Bridges to Lamia

[JudgeDredd]

D1 1700

[RED]Two allied units are probing - one heading north and then east in a flanking probe and the other...well it's unclear what he's doing at the moment. He may be making his way to Sperkhios Bridge to see if it's clear...or he could be heading east then north and west again in a flanking probe. Either way, he'll be seen off. I can only see this because I Inf Bn HQ and 1st Mot PzJg Coy have excellent LOS from their positions.

[GREEN] Those allied units are temtping 13th Inf Gun Coy!!

3 hours or so until dark. No sign of the Luftwaffe. I have told my radop to forget it. It's clear they will not be coming.

I have had to be lean with my HE from the 8cm tubes of Mor Pl in Yef Alamanas - they are down to their last few rounds. There are no indications of supply heading my way either.

[JudgeDredd]

D1 1900

I was too busy organising my front to write my report at 1800.

The situation? Well holding well I think. The allied commander is trying to launch an attack from the west at Yef Alamanas Bridge. He's decided to keep the pressure on, though, through the marsh so I cannot shift my forces!

[RED] South of Komma Bridge, there is heavy airstrikes and bombardment...but my troops have held well. 6th Inf Coy retreated for a bit to re-org...but them came back to stand fast. The allied unit to the south west of 6th Inf Coy is in a position where it was able to observe 1st Flak Bty and 1st Inf Coy...and then called in the airstrikes and bombardment...so the allies know I am there now.

[YELLOW]That cunning allied commander is moving more units round north and east to attack Yef Alamanas bridge from the east...he''s still keeping the pressure on at the road through the marsh though...just so I cannot adjust my defensive strategy. I am assured by the commander of 7th Inf Coy that he is able to defend his position, though. I have ordered him to arrowhead formation so he can deal with both flanks and attacks from the front.

Also, the allied unit moving to the east is most definitely heading towards the Sperkhios Bridge. I have one of two options...

• Defend it and use 3rd Inf Coy to attack the unit from the rear
  or
• move my units out of sight of the Sperkhios Bridge and let them cross...then wait for the allied commander to be informed of the bridgehead and start moving his units across...thus taking pressure OFF Yef Alamanas.

Well...my plan was to prevent a foothold...and that is what I will do. So Mot PzJg Pl I Bn Inf Regt will hold and 3rd Inf Coy will attack the enemy unit from the rear.

I made another error earlier, also. I ordered 3rd Inf Coy to rest to rebuild the unit when I should've ordered them to reorg. So I have changed their order.

[JudgeDredd]

D1 2023

Damn this Greek weather....still daylight and not a sign of it darkening soon!

I have focused the situational map on Yef Alamanas Bridge...

[RED]As you can see, I have several units in various states of retreat/retreat recovery. I ordered 7th Inf Coy to hold!! He has buckled under pressure...and alot less pressure than 3rd Inf Coy withstood!

[YELLOW] The west flank of Yaf Alamanas Bridge is under threat. The flanking manouvre has actually just turned into a broad front really. With the 7th Inf Coy out the way, the door is very much ajar to the bridge. I hope the 2nd Pnr Coy checked the explosives thoroughly enough!

[ORANGE]I am about to order 3rd Inf Coy to attack the rear of the enemy unit heading towards Sperkhios Bridge. Mot PzJg Pl which is meant to be denying the crossing seems to be in a state of retreat. Whilst not overly concerned (because I have 3rd Inf Coy) it is, nonetheless, a concern.

At Komma (not displayed) the 13th Inf Gun Coy is now able to fire on the enemy. 1st Flak Bty, 1st Inf Coy and 6th Inf Coy are holding well so far.

Night should not be long and, whilst it may bring respite and some needed rest, I am concerned that the allied commander might make some flanking manouvers under cover of darkness....so it will be tense.

My troops must not waiver!!!

[JudgeDredd]

D1 2200

At last...night has arrived.

[ORANGE]Bad news - Sperkhios Bridge has fallen. The Mot PzJg Pl failed to blow it AND is in retreat. What you cannot see is 3rd Inf Coy has been dispatched but failed to intercept in time. They will have to cross the bridge and take the allied unit from the rear. If the allied unit breaks through and threatens Yef Alamanas from the rear, my units will rout for sure!

[RED]Bad news...1st and 6th Inf Coys are in disarray. Retreating and recovering with regularity. The good news here is that 13th Inf Gun Coy has been able to bring it's 15 cm guns to bear for the last couple of hours....bad news is that their ammo is almost out. I have already been informed by high command that there are no transport columns able to bring supplies!

Things are looking bad. Sperkhios has already fallen. Komma looks very shaky. Support is drying up. Supplies are drying up. Yef Alamanas may be flanked.

[JudgeDredd]

D1 2300

Amost at the end of the day. Tomorrow and dawn is going to prove difficult. I am expecting 1st Lt Pz Coy soon. They cannot come soon enough. I will dispatch them immediately south to Komma.

The allies have some serious artillery here! They are pounding all units at varying times - and I have to take my hat off to their coordinator...the artillery is being directed with precision AND at the right times...doing very well at supporting the various attacks at the crucial times.

[ORANGE]Sperkhios Bridge may be ok. The allied unit (C Coy 2/4 Au Inf Bn) has around 80 men and is in retreat.

[BLUE]Under cover of darkness I have ordered the 2nd Inf Coy to move north (just south of Yef Alamanas Bridge) and take up a new defensive position.

[GREEN]I have ordered the 1st Flak Bty to move north of the Sperkhios River at Komma and deny the crossing. I hope I am not too late with this change in command, as the allies there seem to be moving round the the right to move in behind the Flak Bty and 6th Inf Coy.

[YELLOW]I have ordered the 6th Inf Coy to move north (staying south of the Sperkhios River) and take up a new defensive stand. Again - I hope I'm not too late here.

[RED] 1st Inf Coy is in rout again and has suffered 40% loss of personnel. I will pull them back to the east under cover of darkness and let them reorg...hopefully allowing them to come back into the fray in the morning and either interdict enemy supply columns or harass the right flank of the enemy...creating a distraction which may hold the tide of allied forces heading to Komma.

[JudgeDredd]

D2 0046

2nd Pnr Coy has blown the Yef Alamanas Bridge...repeat...2nd Pnr Coy has blown the Yef Alamanas Bridge

I am receiving manic requests for information from 2nd and 7th Inf Coys. They are asking why the bridge was blown and what their orders are now!

I have nothing to offer. The bridge had to be blown. I had no choice. The pressure on the crossing was unbearable. They are on their own. They need to make their own way back across the Sperkhios.

Before I issue any more orders, I will have to see what the allied commander is going to do, although I have immediately dispatched the 2nd Pnr Coy to the Komma Bridge. There is a greater chance of the bridge being blown if the engineers are present! There is no point sending them to the Sperkhios Bridge. The attempt to blow that failed, so the bridge would have to be primed again...besides...Komma is more likely to give and I have the 7th and 2nd Inf Coys to protect that flank - as well as the 3rd Inf Coy which is already over there.

I feel desparately sorry for the commanders of the 7th and 2nd...but they are professional...they will do their duty.

[Grotius]

Good stuff!

[JudgeDredd]

D1 0100

The 1st Lt Pz Coy arrived at 23:58 and was immediately dispatched south to defend the Komma Bridge.

I have observed the allies moving back in the direction of north west...so I have taken the chance of dispatching what I could back to defend Komma and, should that fall, Anthili. I hope I have not made a hasty decision which I may regret!!

[ORANGE]1st Lt Pz Coy is alamost at the Komma Bridge and will immediately take up defensive positions.

[GREEN] 1st Inf Coy is in a mess. The commander is trying to do all he can to reorganise what is left of his unit. But I think it will be futile. If I am correct, and the allies are moving north, then the company will be decimated!

[RED]There is serious pressure being brought to bear on the 6th Inf Coy south of Komma Bridge. I doubt they will be able to hold. 1st Flak Bty has orders to deny crossing....I hope it doesn't come to this as I would like the 2nd Pnr Coy to get there to help blow it.

[DARK BLUE] I have ordered the 13th Inf Coy to reposition south east of it's current position. This is in anticipation of the allies making it across the Komma Bridge...in which case I will need some blocking units to stop the drive south east to Anthili and Yef Alamanas.

[PURPLE]I have ordered the 2nd Pnr Coy to move north at great speed and deny the Komma crossing. If the Komma crossing is denied, the allies will have lost for sure...they will never make it south to the Sperkhios Bridge!

[DARK BLUE]I've ordered the 7th and 2nd Inf Coys (currently south of Yef Alamanas) to move across the Sperkhios Bridge and head north as fast as possible to defend north west of Anthili...I don't know if they will make it in time.

[WHITE]In light of recent events, my HQ will redeploy in Anthili itself.

[BLACK]The 1st Mot PzJg Coy is to move south and occupy Yef Alamanas

[LIGHT BLUE]The Mor Pl I Bn Inf Regt 433 is to head north and redeploy north east of Anthili and as close to Komma Bridge as possible to provide fire support as required...and for as long as it's ammo stocks last.

[ORANGE]The Mot PzJg Pl is to move to a defensive position just north of the Sperkhios Bridge.

Does any of this make sense?! Here's my tac map to try and help!

[JudgeDredd]

D2 0400

WOW. What a last hectic few hours.

Well...I think I called it right...the allies are heading north to Komma. Unfortunately, the 1st Lt Pz Coy decided to try and blow the bridge...and screwed it up...so they allies, if they push hard enough, have one foot in the door and the chance to rescue this.

Everything is in motion for the inevitable defence of Anthili and the prevention of allied forces heading south through Anthili and onto Yaf Alamanas.

[RED]1st Lt Pz Coy and 1st Flak Bty are holding north of the Komma Bridge

[LIGHT BLUE]New defensive line

[YELLOW]All units are in their new defensive positions

[GREEN]Still redeploying

[DARK BLUE]1st Inf Coy is now resting...they are going to need it!

[ORANGE]Allied forces heading north

[Purple]3rd Inf Coy is tasked with attacking the allied unit which made it across the Sperkhios Bridge

[JudgeDredd]

D2 0800

Only 10 hours to go! I only have to hold my objectives until 1800 when I fully expect the arrival of 1 Pz Bn Pz Regt 3 with some 1500 men and all it's glorious armour!

The allied commander almost caught me on the hop. Over at Sperkhios Bridge, another enemy unit (which must've been moving under cover of darkness) has crossed at Sperkhios. Luckily the 7th and 2nd Inf Coys were just crossing themselves to head up towards their new defensive positions north west of Anthili...so I stopped 2nd Inf Coy and ordered them to defend the area.

This is significant for two reasons...

• The Sperkhios Bridge is now contested
• It takes focres away from my defense of Anthili

Hopefully the 2nd Inf Coy, 3rd Inf Coy and Mot PzJg Pl will be enough to deal with this incursion

It still appears that the majority of the allied forces are not exploiting this bridgehead. Good...because defensive prparations are almost complete for Anthili. I keep talking about Anthili as if it's the next objective and, to be honset, for me, this is the case. It would be unrealistic to expect my forces to march all the way from Yef Alamanas, take up defensive positions around Komma AND put up a hard fight under low cohesion and high fatigue...so all I can do is hold the tidal wave of allied forces south of Komma Bridge for as long as possible.

Alot of the units are in retreat or recovering from such. In the case Mor Pl and 13th Inf Gun Coy north east of Komma Bridge, this is due to heavy allied bombardment. The 2nd Pnr Coy engineer unit north east of Komma Bridge has defied orders and halted. They are too tired to continue...fatigue was, at one point, over 70% and unit cohesion was very low.

The 6th Inf Coy and 1st Flak Bty at Komma Bridge are retreating due to direct fire. 1st Lt Pz Coy is holding fast...but also coming under heavy bombardment.

My HQ has now taken up an observation spot at Anthili looking south east...keeping an eye on the allied units which crossed at Sperkhios Bridge.

Despite the allied bridgehead across the Sperkhios at Sperkhios Bridge, I am allowing the 7th Inf Coy to move north east of Anthili and establish a defensive position.

All in all, unit cohesion is low, fatigue is high and my men are proving harder to manage.

I am resting and reorging where possible...but now Komma is under the cosh, and Sperkhios is contested, there are few I can allow to rest.

[JudgeDredd]

D2 1100

Things are getting very tense. The allies are calling in many airstrikes and bombarding at will. It's like they have no supply issues, which may be the case...unlike my men.

The Komma Bridge defense force has held very well. The commanders of 1st Flak Bty and 1st Lt Pz Coy will be recommended for medals. There is intense pressure on them to break. In fact, 1st Lt Pz Coy has not retreated 1 inch since it arrived at it's defensive post more than 7 hours ago!!

[RED and LIGHT BLUE]
[RED] There is alot of retreating from Komma Bridge...but I'm not 100% sure it's a retreat or change in strategy! Perhaps a move south to get across the Sperkhios Bridge...the movement seems too brisk and deliberate to be a retreat. Also, there were units moving west and north from Yef Alamanas to the Komma Bridge [LIGHT BLUE]...intel hasn't seen most of these units since 0400hrs...so I have no idea if they are still heading north west or whether there is a deliberate move from the attack on Komma and they've turned around! No matter...I cannot manouvre any more troops at the moment. Fatigue is very high and unit cohesion is as bad!!

[YELLOW] They're struggling. 3rd and 2nd Inf Coys are struggling to repel the 2 allied units which crossed earlier at Sperkhios Bridge.

Damn. If I could only have held the 7th Inf Coy back and even rested it, I could called on it now to help out...as it is, I was so focused on the Komma Bridge and the imminent breakthrough, I let them continue north west to a new defensive position...now they are too tired to dig in, nevermind turn around. A knee jerk reaction I hope to live to regret!!

[JudgeDredd]

D2 1330

God rest my soul after this day!!

I was right, again. The allies have changed tact...however, the allied commander may have made his first major error...he has changed from attacking a stern defense at Komma to attacking a lighter defense at Sperkhios. That isn't his error...does he have time to get round and across and to the objectives?

His troops have to be tired!! They've been attacking since yesterday afternoon...then moved north (or did they...he may have rested them out of sight...remember, I have had little intel regarding the majority of the units involved in the attack at Yef Alamanas)....then moved east...they must be too fatgued to offer any kind of attack at Sperkhios.

He has noticed, however, that the bridgehead at Sperkhios has been made. Perhaps he has only received word about the light resistance and bridgehead! Perhaps he was resting his troops! Perhaps...perhaps!! The point is...he is going for it now, and I have to move fatigued units again! I'll be surprised if they get in position! On top of that, artillery is falling from the sky with increased regularity!

Well...the orders are

• 13th Inf Gun Coy to move south east and take up a good defensive position. They are out of 15cm ammo, though!
• 2nd Inf Coy - They have been trying to contain the bridgehead Sperkhios for some time now...I eventually moved them back and now I'm going to shuffle them slightly forward to keep between Sperkios Bridge - Yef Alamanas - Anthili
• 7th Inf Coy is to move south and protect the east flank at Yef Alamanas
• 2nd Pnr Coy is to move south east and protect the road to Anthili

All these units are extremely tired though...so I'm hoping the allied force heading to Sperkhios will not be in a good position to fight...because I cannot see my men hold for long. They know what they have to do, and I'm sure they will do it.

The allies have kept a significant force attacking the Komma Bridge, though...just to make sure I cannot move other key units. I would have liked to move the 1st Lt Pz Coy south east, but they are doing a stern job holing the crossing at Komma.

I have to take my hat off to the allied commander...he's making me think.

[JudgeDredd]

GUTTED. I forgot to pause the game when I was writing up the last AAR entry and when I went back to start playing again, they game had ended!!

D2 1800
What a battle.

The allied commander almost pulled off his daring move. His units were within 1km of Yef Alamanas with what looks like about 500 troops.

The allied troop displacement was thus

• Komma Bridge 700 troops
• Around Moskhokhorion 400 troops
• South of Yef Alamanas 500 troops
• Yef Alamanas 500 troops
• Sperkhios Bridge 400 troops

There was also about 1300 troops in the battalion base and artillery unit held back to the west of the mountain range to the south. That's a total of 3800 troops.

I had 1350 left!

[JudgeDredd]

Well...I have to say, I've only played the tutorial of this game so far. I've played as the allies twice and as the axis twice and I have had a blast each time. I hav not tired of it as yet.

I liked how the AI kept me on my toes.

[Arjuna]

Nice one. Must be time to try another scenario.[:)]

[JudgeDredd]

Dave
 
I can't help but think reading AARs are not as enjoyable for you because you know the mechanics....so you know what the AI is assessing to determine what it should be doing. Is that right? Or is it just as enjoyable for you?

[Arjuna]

I must admit the greatest joy for me is seeing the joy you guys are having making and reading them. [:)]