World War III: Rokondo vs. Scharfschütze - The Rematch!

[Scharfschütze]

The observant reader may still remember the vicious clash of a soviet breakthrough group and a counterattacking american task force that raged in these forums in August. Contrary to the information given in that thread, World War III isn´t over. In fact, the battle for Europe has only just begun...

The Third Guards Tank Army has commited another force to penetrate into the american rear. While the glorious Red Army troops are approaching a german town spread alongside a good road running N-S in the centre of the soon-to-be battlefield, american Mustangs are strafing them from above. two US-made Studebaker heavy trucks are set aflame by rocket fire, as is a supermodern T-44 tank, the pride of our armoured forces.

The Red Air Force has also made contact, in the form of Shturmoviks descending upon american HTs, killing three of them and carpeting the emerging AA and AT guns with bombs. Two my regret, two of the Il-2M3s are shot down by US AAA, lucky shots of course:mad:

But the soviet command remains unmoved. Orders are orders, and this town needs to be taken. All along the railroad running W-E, the soviet soldiers advance. Will they prevail where others have failed? Can they kick the crap out of the Americans, which are reportedly lead by the famous Colonel Rokondo, the bane of the US´ enemies on all battlefields?

Read all about it very soon in this place...

[Rokondo]

The russians send General Scharf leading the attack on the city.
This it is very important city for both sides, the railroad how pass the city its main supply path for the east Russia or west US.
The one how take the city will probably win the war.

The Russians Airplanes harm us more then they think
They destroy us 2 Jeeps.
Our forces running to the font lines.
No mercy this time

[Scharfschütze]

Considering the strategic importance the american High Command has placed on this sector, the US´ advance is rather cautious. Maybe they are still reeling from our air assault (I don´t think so:D).

We take assigned positions or continue our advance towards the first objectives. Even the artillery remains silent, though all present know full well that this is the calm before the storm...

:p :rolleyes: :p

P.S.: How did I destroy those Jeeps? By crashing the Shturmoviks on them?;)

[Rokondo]

The Russians send the air force to hit our lines.
One enemy plane was down.
the other plane did not hit the target.
No land contact yet

P.S. I think those Jeeps was destroy by your airplanes.
Because I can not see what happen in the playback.

[Scharfschütze]

Maybe the Jeeps spontaneously combusted....

The enemy AAA brings down the last Shturmovik with little effort. I don´t know what has been promised to those crews, but it sure worked. Four "armoured attacker" (thats the tranlation, says the unit info) planes shot down in just three turns, with the best hit probability 9%... all going down from the very first hit... this is a nasty opening phase!

Aside from the air action, enemy 155mm artillery has begun pounding a hill a kilometer east of the town. Judging by the density of the fires, we estimate that a full btn of enemy artillery is at work here:eek:

[Rokondo]

US army use very big binoculars and do not see any Russians

Nothing happen this turn.

[Scharfschütze]

Our glorious snipers make contact with the first line of enemy recon patrols, and snap off a few shots before changing to a better firing position. No other enemy is encountered. Colonel Rokondo is using quite a differnt strategy here than in the first engagement, where he overwhelmed the soviet troops with speed and accurate M26 Pershing fire.

The Pershings are out there somewhere, the late Il-2M3s have reported as much. We have prepared a warm welcome for them...

Two P-51H Mustangs strafe our positions, taking out a ISU-122s and killing several crewmen of a 100mm ATG (on the backside of a hill that the 155mm´s had been shelling - the kicked-up dirt didn´t hide it, or so it seems). I have the slight feeling that those Mustangs have maybe half a dozen rockets remaining between them, still enough to do some damage but not sufficient to force me to bring in additional AAA.

The absence of american ground forces is unsettling. Though we have made good ground, it can be only a matter of minutes before we have to fight for it...

[Rokondo]

Our forces arrive to there strategic points waiting for enemy units to show there heads..
For now our air force doing well job destroying more enemy units.
Time for the Russians to be afraid

[Scharfschütze]

Something messed up the files, and I had to replay my last turn. When I had unzipped the files and loaded the turn, that ISU-122s was alive and whole again... and standing besides its own wreckage. Eerie...

Looking around, I discovered that everything was exactly as it had been at the start of my own turn. I redid my move, with some alterations since this time Rokondo had become more bold and occupied the lower VHs with a HT and some Rangers. I directed some Dshk and 160mm fire into that area, and braced for the Mustangs. This time this Nemesis missed the ISU-122s, wasting six rockets without scoring a single hit. Hooray!:D Ups, that would be Urrah!:rolleyes:

The 100mm ATG crew fared far worse this time, and lost seven men. Ouch.

I´m looking forward to the "next" turn, and hope that everything works all right this time...

[Scharfschütze]

After a few:D minor:D:D and easily overcome :D:D problems, we basically had to do the turn again.

Result: I shot up a M26 Pershing which had moved somewhere else before with a 100mm ATG :p , didn´t lose the ISU-122s, and lost two GAZ-AA medium trucks instead.

The Sniper and the recon patrol met again, and this time I killed one of them.

Let´s hope that the problems with the files don´t show up again and many more Pershings turn into flaming wrecks...:rolleyes:

[Rokondo]

I do not know what happen in the save files but the game continue.
This turn I lost patrol squad.
The Russians use the old good 160mm
Few shells on enemy did not hit anything.

[Scharfschütze]

The Americans are remarkably cautious, and are trying to hide. But there is no place to hide from the mighty 160mm superheavy mortar :rolleyes:

Or maybe there is... I have bombarded known enemy positions (namely the crew of the destroyed Pershing and the Bazooka team that was riding that M26), but no kills.

This calm is deceptive. A vicious battle will soon begin, the yankees are just trying to lure us into that town. Butthen, there is no calm at all on this battlefield: The american heavy artillery battallion sends a great many shells eastwards... I wonder what recon or intelligence has made them select that particular stretch of land they are punishing so viciously!

The central town is a nice terrain feature, btw, somewhat atypical for a random map: It stretches from N to S in the center of the map, spread along a paved road, two to four houses deep on both sides, with a gap on a long N-S hill with the central VHs on it. These have fallen to the Americans, who paid with the M26 for it, as have the southern VH´s.
The North belongs to the mighty Red Army...

[Rokondo]

US troops are well hidden from the Red army 120mm & 160mm shells.
We lost 1 troop by Red bazooka team.
Our forces continue to advance.

[Scharfschütze]

More hidden maneuvers by both sides. The air is thick with tension...

I lose a ISU-122s to a Mustangs blasted rockets (this time for real, and yes, it is the ISU that got blasted here :rolleyes: ), its squadmate escapes another attack unharmed, but some nearby troops are killed by shrapnel.

[Rokondo]

US Air force Destroy Enemy Ammo dump.
The Pilot who destroy the ammo dump get medal of honor from General Rokondo.
The Russian troops are spread deeply in the city going from one house to another.
The Russians troops kill us 2 Scout troops.
US rangers kill 1 Red sniper who was hidden in the bushes.
The enemy shells still coming on us but they did not hit.
The destruction of the enemy ammo dump will make there life much shorter

[Scharfschütze]

Meanwhile, in the soviet HQ...

(A dimly lit bunker. The drone of a fighter can be heard overhead followed by a huge explosion)

"Alexei, what was that? I have spilled my vodka!"

"Ahm, comrade-colonel, the **** imperialists are attacking with their planes again"

"Their planes, eh? They aren´t supposed to! I have calculated that they have run out of ammunition 15 minutes ago! This is impossible!"

"Well, comrade-colonel, maybe they didn´t..."

"Whats that? You are questioning my judgment??? I´ll have you taken out and shot at once!!"

"Nono, I think that those are different planes, comrade-colonel. The capitalist oppressors have rather many of them. Perhaps it would not have been unwise to bring some AAA with..."

"HAH! Again!! Are you suggesting that I have made a mistake in the composition of our glorious breakthrough force by not requesting more AAA, comrade? Snide remarks! I´ll have you shot for this..."

"Err, certainly not, comrade-colonel. I am utterly convinced that your choice of troops and strategy is absolutely correct for the given mission!"

"Indeed, Alexei. See, I have been using the newest, top-secret information on the efficiency of our AA weapons against those plutocrat lackeys. The current equipment is insufficient in dealing with the american air menace. Therefore, we have to take those few casualties they can inflict and must continue our advance unhindered by bulky AAA. Understood?"

"Thats ingenious, comrade-colonel. I apologize for harbouring secret doubts. I will immediately tell the men that losing our ammo reserves, a ISU-122s, a T-44, two of the american-made heavy and three of our own GAZ trucks was part of our masterplan, This will greatly boost confidence..."

"Absolutely, soldier. Now away with you to the front lines and don´t you dare to come back without the american commanders´ head on a silver platter!"

(more planes can be heard in the distance)
:rolleyes: :rolleyes:


Slowly, the fighting begins. Our ATGs disassemble a HT which transported some nosy Rangers (which are busily popping smoke. Are they afraid or what? :p).

I think we will see some heavy action real soon!

The air attacks are wearing, but you´ll have to take my Red Army soldiers face to face to prevail here!

[Rokondo]

US Marines engage battle in the north killing 2 enemy snipers and make Red Squad retreat after few losses.
Our troops stood bravely against the Red troop attack.
The enemy lines shows that they already break from the far headquarter to the simple troop in the battle field.
The Red Army General “Scharf” know that the battle is finish before its began.
He will cheer his troops and will send them to die.
Time to the Russians Government to think twice before sending there troops to battle against the Might of the US army.

[Scharfschütze]

(sounds of tank and MG fire in the background, shouts of Urrah!, mixed with the whine and crash of mortar fire)

"Comrade-Colonel, Alexei reporting from the front lines. Have engaged at least two platoons of enemy Rangers supported by Bazooka teams. We are killing them! They flee! Now I understand your plan! We will show them..."

Now this one was a nice turn. I have driven back six squads of Rangers into the mortar barrage I had plotted to fall after rokondos move, killing several with T-44s, Guards and ... Bazooka teams!

Those are still the old M1s, but they suffice to drive off the overly audacious Rangers. The best thing is that my mortars are now firing a concentrated barrage on the already shaken troops... gotta love it!:D

A Mustang appeared once more in the skies, and depleted its remaining rockets on a lone GAZ truck. It even survived... the truck that is!:p

The american heavy arty btn has opened up on that innocent german town, and some serious urban renewal is taking place. Casualities are light. I think my 120mm mortars more then evened up the score while shelling the fleeing Rangers:p :p

[Rokondo]

The enemy send all is anger against our Marines in the north. (US troops saw more then 5 T-44 Tanks)
making US heavy casualties.
US marines mange to destroy 1 enemy tank T-44 and killing few enemy troops.
The enemy shelling is heavy .
More bloody war to come in the north side (Who will take the north will control most of the city).
US general Rokondo praise his troops say them more forces need to come to finish the Russians attack on the north side.

Many houses get hit from the fighting (I think the city will be destroy if both sides will continue this way)

[Scharfschütze]

Heavy fighting rages in the north of the town. The main road divides the city just as a river would. The Red Army holds the north-eastern part, while the Americans control the rest.

The T-44 rokondo mentioned was immobilized during my advance in the last turn - by a scout team!

The soviet mortars unleash a storm of shrapnel against the american Rangers. The yankee artillery has begun some counterbattery fire, but fails to cause any casualities. The nosy Rangers in the south have continued edging towards my rear objective, and are taking heavy fire from 100mm ATG and HMG´s, losing half a dozen men...