RED FACTORIES, X-TAG, Session 7, Turns 3.5 & 4 played:
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Weather Report: The heavy rains have ceased and visibility has cleared, allowing for the placement of Smoke.
NORTH SECTOR: the Germans are highly aggressive in this sector, closing with Russian forces in the centre and along the right flank.
Left Flank: the German advance continues, but its rate has slowed slightly. The Germans have captured the School south of the Bread Factory Gully, but are meeting stiffening Russian resistance in houses to the east between the two gullies.
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Centre Sector: Germans Sturmtroops have pushed through the cut off platoon and are assaulting the Burg/Castle, having already managed to capture the building north of square in Close Combat. The Russians are defended the building east of square, with light mortar and anti-tank gun support from the Slag Heap and machine-gun fire from Hall 2, forcing the several German units to rout back across Mashinaya Street to be rallied.
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Right Flank: The Germans have boldly advanced across Samarkandskaya Street, with a Sturmgeschütze brazenly moving up to the Hall 1 to support the assaulting troops. The Russians strongpoint in Hall 2 continues to harass German units in the Central Sector with machine-gun fire from Hall 2, and German units assault Hall 1 with rifle fire Anti-Tank Rifle fire, even managing to Shock the crew of the Sturmgeschütze. A Russian counterattack lead by a pair of SMG squads attacked the Shocked Sturmgeschütze and accompanying infantry; however, the German infantry was alert and managed to prevent the Russians to infiltrate. In the ensuing Close Combat, a SMG squad was killed, but the other managed to kill the helpless Sturmgeschütze. The surviving units are now locked in Hand-to-Hand Combat. But in conjunction with German units from the Central Sector, are pushing into Hall 1.
CENTRE SECTOR: the Germans are somewhat static in this sector, with small incursions towards the Russians’ line on either flank of the sector. Reinforcements from off map have reached the front line and prepare to move into the fight.
Left Flank: German units along this flank in conjunction with Germans units of the Northern Sector have pushed into Hall 1. The Russian are tenaciously defended the factory with a mixture of SMG and conscript troops. Units from the German reinforcement company have reached Ladder House and are preparing to reinforce the advance.
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Centre Sector: the Germans are maintaining a toehold in west end of Hall 4, fending off small Russian incursions with minor losses. The reinforcement company has reached railroad to stiffen the German line. The German Fire Base continually searches out targets to strike at, but the Russians are keeping out of its LOS.
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Right Flank: the Germans have made limited advances out of Hall 5a/Shop 1 towards Hall 5, however, the Russians are relative quiet preferring to keep concealed while forming a defensive line at west side of the hall.
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SOUTH SECTOR: the last turn and a half, the German advance continued to be dogged by heavy machine-gun and light mortar fire from upper floors and rooftop of Halls 9 & 10. A Russian artillery spotting round menacingly lingers about, forcing the German units to keep concealed or out of sight of Russian observer.
Left Flank: German units have advanced through Hall 8 capturing it with little if any fight and have moved units to the north and east side of the factory, bringing their firepower to bear on the Russians across the railroad.
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Centre Sector: German units have advanced through Hall 8a capturing with a Close Combat against a Russian conscript and then solidified their gains on the east side. German units north of the gully are slowly advancing along Vosolarskaya Street. A Sturmgeschütze was forced to withdraw from the battle due to a Malfunctioning main armament.
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Right Flank: German units south of the gully are struggling to advance as Russian units have put some resistance at the gully. As Turn 4 ended, the Russians had launched a small counterattack on a German squad in the gully, resulting the Russian squad being killed, but not before it managed to kill half the German squad.
Summary: While the German advance continues, it has slowed slightly in the face of Russian machine-gun and light mortar fire. Casualties have been light as the Russians have given up ground with little or no serious fight. The Russians forces are gathering in the core factory areas, leaving a light perimeter to slow the Germans in order to move reinforcements to any potential breakthrough area. The weather has proven to be a cursing and a blessing; proving cover for the advance, but a hindrance for fire.