Mission played on 192100Boct13

Number of players 13.

Player Units:
-1x US tank company +/- <M1(IP) and M113> (lead by 12ALFA)
-1x AT-platoon <M901 ITV> at 50% strength (Brun)
-1x mounted 120mm Mortar platoon at 88% strength (+1 Mortar FO)
-1x CSS detachment (lead by Kingtiger)

Fire support was provided by 2 batteries of M109 commanded by Hedgehog

I was in overall command of the OP

"Gametime" 190700Zoct85. The Red army has attacked in euro and was pushing forward fast.
1 German corps was hard pressed and tried to reestablish a defensive line just southwest of HANNOVER abreast the III US corps.
Red was able to pinpoint the corps boarder and launched an attack against it.
The most left US Bn was hardest hit nearly annihilated, its remains(see list above) are nor tried to make a fighting withdrawel towards their left neighbour a german Jäger-BN (+/-).
The germans deployed their reserve company just north of HEMMENDORF IOT secure the passage of lines of the US unit.



In the eraly morning hours the US tank company supported by the AT-platoon mounts a time-limited defense just north of EIME, while an enemy tank-BN(+) is gathering for the assault.



Soon the enemy CRPs are spotted and howitzers and mortars coordinate their fires to slow down the enemy advance.
Shots are traded...with the worse outcome for us:





On our right wing, the enemy set up a smokescreen and under its cover moved forces against our right wing and flank. But the AT-platoon had their eye peeled and Brun took the first kills.



But he was soon Spotted and angaged.

On our left side the heavy company of the Jäger-BN was in position, but could not slow down the enemy much:



Although the Wiesels did what they could.



The Red forces pushed on, and our C2 was not really up to standart :-(.
I only realized that we where getting outflanked on the left side, when I personally saw red tanks northeast of my position.



The resulting crossing-fires against our tank platoons took a heavy toll, and we where forces to retreat rather hastily.



Good things was that the germans where allready in positions and managed to take out an IRP that a sneaked in our back.



We then tried to fall back in good order. But as my order to retreat came to late, most of the infantry didn't make it.




At the end our CSS, our Mortars, one ITV and 6 tanks, some damaged made the passage of lines covered by a company of Leo1s and a flight of BO-105 (we took the Tiger with only 6 missiles as a proxy


)

Will all forces nearly safe, the bad thing happened. The tank-company commander was hit and immobilized as the enemy tanks drew closer.


Disregadring the enemy round dropping around him, Kingtiger moved forward to pull out the crippled 66-C.





The mortars scrambles to provide cover as fast as they could and assumed a FP just north of the german tanks:


Just in time:



After successful disengagement the battered US units gather in the area of MARIENAU.

Well, the mission didn't run to smooth.
Fighting withdrawal is one of the most challenging kinds of operations I know...and my command skills where not up to the task

But we managed to pull about 50% of our forces out (well, actually that's pretty bad) and kicked one enemy BN out of the battle.

Now in the next engagement, together with the german Leopards, we have to pull the claws out of the enemy Regiment if we want to stop them!!

I could've used another player on the Purple side.
(Helicopters are best used one player per Helicopter. )

I shall train a Padawan from the ranks of UKA, me thinks.

Great AAR! Nice to see so many popping up lately.

Working on the AAR of mission 2 currently.

As a Preview: Whats left of COPPENBRÜGGE



Generally speaking we achieved victory! But in a way that General Pyrrhus would be proud of us ;-)

Good stuff!

I really need to update my SB Pro PE...

Great Stuff!

What mission/operation is this?