AAR - Assault on the Sauer (Axis)

[pekische]

This is General Franz Beyer´s report from Luxembourg. The task given to his LXXX Corps is to cross the Sauer River and establish defensive positions and prepare for the counter-attack from General Patton´s 3rd Army. Battle will take 5 and a half days.

Pre-battle analyse:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/dte2hc9e93jp6e0/AAR-Assault on the Sauer.pdf?dl=0

First day of the battle...
https://www.dropbox.com/s/xzqlx7bbyaunbsj/AAR, D1 - Assault on the Sauer.pdf?dl=0

Second day of the battle...
https://www.dropbox.com/s/oyky2xt5m2z8i4q/AAR, D2 - Assault on the Sauer.pdf?dl=0

Day3, Tough fight!
https://www.dropbox.com/s/gvpc68455bvm15n/AAR, D3 - Assault on the Sauer.pdf?dl=0

Day4, The battle continues....
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3b26e181fy5e8za/AAR, D4.pdf?dl=0

Day5, We are close...
https://www.dropbox.com/s/m32gfuo27oaxgbl/AAR, D5 - Assault on the Sauer.pdf?dl=0

Day6, The final day!
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ai34lzgyy7njuwn/AAR, D6 - Assault on the Sauer.pdf?dl=0

Mission is completed!

 

[Erik Springelkamp]

Very good story so far!

 

[Dave 'Arjuna' O'Connor]

Nice!

 

[john connor]

Beautiful. Thanks!

 

[Daz]

I downloaded the first few days of your AAR to my Ipad before I went away on vacation a few weeks ago.
It stopped me from getting withdrawal symptoms from having to leave the game behind
Glad to see you are still plugging away at it.
I love the style you have chosen to display it as well.
Good job mate.

 

[Iconoclast]

Very well done, I like your detailed remarks regarding the equipment of your units.

 

[pekische]

I am reporting about the last day of the battle (initial message edited). All battle was great experience! Enjoy my AAR if you want....

 

[Iconoclast]

Well done pekische!

 

[Erik Springelkamp]

Very good story and fight.

 

[SamuraiN]

This is General Franz Beyer´s report from Luxembourg. The task given to his LXXX Corps is to cross the Sauer River and establish defensive positions and prepare for the counter-attack from General Patton´s 3rd Army. Battle will take 5 and a half days.

Pre-battle analyse:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/dte2hc9e93jp6e0/AAR-Assault on the Sauer.pdf?dl=0

First day of the battle...
https://www.dropbox.com/s/xzqlx7bbyaunbsj/AAR, D1 - Assault on the Sauer.pdf?dl=0

Second day of the battle...
https://www.dropbox.com/s/oyky2xt5m2z8i4q/AAR, D2 - Assault on the Sauer.pdf?dl=0

Day3, Tough fight!
https://www.dropbox.com/s/gvpc68455bvm15n/AAR, D3 - Assault on the Sauer.pdf?dl=0

Day4, The battle continues....
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3b26e181fy5e8za/AAR, D4.pdf?dl=0

Day5, We are close...
https://www.dropbox.com/s/m32gfuo27oaxgbl/AAR, D5 - Assault on the Sauer.pdf?dl=0

Day6, The final day!
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ai34lzgyy7njuwn/AAR, D6 - Assault on the Sauer.pdf?dl=0

Mission is completed!

I suggest that you open up with an operational goal and plan first before setting day to day objectives. E.g. 1) Bridge building, locations, reasons, contingency plans 2) Operational assault plans and objectives: concentrated attacks, broad front, where? Important junctions and roads to secure, likely positions of enemy ARTYs and mobile reserves, enemy counterattack directions, etc.

In my analysis, we have two main objectives: building bridges and push south to exit. Bridge in the 276 VG sector can be build on the location, with the flak company nearby moved to protect it. Bridge in the 212 VG sector can be a bit tricky, as we may face significant fighting at Echternach. I was tempted to move the bridgebuilding location further east, but then I realised that doing so would make the supply line in the future across the river have a large detour through enemy positions, or we would need to take Echternach anyway. So we should build the bridge at Echternach and give all support we can to take the town. To achieve that, we can get all guns nearby to suppress the enemy in town, plus 6 SPGs of 212 VG, and 423 Regiment (whole regiment) should launch an attack from the northwest to assault the enemy from the flank.

The enemy forces are most likely low in numbers before reinforcements, so they will only have manpower to defend front-line positions and towns with little reserves. I planned a triple pincer to destroy the enemy: 1) in the west, 968 Regiment should advance along the Bigelbach, Eppeldorf, Ermsdorf line, bringing the regimental supply base, reinforced with hopefully at least one battalion of 988, joined by heavy equipments once the bridge in that sector is complete. I can send all SPGs to support this group once Echternach is taken, or the bridge there is complete. If possible, it can launch a daring attack deep into enemy rear to destroy their HQ or supply base.
2) in the middle, 988 is to advance along Ernz Noir river and split the enemy in two. If possible, it should complete an encirclement with the left pincer at Reuland.
3) in the east, 320 Regiment is to advance along the highway to Micheshof. We will see if it should bypass or attack Echternach on its way, and whether or launch diversionary/ probing attack of Osweiler according to the situation. Later reinforcements in 212 VG sector will probably be transferred to join those forces along the highway. i.e. enemy positions east of (including)Osweiler will be left alone completely.

 

[ultradave]

Nicely put together and fun to read. Thanks for posting

 

[pekische]

@SamuraiN, it would be nice to see your AAR from this mission. I would enjoy to read it... thx!

 

[SamuraiN]

@SamuraiN, it would be nice to see your AAR from this mission. I would enjoy to read it... thx!

I am not very good at breaking a long process into concrete pieces and steps...so long campaign is a bit intimidating. Plus, I know that I am not the best executor, but more of a planner, like a chief of staff rather than a general. And I think you are better at those aspects that I do not excel at. So I would be happy to see you trying out my plan. If I get the time, I will try doing it as well.

 

[Alpha Zwo]

Great AAR, thanks for sharing. Sorry if I missed it in your AAR but at what level do you issue orders to your formations? Div, Bn or do you do more micromanagement?

 

[pekische]

Most often I play at Bn level, exceptionally I issue orders for regiments or individual units id the situation needs it.