Bridges to Lamia

[JudgeDredd]

I'm going to try and do an AAR. The choosen mission is Tutorial 1 - Bridges to Lamia and that's because it's the one everyone will start with...so there won't really be any spoilers.

I've played this from both sides but I intend to play as the Axis as I think that presents the biggest challenge.

I will write the AAR in 1 hour increments, so you will have hourly reports from the front.

I'm going to make lots of mistakes because I never had HTTR and only played RDOA scenarios once...so I wouldn't use it as a guide. Also, I've hardly read the manual...so what you will see is a commander thrown right in from basic training!

I've decided to use the following setup:

[JudgeDredd]

In the following picture, I've highlighted the various objectives for the Axis.

Yef Alamanas
Most important as it is the main bridge across the Sperkhios River
Komma Bridge
The next most important route across the Sperkhios River
Anthili
The game ranks this as next important...and it is in terms of objective results, but I think the crossings are most important...so I put Sperkhios Bridge above it.
Komma
Again another area made important and is so in terms of points...but if I can deny the allies a foothold across the Sperkhios, then these are side issues.
Sperkhios Bridge
Another crossing...although minor it could help the allies and so I will attempt to defend and, if necessary deny this also.

So I will attempt to defend and, if necessary, deny the bridges. Initial intel shows I am greatly outnumbered, so my back will be against the wall.

The Objectives

[JudgeDredd]

So - what do I have to work with....

1 Infantry Bn from 433 Inf Regt
2 Inf Coys attached from II Bn 433 Inf Regt
1 Inf Gun Coy from 433 Regt HQ
1 Flak unit from 54 Bn
1 Mot AT Coy from 220 Bn

The only bombard unit I have is the Mor Pl 1 Bn Inf Regt 433 with 8cm HE

The 13th Inf Gun Coy Inf Regt 433 has Infantry guns and so cannot bombard...but I suspect, given a good LOS, they can hold up a few allied units.

Also, not shown (but accessible under the Reinf tab) is the 1st Lt Pz Coy 1 Bn Pz Regt 33 (details of which are unknown at the moment).

[JudgeDredd]

I need to stop the allies crossing the Sperkhios River. If they get a foothold on the north bank, they will pour through and I will most likely be in rout!

I am expecting the allies to perform a two pronged attack. It makes sense to me that they will come in force to secure the Yef Alamanas crossing...but I also suspect they will make another break for Komma Bridge to the north or Sperkhios Bridge to the east (that's what I would do if I were the allied commander). I intend to defend and hold all three. If necessary, the relevant forces will have orders to deny the crossing.

The Plan devised by myself and my commanders...

1. Komma Bridge

• 1st Flak Bty Flak Bn 54 - move across the bridge and to the north west of Moskhokhorion and set on delay back to the bridge
• 1st Inf Coy I Bn Inf Regt 433 - move across the bridge and to the north west of Moskhokhorion and set on delay back to the bridge
• 13th Inf Coy I Bn Inf Regt 433 - move south west and place just south of the Bouphos River. From here, it can spot anything coming up the road to the Komma Bridge.
• 6th Inf Coy II Bn Inf Regt 433 - move west from Anthili to take up station as reserve force on the northern bank of the Komma Bridge

2. Yef Alamanas

• I Inf Bn HQ Inf Regt 433 - defend in Yef Alamanas
• 3rd Inf Coy I Bn Inf Regt 433 - move south west across the bridge and take up a defensive position on the road at the western edge of the marsh
• 2nd Inf Coy I Bn Inf Regt 433 - move south west across the bridge and take up a defensive position in the town of Koutseki.
• Mor Pl I Bn Inf Regt 433 - move south from Anthili to help defend Yef Alamanas. I will have to move the mortar platoon into Yef Alamanas so I can support 2nd and 3rd Inf Coy as the mortar platoon has a small range
• 1st Mot PzJg Coy PzJg Bn 220 - move south from Anthili to help defend Yef Alamanas

...so it will get crowded in Yef Alamanas.

3. Sperkhios Bridge

• Mot PzJg Pl I Bn Inf Regt 433 - defend north of the river - where it is situated is fine...it has a good line of site across to the south
• 7th Inf Coy II Bn Inf Regt 433 - move south from Anthili...although I will place this unit north west of Sperkhios Bridge so it can reinforce Yef Alamanas if required
• 2nd Pnr Coy Pnr Bn 220 - move from Yef Alamanas (temporarily) to Sperkhios Bridge in order to prime the bridge. Once the priming is complete, this unit will move back into Yef Alamanas ready to blow if necessary.

That's the plan!

[JudgeDredd]

D1 0600

As per the situation map, all units have their orders and on their way. We will see what the day brings.

[JudgeDredd]

I have already made an error of judgement. For the Komma Bridge objective, I said I would send the 1st Flak Bty Flak Bn 54 south and give delay orders. Of course, I am unable to issue such an order to a Flak unit...so I have set it up on the cross roads just south of the Komma Bridge instead.
 
This is a blow...as a delay works better with two or more units as they "leapfrog" each other...folling back in order behind the next unit to take the hit...still - such things are brought to bear on a commander.

[JudgeDredd]

D1 0700
Troops are on the move. Some have already made their destinations.

Note the green, red and blue circles. These show the anti-personnel, anti-armour and bombard ranges for the respective units.

As you can see...there is a large force moving north...but whther they continue north to the Komma Bridge or head east to Yef Alamanas we will find out

[JudgeDredd]

D1 0800

Ok. I am having reports of a concentration (force size unknown) heading north to Komma Bridge...1st Inf Coy I Bn Inf Regt 433.
I've ordered 6th Inf Coy II Bn Inf Regt 433 to take up a delaying action south of the Komma Bridge in light of this attack and the ferocity of it. I hope it gets there quickly (unit delay is 34 minutes!).

There's another force over to the east...again I can only watch and wait to see where they head.

By the way...weather reports are clear skies and good conditions...but we have no air power...perhaps the Luftwaffe will come good!

[JudgeDredd]

D1 0900

1st Inf Coy to the west of Moskhokhorion is still holding, although it was in retreat briefly.

It is now obvious that my thoughts were correct...the allies are going for two bridges. I can see the attack forming up for Yef Alamanas.

What is worrying (green) is the force travelling north. I had hoped it would be a diversionary or probing attack north...but it does seem they are going to attempt to push across Komma Bridge.

I must hold. My commanders know this!

[Arjuna]

Nice work JudgeDredd. Like the graphics.

[JudgeDredd]

D1 1000
I turned the grid on to help you see the scale

Bad news from the front. 1st Inf Coy (west of Moskhokhorion) has routed! Their suppresion level was up to 83%. I am confused, however, as to why the commander has not seen fit to follow orders and provide a delaying action. He should be moving to the next delay point before routing, surely?

Anyway...I expect I will have to cancel his orders, allow his suppresion to lower and provide diversionary attacks to the allied flank as they head north.

As for Yef Alamanas...3rd Inf Coy came under heavy bombardment but stood their ground. The leading allied uints made contact with 3rd Inf Coy which was successfully supported by Mor Pl I Bn in Yef Alamanas.

There are reports of a large force forming in the west. I fully expect this force to split...now that the allies drive north has been successful in pushing back 1st Inf Coy, I am expecting a large force to drive north. I can only hope my other units hold!

I do not know what has happened to 6th Inf Coy (east of the Komma Bridge. At 0820, he was given an order to move wouth of the Komma Beidge and provide a delaying action...but he seems to have got lost, cannot find the bridge and decided to use his initiative and take up a defensive position north of the Komma River!

[JudgeDredd]

D1 1100

[RED] The 1st Inf Coy has recovered and it's commander has started back to attack the allies head on and establish his defensive position...but seeing the allies coming up in force, I have decided to pull him back and sit him over the ridge to the east of the 1st Flak Bty south of Komma Bridge. That way he can support 1st Flak and be in a stronger defensive position...if he tries to fight his way back to his initial defensive position, he may well end up routing again and taking longer to recover.

[DARK BLUE] 6th Inf Coy has finally found his map and move south of the Komma Bridge. He is to take up a defensive position south of the 1st Flak Bty and then perform a delay action back to the north side of the bridge

[YELLOW] Looks like most of the allied force to the west is heading east towards Yef Alamanas. 3rd inf Coy is in retreat but 2nd Inf Coy in Koutseki has yet to be bothered. Mor Pl I Bn has been providing fire support all the while and helping to hold back the allied drive...but they are only 80cm mortars...no big guns for us this day.

[LIGHT BLUE] I Inf Bn HQ in Yef Alamanas is being bombarded...but it's not moving...not yet.

[ORANGE] Good news - the Sperkhios Bridge is now primed. I will now move my engineer unit (2nd Pnr Coy) back to Yef Alamanas ready to blow should it have to. If we can drag the allies into Yef Alamanas and blow the bridge, they will have to head north and cross at Komma or east and cross at Sperkhios...and I will move my engineer unit accordingly. That was good fast work by 2nd Pnr Coy. Well done.

Still no sign of the Luftwaffe despite desparate calls from 1st and 3rd Inf Coy!!

[JudgeDredd]

D1 1200

[RED] 1st Inf Coy has routed again to the north. This was as a result of him trying to establish his original defenive position (I feared this). He was given new orders to defend to the east of the 1st Flak Bty, but they had not been delivered in time. Damned radios! He now has his new orders, will reorganise and defend.

[YELLOW] Yef Alamanas attack is still being resisted. 3rd Inf Coy is retreating/recovering/retreating again! But he's holding well, with very heavy artillery bombardment from the allies. Mor Pl I Bn in Yef Alamanas is throwing it's weight into the fray in the form of 8cm HE...and several allied units are reported to be retreating...however, they are running low on ammo, with only 1/3 of the ammunition they started out with.

[LIGHT BLUE] 3rd Inf Coy is in retreat again! They have done well, though...holding the enemy since 0930 alone and outnumbered.

[BLUE ARROW] 2nd Pnr Coy is returning to Yef Alamanas.

It's been 6 hours now. The allies, from what I can gather, have made slow progress. The word from the front are that stiff resistance is being provided and they have only made contact with 2 units as yet. If I can keep them south of Komma Bridge, I have the 1st Lt Pz Coy 1 Bn Pz Regt 33 arriving between 22:00 and 00:00 tonight...so they could help provide the resistance there.

South, at Yef Alamanas, I have the engineers ready to blow the bridge if required. If they manage to, it will be a great help. If I could, I would order it now, but I have been ordered by a higher authority to hold it open until the very last!

I also have, should I need them, the 7th Inf Coy sitting between Yef Alamanas and Sperkhios...

Still...there is another 30 hours to go!

[Grotius]

Great job, JudgedDredd. You've inspired me; I've been collecting and editing screenies for an AAR of my own. Will post it here shortly...

[JudgeDredd]

D1 1300

Back to the front.

After an uneasy start to the afternoon, things still look promising. The allies are not making great headway at all. A couple of my units, 3rd Inf Coy south west of Yef Alamanas and 1st Inf Coy have been in various stages of retreat and route, but assigning new defensive objectives and reorganising, they eventually recover to delay the allies once again.

As I said previously, all other commanders are reporting no contact with the enemy (apart from some sporadic (sometimes concentrated) bombarding).

[ORANGE] 3rd Inf Coy is again in retreat (see the yellow arrow in the info box top left of the unit counter), but I have set it a defensive stance further back...allowing it to move back and redeploy. As you can see, it's coming under concentrated artillery fire and is at 91% suppression. 2nd Inf Coy to it's east is still waiting to make contact...it won't be long...just sit tight and wait to surprise the enemy.

[RED] I have set 1st Inf Coy a new defensive stance and it's taking up position now. That will be a nice surprise as the allies saw it dissappear over the hill in rout...it is, at present hidden from view of the allies who are over the crest.

[OLIVE] I have requested that the commander of 7th Inf Coy take up a new defensive position across the Yef Alamanas bridge...it doesn't look like the allies will try and get across the Sperkhios bridge.

Whilst I say the allies haven't made ground breaking advances, they are only 1km from the Yef Alamanas bridge...which is why I am requesting the assitance of 7th Inf Coy from the II Bn Inf Regt 433.

[JudgeDredd]

Just some additional information...from the screen below, you can see it's my HQ unit who has LOS and can see the enemy advance towards the marsh south of Yef Alamanas. Using the TLOS (threat line of sight) tool, you are able to spot who has line of sight and where the threats are. the brighter the red, the stonger the threat (or better LOS between the units).

[JudgeDredd]

D1 1400

[BLUE] As you can see, using the LOS Area tool, my 1st Flak Bty and 1st Inf Coy are over a ridge...waiting for the allies to spring a little surprise on them. They have been instructed to defend and take maximum casualties if necessary. 6th Inf Coy is in "light" contact with the lead allied unit...which appears to be an Inf Coy...however...

[RED] as you can see, my units are reporting a Base unit (rear echelon) making it's way north...but these reports are sketchy. It's unlikely that the allied commander would allow such a weak unit so close the the front. Also, I have noticed this report change between Bas eunit, AT unit, Inf Coy...so the reports have to be taken lightly until a definite sighting is reported.

[YELLOW] 3rd Inf Coy has provided stern defense so far...pulling back to it's new position. It has withstood repeated attempts by the allied commander to push through...the yellow line indicates 3rd Inf Coys original defensive position and the allies have yet to cross it!

[ORANGE] 7th Inf Coy is on it's way to it's new defensive position south of the Sperkhios River and Yef Alamanas road bridge.

Also, the 2nd Pnr Coy ahs taken up it's position just north of the Sperkhios and will attempt to blow the bridge should they have to. Ideally, I would liked to have found 2dn Pnr Coy a position out of LOS of allied units...they stand a better chance of blowing the bridge if they are not under heavy fire.

One other thing...2nd Pnr Coy has been ordered to blow the bridge regardless of the position of 2nd, 3rd and 7th Inf Coy...although I have not informed the commanders of this decision - I don't want them to abandon their posts!

[JudgeDredd]

D1 1500

[BLUE]At 14:26, 7th Inf Coy was spotted as they entered Yef Alamanas by the allies and were forced to retreat by intense artillery. I personally went to the 7th Coy HQ and told them, in no uncertain terms, that he was to get across the bridge and that the commander of 3rd Inf Coy was relying on his relief. They attempted, again, just before 15:00 to get across and have made it to the other side, but once again they are being bombarded and are forced to take cover! The commander is reporting heavy casualties and heavy suppresion.

[YELLOW]As you can see, 5rd Inf Coy has taken up it's defensive position and is deploying. I am impressed with the commander and forwarded by congratualtions to him and his men.

[RED]These show the units which are dug in. This should help when defending and also if they come under artillery...which they are more than likely to.

[ORANGE]6th Inf Coy is reporting contact and has sighted several infantry companies heading his way.

I have no artillery support for the Komma area and the damned Luftwaffe refuse to send me Stukas..."Busy elsewhere" is the word! However, the 13th Inf Gun Coy, sitting north east of Komma, is itching to fire it's guns. The allied attack towards Komma is just outside it's range...not long now, my friends!

[Banquet]

A great read JudgeDredd [:)]

[JudgeDredd]

D1 1600

[RED]3rd Inf Coy is in rout. It's down to 80% manpower, cohesion is a mess and morale is low. On top of that, fatigue and suppresion are on the increase. At one point, they were taking fire from 5 companys...about 300 men! Also it's being bombarded constantly. It looks like my call to move 7th Inf Coy forward was just in time! I will move 3rd Inf Coy east along the road. They will be out of sight of enemy units there. I will let them rest there and then provide some flanking attacks on the allies should they get closer to the Yef Alamanas bridge.

[BLUE] 6th Inf Coy retreated briefly, but not before making 2 allied infantry coys retreat first. The commander has moved them back to their original defensive location. 1st Flak Bty and 1st Inf Coy are still hidden from view.

It's about 4 hours until dark. That will hopefully provide some needed rest for my troops.