NS_WGS The Pied Piper -- NATO

[JoeMK]

1002 hrs – An odd thing and further commanding

[JoeMK]

1020 hrs – Despite of a handicap, WG forces will fight on

Edit: Correcting two minor issues

[JoeMK]

1038 hrs - Awaiting the next attempt to break through

[CapnDarwin]

Awesome detail with the AAR!

[Deathtreader]

I wonder why 32/4 Panzer is nonactive (so to speak) as it's stats are not too shabby at all. Might be worth forwarding a save to Capn Darwin if you have one.

Love your AAR btw.

Rob.

[exsonic01]

Thanks for great AAR, amount of detail in this AAR is amazing. While reading this, I really feels like I'm also playing this game too. XD

BTW, when I tried this game last time, I remember I fielded my Leo2s in southern route, some hexes around Afferde. There were some good position to have LOS over major assault route from E and NE, but I forget where. Then I tried to block T80BVs using mechanized infantry at the entry of Hameln. T80BVs in vicinity are quite dangerous, so I really tried keep at least 1000~1500m distance. But I think your approach of pushing Leo2s in Hameln also worked in good way.

[CapnDarwin]

Maybe it's too early in the morning, but what are the orders for 32/4 and when were they given?

[JoeMK]

1054 hrs - Crushing the enemy's attempt to break through

[JoeMK]

Thank you, guys, for your kind notes.
I will take up one or another of your thoughts in the near future.
But not now, it’s late, almost two hours after midnight, I feel tired...

So long,
J.

[JoeMK]

1054 - 1109 hrs - Crushing the enemy's attempt to break through - Part two

[JoeMK]

INSERTION
Regarding your questions what the orders for 32/4 are and when they were given: There have been no direct orders, the statements to post regarding game time 1038 hrs are referring to a process starting at 0944 hrs.

Thoughts at 0944 hrs
As the Leopard 2 unlike the T-80BV is equipped with a thermal imaging system, finally smoke missions should be ordered: on one side to protect, and on the other side to blind. The locations to smoke are:
Hex 1615 – Position of platoon 32/4th Pz Bn.
Hex 1614 - The location will be traversed by enemy tanks within a short time. Smoke will reduce their orientation and target reconnaissance. But they stay visible for the Leo 2’s thermal imaging system.
Hex 1813 – The location will be traversed by all the following enemy tanks. As experienced before, it’s also a good position to combat the WG forces’ 3rd tank platoon (hex 1615) successfully. The smoke will prevent any target reconnaissance by the enemy while the WG tank crews are advised to reconnoiter also that location.

Playing the game for the AAR, I always made a save when the resolution phase had ended, and load the save game then to implement new orders. Having finished, I made a save again and started the resolution after that.

What happened when I load the save game of resolution phase stopping at 1002 hrs (game time)?
I called it an “odd thing”, and commented:
“But this time, loading the save, I haven’t got the same map in detail. The group of three or four T-80BVs on hex 1813 is dropped away. Shrouded in NATO’s smoke? If you look closely at the smoke graphics, something red shines through it. But the fly-out of this hex does show only smoke and forest. Strange!”

In addition, this strangeness had another messy face as I experienced at 1020 hrs (game time). I called it a handicap, and wrote:
“One more thing has happened: platoon 32/4th Pz seems to be paralyzed. No one action has come up during the last resolution phase of, after all, 18 minutes, and plenty of actions had to be performed to all intents and purposes.”

And at 1038 hrs (game time) I resignedly noted: ...unfortunately there’s no button “normal behavior” to resuscitate platoon 32/4th Pz Bn...”.

The total inactivity for over half an hour including the TIS of 32/4 is subject of complain or lack of understanding.

Please have a look at the attachment. Today I started the save from 0944 hrs (game time) once more and played some rounds, making also saves but haven’t loaded a save in between. On the left side you find the respective screen shots and also hits and losses of platoon 32/4, on the right side appropriate shots and statements regarding the current AAR.

J.

[JoeMK]

1109 hrs

[JoeMK]

1124 hrs - The End