View Full Version : Clash of Brothers - Mini-Me vs Arnhem
16 turn scenario, 12 PzD vs an East German Army, 12th PzD is deployed in the defence of Wurzburg with 1 PzG bde in the city itself and the other 2 Pz bdes covering the approaches, the EG's naturally want to evict the present tenants.
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June 13, 1200hrs (turn 3)
Seeing it's a 16 turn scenario, some units were pulled back from their covering positions in order to concentrate firepower to defend the victory hexes in the city itself. Defensive positions have been prepared and several units have recovered losses since the start of the turn.
WP forces are not moving in as hard as I would have thought, giving me time to dig in in the city itself and use the PzAuf Bn to harass what recon units there are probing my lines. An air assault unit has landed on the east bank but Panzers have been dispatched to give them a warm welcome. Other than that, Hips and Hinds are the only distractions thus far. Artillery fire has been heavy but ineffectual.
June 13, 1500hrs - T3
Recon units have retaken the crossroads objective SE of Wurzburg. This is due to NATO forces moving out to engage one of our recon companies.
The minefield 3 miles east of the city has slowed the advance somewhat. I should have ordered my forces to barrel through per standard WP doctrine.
Helo recon unit was lost while ascertaining enemy deployment. A bit careless as it bumped one too many units.
Enemy appears to be dug in pretty well along the eastern half of Wurzburg. Additionally, major road junctions and hilltops with good fields of fire are bristling with NATO weaponry.
Casualties have been light mainly due to a cautious advance. Once a spot or two has been chosen for assault, casualties will mount.
June 13, 1800hrs - turn 5
A Leopard battalion had BRDM for tea when it helped extricate the division's Aufklarung battalion from encirclement in the previous turn, said Aufklarung battalion is now safely back within friendly lines and is moving to cover the flanks of the division.
This turn saw the first serious move by my opponent. 4 motorized rifle battalions tried a frontal assault on one of my positions on the outskirts of Wurzburg. Losses were heavy on both sides but the panzergrenadiers held their ground. Armour has moved up to relieve the troopers. Some enemy armour has appeared on the other side of Wurzburg, other than that, the troopers of 2 PzGD are hunkered down in their prepared positions and in good spirits.
June 13, 2100hrs (turn 6)
This turn saw sporadic attacks all along the north end of the bulge formed by my units in Wurzburg, heavy casualties were sustained by enemy infantry as they charged across open ground against prepared positions. The TIS equipped Leopards were in their element as they scored some hits on enemy T-55's in return for light losses. Morale is good and there is talk of a counterattack in the morning.....
Turn 7
Enemy defenses ringing the city in a semicircle with the river as a backstop. Defenses are strong and well dug in. We have several enemy units disrupted but at the moment lack the strength to push them out.
Weather is deteriorating, grounding all air operations.
Reinforcements are on the way, and when they join the battle, we will have numerical superiority. This seems to be our only advantage. Right now it is a major defeat for WP forces.
June 14, 0300hrs (turn 7)
The East German 4th MRD has made a concentrated effort to break into the defences of Wurzburg proper, enemy units have appeared all along the outskirts and made several heavy attacks, the relentless assaults and artillery fire have disrupted some of the panzergrenadiers and tankers but the lines have held, return fire from our prepared positions took a heavy toll on the enemy as they came at us over open ground. The defences will hold, we will not break, this city will not fall.
June 14, 0600hrs (turn 8)
The 4th MRD continues to press against our defences, several units have taken losses and been disrupted, reserves have moved up to bolster the tired men at the front.
PAH attack helos have scouted enemy positions and found a regiment's worth of tanks advancing on the crossing south of the city, the brigade covering it is in good cover and should be able to hold.
At the halfway mark of the scenario the situation looks good from the NATO side. Losses have been acceptable and the city is firmly in our hands.
June 14, 0800hrs (turn 9)
The enemy has this habit of making hit and run attacks on my positions, while my defences are still intact the incessent attacks are starting to take their toll on my units, tanks are down to about 75% strength with the infantry faring a little better at 90%. Still, there is much to smile about, WP losses have been horrendous and we are still sitting pretty in our trenches waiting for them to come at us over open ground.
June 14, 1200hrs (turn 10)
A new formation, 7th Tanks, has made it's presence felt on the south side of Wurzburg, close in assaults by what looks like T-55's have carried them into the city proper, the Leopard I's of the Division have found themselves more vulnerable to tank gunfire and are generally faring a little worse than the Leopards II's that make up the rest of the Division's armoured fist, I might have to shift some of the bigger cats from the north side to help stem the onrush of enemy units into the city proper.
Turn 11
The attack has turned into an utter catastrophe.
Infantry losses exceed 2400 men, mainly from the 4th MRD. Tank losses from the 4th have been heavy as well except for the tank regiment. 4th MRD is still applying pressure to the northern side of the city, but forces are too weak to accomplish much.
The 7th TD has bloodied the Bundeswehr a bit on the southern side, particularly the older Leopard I's. Losses have been acceptable, but without the 4th MRD as an effective formation, it looks as if the city will remain in NATO hands.
12th Panzer has lost a number of tanks, but the defense is holding, and there are few disrupted NATO units. We may be able to mount 1 more big push and gain 1 of the victory hexes, but the only victory will be of the moral persuasion.
Looks like the STASI will have some officers to round up shortly!
June 14, 1500hrs (turn 11)
WP tanks have broken through the defences and have actually managed to threaten the only crossing left that connects the 2 halves of Wurzburg, that has been a hasty reorg of the lines in order to secure the crossing.
Turn 13
Units of the 7th TD have captured the city location east of the only remaining river crossing into Wurzburg proper. We have isolated the bulk of 12th Panzer in a 4mile x 1 mile 'finger'. Efforts are underway to reduce this enemy pocket, but there are a LOT of NATO troops. While low on ammo, many of the stronger tank formations (Leopard II) are not disrupted and are capable of dishing out some punishing firepower.
Most of the 4th MRD is combat ineffective, and many of 7th TD's tank battalions are disrupted. We still have 1 more regiment of motorized infantry in excellent shape to throw at them... Where to do that? :devil:
No matter what we capture or kill, at this point NATO forces have done their jobs. This will be considered a major victory for NATO due to the horrendous casualties inflicted on WP forces.
June 15, 0900hrs (last turn)
Wurzburg is in ruins, half of the city is in East German hands, 12th Panzer has suffered horrendously for it's stand against the East German 3rd Army, it's panzergrenadier battalions are barely at 50% strength and the Leo I battalions at 60%, only the Leo II's seem to have come away relatively intact, I still have 93 of those big cats.
In return, the East German 4th MRD and 7th Tanks lie shattered on the field of battle. The enemy has suffered loss ratios of 4 to 1 in both men and equipment and what is left will probably not be enough to take the city from NATO hands, the red tide stops here.
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An unbalanced scenario for PBEM, the East Germans had the numbers but not the quality to dig out the panzers once they were properly entrenched, all I had to do was pull back into the city, dig in and wait for Mini-me to come to me, He didn't have much of a chance to take a dent since I had ample artillery and firepower on the line to disrupt his formations once they came within range.
Which is why his taking of the 100pt hex with the bridge was a beautiful move, I had left the approaches to the bridge lightly covered with most of my strength concentrated forward on the outskirts of the city in order to put as much firepower on the line to disrupt his formations, he made an end run for the bridges with what I think was a tank regiemnt and in one stroke he cut off and isolated most of 12th Panzer, if my formations had been a little more fatigued and weakened and his not so disrupted I would be marching eastwards right now, as it was, thanks to the Leo II's and a fresh jagergrenadier battalion I was able to make a mess of his tank formations, force them off the hex and restore my line.
All in all, an outstanding first PBEM outing for Mini-me IMHO :thumup:, he came up with some beautiful moves and did well with what he had, I might have had my assed kicked if we had taken the better WP morale scenario like we should have. :cry:
First of all, congratulations to Arnhem for a good game. He pulled back early and dug in, which was an excellent defensive move. I advanced cautiously, and by the time I reached his MLR, he was dug in in battalion strength. Every time he let loose on my troops, casualties were HUGE. Those Leopard II's are too much for T-55s to handle.
I was able to take the 100 point location by holding back 2 regiments of the 7th TD (1 motorized rifle & 1 tank). I kept hammering away until I disrupted his forces and exhausted his ROF. Then I assaulted in regiment strength. I took the hex with the tank regiment.
I would agree that troop quality in this one was very uneven. I think I would have fared better if I bullrushed the city earlier, but his Leopard II's still would have shredded my formations.
Good game!
Good entertainement. I guess it'll give me an idea in my game against Arnhem. Please remember to report this game into the WARS ladder.
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