BATTLEFRONT: Breaking the Tide ("I Want My Grandma!!!")

[MAGNA]

German Artillery Phase.

It's on in earnest now folks. The german commander has called in one artillery strike and a Precious Nebelwerfer attack, right on the troops in the centre.

Shells and rockets come in like hail. The German artillery is still warming up it seems and the Russians suffer no losses. Amazing. There are two suppressions and two disorders though so that will put a dent in the advance speed at least.

German Offensive Fire Phase.

Speaking of dents, the PAK fires again at the KV. This time a disorder is achieved with the KV crew getting upset at being picked on like this.

If you think of a PAK 40 as having a sound like Bang and an 85mm being a Blam then imagine an SU-100 - more like a KerBlam!!. The Germans happen to have something that is similar.

KerBlam!! There it is now. The Sherman crew doesn't know much about it as they are too busy baling out of their tank which is now doing an impression of a toaster trying to cook petrol. The shot came from the light woods in front of the town. There is something there that the Russians now wish wasn't.

It is now the German movement phase.

[TRDG]

Ah , Dave...... that range was across about half the table...... I need to know Maximum ranges here please, and/or was that a "perfect" dice roll the Germans had? Even the 88 did'nt fire at those ranges in the first game

Next up, you mean more forward and to the side of the city, otherwise from that "in front" of the city brush that unit can't actually see the Shermy.....

Also, my recon did'nt "see" anything over there, but the Sherman which is behind it was seen by the German ? machine, can you help me figure this one out please. the recon might have noticed something when that German "something" shot, might it not?

Thanks

A "wondering" Co Zhukov

[MAGNA]

Maximum range for most is past the length of the table but the fire factor gets lower as you go. The shot came from the centre light woods in front of the town where they could see the Sherman quite easily. The recon didn't see anything because the heavy woods (lower side pine trees) block the line of sight to where the shot came from.

The 88 that fired was a PAK 43 - a fair step up from the standard 88 as used in the desert game. There was also the advantage of using the ambush shot factor. There weren't many vehicle types with a PAK 43 so it narrows down pretty quickly as to what it might be. It was a good roll though and it gets better as you get closer but as we all know the rolls aren't all good as with the artillery - two wallops on your infantry and not one kill. Your umbrellas must be made of Kevlar or something.

You can fire at the suspected target in the light woods but there is a penalty for not having it clearly in your sights so to speak. Still, a bit closer and you won't have that problem at all.

You can find out after the German movement phase which shouldn't be far away.

[TRDG]

Roger that, I thought the Shermy was in the lower left group when it was in the central group, sorry.........

Cheers

Co Z

[MAGNA]

Still a bit scary isn't it.

German Movement.

The Panzer Grenadier section in the centre reorders well and edges back to await the next onslaught. Otherwise, all is still.

REVENGE time. It is now the Russian Defensive Fire phase.

S6300002.jpg

[TRDG]

Yes it is, It's not nice to pick on lend lease Equipment, I should send the bill to Hagen very shortly!! LOL

Cheers, INCOMING very soon here I think, in fact I already started.........

Co Z

[MAGNA]

I'm really starting to feel sorry for the section of Germans in the middle of the board.

[TRDG]

No "former" love for my LL Shermy? Ha Ha, I'll get em back those Germans!!! AARRGGG.......

Cheers

Co Zhukov

[MAGNA]

I didn't have time to get to know the Sherman. That's the first game it's ever been used in and it lasted 1.5 turns.

Anyway, Russian defensive fire.

Bottom of the map. Infantry and tanks let fly at the PAK 40.

A suppression. The Germans put a halt to the game for ten minutes while they nick down the road to buy a lottery ticket while there luck is in.

The section in the middle now gets the attention of several units. HE shells and bullets fly in. The dust settles and reveals - nothing. The section is eliminated.

The two SU's fire at the suspected target in the distance. Surprisingly, they get a hit and suppress it.

That is the end of turn two.

It is now the Russian turn, starting with artillery.

[MAGNA]

Turn three.

Russian artillery.

The Russians target the area of the PAK 40. Shells come in but with little effect. The Russian artillery commander is getting a little bit worried as two goes at the same target have been unsuccessful - his military record is looking like it might be a short one as commander Zhukov calls him on the phone.....

Russian offensive fire phase is next.