>>820115
(2/2)

"They're just passing 1000 yards Major and Captain O'Leery's requesting instructions for the artillery support you requested." Her proper language clashes almost farcically with the cockney accent which colours it, but you manage to stifle a grin and just nod austerely instead.

"Understood Lieutenant, alright lads, get everything stowed for combat, button down hatches now, lively like." You readjust your headset so it sits more comfortably before raising the handset to transmit. You can hear O'Leery talking to your HQ Troop's Cromwell CS's now, talking them onto rough target and telling them how they can time their shots to effectively support the 25-pounder barrage, you've got a few seconds before he finishes to consider how you'll approach the opening salvos of the ambush.

> Don't focus overly on any one element, spread your fire amongst them all.
> Focus on the Tigers first, use the artillery to cut off their escape to the East, while the Cromwells suppress or immobilise them with HE and the Fireflies disable them.
> Focus on the infantry, drop the artillery in the fields to either side of the enemy column while the Fireflies keep the Tigers suppressed or unable to return fire and the Cromwells saturate the area with HE.
> Focus on the light vehicles and towed AT-gun, using artillery to isolate their retreat and then targeting them with the tanks.

>>820118
>> Focus on the light vehicles and towed AT-gun, using artillery to isolate their retreat and then targeting them with the tanks.

>>820118
Forgot the
> Other
again.

>>820118
> Focus on the light vehicles and towed AT-gun, using artillery to isolate their retreat and then targeting them with the tanks.

>>820118
>> Focus on the infantry, drop the artillery in the fields to either side of the enemy column while the Fireflies keep the Tigers suppressed or unable to return fire and the Cromwells saturate the area with HE.

> Focus on the light vehicles and towed AT-gun, using artillery to isolate their retreat and then targeting them with the tanks.

"Able to Able-1 and 2, we're going to focus on those half-tracks and armoured cars first, they might not be the most immediate threat to us but they'll get away if we don't hit them first. Captain O'Leery, I need you to drop the artillery just to the South and East of their column, stop them from running for cover. Cromwells load HE and aim for those half-tracks, the Fireflies will be the only guns to engage the Tigers in the first volley, understood?" A chorus of affirmatives come back, and you take a deep breath before raising the binoculars once more, training them on the column.

You pick out the lead armoured car, an eight wheeled vehicle with a small turret mounting what looks to be a 50mm cannon. It's much larger than the armoured cars used by British units, and actually looks quite ungainly for a reconnaissance vehicle, though you suppose the armament might make up for some of that deficiency. You key your transmitter, calling your target, "This is Able, we're targeting the lead armoured car." then switch back to intercom, "Dick, you see it? That one's ours. Lieutenant, load an AP round but get a HE ready for the follow-up."

"Aye, sir." Lieutenant Cooper says, rummaging into the ready rack to remove an AP round before shoving it into the breach and producing an HE round. Sergeant Devine just grunts an affirmative and the turret whirs a little to the left, then right, then begins slowly tracking the armoured car, the gun elevating slowly as he ranges in. The radio crackles as other members of the ambush force call their own targets, Captain Welchley targeting another of the armoured cars while the Fireflies target the Westernmost Tigers.

"Major, gunfire is ready on your order, got a full battery of Sextons and your HQ Troop ready to stonk the Krauts, just say the word." O'Leery's says over the radio.

"Thank you Captain, wait for my mark, all tanks, wait 10 from mark before engaging so the stonk lands at the same time." You breath in and out slowly, watching as the Germans draw closer at a seeming snails pace. The rumbling booms of combat continue to echo from the direction of Villers, more tank guns now audible, though you can't tell at this range whose. After a few seconds of rummaging through your tanker suit's pockets you find and produce your stopwatch, hovering your hand over the start button. Finally, the Germans cross the agreed upon landmark, a single fence post left standing in one of the fields at about 900 yards. "Mark."

(1/2)

>>820466
(2/2)

You trigger the stop watch and it begins ticking. For the first 7 seconds there's nothing, you can't pick out your 25-pounder support from the ambient gunfire, but you hear the shells pass over head with with a low whine, joined then by the far more nearby thumps of your HQ Troop's 95mms firing and their shells rocketing over your heads at a much lower altitude. Then the stopwatch hits 10 and you yell into the radio "All tanks FIRE!"

The world simply seems to explode, all at once ten tank guns crammed into a small section of woodland open fire, both with cannon and MGs and simultaneously the Artillery crashes down amongst the rear elements of the German force, creating a cacophony of noise you'd not felt since the height of the desert war. One of the first artillery shells strikes the rearmost half-track dead on and blows it open in a spectacular fireball, sending scraps of metal and men flying into the sky. Your own cannon recoils in time with the rest and you stare intently through your binoculars to follow it, still sitting up out of the hatch for now. It arcs through the air between you and your target almost lazily, before striking the armoured car squarely in the back of its hull, just about the wheels, tearing away the last two and slewing the vehicle around as if it was kicked by a great boot. You don't bother to check if anyone bails, already moving on, looking for the next target. The Tigers are already responding, one turning its hull towards the incoming fire while another drives forwards, trying to reach the cover of the nearby treeline, of the other two, one is a raging fireball, a clean hole in the centre of the tank under its turret evidence of its demise at the hands of one of the Firefly tanks, while another sits immobile, its turret slowly turning to face its assailants but a penetration straight through the side of the forward hull compartment indicating its driver and radio operator as incapacitated. The infantry dive and scurry for cover in the fields, having suffered relatively light casualties but unable to attack or flee. The light vehicles however have been nearly obliterated, of the 5 half-tracks, 4 already are burning wrecks, and the truck and its AT-Gun detonate a moment later in spectacular detonation as an HE round finds their ammunition. The armoured cars fared slightly better, one being disabled by you and another by Captain Welchley while another was immobilised and the last is the only vehicle to return fire, though its fire falls well short.

"Up!" Yells Cooper, shoving the HE round into the breech.

"That's a hit, damn good shot Dick, next aim for..."

> The Tigers, you can immobilise the fleeing one at least.
> The Armoured Cars, you'd like to elminate them before their fire becomes more accurate.
> The Infantry, might as well mop them up before they can escape.
> Other

>>820474
>> The Armoured Cars, you'd like to elminate them before their fire becomes more accurate.

>>820474
> The Armoured Cars, you'd like to elminate them before their fire becomes more accurate.

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> The Armoured Cars, you'd like to eliminate them before their fire becomes more accurate.

"... that armoured car, just right of the last one, bastards firing back at us! About 8 degrees right and drop 30 yards." You say, talking him onto the new target and the turret whirs beneath you as he seeks the armoured car, finding it just as the German vehicle begins reversing, seeking cover behind one of the burnt out half-tracks. It's not fast enough though, and the 75 thunders again, this time the HE shell catching the armoured car directly below its turret and tearing it open like a tin can. You point out the last armoured car to Devine where it's immobilized, listing severely to one side thanks to a shell having shredded its near side wheels, it bravely returns fire in the face of your fusillade, once he finds it you take a moment to focus on your headset as the net continues to abound with chatter. You listen for any requests after you:

"That Tiger's getting away!"

"There goes the last half-track!" The gun recoils again, but this time the shell goes a little high and splashes into the field behind the target, kicking a plume of fire and dirt with its detonation.

"Tiger's firing, incoming!" You snap your gaze back across the column towards the Tigers, the one which turned to face your ambush momentarily shrouded in smoke and dust by its recoil. You don't see or hear its shell land in all the chaos but immediately open the channel.

"Where that Tiger's shell land, anyone hit?" A series of negatives come back before Garnett responds.

"Able, it hit Able-2-3, Corporal Poole's tank." Dammit, one of the women crews from Two Troop, their first combat loss, "Three bails, looks like only the turret crew made it out."

"Understood, Able-1. Fireflies, hit that bastard before he gets another one off!" Fuck, a perfect ambush and they still manage to get one of yours, on the first shot no less! Damn it all.

"Yes, Major, I'll take care of it. Finish the immobilised one if you would Executioner." The normally polite, posh tones of Sergeant Blackburn have taken an icy edge and a moment later the Firefly's gun booms off to your right, it's muzzle flash visible through the trees even in the midday light.

(1/2)

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>>820831
You watch the shell zip out, its tracer clearly visible and strike the offending Tiger just below the mantlet as it begins to roll forward towards a small mound where it could get hull down, stopping it cold, a few moments later the driver's hatch pops and a man pulls himself out before prying open the radio operators hatch. He begins hauling his clearly injured comrade out of the vehicle when Lieutenant Oliver's gun fires again, this time the shell cutting across your vision straight towards the now disabled Tiger. A moment later the two men of the front of the hull disappear in a flash as the HE shell splashes against the vehicle. You lower your binoculars and return your attention to the disabled armoured car, still miraculously intact as shells zip past or splash around it.

"Drop 5 and try again Dick. Load HE." You say.

"Up!" The gun booms a moment later, and this time finds its mark, turning the car to scrap. Below you, Trooper Cartwright finally finds his range with the MG and begins stitching the German infantry positions with long range fire. It's hard to see how effective it is but there are almost no infantry moving in the fields anymore, they're either pinned or dead.

"Able, gunfire complete, any further requests?" O'Leery voice warbles over the radio through a sudden burst of static.

> "Yes, Repeat, I say again Repeat."
> "Yes, drop it on them again but this time walk it in over the whole column slowly."
> "Yes, target those Tigers directly, we've got to keep that last moving one from getting away!"
> "No, we'll mop up the rest just fine."
> Other

>>820843
> "Yes, target those Tigers directly, we've got to keep that last moving one from getting away!"

>>820843
>> "Yes, target those Tigers directly, we've got to keep that last moving one from getting away!"

> "Yes, target those Tigers directly, we've got to keep that last moving one from getting away!"

"Tell them to pound those bloody Tigers!"

"Aye, Major, on it. Wait one."

"Alright, in the meantime, keep those Tigers pinned, load HE, keep 'em reeling until the arty lads can wallop the wankers." You switch to intercom, "Think you can track that runner Dick?"

"Maybe, only one way to find out." He replies, spinning the turret again to track the fleeing Tiger, now just a short distance from escaping into the trees.

"Fire when ready." The gun thumps, echoed by a few of the other Cromwells also aiming for the now fleeing Tigers. Your shot flies too far ahead and detonates harmlessly, but one from another tank strikes it in the side and the Tiger halts for a moment, stalling from the impact. It starts rolling again a moment later, just as O'Leery comes back on the net.

"Incoming, watch for fall of shot." The 95s land first this time, both splashing long on their first shots, before the 25-pounders hit a few moments later. One strikes the side of the immobilised Tiger, rocking it but causing only superficial damage, while another lands just short of the other, blowing a couple of its road wheels of and shredding the tracks. Once O'Leery confirms the shells on target, the deluge increases in intensity, and the 95s from your HQ Troop are ranged in over the next couple shots until the two remaining Tigers are almost permanently shrouded in fire and dust from the falling shells.

"All tanks, hold fire, Fireflies line up your shots and wait for the shelling to end, then pick them off." The next couple minutes pass in silence, as your crews wait with baited breath for the artillery to subside. When it does, one of the Tigers is basically a write-off, its turret dented and its gun mangled at a strange angle by a direct hit, its crew disembark and begin fleeing across the field back the way they came. The other, which was disabled in the opening volleys remains mostly intact, until Blackburn's Firefly booms again and this time its shot finds centre mass, detonating the Tiger's ammunition and hurling its turret skyward. Then silence reigns.

(1/2)

>>821199
"Alright, anyone see anything else?" You ask over the radio, waiting a few moments for any responses.

"Some of the infantry are falling back, not enough to be bothered with really." Garnett replies.

"Okay, in that case, Regiment, Able needs an ammunition resupply up to Le Mesnil." You say, checking around you for any signs of damage on your or nearby tanks.

"Affirmative, damn fine work Able," Lt-Col Holliman's voice is as businesslike as ever, but you can't help but feel a bit of pride swell in your chest. "What about casualties, do you require medical?" Oh right, at least one tank was hit.

"Anyone injured, what's the situation with Corporal Poole's crew?" You ask.

"Some minor injuries in Wahed, Kippering caught a wood splinter with his face." Garnett replies, gruff voice containing just a hint of humour.

"Poole's alright, and her turret crew just have some minor scratches and bruises, but the driver and hull gunner were killed instantly. The tank's mostly intact though, didn't burn out." Lieutenant Oliver says, her voice hollow.

"Understood, Lieutenant, there was nothing to be done. Just send up a stretcher bearer or two Regiment, patch up the minor stuff. and our ARV for the damaged tank."

"Copy, they're on the way Able." You lean back into your seat and slump down into the turret, combat adrenaline catching up with you again. Two fights in a day, and it's not even past 1 yet, and you still haven't had a real lunch.

> Pull back to the HQ Troop's position and have some grub and a brew, have the Troops alternate crews so they can all eat and have a little rest.
> Keep the Squadron at the ready, you can't know when more Jerries will come at you.
> Relocate One, Two and Three Troops, they might have to take spots with worse sightlines but the enemy could know where they are now.
> Dig in, get tanks hull down and prepared for a tough fight. Who cares if Jerry knows where you are, lets see him try and dig you out.
> Refuel, resupply and rest up but shuffle Four Troop down towards the Southern end of the ridge too and find out what's happening in the rest of the battlespace. Time to prepare for a counterstroke.
> Other

>>821205
>> Refuel, resupply and rest up but shuffle Four Troop down towards the Southern end of the ridge too and find out what's happening in the rest of the battlespace. Time to prepare for a counterstroke.

>Have some infatry to scout ahead.

>>821205
>> Refuel, resupply and rest up but shuffle Four Troop down towards the Southern end of the ridge too and find out what's happening in the rest of the battlespace. Time to prepare for a counterstroke.

>Have some infatry to scout ahead.

this will work for me as well.

>>821233
Infantry are pretty thin on the ground right now but you could maybe scrounge up a Motor platoon from 1st Rifle Brigade's B Coy (currently in Villers-Tracy with the rest of your Regiment). The problem is you won't be able to communicate with them as the WS No. 38 isn't compatible with your tanks' WS No. 19.

Otherwise you could try to supplement or replace that option with a trio of Stuarts from your Regimental Recce Troop or a trio of Universal Carriers from the B Coy's Recce Platoon.

>>821287
pair of stuarts and some B coy UC's then?

>>821323
Sure, that'd work. Probably be three of each because that's the size of a patrol.

>>821348
fine by me, a three-and-three will do wonders against anything light.

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Sorry for the abrupt stop guys, thought I could get this last post done but I've gotta go for a couple hours now. I'll probably post it later on today when I get back and finish the thing, or we'll see about trying to run tomorrow too and I'll post it as a continuation of this thread. I'll keep you up to date on my twitter, which you can find below.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Danontg
Archive: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Tankies%20Quest

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> Refuel, resupply and rest up but shuffle Four Troop down towards the Southern end of the ridge too and find out what's happening in the rest of the battlespace. Time to prepare for a counterstroke.

Taking a deep breath to steel yourself, you sit back up and raise the transmitter again; no rest for the wicked. "This is Able to all Able troops, incoming orders, wait one." You quickly figure things out in your head, doing some basic math about how long this will take to assemble. "Able-4, head down to the South of the ridge and relieve One and Two Troops for the moment. Able-1 and 2, break for rest and resupply, one Troop first then the other, sort it out amongst yourselves. Able-3, rest half your troop at a time and await resupply. Over." Their affirmatives echo back to you and after a short discussion Two Troop's given the first rest period, pulling back into the safety of the woods to eat and relax.

"Able, this is Regiment, why are you shifting your forces entirely to the South and East of the ridge?" Lt-Col Holliman sounds curious, not distressed.

"Regiment, I believe we've broken the primary German offensive thrust on this side of Villers, and would like to make preperations for at least a limited counter-attack. To that end, I'm requesting a full ammunition resupply and the attachment of some reconnaissance elements and infantry support."

"Understood Able, I was discussing just such a possibility with Brigade, wait out." You try to relax a bit, shifting in your seat while you wait for his reply, listening to the sporadic reports from tanks throughout the Regiment as they watch for signs of German activity. "Able this is Regiment, Brigade approves a Company Strength advance around the South of Villers, apparently 2nd Panzer Division tanks have started arriving from there and are engaging our forces on Route 213. Your objective will be to cut them off or overrun their positions from the rear, understood?"

"Affirmative Regiment, what's the situation on Route 213?"

"Better than it was before, but it's still tenuous at best, get your map out Major and I'll have Captain Crickmay give you the reports." You scrabble around, finding your map of Villers and Route 213 and spreading it out on your lap as well as you can.

"Ready, Regiment."

"Alright Major," This time the voice of Arthur Crickmay, the Regimental Adjutant replies, "here's the situation as it stands."

-
(1/2)

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>>824725
(2/3)
-

You lay down the transmitter and look at your map, now covered in various marks denoting unit locations and key positions as outside, men from the Supply Troops hurry back and forth resupplying tanks with ammunition and fuel, getting your Squadron ready to advance. In short, 4 CLY has managed to reform, most of A Squadron was successfully retreated off of Point 213, though they lost at least six tanks, and the Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Cranley, their CO was captured along with another 3 tanks when they could not evacuate the ridge in time and were overrun by advancing Germans. Much of A Coy, 1st Battalion, The Rifle Brigade was also recovered from along Route 213, and are currently reconstituting in Villers-Bocage in preparation for further operations, though almost all their transport vehicles were lost in the morning ambush. B and C Squadrons, along with C Coy, 1/7th Battalion Queen's Royal Regiment have been engaged from the South-East of the town by several German attacks from combined infantry and Panzer forces belonging to the forward elements of 2nd Panzer Division.

Route 213 however is rapidly becoming the primary focal point of the attack, as the 1/7th A Coy, with elements of A Coy, 1st Rifles and 4 CLY's depleted A Squadron and Recce Troop experienced initial great successes but are now engaged by German forces from the East, North and South. The Northern forces are elements of the Panzer Lehr Division, retreating to help close the gap forced into their lines by 7th Armoured's attack. From the East, the four remaining Tigers of what Brigade now knows to be the 1st Company, 101st SS Heavy Panzer Battalion and what remains of 2nd Panzer's now heavily mauled Reconnaissance Battalion. Finally, from the South elements of the 2nd Panzer proper have begun arriving, Panzergrenadiers and Mark IVs mainly and while the Ad Hoc British force (given the callsign Dyasforce after its initial OC) is holding on, their position is teetering.

(2/3)

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>>824734
(3/3)
You sigh and stand up out of the turret to look around at your assembled tanks and get a breath of fresh air. One of the supply lads gives you a thumbs up and says everything's ready to roll, you give him a nod then check around for your reinforcements. Infantry were thin on the ground, but Regiment can spare you a trio of the Recce Troop's Stuarts as well as two Carrier Patrols of three vehicles from the Motor Company in Tracy. C Squadron in the meantime will take over the ridge, you just have to wait for them to arrive before you can shove off. You check your map again, looking at potential avenues of attack.

> Keep North, staying as close to Villers as possible, you'll be closest to support and friendly forces, but this is also where the German frontlines will be and is unlikely to catch them wholly by surprise. Mostly Bocage and light woodland terrain.
> Straight East, you should circumvent the German frontline positions here, either cutting them off or striking them from the rear as you please. It will mean you'll be at risk of getting cut off yourself though. Woodland terrain of varying density primarily.
> Swing South, this will take slightly longer but you're almost certain to catch any Germans you do encounter completely by surprise, provided you see them first, but any concerted counter-attack stands a very good chance of cutting you off from your avenues of resupply and retreat. Fields and Bocage with some woodland copses.
> Other

>>824751
The carrier patrols are made up of exclusively Bren Gun Carriers I assume?

>>824751
> Straight East, you should circumvent the German frontline positions here, either cutting them off or striking them from the rear as you please. It will mean you'll be at risk of getting cut off yourself though. Woodland terrain of varying density primarily

>>824854
Universal Carriers, the Bren Carrier, Scout Carrier etc were discontinued early in the war and replaced with the versatile Universal chassis which could do basically any of the previous roles. As for armaments yes by default each UC is equipped with a Bren and in a Motor Company's Scout Platoon it carries 4 men (including the driver) each; 3 riflemen and a Bren gunner. The Patrol's lead vehicle also carries a WS No. 38 in addition to its WS No. 19 so it can communicate with both infantry and armoured elements, while the second vehicle usually carries a 2-in light mortar which can be fired from the centre spar on the hull and the third has one of its riflemen carry a PIAT for anti-tank work.

However, modifications were rife with carrier units, especially adding additional MGs and it wasn't uncommon to see everything from additional Brens to .50 cals, Vickers K MGs or especially amongst those operating in Armoured Divisions, MG 34s or 42s as they had access to a steady supply of 7.92 Mauser.

You can't say what exactly the state of these ones will be but the 1st Bat Rifle Brigade's a veteran unit, so they're unlikely to be stock, even after just a couple of weeks in theatre.

>>824751
>> Straight East, you should circumvent the German frontline positions here, either cutting them off or striking them from the rear as you please. It will mean you'll be at risk of getting cut off yourself though. Woodland terrain of varying density primarily.

>>824751
>>824854

Assuming the carrier patrols are exclusively bren gun carriers (I've read about several instances where armored cars were mixed in). I'm going to go for a modified option (b.)-

> Straight East, you should circumvent the German front-line positions here, either cutting them off or striking them from the rear as you please. It will mean you'll be at risk of getting cut off yourself though. Woodland terrain of varying density primarily.

Depending on what we run into initially, we can use the Recce Stuarts and carriers to harass the German rear and probe for any armor, formations so we don't just blunder into a staging area or 88 emplacement with our dicks out.

Provided they DO run into enemy armor, knowing the Germans they're going to swing around and attempt to destroy them as quickly as possible with what forces are on hand. That gives us an opportunity to draw them into an ambush using the Cromwell's.

>>824947
They're only carriers, Armoured/Scout Cars only operated in the same units as carriers in Recce Regiments, which were attached to Infantry Divisions. In Armoured Regiments Carriers were in the Motor Battalion primarily, while the Divisional reconnaissance role was handled by the Armoured Recce Regiment and by Corps level Armoured Car Regiments, which were effectively permanently attached to the Division anyway. In the case of 7th AD that means the 8th and 11th Hussars respectively. Unfortunately they're currently screening the North and retreat route of the division so they can't support you. A shame because the 11th especially were a bunch of crazy badasses.

>>825001
Was the 11th still using Humblers in Normandy? Or had they switched to AEC's.

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>>825072
Neither, the 11th used primarily Daimler Is and Dingos in NW Europe, and indeed had since some way through the Desert Campaign. Humber ACs were used primarily by Recce Regiments, while Daimlers were used by Armoured Car ones for the most part.

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> Straight East, you should circumvent the German frontline positions here, either cutting them off or striking them from the rear as you please. It will mean you'll be at risk of getting cut off yourself though. Woodland terrain of varying density primarily.

There, you should be able to use a stretch of woodland to cut straight East behind the German positions without too much risk of discovery, especially if you make smart use of your recce elements. Speaking of which, you hear the distinctive putter of the Universal Carriers a moment before you spot the six of them rolling through the trees behind you, flanked by a pair of regular Stuart Vs and a Stuart 'Recce' which has had its turret removed and a .50 cal mounted on the turret ring instead, along with a camo net canopy. The Stuart Recce rolls up next to you as the other vehicles trail behind him.

"Lovely day for it Major, wouldn't you say." Says Lieutenant Mark Ingham, commander of the Recce Troop. "Figured I'd come personally, sitting in town all day was a mite boring anywho."

"Whatever you say Mark." You reply with a wry grin, you'd always gotten along with Lieutenant Ingham, but then again just about anyone bar Jerry would get alone with the man, genial as he was.

"Anyway, Sergeants Patrick and Muloon are the leaders of the Carrier Patrols, and we're ready to move on your word, C Squadron's just dragging their blubbery arses up the hill as we speak, with some replacements for your losses too, as well as the Squadron AA section now that it's clear the Luftwaffe's packed it in for the moment. So how would you like to use us Major?"

"We'll be pushing straight East," you say, pointing to your chosen route, "I'm planning to cut straight past the bulk of German defences but it will mean we're at risk of being cut off if you and your lads don't keep a sharp eye out. I think therefore it would be best if we used you for..."

> "Screening our approach broadly, ranging to our fore and both flanks."
> "Pushing ahead of us to reconnoitre the enemy well before we encounter him."
> "Harrassing and raiding enemy positions and reinforcements, to draw Jerry into a trap."
> Other

>>825134
> "Screening our approach broadly, ranging to our fore and both flanks
> "Harrassing and raiding enemy positions and reinforcements, to draw Jerry into a trap."

combo of both?

>>825134
> "Harassing and raiding enemy positions and reinforcements, to draw Jerry into a trap."


Just as long as the can manage not to draw every kraut in a 10 mile radius, this should be a good chance to thin their ranks a bit.

Last thing they're going to be expecting is a bunch of Cromwell's traipsing about behind their lines, and any response by the Germans is going to be hasty an likely disorganized.

>>825134
> the Squadron AA section
This should read "a Regimental AA section"

>>825151
That'd mean either tightening the screen up substantially so that they can effectively group up and harass targets, or leaving them so thin on the ground that their harassment risks being ineffective and being defeated or driven of by those they're attacking. Neither is an impossible choice, but both sacrifice some of the other's advantages.

>>825188
fair, lets go for a broad screen. Just have them radio back every scrap of info they can, we don't want ot get surprised.

Rolled 1 (1d2)

K, rollin' for the tie break
1. Screen your safe space.
2. Call the Germans mean names until they delete their Twitter account.

> "Screening our approach broadly, ranging to our fore and both flanks."

"The most important thing is that we don't blunder into the Germans blindly, we need to keep the initiative here and strike where the Kraut's aren't expecting us, before they know we're there. For that we need to see them first and not be seen ourselves. Think you can handle that Mark?"

"Not a problem Major, I'll start moving now, we'll be down the hill and starting our sweeps by the time C Squadron takes over. We'll report in the moment we find something" He lifts his one of several handsets around his neck, connected to the myriad radios stuffed into the space the Stuart's turret basket used to take up and begins issuing orders to the rest of your recce forces. You give a nod of approval and his Stuart Recce lurches off past you, before breaking the treeline and racing down the hill towards the cover of the woods, his subordinates fanning out behind him, with the Stuarts in the centre while the two Carrier patrols head to either flank. Good, now if C Squadron could just hurry up and get into position you can step off.

"Charlie, this is Able, how far out are you?" You quickly check in over the radio.

"This is Charlie, Charlie-2 just past by your HQ Troop, Able, we'll be with you in a moment."

"Alright, thanks. Able HQ, rally on me, all Able vehicles prepare to move out."

-
(1/2)

>>825473
(2/2)
-

It doesn't take long for Charlie to take over your positions, only a few minutes really as Lieutenant Oliver takes over a fresh Cromwell from the Regimental reserve, along with a replacement driver and hull gunner, bringing your Squadron back up to strength. Also with C Squadron are a pair of Crusader AA tanks which will advance with you, while you don't expect much of a showing from the Luftwaffe anymore, you've already learned that the Recce Troop which commonly works with these tanks has discovered they are just as useful in the anti-personnel role, with their twin 20mm cannons capable of tearing through even fortified positions with terrifying efficiency and you decide to attach them to your HQ Troop for now. With everything else prepared, you've gathered your NCOs and officers in a small clearing at the centre of your position for the day's second Griff talk.

"Alright," You say, pointing to map you've pinned up on the side of your tank with some tape. "We're going to push dead East, using this wooded area until we're perpendicular to Route 213, engaging any German targets of opportunity we find. Once we get there, we'll smash the 2nd Panzer Division's forces that are pushing up from the South and link up with Dyasforce. Once that happens, we'll reassess and go on from there, but you can expect further advances North to drive off Panzer Lehr Division or East to cut the two German forces off from each other. Real simple advance to engage work lads, stay alert, stay aggressive and we'll all get through it. Brigade also assesses the only German armour in the area bar those four Tigers at Point 213 is now Mark IVs and maybe a half dozen Panthers. Those Tigers we ambushed earlier were the only other Heavy Tanks active in the area, so give yourselves a pat on the back. Now, any further questions?"

> Any Questions?

>>825480
Otherwise, the Marching order will be:
> HQ Troop at the front, we'll lead by example.
> One Troop at the front, their experience should stand them in good stead.
> Two Troop at the front, time for them to get a little revenge.
> Three Troop at the front, they got warmed up with that morning engagement.
> Four Troop at the front, they're inexperienced but also fresh.

>>825575
> Two Troop at the front, time for them to get a little revenge.

backed by Three Troop, since they're warmed up.

>>825605
Something like 2-3-HQ-4-1?

>>825622
yup, HQ nice and safe(ish) in the middle of the pack

>>825655
It also just gives general versatility in that in either direction the Squadron can deploy two combat Troops quickly and have their HQ relatively easily able to move to the point of contact. Plus it keeps the inexperienced 4 Troop close to the veteran One Troop and HQ while giving the rearmost position to the most capable unit.

> Two Troop at the front, time for them to get a little revenge.

"Alright, if that's all, let's not keep Jerry waiting. Lieutenant Oliver, you have the lead position, Roy, bring Three Troop in after her.

"Yes, Sir." They reply in unison.

"HQ Troop will take up the centre position with the AA Section and Lieutenant Allen, you'll follow behind us. Wahed has the rearguard Jackie, don't let them bite us in the arse."

"Aye, sir." The grizzled Lieutenant has taken the time out of his tank as an opportunity to light his pipe, and emits a puff of smoke as he nods and turns to go. Lieutenant Allen of Four Troops gulps nervously then nods, the young officer turning to follow Garnett back to his tank.

"Alright Captain," you turn back to Captain Welchley who was standing behind you for the duration of the briefing, to find her holding out a rather large ham and cheese sandwich. "Uh, I'm not sure this is the right time Captain."

"Sir, you've still not eaten anything since we set off for the day." She says firmly, "It won't do if you lose focus in combat because you're working on an empty stomach. So take the sandwich, you can eat it on the way." Her tone makes it clear that whether you outrank her or not, this isn't up for debate. She did take your advice from this morning to heart at least, and waited until noone else was around.

You sigh and take the proffered sandwich, "Thank you Captain." Nabbing a bite as you head back to Caesar, you're surprised by how good it tastes, too fresh to have been sent from England, it must have been made from things given to her by locals, grateful to be liberated. You'll have to give her a proper thanks at some point, most crews guard their spoils from the local populace quite jealously. You mount up and swallow your current mouthful, before opening the channel again.

"Recce this is Able, what's the situation down there?"

"Able, Recce's cleared the woods out to a Mile from your position, no German contact 'sides a few stragglers from your ambush, they all surrendered on seeing us though, we've sent them back to C with a carrier." Ingham replies the radio warbling slightly with interference.

"Copy Recce, Able to all Able vehicles, route is clear, move out!" Around you engines rev back to life from idle and tanks begin rolling downhill, first Two Troop, then Three and then you order Bob forward, leading the HQ Troop into the cover of the forest.

-
(1/2)

>>825886
(2/2)
-

The first leg of the journey goes quietly, with German forces apparently retreating from areas in view of Le Mesnil ridge after your ambush. The regimental net occaisionally buzzes with updates about the situation in Villers, most important of which is the apparent arrival of the Divisional Forward Air Controller in the town, when about 25 minutes into your march you hear the roar of planes and a quartet of Typhoons buzz over head at nigh on treetop level. A few moments later the air is split by the sounds of 20mm cannonade and the scream of rockets as they attack some target to your East before pulling away and circling for a short while, occaisionally strafing other targets with their guns. Just as another Typhoon passes over head, pulling up out of its strafing run as German tracer fire inneffectively stitches the air around it, the recce units finally report something interesting.

"Able, this is Recce-3," Ah, the Sergeant commanding the carrier patrol screening your Northern flank. "we've just spotted the Westernmost German positions in the field East of the Aunay-sur-Odon road." They must be in the next field over from where the remnants of the ambushed German convoy are, hidden from the ridge by the tall hedgerows of the bocage. "Appears to be roughly Company strength armour force with a small infantry complement, they're exchanging fire with forces in Villers but it looks indecisive, they do have at least 3 AT guns sighted to the West and Southern edges of their positions, along with a couple of infantry positions."

"Understood Recce-3, anything else to report?" You say, marking the German position on the map.

"Negative."

"Then continue your sweep." You put the transmitter down and look at the map. Hmmm, you could turn North and engage them, but at the same time they seem relatively prepared and without extensive infantry support they'll never be able to push into the town proper.

> Turn North to engage them, a thorough, steady approach is best.
> Ignore them and proceed East, you'll find better targets further on, and engaged as they are they'll have a hard time withdrawing to deal with you.
> Other

Sorry for the lack of maps btw, unfortunately I can't find any that show the area around villers-bocage really at all, so I'm having to go of the modern terrain and descriptions of it from people at the battle and whatnot.

>>825892
> Ignore them and proceed East, you'll find better targets further on, and engaged as they are they'll have a hard time withdrawing to deal with you.

> Ignore them and proceed East, you'll find better targets further on, and engaged as they are they'll have a hard time withdrawing to deal with you.

As tempting as it is, your primary objective is further East than this, and getting distracted now would only surrender your advantage. The column continues Eastwards and you get back to keeping up with the battle's state. Apparently Panzer Lehr forces are still thin on the ground as they've not made much of an attempt to advance yet, but 2nd Panzer Division are stepping up their aggression from the South steadily, in spite of the air support.

"Able this is O'Leery, be aware, all 5th RHA batteries have now been tasked to supporting Dyasforce for the moment, so we'll have no artillery cover until they repulse the current attack." O'Leery sounds about as non-plussed with this arrangement as you feel.

"Copy O'Leery, we'll make do." Shit, just what you needed to hear, hopefully you won't need it. The channel clicks again, this time heralding Ingham's voice.

"Able, this is Recce, we've just crossed the railway embankment to the South-West of the station and can see something kicking up a lot of dust off to the South-West. Gotta be at least a Company strength force, could be motorised, mechanised or armoured, seems like they're using the embankment for cover as they move into town. You won't be able to see them from your current position, but if we hurry you might be able to get into place on the East side of the embankment before they arrive, and I doubt they'll be expecting us on the East side of the rails."

You could rush forward and try to ambush them, but you likely wouldn't know what the force's composition is until they arrived and then it'd be past the point of no return, but if they're just motorised infantry or recce elements you could obliterate them wholly given a good ambush and their backs to the railway embankment.

> "Copy, all tanks, ahead flank speed! All Recce, rally on the treeline and pick ambush positions for the Squadron, lead us in as we arrive."
> "Understood, we'll stand down and let them pass, we've got bigger fish to fry."
> Other

File: Panzer III Ausf L.jpg (261 KB, 1024x559)

261 KB JPG

Well, looks like we've run out of steam (and players) for the day. Feel free to vote for the last post, I'll tally 'em up and start the next thread on Saturday morning with the result.

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>>826144
> "Understood, we'll stand down and let them pass, we've got bigger fish to fry."
Keep going until a Regimental/Divisional HQ is found. Cut off the snake's head.

>>826144
> "Understood, we'll stand down and let them pass, we've got bigger fish to fry."

>>826144
>>826705
Good point, that Anon

Thanks for running, boss.