You spend the time waiting around. You're in the small woods pretty much west of Stonne around 1 km out. You observe numerous French tanks attacking Stonne from the south, moving up to the edge of the town and keeping it under heavy fire. Great clouds of smoke billow up from the vallery north of Stonne. Artillery seems to be exploding everywhere around the village (or what's left of it). No one else from your unit shows up.
Cursing Flavigny under your breath, you set your troops into motion towards the south. Suspecting possible German advances, you proceed cautiously (i.e. flipping to combat mode after moving). You make it to 35.21 in column along the road without encountering anyone. Hmmm, maybe the way is clear?
Flavingy shows up at your unit, urging you to press the attack now as planned. He seems nervous and insistant. No big deal, since you were planning on moving anyway.
At 1700 your spotter calls down some smoke, and off you go. Your lead tank is knocked out by AT guns hidden somewhere to the east/north east. You call in some more smoke to block any LOS from the east and continue to the foot of the hill. From there, with all the smoke, fighting and confusion, you don't know what happens! You're with your HQ back in the woods and you'll have to wait until your units can set up a radio and get word back to you. Right now they appear to be ... distracted :-)
Report missing
Flavigny: just when you decide to let B-Bossu's crew have 20 minutes leeway, B-Bossu returns from inspection and orders an immediate attack. He actually had changed his mind, not wanting to delay the attack after all.
Smoke fire comes in as planned and off goes the battalion, supported by lots of tanks. You wish them luck as they move out.
From signals, etc. it seems that the 1700 attack was launched on schedule. No reports yet.
with the tanks, since they have no radios or intercoms or anything. However, your troops pull back to the line you indicated, 41.14 to 44.13 more or less, and you signal the tanks to stay with you, which after some hesitation they do. Perhaps because they are afraid to push on without infantry protection?
After setting up in hasty firing positions, your line is hit by the Germans (left flank by tanks, center and right by infantry). Numerous French and German tanks are knocked out on the left, and on the center you keep up fierce fire and stop the German assault cold. Since you're back in the woods, artillery cannot be employed by either side.
The line seems to be holding well. The only concern is that dangling right flank. You are under the impression that Mattaus has some tanks out there, but you're not sure.
You're 3rd company enters local reserve, and it's in pretty sorry shape, having suffered about 2/3 casualties. Not many effectives are left. They have been in some very heavy fighting.
You get the company commanders together briefly and explain to them the new plan. They understset out ot execute it. 3rd co. continues the flanking movement, but sends a runner back explaining that they came under heavy artillery fire as well as direct fire howitzer and were pinned down in about 36.08 for half an hours. As the rest of your troops maneuver around the hill, numerous German planes strike your column, inflicting casualties and causing lots of confusion.
A large body of French troops are on your right flank, assaulting up the hill to Stonne. They come under heavy bombardment and were stalled for about 1/2 an hour too, losing a few tanks and taking lots of casualties. However, constant fire uphill to the ridge before Stonne seems to have cleared out most of the defenders, and it appears that the attack will be able to continue.
The HW company his moving slowly (around 33.07 now). The mortars have not displaced, because they are in range of any possible targets and have already been supporting the attack with their fire.
Your troops are pretty much lined up behind the lead platoon in 36.08.
With a loud shout, your 3rd battalion surges forward to the attack. Not exactly along the lines you had intended, but generally uphill, and that's good :-) As your front line began their ascent of the hill, they were met with a terrific artillery barrage which stopped the attack dead in its tracks. Casualties were numerous, and a few supporting tanks brewed up before your eyes. Geez infantry hate artillery!
As for direct German resistance, a few guns up on the crest engage your infantry, and after 1/2 hour of exchanging fire, the assorted tanks and weapons of your unit are able to silence them. If the arty fire would let up, you could probably make it up to the top of the hill.
A French bn. is maneuvering on the west slope of Stonne trying to find an angle to attack too, so you'll have to be careful not to get intermingled.
The 42nd engaged a 150mm gun in Stonne and eventually knocked it out. Since there was not any more AT fire, the tanks closed up to 100m away from the town. Defending German infantry seem to have melted back into the town, and you are not receiving any fire. It looks like you'll have to root them out in street fighting now! You pretty much surround the town from the west and south now.
Radio reports are bleak. French forces have closed up to the edge of Stonne (mainly tanks to the south, combined forces to the north). 1700 was apparently the kick-off for an all-out French effort. The fighting is fierce, but your troops are apparently out-numbered and reinforcements slow to arrive. French infantry has begun entering Stonne and the fighting is house-to-house. The town is apparently completely surrounded by the French.
At least in your little spot in the woods things are relatively peaceful. Though you would of course rather be with the bulk of your battalion!
You contact your company commanders and inquire whether they are prepared to attack. They reply definitely NOT. They have been weakened, and numerous French tanks and heavy guns are operating out there. They feel that merely holding will be a heroic task. You decide to hold instead of moving to a counterattack.
The French forces you were engaged with pulled back out of contact. However, a new French attack seems to be developing from the North, as the valley north of Stonne was covered with smoke and you could catch glimpses of French tanks and infantry advancing though the smoke cover. New French units appear in 40.11 and engage you. French infantry in 36.14 on your other flank is also in contact with you and fighting.
Your two halves are no longer physically cut, though movement back and forth is hazardous.
Troops from I/GD in Stonne report that they do not think they can hold longer than 1 more hour tops. Their commander told them to report to you, as he was cut off from his unit and is apparently somewhere north of Stonne and isolated.
No report
You wait impatiently for 2/69 and the armorer recon group, but they still have not shown up yet, and you were unsuccessful in raising them on the radio. Ugh.
4-II-8, showing their true training, enters reserve, then implements the next orders and heads to the attack! They are now at 39.27 or thereabouts. You should give them some more definite guidelines for their attack (boundaries, etc.) No contact with any Froggies at this point.
Lehr limbers up and waits for orders.
The outpost of guns reports heavy smoke concentrations in the valley to the north of Stonne. A French tank was picked off on the way from the woods (not 300m west from you!) to Stonne. More smoke came in and cut off your observation of the area. It seems to be a very heavy attack.
Intelligence from IRGD reports that 42 BCC and 16 BCP are operating in the vicininty of Stonne.
You continue pushing south, and meet more French tanks. They knock out two of your big tanks, but you get two of them in return. You have 7 functioning tanks left in 41.15 and 41.15. You would much rather be fighting in the open than in these cursed woods!
As the French recede before you, your troops sense victory and press forward. However, 2nd co. moves about 100m into the woods and is met by a wall of French fire: tanks, MGs, mortars, the works. 2nd co. is pinned and tries to return fire, but they are taking heavy casualties and may not survive long as a viable unit if they do not withdraw. The main problem they have is the heavy French tanks. AT guns are being sent up to support them. The approximate location of 2nd co. is 43.15.
The recon platoon leads in a flanking move, and is opposed by a French tank which covers the whole open area to the east of the woods. AT guns are being hurried to the area to deal with the tank and allow your platoon and flanking company to continue with their envelopment.
Artillery support is impossible here, because the woods are too heavy. At least your mortars are coming in handy.