Starting Prestige (after purchases and replacements): 26189
Hero:
Assigning Helmut to PzAbt 402. While I usually like this type of hero on a Stuka, this time I will use him on a tank given the good work PzAbt 502 and Albert Kerscher do against opposing forces.
New Equipment Provided:
PzAbt 411 - Flammpanzer II
Starting Army Composition:
Infantry
Infanterie Reg 99 (span.) - Azul Infanterie (SdKfz 251/1) - *** - Ignores Entrenchment, No Retaliation, Survivor
Gebirgsjäger-Reg 88 - Gebirgsjäger - *** - Oleh Dir
Gebirgsjäger-Reg 89 - Gebirgsjäger
Gebirgsjäger-Reg 90 - Gebirgsjäger
Grenadier Reg 4 - Grenadier (SdKfz 251/1) - *** - First Strike
Pionier Bataillon 33 - Pioniere (SdKfz 251/1) - *** - Fast Deployment, Survivor
Pionier Bataillon 34 - Pioniere (SdKfz 251/1) - *** - Butcher
Infanterie Reg 57 - Wehr Infanterie (SdKfz 251/1) - *** - Avenger, Prudent, Survivor
Tank
PzAbt 401 - Panzer IIIH - *** - Fearsome Reputation, Steamroller, Survivor
PzAbt 402 - Panzer IIIH - *** - Provocator, Tank Killer, Steamroller
PzAbt 411 - Flammpanzer II - *** - First Strike, Steamroller
PzAbt 501 - Panzer IVE - *** - Steamroller, Survivor
PzAbt 502 - Verdeja 2 - *** - Steamroller, Survivor - Albert Kerscher
Artillery
Werfer Abt 621 - 15 cm Nblwf 41 (SdKfz 10)
Artillerie Abt 601 - 21 cm Mrs 18 (SdKfz 7) - *** - Zero Slots, Skilled Support - Elsa Kloss
Artillerie Abt 602 - 15 cm sFH 18 (SdKfz 7) - *** - Counter Battery Fire, Zero Slots, Skilled Support
Artillerie Abt 701 - 15 cm sFH 18 (SdKfz 7) - *** - Counter Battery Fire, Skilled Support
Artillerie Abt 702 - 15 cm sFH 18 (SdKfz 7) - *** - Counter Battery Fire, Double Support, Skilled Support
Sturmgeschütz Abt 751 - StuG IIIB - *
Sturmgeschütz Abt 752 - StuG IIIB - *
Panzer Artillerie Abt 611 - Sturmpanzer I - ** - Skilled Support
Fighter
I./JG 61 - Bf 109F - *** - Fast Rebase - Adolf Galland
II./JG 61 - Bf 109F - *** - Leadership, Fast Rebase - Heinrich Bar
III./JG 61 - Bf 109F - *** - Fast Rebase, Legendary
Tactical Bomber
I./ZG 6 - Bf110D - *** - Readiness
I./AG 9 - He 70 Rayo - *** - Prudent
I./SG 7 - Ju 87R - *** - Double Move, Crippling Blow
II./SG 7 - Ju 87R - *** - Entrenchment Killer 4x, Survivor
Strategic Bomber
I./KG 43 - Do 217E - *** - Survivor
Reserve
Pionier Brücken Bataillon 1 - Brückenpioniere (Opel Blitz) - No Surrender
Pionier Brücken Bataillon 2 - Brückenpioniere (Opel Blitz) - Learns From Mistakes
Pionier Brücken Bataillon 3 - Brückenpioniere (Opel Blitz)
Fallschirmjäger Reg 1 - Fallschirmjäger - *** - No Surrender
Fallschirmjäger Reg 2 - Fallschirmjäger - **
Fallschirmjäger Reg 3 - Fallschirmjäger - **
Fallschirmjäger Reg 4 - Fallschirmjäger - *
Fallschirmjäger Reg 5 - Fallschirmjäger - *
PzAbt 412 - Somua S35 - ** - Ignores ZOC
PzAbt 511 - Neubaufahrzeug - ***
AufkAbt 11 - SdKfz 222 - *** - Envelopment
AufkAbt 12 - SdKfz 222 - *** - Distraction, Field Repairs
AufkAbt 21 - SdKfz 232 8Rad - *** - Field Repairs
AufkAbt 22 - SdKfz 232 8Rad - *** - Hit and Run
Panzerjäger Abt 201 - Panzerjäger IB - *** - Field Repairs
Panzerjäger Abt 202 - Panzerjäger IB - *** - Double Attack, No Retaliation, Survivor
Panzerjäger Abt 211 - 5 cm Pak 38 (SdKfz 11) - * - Double Support
Panzerjäger Abt 212 - 5 cm Pak 38 (SdKfz 11)
FlaK Abt 271 - 8.8 cm FlaK 36 (SdKfz 7) - ** - Fast Learner, Lethal Attack
FlaK Abt 272 - SdKfz 7/1 - *
FlaK Abt 273 - SdKfz 10/4 - *
FlaK Abt 274 - 2 cm Flakvierling 38 (SdKfz 10)
II./AG 9 - Fi 156 Storch - *
IV./JG 61 - Bf 109F - *** - Aiming Assistance
II./ZG 6 - Bf110D - Readiness
III./SG 7 - Il-2 Shturmovik - * - Lightning Attack
IV./SG 7 - Ju 87R
II./KG 43 - Do 217E - **
III./KG 43 - Do 217E - **
Panzerzug Hamburg - Armored Train - **
Highlights
With the new combat prediction system I thought for a second I'll be given command over Italian and Bulgarian forces as well. Unfortunately not, I'll have to rely on the AI to do the job right.
Good news - some extra prestige gained by encirclement never hurts. Bad news - not providing AA cover to 21 cm artillery always hurts.
Pionier Bataillon 34 is now inflicting more casualties against infantry so the unit awards speed up.
I./ZG 6 gains an award trying to assist Bulgarian air force against bombers. Unfortunately Bulgarian planes seem to have other targets in mind and thus do not contribute much, leaving the bombers alive for a few more turns.
I'm glad the prestige pool is separate this time. Italian tanks seem to be obsessed with high ground and end up in a vulnerable position on the enemy turn.
Bulgarian tanks in "I will survive" mode. they refuse to replace losses and just sit there for the whole battle with 1 strength and by some miracle make it until the end.
Finally, encirclement of the forces near Italian positions is complete. This was the more urgent one, as Italian army did not manage as good as the Bulgarian counterpart.
Even more good captures. I'm not using them, but at least it helps with prestige and allows to deal with nasty heroes.
Kortisa is taken after heavy fighting. The defenders there mean business.
Encirclement part 2 is complete, time to help my Bulgarian allies.
Possible side effect of the "invisible" artillery support bug. Enemy artillery bombards my guns despite the fact they have no way of knowing the unit is there, beyond spotting range.
Ending the mission with an award for my best infantry unit.
Summary:
Equipment Captured:
Cruiser Mk.IV - 8 (up to 12)
QF 25 pdr - 5 (up to 12)
Cruiser Mk.II CS - 8 (up to 8 )
105mm M.1925/27 - 7 (up to 7)
Final Prestige: 26752 (up 563)
CP gained: 4 (up to 9)
Overall:
This mission had potential to be my favorite so far. It's a large map with three distinctive battle groups, presence of Italians and Bulgarians along with the potential to encircle huge amounts of enemies and capture their equipment and with proper setup this can be a huge amount of it. The only thing holding the scenario back was rather incompetent behavior of Italian and Bulgarian forces. They were strangely passive, sometimes did not replace losses despite having the prestige and instead positioned themselves next to the enemy right after retreating earlier (especially true for tanks) as well as constantly attack fortifications, something I noticed in SCW already. Compared to 7th Panzer Division in 1940 they made more questionable moves - possibly since their AI was set to a lower level? Despite the AI issues I still enjoyed the scenario greatly, once again it does something entirely different with the army setup and terrain offered.
