated unco-ordinated counterattacks - but I presume you need to get back on the offensive yourself at some stage?

[dazkaz15]

Yeah, but I'm going to let them beat themselves up on my defensive positions a bit first [;)]

There is still plenty to do during the day managing the Artillery.
My infantry will be on the move again just before last light when I put out my recon patrols.

Then the main attacks on Mutzenich, and Kalterherberg will go in just before Dawn I expect.

[dazkaz15]

Slide 45

[Phoenix100]

How frustrating, that M8.Have you surrendered to ensure it IS only 1 M8? The intel is often out, as you know.

[dazkaz15]

No, not yet.
Intel is excellent on it, and excellent Intel from my experience in never very far out.

What else could be there anyway that could survive all that its done, and still be putting up a good fight?
I know from experience that if it was a stolen Tiger, MK VI it would have been destroyed a very long time ago, assuming that the Allies hand help AT weapons are only as effective as the Axis ones.
Medium and heavy armour are next to useless in low vis attacking dug in infantry, especially without infantry support.

I wouldn't mind half as much it surviving if it wasn't for the fact it keeps forcing vastly more powerful units, to retreat out of their dug in positions, where they become visible, and vulnerable, to arty bombardment that it then does the spotting for!
Making the defending unit use all its AT ammo in a futile attempts to hit it, also causes problems with supply, and makes them more vulnerable to attack from other armoured units as well.

The patch is out any day now anyway, so lets hope it has solved this problem.

[dazkaz15]

Slide 46

[Phoenix100]

Those Axis troops look rightly puzzled...

[ComradeP]

Excellent AAR thus far dazkaz!

In the last screenshot, there seems to be a problem with artillery ammunition as the Soviet howitzers seem to have received PaK 44 ammo.

[dazkaz15]

ORIGINAL: ComradeP

Excellent AAR thus far dazkaz!

In the last screenshot, there seems to be a problem with artillery ammunition as the Soviet howitzers seem to have received PaK 44 ammo.

Oh yeah!
They are going to have trouble ramming them 12.8cm rounds up them 12.2cm barrels [:'(]
I would never have spotted that, you have sharp eyes [;)]

ORIGINAL: phoenix

Those Axis troops look rightly puzzled...

Not half as puzzled as I would look if I ever get to see one of them M8's up close [:D]

Slide 47

[dazkaz15]

I have updated to the latest patch now, and am having some problems with supply being interdicted, and the supply routes are not being drawn properly.
As this is only related to the save (its fine from a new game) I'm just going to ignore the problem.
As its a short scenario, I doubt it will have much effect anyway on the outcome.

Slide 48

[loki100]

in game terms it looks like you've absorbed and broken up the American countetattack, so will you push forward as another night operation?

more than the results, really appreciate the work you are putting into this, it is really helping me to see ways to control a battle that I've been missing up to now

[ComradeP]

I wonder why the Hoeckerlinie itself seems to be considered good defensive terrain, I didn't really think about it before but the majority of the line would be nearly waist high dragon's teeth and various AT obstacles.

If you dig in between them, they provide decent protection from direct fire, but there's no overhead cover at all. The bunkers protecting the line would be behind the line, not at the line itself (unless the game abstracts the defenses into it too, but the line seems too narrow for that).

[dazkaz15]

Hope this answers your question loki100.

ComradeP
Ill chat about that later with an image I found of the Dragons teeth, when I get time.

Thanks for your interest in the AAR guys [:)]
Slide 49

[dazkaz15]

Slide 50