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Chepel River Crossings AAR

(([Human German v AI Russian. This was scenario #7 (map8) of stock game's 'campaign Karkov-German'.]))

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3rd Company (Spellir), 1st btn [IIIPzKp, 14PzD. 36th Rg], deployed to relieve retreating units along Sherstuk front; Karkov area.

Arrive NW, with (after near defeat earlier):

[36th Rg]
-3 MkIVe ((stubnose)) in two platoons,
-2 MkIIs,
-5 PIIIs (fresh),

[103rd Rg]
-heavy weapons(HMG, Mtr) with trans
-1 and 2/3 PzGrn platoons on foot (trans bogged in rear);

-105 Art in support [4th Btn].

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When I arrived at North West HQ...

Remnant pltn of 103rd 2nd Cpn Inf across river at NE Boro, dug in, and surviving HMG on near side of river in positions indicated on accomp map(s).

-4 ATGs of 4th btn

We hold crossroads and junctions. ((circled on map))

Enemy tnks already observed on far side of river: 10 med [T34s] center; 1 med S Boro (more suspected); and 4 light [T60s] heading North >900meters.

First I redeployed 2nd Cpn's MGs to church tower and retreat house south; veteran ATGs to tweaked locations indicated.

Decided 2nd Cpn Inf could not be pulled out or close-reinforced in time; instructd to prepare for close assault.

Best case support is deploy Mk IV armour ((covered rush)) in North Woods and behind warehouse on near side of river and surprise enemy flanks. PIIIs to trepidatiously advance forward to better range positions (<500m) --ultimately cover behind buildings lining Main Ave-- watching for more enemy tanks SE (and sov med tanks center!). ATGs holding fire ((good shot)).

Hev weps, PGn and MkIIs to remain in reserve at HQ location (NW), until enemy Inf attacks. No arty spot opportunes avail; Hard to predict full enemy advance anyway. Some sov Inf seen in S Boro.

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Sov smoke laid, covering their advance on NE CrsRds.

Minute later, 4 more T70s arrive S Boro with pltn Inf -- advance towards S bridge.

The 10 med tnks move towards C Bridge. Multi pltn Inf advance towards river's C Ford.

Called in arty, spotted by mounted Mrtr in reserve, on C Ford.

Moving Hev Wep transports towards Main Ave positions (at least to spot better but also to stop Sov Inf from getting firing positions on Main Ave). I had ordered PGn Inf on foot a bit up North Rd earlier.

My MkIVs in position now. I knock out one T60 making its way towards NE Boro. Sov smoke acting as cover for 2nd Cpn's Cls Aslt: they successfully take out another light tnk with no casualites inccured.

4 more sov med tnks appear from rear center facing north (not in range) supporting T60s.

The 10 meds center are starting to cross bridge as column. Our arty is slowing sov Inf at fording point.

Because of these massed T34s, entire North and C Junction situation is desperate. I decide I must order the five PIIIs to assist north; ATGS to open up long range on T70s in S Boro so as to slow advance and cover PIII withdrawal and redeployment.

2/3/1's MkIV/1, inches out ((def move)) from behind cover and destroys, with APHE flnk shot another T-60 Attacking NE Boro. I knock out with HEAT the lead T-34 of the far, north facing column; the rest are behind trees.

2nd Cpn Inf takes out the last T60 cl aslt!

I am now able to more securely try for flank shots on the 10 center T34s crossing the bridge.

Here are the events that transpired next...

My HQ tank (HQ/3/1) successfully redeployed through woods and opened fire along with ATG and other MkIVs on T-34 center column crossing bridge. I hit lead tank with HEAT. Flank shot. Dead! We then opened up on the 2nd T34 behind it and destroyed that too. Center Bridge is choked closed! I withdraw back through woods under fire from column.

The PIIIs can stay at South and safely pull forward, now that the northern crossings are secure and they are not needed there.

At that same time 4th Btn's ATGs along with some PIIIs --and 2/3/1 MKIV /2, from behind the warehouse-- open up on T70s crossing S Bridge. (PIIIs focus on T70s, ATG on T-34.)

Two got across. Another two destroyed on bridge! Blocked! (The Sov Inf there is stimied, adding to tnk confusion.)

One T70 that got across is in depression just off South Bridge laying covering fire. Only turret is siteable, making for tough target. The other heads towards SE Crossroads ((takes flag)).

In the melee a Soviet tank got a shot off at 2/3/1's MkIVe /2. '322' ((2/3/1's MkIVe /2)) was destroyed.

Fire, from 4th Btn's ATGs and my PIIIs, destroys both T-70's on near side of river ((taking flag back)).

Most of the 10 tank column (8 now) of T34s heads towards SE bridge... Laterally crossing the battlefield at good range [(otherwised called a "der fuehrer")].

My PIIIs along with the ATG open fire on that unsuspecting T34 column moving towards S Bridge --destroying some, wrecking the mobility of others.

By this time, my 1 and 2/3 PGn Pltns --along with Hev Wep --were now deployed (with 2nd Cpn's HMG crew) at forward positions at Main AVe and Center Junct. They along with accurate 105 barrage caused the the Sov Inf attack at the river's Center Ford to retreat and turn NE.

So that is how the entire Soviet thrust to cross the river was thwarted by knocking out no less than 4 crossing sov tanks within minutes of each other. And then severly damaging or destroying at least 6 more. "Stoi Nyet!"

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During the deployment of my Pz Grn inf and Hev Wep support, they came under substantial Mrtr attack twice. One Mtr tm, its trans and one HMG trans were destroyed. ((see above map))

While this battle to stop the crossings at both bridges was raging, the basically intact T34's of the rear north center group --'grp far'-- stayed docile in the Russian rear, thankfully.

The enemy armour situation was now:
North--
Three med tanks of 'grp far'; plus the three mediums from the decimated center column, making their way north to 'grp far' or immobile on south side of bridge. This 'Center Woods Grp' --'CWG'-- specifically harrassing me and my PGn deployment.
South--
One stunned T34 on S Brdg; two more T34's immobile on far-side river bank.

I ordered all, but the far south PIIIs and ATG, to keep fire on 'CWG' until neutralized. My farthest South units to stay on T-34s south.

As we were battling CWG, a cpn of Sov Inf appeared north of Center Woods and together with retreating Inf from Center Ford, advanced north --apparently towards Peninsula Ford. This awakened 'grp far'. They headed for the river crossing at the peninsula.

It is now imperative that the CWG T34s are silenced: they are in a position to lay down accurate covering fire for 'grp far's attack on Peninsula Ford (and, as said, one CWG tnk is making way to reinforce 'grp far').

Fortunately our attack on CWG is effective (though the moving one almost made it to 'grp far'). This allows me to prepare for flanking ambush similar to the one mounted against Center Bridge T-34s earlier.

Sov Inf started to cross en masse at Peninsula Ford. PGn small arms fire (also from 2nd Cpn) reduces some Sov Inf. Though I lost no one, my HGs in the church were fired on accurately by the med Tanks and had to abandon positions ((unmount)) temporarily.

Then the darndest thing happend. For a reason known but to them, the T34s --some of which were _already half across_ the river-- turned north and advanced towards the NE crossroads. I myself was not in good position for this, having laid an ambush for them on a path they were now not going to take. But 2/3/1 MkIVe /1 (which had survived an earlier Mtr hit) came out and started firing on their flanks: two sov tanks were knocked out.

(A 4th Btn ATG at long range was also firing on their rears as grp far progressed away from the river towards the NE Crs Rds; they swear they _know_ they knocked out at least one tank, having seen the impacts and explosions. ((The ATGs and not the MkIV, did indeed rear shoot them at 700 meters!)))

The surviving T34 is now motoring north --apparently finally invigorated by defeat. Sov Inf behind; the rest suppressed from my PGn positions. 2nd Cpn under attack again!

They throw smoke...

I try to navigate to a better firing position on near river bank, in time. But the final T34 makes it to NE Crs Rds.

But it was then knocked out by 2nd Cpn squads! That makes three! (Specifically by, I was told, a trooper Schmidts who was wounded laying a pack on the tank and then killed by the subsequent explosion.)

The sov tank situation at S Brdg at this time --after persistent ((manually ordered)) fire-- was static.

They apparently had enough. By 6:25pm my forward Pz Gr Inf were receiving no fire and taking prisoners. ((I hit play And Legendary Victory.))

We captured 3 abandoned Sov tnks. One was booby trapped and had to be destroyed.

I lost one unrecoverbale halftrack, one Mtr crew and 2/3/1 MkIVe/2; 4a/2/1 HMG was wounded. 2nd Cpn's HMG ((4b/2/1)) was severly wounded at South CrssRds position and 2nd Cpn's 2 pltn had taken minor casualites only.

My bogged transports arrived in my rear towards the end of this. Assisted with wounded and prisoners.

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Again, 2/3/1's MkIVe /2 ["322"] is unrecoverable. ["32 MkIV/2" = 3rd Cpn, 2nd Pltn, 2nd unit (of 1st btn, 36th Rgt, D.14Pz)]

Citation recommendations sent to appropriate comms: 103PzGnRg (special note Schmidts); ATG teams 103Rg 4th btn, 2nd Cpn.

As I requested earlier I really need refits and replacements desperately now. I understand per our previous correspondence that there are MkIIs available but I respectfully say again I need tanks that can combat sov armor. If I can not receive replacement MkIVs immediately I can not guarantee the effectivness of further operations.

Spellir
(Hauptmann)
IIIPz, 14PzD
36th Rg, 1st Btn
3rd Cpn HQ

|);->

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Captured photo of Sov logistical confusion at S Bridge.

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How's that?

I did this AAR screwy. Positions are approximate from memory and a rough outline.

...Next time, take a screen shot per turn --specifically for the top down map's unit locations; Also at same time, choose good 'photo' capture that highlights some event that turn.

Spellir

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Link to download "Chepel Relief" with the assets I received en Campaign (as above), in Set Battle form [with renamed unit IDs]:

tm.asp?m=1901097

Nice AAR.

Played this scenario many times in the beta. I see your PzIIs turned out to be just as (in)effective as mine [;)]

Regards

S.

ORIGINAL: spellir74

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How's that?

I did this AAR screwy. Positions are approximate from memory and a rough outline.

...Next time, take a screen shot per turn --specifically for the top down map's unit locations; Also at same time, choose good 'photo' capture that highlights some event that turn.

Spellir

Nice AAR - Thanks!

Rick