Cyr (Afrika Korps) vs Jim1954 (American Allies)

After action reports/During Action Reports on your SP:WaW battels!

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Jim1954
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Post by Jim1954 »

Lost an AT gun on the left flank to combined arms assaults, but a bazooka team took out a Marder at over 150 meters. Thank God I have a lot of shoulder 75mm's, I'm gonna need them.

Bad news is 150mm SPG's have appeared to the North.
Bad news is the general condition of Hill 974 and our increasingly diffficult position there. Reserves are moving into position to counter these thrusts.

It's starting to get a little hairy here, General.
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Post by LordCucumber »

Things are starting to heat up...

Hill 974 is overrun. The remaining US troops are in full retreat.
The area east of the hill is slowly being swept clean also. The lost Marder is soon avenged as US infantry take the full brunt of the assault.

One of the panzers heading toward the Pass is lost to enemy fire. Those 75 mm handheld bazookas shoot very very good!

On hill 712 things are progressing, be it still at a slow pace. I expect the hill to fall soon though, unless unexpected reinforcements show up.

This is going rather well for me, Jim :D
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Post by Jim1954 »

Well, thats about what happened in the real world, right? You're just gloating because of what happened on the beaches of Normandy.

:D :D :D
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Post by LordCucumber »

True. That was a rather nasty experience. Again, I think that D-Day scenario REALLY favored the attacker. In this one, I am not so sure yet.
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Post by Jim1954 »

More bad news, Hill 974 is really taking a pounding and units are falling back but not without a fight.

Hill 712 is experiencing a temporary respite from the German onslaught but what is coming up over the crest of hills?

Armored reinforcements are starting to engage the enemy. Still touch and go.

Good design Jess, it's a challenge from this side of the map.

:cool:
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Post by LordCucumber »

Uli and Hermann get down as fire from the pass comes overhead. Their forward unit is in the thick of things as one of their men gets shot through the skull by an unseen machinegunnest. To their left they see smoke on hill 974 and can hear the heavy diesel engines of all kinds of tracked vehicles nearby, most likely German, and the shouting of German commanders. To their right, more hectic sounds of sporadic gunfire and panic shouts come from hill 712. They cannot make out what is happening there, but they are sure both sides are still struggeling for control there...

Hill 974 is being secured by German forces as more troops arrive. The US troops still around are either taking cover in a ditch in the eastern valley or running off the hill with their tails between their legs. A Stuart tank is spotted coming onto the hill. A smokescreen is quickly laid down to mask German movement.

With a couple of long distance shots, German tanks take out a Dodge jeep heading toward hill 974. Whatever it's purpose was, it will not ever reach whereever it was heading without it being in one piece with a live crew...

The pressure on hill 712 is maintained, and some success is gained. It seems the lead tank on the hill has routed. German high command will deal with this treacherous dog if he ever makes it back to German lines! The rest of the effective troops maintain their hold however, as the first Olad Moussa forces arrive to shell the enemy.
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Post by LordCucumber »

I agree with Jim on the challenge. Even though I can easily move forward, it is taking all my tactical knowledge to maintain my progress. And Jim is putting up quite a fight. It may seem easy for me, but I really have to squeeze off every shot I can!

I don't know about the balance yet, but it certainly is fun! (I assume it is well balanced, as far as I can make out) :D

Cyr.
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Post by Jim1954 »

The battle on Hill 974 has steadily deteriorated . US troops are pulling back in the face of very steady German pressure.

To the East, German Mark III's are approaching Hill 712 from the Northwest. Further to the North, long barrelled Mark IV's are observed entering the fray.

Where are the reinforcements? And when do the dreaded Mark VI's arrive, since the party seems to be an open one?
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Post by LordCucumber »

HMmm I seem to be confusing east with west due to the layout of the map.. I thought south was the top of the map.. weird.. I will try and keep things correct in the upcoming post :D

Edit: ok I checked, south is the upper half of the map. I was right in my naming of the four winds :D
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Post by LordCucumber »

Uli and Hermann climb out of their foxhole to greet the commander of a forward scouting halftrack. "Things are going according to plan, jah! You two head up one hundred and fifty meters north to those old fortifications! Loss gehts!". The two men nod, salute, grab their gear and displace as they were told, followed by their company lieutenant, a sturdy Prussian named Krause..

Hill 974 is fortified with more armour and troops. The scattering Americans are shot in the back as payback for the unceasing shelling of the troops in the valley east of hill 974. Hiding in holes calling in the artillery is not a valliant way to fight the German Afrika Korps! The valley is slowly cleaned of it's pesky occupants, even though shells are raining down on the German stormtroops.

In the distance north of hill 974 the Germans see American armor advance toward the valley and the hill. A couple of long range shots from longbarreled Panzers mangle a halftrack in the pass between the hills.

Hill 712 is about to fall to the German attackers, as reinforcements from the Olad Moussa force trickle in to do their worst. American infantry struggles to maintain their fortified positions.

A small probe force is sent into the Pass between the hills to scout for any dangers ahead. Fire is received from unknown positions, but it is much much less than a couple of hours ago. COuld it be that the American defenders are scurrying to the back here too? Or are they keeping quiet for an ambush? Whatever it is, things are relatively quiet here.
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Post by Jim1954 »

Whoops, I never looked. :eek:
I just assumed North was up. My bad.

:(
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Post by Jim1954 »

We are starting to run out of room to maneuver, hide, whatever.
Lost a couple of GMC's this turn and a Stuart brewed up too. Highlight of this turn was taking out a Pz IIIj with an 81mm mortar top hit!
Otherwise, I haven't seen this many enemy tanks since I passed through Dubno in Lost Victories!!!!!!
I feel like the entire Afrika Korps is coming straight up the gully at me. When a single inf unit has 28 targets in sight, you KNOW you are in for a rough day.

:eek:
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Post by LordCucumber »

Hill 974 is now in complete control of German forces, the valley to the east is going to be soon enough. More American armour is spotted 'coming round the mountain' towards the valley. The German officers are not at all concerned about this seemingly innocent reinforcement of the American left flank.

In Kasserine Pass itself fighting has broken out between American infantry and the armoured force that came behind the scouting probe. Apart from a scoutvehicle getting blown to bits and some infantry losses, things are going well here too. The Americans are faced with an incredible show of force, as Rommel wished it.

Hill 712 is still contested, but the American forces there are falling back rapidly as new reinforcements roll onto the hill. The Olad Moussa force moves to secure the valley west of the hill.

Uli and Hermann are nearly shaken out of their foxhole as panzer after panzer rumbles past them. Shouts from armored vehicles unloading infantry can be heard very near to them. For now, they can take a break as the Panzer Grenadiers take over..
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Post by Jim1954 »

You write more interesting AAR's. Course how many ways are there to say "I'm gettin my butt kicked".:(

Falling back and playing for time. Time to re-consider that retreat is not an option.
:D
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Post by LordCucumber »

"Forwards men! Forwaaaaaaards!!" The infantry rushes through the valleys around the two hills as well as through the pass, firing at everything that.. well.. runs.

On hill 974 the panzer crews are having their midafternoon coffeebreak as scores of German infantry move north towards the enemy line all around them.

On hill 712 American resistance is almost nullified. The German forces are only meters away from taking the vital strategic position there. I this all the Americans can muster?

In the Pass heavy fighting breaks out between the combined German forces and the American infantry there. An allied AT gun is taken out of commission and a bazooka team perishes after some heavy fire from all around them! Both key positions in the valley are taken as the Germans literally storm forward, only to receive fire from scattered units and reinforcements over a mile away!

The eastern valley falls to the axis troops and preparations are made to support the troops on hill 974, as it seems most reinforcements are heading that way. The German commander does anticipate a change of plan on the American side, because what ever the allied commander is up to, it is costing him A LOT.

Uli and Hermann huddle down into their foxhole as American artilleryfire comes flying overhead. Some frantic shouts are heard from the infantry units taking cover nearby, but order is soon restored. At least half a dozen tracked vehicles have passed their hole as lieutenant Krause orders them to advance upon the enemy when the barrage is over...

Jim, I'm expecting some sort of trick up your sleave, but if you have none, I sincerely wish you good luck! We'll have a virtual drink after this, like the gentlemen desert commanders did in real life.. ;)
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Post by Jim1954 »

Given your newly installed banner, I am certain you will not shoot at the namesake and I can, in light of your newfound respect for 30 ton of attitude, thus procede with immunity throughout the battle field and destroy the ragged remnants of your command.

Ahem.

Now that that diatribe is done with, let me get back to the serious business of trying to survive.

:)
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Post by LordCucumber »

Unfortunately for you, I have this compulsion to finish what I have started. Call it German Grundigkeit LOL

Ok.. that's not always true.. but umm.. I see this last Katz PBEM as one for the road! ;)
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Post by LordCucumber »

German turn (yay)...

Hill 974 is assaulted by some very nifty engineers who manage to fry several of my forward units before perishing in a hail of gunfire. The valley east of the hill is nearly swept clear of enemy units and another bazooka team is blown out of their foxholes.

The Pass becomes a bloody mess as Germans push the offensive forward beating the living poopoo out of every American position they can target. A Lee tank is stopped in it's tracks and an M4 gets blown skyhigh as German panzers move in for a better shot alongside the infantry. American units are fleeing en masse now, as combined armes attacks do their worst damage thus far.

Hill 712 is taken from the last German survivors, as the important strategic hilltop is adorned with the German flag. The crew of an abandoned GMC and their infantry support unit are discovered and taken care of, as are some engineers nearby. A Wolverine is spotted advancing toward the hill, but unfortunately missed by a Panzer 3 taking a pot shot at it.

The valley west of hill 712 is slowly penetrated as German units find an American MG position and take it under fire, scattering the survivors once again.

This is what Blitzkrieg is all about.. HAH :D
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Post by LordCucumber »

Jim has signed his surrender. Thank you for a great game Jim! I hope everyone has enjoyed reading this AAR, as it was a lot of fun writing it.

My general strategy, for those who like to know, was to storm the hills first, take them and then sweep the valleys left and right of the hills, and las t but not least push a large force through the pass. It worked fairly well, though I lost a lot on hill 712 (which made my score ingame slightly worse, a calculated draw, than Jim's). I also lost a few good vehicles by driving the first panzers and scouts near/into the Pass' mouth, but in the end I compensated my losses by holding back in front of the Pass and sticking to the plan here stated. Eventually I just outgunned Jim in the Pass.

I conclude that after a tough start I did the right things to gain victory in the end. Thanks again Jim, I have learned an incredible lot from this! :)
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