The Journal of Robert Lukmann-Rommel in Normandy AAR

[LandMarine47]

I decided to do something new. I loved the AAR section from PzC so I decided to make a BA spin off of Horseman's AAR. This will be the Diary of Captain Lukmann and his fighting through Normandy. I'm playing on Teir 3 difficulty and will do the entire Rommel in Normandy Expansion. If people like it Ill muster all the courage I have and return to Sicily..... After some mental preparation . Anyway I'll give you Captain Lukmanns back story.
Robert Lukmann joined the Wehrmacht in 1940. He saw some action in France as a Infantry Soldier and soon wanted to more than that. At the end of 1940 he began training for an officer and enlisted with the Paratroopers. He dropped onto Crete in 1941 (you can't pay me to do Crete on tier 3) and suffer a rifle wound during the final day of the battle. He didnt see any more action until 1943 in Sicily where he lead a Platoon into battle against A US force defending the a Vital Ridge. Even though the attack failed he was promoted to a LT and lead a German Italian Force against a British attack. His victory impressed High Command and after his escape at Messina he was recalled to France for Officer Training. After his "graduation" in late May of 1944 he was promoted to a Captain. He was given command of a Training Group and some Ost troops. Our Story begins in the Morning of June 6th when what only Lukmann knows is a Parachute Attack..... For something bigger (this is my first Play through of the entire DLC so If I fail a mission I'm still carrying over to the next mission. Also all photo will be in the form of Links as I cannot upload directly to the forum because I'm on iPad)
Chapter 1 Night Drop

Turn 1 nothing of importance I move my troops into their positions for the Paratroopers Attack. My Armor Suppresses an Occupied Building and the 251's and Infantry take up positions in the Fields.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/06mw4v38bb7dj ... .12.29.png
https://www.dropbox.com/s/mv8q9skpqol7z ... .10.55.png

Turn 2 Nothing happens but the Scouts report the Farm heavily occupied
https://www.dropbox.com/s/8ygkzd429ooli ... .03.52.png

Turn 3 Nothing other than Securing the Road. Our troops supported by the 251's suppress the MGs in the Farm. Next is the Bazooka Team

Turn 4 we secure the Farm and my Ost Troops spot the First element of the US Airborne Attack! We also cross the Bridge and Secure the First VP.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/lwlo5l4xx0vst ... .22.51.png
https://www.dropbox.com/s/xrop1go9uzhey ... .22.43.png

Turn 5 The Americans counter attack the farm and I'm extremely disappointed in my troops. 3 Full Infantry squads plus some scouts couldn't stop 3 Americans from Killing 5 highly motivated soldiers. I think it was the rifles! My Germans would never preform that badly Also reinforcements arrive. A Char Bis Flamm with some infantry supported by 2 H-35s and a Scout.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/pr0ie9v1s0017 ... .54.45.png

Turn 6 The Americans suppress one of my Ost troops and I order him to another building. My Infantry run into US Airborne but the Char Bis takes care of them
https://www.dropbox.com/s/su8fo8ww53d67 ... .08.29.png

Turn 7 my troops are bogged down as the US Infantry dont stop coming! The Char is busy! And I lose my Ost trying to escape but a Panzer III Arives to save the day!
https://www.dropbox.com/s/yo2a2rp93c6zk ... .43.24.png

Turn 8/9 Damn Ost Troops! They didn't support my Panzer III and I got destroyed! Only after the assault did they fire.... But I've established control over the area and all the Panzers have Arrived.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/qdtdhosybsl88 ... .57.22.png

Turn 10 We secure the river Crossing clearing out all resistance losing a 259 to a bozooka team. Other than that we also lose 2 scouts to a 30 Cal behind our lines..ill try to patch them up put I have a lot of wounded soldiers....
https://www.dropbox.com/s/v8u5d10yqnv5d ... .06.22.png

Turn 11-13 I lose a 251 Rushing into the Town. I spend the next few turns suppressing the AT Gun. It should be destroyed next turn
https://www.dropbox.com/s/p0qzlrbly591c ... .19.11.png

Turn 12-15 We advance into the town. Poor defenseless 88's were destroyed by some US Airborne. After we secure the town I'm going to have to head back into the villages as they can out flank me
https://www.dropbox.com/s/vxuj96j987asw ... .26.19.png

Turn 16-The end. Nothing other than me securing the Hill. Final Casulties report of 34 Infantry KIA or MIA. No WIA.

Captian Lukmann is rushed to a Panzer Regiment where he is instructed to Counter attack the Canadians coming ashore from Juno Beach. The operation has no name just "The Critical Hours" Will Captain Lukmann destroy the frail beachhead or will the Allies throw him back? If you guys want I'll continue and do the Entire DLC in about a week or so. If this gets alot of support I'll try to finish it by Sunday. Hope you guys liked it! Thanks Captain Lukmann (AKA LandMarine47 )

[LandMarine47]

Chapter 2 "The Critical Hours"
"This Invasion is in full swing! Officers are so embattled I'm rushed to command a Panzer Grenadier Battle Group into battle. Normally we Captains are even allowed to tell a Panther what to do much less command a BG of elite Panzer Grenadiers! But I was the only officer present so I am rushed to the front lines. My objective is to destroy the Canadians defending their precious beachhead. I am told to expect a counter attack by Canadian Tanks once I secure my objectives. If I don't arrive in time they will reinforce the strong defenses. The fearsome 17 Pounder AT gun. The only Allied weapon capable of taking German Tanks head on. They must be destroyed! For the Fatherland! This Invasion ends here! Do not disappoint Field Marshal Rommel men! Board your half tracks and begin hostilities!
https://www.dropbox.com/s/2jjg3g2i0oqc9 ... .17.40.png

Turn 1 we kick off the battle by killing off a Bren inside the Farm. I suspect more in the other buildings. Our Recon forces await the Panthers arrival to begin the attack on the Village. I have requested some 150MM artillery support

Turn 2-3 These pitiful M5s don't stand a chance against the might of the Panthers! The Artillery is rather in accurate and as a result I lose my Puma rushing into the town. But with help form the Mortar 251 we clear out the remaining soldiers for the village we also clear the M5 forces and capture a VP. My next objective is the Hill or Crossroads and the Hamlet. But it suspect the 17 Pounders to be here. I don't expect much resistance in the village but where should I drop my next Artillery is the true question.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9gti6kjpxoagk ... .44.48.png

Turn 4-5 Nothing other than me advancing up to the next VPs. I lose a 259 to a pait and suppress the 17PDR. Both VPs should fall soon. Ill set up defensive positions and continue the attack after the Canadians tanks have been eliminated.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/brkt00pv5s0d7 ... .59.17.png
https://www.dropbox.com/s/4r39c4xs1yxt7 ... .59.12.png

Turn 6-7 It seems the Hill was much more garrisoned as we thought! After a initial wrestle we destroyed 2 17PDRs and Captured the Hill. The Shermans Counterattacked destroying a 251 but my Panthers brushed them aside. The village falls very easily. I plan on using that force and meeting the second BG at the Crossroads. From there we will launch a well coordinated attack on the Villlage and crush the Canadians once and for all!
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9rkycipz6xnql ... 2019.15.32.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/1vofvk28o7gs3 ... .11.21.png

Turn 8-10 The plan goes as planned and the BGs converge at the Crossroads. Waffen SS reniforments arrive and they kill a strangling infantry group in the village. They have arrived at the cross roads and I plan on doing a pincer movement. Some Panzers will occupy the Hill and provide support from there. Mortars will set up there. Then most of my infantry will flank the town from the hedgerows and outflank the defenses. Most of the Panzers and the Waffen SS will lead the assault into the town and knock down the front door! Once the town is under control we will finish off any remaining Canadians in the region. The end game for this battle is here! With all Fireflies destroyed nothing will stop the attack!
https://www.dropbox.com/s/s1v4j1cnupqrw ... .34.47.png

Turn 11-The end It's just me clearing out the the remaining defenders from the town and destroying a last ditch effort against my Panzers. All VPs have been captured and resistance has been crushed. Complete victory

[LandMarine47]

Chapter 3 The Hedgerows
"June 9th 1944, The US forces are advancing from their beachhead and with all German Officers occupied with Airborne forces I am called from my Panzergrenadier Battlegroup at the most critical moment of the battle. We tried our best but the beachhead is still intact. Now I'm given command of some elite Fallshcirmanjägers holding the bocage country. We must use the heavy woodland to our Advantage! The Hill will have most of my heavy defenses and the other areas must hold out until my "limited" reniforments arrive. I pray to god we get some Armor as the Americans are throwing everything they have this time. My prayers lay with my men and that they survive the coming offensive."
My deployment has some very good kill zones with my AT guns cover tracks and roads. Infantry and MGs defend choke points where they could wreak havoc upon dismounted infantry. When the US Artillery begin to fall ill space out a bit and when the time is right we will counter attack any lost VPs and take the enemy VPs from them! Failure is not an option

Turns one and 2 are relatively uneventful. A Halftrack is destroyed by my 88 and a M8 Greyhound is spotted. These are my Left and right flanks.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/q5elgk8e91lhd ... .00.05.png
https://www.dropbox.com/s/nyrcjmlqhx47p ... .00.01.png

Turns 3-6 I think there a bug in game. No Americans on my Left Flank at all. On the right some suicidal scouts attack a 251 to no avail. They aren't making any progress
https://www.dropbox.com/s/vu7bmizrrk1c8 ... .52.40.png

Turns 7-9 other than more sucidal attacks on my defenses the Americans lose more and more infantry to my men. We spot US Airborne on the left flank and pelt them with a mortar barrage. Some of the new Jagdpanzers IVs arrive they will be put to good use.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/z1lu2colh13uv ... .01.56.png

Turns 10-12 looks like the real assault is about to begin. US Airborne and Armor are leading a spearhead to bypass the troops on the hill. They aim to use the main road where my Panzershreck does a number on them but is eventually brought down. They bought me time to shift my AT guns into position. On the left some major offensives in the small forest but the Paras easily repel 3 US infantry. Hurry Jagdpanzers! We need you.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/lwgx4plobdcip ... .12.26.png

Turns 13-15 The US assault is soon to run out of momentum on the Left. The right however is a different story. Waves upon waves of US Soldiers begin to appear and the are storming the hill. My brave MG 42 in the Bunker was slain but not after killing off 3 Entire Scouts and Infantry units. He is the first casualtie and the US Tanks ar trying to support the infantry but they the 88 is keeping them at bay. The Hill is not to fall! It strategic importance is to great to this mission! 2 turns until the Panzers arrive.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/r8joxhmk9n58t ... .23.18.png

16-19 The US Assault has finally run out of steam on both sides. At the same time my Jagdpanzer IVs arrive and the US forces are being driven back one by one. I took some very heavy casulties on both flanks but in the end the US forces just didnt have enough support from the tanks due to the 88. Now the counter attack will begin as I need control of the Hill to coordinate effectively.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/6fpp5urdj9py5 ... .13.11.png
https://www.dropbox.com/s/4a921lbyib0ep ... .13.08.png

20-22 Damn Americans! They continue to call upon reniforments! And the US Airborne are launching a massive assault into the open fields in an attempt to outflank the Hill. But the offensive continues to slow down and if they continue to suffer losses it will all be over soon..... US engineers are the only units left trying to take the hill..... Good luck with that lads

22-26 Looks like the Americans have endless amounts of tanks..... And we learned the hard way! Shermans are overrunning my left flank but they are soon to find out a nasty surprise at the end of the hedgerows . But I did lose one of my precious Jagdpanzers to the vile Americans.... On the right more suicidal assaults by the US Armor
https://www.dropbox.com/s/p4upb9yfzjcrl ... .30.29.png
https://www.dropbox.com/s/tjdk7hsegq5b0 ... .30.32.png

27-The end The US forces launch some probe attack with heavily depleted squads. This is the final casualties report. This mission was a challenge but next up the famous Tiger attack on a British Convoy.... Yup were off to Villers Bocage

[LandMarine47]

Chapter 3 "The Lone Tiger"
"The past 5 days have been a living hell but atleast I'm headed east. Away from the endless waves of Americans. After holding off a American Attack in the Hedgerows High Command gave me a promotion to Major. I was then transfered to the Caen Front where the British offensive has been bogged down by our Panzers. I will be working with Micheal Wittman today. He says a British Armored Convoy is moving through Villers Bocage to attack a German Outpost in the distance. He raced ahead of his forces to delay the convoy. I will witness first hand what the Tiger can do. Lets see how June 11th will play out...."

Turn 1-3 Wittman Destroys all Cormwells in the front Convoy and hunts down the Halftracks. The other Tigers arrive.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/k2lqr1fwmzqos ... .38.36.png

4-9 Nothing other than the Tigers causing havoc on the British forces

10-13 The Tigers breakdown to many times delaying the attack. Our Infantry arrive and we can attack the Town itself.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/11hihrovdb6r9 ... .58.06.png

14-17 We arrive at the entrance of Villers Bocage. I try to outflank with a Puma and 259 but it gets destroyed by an AT gun. There's a Cormwell attack on my right flank. My infantry can't get past them and there's a Firefly is roaming the Village This can get get interesting.....
https://www.dropbox.com/s/04ipjyn8kj79g ... .18.39.png

18-20 We still don't advance into the town as the British are counter attacking through the fields. It's to dangerous to move anywhere without scouts so I have to go across the map to pick them up. First the area must be free of tanks.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/bistgueketnl8 ... .34.42.png

21-24 Progress is painfully slow. More Cormwells but they seem to want my Panzer IVs more than my vulnerable Halftracks. I don't think we may get the Town VPs on time. My scouts suffer heavy casualties in the fields but they still live! Now I can outflank the British Forces in the town
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9t901ogrkvpde ... .51.39.png

25-27 Well atleast progress isn't as slow as we've made a toe hold inside the town. Picking off the British 1 by 1
https://www.dropbox.com/s/is3gmxt510xve ... .11.06.png

28-The end We cleared out the town but some very sneaky British Bastards destroyed a Tiger! 1 turn before the end final casualties report

[LandMarine47]

Chapter 5 "Holding the Fortress"
"It's been some 2 weeks since I last wrote in this journal. The Allied Invasion has gotten too big for us to handle. We don't have the strength to destroy them now. Had we had more Panzers near the beachwe could have ended this on June 6th. Today is the 28th of June and its been a horrid few weeks. Me and Wittman said our goodbyes after Villers but I'm told there was a major battle and we lost. Since then I've been fighting the US Forces on the Road to Cherbourg. We've been fighting mainly US regulars but Airborne are still a substantial core force and they are spearheading the offensive. I am right now trapped inside the city and High Command has given me an Inpossible task. Not only am I to Hold Cherbourg but I am to counter attack and retake the outer defenses. Right now I have a mix force of Paratroopers and Regulars defending the city with some obsolete equipment. The only Modern Tank we have is a Panzer III Flamm with a Pak Half-track. I have been promised Panzer IVGs with Ostroopen infantry in reserve. The US however have a crushing Priest Mobile Artillery piece at their disposal. I am told failure is not an option. If I succeed I am promised to be dismissed from this hellhole and will be transfered to Caen itself. Well atleast our powerful reserves are in Caen. Wish me luck as I am gong to need it. Major Lukmann signing off."

Turns 1-2 The US Airborne probe my defenses but my Flamm Panzer takes care of them. On the left I'm advancing with my regulars and we are about to engage a US Airborne waiting for our troops. My plan is move up inch by inch then counter attack when my Panzers arrive.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/yygbisuew935u ... .20.15.png
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ctgho0f23c7xy ... .19.59.png

Turns 3-5 I battle the Americans through the streets of the burnt out city as the US troops begin to retreat. I do not purse them as they have Flamethrowers. On the right I am pursing them but I must destroy US Armor in the area. Our reinforcements arrive! I can begin the full scale assault.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/e7opsx87tzo8j ... .43.08.png
https://www.dropbox.com/s/1dozbyb4ouh11 ... .52.51.png

[LandMarine47]

There has been a slight pause as I'm working to upload all current photos to the forum. So you don't have to look at links