Welcome to the jungle - Belisarius vs. Scharfschütze

[Belisarius]

Me and the Sharpshooter decided to pick a fight in the jungle. The date is September 1942, location is the Bloody Ridge. It's daylight with a vis. of 12. 8200 points, meeting engagement.

I'm playing for the glory of the Holy Emperor in the land of the Rising Sun, while Scharfschütze is commanding the intruding long-noses in form of the Marine Corps.

Map is densely wooded (jungle), and very hilly with a few creeks and streams running north to south. There might be a few dirt roads as well, but mostly it's virgin ground. Well, that won't last

[Belisarius]

It has begun. Colonel Miwa sits at his command post overlooking a portion of the battlefield while listening to and feeling his troops move cautiously through the woods. Today he's been given many tanks to accompany his battalion, and although having little experience with them in the field, he feels confident that it will help restore Honour to the Emperor, after several weeks of humiliating retreat. It is time for vengeance!

So far the most dominant sound over the treetops are that of birds and insects living in the trees. They can also hear the faint roar of engines and grinding of tracks. Seems the enemy brought tanks as well.

Suddenly the earth trembles with massive explosions, as the Yankee artillery pounds the lines! In the southern sector over a dozen lives are lost,and many platoons hangs on for dear life, paying little heed to the tasks given to them!

Where is the artillery?! All over the lines, radio operators desperately seek contact with the divisional batteries, but to no avail. There will be no support from them for a while

The Americans are making quick progress in the far north and far south. A Stuart steps in front of a fortified bunker and immediately the thunderclap of cannon is heard. The Stuart disappears in a ball of flame. Down south, duels erupt between Chi-ha tanks and Stuarts and .50 cal AAs. Another enemy tank explodes, but the massive counterfire gets one Chi-ha while another is abandoned by its' panicking crew.

In the center, brief contact is made with the enemy, before he turns around. May it be a signal to his companions!

[Scharfschütze]

So I lead the valiant Marines to glory this time... one way or the other! Elements of the 2nd Raiders are advancing with M3´s in support. Of course, the Japs are doomed, they just haven´t realized it yet!!!:D

The coastal fort with the 5" naval gun was an ugly surprise up in the north, I have begun smoking it with a mortar, but a corridor remains open. No advancing here while this monster can acquire targets!

The Japs have brought up quite an amount of tanks and have even boasted that they are the equals of our M3 Stuarts! Hah!:mad:

We´ll prove them wrong soon!!!

We have made extensive contact in the south, and have called the artillery to resolve matters. The Japs start shooting as soon as the barrage lifts, so we will have to kill ´em all.

.50 cals are ready to sweep away their infantry (do I love heavy MG´s?!?), and their mortars are feeling the sting of our 155mm guns.

[Belisarius]

Contact with Raiders up north and in the center. A well placed enemy barrage has forced motorcycle units to dodge between craters and are almost not moving at all.

We have claimed another three Stuarts for the Emperor! The .50 cals are holding back our offense, as well as the murderous artillery! The southern hillslope is covered with the bodies of the brave fallen.

I will fly you, American! You go down in frames!

[Scharfschütze]

Colonel Davie was worried.

His forces had taken firm control of the strategic hill in the north, just opposite of the japanese emplacements, and had already come under attack by enemy infantry. In the centre, other elements of the 2nd Raiders had pushed back the motorcycles with HMG and artillery support, and were taking control of the central objective.

In the south, the advance forces had engaged a large force of enemy infantry accompanied by a number of tanks. Fierce mortar fire had destroyed two M3´s (devil´s luck!), others were claimed by the japanese tankettes.

All over the front, a yellow tide threatened to drown his brave marines. It had to be stemmed at all costs!

"Sir, I have plotted a mortar barrage that will stop them cold!" his artillery liaison officer, 2nd Lt. Donovan reported.

"Well done, Jim. Buy us some time until we can clear this mess. The 155ers are counterbatting the jap mortars?"

"Affirmative, Sir. They won´t worry us much longer" :rolleyes:

[Belisarius]

Worried he should be! :mad:You have awakened the wrath of the Japanese Army! The infantry and tanks are performing admirably and pushing back the invaders all over the front. The americans have responded with the only thing they can - artillery! Big ones and lots of it! Casualties are in the dozens every turn.

Colonel Miwa picks up a loudspeaker and walks out of the command post to the crest of the ridge, yelling over the forest:

"YOU FIGHT RIKE CHICKEN, AMELICAN INVADER! COME OVEL HERE AND FIGHT RIKE MAN! AND YOUL ARTILLERY TAKE F***ING HIKE! GET ROST! BEFORE TOO RATE!!"

And we got yet another stuart down south, were the battle for the hill itself has started.

[Scharfschütze]

"This is Cpt. Amos, northern sector. The enemy is attacking in strength. We have killed several Japs and two of their tanks. Mortar fire is excellently accurate. Jap artillery is falling all around. We hold"

This should take some gist out of their attack. The Japanese were attacking recklessly all over he front. Further barrages had been ordered, including a smoke screen to cover infantry units from enemy tank fire.

The Japs would die!!!:mad:

[Belisarius]

So, the American has decided to fight!

At both flanks, south and north, we are in close combat with the invaders! Progress is slow and costly, but we are stronger than them! Our own artillery has called in to say 'hello' and are now participating in the battle, with satisfying results. Not many dead, but the round-eyes are forced to hug dirt!

Their artillery still hurts alot. There's so many of us that they can't miss...

At the southern hill, an approaching squad was ambushed by a team of the green devils - 12 dead in ONE shot! They will pay for this! And I will inform the men that looking into the muzzle of an enemy gun is strictly forbidden!

We don't know who will stand victorious today, but if it's them, they will have to suffer to achieve it.

Btw, in the previous turn, I scored a bottom hit on a Stuart from a 81mm mortar! Beat that!

[Scharfschütze]

Colonel Davies mood was improving. Cpt. Amos had just been on the radio, confirming several disabled jap tanks and a rout of the attacking SNLF. The Japs had sent their finest, and these were now headed home with bleeding noses. Donovan had promised to speed them along with mortar fire.

The southern sector was more hotly contested. The Japs advancing through his smoke screen had suffered horrendous casualites from the Marines´ Tommy guns, and a tank they had brought up to bolster the attack had come under fire by a M3 Stuart. The big guns had kicked in on the infantry advancing through the smoke(just switching shells, really easy ), further disrupting the attack.

[Belisarius]

The carnage goes on and on and on...

We have knocked a couple of Stuarts (but not the one mentioned in the previous post..). Glory to the Emperor!

The troops at the north and south hills are trying to get to the top, but are caught in artillery barrages. Progress is slow with massive casualties.

In an attempt to relieve the northern sector, the FO's have called in heavy fire 2 hexes in front of the line. Well, seeing as the arty crews are all cross-eyed the shells land 3 hexes BEHIND the lines, and does about as much damage as the Marine artillery. My artillery park has joined the 5th Column!

A relief force has reported at the HQ, and are sent off to the battle. It's a looong way there, though. Will they make it in time?

[Scharfschütze]

The northern hill was fimly on fire now. The japanese heavy artillery was shooting all they had at the hilltop, but the shells kept falling short by 100-200 meters, presumably tearing into the assault troops climbing the hillside:D

The Marines´ 155mm´s joined them to add some spice. The forests below shook from the heavy explosions, causing atrocious losses amongst the advancing Japanese.

Other sectors received fire as well. The Japanese were pressing in southern sector as well, but were becoming increasingly bogged down in heavy shelling and diffiult terrain.

Japanese tanks, in unheard of numbers, were causing tactical problems in all sectors. Colonel Davie had already adressed the problem and soon a remedy would be applied...

[Belisarius]

Despite orders given, the artillery continue to maim our own troops! But we are getting closer to the hilltop! Run while you can, invader! When we catch up with you, no mercy will be given!

In the south, things are looking better. Heavy casualties from artillery, but we have almost reached the ridge's crest, killing M3 Stuarts and recon troops in the process. We see mines!

To the far south, at the other end of the ridge, there's a stalemate. Open ground prohibits us from advancing while the .50 cals are still around. The enemy can't advance either, since everything moving close to our battered lines will be shot up. Burning and abandoned Stuarts litter the landscape. Seems the marines have called in yet more arty to solve the issue. Will they ever learn? :rolleyes:

[Scharfschütze]

Col Davie was angry.

The Japs had busted another M3 with their popgun arty fire, and adding up he had lost a full platoon of five tanks to enemy artillery , and several others to direct attack.:mad::mad:

On the infantry side of things, however, the Japs were suffering.:p

Barrage after barrage was tearing into their ranks, shredding assault formations and pinning reinforcements. Other marine arty was counterbatting the Jap big guns, and the effect was showing: Heavy enemy artillery fire was beginning to become spotty as guns tubes were blown apart and ammunitions destroyed.

[Belisarius]

ahh, colonel-san. This very easy round! Only a tank and 22 dead from artillery!

As usual, we scared off some more troops, but no real achievement anywhere. Except from winning another trophy in the divisional how-many-live-shells-can-you-nick-with-your-forehead contest

Alright, I'm whining, but if the Marines had had less tubes, I'd be kicking a** all over. We win almost all fire-exchanges, and we bust tanks at a never before seen rate for the IJA. We advance despite massive casualties. :p

[Scharfschütze]

The jap advance had come to a standstill.

The Marines were finally getting things right and were meeting the japanese attacks with cold steel and precise mortar fire. Without their tanks providing cover and under heavy artillery fire, the jap infantry could not move forward, where american MG´s were waiting for them. Unable to change position, the U.S. arty was grinding them to pieces.:p

The overall situation was improving: The northern hill sector under Captain Amos had not been attacked seriously after the Japs had lost scores of infantrymen in the raging barrage and several tanks to the Marines´ Stuarts. In the central sector, jap probes had been destroyed while the hill objective south of the confluence was firmly in american hands. Further south, the japs had taken the outskirts of the dense jungle and advanced on the Marines´ positions on a hill further east. A number of M3 tanks had been lost there, and only a smole screen was shielding the troops from the japanese tanks. The japanese artillery, or what was left of it, had concentrated heavy fire here, but no breakthrough attempt had been tried yet.
:rolleyes:

[Belisarius]

Ahh... our spies report that the enemy commander is struck by the dreaded Jungle Fever - he's hallucinating.

In the north, the advance continues albeit slow. (we don't want to catch up with our own artillery again!) We pop another Stuart open, there's millions of them!

The "destroyed probes" in the central sector sends an entire platoon of raiders (or "ladies", as they're pronounced in Engrish) running for cover. This is apparently of concern to the enemy, as he has directed his heavy shells over the area. Sheesh.. don't they know that MC's outrun it easily...

Our own esteemed artillery tuned their sights to the woods south of the southern ridge, where we had seen several .50 AAMG's holding back our advance. Well, it was certainly more lurking in that forest! The screams of dying round-eyes reach our lines and fills the men with hope!

Surrender now, or die!!

[Scharfschütze]

Colonel Davie circled through his commanders on the radio:

"Cpt. Amos, north sector, the enemy is breaching the southern perimeter with tanks and infantry. Shelling continues"

"Cpt.Dobbs, central sector. Advance units in heavy combat with japanese bikers. Artillery fire is lessening."

"Cpt. Moffett, southern sector. The Japs are trying to penetrate in the extreme south. Out mortar fire is falling excellently. Enemy artillery fire is strengthening"

Colonel Davie evaluated the situation for a moment. The Japs were advancing under close support of their numerous tanks, but had proven unable to attack both without them and under heavy artillery fire. He had by now brought up his armored reserves, and was ready to commit them in several sectors. He reached for the mike.

"Captain Amos, send in your sector tank reserve. Reinforcements will be made available soon. Davie out"

All over the front, M3 tanks rushed to attack. In the north, two japanese tanks were quickly destroyed and the infantry accompanying them was driven back. Another jap tank was caught while traversing the creek (could it have become immoblized there?:D) In the centre, a full platoon of tanks reached the plateau south of the objective, and turned their guns south where a jap tanks was advancing about 500m away. The M3´s openened up, and despite the distance and their high speed they scored several hits, but failed to destroy the tank( ). Its colleague, moving just behing it, was less fortunate as a lucky mortar shell fell through an open hatch into the turret, killing several of the crew (*** turret damage).

Then the 155mm´s opened up again all over the front, concentrating on the renewed assault in the north.

It was a bloodbath, a massacre.

The japanese troops were apparantly packed on the lowest slopes of the hill, and shrapnel tore through their massed ranks, decimating them. Captain Amos believed he could hear the screams, but knew this was impossible through the noise of both the the japanese artillery shelling the top of the hill and the more distant boom of the Marines´ artillery shredding men below.

[Belisarius]

The cowardry yankees must hide in steel to fight! We give them kickass!

Hint: those aren't the reserve armor...

Advance halted. Regrouping and trying to rally the troops. Artillery ineffective.

Suppression is SO my least favourite feature of this game! It almost takes away the fun of it, since all flexibility goes out the window when the troops are caught in *one* single barrage! OK, realism, but still...

[Scharfschütze]

Read the fine print Belisarius: Captain Amos was ordered to commit the sector tank reserve. The strategic reserve is striking elsewhere...

The tanks had arrived just in time to stem the japanese tide. The sliteyes were now lacking two tanks and two railcars, and the Marines were going for the jap bikers unharassed by enemy tanks. A jap smoke screen fell to late to hide their tanks from the Stuarts.

The pendulum was in full swing now. Could the Marines consolidate their counterattack and drive the shell-shocked Japs from the northern objective? Would the southern force under Captain Moffett hold against the advancing Japanese, whose artillery had laid down a huge smokescreen in front of the american positions? Only time would tell...

[Belisarius]

Cautious movements now. We know the long-noses are really close now, and we can't afford much more casualties just yet. Preparations continue...

Random firefights are heard through the dense jungle, but no losses, nor kills, are reported in. We let the artillery keep the enemy busy....

...and that they do! Suppressive fire on the northern hill is not doing much, except starting new blazes. But in the south, numerous kills are confirmed by spotters! Not only do they suffer, we also know where they are! An M3 commander in the center hasn't read his field manual. Never roll into a barrage with the top hatch open. *kaboom* By now we must have knocked out at least 15 of them, and we can see maybe 10 more... *sigh*

My main concern right now is, despite the carnage up north, that we have seen enemy listening posts behind our lines! Infiltrators!