I couldn’t decide which ‘B word’ screenshot to lead with today so have provided three. The first is a nod to the Comment Commanders’ tardy taxi. The ponderous Churchill VIII finally delivered its passengers – Sergeant Forester’s squad – this turn!
The second shows Sergeant Venison’s ravaged unit heaving a demolition charge at some Sicherung troops south of the Schloss. The resulting blast finished several foes and persuaded the rest to scamper in the direction of the village.
The focus of screenshot #3 is the Jagdpanzer IV. Possibly spooked by the aggressive advance of Sergeant Pyle’s Sherman, the German TD decides to reverse fairly early in the turn.
The manoeuvre might have worked out fine if the reverser’s final waypoints had been somewhere east of the Schloss. However, because the Jagdpanzer attempts an ambitious three-point turn under the eyes of Bowman’s advancing Archer, it ends up bowing out of Bounce the Bogen without firing a shot.
Other Turn 22 incidents of note? Sergeant Sherwood’s lads rush a Panzerschreck team close to the rail bridge. The resulting scrap is quick, brutal, and, for the Brits, completely painless.
Many of Costner’s Yanks swap one stand of conifers for another. During the dash past the KOed Panther, none of the sprinting GIs take fire, the enemies in the field to the NE being too focused on retreat, first aid, and bleeding out to engage.
Once again, a panting Corporal Whitehand arrives at a second-storey window too late to make use of his AT drainpipe.
Hawthorn comes close to running out of ammo. The three-inch mortar will start Turn 23 with 1h and 2s remaining, Tuck with 32 25-pounder rounds available.
Incredibly, despite taking fire from numerous directions, the German flamethrower team is still alive and kicking cowering at the end of the sixty.
The Panzer IV was conspicuous by its absence this turn.
All of the following shots were taken after the clock had stopped.
Turn 23 orders here, please. Commenters are cordially invited to suggest moves for the following eight unit groups. First come, first served. A maximum of one unit group per commenter (Ignore this limit if order execution – usually Monday morning at 0700 GMT – is less than 24 hours away).
(See screenshots for unit locations)
– 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)
– Captain Hood (Six-man company HQ + arty spotter Lieutenant Tuck)
– Sergeant Bowman’s Archer TD
– Sergeant Johns’ Churchill VIII
– Sergeant Pyle’s Sherman
– Lieutenant Costner’s platoon (2 split inf squads + bazooka team + 1 HT)
– Captain Dale’s party (Six POWs armed with pilfered rifles and pistols) + Corporal Whitehand’s team (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.
“Sergeant Venison’s ravaged unit”
Does that mean they’ve taken more casualties, or is it the same six men it’s been for the past quarter of an hour?
Also, Tim, I just need confirmation that there’s no way through to Nottingheim village south of the castle with vehicles.