Figure 1 depicts the situation at the very start of turn 9. VP3 alone acted before this screenshot moving along the path of the black line. The OPFOR units on the eastern part of the map are of no immediate concern (other than the 105mm M2A1 Howitzer who can reach out and touch anyone within the five tile range highlighted by the red line) and were already revealed in the previous turn.
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| Figure 1 - Turn 9 |
The AA gun that was part of the northernmost Depot's defense was turned into a smoldering wreck and is annihilated by the combined efforts of one U.S. Marine and Eng/C Coy (the inserts on the left side of the image).
The U.S. Recruit that was assisting in the defense of the central Depot retreated North and is destroyed by Cav/B Sqdn (the inserts towards the bottom edge of the image).
Of further interest in this Figure is the fully entrenched position between the two prongs of the Green Team's advance. The light artillery has been in the sights of both my ships and all three of my air units resulting in its almost complete destruction.
Figure 2 illustrates the Support Ship's minesweeping ability. Each of the minefields (tile) will yield 387 XP. Note the position of both my ships inside the bay, I will explain why further down in this post.
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| Figure 2 - Naval minesweeping |
Figure 3 relates to the cleaning up of the defensive position between the two Depots. After artillery bombardment and fighter strafing the AT gun is destroyed by 1/D Coy clearing the way for Cav/B Sqdn's mopping up the M1 75mm light artillery. The OPFOR's Heavy Infantry is now surrounded. The auxiliaries are holding the river crossing and dealt some (defensive) damage to the OPFOR's M3 Stuart light tank that attacked the Marines during the AI's turn. VB1 is now reinforcing that lesson with some well-aimed bombs.
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| Figure 3 - Mopping up the pocket |
Figure 4 was meant as an insert in some larger image. It portrays the deployment of two regular Infantry units and the last artillery battery. Three artillery units in a map of this size is a bit of overkill but experience is experience. The infantry units already in the map are all specialty units and every force needs the jacks-of-all-trades (masters-of-none) to flesh out the front line.
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| Figure 4 - Reinforcements |
Finding the proper use for the Paratroopers in this mission is something that still eludes me particularly when I'm trying to steer whatever bit of XP towards my core units. I'm still trying to showcase their usefulness though. Which leads us to Figures 5 and 6 and I'll admit one of the cleanest outcomes in my memory.
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| Figure 5 - Third Supply Depot |
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| Figure 6 - Third Supply Depot |
Figure 5 illustrates the first two turns of the three-turn preparatory bombardment by my core battleship and heavy cruiser (remember my remark above?) and the landing of the Paratroopers. Figure 6 depicts the last turn of naval bombardment and the assault by the Paratroopers. The Depot is taken, $50 and 3 Land CPs gained and the Paratroopers will just stay there for the rest of the mission disturbed by almost no-one (the Heavy Infantry will eventually mortar the one occupying the Depot three separate times for no discernible effect).
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Comments on this post are disabled. That's just for ease of management. They will be enabled in the last post for each mission.
