Your men, tensed for the attack at last, lunge forth from their covered hiding places and advance on Stonne. As they select fighting positions 500m from Stonne, they observe that Stonne has been liberated! French tanks own the place, and French infantry are moving in to assume the defense. Your help was not needed!
So now what? Your Op Sheet is fulfilled, so you are now without orders. You may choose a center hex w/i 5 hexes of 29.13 which will serve as your area until you get a new Op Sheet. You need to inform Flavigny of your situation and request new orders. Until then, you may maneuver your units w/i 5 hexes of your center hex as you wish (but remember, you cannot SFA).
Your units make it to the perimeter that you wished. In 35.18 you station 3 tanks and some infantry, with further strong points along the perimeter.
And then you curse the lack of communication from other French units, and German AT guns in 37.18 ambush you and knock out 3 tanks! Why did those tanks get so close to the clearing! Argh! Then German arty pins down your infantry there. *sigh* They return some fire, but the loss of the 3 tanks will hurt.
Your men suspect that there is German armor operating just to the east of your positions as well.
If you receive a major assault, you are going to be hard pressed to survive. Your tanks are the only thing that will keep you going right now. How do you wish to distribute them?
There is a LOT of smoke in the valley between your positions and Stonne (around 37.16). You're not sure who is putting it there or why.
Your dispositions:
31.22: 1-3 + 3 tanks
33.21: 3-3 + 3 tanks
35.20: 1 pl/2 + 1 MG + 3 tanks
35.18: 2 pl/2
It looks like French forces control the ridge just to the north of Stonne.
Flavigny is right near your HQ in 31.20. B-Bossu was there 1/2 an hour ago, but left to join the 1/67 in the attack on Stonne.
Success! Stonne has been liberated! Your men played a part, though French tanks attacking from the south did the main work. Your Op Sheet is still valid, though, because there is fierce German resistance just to the east of Stonne, and your units are engaged with them (around hex 37.13 and east).
How do you wish to influence the battle? You really don't know much about what's going on up front, except that there are German tanks involved.
If you succeed in removing the Germans, you will be without orders. You should notify Flavigny of what's up so he can give you new orders.
The Germans fired a lot of smoke into the valley (around 37.16). You wonder why...
Nothing happens to you. Your men enjoy the rest they get. You hear sounds of battle from Stonne still, but they are faint. The sun is shining; it's a nice day.
Exciting, eh? :-)
First, for Mattaus. 1/49 tanks continue to assist the 2/67 in defending the woods. The German infantry attack from the north was thrown back, but German tanks continue to assault the left flank, and are making some progress. You have only one tank defending that flank.
The command goes out to the 2 tanks to shift positions, but you haven't heard from them yet.
2/49 reports moving up to assist in the assault on STonne. You aren't sure where they are.
Now for Flavigny:
Stonne has fallen! 42 BCC reports that they have capture Stonne and eliminated all German resistance. B-Bossu from 1/67 reports the same thing, as his infantry fought their way to the northern edge of Stonne. There is still German resistance to the east of Stonne, but these forces are being squeezed by 1/67 from the west and 2/3 67 from the south and east. Hopefully French forces will be able to eliminate them.
The action is still pretty furious. Under pressure from German tanks, 2nd co. fell back some (vacated hex 41.14). The German infantry attack was thrown back completely around 43.15, and there are now no longer any Germans there. German tanks have advanced to 41.14, and 1 tank stacked with you in 41.13 has engaged them, knocking one out.
3rd company moved to protect the flank, and not a moment too soon! 2 minutes after establishing a position centered on 44.11, German infantry moved to engage from the east. They were stopped, but you are now engaged with them, and your morale is pretty shakey.
3/67, your sister battalion, is operating just to your south and is assaulting Stonne. You are in contact with them at 40.12.
No new French tanks arrive. I wonder what happened to them...
Your company commanders got the message loud and clear, and stopped their flanking movement and turned directly (uphill) to Stonne. When they got there, it turns out that French tanks had already cleared the town! 1st and 2nd companies are just outside Stonne to the south, while the remnants of 3rd co. have finally got some relief from the intensive artillery bombardment and are regrouping around 39.08. The HW are getting themselves organized to move into Stonne and set up a defense according to orders. (They have not yet implemented their Op Sheet.)
Since 1 and 2 companies have fulfilled their Op Sheet (i.e. Stonne has been cleared) they are now without orders. You may give them an assembly point anywhere within 5 hexes of 33.10, where they will now hang out until the end of the game probably, since the chances of them implementing a new op sheet are slight.
Your job: Notify Flavigny of your situation and request new op sheets (he writes all the op sheets)
3rd co. may continue its attack to Stonne, since there may still (well, OK, there ARE) German units still in the way.
You suffered more straffing. Morale is somewhat shakey.
Let me know if you have any questions on all this!
The German arty bombardment stayed strong for most of the turn, pinning down a large part of your battalion and causing more casualties. Some elements of 2nd and 3rd cos. moved a bit north to avoid the bombardment, and met German forces around 38.12 and 39.13. You are engaged in a firefight with them. You have units in 38.11, 39.12, 40.12 and south. There is a German tank in 37.11 which is holding up your advance as well.
On a more exciting note, your HQ is under attack! Your HQ is stacked with 2 AT guns for protection and the arty observer in 43.09. German infantry is assaulting you from the EAST (44.08, 44.09). In addition, your mortar unit in Candrieres reports being under attack from a German scout car, shooting at the mortars from 50.07. It asks for instructions (and has trucks available to it).
42 BCC
Success! Stonne has been recaptured! Your 2nd co. tanks liberated Stonne at about 1800, meeting with some elements of French infantry attacking from the North. Stonne is free of Germans.
Your 2nd co. is now without orders, since they have successfully completed their Op Sheet. You need to request new orders from Flavingy (who does all the op sheets). You may pick a hex w/i 5 hexes of 34.11 to use as your center hex for your time without orders.
1st co, with 6 tanks, is still supporting the infantry attack to Stonne, and since there are still Germans yet, they are still on their Op Sheet.
You lose radio contact with your troops in Stonne amid the sounds of battle. You can only assume the worst.
Since you have exactly 1 platoon under your control now, how would you like to pick up the reinforcing II/67? It just arrived. Confirm whether you would like to swap commands (I'll run the remnants of I/GD for you) and try your hand in the final counterattack to retake Stonne! They have Op Sheets already.
Things are REALLY tough. You don't have much room to move 5th co, since you are under constant fire and pretty much pinned down. I/GD sends a desperate message from Stonne saying that they have been overrun with tanks and are trying to break out in small groups. Resistance has pretty much ceased there. A few tanks from IV GD are pretty much keeping between you and Stonne.
6-II-8 has made some progress, moving to 41.14. 6/II is in 40.14/39.14, 5/II is in 38.12/39.13. French units are in contact with 5/II, but not 6/II currently. Arty smoke was fired into 37.16 to cover the advance of 4 AT guns from Lehr-AT, which are now in 38.14.
Your battalion is pretty much fought-out. Morale has plummeted. It's all you can do to keep your platoons from dissolving. Your two remaining company commanders want to withdraw immediately because the pressure is so high.
From monitering radio traffic, you ascertain that Stonne has fallen. The remaining I/GD troops are trying to exfiltrate in small groups.
I/69 and 6-II-8 counterattacks have met heavy opposition.
II/69 and Auf. 90 have deploying on the battlefield and are available for counterattack. Lange is controlling them.
Luftwaffe has been helpful, but not enough.
It's going to be very difficult to take Stonne back in the face of so much French force.
But hey, you got elected! :-)
4-II-8 continues maneuving to attack. Trying out the road from 235, the lead tank was fired on and knocked out by French tanks occupying positions there. The column then skirted this spot by 250m and is now in 37.19/37.20. 4 AT guns from Lehr are ahead in 37.18.
Lehr called for some smoke (Lehr actually doesn't have a spotter, but another spotter from II/GD was able to call the mission) on 37.16 and send 4 AT guns toward Stonne. You haven't heard from them yet, so you don't know what happened. The 4 guns in 37.18 saw French tanks and infantry take up positions in 35.18. You took them under fire and destroyed at least 3 French tanks, losing a number of trucks in return fire. You were able to get artillery fire called on the position too to suppress the French infantry there. The main body of Lehr waits around 39.22, ready to move out. 4 guns just rejoined the group after being separated for several hours. They were up at the far north when attacked to the east of Raminoise, and had their transport destroyed. They needed to proceed cautiously because they were under constant attack. 16 guns thus remain in reserve, not counting the 8 near Stonne (4 emplaced, 4 having advanced).
Aufklaerung 90 reports that they are in the area. The main body has linked up with I/67 near 47.15, and scouting elements are near candrieres and La Besace, awaiting more accurate instructions. I think I have a player lined up for this unit. They are on the attack (2nd) Op Sheet. This unit does not have an artillery spotter, so calling arty will be difficult.
II/67 has sent an advance motorcycle company ahead on the attack Op Sheet, which has joined I/67 at the command post. The main body is following. Their attack Op Sheet is implemented. The defense op sheet is accumulating weighted turns. I should have a player lined up for this unit as well. The main body is near Raymoy.
Against stiff opposition, you renew your attack. First you push back some infantry, then advance to 41.14, where you lose another tank to a French tank in 41.13 (which has infantry support). If you get initiative next turn, you should be able to take it out...
You have 6 tanks left. How would you like to transfer 6-II-8 to the command of II/GD, and take over the 90 Aufklaerung? That unit has just arrived and needs a commander. Let me know if that interests you or not.
3rd Co. sets out on continuing its flanking maneuver. You know that they received the smoke cover they requested, but you are now out of touch with them, so you don't know how they are faring.
The remnants of 2nd co. pull out and begin to circle around the flank, looking to join up with 3rd co.
1st co. lines up around 42.16 - 45.15. The commanders commandeer a few of the AT guns to beef up the line, since fear of the French tanks is running high.
Morale is pretty bad for the whole battalion. It's been a hard fight.
Right at 1800, elements of 90 Aufklaerung arrive at your position and open communications. They are around 47.15. Looks like a bunch of armored cars, though they say they have a company of infantry on the way too. Their orders are to attack down the main road through to Stonne. You'll need to talk to coordinate, since the possibility of intermingling is high without proper coordination.
No sign of French tanks in your rear area (mortar are in 45.22). Your HQ in 46.22 hears lots of motorcycles and trucks heading west on the Road from Raymoy.
Here's the implemented Op Sheet:
Type Attack
Size: 0
Time 1520 (1540)
Units: II/69 and attached Inf gun Co.
Prelim instructions: move to vic. 41.23 as described on Opsheet 1.
Orders: Rendezvous with Lehr AT at around 39.21. Attack together along Lehr's route of advance: cross the clearing using smoke to the woods to the South; then up the hillside and into Stonne.
Failure instructions: Retreat into Bois de Raucourt, NE of rendezvous point. (If prelim instructions fail, follow Failure instructions of Opsheet 1).
End of opsheets
AS an extra confusing note, it looks like this Op Sheet was intended to be an add-on to Panzer Lehr AT guns. I'll let you know, but it looks like you're going to take command of Lehr AT too.
This message came to you enroute:
-----
From: OTL Katzeborn, I/69
To: Mortars I/69, II/69, KG Lange
By: Wireless
At: 1720
I've ordered my troops off the road. My mortars are SW of pt 250,
please look after them if needed. Situation (Lange, correct me if
wrong): remnants of I/GD are getting pushed out of Stonne. What's
left of II/GD is in the W part of the woods E of it under combined
arms attack. 6/II/8 attacked S into these woods and pushed through to
41.15. I'm to his left but just ran into a solid wall of infantry,
MG, mortars, B1-bis. I'm going around E with smoke. I have two
companies on attack into Stonne and one company plus MGs on defence
once we have it. If you told me what you're up to and if you are to
operate on Stonne then maybe we can try to co-ordinate.
Message ends.
-----
Your unit moved on the map last turn. Your main column is just west of Raymoy, with your motorcycle troops and IGs out in front.
Lange would like to hear from you I'm sure!
I can give you a more exact deployment when I get home.
Let me know if you need more time for moves, since I was so late in getting this to you. I plead distractions :-)