B-Bossu agreed with your plan and has relieved your infantry in the advance. Your battered companies rest for a bit near hex 20/20.
Your armor was not notified of any change in plans, however, so it continued on. The Germans abandoned Huttes, and you charged across the open area (suffering no fire btw). You get a report of contact with German infantry somewhere to the east of Huttes (oh, say around hex 33.22 or so). The Germans left a terrific barrage behind them when pulling out of Huttes, so the tanks braved the arty and were slowed up a bit, but unhurt.
You send one infantry company to try to track down Flavigny. As they near the edge of the woods, they come upon an number of German tanks, which take them under fire. The tanks withdraw after a few minutes, and you are able to advance to the edge of the woods. No reported contacts yet.
Your southern company sets up the ambus, but notices French forces passing along parallel to the road from west to east, so you assume that any German forces have already passed that point.
A group of tanks stays and fires on the Germans in Huttes. The Germans return fire for a while, and then skidaddle across the road to woods just to the east. Gotta love voluntary SYRs, eh? As you are firing your last rounds after the retreating troops, a heavy concentration of artillery lands on your position. No vehicles were lost, but now that visibility is greater than 1 hex, you wonder if this will be the last time that arty rains down on you.
One of your lead tanks in the north moved to the edge of the woods and was promptly destroyed by AT fire from the north somewhere. The rest of your tanks heeded your cautionary instructions to stay under cover (which they did) awaiting your instructions. A platoon of infantry went to 25.28 (with some MGs) to keep the area under observation.
Your tank forces press ahead, overrunning some infantry in the open just south of point 222. Other tanks worked on clearing a route of advance. It seems that the Germans have pulled out of Huttes (at least you saw their sorry asses scurrying across the open road into the woods to the east). As you'r licking your chops, German supporting arms come into play. A very heavy arty barrage lands in your front position, disrupting the tanks (no vehicles lost though) and preventing your infantry from advancing. A number of German planes attack your lead elements, but with no effect. Still, sobering developments.
BTW, as some of your marauding tanks happened to enter hex 28.18, they were taken under fire by heavy calibre direct fire arty and AT fire. Your tanks beat a hasty retreat, and you are unsure exactly where the fire came from, but it was from the direction of Stonne.
Your lead tanks are just south of Huttes. Hutte has been occupied by other French tanks.
Four of your armored cars scout ahead of the group to find a good route of advance. One was knocked out by long-ranged tank fire when it entered hex 13.34. You coordinated with Ghes. then and had the heavies come up to provide overwatch fire for your advance. You then scouted across to the woods around 19.34, drawing no fire. Ghes. tanks did destroy a German tank trying to cross from the north end of the Bois de la Grande Cote.
You continued to scout for advance routes, and lost another AC in hex 19.32. Currently your entire force (the infantry, Ghes and your ACs) is centered on 19.34 with your ACs in advance. Because of the short range of yoru 25mm pop-guns, your AC commanders feel better in the woods, where they can perhaps meet the Germans on somewhat better footing. And indeed, you come upon a German scout tank in the woods and destroy it (though it was just a lowly Panzer I).
Screened by ACs from 6 GRDI, you advance in stages to 12.30 or so, where your provide overwatch for further AC advances, and destroy a German tank moving from the northern edge of the Bois de la Grande Cote. You continue then to the woods around 19.34 where you are now located. 6 GRDI has a number of ACs just to the front, and motorcycle infantry keeping pace with you. You know that a few ACs were knocked out by German AT or tank fire, so who knows what's out there.
No Germans are visible to you right now.
Since you're in motion, you don't have many reports coming in (can't really take them all until your HQ plops down somewhere). But no news is good news you suppose. Up ahead you hear the sounds of heavy artillery fire (around Huttes). Some German planes were apparently working the area as well. You are currently in hex 16.19.
Your arty FO in hex 26.15 squakked a brief message about being attacked by German infantry and is currently off the air.
Things go more or less according to plan! Your 3rd co. held out for 20 minutes, at which point about 1-2 companies of French tanks began pounding the town. Your 3rd co. then withdrew across the road to the east woods, suffering some casualties but making it in good form. The 3rd co. commander was able to call in effective arty missions to cover their withdrawl, even though no specific arty FOs were available. 3rd co. then linked up with the mortars and began moving towards point 235, which you know because advance scouts met your HQ (now very close to pt. 235). Considering the overwhelming odds against them, 3rd co. did a great job.
The Stu.Pio. didn't seem to be so lucky. Some of them were caught out in the open. Elements are fleeing to the north through your 3rd co.
In and around Stonne, you were able to make the adjustments you requested. Some french tanks appeared at long range in hex 28.18. You took them under fire with your AT gun and IG in 37.14, and the French tanks withdrew.
Your StG III scouts found nothing, but then again, scouting woods from a tank is not the best method.
Your reserve sheet implemented, so the troops are moving out as ordered. You estimate that your men moving north should be in position in about an hour from now. I am assuming that they have Hasty Defense instructions?
Nothing else to report. Your staff forwarded a copy of your operation to your commander to keep him informed. This is particularly important since you are crossing into the area assigned to Kampfgruppe Lange. I suggest you coordinate closely with them to avoid any unfortunate incidents...
Reports for Lange indicate that 4-II-8 is skirmishing with French tanks.
I/GD reports the withdrawl of 3rd co. form Huttes (in good order).
II/GD is moving elements to defensive positions in the southern edge of the Bois de Raucourt facing Stonne from the north.
You have been allocated more artillery. I/GD was granted a number of missions to cover their withdrawl from Huttes.
The last 40 minutes were hell for you personally, as you were trying to keep your unit together while withdrawing under heavy pressure. Most of the 3rd co. made it across the open area of the road (through point 222) and are hopefully heading to the assembly point. Your HQ was overrun numerous times by French tanks, and you lost some of your best staff. You yourself were slightly wounded, but able to keep your small group (those who can still move) together.
Just at the end of the turn you meet the rest of your 3rd co, and they are indeed heading for the assembly point. Your HQ is a shell of its former self, but at least you are still alive! You were helped greatly in your withdrawl by I/GD, who put up a good fight, called in some arty, and withdrew from Huttes in good order.
Still no word from your other companies. It will probably take some time to sort things out.
Your tanks near 20.29 encountered French infantry moving north. You fired on the infantry, pinning them down, and then withdrew across the open area to regroup with your main body. Your Pz I tried to use the road, and then brewed up while crossing the stream around 19.19. Apparently someone saw him! Your other tanks decided not to use the road and crossed the open area directly towards your main body. Though sweating profusely, they were not taken under fire.
French tanks seem to be operating in the area around 17.33 (say 4-5 hex radius). Some of your tanks fired and apparently 2 French tanks were knocked out. No return fire. Your Pz I scout reported French tanks on its position and then ceased transmitting, so you assume it lost.
A French tank was spotted in 25.28 and was knocked out.
BTW your heavier tanks did pull back as per your instructions.
Currently you don't see any tanks, but you know they're out there :-)
Good news: 6-II-8 is just south of Raminoise in position and is ready to go (i.e. they have an implemented reserve Op Sheet). I assigned a player to handle 6-II-8. I'll come up with a name soon...
[Pedro has just taken command of this new unit...]
Congratulations, you have a new command! Tanks this time. You
are company commander of the 6-II-8. They have just moved onto
the map, and are located around hex 33.30. They have just implemented
a Reserve Op Sheet, and are based in the location they were ordered
to by Lange, who is commanding both II-8 and the local battlegroup.
I will inform Lange of your arrival, and suggest you contact him yourself for instructions.
Hopefully the wait wasn't too long :-)