-Slow -Massive -one man turret, the commander had to serve the 47mm gun (wich was considered a secondary gun, the main one was the 75mm located in the hull), look for targets, command his crew and sometimes command other tanks ! -Fuel capacity, thus reducing its action radius (150 km only)
However, in 1940, only the rare Panzer IV could compete with it (and I mean short-barreled Pz IV, the others didn't exist), aerial bombing was a very frequent way to destroy them. B1 bis had thick armor (60mm, yeah thin compared to a Tiger tank but the latter appeared two years later; Sherman tanks ). The vent was not a weak spot, it was well protected. The 47mm gun could pierce ANY German tank present in 1940.
And yes indeed, this tank looks very odd to PRESENT tanks and tank doctrines.
Excellent idea to add another crew member by the way Does it work ?
I think it can somehow be compared with the Asia/Pacific theatre. Regarding brutality, from both sides.
If you consider the immensity of the eastern front, the number of divisions and regiments in place (around 20 million Soviets died from 1941 to 1945), the western front in Europe was err... small.
Moreover, Nazi Germany's priority was always the Ost front. This is partly proved by the evolution of German anti-tank ammunition, tanks and tactics.
Indeed, I would not like to be in the shoes of a German or a Soviet soldier during those years...
(Happy new year and Joyeuses Pâques, everyone ; I am preparing a late, little surprise christmas box )
Again, the 203 Pz/4th Panzer is in charge of the defense of Lübeck. This time, the region is invaded by the 239/21 motorised rifle regiment.
The Bundeswher soldiers were repositionned inside buildings, most of them inside the Maritim Hotel, from where they could observe the roads from which the Soviet vehicles should arrive shortly...
Indeed, on the other side of those roads, the Russian captain opened his tank hatch and observed with his field glass the incoming buildings. His T-72 was followed by a platoon of light vehicles. He was concerned with the number of German tanks that were creeping ahead, though he could not see them, yet.
The Germans were entrenched and ready. With their numerous Leopard 1 tanks and two additionnal artillery batteries, they would give the Reds a beating, as they had done with the marine batallion earlier.
"Down hatch." A Bravo-Tango-Romeo eight-zero followed by a Papa-Tango seven-six rolled into the street leading to the town's marina. A pair of infantry squads rushed inside the buildings for concealment just in time before their transports were blown to pieces by two German Leopards coming from the quays. "Hit! Load a HEAT round."
Both Leopard commanders had seen Ivans getting inside the "Lübeck Beaches" restaurant and pounded the building as soon as they had a visual on the Soviet infantry, disabling the two squads in half a minute.
Captain Kamarov, on the top of his T-72 turret, chose to divert his men to the south, toward the "Maritim Hotel", which, he expected, was heavily defended, too. But the road would be more practicle than the docks.
His driver advanced cautiously, men walking behind the tank.
Just the before the crossroad, the tank stopped and and the captain ordered 1st squad to climb into the nearest building in order to observe what was on the other side of the road.
A minute later, the Soviet lieutenant, commanding 1st squad, radioed his commander that a German tank was waiting just in front of the hotel. The lieutenant didn't see any other armour or soldiers.
The captain then turned to his forward observers, sitting on the back of the tank's hull.
"Well, get to work sarge.
-Aye aye capt'n !"
The Leopard was standing still, even when the first shell exploded, the tank did'nt move. The russian captain could not know the first round had dismantled the treads.
"Zuruck ! Los los los, schnell !"
German NCOs shouted at their men, hidden inside the maritim hotel to get down and move to a safer position. But after 30 seconds, the bombardment stopped. No shells had hit the building. Though there was heavy smoke coming from somewhere.
The unlucky Leopard was now in pieces.
The T-72 then moved forward, slowly, and caught glimpse of a fleeing Gepard SPAAG. The first AP shell blew one of the Gepard's gun, without more damage. Then came a second, then a third, then a fourth, then a fifth AP round ! All missed !
The captain was just enraged at his gunner when he saw another vehicle coming in front of his tank, another Leopard 1.
The T-72 found its fate, it was this Leopard, parked behind a couple of cars as additionnal hull protection.
The shock was deafening. The remaining Soviet infantrymen immediately ran for cover inside the nearby buildings while the captain jumped from the burning turret.
But the soldiers were out of luck, they'd been seen by the Germans who were now pounding the buildings facing the Maritim Hotel.
Meanwhile, an aufklarer team sneaked north of the now dreadful crossroad to try to have a visual on the Soviet remains. They reported the few survivors were running to the South-East, toward their lines.
Eventually the aufklarers pushed their luck and dissabled a PT-76 with Panzerfaust fire.
I thought about starting my campaign anew with new settings, my first settings were "line" for me and "elite" for the AI...
So, I will keep the precedent battle reports and add them into the new campaign, I'll make a little story about this change.
Now, my settings are "recruit" for AI andf "elite" for me.
After numerous failed attacks to break through NATO lines in Germany, the Soviets put into action early on their reserve divisions and managed to push NATO from invading East Gremany.
West Germany's border are being overrun, allied forces are holding but their forces have been depleted while the Soviets had had some fresh reinforcements !
Where is the French army ? Where is the Italian army ? Heck ! They're busy South !
But relax people, Canadian, Netherlander and Belgian regiments along with additionnal American ones are being ferried through the Atlantic. It will take a few days too to round up the forces present in Germany which were disorganised by Spetznaz commando attacks.
West Berlin is still holding, there is still hope.
Time is playing against the Soviets, they know that. Just hold that goddamned line soldier !
Aye sir !
Before we report the next battles, I must let you know about the situation at sea, which is pretty awkward for NATO right now !
Iceland has fallen to the Soviets, hence providing two airports for their reconnaissance and attack aircrafts.
NATO convoys from the USA to Germany are under direct threat from the Soviet submarines and their naval airfleet !
The direction from which the airstrike is coming, is it possible to predict wether it will come from North, south, east or west ?
It's quite enraging when you loose a vehicle or an entire squad because you got unlucky and the airstrike straffed/bombed your forces along with the ennemy forces...
BTW, why has sgt Bronson gained exp and leadership though he was incapacitated ?
4/7 Royal Dragoon Guards is attacked this time by 287/32 armoured regiment and not from the South-West but this time from the East, from East-Berlin.
Many soldiers were repositionned inside the 10 story building wich faced the exit of Checkpoint Charlie.
The sector was bombed again, lightly though, but very soon after, the noise of tank engines and caterpillars could be distincted...
"Lef-tenant ! They're coming !"
"Let them come private, do NOT engage until my hear my word."
"Prreparre the L.A.W. lads !"
Let them come... -Hey you're in the way git !
And so Ivan came. The soldiers could see various tanks and armored vehicles through the windows. T-72, T-62, BTR-60, BRDM 2 and one command T-80 ! The job was tough, indeed.
2nd Lt Adamson carefully watched the oncoming tanks. A BTR-60 passed the southern gate, briefly stopped to allow the following T-72s and a T-62 to catch-up with it, then it drove forward again.
Just beneath the town clock, the Chieftain gunner slightly moved the tank's turret to the right.
Adamson and his men saw the Soviet APC being blown to bits by the Cheftain's 120mm round.
Somthing like 50 meters away, the TOW launcher just next to the town clock destroyed a BRDM which had gone through the northern gate. But, while the TOW crew loaded another missile, the T-62M which followed the ex-BRDM advanced, fired, killing the TOW crew and fall back before the Chieftain MBT could engage it.
Meanwhile, Lt Adamson was still watching the Soviet tanks while a couple of Chieftains fired HE shells against Soviet infantry, devastating their ranks. In the same time, another T-62 aimed at one of the M113, south of the Wall gates. Unfortunately for the the Soviet crew, the M113/M901 gunner was quicker and fired a TOW missile at the aging T-62M wich returned fire a quarter of second after the missile shot. The M901 was hit by the 115mm round, leaving it burning. On the other side, the TOW hit the T-62, immobilizing it.
Inside the great building, the lieutenant began to slowly raise his right hand while private McFadyen aimed his Bofors AT4, at this precise moment, the other men moved themselves to the corner of the room, to avoid the launcher's back blast (they have had also spent a few hours digging holes in the interior walls yesterday).
In the street, the damaged T-62 had its turret pointing to the South while a couple of T-72 drove forward.
Adamson whispered "The one to the left, then Bowlby and Robinson hit the command tank on the right. FIRE !" and quickly lowered his hand.
The rocket perforated the tank's roof and exploded, followed by a pair of LAWs aimed at the command T-72. The first of the pair hit the frontal armor, but the second landed on the engine's armour plating producing an extraordinary effect !
The lieutenant himself then showed up at the window and fired a LAW to the fleeing crews.
The immoblized T-62 crew watched this scene with horror, they would be next, and the gunner immediately aimed the barrel at the windows.
Inside the building, private MacNeil was firing short bursts through the window when he noticed the tank and turned to his commander with a distraught face. The second after, the room was filled with dust, debries, noise... and blood splattered on the walls and even the ceiling. The T-62 could have hardly missed...
Completely deaf and still coughing, first class Heddle stood up with difficulty, his whole body ached, he'd just been blown away by the explosion. He distinguished the remains of what had to be MacNeil.
He yelled in a slow voice :
"Pick-up yourselves and move your arse gents !" And then he collapsed to the floor. Private Cramer grabbed Heddle by the shoulders and dragged him to the back room with the help of Private Shannon.
Just a room next to them, the 3 shaken men stood up again and watched the Spetznaz team approaching the building. They were at the right distance this time.
The L1A1s spitted out volleys of bullets and in a matter of 5 seconds, all the Russian commandos were lying dead...
Another T-72 appeared, drove between the smoking wrecks of its companions, but was met by a volley of AT rockets from a third squad.
Hum... Due to technical problems, we have very little information about the battle which took place at Lichtenfels. But worry not, dear fellows ! The 344 Pz/12 Pz held ground and repelled the onslaught of the 44/11 Berdichevski armored regiment with little losses !
Hurrah, 2nd round begins and the defensive line is holding !
On hill 35, the soldiers began to distinguish the distant sound of incoming mortars. "Hit the ground! Take cover!" And so 81mm mortar rounds fell on that little hill. Nevertheless, the American grunts tried to move on between explosions, they'd been under fire during operations in Grenada, but the mortar crew doubled its fire rate.
Captain Rantapaa picked himself up, his ears still hissed, and realized 3 men of his platoon were no longer on their legs but instead in a pool of blood...
Forward observer Smith raised his binoculars for a second then crouched again behind that hedge along the road, just opposite the factory and took another glimpse at his map and then shouted orders to his frightened radio-man who tuned his radio with shaking hands, his face pale as a ghost.
A section of Soviet infantry exited the castle and began to crawl in the grass but were nailed by the three M1A1 which were still progressing in the marsh.
A fierce volley of 155mm suddenly silenced the mortar battery.
Briefly afterwards, a HMMWV followed by one Abrams drove toward the main road to reconnoitre the path up ahead. The massive M1 got whacked by a 9K115 missile and its crew evacuated. Meanwhile, the Hummer driver confused gears while he glimpsed behind his shoulder and stalled his vehicle and it stopped with a jerk. The gunner fired a TOW but missed the ennemy launcher.
The scout car exploded when it took the second missile...
During the brief exchange, the recon squad had entered the abandonned factory and secured itself an ambush and observation post. Another squad moved inside the plant and exited it at the other end of the building, near the bridge.
A T-72 showed itself at the top of hill 26 only to discover four ennmy tanks just down the slope and thus, the T-72 was fried...
An infantry team met no opposition on the eastern road and so secured the bridge crossing the river Werra.
Our FO made another radio call, for the Russian launcher this time, and watched the northern exit being pounded by artillery which eventually killed the 9k115 launcher crew.
When the dust cleared, the recon team still inside the factory saw a command T-80 retreating behind trees. But for now, 3rd BCT had done its job. Thought they could not force the Soviets to retreat, they had contained them...
3rd BCT/1st Armored division and 17/79 Orlovski armored regiment in Herleshausen...
Again, this once quiet section of the German countryside became just another battlefield for the US and Soviet soldiers.
In this sector, the Soviets arrived from the northern road and met a regiment of the the US 1st Armored which immediately deployed itself in offensive formation.
So, three M1A1 advanced north, followed by the M113 command APC, unnoticed by the Russians thanks to a small hill. Unfortunately, the land they were going through was nothing more than a mash, thus slowing their progress.
At the same time, the infantry groups scattered south, into the hedges and slowly but steadily advanced East, toward the now abandonned factory plant at the opposite of the road.
The Bradley APC went directly in the direction of the road and spotted two T-72s even before reaching the road, one at the castle's front door and the other one in the woods. Thing is, the Bradley was spotted too and did not dodged the two 125mm APFSDS which transformed it into a burning heap of twisted metal. What was left of the crew escaped through the cargo door at the back of the vehicle.
The TOW launcher nearby delivered its deadly cargo to one of the ennemy tanks and hit. The 2nd T-72 was disabled by an Abrams shot.
"Black Jack, FORWARD !"
And then began the first land battle between US ans Soviet forces, in Nordhausen, the 2nd "Black Jack" regiment from the 1st Cavalry against the 45/79 Gusiatinski...
The first tank platoon deployed on both sides of the main road, a M3A3 Bradley APC accompanied by a M1A1 Abrams MBT leading the elements. The APC was nearly missed by a T-72 round, which was waiting, camouflaged, just after the second little bridge. The T-72 immediately went reverse while inside the gunner openned the breech to load another AP shell, but the Bradley commander didn't let them go, not like this. The gunner acquired the Russian tank and launched a TOW missile.
The fleeing T-72 took the hit and ceased to move, heavy black smoke coming from the turret.
A HMMWV was sent behind the M3A3. The latter reversed to reload its missile launcher. The Hummer drove on the road, speeding South-East when a 2nd T-72 showed-up and fired its main gun directly at the vehicle which blew off a second after. At everyone's surprise and disbelief, one of the soldiers who were inside the HMMWV got out the vehicle and eventually found good cover behind the nearby trees.
Unfortunately for the Soviet tank, the Abrams that followed the Hummer aimed at the T-72 and sent a depleted uranium APFSDS shell which litteraly "melted" its turret armour plating...
On the south side of the road, three M1A1 were slowly moving through a marsh, toward a little but dense forest. Farther was a remote warehouse from which the tank commanders could now see heat vapors coming from behind the building...
Suddenly, two detonations echoed from the outskirts of the warehouse and two piles of dirt flew toward the sky as two T-72s restarted their engines, they just missed the oncoming American tanks but could not escape their wrath and they both went smoking. The M1A1 had not missed. The third T-72 popped out from the warehouse but was unable to make a difference and was turned into a burning wreck the second after it showed its uggly nose...
Meanwhile, the Bradley APC moved down the road for the second time, reach and overtook the burning HMMWV from which a second soldier emerged, crawling and absolutely shocked by what had happened to him. His comrade immediately rushed and dragged him by the shoulder and eventually pushed him into a bush. 152mm artillery rounds began to rain down on the M3A3 APC. One HE shell exploded so close to the armour that his right caterpillar broke and prevented the tank further move.
An infantry section progressed through the flooded fields in the North, closely following an M1A1. Soviet troopers began to run back when they saw the tank crushing the hedge that they used to hide themselves and became easy targets for the Abrams...
The latter destroyed a 9k111 missile launcher and its crew...
In August of 2004, Zappi, Homba, Bambam887, RedScorpion and MOOXE all pitched
in to create this Close Combat site. I would to thank all the people who have visited
and found this site to thier liking. I hope you had time to check out some
of the great Close Combat mods and our forums. I'd also like to thank
all the members of our volunteer staff that have helped over
the years, and all our users that contributed to this site!
Topic: 
; I am preparing a late, little surprise christmas box 
)
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