Skeletor (Ger) vs Leafey (Rus) Feb 45

[Skeletor]

It seems the Russians have crossed the Niemen river during the night and are pushing toward Konigsberg.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

My scouts have spotted a Russian ISU-122 platoon on the south road and some ?motorised infantry? supported by T34s in a clearing to the the north.

-Skeletor

[Skeletor]

In the woods, one of my Stugs trades fire with a couple T-34s then falls back.

South east of there, my ski troops encounter some Soviet Guard infantry. Looks like they were headed for the northern hill but couldn't make it before I got there. Now if they want it, they'll have to fight me for it. :p

In the center and south I've spotted a mixed bag of Russian armor, also some trucks and a Bren FO vehicle.

-Skeletor

[Leafey]

I was hoping to get the North hills before German forces could get their, but they beat me due to some idiots bad deployment orders!!!

Numerous snipers have been spotted, and killed. No sign of any tank platoons of significance yet. Maybe the much vaunted German armour is holding it self in reserve...

[Skeletor]

Ski troops supported by a platoon of Stugs swing around the northern hill and take the advancing guard infantry in the flank. Most of them are sent running. Who says ski troops suck?

Just north of the hill its still quiet. I know there are at least 2 or 3 T-34s prowling up there. Will they turn back to help the Guards and Paras? Or will they try to break through?

Near the southern map edge two motorcycle squads are ambushed by Volkssturm troops and an armored car.

Like he said, I've lost a bunch of scouts already. I learned a lesson from my game with Orzel, and now I scout the hell out of everything before I move. It works, but its hard on snipers and kubelwagons.

-Skeletor

[Leafey]

The battle does'nt fare well.

In the north, german ski patrols with armour support are wrecking havoc. I fear it may be hard for my infantry to dis-engage without serious losses. I am unsure of the depth of the thrust but is damaging allready.

The rest of the front remains quite, with recon probing for defensive sites.

I need to put some serious work into how i deploy my forces and just what forces i take in the future.

For now the pride of Russia will go on...

[Skeletor]

One of my precious Ski squads blundered into a Soviet engineer and got roasted. Other than that my attack around the north hill is going nicely.

I spotted a IS-1 on the center hill that looked like it was hoping for a flank shot on one of my Stugs up north. I'll have to be careful.

North of the hill its still mostly quiet. Each side is waiting for the other to make a move.

In the center things aren't going quite so good. First his scouts exposed an ambush. Then a misclick just about cost me a tank.

-Skeletor

[Leafey]

Well, a bad day for the Soviet Union. In the darkness of the North hills, my para's, who missed theri flight to their LZ to start with, are getting cut up and in danger of getting encircled.

Armoured units in the south are trading blows, but Soviet gunners cannot seem to hit, even though they should.

Having to use artillery to support the infantry in the hills instead of in attacking thrusts...

[Skeletor]

In the north two of those T-34s I've been woried about are destroyed. One bumped into a Stug and the other into a Ski platoon.

At this rate, and unless reinforcements arrive quickly, whats left of the enemy in this area will soon be killed off.

Despite their setback in the north, the Soviets now dominate all the other significant high ground with heavy armor. The southern half of the map is mostly clear and is now covered those units. My lighter armor will have to stay out of sight.

-Skeletor

[Skeletor]

One more T-34 down. Not much left in the north, just some fleeing infantry to mop up.

The Russians seem to be on the defensive now. No movement in the south, just armor firing at me from the hills. This turn they were able to destroy a careless armored car, but most of my units are staying out of sight.

-Skeletor

[Leafey]

My forces in the North are severely routed. Because if this i am in serious trouble of being flanked. My southern forces are also having trouble forcing a engagement, but i think this is because so many forces are committed in the north. I have learnt a good lesson on combined arm tactics, and need to scout more heavly.

[Skeletor]

Originally posted by Leafey
My forces in the North are severely routed. Because if this i am in serious trouble of being flanked. My southern forces are also having trouble forcing a engagement, but i think this is because so many forces are committed in the north. I have learnt a good lesson on combined arm tactics, and need to scout more heavly.

I think the main problem was that you spread your forces to thin. If you had some more tanks in the woods, we would probably still be in there fighting. In fact, you'd probably beat me because you had much better infantry up there.

But then maybe you'd have been better off, if instead of paratroopers and guards and trucks for them all you'd have just gotten regular infantry. It hurts when you see those expensive units getting chopped up, and when you have so few men any setback is a major one.

I went completly the other way when I bought my units. I got Stugs because I could afford lots of them, and for infantry I got Ski and 2nd line troops. I still had points left over then for AT guns and infiltrators.

But what do I know, eh? I'm about as new at this as you are, so my advice might not be worth much. And I feel like I've made some mistakes too, they just haven't been as costly.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Looks like I have broken through in the north.

In the south, I destroyed a T-34 that was getting a little too close. Its friend on the hill damaged another one of my Stugs though.

-Skeletor

[Leafey]

The Germans continue to mop up my Infantry in the North at will with little casualties. In the South my armour has traded blows with German armour and come of second best. I have serious doubts about the outcome of this battle and i think my main hope is try and hit the German armour in concentrated numbers.

[Skeletor]

In the south the Russians inch forward loosing one ISU-122 and getting another one hit several times.

Meanwhile, a Stug company and a swarm of ski troops are pushing south toward the Russian rear victiory hexes (only worth 40 points! ). Advance units have encountered another IS-1 waiting for them on a hill and are holding back until help arrives.

-Skeletor

[Leafey]

Skeletor has punished me without mercy. I was hoping to reinforce the line in the North but i have discovered to late that he has crossed the plain and has made it behind lines.
I have also erred in the south, thinking he had very little armour but their are at least 4 stugs and anti-tank guns. I will now ytry and group my forces and my last stronghold and hold of for as long as possible. I think Skeletor will try and rush in before i can get my lines settled.

[Skeletor]

Nothing exciting to report this turn.

Now that were getting into more open country I'm worried that my Stugs won't last long. So far I've kept to the woods and haven't lost a single one. But that may change soon.

-Skeletor

[Skeletor]

I destroyed an two more russian tanks and lost one of my own. I also got hit pretty hard by artillery for the first time.

I see some engineers and komsomolets moving into the path of my advance. Looks like he's throwing everthing he can spare at me.

-Skeletor

[Leafey]

At last, a Stug is killed!!!
Some heavy tank clashes at close range have meant 2 Stugs are down, at the cost of one of my heavy tanks. The Germans have to cross open space to hit my final Bastion, and i hope to make them pay for every inch of it.

I can see 6 Stugs, so i am definatly out numbered.

[Skeletor]

I've been watching an isolated ISU-122 last few turns and finaly charged in to take it out. It was trapped in a hole and couldn't come out without exposing itself to fire from 2 AT guns and a platoon of Stugs. Poor bastards didn't stand a chance.

I lost a Stug on the center hill to a frontal hit.

I'm getting behind the Russian line near their rear victory hexes now also.

The Russians are going down. Its only a matter of how many Germans they will take with them.

-Skeletor

[Leafey]

Well, the Germans appear to be every where.
I had my first run in with spec ops, who are deep behind my lines.
Stugs seem to be every where and they are so **** accurate with their shots it is hurting me.
My armour is now very thin and streched and infantry continues to get chopped up. Time for another Pale Ales after that go...

[Skeletor]

A group of Stugs, supported by a Volks platoon, are assaulting the southern hill. So far its going well with two T-34s destroyed and one ISU-122 hit several times. I seem to remember seeing some trucks in this area early in the game, but so far there is no sign of the infantry they were carrying. Maybe those are the units I'm shooting up near the russian rear victory hexes now.

In the center, after an attack that destroyed one IS-1 and cost me two stugs, I've gone back to defence. I see one russian tank on the southern part of the hill and another on a small hill farther east.

Near the rear victory hexes I've destroyed a couple Komsomolets carriers and continue to pour units south through the forest and around a troublesome IS-1 covering that area.

I am very satisfied with the performance of my Stugs so far but a few units that could have handled the Russian armor at long range would have been handy.

-Skeletor