The block of Union Jack wavers to the left of my commentary box lets out three mighty groans during the course of Turn 5. The first occurs at T+32 when the British Crusader sends a 57mm AP round sailing over the head of an unbuttoned armoured car commander. The second and third occur at T+41 and T+52 respectively.
The PSW 232 appears in the vicinity of F9 roughly mid-way through the turn. Moving steadily southward, it is quickly noticed and engaged by Team GB’s stationary cruiser tank. Judging by the fact that the German AFV keeps coming and doesn’t sprout a reciprocal targeting line after the unsuccessful attack, it has no idea it has just had a near death experience. Maybe the Crusader will get a second chance.
It does. At T+41, just as the 8×8 veers in the direction of the mosque, the Crusader spits another high-velocity hull holer. British fans grimace and groan as the round clips the top of the slope between the village and the target. Surely now the assailed must spot the assailer and respond in kind?
Nope. Amazingly, the PSW continues on its merry way affording the British tank one more go. Eight seconds before the clock stops, the Crusader gunner tries for a third time to hit his mark. Once again his aim is too low, and Tommy fans and orchestrators shake their heads in pained disbelief.
At T+60 the British Crusader still has eyes on the AC…
…unlike the ATR team, which held fire this turn possibly due to a shortish target arc. If the AC continues moving in a southerly or south-westerly direction and that arc is removed or extended, then LoS tests suggest the Boys boys could engage the AC if/when it reaches row 14.
Engine noises suggest there is a southbound enemy vehicle, probably (?) the halftrack, circa D8.
The HQ is out-of-contact with three of its squads/half-squads, and the majority of British infantry are beginning to puff and wheeze. Having had a cursory look around, the pilot is fairly confident his bolt-hole isn’t about to be rushed by Jerries.
To be frank, the Francophiles in the stadium didn’t have much to cheer about this turn, either.
In the French arena, the ATR team waited patiently for the PSW to trundle into view. Unhelpfully, it refused to, apparently halting while a fellow AFV (presumably the Panzer) advanced, effectively unobserved, along column F with infantry close at hand.
Could the ATR team get a shot at the Panzer in the opening seconds of Turn 6? Possibly, assuming the tank keeps rolling.
Here’s two somewhat safer predictions. Soon after the clock restarts jackboot wearers will take possession of the ‘L’ of palm trees SE of the mosque, and the building at G17 (The French pilot may have quit his hiding place in the nick of time!)
The most unexpected development in Turn 5 has to be the revival of the spooked French Bren Gun Carrier. Halfway into the turn, the dinky APC regains sufficient composure to execute the move order it abandoned when clobbered by the PSW.
The French situation at the start of Turn 6:
On the one hand, not my favorite turn. On the other: we know that hill slope will protect our advancing troops even if they come under some fire.
Hitting a target at 450m is pretty hard, so that leads me to think we should still be extra cautious about plinking the PSW with our AT rifle. Our gunner has 70 rounds left, so hopefully in the next 20-30 seconds we’ll stop having to worry about our agile little friend.
What really makes this a good turn is that none of our infantry have come under fire, indirect or otherwise. It’s a shame they are tiring, but clearly resting them this turn is necessary if they’re going to be able to rush forward in a couple minutes.
I do not love that our HQ isn’t in contact with the troops, so I’m going to be moving them forward soon.
@Tim: Can you give me more details on which troops are tired, and how much? I believe at Tired they can’t FAST anymore, which is pretty critical to the next few bounds.
Amongst your squads and half-squads, only the one about to dash across the north-south highway is ‘fit’. The rest are ‘tiring’ – one step away from ‘tired’.
LA DISCUSSION FRANÇAISE:
I would say a good turn, all things considered! Very happy that our pilot made it out of his death box in time, and that our Bren took a glug of cognac and found a (VSOP) reserve of courage. With the infantry advancing and the Bren in place, I’d say it’s high time our unarmed friend dashed down the hill into the awaiting allied arms.
No target for the ATR was a bit annoying, but surely something has to pop out of the palmwork this turn. Possibly even two vehicles, which is a mild cause for concern if we have to engage both at once. I know Gobser will be staunchly against this idea, but I am tempted to bring the Crusader out for a shoot and scoot again. It wasn’t spotted on its first manouevre, so they don’t know it’s there. And this could be a golden opportunity to provide some cover for the ATR, split attention, and (again, possibly) have a chance to take out two of the rolling krauts.
Also I am reserving The Rolling Krauts as a name for my future electropunk band