WC2003 Round 2 Ironfist vs Willy

[stevemk1a]

Cpl Jenkins rubs his eyes and peers intently in to the smoke filled forest looking for the source of the squealing metal sound and the low engine rumble - "that there's no Bedford twin six, chum ... " remarks the older man beside him: "I worked on the London busses, and that there's not a Churchill tank motor, it's a diesel motor an' a big 'un too!" "Quiet! replies Jenkins, go see if Sarge has any more grenades ... we're gonna need them ..."

Still fairly quiet, but we're being pushed steadily back up north ...

[Ironfist]

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Herr Oberst, The British advance in the North has stopped. We pushed back the remaining scouts. Sherman tanks still lurking in the woods. No fighting through the central section. Armored halftracks and tanks moving in the southern mountain range. Heavey pre bombardment falling there as well. A Platoon of armor trying to flank us in the north better call Sgt. Steiner up! Where's those **** reinforcements ??? and has anyone found Capt Stransky yet ? We're exspecting a major push in his sector. Das ist allest......
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

[stevemk1a]

"Situation report Sah!!" the adjutant declares as he snaps to attention in Col. willy's command bunker. The Col. puts down his Gin and tonic and butts out his cigarette: "Oh, do continue, old chap..." he declares with a casual wave "Well, the enemy is probing in the north with several Lahti AT gun teams backed by KV heavy tanks, and the main push seems to be developing from the northern Finn held objectives towards the middle objective area ... we feel there may be a danger of a supporting push from behind the central hills ... southern sector is quiet." "Very well Leftenant ... " replies willy " all very very tiresome, what?, join me for a few drinks and we'll discuss my new cunning plan..."

[Ironfist]

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Kompfgruppe Celtic Frost ,
As the smoke clears the British seem to have fallen back and regrouped. No enemy columns sighted. Heavey artillery bombardment in central map. I think they may be Re-grouping for a major push. As it stands neither side has a clear advantage. Looks like the British will have to pay if they want to gain any more ground. We found Capt. Stransky. He had taken shelter in an abandoned T-50. His Company thought He was KIA. Any reports from our long range patrols ? "Ja vohl mein Herr, All's quite on the Front. Small skirmish here and there but no Mass enemy force spotted." I think our assault surprised those buggers. Well maybe they'll think twice before invading our homeland agian. "Why are they here mein Herr? ","Not sure Hauptmann ? One of the prisoners said something about reindeer and some guy named Nick?" Strange... I hope they brought plenty of warm clothes. It may start snowing at any time.

[stevemk1a]

"Message for you, sir - it's Monty!" the radioman hands Col willy the handset. "willy here .... " "We are vewy vewy disturbed by the lack of progress in your sector Colonel". Willy shoots back the rest of his Gin and tonic and replies: "we have encountered strong resistance from a unit equipped with Soviet heavy armour and - "NO EXCUSES!! we are sending you reinforcements and I expect to see some results ... out"

[Ironfist]

Northern Sector;
+ + + + + + + + + + + +
Herr Oberst, Sgt. Jarvi's 7.6 AT-Rifle team spotted a sherman tank and have called in artillery support. KV-1 Has moved to the high ground east of crossroads. Long range "Sissi" patrol Sgt. Hietanen has sighted the enemys secondary line.
No action in the center except for some heavey shelling. Ammo and food have arrived. Capt. Stransky has rallied his men in the southern mountain range. They have killed two In.f recon units and have a infantry squad retreating. Looks like Recon in Force.....
Das ist allest.

[Ironfist]

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Achtung ALL Kompfgruppes, Enemy troops are to be engaged and driven back. Long range patrols have sighted "Aux" armor moving to the center. Our Artillery Fire is having a direct effect. Several vehicles seen exsploding. British armor massed in the North. Five shermans spotted. Sgt. Jarvi killed a Daimler MKIAC with his AT-Rifle. No Action in the Central Area. Infantry may try to filter through.
In Southern Mountain range. Sgt. Lehto kills two men then the Rifle squad retreats. Sgt. Kapanen killed a Scout team and forced back a Rifle squad. Capt. Nisonen Kills one man and causes them to withdraw. Additional support came from Sgt Kekkonen with their twin 7.62mm Ltkk31 firing on a British AT-gun and disabled FO unit. Suspect the British may be running out of Foot Soldiers. Agian, ALL Kompfgruppes Forward!!!

[stevemk1a]

At the top of a rocky hilltop towards the rear of the British positions, a young Subaltern trudges through the snow towards a Lewis gun emplacement: "All quiet back here boys, looks like you have a good view of the battle too ... what's happening?" "'Allo, sir we've been watching our boys take pot shots at Finn heavies in that field up north from that there treeline for quite a while now ... lots of firin' and arty come down on that road runnin' across our front - hard fightin' there" the gunner gestures to his left with a thick finger at a barely visible road pitted with craters and shrouded in smoke "further on south you can see our boys at the crossroads an' in the forest to the north of it ... the baddies are in those hills an' beyond .. in fact we saw a T34 large as life come over that hill with men hangin' off it like flies not five minutes ago ... shootin' at our lads!"

Aux spotted ... attack is brewing

[Ironfist]

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Kompfgruppe Celtic Frost Attacking Herr Oberst, Gut Das ist allest.............
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

[stevemk1a]

Finns are attacking, in the north KV's run into a bunch of reinforcing Churchills and in the south, infantry and T34's are also spotted ... arty is ranged in and my forces press in to look for gaps ... the fighting starts to heat up now!

[Ironfist]

Herr Oberst, Ja vohl. What have the tank crews been drinking ? Why mein Herr? They keep spinning around in circles when they are attacked at close range. Thats just wonderfull.
IF it was'nt for the dancing tank/spinning tanks I would have far fewer losses.......

[stevemk1a]

"Load AP ..." "AP up-" comes the reply through the static of the Tank commanders headset, then the satisfying <clunk> of the breechblock closing on a 6lb solid shot round. "Steaaaaady..." the commander grips his cupola and peers into the blinding whiteness of the frozen forest for his target ... he spots a olive green and grey angular slab sided beast shouldering aside some trees ahead of him -"Two o' clock ... KV1 ... engage!!" a sharp crack sounds, then the snap of a ricochet as the round bounces off with a spray of sparks ... "Reload AP .... quickly now, **** you!!"

Heavy armour battles just to the north of the S. crossroads, my probes reveal more armour up north moving in ... still looking for weaknesses and trying to suppress those monster KV's. My opponent made such effective use of sachel charges that I decided to get some of my own ...

[Ironfist]

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Mein Herr, The Assault continues. We are giving them no quarter! All units engaged. We are advancing agianst heavey resistance. Looks like British reserves have been mobilized. A large group of ChurchHills to the north. Small Recon Group in force to the south. Holding the center area no enemy spotted. Bombardment continues on all fronts. Das ist allest....
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Panzergrenadier Wolfgang Hess is being called to the Western Front. He is needed for combat duty. He will return Monday the 14th,2003.

[stevemk1a]

A little bren carrier leaves a cloud of powder as it scoots across the snow and jolts to a halt beside a small weapons team "Quick boys, get in ... we need everyone at the front, there's a big push underway". The little group hops into the vehicle and the driver remarks curiously "'Blimey, what's that ugly looking thing?" "Why it's a PIAT" replies the man carrying it with obvious pride "It's a new weapon the boffins have given us ... it'll blow a hole in the heaviest tank - just you watch us ! " "Errrr-" replies the driver "but what happens if you miss ..."

Lots of action now KV and T34 vs. Sherman and Churchill ...

[Ironfist]

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Good News Herr, The advance continues. Panzergrenadier Wolfgang Hess Has recieved the Bronze Infantry Assualt Badge. He was givin a letter of confirmation due to his actions on the Western Front." Sehr Gut ! We will need men like this. When did he arrive back?"," Today sir. Massive Armor Battle accross the Board mein Herr.", "Ja Hans. The devil is hard at work today. Is the Artillery Ready ?"," Ja, vohl Herr Oberst. ","On my signal Release Hell !!!".
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

[stevemk1a]

Churchills face off against KV's in the north and have trouble penetrating each other's armour ... each side accumulates damaged systems and occasionally a crew will break and flee from battle ... In the centre, OT133 flamers appear and start a few bonfires, also more KV's set up camp on the middle vh's.

[Ironfist]

General Report:
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Kompfgruppe is recieving heavey bombardment. All armor is engaged. British Heavey armor in the north and shermans in the south. Small pockets of Commando's and infantry supporting. AA battery pinned down in the north. Close combat continues.......
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

[stevemk1a]

Col willy unfolds the battlemap across the rear deck of a Humber AC and turns to his adjutant: "What's the situation at the three objectives?" The adjutant flicks his cigarette into the snow and leans forwards "Well, the northern objective is in Finn hands, but we are moving towards it, however there is a group of about six KV's in the open terrain just to the north and our Churchills are having trouble with them. " Willy sighs "yes, and I just got a report that we lost another Sherman up north to a 40mm round..." The adjutant moves his hand to the middle of the map "In the centre, visibility is low and one of our Commando teams has succesfully close assaulted a KV, and we are also closing in on another KV-1." "Further to the south the enemy has called in his heavy artillery and several flame tanks have been spotted moving forwards ... we killed one as it rushed forwards and AT guns report a hit and possible damage on another - this area is where we expect the most enemy activity" Willy peers into the frosty woods "Jerry would call it a 'Schwerpunkt', old chap! - make sure the boys are ready"

[Ironfist]

Kompfgruppe Celtic Frost.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Herr Oberst, The Battle is pitched, It's either death by heavey artillery bombardment or close assaults with tanks and Infantry.
I think the british finally realized that they have us out numbered.
There are three pockets of Fierce fighting. I'm surprised the enemy has not tried to flank us, but met us head on. It will be dark in two more hours. The British have turned out to be worthy opponents. The ground they have captured, they have held. We have advanced and have lost little ground. We are unable to reach the southern and center objectives. We are greatly out numbered. Forward commanders report that they can hold their present positions until night fall. Das ist allest...............

[stevemk1a]

A dark green Sherman grinds it's way forwards carefully through the icy forest and finally comes to a halt beside an immobilized Churchill tank, the tall Sherman contrasting strikingly with the low and squat homliness of the heavier Churchill. "Shall we hook up a tow-chain, old chap?" enquires the commander of the Sherman helpfully. The Churchill commander grimaces as he looks up from the engine bay of his stricken vehicle: "Take more than a tow to help us, we're buggered ! ... if you're headed forwards, be careful with those Red heavies the Finns have, you can't kill 'em from the front, or the side, or the back, no matter how close you get - just keep bouncin' rounds off em 'till they run!"

Close to the end now ... It's really too close to call, but I feel I've taken more losses (I always do, I just can't be careful ... ) and I probably called for more reinforcements (?) but I have more vh's... unfortunately I've been stopped in my tracks from claiming the last of the middle vh areas ... however this one goes, it's been a close and well fought struggle ...