Section Leaders:
Fionn Kelly & Madmatt

Riesberg

German – Riesberg
Turn 12

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ORDERS FOR TWELFTH MINUTE

  Bahr’s platoon, obviously, is to continue its movement. They must reach positions along the road before the newly arrived Americans march forward.

Machen’s mortar is to fire on the US infantry in the building closest to Thieser’s machine gun team, and Thieser himself is to move forward so that he can observe the US infantry firing on Bahr.

Beerbauer must not be distracted by the enemy infantry. He has to watch out for those tanks parked in the forward part of town to move forward, and take a shot if he can.

Meister’s platoon is to split its fire; two squads are to fire on targets to support Thieser, while the third squad, with the platoons LMG42, is to fire at the US infantry rushing Schafer. Eymer’s machine gun is to join in as soon as he can recover his composure.

Schafer’s HQ section and Hermanns’ Panzerschreck are to move into the center of the wooded patch, hopefully getting out of the fire of the US infantry. Hermanns is to move slightly closer to the opposite corner, hopefully being in a position to shoot at the enemy tank that is only a few dozen meters away. Schafer’s second squad is to move up in support of the first, which is being fired on by the US infantry. The third squad is to remain in position, and try to hit the US infantry to the left as they close in on Schafer’s position. Hopefully the thick woods will reduce the firepower that the enemy tank can bring to bear, and allow Hermanns to get a good first shot.

ACTION IN TWELFTH MINUTE

  After firing another few shells at the US infantry that are targeting Bahr, Beerbauer’s gun is knocked out by artillery fire, and the crew flees in panic. Bahr’s men STILL are not moving; what the hell is wrong with them? Dietrich makes it all the way across the open stretch to where Bahr is, but the three squads are STILL huddling in the shelter of the wooded patches!! Worse, Machen’s and Thieser’s fire doesn’t seem to have much effect on the US infantry. Worst of ALL, the American infantry I saw on the road last minute are almost on top of Bahr. If his men don’t get themselves moving SOON Bahr will be killed right at the start of next turn.

 
“Bahr’s men are STILL not moving to join their leader.”

  One of Meister’s two forward squads fires on an enemy infantry unit that is firing on Bahr. The heavy SMG squad fires on the veteran US troops attacking Schafer, but are themselves shelled by the tanks, and crawl into the church. I will have to get them out of the building as soon as I am able; staying will give the Americans an opportunity to collapse the church on them.

Eymer is firing effectively again, and causes some casualties to the enemy to Schafer’s front. These Americans haven’t moved much recently; I’m hoping they simply cannot move at all. They have suffered heavily, but as they appear to be veteran troops they may still be able to charge Schafer, backed by the two tanks forward.

The US infantry circling behind Schafer appear to be mainly green troops. Two of Schafer’s squads, plus the squad left from Lamp’s platoon hit the first squad to show itself. This squad loses two-thirds of its strength and looks to be panicking. Then, as ordered, one of Schafer’s squads moves to the other side of the wooded patch to support the squad already in action to the front. This unit of green troops has lost half its original strength, but continues to exchange fire with the veteran US troops. Unfortunately, the American commander is bringing more and more support weapons into positions from which they can fire on Schafer’s location. By the end of the minute I believe that two machine guns and two mortars are to the town’s front, and there’s nothing I can do about them. It may be time to pull Schafer farther into the woods; I don’t think the US infantry is strong enough to follow.

Then, at the very end of the minute, my spirits are lifted immeasurably when Hermanns, moving into position at the edge of the woods opposite his location when he killed his first tank, sees another Sherman tank crunching through the trees to the left. The Sherman sees Hermanns at the same time, and a race develops to fire the first shot. Hermanns wins the race and, to my great joy, hits and destroys this tank as well! With the loss of this strong, mobile firepower, I think Schafer will be able to pull back from the town in good order; the US infantry behind him, being only mediocre and already badly hurt, shouldn’t pose a threat.

 
“Hermanns kills a second tank!”

  With two tanks destroyed and his infantry clearly wearing down, I don’t think the Americans are strong enough simply to push me the rest of the way out of town. What’s more, I think the American commander knows it.

I’ve had a run of extremely good fortune, but I know that good fortune usually lasts until just after the person possessing it believes it will always be there. It’s time to look for an end to this battle.