Slitherine

Did I see that your Aufklarungs had earned 2 stars on their first operation, Herr General? That new recognition-of-performance system mentioned in the latest communications from OKW is obviously proving to be beneficial!

fluffybunnyuk wrote: ↑Fri Jun 05, 2020 4:47 pm Herr Pferdmann is in for a bad day when the casualty lists come back. Norway give me back my Gebirgsjäger!
Its going to be a long swim back to Berlin...plenty of time to ponder high commands idea of a skiing holiday.

It's finished - just need writing up

BaronVonWalrus wrote: ↑Sat Jun 06, 2020 3:26 pm Did I see that your Aufklarungs had earned 2 stars on their first operation, Herr General? That new recognition-of-performance system mentioned in the latest communications from OKW is obviously proving to be beneficial!

They had almost 1 star after first mission but lost most of that from normal reinforcements! New bonus xp is strong!

April 9th 1940 08:00 (1)
Still aboard the Admiral Hipper Pferdmann waited anxiously for confirmation that the assault force had made landfall. The relief on his face was clear for all to see when the radio crackled with news “138.Gebirgsjäger closing on Trondheim.”
A single regiment of Norwegian infantry held the city. Initial reports confirmed it as the 12th.


Pferdmanns nerves were further tested as the roar of the Admiral Hipers main battery firing succeeded in drowning out all other noise. High commands' worst fears were realised, the RN had been sighted. Early reports were encouraging. The HMS Gurkha (DD) had been engaged by the Admiral Hipper and badly damaged. This allowed the Destroyers Paul Jokobi (Z5) and Theodor Riedel (Z6) to move in and finnish her off. Both took some light damage in the engagement.

U-33 spotted the HMS Birmingham (CL) and engaged, causing heavy damage. The Destroyers Bruno Heinemann (Z8) and Friedrich Eckoldt (Z16) came in close hoping to remove her as a threat but although left listing badly the RN vessel refused to sink. Proving to be as stubborn as the British reputation.


The HMS Birmingham returned fire on Z16 aided by an unidentified contact further west.

Kapitän zur See Hellmuth Heye glanced over at Pferdmann “Herr General, we can not hope to match the Royal Navy if they are here in force. Make your landings quickly”

April 10th 1940 (2)
Trondheim was the site of heavy fighting. Men of 3.Gebirgsjäger Div pushed hard against the 12th Norwegian infantry regiment. By nightfall the brave defenders were left only having a secure hold on the local airfield. In Trondheim harbour German infantry busied themselves securing the moorings for the troop ships they hoped were arriving tomorrow..

Major Larsen hurried around his men, checking everyone was prepared. He didn’t know why it was so important to hold here. The city was all but lost and there were no military planes using the airstrip. But his orders said hold, so hold is what he would do.


Korvettenkapitän Hans-Georg Zimmer of Z5 watched as the HMS Birmingham almost split in two as his torpedoes struck her starboard side. His jubilation was very much short lived though. Steaming in from the west was HMS Suffolk (CA)


Not knowing what other RN vessels were heading towards him, Hellmuth Heye ordered the remainder of the surface fleet to fall back to better protect the unarmed ships carrying 1.Panzer to shore. Coming into range of a Norwegian shore fort, the Admiral Hipper fired in support of the landings.

Captain Harris was not amused. A hole had been torn in the side of his ship. Torpedoes fired from a previously unseen German Submarine had left his ship damaged but still operational. A voice from behind almost startled him “I’m so sorry Captain, that last hit. I wasn’t expecting it, I...I dropped the urn”
The Captain sighed “Better get back to the galley and get another brew on Perkins. Can’t give Jerry what for without one” One of his officers, his head shaking could be heard mumbling “Ruining a good cup of tea. it’s just not cricket I tell you.”


With RAF Hurricanes flying overhead Major Larsen was encouraged. Maybe if he held here then soon there would be more!
A small skirmish with some German Pioneers soon escalated to a full blown engagement with both sides taking heavy losses.


Pferdmann was thrown to the floor. He could hear the ship creak and groan under the strain. “Herr General! It’s time to get you ashore with your men Her General.”
That was Hellmuth Heye talking. British Torpedo bombers meant only one thing, A British Carrier. It was time to fall back.

HMS Suffolk took a parting shot at the nearby Z5 as she withdrew from contact.


April 11th 1940 (3)
The last of the Norwegian defenders at Trondheim had fled. The city along with its harbour and airfield now lay in German hands.


The first formations of 1.Panzer division made landfall and quickly organised themselves for combat. Generalleutnant Pferdmann would be joining them tomorrow and it was imperative the area was secured.
Also arriving with the first ships were men able to get the local airfield operational. They were too far north for planes to support them but with this airfield they’d have a base to fly from and for the first time provide Pferdmann and his men with airsupport.


Even whilst the remainder of the surface fleet withdrew, Z5, under the command of Hans-Georg Zimmer sailed hard to keep contact with the retreating HMS Suffolk. Pressing hard his ship took some big hits but he never once doubted this course of action. If he could keep track of the enemy Cruiser then U-33 could easily sink her. IF.


“That’s it boys, give Jerry a damned good thrashing!” There were cheers from the command deck of the HMS Suffolk. Flight after flight of Swordfish torpedo bombers delivered their deadly cargo into the port side of Z5. Never designed to withstand such an assault she was soon listing heavily and sinking beneath the waves.

RIP the brave crew of Z5

April 12th 1940 (4)
Pferdmann was making his way through Trondheim port towards his new command center. 138.Gebirgsjäger Rgt alongside their supporting Pioneers and artillery had done their job. 1.Panzer was now on the ground and a perimeter had been established. Tomorrow he could start pushing out.


U-33 and Z16 press the attack on HMS Suffolk scoring decisive hits to gain some measure of vengeance for Z5.


Shells from Hegra fortress fall round 1.Panzer but fail to cause an impact. A battalion of GB infantry are seen reinforcing the area. From the south east a Norwegian Mountain battalion comes up the road hoping to bottle the Germans up at Trondheim.


British planes harass the Admiral Hipper and her supporting Destroyers. Although they cause only light damage Hellmuth Heye knows he must withdraw until he is able to deal with the damned Swordfish. Pferdmann reads the dispatch and nods. Earlier today several fighter wings arrived at the newly acquired airfield along with a wing of Ju87 dive bombers. “I need the Luftwaffe back in the air. Admiral Hipper needs support” Walter Wagner cleared his throat. Why did this keep happening to him? “Slight problem with our planes Herr General” Pferdmann cocked an eyebrow, an invitation to continue speaking. “It would seem no one thought to load the aviation fuel on the transport ships. We have planes, pilots and ground crew. We do not have any fuel that our planes need to fly”
They say no one told Hellmuth Heye. They didn’t need to, he heard Pferdmanns cursing!


April 13th 1940 (5)
Steffen Schwarz felt good. He’d survived an uncomfortable voyage and his battalion landed in Norway intact. First contact with the enemy saw his men drive a British infantry battalion into a full rout. In the process he had completed an encirclement of Hegra fortress and would soon be leading his men in eradicating this annoyance.


With no air support forthcoming The Admiral Hipper and supporting Destroyers withdraw further north, hoping to get out of range of the British air wings.

Meanwhile U-33 and Z16 cautiously begin hunting for the British carrier.


His MP38 jammed at the worst possible moment. Steffen Schwarz dived to the ground just in time to avoid the burst of fire. His men had been caught out of position and flanked. More British infantry had arrived along with some French mountain troops. They proved tougher to handle than expected. Things were not looking good for him or his men.


The crew of Z16 knew it was risky. They should have turned back to join the remainder of the surface ships in the north. But as per orders they remained close to U-33 to provide support. They saw dozens of British planes then they saw dozens of British torpedoes.

All the while U-33 desperately dived deeper and deeper, trying with all her might to evade the RN destroyer that had found her.

April 14th 1940 (6)
Gun fire echoed around the hills. 1.Schützen Regiment did not let up. The British and French soldiers were fought bravely but still they were forced back. Steffen Schwarz was glad for the reprieve. Able to catch their collective breath the men of 37.Pioneer Abt began to rally around their charismatic leader.


The Norwegian mountain battalion coming from the south east was quickly routed by the Gebirgsjäger and another village occupied by the advancing forces.


Steffen Schwarz had to admire the bravery of the French Alpine troops. Even bloodied as they were, still they came. Thankfully their numbers were much depleted as his own men were ill prepared for a big fight.


The people of Roros looked on silently as German troops moved through their village. The silence gave way to fear at the first sound of gun fire. A ferocious battle, lasting well into the night erupted between the elite mountain troops. The Germans had not expected a counter attack and caught off balance by the ferocity of the Norwegian assault they were forced to fall back.


Z6 had taken heavy fire from a nearby coastal fort. Her captain was at a loss “That damned General has doomed us, bringing us into range of those guns, we have to pull back!”

Pferdmann was arguing into the radio “Those ships need to stay on the coast, it’s the only way we can support them. No we don’t have any air support, they have to stay under my Flak umbrella!” He was already irritated and arguing with Kreigsmarine personnel did not make him any happier. He had needed to commit the entire 1.Schutzen regiment north due to a strong British and French presence, And now British troops had been spotted in the south. He wasn’t sure he had enough troops to accomplish his objectives.

And here starts my obsession with A) shooting down those torpedo bombers so that I could then B) Sink the British fleet (most importantly the aircraft carrier)
There really was no need - the bombers literally have zero SA or HA and the fighters just aren't dangerous especially if my AA was in the right place. I left a DD in sight of the Forts (I didn't think the northern fort would have enough to sink it in one hit and I was right) in the hope I'd lure the bombers in where my AA could then hit them. The bombers never took the bait (too far). As long as the bombers were alive my fleet could not risk showing its face.....
I should have been more patient as there was no need to risk the DD to the fort. In fact there wasn't really anything to gain in hunting the British fleet except a little bit of XP on my AA.....but they had sunk two destroyers and bagging a carrier would do wonders for my ego!

April 15th 1940 (7)
Steffen Schwarz had just finished speaking to his company commanders. It would seem approximately 20% of his battalion were dead or wounded. Still they were at fighting strength and would be ready to move come morning. 1.Schutzen regiment had scattered what was left of the allied infantry in the area and advanced to capture the village of Steink Jer. Steffen heard the unmistakable sounds of tank engines rumbling through the hills. 1.Panzer Regiment had arrived to assist in ending the resistance at Hegra fortress.


138.Gebirgsjäger Rgt quickly rallied and made short work of the Norwegian mountain infantry that had forced one of their battalions back yesterday. The village of Roros was retaken.
Pferdmann was concerned that the south offensive was making little headway. But with so few troops he did not see a way of executing a faster push without accepting horrendous casualties. Something that he was unwilling to do.


U-33 located a RN Destroyer, HMS Zulu. fearful of being detected her captain sent short message “Probable location of British carrier found, await confirmation”


An ill advised assault on Pioneers of 3.Gebirgsjäger Div see’s a battalion of British heavy weapon infantry left in a vulnerable position,


April 16th 1940 (8)
As 1.Panzer advances they locate what appears to be the final forces defending Namsos. A single British infantry battalion backed by some AA guns. Two battalions of French Alpine troops are seen holding the village of Grong.

With Panzers suppressing the enemy, Steffens Pioneers are slowly clearing out the defenders at Hegra. He has twice called for their surrender and both times they have answered with silence. The return fire is sporadic at best and Steffen wonders aloud “why wont they lay down their arms?”


The British infantry holding the southwest road were quickly driven off and the slow advance continues. The reports that came into Pferdmann put more uncertainty into his mind. A Norwegian infantry battalion holds the village and a British infantry battalion is deployed in support. What really sent shivers down his spine was the engineer battalion dug in on a mountain side. “Walter tell my driver to standby. I need to get a personal look at the lay of the land. There must be a way to speed this advance!”


Hellmuth Heye was almost giddy. Confirmed contact with the HMS Glorious. A British Carrier. And it seemed she only had the single Destroyer escorting her. But he had to be sure. “Tell U-33 to avoid revealing her presence. But I need more information!”


In the north and south the allied forces refused to be silent. Buoyed by previous success the German lines hold,



Hellmuth Heye was shouting “COME ABOUT, COME ABOUT!” Somehow British torpedo bombers had found them, his ship now barely remaining afloat.

I actually don't know how the AI found my ships here. I suspect there might be something slightly amiss

April 17th 1940 (9)
Oberst Fischer hated it here. Hills, mountains and damned fortifications. This was no place for his Panzers. Hegra had fallen and his men now combed the area for any surviving Norwegian troops.
1.Schutzen Regiment had been involved in heavy fighting just south of Namsos but a battalion of French Alpine troops had been forced to retreat and cut off from supply.

37.Pioneers had advanced to cover the right flank, Obersleutnant Schwarz was preparing his men to advance and dislodge the remaining French Alpine troops.


Gebirgsjäger surged forward, a short but intense firefight saw the British infantry routing. With their flanks secure the Pioneers were able to catch their breath and regroup.

To the east 2.Gebirgsjäger Abt advanced cautiously reporting no further enemy contact. Alvdal village was undefended.


Captain Victor Dubois could feel the ache in his legs. His unit had been double timing all day. The Regiments 2nd battalion had been lost executing a counter offensive to relieve Hegra fortress and the 3rd battalion was barely holding against a strong offensive towards Namsos. Here the Captain led his company as the vanguard of a flanking attack designed to halt and then throw back the German infantry. Confidence was high as one battalion of Germans was seen retreating and the other locked in combat (the one they aimed to catch in the rear)

Major Ducos sat, staring ahead with a vacant expression. The sound of heavy machine gun fire, still heavy in the air drowned out his mumbling “Flank them and rout them, flank them and rout them….” Fully half of the battalion already lay dead or dying.

April 18th 1940 (10)
The last of the French Alpine Regiment was utterly broken early today. In the city of Namsos a lone British infantry battalion continued digging in. Any hope of victory all but extinguished they grimly prepared.


The village of Dombas became the latest to have its peaceful existence distrurbed. A lone Norwegian infantry battalion proved no match for the advancing Germans and they were forced to retreat in the face of a determined assault.
Further east the advance continued slowly but unopposed,


Even as the Norwegian infantry fell back they were quickly replaced by hardened mountain infantry. This rapid reinforcement prevented the Pioneers from taking the village. On a nearby hill Pferdmann was able to watch the battle for Dombas. “They fight bravely these Norwegians. As do the British and French. But they attack piecemeal and their defences seem disorganised. Their leaders have failed them, they seem to lack any plan.”


April 19th 1940 (11)
Obersleutnant Schwarz knew 1.Schutzen had the British pinned in Namsos, there would be no assault until the artillery had done its work. In the meantime he led his men against the AA battalion to the northeast of the city. Schwarz wasn’t expecting any air support (from what news had filtered its way to him, someone had forgotten to bring aviation fuel. Idiots) but if those guns were turned on his men when they were engaged with the British...well that might hurt.


Pferdmann arrived at his new forward post. The cafe was one of the few buildings still left intact within the village. The battle for Dombas had been fierce but once more German soldiers had proven superior.


Almost insight of Lillehammer. The advance in the east continues a snails pace. With only a single battalion they must be fearful of an ambush.


Pferdmann doesn’t understand the British mentality. Entrenched in the mountains the Engineer battalion would have proven all but impossible to shift. Instead of holding though they have attacked! He shook his head. He wasn’t sure if he should be admiring the courage or thanking the stupidity.

April 20th 1940 (12)
The British garrison at Namsos weathered the bombardment. The Norwegion AA battalion supporting them sent a request for aid but the response was simply “Hold you position, unable to provide assistance”

Oberst Fischer could see the last of the Norwegian shore forts ahead of him. His orders were simple enough. Secure the area and hold.


Pferdmann had deployed his own command group to defend the recently occupied village. There were still Norwegian infantry close by but he was confident that his small force could hold long enough for help to arrive. The last of the British engineers were flushed from the forest and his forces were now in a position to threaten Andalsnes.

Near Lillehammer the lone Gebirgsjäger battalion began moving towards the final objective. The men there knew how to use the local terrain and avoided the worst of the fire directed at them from the Norwegian artillery. A battalion of Schutzen from 1.Panzer was coming down behind them in support. “Soon we will know what the Norwegians have left” Pferdmann noted to his aide Walter.


April 21st 1940 (13)
Obersleutnant Schwarz could see black plumes of smoke rising from various locations in Namsos. The city had already endured several days of bombardment. Soon his men would join the Schutzen battalion in scouring the streets clear and securing the vital port for German use.


No one could lay claim that Gebirgsjäger’s were cowards. Crossing the mountains the Norwegian guns near Lillehammer were engaged and the city itself came under bombardment. With reports that no further enemy troop formations were in the area, Pferdmann told them to bring the city under siege. Reinforcements would be sent from the north as soon as possible.


From his command center Pferdmann saw the last of the Norwegian infantry in the area defeated. With the first of his troops approaching Andalsnes he could sense the end was near. With only a single British infantry battalion holding the last of his primary objectives he knew the allies were spent.


April 22nd 1940 (14)
Schwarz flinched as the medic cleaned his wound. That was close he mused. He knew that Pferdmann would have words about him leading from the front, but he’d be damned if he was going to sit at the rear like a coward. He was alive and Namsos was taken “Tell the General the north is secure”


Near Lillehammer the Norwegian artillery was routed and the city brought under siege. The nearby village of Elverum was secured.


The defenders of Andalsnes watched as German troops deployed in the hills slowly closing access to the city. Continued requests for reinforcements were left unanswered.


April 23rd 1940 (15)
Pferdmann was pleased to see Andalsnes fell with little more than a whimper, perhaps the British there lost all heart.
Meanwhile he received word from Hellmuth Heye. Their combined plan to deal with the RN was put into operation. Admiral Hipper engaged the HMS Cossack (a DD) whilst Z6 &Z8 moved in to block the access to the port.


The bombardment of Lillehammer continued.

I hadn't been totally idle with my fleet - now we'll see if my cunning plan is more Blackadder or more Baldric!

Launching from the flight decks of HMS Glorious the Swordfish torpedo bombers wasted no time in forming up and going after their prey. A pair of German Destroyers had been foolish enough to move in.
Flying on a predictable attack path they proved easy targets. Deadly flak from a previously unseen position decimated their formation. The crew of Z8 had little time to celebrate as HMS Cossack moved in.


April 24th 1940 (16)
Pferdmann left the naval engagement to Hellmuth Heye and concentrated his efforts on securing his last objective. Ordering all available forces to drive on Lillehammer it became quickly apparent that there were no further allied forces to oppose him. A single battalion of Norwegian infantry prepared to stand alone, rebuffing all calls to surrender.


Kapitän zur See Hellmuth Heye fought to restrain himself. Confirmation had been received that the enemy Torpedo bombers were spent. A supporting Hurricane wing had also been engaged though the fighters posed little threat to even the Destroyers under his command. But there were still RN ships in the area and he did not want to spend the lives of his crew recklessly.
He continued to engage the HMS Cossack with his own ship and he hoped to drive her off. Only a madman would keep a destroyer in the fight when facing down the guns of a Heavy Cruiser. Z8 withdrew behind Z6 although the latter was hardly in better shape.


Captain Vian watched his target disengage whilst another Destroyer came strait at him “Torpedoes away, all batteries engage the new threat” At that moment he became acutely aware of a screaming sound, he looked up and saw the form of a Swordfish hurtling towards his ship, out of control with black smoke billowing from her fuselage.

The crew of Z6 saw the collison, her guns adding to the carnage. HMS Cossack never stood a chance.


April 25th 1940 (17)
HMS Glorious caught between a U- boat and two Destroyers was ablaze, a desperate call for aid to HMS Zulu was met with static. She had problems of her own.


Pferdmann allowed himself a smile. Not only was the RN in tatters but the last defenders of Lillehammer were gone. The city would be his by tomorrow.


Only able to get one wing of fighters in the air, the RN tried one last desperate gamble. But the Hurricanes were met with a hail of flak and forced to abort their attack.


April 26th 1940 (18)
The last of the RN assets in the area were sunk with little fanfare.



By noon Pferdmann was contacting command “All objectives secure”

Later that evening he was reviewing the casualties reports that were coming in (he as a commander felt that it was important to know the cost of his victories) The men under his command had paid a heavy price.


The Kriesmarine had paid a heavier one. Z6 had gone down in the final minutes of the engagement but 75% of the Destoyer’s in the task force were lost. The last was heavily damaged as was the Admiral Hipper.

I could have taken Lillehammer one turn earlier but with one more flag worth 50 prestige to take it was better to wait (the early finish bonus was not 50p)
I was surprised by the losses taken by both Pioneer units - I was expecting them to be able to fight mountain infantry at least roughly even especially with half tracks giving bonus attacks. This was not the case. In every strait fight between them the mountain infantry gave my pioneers a whooping! DO NOT underestimate these elite troops fighting on the own turf.
This was (IMO) one of the tougher scenarios I've played. The time limit is quite tight for the terrain. And you can't sit back and let your artillery do the work so you can attack with no losses. At times you have to bite the bullet and take losses to advance.
The other thing to think about if you play this scenario - I had no planes. But then I'm not sure how much use they'd be. There is no airfield beyond the first near Trondheim so your fighters would struggle to cover the area where the British Carrier sits, tac bombers would be useful at least in the north and probably until you got down to the last few objectives in the south. Strat bombers would be more useful but only if you'd neutralised the Hurricanes in the north as they'd be outside of your fighter protection- no guarantee of that! And if you take all those planes, that's core slots you won't have for your ground troops. Any less infantry than I took probably wouldn't have been enough, there's not really time to take the north then get the same forces down to take the south. Yes the tanks could have been left at home (they didn't do much except kill the forts - not a real necessity! So that would have left me with less artillery. Assuming around 10-12 slots of air that would be 3-4 units less of artillery. Quite a dip....

Both Norway scenarios are very bloody due to the nature of infantry combat in close terrain, but North is probably more difficult than South.

I myself hate the Norway scenarios with a passion (as I did in PC1, though at least the weather is marginally better this time) so I've never gone North despite having never experienced it for myself.

voxr wrote: ↑Thu Jun 11, 2020 10:54 am Both Norway scenarios are very bloody due to the nature of infantry combat in close terrain, but North is probably more difficult than South.

I myself hate the Norway scenarios with a passion (as I did in PC1, though at least the weather is marginally better this time) so I've never gone North despite having never experienced it for myself.

What made this one stand out for me is that the time limit is very tight. Very little time to sit and let your artillery knock the enemy down to size to minimise casualties. Also not great options for encirclement to achieve the same.

Infantry fights are always bloody unless very well prepared for.

The AI is also VERY aggressive - a good chunk of my infantry casualties were from unexpected counter attacks. But at least I managed to protect my artillery!

Try the V pointing forward not backwards going south-west so the pioneer is sat at the base of the V with 2 mountaineers,as the top of the V and one arty either side of the pioneer on the flank. The AI doesnt like stepping into the V to get at the pioneers cos of the potential for counterattack from 3 infantry and 2 arty.

fluffybunnyuk wrote: ↑Thu Jun 11, 2020 3:31 pm Try the V pointing forward not backwards going south-west so the pioneer is sat at the base of the V with 2 mountaineers,as the top of the V and one arty either side of the pioneer on the flank. The AI doesnt like stepping into the V to get at the pioneers cos of the potential for counterattack from 3 infantry and 2 arty.

Interesting formation. I tend to try and keep my pioneers in close terrain and backed by artillery and when that's not possible in the safest place! The issue is early on I don't have too many units to form a front line as such so the pioneers have to make up the numbers in not ideal spots.

Norway's a special place because it's all close terrain but also mostly hills/mountains with oodles of mountain infantry to fight. I'd say it gets better but I know what happens in the next scenario too (spoiler: my pioneers might get a bit of a whopping again)

I'm enjoying the read though. Much appreciated. Maybe you'll get a nice infantry hero..... probably not though...

fluffybunnyuk wrote: ↑Thu Jun 11, 2020 5:43 pm I'm enjoying the read though. Much appreciated. Maybe you'll get a nice infantry hero..... probably not though...

Glad you're enjoying it

Well I've got the dismount guy - he's pretty decent. I'm hoping for the medic dude, he'd be pretty handy!

Horseman wrote: ↑Thu Jun 11, 2020 11:34 am

voxr wrote: ↑Thu Jun 11, 2020 10:54 am Both Norway scenarios are very bloody due to the nature of infantry combat in close terrain, but North is probably more difficult than South.

I myself hate the Norway scenarios with a passion (as I did in PC1, though at least the weather is marginally better this time) so I've never gone North despite having never experienced it for myself.

What made this one stand out for me is that the time limit is very tight. Very little time to sit and let your artillery knock the enemy down to size to minimise casualties. Also not great options for encirclement to achieve the same.

Infantry fights are always bloody unless very well prepared for.

The AI is also VERY aggressive - a good chunk of my infantry casualties were from unexpected counter attacks. But at least I managed to protect my artillery!

The close terrain makes it a lot worse. If I have no choice but to stop an infantry attack with my own I would rather park in the open. You end up doing less damage but take less as well. This obviously doesn't apply to Pionieres who are total dogshit in the open.

I actually don't mind AI aggression so much as long as I'm prepared for it (and with how strong recons/Storches are I rarely have a good excuse to be caught by surprise now) since it saves having to dig them out of entrenched positions. The AI will also often attack in unfavourable terrain (ie. across rivers, tanks in close terrain) so you take a few points of damage for what is mostly an easier time.

Your other comment encapsulates why I dislike the Norway scenarios though. It just feels like a total slog to me throwing infantry head-on against each other in frontal assaults with no opportunities for going around.