1st Panzer Long Campaign - Battle 10

[FNG]

The HQ has lost sight of the T-26 and engages the Rifle squad. The Mark IVs come under fire from a lone (for now) BA-10M, but only momentarily:

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Turn 5 Reaction phase. The Soviet Rifle squad engaged by HQ and two Mark IVs on overwatch is killed and another distant Rifle squad is taken under fire. The T-26 has disappeared...

[FNG]

The Pz-IV platoon spots and engages a 50mm mortar, while other Soviet Rifle and AT Rifle units are spotted, south of the river:



The T-26 re-appears and is damaged twice - it is abandoned at the end of the phase.

[FNG]

Turn 6 Orders. The advance continues and the HQ Pz-IIIg section comes under artillery fire, which is ineffective.

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Turn 6 reaction. On the right flank, the grenadiers come under fire; third platoon takes casualties and is suppressed, but rallies at the end of turn.

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Turn 7 orders. Infantry and two Pz-IIIs engage a Soviet Maxim, while the HQ section Rush to support the grenadiers. Pz-IV platoon takes a short Bound towards the first objective (scared of what lurks in the woods [:)]).

[FNG]

The rather hot-headed rush of the HQ section has revealed some more Soviet infantry in the woods to the south of the river:

[FNG]

Turn 8 orders and uh-oh, there's a 45mm AT gun lurking on the right near my half-tracks.

[FNG]

As the half-tracks engage the ATG, panzers fire on Maxims in the tree line to support the infantry.

[FNG]

North of the river, more Soviet infantry has been exposed.

[FNG]

One Maxim and one 50mm mortar bite the dust, and a few Soviet Rifle squads take casualties. On to the reaction phase, and the Pz-IVs engage targets to their front.

[FNG]

The Pz-IIIs keep up a fire support role:

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And the right flank gets busy as the HQ panzers arrive:

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On the right flank the Soviet infantry pay dearly, but the ATG has dropped off the radar... Infantry, half-tracks and panzers engage at close quarters...

[FNG]

The Pz-III platoon engages infantry north of the river.

[FNG]

The final order of turn 9 pushes the Pz-IVs closer to the objective while suppressing Soviet infantry.

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Seven Rifle squads and one AT Rifle squad are no more. Soviet artillery, despite early accuracy, is now falling off-target. Now where is the rest of the Soviet armour?

[FNG]

The right flank continues to be a close-quarters gunfight, but we are currently winning. The Pz-IIIs engage Maxims and a mortar while the Pz-IVs fire upon a variety of targets. The Soviets lose a Rifle squad, a 50mm mortar and an ATR squad. A 45mm ATG engages a Pz-IV at medium range, to no effect (yet).

[FNG]

Turn 10 and two more Soviet rifle squads check out. The first objective falls to our panzers! Rejoicing is cut short as three T-26s appear - one is knocked out in short order, but our lead Pz-IV has its main gun damaged and the crew bail out. Hopefully we will be able to recover the vehicle after the battle.

[FNG]

Right. It's 0039 Zulu and I have to work tomorrow. I hope you are enjoying the AAR, more tomorrow [;)]