Elephant Hunt: Semi-Interactive AAR

[Mad Russian]

Now that we have contact what do we want to do next?

If I don't have any fresh orders, or a discussion about what to do, by 8pm Central this evening I'll give the orders for turn 4.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mad Russian]

Rather than waste this post with what was a double post, I'll put a Screen Shot of an infantry man's perspective of the war on the Steppes. On the horizon you can see tanks of the 2nd Tank Company as they move.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Yoozername]

Not exactly sure what you are doing but can you confirm or comment on the following:
 
1.  You are playing against the AI?
2.  There are Ferdinands?  Have you picked the German Forces?
3.  You want other people to call out 'orders'?  Does the general consensus win?
 
 
In any case, if you have stopped and spotted that halftrack, he may still be moving and probably has not spotted you.  I would just back off the recon into the 'V' part of the woods and let things develop.  Not sure why you moved the infantry into the open.  Perhaps to secure the flag?  Would running down the road have been quicker? 
 
In any case, I still would use patience to let the Germans come forward.  The plan would be to use a swarming ambush on them and if they have heavy armor, at least one company will get them in the sides or rear.

[Mad Russian]

1. Yes, I am playing against the AI. That way I can play turns as I get input.

2. I did infact create the scenario.

3. If anyone else wants to be my overall commander and give me directions as to how to fight the battle, I'll take direction. But I'm going to take local tactical control as to where are actually placed on the map.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Ratzki]

How about slowly moving 3TC westward around the near hill and prepare for the possibility of flanking enemy armor. As well, i don't like getting that Recon unit too far forward on it's own at this time. Maybe see if we can get into position to take out that German scout without exposing ourselves too much with our Recon. Other then that I would like to hold pat a bit and see what the AI is up to.

[Yoozername]

I agree.  No need to get trigger happy or strung out.

I think that moving the recon back but leaving one tank, perhaps our hero, might be fine.  I believe he didn't spot anything yet.  And since he is elite, he is the best eyes.  Rotate him so that he can withdraw if needed back into the wooded area 'V'. 

Maybe get all of TC 2 into that 'V' area would be nice if the Germans rush down the road.  A nice broadside to fix them, and the other tank companies can hit them from other flanks.

I put the Germans on:
4 Ferdinand
4 Panzer IVL
4 Panzer III75
1 platoon of armored inf

[Mad Russian]

So, do we move the rest of 2nd Company forward or the recon element back? I was getting ready to send the rest of 2nd Company up to support the recon element. To have them rush up to a position about where the recon element started.

I can also tell the recon element to hold fire. Since all they see at the moment is the HT.

Do we want 3rd Tank Company to cross the road? If so how far west and how far north?

Should we move 1st Platoon forward some more? A short rush forward of say 50-100 meters to see what may be coming over the west side of Hill 254?

If your intelligence is correct we are in for one heck of a fight. 12 German AFV's with 4 of those Ferdinands. That might be a bit more than we can chew. However, there are no cowards in this unit so we will fight "For The Motherland"!

Good Hunting.

MR

[Yoozername]

I'm happy with the reverse slope defense already at 254.  I see nothing to be gained by committing armor past it.  More than likely it will just get losses for little gain.
 
How far CAN the recon see as it looks out to the west?  It would probably be best if there was a map for DL. 

[Ratzki]

So far I feel that caution is the way to go. I would like to see 3TC stay at the base of hill 254, just skirting around the western edge. I do not want to commit to any fight full on yet, I just do not want to be in a direct face to face fight with enemy tanks and would like to try to get into a position to posibly catch them in a crossfire if possible. That is if they decide to crest hill 254. And if they venture between 254 and the eastern woods, we might be able to catch them in an even more pleasent position for our tankers.
1TC might be our mobile reserve for both 3TC and 2TC. Might be a good idea to get them to where they can respond quickly to support either TC, maybe they are in the correct spot right now.
Recon is a bit far forward, maybe they could slip into the "V" .

[Yoozername]

I would like some LOS info. Also some more 'down-low' pics. What areas can the RECON elements see now? It seems like a perfect spot.

[Mad Russian]

The Recon element LOS is approximately this.

They don't have a lot of LOS. At the moment, they are down off the hill, looking up at the two hills in front of them.

They spotted the German HT but won't have full LOS to it for very far.

The light green is a solid LOS and the blue striped area is spotty LOS.

At the moment they seem to be completely unnoticed by the enemy.


Good Hunting.

MR

[junk2drive]

I would keep an eye on the right side of your map. The AI could go around 248 and hug the map edge, then pop out of the woods.

[Yoozername]

The AI could be creeping up the other board edge also.  There is no time limit so it can take its time.

But I think this is being 'over-thunk' at this point and 'oh, what a difference a turn makes'. 

I think the prudent thing to do is just see what develops after this turn.  Orders?  I would move up TC2 to backup the recon.  Recon doesn't have a great field of view?  well, that means the German 88LL and 75L won't either.  I want to get into a knife fight and I want them to fall into a trap and get stabbed in the back.

I say lets hit the turn button.

[Yoozername]

I am reposting this here from the 'Elephant Hunt' thread.  Perhaps this can give a better LOS indication.  Note the depression along the top left (NW) area of the map.  Even if Germans were in that area, would creeping forward reveal them? 

I think the Soviets have grabbed 'vital-ground' at this point.  Let the Germans come to us.

[heinrich55]

I'd say let 2TC move up to support the recon boys. Also, hold fire as we want to see what else slides into view.

3TC could move forward, but I'd say if they do, they should stay below the hill edge of 254 and ease around to see if any Germans are slipping down our left edge. The infantry can spot enemy coming over 254 towards the flag and then our 3TC could ease up to hull-down and catch them in the flank.

I can feel the tension rising. These interactive AARs are always a neat idea. Thanks MR.

Heinrich55

[Yoozername]

I am thinking that taking one platoon from 1 TC in the center and sending it up to that 'white-square' on the height map. It can see from there as it slopes downward.

[Mad Russian]

Here is a blended map. It may be easier to discern terrain features with height.

However, you can mark a spot on this map exactly where you want a vehicle that you can see and I may, or may not, be able to put that vehicle in that exact spot on the game map. That's why I told you that you give me the overall orders and I'll do the tactical deployment. This happens all the time in actual situations. Where a map gets misread. We can do it either way, but you need to understand I'm still going to put the unit in the best spot I can. That may, or may not, be the exact same spot you think is best.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Yoozername]

I believe most people have expressed movement in terms of units.  Not vehicles?

[Mad Russian]

That's correct, and I want to keep it that way.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Yoozername]

In a real tactical situation, an overall commander may say "go look over the crest of that hill with your platoon".  I don't think the platoon commander in WWII had GPS and would go 50 meters before the crest because he reads a map wrong. 
 
I do think a overall commander might certainly give orders as far as SOP.  Such as "Go to the crest of that hill but be cautious".