Yet to issue an order in this year’s play-by-comment Combat Mission game? Now would be a great time to get your feet wet. In the final moments of this minute-long turn, the Comment Commanders’ force doubles in size. All of the newcomers will require thoughtful chaperones in the weeks/turns ahead.
Before Sergeant Johns’ Churchill VIII close support tank, Sergeant Bowman’s Archer tank destroyer, and Lieutenant Marian’s infantry platoon (HQ, three rifle squads, 3 inch mortar team, and PIAT team) nose onto the battlefield circa 49, 1, 1, Allied units already on the map glimpse two previously unspotted foes.
While waiting for his stonk to arrive, arty spotter Tuck notices movement on the far bank of the Bogen. Enemy infantry heading south or west by the look of it.
And, sneaking closer to the railway bridge, one of Sergeant Venison’s half squads spots uniformed figures within the signal box at 3, 3, 5. By the start of Turn 5, five British units (Hood, Merry, Venison’s half squad’s, and Fletcher’s HT) have eyes on the ‘signalmen’.
Up in the Schloss, Dale’s marauders make a lot of noise but little tangible progress this turn. The machine gunners upstairs at 28, 3, 2, are proving doughty adversaries!
Things worth bearing in mind at the start of Turn 5:
Now just sixty seconds away, Tuck’s bombardment will probably pepper the area around the signal box as well the box itself. Shells could strike the bridge or even the western bank of the river!
Unlike most tanks and TDs, the unusual Archer can’t ‘hunt’. To use it effectively you’ll probably want to ‘move’ or ‘fast move’ it to an out-of-LoS spot, then reverse it a short distance into a promising firing position.
Because Comment Commanders are a tad thin on the ground this year, I’m going to treat Allied footsloggers as three units (Marian’s platoon, Merry’s platoon, Hood + Tuck) for the time-being. If Allied AFVs are knocked out, or infantry commanders end up overworked, there may be a rethink.
Turn 5 orders here, please. Commenters are cordially invited to suggest moves for the following five unit groups (First come, first served. A maximum of one unit group per commenter. I’ll try to execute the turn as quickly as possible after all orders are in.)
(See screenshots for unit locations)
****anyone****
– Merry’s men (Lieutenant Merry + Sergeant Venison’s rifle squad + Corporal Fletcher’s M5A1 halftrack)
– Marian’s men (Lieutenant Marian + 3 x rifle squads + PIAT team + 3 inch mortar team)
– Sergeant Bowman’s Archer TD
– Corporal Much’s Humber scout car
****subscribers only****
– Captain Hood (Six-man company HQ + arty spotter Lieutenant Tuck)
– Sergeant Scarlet’s Daimler armoured car
– Sergeant Johns’ Churchill VIII
– Captain Dale’s party (Six POWs armed with pilfered rifles and pistols + Two POWs armed with a pilfered Panzerschreck)
Please start all order comments with ‘ORDER’ and any later revision comments with ‘REVISED ORDER’. This will help me distinguish firm instructions from suggestions and advice.