Great Escape (East German side)

[22sec]

The Great Escape - The East German 16th Panzer Regiment is tasked with clearing elements of the US 2nd ACR west of the city of Hof. The regiment's recon company is leading the advance, and I give them all similar orders as seen below to scout their assigned paths. I would like to note the SOP, and the choices I made. I want the unit to move deliberately since I suspect imminent contact, but in this case I still want it to move quicker so I order it to use roads.

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[22sec]

It indeed does not take long to find the first NATO units. I trade several recon units for reported American casualties. It's important that I start planning and moving my units. O the offensive, especially with Warsaw Pact units, it is vital to keep them moving. The OODA loop is real, and FC will punish you rightfully so, if you fall behind.

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[Rinco]

Nice! AAR from the red side! Will be following your engagement! Thanks for posting 22sec!

[22sec]

The American cavalry, including Kiowas, are probing north. Someone has the MR Company under observation and is hitting them with mortars.

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[22sec]

I want to keep the pressure on the Americans, and close with them, fix them, and then pound them with my artillery. One problem, one of my recce platoons is slow in executing its orders. In fact the because of this delay (twenty minutes) in this screenshot, my follow on forces have arrived. If the SPW's don't start moving soon I'll send the regiment's commissar to fix the problem. Lol.

AND Yes this is friction of war, something that FC captures and forces players to deal with.

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[22sec]

The FSCC has plotted a fire mission targeting the remaining spotted Abrams. I enjoy controlling my guns and their ammo use, so I tweak this fire mission so the battery only fires 9 rounds per minute for three minutes. The hope is to at least drive the surviving M1 out of the location.

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[22sec]

Right or wrong, I feel it necessary to keep pushing my troops forward. I order the MR company to assault down the hill to the edge of the woods overlooking the objective. I'm not looking for them to become decisively engaged though, preferring to pull back on contact and hammer the enemy with my artillery.

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[22sec]

I also want to make sure the company moves using the best concealment possible.

[22sec]

Turns out there was a platoon of Abrams sitting in the village of Rodosgrun, and had a great field of fire on the unfortunate BMP's of the MR Co.. My FSCC did hit the American tanks during the resolution, and most of the infantry has survived so for now I order them to hold their position along the ridge.

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[22sec]

We've also picked up glimpses of NATO units moving to the fight from the southwest. The enemy SITREP map does a great job of capturing the intelligence gathered during the fight.

[22sec]

The report of enemy units moving in to the area makes me begin to feel uneasy about my right flank. I decide to move another MR company this time to a blocking position along the H09 road. I don't think it's worth the effort for them to hold, as I need them to move as the situation develops, so I order them to screen when they arrive at the desired location.
I also am still determined to move something into the edge of the woods north of Sellaznger. I need some eyes on the river crossing at Seblitz, or at least anything coming out of Seblitz.

On my left my delayed scout platoon has finally moved, and I believe it safe to continue moving the Third Battalion tucked into the low ground along the Saale River.

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[22sec]

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[22sec]

Bradley's arrived from the vicinity of Seblitz, and I want to hammer the units stacked together.

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[22sec]

American Kiowa's and Cobra's arrived from the direction of Seblitz. My ZSU section managed to down a couple, and their fire along with the MANPADs have driven them off for now. I need to get to the river, and decide to begin moving a right hook towards Naila.

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