In Progress [Let's Command] Rangers vs. Panzergrenadiers in Combat Mission: Fortress Italy

[ValeVelKal]

You guys seem to have this strange disease where you want to do something every turn. I am like... so tired, you know ?

 

[sser]

Is there a way to send someone to pick up the M1919 when the last of Andjnord’s men inevitably croaks ?

Also no. Inter-unit and equipment interactions are basically non-existent in this game. This isn't Men of War, unfortunately.

Soldiers will scavenge from wounded/dead for ammo and weapons. This includes LMGs, SMGs, sniper rifles, bazookas, panzerfausts, grenades, binoculars, radios, etc. I don't believe they'll scavenge the weaponry from dedicated teams like an HMG, mortar, etc., as it is considered a dedicated asset. But it's good to keep in mind anyway, as a lot of teams have firepower heavily invested in certain weapons, particularly Germans to MG34/42's, the Americans to the BAR, and Brits to the Bren guns and also on occasion knee mortars. These guys are usually the first ones to get shot as I'm pretty sure the AI simulates soldiers prioritizing the guy sending lead downfield with endless muzzle flashing. Scavenging just requires them to hang around corpses/wounded and they'll do it automatically, though the speed is kinda random and the itemization is as well.

 

[MiguelSerranoFan]

Correct. If you leave your guys in an area with friendly dead bodies for a while, they'll start scavenging it once they feel safe. I also am 99% sure that doesn't apply to heavy weapons.

Sorry about the long response time -- I've got the next turn screenshotted out, just need to edit and upload them here.

 

[MiguelSerranoFan]

PLANNING:

Spoiler

As ordered, Dayyālu's HQ team is shifting the 81mm mortars onto the foxholes. However, the process of spotting and actually getting the fire mission online will take six turns... Kalarion's squad is holding position. Endemic's M5 is about to swing into position and open fire on Vallebruca. ValeVelKal's men are retreating up the hill behind the treeline. Andnjord's 1st "team" is making a break for the area behind the berm for cover, while his second "team" is bounding to the bushes in front of Dayyālu. Helly's mortars are still targeting the foxholes.

RESOLVING THE TURN:

Spoiler

As the turn starts off, Helly's team is raked by another burst of MG-34 fire and another man goes down. They're still keeping the tube running though.

Andnjord's first team (what's left of it) is sprinting back behind the berm. Just in time, as machinegun fire is tearing up the foliage where his comrades lay dead.

In the meantime, we've got some more substantive spots. The mystery Germans that annihilated Andnjord's second team has been spotted in a pair of buildings near the center of Vallebruca. Additionally, we've spotted a total of three Germans in the foxholes now.

Endemic's M5 veeeeery slooooowly begins to put .30 cal on the white building near the end of the turn.

Helly doesn't seem to be having much luck putting his mortars quite on target.

Kalarion has taken his first casualty -- a pixeltruppen killed by fire from the church. Fire is still intense.

The last guy in Andnjord's second team is doing that DBZ crater pose in the bushes, safe from German eyes for now.

The first guy has made it safely behind the berm and has deployed his M1919 facing nothing.

ValeVelKal's squad has made it safely behind the treeline in a hail of bullets, no casualties. It remains to be seen if the Germans can't see them here. Still tired.

ORDERS & CONSIDERATIONS:

Spoiler

If I was a Ranger CO seeing this operation, I would be ordering a full withdrawal right now and just annihilating the town with artillery. Unfortunately for you, you can't do that in Combat Mission. Good luck!

Orders Submitted:
Endemic, M5 HQ - Submitted
Dayyālu , 2nd Pl. HQ - Submitted
Kalarion , 2nd Pl., 1st Section - Submitted
ValeVelKal , 2nd Pl., 2nd Section - Submitted
Helly , A Co. Mortar - Submitted
Andnjord , 2nd Pl. MGs - Submitted

 

[Kalarion]

If I make my way around the edge of the fence to the opening at the western tip and go inside the orchard, will I be in grenade distance of the foxholes?

 

[MiguelSerranoFan]

It seems a bit far, but I'm not sure.

 

[ValeVelKal]

If I am in condition to walk (ie : not TOO tired), I carry on advancing hidden by the tree until I spot the good damn AT gun.
If I can send only one guy, even better.

Else, could I exchange some of my C-rations with something good from the British or the Aussies back in Africa ? If so, it might be the moment to open one of those cans.

 

[Dayyālu]

I have nothing I can do bar waiting for the arty to come and the reinforcements to get in, I fear.

 

[Helly]

So me team is totally going to do a tactical redeployment to the back of the line as far away as possible from that MG.
I'm doing this so that Kalarion 's team can advance without getting mortared ofc. I'm not running away at all.

So I'm heading way back and targeting what I can see of the church once in muh safe spot then.

 

[Endemic]

I'll keep suppressing the same building for now.

 

[Andnjord]

If Kalarion makes his grenading run, I want my MG teams to Target Briefly the foxholes, 15 seconds bursts, then move back and hide in the trees.
Otherwise, sit tight and wait for our reinforcements.

 

[Kalarion]

I have no fucking clue what to do rn :D

Oh well I guess I'll give my idea a shot. Run to the inside of the orchard and try to get within grenade range. If I can do it, lob a half dozen or so and see if I can smoke them out. If not, hunker down at the western inside corner and uh... wait to die for reinforcements I guess.

 

[Gumsmith]

This is great. I'm rooting for our brave American troops.

 

[abnaxus]

 

[Dayyālu]

"If only you knew how bad things are"

 

[MiguelSerranoFan]

wait to die

The most likely course of action. I would remind everyone that we still have ten turns until reinforcements arrive...

 

[Hace El Oso]

The most likely course of action. I would remind everyone that we still have ten turns until reinforcements arrive...

What quantity of reinforcement are we talking about?

 

[Andnjord]

Judging by our performance so far this little stunt won't even be needed

 

[MiguelSerranoFan]

What quantity of reinforcement are we talking about?

Should be in the OP. I think a platoon of infantry and a few vehicles.

 

[ValeVelKal]

Guys, I think we lost our CO !

 

[MiguelSerranoFan]

Sorry man, I've been incredibly busy. I'll have the turn played out and up tomorrow.

 

[MiguelSerranoFan]

The CO had to take a burger break, as is the American tradition. We're back online with an incredibly eventful turn. I can't guarantee that the events will be pleasant.

PLANNING:

Spoiler

Kalarion's men are fast moving across the orchard to get into hard cover as soon as possible, hopefully able to grenade the foxholes. Helly's team is repositioning. Andnjord's first "team" will move up and deploy their MG to suppress the church, and his second "team" will be trying to get their MG online. ValeVelKal's squad has split off a scout team, who are now moving up the treeline to get spots on the currently-theoretical AT gun. Endemic's M5 is continuing to suppress. Dayyālu's HQ team is engaging with the sniper and calling in arty.

EXECUTING THE TURN:

Spoiler

At once, some of Kalarion's men (the rest are still cowering) stand up and start hopping over the low wall to get to other end of the orchard in the most straightforward possible. In sync, every single MG-34 in Vallebruca goes off. As they're hopping the wall, a Ranger takes a bullet and falls to the ground dead.

As they begin to snake through the orchard, two more are killed simultaneously by machinegun fire.

A straggler is also promptly killed.

One of the cowards decides now is a good time to hop over. A prompt bullet to the face.

Despite it all, one lone Ranger rifleman manages to make it to the other side unscathed. He even manages to pop off a few shots at the foxholes.

His bravery is rewarded with 7.92 to the lung. We will remember you, Pvt. Pixel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_DVS_303kQ

This all occurred in the first 25 seconds or so. Andnjord's second gunner has a bunch of new bullet holes from the church's pixeltruppen in him but is still alive (and traumatized).

His first gunner manages to get the gun online and targeted at the church in the last five seconds of the turn, twenty seconds after all of Kalarion's section is killed.

With the volume of fire flying absolutely everywhere, ValeVelKal's scout team is ignoring my move command and is booking it over there. Still no casualties taken so far.

Volume of fire is increasing towards Dayyālu's HQ team, who's sniper has been running his Springfield hot. Helly's team is redeploying behind them, and is set to target the church.

ORDERS & CONSIDERATIONS:

Spoiler

That was sixty seconds of straight bad news, so let me give you some good news. The first wave of reinforcements have arrived! A platoon's worth of infantry and another mortar team. Some of you will have dibs (after new players, of course), so check the updated OP for info on the new slots.

I imagine the slotting is going to take some time, which is good, because I have a ton of work to do for this upcoming Monday and likely won't be able to do the new turn until Tuesday. In the meantime, here's the new map.

Orders Submitted:
Endemic, M5 HQ - Submitted
Dayyālu , 2nd Pl. HQ - Submitted
ValeVelKal , 2nd Pl., 2nd Section - Submitted
Helly , A Co. Mortar - Submitted
Andnjord , 2nd Pl. MGs - Submitted
Gumsmith - 1st Pl. HQ - Submitted
Kalarion - A Co. HQ - Submitted
baud - 1st Pl., 1st Section - Submitted
Hace El Oso - 1st Pl., 2nd Section - Submitted
Azira - A Co., 2nd Section Mortar - Not submitted

 

[Andnjord]

Requiescat in pace frater Kalarion. Your aggressive scouting will not be forgotten.

As for my MGs, Cease Fire, and Hide for now.

Also, that's a lot of germans in the town, I feel like we'll have to wait until our second tank arrives and starts blasting those buildings from afar before we can make any progress.

 

[Helly]

Yeah, I wish we could have given you support of any kind...
Your valiant suicide death will not be soon forgotten, brothers! Fire on that church! For Kalarion and his men!

 

[ValeVelKal]

Was there a recent let's play / commenters command / whatever in which Kalarion survived more than a few posts ?


My scout goes until the end of the edge of trees while the rest of the squad waits for back-up, resting. Anyone got some alcohol ?