Desert Fox AAR
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Belisarius
- Posts: 3099
- Joined: Sat May 26, 2001 8:00 am
- Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
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Great reading Alexandra. I have just tried the first scenerio in the Desert Campaign, and not had much luck. 2 draws so far. After reading your AAR's, I have decided to return to the desert for another try.
Thanks again.
P.S. Is your husband still playing SP? I think he was one of my first PBEM opponents (or maybe it was you <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> )
Sometimes known as Rebelbug.
Thanks again.
P.S. Is your husband still playing SP? I think he was one of my first PBEM opponents (or maybe it was you <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> )
Sometimes known as Rebelbug.
"A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have."<br />- Gerald Ford
January 27, 1946
HQ, USAEUR
Office of the G-2
Nurnburg, Germany
Intelligence Report Series 3: Operations of Kampfgruppe Eisbar, North Africa, 1941, Section 4.
Subject: General Alexandra Weiss
Interviewer: Maj. Avery, US Army Intelligence.
<The following is the verbatim transcript of the session>
"When we last spoke, you told me that your kampfgruppe was to return, and take part in the assault of Agebadia. What happened?"
"Well, it turned out that we did not aid there. We returned to the staging area, and as I alighted from my borrowed command truck, to look for Westphal for my orders, Herr General Rommel arrived, and asked to speak to me. He took me aside, and told me that a British command meeting had been held in Agebadia, and that General Wavell had come from Cairo to take part in it. Wavell was leaving the area via an airstrip in the small village of Akphar. He then tasked me with the capture or elimination of General Wavell. He told me to take a small task force, and that it would be augmented with some motorcycle troops, a Branderburger platoon and a sniper. I saluted and told him it would be done. I grabbed nine of my panzers, my security platoon, my truck, and 3 of scout platoon's PSWs and we hit the road."
The major was stunned. He knew, from reviewing British reports of the Agebadia battle that Eisbar had not attacked the town, but he had not known of this. He couldn't imagine the woman sitting across from him, looking back at him with wary, yet captivating, green eyes, going out on an assassination mission, so asked the only question he could. "Why you?"
She laughed. "Who else could he turn to? Streich? No. It had to be me. Rommel and I shared things in common."
"Like what?" he asked, even as his mind figured it out.
"We were both unique. Neither of us had formal General Staff training - though I leanred most of what my husband did when he was in the School - and both of us owed our current jobs to the Chancellor. As a result, we were both looked down on, by certain general officers. He turned to me because he knew I'd do the job."
"I thought your husband put you in command."
"He did - in Poland. It was an extreme situation, and I knew the men and the plan, and he knew he could trust me. Hitler gave me Eisbar, though, in Norway, and sent us to Africa. He had given Rommel DAK, as well as the Ghost Division earlier. He guessed with both of us and guessed right. His intuition was still solid then. "
The major decided to get back to the desert. "So, you moved out?"
"Yes. The gruppe reached the Akphar area around 1600 and we moved in, hoping for limited oppostion, but expecting worse. I probed ahead with my cyclists, intending to take the airport and cut him off. They zoomed out - and reported tanks on the road leading to town. Perhaps he wasn't in town yet, and I could pull off yet another ambush. I vectored the whole force in behind the motorcyclists.
"We quickly knocked out both tanks with no losses. That's when things got interesting. British forces appeared behind us! An armor platoon, at least one infantry, with an ATG. I told recon to take the field, while the main gruppe knocked out these guys. Perhaps Wavell was in this convoy.
"We knocked out three cruiser tanks, though Hoffman had another Mk III shot out from under him, but he and his crew again made it out. Cpt Schurz's Mk III was also knocked out, by an ATG, again with survivors. As we poured fire into the ATG, I raced to a nearby bedouin home, and took it over as a temporary command post.
"By the time the CP was set up, the ATG was gone, as were most of the enemy trucks. I ordered the panzers to head to back up recon, while my security platoon and thier tracks polished off the enemy infantry. That turned out to be wise, as recon reported contact with a large enemy convoy, mostly transports, and quickly knocked out a pair of anti-tank vehicles."
"Your forces were somewhat scattered now. Wasn't that dangerous?"
"Perhaps if they had more panzers. But, it was unavoidable. While the panzers moved in, recon attacked, driving agressively at the convoy, and knocked out a Bren carrier and a truck. Suddenly, recon elements came under fire from a pair of tanks. I told them to get under cover, that our panzers were inbound. Recon kept attacking, losing a track to the tanks, but scattering infantry, wiping out a mortar position, and killing a pair of Headquarters trucks. We also lost Sgt Schweitzer, and crew, as he chose to fight it out with the tanks and was killed.
"The fighting in and on the outskirts of the village was going strong, and we were winning. A motorcycle squad reporting pouting heavy fire into some enemy officers - could one of the have been Wavell? I didn't know. What I did know was that out panzers were entering the fray once more.
"As they did, the fighting seemed to get even more intense. We lost a track, then they lost a tank and then the second one. Suddenly, the radio lit up.
"This is Weisbach. Enemy command group overrun. They're down, Herr Oberst." <Yes, I used a Mk III overrun attack on 'Wavell and Staff' It's evil, but cool!>
The CP cheered, but I replied "Eisbar elements, finish the enemy."
However, that proved unnecessary, as with Wavell's death, the remaining enemy surrendered. After the fight, and a few days later, Rommel awarded me the 'Tank Combat Badge.'. I didn't feel I deserved it, as I'd yet to fight from a tank, but I accepted it.
In addition, Sgt Naumann of Recon Platoon was promoted to 2nd Lt.
<German DV, Total Campaign points: 15>
HQ, USAEUR
Office of the G-2
Nurnburg, Germany
Intelligence Report Series 3: Operations of Kampfgruppe Eisbar, North Africa, 1941, Section 4.
Subject: General Alexandra Weiss
Interviewer: Maj. Avery, US Army Intelligence.
<The following is the verbatim transcript of the session>
"When we last spoke, you told me that your kampfgruppe was to return, and take part in the assault of Agebadia. What happened?"
"Well, it turned out that we did not aid there. We returned to the staging area, and as I alighted from my borrowed command truck, to look for Westphal for my orders, Herr General Rommel arrived, and asked to speak to me. He took me aside, and told me that a British command meeting had been held in Agebadia, and that General Wavell had come from Cairo to take part in it. Wavell was leaving the area via an airstrip in the small village of Akphar. He then tasked me with the capture or elimination of General Wavell. He told me to take a small task force, and that it would be augmented with some motorcycle troops, a Branderburger platoon and a sniper. I saluted and told him it would be done. I grabbed nine of my panzers, my security platoon, my truck, and 3 of scout platoon's PSWs and we hit the road."
The major was stunned. He knew, from reviewing British reports of the Agebadia battle that Eisbar had not attacked the town, but he had not known of this. He couldn't imagine the woman sitting across from him, looking back at him with wary, yet captivating, green eyes, going out on an assassination mission, so asked the only question he could. "Why you?"
She laughed. "Who else could he turn to? Streich? No. It had to be me. Rommel and I shared things in common."
"Like what?" he asked, even as his mind figured it out.
"We were both unique. Neither of us had formal General Staff training - though I leanred most of what my husband did when he was in the School - and both of us owed our current jobs to the Chancellor. As a result, we were both looked down on, by certain general officers. He turned to me because he knew I'd do the job."
"I thought your husband put you in command."
"He did - in Poland. It was an extreme situation, and I knew the men and the plan, and he knew he could trust me. Hitler gave me Eisbar, though, in Norway, and sent us to Africa. He had given Rommel DAK, as well as the Ghost Division earlier. He guessed with both of us and guessed right. His intuition was still solid then. "
The major decided to get back to the desert. "So, you moved out?"
"Yes. The gruppe reached the Akphar area around 1600 and we moved in, hoping for limited oppostion, but expecting worse. I probed ahead with my cyclists, intending to take the airport and cut him off. They zoomed out - and reported tanks on the road leading to town. Perhaps he wasn't in town yet, and I could pull off yet another ambush. I vectored the whole force in behind the motorcyclists.
"We quickly knocked out both tanks with no losses. That's when things got interesting. British forces appeared behind us! An armor platoon, at least one infantry, with an ATG. I told recon to take the field, while the main gruppe knocked out these guys. Perhaps Wavell was in this convoy.
"We knocked out three cruiser tanks, though Hoffman had another Mk III shot out from under him, but he and his crew again made it out. Cpt Schurz's Mk III was also knocked out, by an ATG, again with survivors. As we poured fire into the ATG, I raced to a nearby bedouin home, and took it over as a temporary command post.
"By the time the CP was set up, the ATG was gone, as were most of the enemy trucks. I ordered the panzers to head to back up recon, while my security platoon and thier tracks polished off the enemy infantry. That turned out to be wise, as recon reported contact with a large enemy convoy, mostly transports, and quickly knocked out a pair of anti-tank vehicles."
"Your forces were somewhat scattered now. Wasn't that dangerous?"
"Perhaps if they had more panzers. But, it was unavoidable. While the panzers moved in, recon attacked, driving agressively at the convoy, and knocked out a Bren carrier and a truck. Suddenly, recon elements came under fire from a pair of tanks. I told them to get under cover, that our panzers were inbound. Recon kept attacking, losing a track to the tanks, but scattering infantry, wiping out a mortar position, and killing a pair of Headquarters trucks. We also lost Sgt Schweitzer, and crew, as he chose to fight it out with the tanks and was killed.
"The fighting in and on the outskirts of the village was going strong, and we were winning. A motorcycle squad reporting pouting heavy fire into some enemy officers - could one of the have been Wavell? I didn't know. What I did know was that out panzers were entering the fray once more.
"As they did, the fighting seemed to get even more intense. We lost a track, then they lost a tank and then the second one. Suddenly, the radio lit up.
"This is Weisbach. Enemy command group overrun. They're down, Herr Oberst." <Yes, I used a Mk III overrun attack on 'Wavell and Staff' It's evil, but cool!>
The CP cheered, but I replied "Eisbar elements, finish the enemy."
However, that proved unnecessary, as with Wavell's death, the remaining enemy surrendered. After the fight, and a few days later, Rommel awarded me the 'Tank Combat Badge.'. I didn't feel I deserved it, as I'd yet to fight from a tank, but I accepted it.
In addition, Sgt Naumann of Recon Platoon was promoted to 2nd Lt.
<German DV, Total Campaign points: 15>
"Tonight a dynasty is born." Ricky Proehl, then of the Saint Louis Rams. He was right! Go Pats! Winners of Super Bowls 36, 38 and 39.
As promised, here are my top three kill leaders going into Scen 5:
12 for Sgt Kortenhaus, 2nd Panzer Platoon
11 for 2Lt Schwendt, Recon Platoon
10 for Sgt Weiss, 1st Panzer Platoon.
I'm halfway thorough the next scen, so by Monday you should all get to see the next report.
Alex
12 for Sgt Kortenhaus, 2nd Panzer Platoon
11 for 2Lt Schwendt, Recon Platoon
10 for Sgt Weiss, 1st Panzer Platoon.
I'm halfway thorough the next scen, so by Monday you should all get to see the next report.
Alex
"Tonight a dynasty is born." Ricky Proehl, then of the Saint Louis Rams. He was right! Go Pats! Winners of Super Bowls 36, 38 and 39.
January 28, 1946
HQ, USAEUR
Office of the G-2
Nurnburg, Germany
Intelligence Report Series 3: Operations of Kampfgruppe Eisbar, North Africa, 1941, Section 5.
Subject: General Alexandra Weiss
Interviewer: Maj. Avery, US Army Intelligence.
<The following is the verbatim transcript of the session>
"Did you end up helping in the capture of Agebadia?"
"No, it fell without us. However, on April 4th, we were ordered in to help defend it. There was a very strongly reinforced infantry platoon holding it, and we were told to assist them against a British attack. We moved up the road - the via Balbia - in a staggered column. The lead part of the column was my recon platoon, HQ, and security platoon, with an attached flak track, and a truck towing an '88. Enemy air hit the town as we got close. They also dropped a smoke screen on the east side of the town. It was early morning, as my lead scout car reached Agebadia around 0703.
"By 0707, all of recon, and the flak track were in the town, with the '88, and half of secuity platoon nearing it. My Mk IV platoon arrived about 0710. They were racing up the road when the trail tank commander, Sgt Boettcher, suddenly came on the radio reporting British forces behind them. The IVs spun to engage, and Lt Meyer, newly promoted himself, reported multiple enemy trucks, escorted by tanks. Two of those trucks were quickly killed.
"Reports came in from the perimiter as well, as I determined what was happening. We had an enemy rifle company to the east, pushing through the limited minefields, and we had a motorized company to the south, escorted by tanks. They'd almost cut off my retreat route, but failed, and I'd defeat them in detail. We'd hold the town, and use the panzers, as they arrived, to wipe out the south force.
"The next panzers did arrive as well. The two Mk IIIs of the command section, along with another flak truck and another 88. Scout platoon started to interdict the infantry, while I ordered my security platoon to form for a counterattack. To the south, the Mk IVs killed two tanks and a lot of trucks, but lost Sgt Hitzelburgers, and Lt Meyer's tanks.
"As I began to get set up, I heared over the radio. "Tanks in the wire." Mines stopped one of them, immobilzied. We learned, quickly, that we had a platoon of tilda, supported by cruisers, to deal with now as well. One cruiser was killed by our ATGs, as I shifted elements to meet the Matilda's. To the south, though, the elements on scene knocked out 3 of the 6 enemy tanks, and then 1st Panzer platoon came into action, to the south of the enemy attack. They killed one more enemy tank."
"Were you nervous, General?"
"A little, though I still had two panzer platoons en-route, and once the south force was defeated, I was sure that we'd clean the enemy up. It was just a matter of holding until then."
"The enemy south attack seemed to stall, at least briefly. He pushed forward with his main attack, losing four tanks to mines and ATG fire. However, his RAF showed back up, strafing Agebadia, and they managed to kill Sgt Vebber's recon car, with a loss of all crew members. I got up onto the net, to calm people down, and Security platoon reported an enemy tank platoon was trying to slip between the town and our panzers. 'Let them.' I replied, knowing my panzers could take them.
"Three more tanks were destroyed by town defenders, a 'tilda I, and two Cruisers, one of them being a flanking cruiser. 'We have two Matilda IIs to the front.' I heard. 'Engineers can get them when they get close.' I replied.
"Then I heard "This is Hoffman. 1st can handle what left here - all panzers, move to Eisbar command location." A series of 'Yawolh's" replied to this, and I knew we were going to be ok. A dozen or so Panzers were moving in now to aid the town garrison. However, then we got some bad news.
'This is Wirth, negative on Hoffman. 4 Platoon has 2 down, 2 stuck. We'll assist 1.' I cursed at the luck of having all 4 Mk IVs down, then acknowldged the transmission. We'd still have - or soon have - a dozen panzers, 2 mobile flak guns, and an 88 moving in.
"They drove forward, trying to crack us, but just lost three more tanks for thier troubles. The next push was also stopped, as they lost six tanks, and we lost a truck and a track. Still, they weren't stopping. Over the next 10 minutes, they started to envelop the town from the north. However, we mopped up all of thier flanking elements. All they had left - and it was a potent force - was a company of Matilda's and one to two infantry companies.
"They began to push at the north side of Agebadia, though slowly, after engineers killed a Matilda. Then our panzers started to destroy thier infantry, in an attempt to isolate the tanks on the field, and perhaps convince them to surrender. The tanks began to knock out infantry, but the enemy hit back, killing two of our scout cars. Lt Nauman and his crew got out, but we lose Sgt Krogel, and his entire crew. We also knocked out 2 'tilda's with '88 fire. Then, even though he was pressuring us along the north side of the town, the enemy commander wheeled about half his tanks back towards his infantry, perhaps to support them.
"The fighting was fierce, as I'm sure you can imagine, but we were holding our own. They kept the pressure on, but we knocked out three more of the tildas and a mineplough. We also knocked out a Cruiser that the mines had immobilized, and immobilized another Tilda.
"We'd been fighting for an hour or so, and the enemy was down to a handful of tanks, mostly mineclearers, with two or three tilda's left, and they were immobilized. They still had infantry as well, but the writing was on the wall. But, they could still sting us. We lost Cpt Schurz's command vehicle to the last 'tilda II before panzers knocked out it's main gun. There were no surivors."
"Wasn't he your deputy commander."
"Yes. His loss was annoying to say the least. But, we soon had the enemy envolped, with no escape possible, and went to work destroying him to the last. He made two breakout attempts, and then, his remaining forces surrendered. There wasn't much left at all, either. He had just 30 or so men, and 2 mobile AFVs. Our victory kept the road open, and we were assigned the task of of protecting the right flank of DAKs advance to Mechili."
<Result: Germand DV. Camp Score: 19>.
<Notes: Sgt Harmel promoted to 2Lt, and takes over the D0, company command, slot. Sgt Funck promoted to 2Lt, given command of 2 Pz Plt>
Kill leaders: Sgt Weiss, 1st Pz Plt, 23
2Lt Harmel, Co Cdr, 19
1Lt Hoffman, Cdr, 1st Pz Plt, 15
HQ, USAEUR
Office of the G-2
Nurnburg, Germany
Intelligence Report Series 3: Operations of Kampfgruppe Eisbar, North Africa, 1941, Section 5.
Subject: General Alexandra Weiss
Interviewer: Maj. Avery, US Army Intelligence.
<The following is the verbatim transcript of the session>
"Did you end up helping in the capture of Agebadia?"
"No, it fell without us. However, on April 4th, we were ordered in to help defend it. There was a very strongly reinforced infantry platoon holding it, and we were told to assist them against a British attack. We moved up the road - the via Balbia - in a staggered column. The lead part of the column was my recon platoon, HQ, and security platoon, with an attached flak track, and a truck towing an '88. Enemy air hit the town as we got close. They also dropped a smoke screen on the east side of the town. It was early morning, as my lead scout car reached Agebadia around 0703.
"By 0707, all of recon, and the flak track were in the town, with the '88, and half of secuity platoon nearing it. My Mk IV platoon arrived about 0710. They were racing up the road when the trail tank commander, Sgt Boettcher, suddenly came on the radio reporting British forces behind them. The IVs spun to engage, and Lt Meyer, newly promoted himself, reported multiple enemy trucks, escorted by tanks. Two of those trucks were quickly killed.
"Reports came in from the perimiter as well, as I determined what was happening. We had an enemy rifle company to the east, pushing through the limited minefields, and we had a motorized company to the south, escorted by tanks. They'd almost cut off my retreat route, but failed, and I'd defeat them in detail. We'd hold the town, and use the panzers, as they arrived, to wipe out the south force.
"The next panzers did arrive as well. The two Mk IIIs of the command section, along with another flak truck and another 88. Scout platoon started to interdict the infantry, while I ordered my security platoon to form for a counterattack. To the south, the Mk IVs killed two tanks and a lot of trucks, but lost Sgt Hitzelburgers, and Lt Meyer's tanks.
"As I began to get set up, I heared over the radio. "Tanks in the wire." Mines stopped one of them, immobilzied. We learned, quickly, that we had a platoon of tilda, supported by cruisers, to deal with now as well. One cruiser was killed by our ATGs, as I shifted elements to meet the Matilda's. To the south, though, the elements on scene knocked out 3 of the 6 enemy tanks, and then 1st Panzer platoon came into action, to the south of the enemy attack. They killed one more enemy tank."
"Were you nervous, General?"
"A little, though I still had two panzer platoons en-route, and once the south force was defeated, I was sure that we'd clean the enemy up. It was just a matter of holding until then."
"The enemy south attack seemed to stall, at least briefly. He pushed forward with his main attack, losing four tanks to mines and ATG fire. However, his RAF showed back up, strafing Agebadia, and they managed to kill Sgt Vebber's recon car, with a loss of all crew members. I got up onto the net, to calm people down, and Security platoon reported an enemy tank platoon was trying to slip between the town and our panzers. 'Let them.' I replied, knowing my panzers could take them.
"Three more tanks were destroyed by town defenders, a 'tilda I, and two Cruisers, one of them being a flanking cruiser. 'We have two Matilda IIs to the front.' I heard. 'Engineers can get them when they get close.' I replied.
"Then I heard "This is Hoffman. 1st can handle what left here - all panzers, move to Eisbar command location." A series of 'Yawolh's" replied to this, and I knew we were going to be ok. A dozen or so Panzers were moving in now to aid the town garrison. However, then we got some bad news.
'This is Wirth, negative on Hoffman. 4 Platoon has 2 down, 2 stuck. We'll assist 1.' I cursed at the luck of having all 4 Mk IVs down, then acknowldged the transmission. We'd still have - or soon have - a dozen panzers, 2 mobile flak guns, and an 88 moving in.
"They drove forward, trying to crack us, but just lost three more tanks for thier troubles. The next push was also stopped, as they lost six tanks, and we lost a truck and a track. Still, they weren't stopping. Over the next 10 minutes, they started to envelop the town from the north. However, we mopped up all of thier flanking elements. All they had left - and it was a potent force - was a company of Matilda's and one to two infantry companies.
"They began to push at the north side of Agebadia, though slowly, after engineers killed a Matilda. Then our panzers started to destroy thier infantry, in an attempt to isolate the tanks on the field, and perhaps convince them to surrender. The tanks began to knock out infantry, but the enemy hit back, killing two of our scout cars. Lt Nauman and his crew got out, but we lose Sgt Krogel, and his entire crew. We also knocked out 2 'tilda's with '88 fire. Then, even though he was pressuring us along the north side of the town, the enemy commander wheeled about half his tanks back towards his infantry, perhaps to support them.
"The fighting was fierce, as I'm sure you can imagine, but we were holding our own. They kept the pressure on, but we knocked out three more of the tildas and a mineplough. We also knocked out a Cruiser that the mines had immobilized, and immobilized another Tilda.
"We'd been fighting for an hour or so, and the enemy was down to a handful of tanks, mostly mineclearers, with two or three tilda's left, and they were immobilized. They still had infantry as well, but the writing was on the wall. But, they could still sting us. We lost Cpt Schurz's command vehicle to the last 'tilda II before panzers knocked out it's main gun. There were no surivors."
"Wasn't he your deputy commander."
"Yes. His loss was annoying to say the least. But, we soon had the enemy envolped, with no escape possible, and went to work destroying him to the last. He made two breakout attempts, and then, his remaining forces surrendered. There wasn't much left at all, either. He had just 30 or so men, and 2 mobile AFVs. Our victory kept the road open, and we were assigned the task of of protecting the right flank of DAKs advance to Mechili."
<Result: Germand DV. Camp Score: 19>.
<Notes: Sgt Harmel promoted to 2Lt, and takes over the D0, company command, slot. Sgt Funck promoted to 2Lt, given command of 2 Pz Plt>
Kill leaders: Sgt Weiss, 1st Pz Plt, 23
2Lt Harmel, Co Cdr, 19
1Lt Hoffman, Cdr, 1st Pz Plt, 15
"Tonight a dynasty is born." Ricky Proehl, then of the Saint Louis Rams. He was right! Go Pats! Winners of Super Bowls 36, 38 and 39.
February 7, 1946
HQ, USAEUR
Office of the G-2
Nurnburg, Germany
Intelligence Report Series 3: Operations of Kampfgruppe Eisbar, North Africa, 1941, Section 6.
Subject: General Alexandra Weiss
Interviewer: Maj. Avery, US Army Intelligence.
<The following is the verbatim transcript of the session>
"Good Morning, General."
"Major."
"I see you're ready to continue. After Agebadia was defended, the DAK moved on, towards, I believe El Mechili. Is that correct?"
"Yes, it is. Most of the Korps moved along the Via Balbia in that direction. Eisbar was assigned to cover the flank of the advance, however, moving via smaller trails, and open country."
"What was your axis of advance?"
"We were ordered to move on the line Giof-el-Matar - Ben Gania - bir Tengedor. What this would do for DAK was threefold. First, it would cover the main advance's flank. Second, it would capture the three towns and any supplies there, as well as disrupt any enemy forces massing there. Lastly, it would put us south of Mechili, and able to interdict, or cut off, Commonwealth movement into and out of the city."
"Was the gruppe alone."
"No, we were augmented with a recon company of 3 scout cars and 2 motorcyle platoons. We also has a command track for me, and 2 platoons of Mk IIs."
"Did you find any enemy."
"Yes. We found the Indians, on the 4th of April, along some dunes to the west of Giof-el-Matar. We encounted an AT position, of apparent platoon strength that began to engage the attached, and leading, recon elements. As they enganged, infantry, and Bren carriers began to advance. We drew first blood, with a Mk II knocking out a carrier.
"I reacted quickly, pulling Eisbar into a flank swing, to the south, to try and envelop the enemy. Recon knocked out another Bren, and then found, and killed an ATG position. Then they surged closer, engaging a second ATG and reporting, and beginning to engage what they estimated to be 2 platoons of infantry. They quuickly revised that estimate to a company. But, they kept advancing, knocking out a second ATG, finding two more - and a deep recon cycle team located two enemy panzer - captured Italian M13/40s."
"All was going well."
"So we thought. Then 4th Platoon reported in. They had send two Mk IVs to cover the northeast trail - and those two tanks ran into 15 or 16 enemy tanks. Mostly Vickers, but they also reported a pair of Matilda's. I sent the other two IVs to help, and kept going with the attack. We'd wipe out the blocking position first, then any tanks that were left."
"Wait! You meant you did pull panzers back to meet the attack? Why?"
"Because then I'd be reacting to them, and not making them react to me. My flanking movement was nearly complete. I could bag the main position, then move back, over easier terrain to hit the enemy tanks if needed. If I pulled back the flank attack, I'd lose time, and ground, and accomplish little. However, I did send the rear most five Mk IIIs back to aid 4th Platoon.
"Even as I did that, the lead elements of the flank attack swept it. We lost Krogel's scout car, but knocked out three tanks and a MG team. Recon applied pressure from the front, as well, but lost a pair of Mk IIs. In the meantime, the Mk IVs had knocked out 3 tanks, but both of them were damaged."
"Our flank attack kept going well. We lost a track, but wiped out a platoon of infantry and a fourth tank. Recon also kept doing it's job, as they killed two more ATGs. The British armor flank attack lost 3 tanks as well."
"How were the British tanks attacking?"
"They came right down the road, at least 20 of them, but we were killing them nicely, with the Mk IVs getting three more, and the IIIs getting one as they entered the battle. We also lost Lt. Meyers - 4th Platoons leader - and his crew. In the meantime, the last enemy ATG and tank on the main field were knocked out, and Eisbar began to destroy the enemy infantry as rapidly as possible.
"By 1240, there was just a platoon of enemy infantry left in the prime kill zone, so the key fight was now the flank attack. We had 8 panzers there, and they had at least 11. However, with five minutes, they had lost three tanks and we had lost none."
"You were holding."
"We were winning. Over the next five minutes two more enemy tanks were knocked out, and by 1250, the enemy infantry was gone, and we thought that they had just five tanks left. We knocked two of those out, and the last three withdrew, leaving the road - and the town - to us."
She then smiled. "And, I won the Iron Cross that day."
<German DV. Camp Score: 23 Notes: Sgt Boechter of 4th Platoon promoted to 2Lt and given the platoon.>
Kill Leaders:
23 - Sgt Weiss, 1st Platoon
19 - 2Lt Harmel, Cdr, Pz Co
17 - 1Lt Hoffman, Cdr, 1st Platoon.
HQ, USAEUR
Office of the G-2
Nurnburg, Germany
Intelligence Report Series 3: Operations of Kampfgruppe Eisbar, North Africa, 1941, Section 6.
Subject: General Alexandra Weiss
Interviewer: Maj. Avery, US Army Intelligence.
<The following is the verbatim transcript of the session>
"Good Morning, General."
"Major."
"I see you're ready to continue. After Agebadia was defended, the DAK moved on, towards, I believe El Mechili. Is that correct?"
"Yes, it is. Most of the Korps moved along the Via Balbia in that direction. Eisbar was assigned to cover the flank of the advance, however, moving via smaller trails, and open country."
"What was your axis of advance?"
"We were ordered to move on the line Giof-el-Matar - Ben Gania - bir Tengedor. What this would do for DAK was threefold. First, it would cover the main advance's flank. Second, it would capture the three towns and any supplies there, as well as disrupt any enemy forces massing there. Lastly, it would put us south of Mechili, and able to interdict, or cut off, Commonwealth movement into and out of the city."
"Was the gruppe alone."
"No, we were augmented with a recon company of 3 scout cars and 2 motorcyle platoons. We also has a command track for me, and 2 platoons of Mk IIs."
"Did you find any enemy."
"Yes. We found the Indians, on the 4th of April, along some dunes to the west of Giof-el-Matar. We encounted an AT position, of apparent platoon strength that began to engage the attached, and leading, recon elements. As they enganged, infantry, and Bren carriers began to advance. We drew first blood, with a Mk II knocking out a carrier.
"I reacted quickly, pulling Eisbar into a flank swing, to the south, to try and envelop the enemy. Recon knocked out another Bren, and then found, and killed an ATG position. Then they surged closer, engaging a second ATG and reporting, and beginning to engage what they estimated to be 2 platoons of infantry. They quuickly revised that estimate to a company. But, they kept advancing, knocking out a second ATG, finding two more - and a deep recon cycle team located two enemy panzer - captured Italian M13/40s."
"All was going well."
"So we thought. Then 4th Platoon reported in. They had send two Mk IVs to cover the northeast trail - and those two tanks ran into 15 or 16 enemy tanks. Mostly Vickers, but they also reported a pair of Matilda's. I sent the other two IVs to help, and kept going with the attack. We'd wipe out the blocking position first, then any tanks that were left."
"Wait! You meant you did pull panzers back to meet the attack? Why?"
"Because then I'd be reacting to them, and not making them react to me. My flanking movement was nearly complete. I could bag the main position, then move back, over easier terrain to hit the enemy tanks if needed. If I pulled back the flank attack, I'd lose time, and ground, and accomplish little. However, I did send the rear most five Mk IIIs back to aid 4th Platoon.
"Even as I did that, the lead elements of the flank attack swept it. We lost Krogel's scout car, but knocked out three tanks and a MG team. Recon applied pressure from the front, as well, but lost a pair of Mk IIs. In the meantime, the Mk IVs had knocked out 3 tanks, but both of them were damaged."
"Our flank attack kept going well. We lost a track, but wiped out a platoon of infantry and a fourth tank. Recon also kept doing it's job, as they killed two more ATGs. The British armor flank attack lost 3 tanks as well."
"How were the British tanks attacking?"
"They came right down the road, at least 20 of them, but we were killing them nicely, with the Mk IVs getting three more, and the IIIs getting one as they entered the battle. We also lost Lt. Meyers - 4th Platoons leader - and his crew. In the meantime, the last enemy ATG and tank on the main field were knocked out, and Eisbar began to destroy the enemy infantry as rapidly as possible.
"By 1240, there was just a platoon of enemy infantry left in the prime kill zone, so the key fight was now the flank attack. We had 8 panzers there, and they had at least 11. However, with five minutes, they had lost three tanks and we had lost none."
"You were holding."
"We were winning. Over the next five minutes two more enemy tanks were knocked out, and by 1250, the enemy infantry was gone, and we thought that they had just five tanks left. We knocked two of those out, and the last three withdrew, leaving the road - and the town - to us."
She then smiled. "And, I won the Iron Cross that day."
<German DV. Camp Score: 23 Notes: Sgt Boechter of 4th Platoon promoted to 2Lt and given the platoon.>
Kill Leaders:
23 - Sgt Weiss, 1st Platoon
19 - 2Lt Harmel, Cdr, Pz Co
17 - 1Lt Hoffman, Cdr, 1st Platoon.
"Tonight a dynasty is born." Ricky Proehl, then of the Saint Louis Rams. He was right! Go Pats! Winners of Super Bowls 36, 38 and 39.
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Neil Stalker
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February 17, 1946
HQ, USAEUR
Office of the G-2
Nurnburg, Germany
Intelligence Report Series 3: Operations of Kampfgruppe Eisbar, North Africa, 1941, Section 7.
Subject: General Alexandra Weiss
Interviewer: Maj. Avery, US Army Intelligence.
<The following is the verbatim transcript of the session>
"Major, I'm suprised that it's been so long since the last interview."
"Oh, I've had some other things to do. I am eager to get back to this, though."
"Yes, I'm sure you are. This is much more interesting, isn't it, than filing some report somewhere for some superior who won't give it proper attention, isn't it."
"Why yes, it...wait, I should be asking the questions here."
She simply smiled, and waited.
"After the victory at Giof-el-Matar what did Eisbar do next?"
"We were ordered to replenish. We'd been running full out for three days, and had fought two battles in that time. Rommel wanted us to refuel and rearm. We were ordered to move to Ben Gania, and link up with a supply dump that had been brought in by train. The Indian 4th Division was supposed to be in the area, and we were to also keep an eye out for them."
"We they in the area?"
"Oh, yes. We took fire coming into the supply area, which did have a security force. We'd have to try and reload quick, then take out the enemy. We would have make due, though I was annoyed that we had no air cover. Rommel really dropped the ball when he gave our sweep no support from the Luftwaffe, since we were out of artillery range of DAS' artillery."
"Did the enemy attack?"
"No, they invited us to tea! Of course they attacked. A company from the east, a platoon, initially, from the northwest, supported by some sort of light vehicle. We were inflicting heavy losses, when we found out that more armor was coming from the southeast. So, we just began to fight.
"By 12:15 we had killed 13 armored cars, 3 Bren carriers, a truck and 5 tanks. We'd lost a truck, an ATG, a flak truck, a track and an ammo truck."
"You were killing them rapidly."
"We were still surrounded on three sides, with a dozen or more enemy vehicle, and at least 2 companies and infantry. We'd been hit by at least a battalion. Over the next 15 minutes the fight kept being fiercely fought. We killed 5 armored cars, a truck, and 4 tanks while losing a scout car and a truck. I was more confident now, and ordered all panzers forward for mop up, if they felt that they had enough AP in case of more tanks."
"Wait! In 15 minutes you went from a potential diasaster to a victory?"
"We hadn't won yet, but, yes. Good forces do that and Eisbar was very good. We had pushed out of the base area, to secure the nearby town of Ben Gania by 12:45. We had wiped out - or close to it - the enemy infantry, but lost 2 scout cars, and Sgt Becker's tank, to howitzers. He lived, however, and the enemy artillery surrendered. We were ordered to replenish and head towards Bir el Tengeador as rapidly as possible.
<German DV. Camp score: 27>
<Kill Leaders: 27: Sgt Weiss, 1st Plt
25: 2Lt Harmel, Cdr, Pz Co.
19: Sgt Briel, Command Plt; 2Lt Boechter, 4th Plt Cdr>
<Elite Units: Sgt Becker, 18 kills, 2nd Plt>
HQ, USAEUR
Office of the G-2
Nurnburg, Germany
Intelligence Report Series 3: Operations of Kampfgruppe Eisbar, North Africa, 1941, Section 7.
Subject: General Alexandra Weiss
Interviewer: Maj. Avery, US Army Intelligence.
<The following is the verbatim transcript of the session>
"Major, I'm suprised that it's been so long since the last interview."
"Oh, I've had some other things to do. I am eager to get back to this, though."
"Yes, I'm sure you are. This is much more interesting, isn't it, than filing some report somewhere for some superior who won't give it proper attention, isn't it."
"Why yes, it...wait, I should be asking the questions here."
She simply smiled, and waited.
"After the victory at Giof-el-Matar what did Eisbar do next?"
"We were ordered to replenish. We'd been running full out for three days, and had fought two battles in that time. Rommel wanted us to refuel and rearm. We were ordered to move to Ben Gania, and link up with a supply dump that had been brought in by train. The Indian 4th Division was supposed to be in the area, and we were to also keep an eye out for them."
"We they in the area?"
"Oh, yes. We took fire coming into the supply area, which did have a security force. We'd have to try and reload quick, then take out the enemy. We would have make due, though I was annoyed that we had no air cover. Rommel really dropped the ball when he gave our sweep no support from the Luftwaffe, since we were out of artillery range of DAS' artillery."
"Did the enemy attack?"
"No, they invited us to tea! Of course they attacked. A company from the east, a platoon, initially, from the northwest, supported by some sort of light vehicle. We were inflicting heavy losses, when we found out that more armor was coming from the southeast. So, we just began to fight.
"By 12:15 we had killed 13 armored cars, 3 Bren carriers, a truck and 5 tanks. We'd lost a truck, an ATG, a flak truck, a track and an ammo truck."
"You were killing them rapidly."
"We were still surrounded on three sides, with a dozen or more enemy vehicle, and at least 2 companies and infantry. We'd been hit by at least a battalion. Over the next 15 minutes the fight kept being fiercely fought. We killed 5 armored cars, a truck, and 4 tanks while losing a scout car and a truck. I was more confident now, and ordered all panzers forward for mop up, if they felt that they had enough AP in case of more tanks."
"Wait! In 15 minutes you went from a potential diasaster to a victory?"
"We hadn't won yet, but, yes. Good forces do that and Eisbar was very good. We had pushed out of the base area, to secure the nearby town of Ben Gania by 12:45. We had wiped out - or close to it - the enemy infantry, but lost 2 scout cars, and Sgt Becker's tank, to howitzers. He lived, however, and the enemy artillery surrendered. We were ordered to replenish and head towards Bir el Tengeador as rapidly as possible.
<German DV. Camp score: 27>
<Kill Leaders: 27: Sgt Weiss, 1st Plt
25: 2Lt Harmel, Cdr, Pz Co.
19: Sgt Briel, Command Plt; 2Lt Boechter, 4th Plt Cdr>
<Elite Units: Sgt Becker, 18 kills, 2nd Plt>
"Tonight a dynasty is born." Ricky Proehl, then of the Saint Louis Rams. He was right! Go Pats! Winners of Super Bowls 36, 38 and 39.
February 27, 1946
HQ, USAEUR
Office of the G-2
Nurnburg, Germany
Intelligence Report Series 3: Operations of Kampfgruppe Eisbar, North Africa, 1941, Section 8.
Subject: General Alexandra Weiss
Interviewer: Maj. Avery, US Army Intelligence.
<The following is the verbatim transcript of the session>
"Welcome back, Major. How was Brussels?"
Major Avery was suprised. How had she known he had been there? She saw the look in his eyes, and smiled.
"Just because I'm a prisoner doesn't mean I don't know what's happening out there." She pointed towards the window of the interview room, indicating the outside world. "You're an intelligence officer, after all, you should understand information can always be acquired."
"How?"
She smiled. "That would be foolish of me to tell you, and so I won't."
He didn't like that, but couldn't push. His reports were getting him noticed, at higher levels, and he didn't want to lose the chance for promotion, so he let her play her game with him. "What was your next assignment?"
"We moved north, roughly, for two more days, and got fresh on the 7th. We were ordered to sweep the town of Bir-el-Tengedor, and then move on towards Derna. There were no signs of the enemy at Tendgedor, but there was the possiblity of mines and aircraft, and troops would not suprise me. However, we had our own air on standby - a Stuka flight - and an engineer platoon was atttached to me as well. We came in from the west, sighting the town at around 0800 on the 7 April 1941."
"What was your tactical approach?"
"We came in spread, I planned to envelop the town with armor and sweep it with infantry. By 0810 we were very close to Tengedor, and still no sign of the enemy. Around 0812 we neared the west gate and an enemy ATG opened fire. It was quickly silenced, but there went the idea that there were no enemy here. We also killed a Forward Observer.
"At 0815 I ordered the infantry into the town. We discovered it was occupied by our old friends from the 4th Indian Division. Infantry losses began and both sides quickly lost a vehicle - a track for each of us. Asd we pushed deeper, we found British infantry in the town soon, dug in as a strong line - so I tried to call the Stuka's in on them, but they were out of contact. Still, the enemy had been pushed back about 200 yards and lost 2 MG teams."
"What did you do?"
"We halted in place. Soon I had the stuka's and they were inbound. We'd move after the run. Around 0845 the Luftwaffe rolled in. Airmen are stupid - they must feed them something that kills brain cells. The lead aircraft blew past the enemy and strafed one of my tracks. Fortunately, he didn't drop any bombs. The second aircraft decided to drop bombs deeper in the town, ignoring the line that we needed hit, though as least attacking the enemy. The second pilot, in fact, wasn't half bad. He said he had hit some mortars and he had spotted enemy artillery and was sweeping in for pass on it.
"I attacked, and we pushed the enemy back about another 50 to 100 yards. The next Stuka pass came at about 0850 and reported some success. I asked them to bomb those as they could and they said they would. We had taken 2 or 3 lines and half the town but the enemy was still fighting hard. We discovered an ATG and it knocked out Lt Funck's tank before we knocked it out."
"By 0900 we held two thirds of the town and belived that most of the defenders had been killed. We kept pushing, destroying the enemy as we moved. We lost another track, to an anti-tank team. At 0915 the enemy surrendered."
Results: Draw. I have no clue how - I suspect some high value hidden VHs. There were less then 2 platoons left and my losses were very low and thiers quite high. Camp Score: 29 A note for scen designers - hidden VHs don't work well in urban fighting, they best used in the open. If you must use them, give the attackers adequate arty, or make the scen a fairly long one.
New Elites: Sgt Weiss, 1st Platoon
Falschenburg, 4th Platoon
Kill Leaders: Sgt Weiss, 1st Platoon 29
2Lt Harmel, 1st Plt Ldr, 25
2Lt Boechter, 4th Plt Ldr, 23
HQ, USAEUR
Office of the G-2
Nurnburg, Germany
Intelligence Report Series 3: Operations of Kampfgruppe Eisbar, North Africa, 1941, Section 8.
Subject: General Alexandra Weiss
Interviewer: Maj. Avery, US Army Intelligence.
<The following is the verbatim transcript of the session>
"Welcome back, Major. How was Brussels?"
Major Avery was suprised. How had she known he had been there? She saw the look in his eyes, and smiled.
"Just because I'm a prisoner doesn't mean I don't know what's happening out there." She pointed towards the window of the interview room, indicating the outside world. "You're an intelligence officer, after all, you should understand information can always be acquired."
"How?"
She smiled. "That would be foolish of me to tell you, and so I won't."
He didn't like that, but couldn't push. His reports were getting him noticed, at higher levels, and he didn't want to lose the chance for promotion, so he let her play her game with him. "What was your next assignment?"
"We moved north, roughly, for two more days, and got fresh on the 7th. We were ordered to sweep the town of Bir-el-Tengedor, and then move on towards Derna. There were no signs of the enemy at Tendgedor, but there was the possiblity of mines and aircraft, and troops would not suprise me. However, we had our own air on standby - a Stuka flight - and an engineer platoon was atttached to me as well. We came in from the west, sighting the town at around 0800 on the 7 April 1941."
"What was your tactical approach?"
"We came in spread, I planned to envelop the town with armor and sweep it with infantry. By 0810 we were very close to Tengedor, and still no sign of the enemy. Around 0812 we neared the west gate and an enemy ATG opened fire. It was quickly silenced, but there went the idea that there were no enemy here. We also killed a Forward Observer.
"At 0815 I ordered the infantry into the town. We discovered it was occupied by our old friends from the 4th Indian Division. Infantry losses began and both sides quickly lost a vehicle - a track for each of us. Asd we pushed deeper, we found British infantry in the town soon, dug in as a strong line - so I tried to call the Stuka's in on them, but they were out of contact. Still, the enemy had been pushed back about 200 yards and lost 2 MG teams."
"What did you do?"
"We halted in place. Soon I had the stuka's and they were inbound. We'd move after the run. Around 0845 the Luftwaffe rolled in. Airmen are stupid - they must feed them something that kills brain cells. The lead aircraft blew past the enemy and strafed one of my tracks. Fortunately, he didn't drop any bombs. The second aircraft decided to drop bombs deeper in the town, ignoring the line that we needed hit, though as least attacking the enemy. The second pilot, in fact, wasn't half bad. He said he had hit some mortars and he had spotted enemy artillery and was sweeping in for pass on it.
"I attacked, and we pushed the enemy back about another 50 to 100 yards. The next Stuka pass came at about 0850 and reported some success. I asked them to bomb those as they could and they said they would. We had taken 2 or 3 lines and half the town but the enemy was still fighting hard. We discovered an ATG and it knocked out Lt Funck's tank before we knocked it out."
"By 0900 we held two thirds of the town and belived that most of the defenders had been killed. We kept pushing, destroying the enemy as we moved. We lost another track, to an anti-tank team. At 0915 the enemy surrendered."
Results: Draw. I have no clue how - I suspect some high value hidden VHs. There were less then 2 platoons left and my losses were very low and thiers quite high. Camp Score: 29 A note for scen designers - hidden VHs don't work well in urban fighting, they best used in the open. If you must use them, give the attackers adequate arty, or make the scen a fairly long one.
New Elites: Sgt Weiss, 1st Platoon
Falschenburg, 4th Platoon
Kill Leaders: Sgt Weiss, 1st Platoon 29
2Lt Harmel, 1st Plt Ldr, 25
2Lt Boechter, 4th Plt Ldr, 23
"Tonight a dynasty is born." Ricky Proehl, then of the Saint Louis Rams. He was right! Go Pats! Winners of Super Bowls 36, 38 and 39.
Welcome back, Tankhead!
Glad you like 'em. I'm still not 100 percent happy with the format, but, can't complain too much. Doing pretty good in the Desert so far <img src="smile.gif" border="0">
Alex
Glad you like 'em. I'm still not 100 percent happy with the format, but, can't complain too much. Doing pretty good in the Desert so far <img src="smile.gif" border="0">
Alex
"Tonight a dynasty is born." Ricky Proehl, then of the Saint Louis Rams. He was right! Go Pats! Winners of Super Bowls 36, 38 and 39.
March 2, 1946
HQ, USAEUR
Office of the G-2
Nurnburg, Germany
Intelligence Report Series 3: Operations of Kampfgruppe Eisbar, North Africa, 1941, Section 9.
Subject: General Alexandra Weiss
Interviewer: Maj. Avery, US Army Intelligence.
<The following is the verbatim transcript of the session>
"Shall we get started General?"
"Why not? I have no place to go." she replied with a bit of humor.
The Major grinned, then got back to business. "I understand Rommel was upset with you after Bir Tengedor."
"Yes. We were unable to get to Derna as fast as he wanted. He ingored the fact that we'd had to clear a town that was supposed to be empty. So, Eisbar was in the doghouse for a few days, then he needed us again."
"Oh, what happened?"
"On the 7th an Italian unit got into trouble. We were ordered in, to rescue it, and knock out the enemy attackers. We were to the west of Derna, so this was a British deep raiding force. I had Eisbar under command of course. In addition, there was the Italian column, which would fall under my command when we reached it, and additional DAK forces. However, those forces were small, just three tiny recon elements. Rommel had given us no support, but General Garibaldi put two flights of Italian aircraft at our disposal."
"As we got near the area we could see smoke and hear fire as the Italians were fighting for thier lives. They were not doing well. (T1 results for the column. UK losses: 1 tank, 1 AC. Italian losses: 2 trucks, 6 fighting vehicles.) We were moving in, though, and, with luck, would save some of them and hurt the British badly. Our forces made contact and knocked out two tanks. I ordered the Italian planes in, and boradcast to the Italians to hold on, Kampfgruppe Eisbar was on the way. We broadcast in Italian and English."
"English? So the British would hear? PsyOps, very nice."
"Thank you. They'd know, soon enough, but I wanted to make them afraid. The enemy pressed in on the Itailans losing an armored car in the process. The Italian commander had gotten his guns deployed and was getting his trucks out of the way. He lost a vehicle and a truck, but knocked out a half dozen British tanks. My forces added a tank and an AT vehicle.
"The enemy kept pushing. They knocked out an Italian tank and a German scout track. However, they lost 2 tanks and an armored car to ground forces and two more vehicles to Italian planes. The Italians knocked out 3 more tanks. Eisbar got an an AT vehicle. The enemy kept up his pressure on the Italians. But, he paid a price, as he lost 4 more tanks, including a Matilda knocked out by the Italian Air Force.
"We kept hitting them as well. The enemy lost two more armored cars and two more tanks, while we lost a Mk IV. Infantry fighting was occurring. The enemy attack was starting to slow. They had taken heavy losses and lost yet another tank to ground fire, and a truck to the planes. We pushed on, moving into a more agressive attack posture.
"Our forward push went well. We harrassed the two remaining 'tilda's, and knocked out four other vehicles. The punishment was too much for one of the 'tilda crews, and it bailed. The enemy lost a truck, and another vehicle to the planes. I thanked them and sent them back to base. We began to mop up, at that point, including the bailed 'tilda crew. The last 'tilda died, taking 21 hits before exploding. We also knocked out a Bren platoon which was approching from the south. The remains of the enemy forces withdrew.
"Rommel was once more pleased with me - and Eisbar. Mechili was the next objective."
<Result: German DV. Camp score: 33>
HQ, USAEUR
Office of the G-2
Nurnburg, Germany
Intelligence Report Series 3: Operations of Kampfgruppe Eisbar, North Africa, 1941, Section 9.
Subject: General Alexandra Weiss
Interviewer: Maj. Avery, US Army Intelligence.
<The following is the verbatim transcript of the session>
"Shall we get started General?"
"Why not? I have no place to go." she replied with a bit of humor.
The Major grinned, then got back to business. "I understand Rommel was upset with you after Bir Tengedor."
"Yes. We were unable to get to Derna as fast as he wanted. He ingored the fact that we'd had to clear a town that was supposed to be empty. So, Eisbar was in the doghouse for a few days, then he needed us again."
"Oh, what happened?"
"On the 7th an Italian unit got into trouble. We were ordered in, to rescue it, and knock out the enemy attackers. We were to the west of Derna, so this was a British deep raiding force. I had Eisbar under command of course. In addition, there was the Italian column, which would fall under my command when we reached it, and additional DAK forces. However, those forces were small, just three tiny recon elements. Rommel had given us no support, but General Garibaldi put two flights of Italian aircraft at our disposal."
"As we got near the area we could see smoke and hear fire as the Italians were fighting for thier lives. They were not doing well. (T1 results for the column. UK losses: 1 tank, 1 AC. Italian losses: 2 trucks, 6 fighting vehicles.) We were moving in, though, and, with luck, would save some of them and hurt the British badly. Our forces made contact and knocked out two tanks. I ordered the Italian planes in, and boradcast to the Italians to hold on, Kampfgruppe Eisbar was on the way. We broadcast in Italian and English."
"English? So the British would hear? PsyOps, very nice."
"Thank you. They'd know, soon enough, but I wanted to make them afraid. The enemy pressed in on the Itailans losing an armored car in the process. The Italian commander had gotten his guns deployed and was getting his trucks out of the way. He lost a vehicle and a truck, but knocked out a half dozen British tanks. My forces added a tank and an AT vehicle.
"The enemy kept pushing. They knocked out an Italian tank and a German scout track. However, they lost 2 tanks and an armored car to ground forces and two more vehicles to Italian planes. The Italians knocked out 3 more tanks. Eisbar got an an AT vehicle. The enemy kept up his pressure on the Italians. But, he paid a price, as he lost 4 more tanks, including a Matilda knocked out by the Italian Air Force.
"We kept hitting them as well. The enemy lost two more armored cars and two more tanks, while we lost a Mk IV. Infantry fighting was occurring. The enemy attack was starting to slow. They had taken heavy losses and lost yet another tank to ground fire, and a truck to the planes. We pushed on, moving into a more agressive attack posture.
"Our forward push went well. We harrassed the two remaining 'tilda's, and knocked out four other vehicles. The punishment was too much for one of the 'tilda crews, and it bailed. The enemy lost a truck, and another vehicle to the planes. I thanked them and sent them back to base. We began to mop up, at that point, including the bailed 'tilda crew. The last 'tilda died, taking 21 hits before exploding. We also knocked out a Bren platoon which was approching from the south. The remains of the enemy forces withdrew.
"Rommel was once more pleased with me - and Eisbar. Mechili was the next objective."
<Result: German DV. Camp score: 33>
"Tonight a dynasty is born." Ricky Proehl, then of the Saint Louis Rams. He was right! Go Pats! Winners of Super Bowls 36, 38 and 39.
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Christophe Jaureguiberry
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- Location: Jakarta, Indonesia
March 11, 1946
HQ, USAEUR
Office of the G-2
Nurnburg, Germany
Intelligence Report Series 3: Operations of Kampfgruppe Eisbar, North Africa, 1941, Section 10.
Subject: General Alexandra Weiss
Interviewer: Maj. Avery, US Army Intelligence.
Observer: Brigadier Clyde Wellingham, British Army.
<The following is the verbatim transcript of the session>
"Good Morning, General. This is Brigadier Wellingham, he'll be listening in today."
"I know who he is. I'm suprised you're here, Brigadier. I didn't think you'd want to relive that day again."
Major Avery looked suprised. "You know each other?"
She smiled. "In a matter of speaking. You see, after Eisbar rescued the Italians, we expected to be committed at Mechili. However, instead, on the night of the 8th, Rommel gave us a special mission. We were to proceed to El Abal, where the British had a depot and repair center. We were to cause some havoc, and the cover the escape of Branderburgers, who were tasked with stealing some Matilida's."
Major Avery understoon quickly. The Brigadier, lower ranking them, must have been the depot commander. "Please continue."
"We arrived in the area at 2400. I had my security platoon, half of recon, and 4th, and all of 1st and 2nd, as well as the Panzer command section. We also had some attached infantry. We went in to raise havoc. We attacked from two directions, to the north and south of the camp. Along the north, we quickly knocked out a MG position, and an ATG. To the south, we knocked out a second ATG, and entered the depot. I suspect that the Brigadier was expecting a better forward defense should he be attacked."
The Major looked over, and could tell the Brigadier wasn't pleased as he listened.
"We entered camp from the north as well, in the process knocking out a Mk VI support tank, and another AT position. We also began to engage a bunker. To the south, we knocked out a rifle pit and began to shoot up ammo dumps. The Defenders had not yet begun to counterattack as I imagine they were still shocked. We, however, kept attacking. We killed two bunkers and a truck. One of the ammo dumps blew, and motorcyclists were opening enemy fuel tanks, to deny them petrol. By 1215 we had taken some fire from British infantry."
The Brigadier was still not pleased. It had taken his men 15 minutes to begin to respond to the attack.
"However, that was minor fire. Over the next 15 or so minutes, we knocked out the other ammo dump, a repair area, a bren carrier and 5 tanks. However, we lost Hoffman's panzer. In addition, the captured tanks rolled and we began to withdraw."
"During the withdrawl, we knocked out another truck and all Eisbar units got out safely, except for Hoffman's dead tank and crew."
She tossed a feral smile at the Brigadier. "All in all, it was a cakewalk." The barb scored, the British General rising and stomping out.
Results: German DV. Camp Score: 38.
Promotions: Private Beochter, of Recon Platoon, promoted to Captain!!! (This is by far the most bizarre promtion I've seen in SP); Sgt Becker, of 2nd Plt, promoted to 2Lt; Sgt Wirth of 4th Platoon to 2ns Lt.
Elites: 2lt Wirth
Miracles: Lt Hoffman, former 1st Plt Cdr, after being roasted to death in his panzer, rises from the dead, all 20 kills intact, and takes over C5, a scout car in Recon Platoon.
Kill Leaders:
30 Sgt Weiss, 1st Platoon
27 2Lt Harmel, Cdr, 2nd Plt
26 2Lt Deckert, Cdr, 3rd Plt.
HQ, USAEUR
Office of the G-2
Nurnburg, Germany
Intelligence Report Series 3: Operations of Kampfgruppe Eisbar, North Africa, 1941, Section 10.
Subject: General Alexandra Weiss
Interviewer: Maj. Avery, US Army Intelligence.
Observer: Brigadier Clyde Wellingham, British Army.
<The following is the verbatim transcript of the session>
"Good Morning, General. This is Brigadier Wellingham, he'll be listening in today."
"I know who he is. I'm suprised you're here, Brigadier. I didn't think you'd want to relive that day again."
Major Avery looked suprised. "You know each other?"
She smiled. "In a matter of speaking. You see, after Eisbar rescued the Italians, we expected to be committed at Mechili. However, instead, on the night of the 8th, Rommel gave us a special mission. We were to proceed to El Abal, where the British had a depot and repair center. We were to cause some havoc, and the cover the escape of Branderburgers, who were tasked with stealing some Matilida's."
Major Avery understoon quickly. The Brigadier, lower ranking them, must have been the depot commander. "Please continue."
"We arrived in the area at 2400. I had my security platoon, half of recon, and 4th, and all of 1st and 2nd, as well as the Panzer command section. We also had some attached infantry. We went in to raise havoc. We attacked from two directions, to the north and south of the camp. Along the north, we quickly knocked out a MG position, and an ATG. To the south, we knocked out a second ATG, and entered the depot. I suspect that the Brigadier was expecting a better forward defense should he be attacked."
The Major looked over, and could tell the Brigadier wasn't pleased as he listened.
"We entered camp from the north as well, in the process knocking out a Mk VI support tank, and another AT position. We also began to engage a bunker. To the south, we knocked out a rifle pit and began to shoot up ammo dumps. The Defenders had not yet begun to counterattack as I imagine they were still shocked. We, however, kept attacking. We killed two bunkers and a truck. One of the ammo dumps blew, and motorcyclists were opening enemy fuel tanks, to deny them petrol. By 1215 we had taken some fire from British infantry."
The Brigadier was still not pleased. It had taken his men 15 minutes to begin to respond to the attack.
"However, that was minor fire. Over the next 15 or so minutes, we knocked out the other ammo dump, a repair area, a bren carrier and 5 tanks. However, we lost Hoffman's panzer. In addition, the captured tanks rolled and we began to withdraw."
"During the withdrawl, we knocked out another truck and all Eisbar units got out safely, except for Hoffman's dead tank and crew."
She tossed a feral smile at the Brigadier. "All in all, it was a cakewalk." The barb scored, the British General rising and stomping out.
Results: German DV. Camp Score: 38.
Promotions: Private Beochter, of Recon Platoon, promoted to Captain!!! (This is by far the most bizarre promtion I've seen in SP); Sgt Becker, of 2nd Plt, promoted to 2Lt; Sgt Wirth of 4th Platoon to 2ns Lt.
Elites: 2lt Wirth
Miracles: Lt Hoffman, former 1st Plt Cdr, after being roasted to death in his panzer, rises from the dead, all 20 kills intact, and takes over C5, a scout car in Recon Platoon.
Kill Leaders:
30 Sgt Weiss, 1st Platoon
27 2Lt Harmel, Cdr, 2nd Plt
26 2Lt Deckert, Cdr, 3rd Plt.
"Tonight a dynasty is born." Ricky Proehl, then of the Saint Louis Rams. He was right! Go Pats! Winners of Super Bowls 36, 38 and 39.