rbrunsman v hellcat bulge rematch

[hellcat]

a long time in the making, Hellcat's US forces are dug in awaiting herrbrunsman... winter dec '44, dawn attack, visibility 16.

Recon reports a forward listening post team have been chased down like dogs by the vanguard of an armored thrust in the North. Before the radio went dead they reported recon in force backed up by tanks.

This is a 40 turn scenario with no reinforcements until turn 20.

This will be a true test of my namesake... [X(]

[rbrunsman]

Through the first 10 to 15 minutes (3 turns) of this assault, forward elements report light to no resistance from the American Dogs. Where could they be?

We've route a recon patrol and an M20 armored car fired some long range shots at us with its .50cal MG. This, only after very deep penetration through the suspected enemy front lines. [&:]

[rbrunsman]

Resistance in the form of deadly accurate Hellcats and ATGs is finally met. Sadly, it cost me a heavy AC to spot that Hellcat. He's dug in way behind his front lines.

The only casualty I caused was to run down another recon patrol that I fear got a peek at many of my units before he was killed. This map is wide open so it will be easy for the Americans to watch my slow approach in the snow.

[hellcat]

A this is a bulge scenario with 16 vis and a delay mission we're sitting tight for the most part and despite pegging our recon out we've had problems seeing the enemy...

hellcats! oh yes! This will be test of them. Despite my handle I've had a hard time mastering this particular machine...

We nail a recon unit in the south but little else happens. Germans drop some smoke where our AT gun was...

[rbrunsman]

Lead elements report that the first objective has been taken. Still no resistance to speak of.

US recon teams spotted probing forward in the south.

[hellcat]

The Germans seem to have taken the first VH cluster and we're dropping our arty on them as they drop them on us. Only kills to report are a kubelwagen and a recon patrol...

we know they're out there! we saw them all only a few turns ago...

we're bracing ourselves for the German advance...

[rbrunsman]

"Bracing ourselves" entails hiding on the reverse slope of the hill I'm climbing over. [X(] Hello, mister engineer, mister Hellcat and mister 3" AT gun. My sympathies to your families at home. That was a dangerous tactic.

It netted one Spw 250/10 for the US at the cost of an HT, a 3" AT gun, a Hellcat, an Airborne squad and an Engineer. There is also an immobilized HT and a stranded 3" AT gun on the next hillside to the west.

[hellcat]

hmm well we picked off another HT and some infantry but it seems Herr Brunsmans smoke tactics are serving him well... we can't see much of anyone else...

Things seem most ominously quiet in the South where we have so far only spotted 1 enemy recon patrol...

'it's only just begun....' [8|]

[hellcat]

rbrunsman's germans have driven in our defences in the North through a well aimed schwerpunkt! We've lost too many hellcats [X(] but we're fighting on...

in the South he doesn't seem to have any forces to speak of... could this be his undoing?

[rbrunsman]

I'm beginning to fear bazookas more than Hellcats. I lost 4 vehicle to one damn bazooka in the woods.[X(] Must... control... temper... It's not smart to continue with a bad plan.

Another bazooka took out 2 vehicles, IIRC, last turn.

The woods are a very dangerous place when there are US forces skulking in there.

Our advance from the north and central areas are otherwise going well. We have already driven deep into enemy territory.

[hellcat]

oh dear it's all going pear-shaped fast... I've got one hellcat left [X(] and unfortunately it's way back in german rear areas looking for trouble... we're losing badly and quickly!

[rbrunsman]

Pushing forwards hard. Lots of losses on both sides. I did catch a glimps of a Hellcat in my backfield, however, there being no VHs there and that I have no arty back there (that Hellcat can see), I fail to see why that Hellcat is taking that dangerous joyride.

I popped a couple more Hellcats in my turn and a 105mm CS Sherman that was a little braver in its turn than it should have been. Plus another one was immobilized after taking out one of my HTs. On the other hand, there was an HT that took about 6 direct hits from 50 yards away and is still alive. [X(] Immobile and dead next turn, but alive still.

I'm reacing deep into US territory and the first of the back area VHs are in reach. But, will I go that way. Or, will I swing back and take the other forward VH set from the rear.

These are the questions that plague the US commander. Where will that German go? hmmmm[&:]

[hellcat]

indeed my only remaining mobile hellcat is in the German backfield... looking for something to shoot up or (as long as it doesn't break down) to come upon the Germans from behind...

my remaining defense is now made up largely of leg inf but we still hope to put a hurting on the Germans before the inevitable conclusion...

[rbrunsman]

Captured one VH set deep in enemy territory. Also found an arty park even though we can't see anything except a now burning ammo truck. I think the park I found was a couple 105mm tubes. One is heavily damaged. I hope it doesn't rally enough to put the hurt on my units sitting next to it.

Elsewhere we search out and run down Rangers and Airborne units as we spot them.

The hard part is going to be taking the last 2 VH sets that are mostly in wooded areas. Just the environment for those nasty Rangers to give me trouble.

[hellcat]

I have surrendered my force to herr brunsman as he's down very well cutting into my force and then forcing a bloody swathe right through it.

An excellent demonstration of a well executed schwerpunkt that I never really managed to recover from...

my poor hellcats! [:(]

[rbrunsman]

It was definitely a costly breakthrough! The field was littered with a thick swathe of burning Axis and Allied vehicles and equipment.