Olympus line - german Perspective

[OlegHasky]

This will be the AAR of the German attempt to break the Olympus line in Greece preformed on the scenario titteled:

"Olympus - Foothils of the Gods v4"
Standard adjustments -wheater, supply. Orders dely - realistic.
Flashed with a number of screens, should provide a bright view on the key battle situations.
Using the ocasion, I would also like to lay my thanks, and signs of respect to the autor of COTA 3d maps for Google.. Briliant idea. Made a lot of help, adding the
realistics to the game in the matter of getting good view of the terrain.

I would like to mark that My english is second-handed ,so please anybody hard locked in the hard borders of language
gramatics ..just dont bother[:'(]
I will try my best anyway [&o]

[OlegHasky]

As most are aware, the battle is pretty huge, lasting almost 6 days - involding a significant forces on both sides.

A stop for a second to look at the battleground..
The terrain.. Basicaly a nightmare for the attackers. Favoring defenders, wich are to protect thin, deep
passes.

Known fact is, that the Allies didnt manage to gather enogh forces to cover this terrain well, to made it
unpassable. Still, Historicaly, They didnt allow German forces to flow in (at the time the Axis needed it.)
Yet, the Wehrmacht provided the tools necessary to open this can. I decided to deliver it for Adolf.

Full scale shot, with the Allied forces at the opening.

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Basically 2 Bdes (4th and 5th NZ) dominating the passes, with 16th Australian locaded in between.
For the Allies a key feaugure is to cover the windhrawal of valuable, expierienced 16 th AU. They just cant afford
to take this loss.

Both, 4th and 5th NZ are fresh.. Havnt yet tasted the flavour of the War in Europe.


At the East, Ive poited 2 locations on to special attention, Where the root of 72 Inf div was planned.

1st one.. Key highway arc across the hill, sorounded by heavy forests, wit a number of water obstacles , crowned
by main river from the Eastern approach.

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An important objective to unblock the highway, was to be taken to special consideration.
From the beginning I knew It wasnt a subject for me to take it straight from the highway line. As it appeard to
obvious ,and could be to costly.
Ive decided to try to take it lather, in second phase of the battle, using special Inf force, soupported by tank
fire, to sturm the river line from the forests. (It will be shown later... )

(and a close-up rcn fto)
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2nd one, was the hill dominating the secondary road from the left of its line..

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Laying in great position, deep.. A very risky, and dangerous pass in my opinion. Well taken by the Alds, could provide much pain, and total break of
the whole operation.




Turning the attention towards North.. Where the force spearheaded by 16th Pz Div was about to lead the push.

Ovcourse the main threat apearing to be the valley that prefaced the moutain line..

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..a deadly valley, where most losses was expected (when forcing the way up)





Bellow is also one, that had an undoubtfull potential for the Allies.. And where they indeed was planning a suprise
later on.

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Wich became a desperate move as the battle developed, to be honest..

[OlegHasky]

.. So lets take a look at the sketch of planned offenssive for the East wing.. (wich is an important shot to be refered to later)


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WHITE arrows representing the main advance in the first phase of the battle.. (With the discountnuous arros pointing secondary moves with ofenssive charakteristic)
As seen, first phase was focused strong to push back NZs with a hook to the North, conquer, and dominate the key positions to open a corridoor for the second phase of the operation, wich was to lunch the flow (using the secondary road)

BLUE lines, are the mark represanting the direction of the main armour advance

BLACK arrows representing the second phase of the operation. taken by Inf forces

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Now, I would like to point the first focus on the white discountnuous arrow locaded in top-North. Wich is representing an important, pretty strong diversive move, wich payed off so well..

A fairly strong battle group - combined of: 1 recon Bn, 1 PzJg Bn, Hvy Mor Rcn Bn, And 2 Coys of Lt tanks was constructed to take the position in village Karyai (as fast as possible) , provoke the attention of Allied forces in the aera, and hold it there as long as possible, with all the waight of all Allied attempts to break it.
With the strikte defenssive approach. The plan for the force was specialy designed, excluding them from the any offenssive action for the rest of the battle.
The decision was big, as the battlegroup was about to be tottaly cut off.. but as said - payed off.


Bellow is the picture showing a significant Allied force (lunched at at day 2, engadged for 1 more) leaving the aera after a unsucassefull push on the willage.

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The force stayed there for the rest of the battle, gathering focus of the Allied arty etc. Losses was acteptable

[OlegHasky]

I want to take it by wings, to avoid a confusion as much as possible, so I will focus on the East now. And will later show how the situation North developed.

Just to mention.. First contact with the enemy, and the first combat action was taken by my Inf forces early on.

Allies had deployed their ATs in the forests, anticipating armour presence, guarding the road on the patch directing inland.
While the tanks was on the roll.. The task was to clear the patch fast.

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(complited.. whide spread Inf force disabled the guns, and made the Nz Inf to withrawal, with very heavy losses)



The propper first view pic (of the beginning of the first phase) showing the situation about the day after.. When the proper fighting for the positions begon.

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Pick showing tanks allready in the position, resting.. covered by Inf units from sides, 2 of them are also providing rcn for their further patch.
Rest of main force putting preassure on the aera near Lokova

I wanted to cut deep, as quick as possible to prevent Allied gatherings on the main line of advance.. That leaved me with a little gap in the middle, but was to be covered shortly.
One NZ unit was cutted off, and havnt got the guts to try their way back seeing columns of tanks driving to the road /and I dont blaim them [:'(] (They fleed to the moutains, and stayed there till the end.. I didnt even bothered)



New Zelanders ovcourse was aware with the meaning of this aera ,and indeed was not about to give it free.. Defenssive preformance with lots of arty shells projected some losses to the 105 Inf HQ

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In this shot , You can see its withrawal (they complited the task designed for them) The reinfortsments are taking up thier positions by night - straight - to the advance.
Second Key objective of the first phase - hill to the left, is also covered by the eavening.
You can clearly see a Inf unit taking a fire position to provide soupport for the advance.


I had been doing evrything in my power to made it difficult for NZs to reinforce Lokova.

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Shot also showing the secong wave of armour arriving from the North-East , heading for the meeting is also II Inf Bde/124 Regt, this armour deserving a warm welcome..



EDIT: I will continue in days ahead.. The battle just warming up.. Main advance soon is about to enqounter a serious problem on their patch..

[Deathtreader]

Good stuff OlegHasky!!


Looking forward to the rest......

Thanks for sharing.

Rob.

[Arjuna]

Very nice. [:)]

[OlegHasky]

Allright.. Ill get to the point then..
( I will screen the situation rich after this brief..)

Night passed, And While most of the forces was still heavily involed in the clash near Lokova.. (taking all the fire, and preassure from 5th NZ Bn).. Panzer column of Pz Regt 3 had been given an order to advance forward trough the main armour advance track as soon as the Sun hits the sky..
Making their way trough the whole mystery of the road laying ahead.. Passing the mentioned in briefing hill, soupported only by 1 Inf Coy, and a PzJg Coy , there was simply just no turn, and back for them..
(other Inf units from the orginall set up, were directed from the road with separated orders.
Wich was
-to reach the only covered descent connected to the river-line ,
-secure main patch "high",
-digging as hard as possible, with agressive def approach, to focus attention of any passing Ald forces, wich was expected in the aera)
- and ewentually, making a point to bridge building units
(position of those Inf can be spooted on shots below)

Tank commanders were well aware of the danger that narrows on the road patch had with them.. But It was dead silent.. Something was in the air.. No chance that Allies would leave this aera opened.

Situation cleared itself partialy at about high noon, when the raport of first enemy presence in the aera was delivered by Infantry recon..
First "Hello" was sended by a single NZ Inf Coy who appeared to be also scanning high..
After being pushed by approaching tanks, NZs made a right "Welcome" - Shelling the road heavily, and rewealing the cards..
The village laying ahead..

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"Kokkinopols"
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..Was prepared for the tanks.
Inf presance was sure.. Arty reach also.. There were some raports of AA presence as well..
Simply - no chance for the tanks to roll in straight.

They went early far, but
at this point it was without dubts, that this village will cost big stagnation..

Immidate requests was layed for direct Inf soupport, orders was given, but it had to take time.. As the Lokova aera was still hot.
Only Inf to disposal at the time, was partialy crumbled 105 Inf HQ that was resting after a being pulled back from Lokova sector.
Those brave men.. was about to take their second major task in this ofenssive.. [:@]

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Arty shells excange.. and a partial fighting (with ofenssivly-pointed wing of the village) , and draging the units necessary to made the push had last for almost two days [X(][&o]

But ewentualy (with the soupport of Luftwaffe) the village was cleared .


Allies cost was in hundreds , with the Nz Inf unit never to be seen again.
German losses was far less.. One of the Pz II F was lost, when got hit by the arty shell from the top..

There are rumours, that soldiers heard something that our translators couldnt really understand.. Something like "Swishsss![:D]" from one of the Alied soldier who saw the hit [;)][:'(]

"Kokkinoplols" left a mark on this operation.. as its fall had to change Allied attitude near Lokova and all around East..


More to come..

[ulisin]

fantastic!
I'll wait for the rest, very interesting.
 
And 3d google maps, again... fantastic!!!!
I would use them, how can I do?
 
Arjuna, your game is the best, very thanks. I'll wait for BTFB, but now I'm playing Cota with a lot of satisfaction!
bye
 

[OlegHasky]

Here cholo, You can get the 3ds (use them in Google maps program)
http://www.mediafire.com/?sg1ntjmbj0s

Back to hills of Greece,

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As expected.. NZ 5 Bn HQ had stop reinforcing their forces engaged near Lokova..
At this time, the push was activated in full scale anyway, so the only option for the units was to pull back to nearest forest in full fear.. ..explained

Lokova itself (as oposive to Kokkinopols) had been left unharmed, with all the facilities standing.
On the pic - devastating preformance by II Pz Bn (Pz Regt 3HQ), crushing its way to Lokova. Passing it without even stoping for gulp of Ouzo.. [X(][:-][&o] Understanded - forgiven..

Pic also showing sample of a move that would be taken from the "central" by Infantry ..at night.
Tank commanders assured general command, that they will take care of the chace. As also soon, they goin to be reinforced by a group involding Special Eng Coy, single Inf Coy and heavy gun company..

Far Latter on..
(after another night passed)
While Inf was on the move.. Tanks tooked position in darkness , using the night to seriously entrench themselfs, dominating the sector - with LOS on the general objective.
Threatning with heavy fire to 3 NZ units (that havnt found their way back from the forest in all this panic) whenever they would try their ay at day time was specially deployed 9 Pzs III H , abd 4 stucks of II F . The force as later eliminated involding DUFF Force HQ ..whose commanders had been taken straid away to the basements of Gestapo for tee, and pie... [8|]
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At this time Ald general retreat "down" was applied, and most to the forces had also used night to leave the aera using highway. Hoping the units above will maitain the preassure on the objective and that the situation North (held by 4th NZ Bn) is still in the controll, so they can establish something deeper.
Ewentually those units was also retreated by Allies trough minor roads, with only singles left to lay some bother.

[OlegHasky]

Meenwhile, the Pz Regt 3 HQ column with its assets had moved out of the ruins of Kokkipols, to secure the only serious bridge crossing laying in the aera.
It was a task promised to be last at this peroid. While the units was exausted.. And in those forests, guarding the bridge, they would have their rest for about a day.. Not making hasty moves down.. Waiting for the reinforcemnts arrival..

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..denying single approaches by Alds (I think Alies brutally lunched them to earn some time, (as the situation was not favoring them)
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Looks pretty emptyoverall.. Some gatherings of Ald troops were raported on the plains ahead (as seen on the 1st shot) , but it was only the part wich was actually gathered there by them. /nothing could be seen trough forests to the right of my units, so emptyness is only a mirrage, and there were actually significant Alied presence at the time all arround (wich will be seen later) /

Still at this point I have less objectives to gain even a draw.. and the main factor for Wehrmacht was to cut Allied forces, and "Exit" most units as possible trough the Elvtherokorion on to Elasson.. So I am far from banquet in Berlin.

Next post will turn attention on the Norhern sector..

[OlegHasky]

Situation North

And the main matrix, as I want to take it whole in one approach.

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(RED for Allied action moves)
with "A" for Allied single attempt with armour

The offense camed large straight away in the North. Spreading their grasp of the sector.
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City of Servia was given up without the fight, as a wise move by Allies.
Only Krad Recon has project a combat action open the Highway entrance.
Alds established positions on the moutains. Inviting to the ..dale(?) with the Arty ready to bounce.

So the sector first was secured..
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After regrouping, the troops was about to leave the city, to start the sturm on the moutains..

Ive decided to not sturm the hill (in frot of Servia) intself, from wich the NZ was dominating. Just to cut i of first, and secure any bother for the right wing.

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As expected.. The huge gathering on the Highway gave the Allies opportunity to earn some serious kills (I dont think anyone in berlin thought, that this could be avoided here)

So the shells came.. And in this turmoil, the order to the I Pz Bn came to soot out ahead, and take positios connected to the river.. providing first psihological ground fire to the hill.. (On the shot tanks already in position)
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Using the high ground (below) wich Krad Rcn Bn (combined with an Inf Bn) had taken trough the pretty strong presence of cutted Allied forces. Had allow me to deploy 4 -8.8 36 Flacks and some of the 2 cm Flacks wich gave me strong fire soupport when sturming the way up.

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When this was done.. The preassure of fire and hords of advancing units forced Allied defence to pull back deep to the moutains, and the road South was opened..

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This was a shock for the Allies. When still engaged in the hill combat. I provided a significant force fast up to the river-crossing in valley.
Allied suprise was sure, and even the prepared Armour assoult couldnt stop anything for them.

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[OlegHasky]

Allies suprised with the tempo of German Advance, knowing that whole AU Bn (that was still locaded in the middle high moutains) could have serious trouble to when pulling back down, decided to make a ofenssive step-out -full scale on my wing near Servia with Australians.. Hoping on their expierience gain in Africa.

But I was ready[:-].. As the force was specially designed for such possibility..
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guarding tight, with the other one soon to take place in the top (the front of Allied advance)
So It was a move that cause them..

Northern sector was in my opinion comanded bad-to-worst by 4 th NZ Bn, than Eastern.
And German Arty was really making the diffrence. [&o]

So my forces went deep almost allingning the time frame with Eastern advance for the last phase of the ofenssive.

[OlegHasky]

Last phase begon at night of day 4,

And the reinforsments arrival to take over the weight of Allied gatherings, so the tank forces (both sides) could proceed to the move for last objectives..
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Marked on the picture is light diversional probe for the bridgheads.. "Min losses, High rate of fire" providing a mirrage of a determined assoult , with fast withrawal when meeting with same of a determined defence.

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And the actual gatherings waight.
The battalion hitting from west arriving early alone.. But has skills needed. Ive assigned my best men for the task , so the expected result was, that they will handle the situation when reaching the forest unharmed.

As they did.. meeting the Allied preassure Big..

And as they were on the job.. Pz column North, had complited their diversive task, and was ready to lunch the move passing the bridges by their East, trough the fields with a rapid move.
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Last stop was Savodon from East, and the Elevtherokhorion Exit itself was the objective to handle by group North.
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Savadon would be taken straight, trough the fastes rout. As the inteligence raports was satysfying, denying any significant enemy presance that could interrupt the advance.
And after the bridgeheads North was pass-over by 16 Pz , the road to Elevtherokhorion forests was clear..

My tanks arrived alone from the East, with only one Mortar Inf unit soupporting (was lefted "high" at the edge of the forest line - but still in range)
Savadon itself was defended by Inf unit with Heavy Gun Coy soupporting from the road.. Both was pusshed back by the advance..
But Infantry responsible for the city had shown incredible determination, and sacrifise - knowing their advantage in city terrain over the tanks - projecting approach by approach.. Only my mortar Soupport prevented them of gaining back the controll of the city.
It was the D Coy 2/1 of AU Inf Bn.. So the mentioned expierience has showed itself Big..
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Who knows how it could develop if Allied commanders would use whole AU Bn in diffrent way..
Ill say German problems would multiply high.

Anyway.. By this time "Exiting" was underway..
Overall: Ive managed to exit following forces:

-Complete II Pz Bn from Pz Regt 33 Hq wich follows: 39 tanks (15 Pz IIF, 8 Pz III H, 8 IV D)
-2 Recon units from Krad 16 HQ, contains: 250 men
-Mot Mor PI with 4 8 cm guns "on board"
- Mot Fd Arty Bn from regt 74: 400 men, and powerfull number of 12 10,5cm guns
- 2 Inf units 6 and 7 Schutz Coy containing over 280 men
- AA Coy from 3rd Sp lt Flak Bty Bn 44 containing 150 men, 8 Sdkfz 10/42 AA, 2 Sdkfz 7, and 2 Sdkfzts 7/1 Flack Wierlung
-and also 1st Ct Pz Coy (Regt 33) with 8 Pz II and 4 Pz II

Its a pretty handy battle force, but unfortunetly wasnt enough to complete most valuable objective in whole..

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End result.
German losses are pretty high, but it was the cost to gain the result. Actepted by Berlin i hope. [&o]
I could imagine people scorring this one perfectly with closed eyes.
But as for myself, I am satysied. Considering, that my expierience with COTA can be counted by months on one hand. And my gaming time is very limited.

Was a good piece of fun for me[:'(], with the game itself , and the AAR, so Arjuna.. Great thanks for delivering so far "the most realistic".
And do not close Yourself for the patchs to make it even better. (Fixing the "direct fire" for examp [:'(][;)])

Thx for watching.. Be good[8|].. Bye bye[8D]..

EDIT: (The aera could be completly cleaned up for the end, when excluding the "exiting" part, but even with it, for the germs it would be a matter of short time)