The Diary of Herr Pferdmann

[Horseman]

July 22nd 1945 (7)
The cloud has gone and my Luftflotte should be at full efficiency once more.

I have dispatched the reserve Maus Regiment to Thunder Bay to secure the city, if they meet heavy resistance then I will redirect several Regiments from the 4th Division to aid them but I doubt it will be needed.


The 4th Advance and destroy the Artillery Regiment leaving only a battered Armoured Regiment in the area.


The 3rd Division have secured Rapid city and now move on their final objectives.


The 1st Division was ordered to regroup and resupply before they continue their advance as there is another concentration of American Armour holding their next objective.


To their rear the last of the American Infantry in the area were wiped out and the city of Omaha captured.

The 2nd Division have moved in to attack positions ready for tomorrow.


A near suicidal attack by the American Armoured Regiment in the north alsmost leads to their complete destruction.

[Horseman]

July 25th 1945 (8.)
The last known resistance in the north has been squashed and the 4th Division is now detailed to mopping up operations.

The 3rd Division has secured Bismark, Dickinson and Rapid city Airfield, they have transferred some troops south to aid in our final push whilst others will join the 4th Division hunting down and American army remnants.


Joined by the 48th SE Panzer Regiment the 1st Division make short work of the American armour destroying all but one Regiment (and even that one is badly damaged)
North Platte is occupied.


The 2nd Division succeeded in their initial attack and destroy three armoured Regiments and should be able to drive on their final objective within days.


The Americans have retreated form the 1st Division, a first since we landed on the East coast, has American courage finally been drained?

[Horseman]

July 31st 1945 (10)
The Armoured and Engineer Regiments were destroyed at Denver and the city shall shortly be ours.


Sante Fe was captured and Albuquerque is only lightly defended


This battle is over and all that remains is to hunt down the remnants of the US army still operating in the area.

September 2nd 1945

[Horseman]

September 3rd 1945
A list of the honours revived by my command.

[Horseman]

October 3rd 1945


I think someone at High Command has been drinking, the date on my briefing reads October 24th and yet my calender says the 3rd. Or have I lost nearly a month?

So this is it, the final push against the Americans, they have proved tenuous in defence and do not give ground easily and I must salute their President for his courage, choosing to make a stand here rather than flee. I fully expect the enemy to be well entrenched so am glad Gustav is available.

As we are expecting well entrenched Infantry High Command has transferred the 42nd and 43rd Wurfrahmen Regiments to my Core allowing each Division to be accompanied by rocket artillery.
Further more both Jagdtiger Regiments have been re-equipped with Jagdpanthers as I think the speed will be an asset especially as I do not expect to face much heavy armour. Of course my full command has been brought up to full strength.

In addition to Gustav several reserve regiments have been assigned to me for what will hopefully be our last campaign against the Americans.

My plan as always is simple and flexible


All four Divisions will converge on our final objective though I do not expect each to arrive at the same time.
The 1st Division (Red) has perhaps the toughest job as I suspect the coast roads to be heavily fortified.
The 2nd Division (Blue) Has I think the most direct route, although they are initially advancing in tandem with the 1st they will soon break off and charge through the heart of the enemy.
The 3rd Division (Yellow) Should arrive shortly after or if resistance in minimal about the same time
The 4th Division (Green) may never make the final objective as they have the Rocky mountains to cross. Their primary mission is to secure my right flank against possible count offensives, if they make it further so much the better.

[Horseman]

And here we go, loses don't matter and speed is of the essence. I think my plan is sound though for this map I haven't had a peek at the scenario before hand so have no idea what I'm actually going to face!

I had 2 more core slots so chose to get more Wolfs as though the towed rocket artillery has better soft attack I like the raw speed of the Wolfs!

My decision to upgrade (downgrade!) my Jagdtigers to Jagdpanthers is based on my experience in the last 2 scenarios - The Jagdtigers didn't really add anything and rarely got in to action whilst the Jagdpanthers speed of 6 came in useful in captuing objectives and getting around to finish off damaged units.

Well lets see how wise my choices are!

Oh and for those who like to know (Kerensky) I have 7474 Prestige left after over strengthing, purchase and upgrade....should be more than enough

[Horseman]

October 3rd 1945 (1)
The advance northwards began today and the 4th Division reports that the initial river crossing will not be as strait forward as expected.


The 3rd Division advances past the Rockies in the south capturing Grand Junction (destroying the Anti-tank Regiment deployed to stop us)
Slightly further east an M10 Regiment is sighted and Gustav roared for the first time on this continent, the follow up by the Luftwaffe saw the M10s destroyed.


The 1st and 2nd Division's advanced without sighting the enemy and Farmington is secured.

[Horseman]

October 6th 1945 (2)
The Fort and Anti-tank Regiment were destroyed as the 4th Division swept across the river. In the air the 1st American Fighter Wing was spotted and shot down.


Heavy defences at Salt lake city, Gustav starts the bombardment as the 3rd Division move up.


The 2nd Division has secured Flagstaff and moved into position to cross the river.

The 1st Division destroyed the Infantry Regiment defending Phoenix and captured the city.


The USAF makes an appearance in force! Once fighter wing was utterly destroyed when my Luftflotte intercepted it on an attack run however others pressed home their attacks. More American planes were reported in the blue zone but some how the Luftwaffe lost track of them.


On the ground US Rangers lead the attack but the reserves in the front line hold.


Infantry sallied out of the Salt Lake defences in an attempt to destroy the Recon Regiment.

[Horseman]

October 9th 1945 (3)
It has started raining and it is forecast to continue for some time with worsening ground conditions. Once more as at Moscow in 1941 this could prove decisive.

The 4th Division hit back at the US Rangers destroying three full Regiments and badly damaging another. The Infantry Regiment that joined the attack was also destroyed.


The 3rd Division destroyed the Infantry that had left the safety of their fortifications. They also removed the Flak Regiment in preparation for better weather.


The Colorado River was easily crossed by the 2nd Division and they seized St George.


The 1st Division captured Bullhead city destroying the defending Anti-tank Regiment and hopefully securing their path across the river.


Once again the Americans counter attack with armoured units, so much for our intelligence reports indicating there would be few to contend with!


The 22nd Tank Hunter Regiment took a beating and was forced to retreat,


Artillery fire made little impact against the 1st Division, Veterans to a man I anticipate a swift breakthrough here.


The USAF mostly withdrew (back to base I assume) being as useless in the rain as my own Luftflotte.

[Horseman]

October 12th 1945 (4)
As quickly as it came the rain has gone blessing us with clear skies once more.

The 4th Division roughly handles the American forces near Bilings destroying the last of the Rangers, three armoured Regiments and the Artillery as well as capturing the city.
In the skies the lone P47 Wing that lingered was shot down by the Luftwaffe.


The defences at Salt Lake city prove inadequate as the 3rd Division breaks through them with ease destroying the defenders and capturing the city itself.
The reserve Recon Regiment attached to my command moved ahead and located any enemy air formation. Guided in with precise location the Luftwaffe struck hard shooting down two full Fighter Wings and leaving a third looking a sorry remnant of its former strength.


The 2nd Division have reported the capture of a Radar station in Las Vegas as well as securing the city itself.
The 1st Division broke through the forces guarding the west bank of the river and fanned out. One Flak, one Artillery and one Para Regiment were all destroyed and the nearby fort neutralised.


A large formation of American planes were spotted briefly flying north-east; most likely intending to stop the push of the 4th Division. I have sent orders to my Luftflotte commander- locate, intercept and destroy.

[Horseman]

October 15th 1945 (5)
The skies have darkened and we have heavy cloud cover, I can only hope we do not get more rain.

The 4th Division destroyed a Para and an Infantry Regiment as well as the Recon Regiment that had retreated from the assault. The city is secured.


To the east a reserve Regiment has discovered that Miles city is undefended and I have ordered them to secure the site as soon as possible.


An American Bomber wing is located from the ground and shot down by the Luftwaffe. The reserve recon Regiment advanced on Idaho Falls discovering that this city also lies empty of military forces but more importantly they locate the American Fighter formation seen heading north-east. My Luftflotte Commander wastes no time in dispatching all available fighter assets to intercept and the early reports are very promising. Three full fighter Wings shot down and a fourth badly depleted.


The 3rd Division advanced meeting no resistance and easily captured Elko.


The 2nd Division likewise met no resistance in their advance.


The 1st Division had breached yet another defensive line destroying a Para Regiment, two Anti-Tank Regiments and a mobile Flak Regiment.

[Horseman]

October 18th 1945 (6)
The skies remain filled with cloud but thankfully no more rain as of yet.

The 4th Division begun their advance into the Rocky mountains. Great falls was undefended and captured as was Miles City.


The 3rd Division continues their advance unhindered, at this pace they may yet be the 1st Division to reach the final objective.


The retreating American Fighter Wing was caught by one of my own and will never make it back to base.
The 2nd Divisions attack towards Reno has begun but I have given them clear orders, secure the city then press on north.


The 1st Division continued their slow slog forward destroying another Para Regiment as well as an Armoured and Flak Regiment. They also neutralised a strong point.
Elements of the Pacific fleet have been located and orders sent to my Luftflotte to redirect Strategic Bombers to sink this new threat before they turn their guns inland.


The 45th Tank Hunter Regiment. Caught in the confines of a city and horribly outnumbered have been wiped out, I am pleased to see that not one man surrendered and they have upheld the honour of the 19th Corps “Pferdmann”


The defenders of Missoula unwisely left their prepared defensive positions in a futile counter attack. They caused much damage but will now be isolated and wiped out.

[impar]

This is why I think Tiger II isnt suited for offensive. At least not the kind of offensive that needs to be a DV.
They are way back, instead of providing hard protection for infantry and artillery, are trailing the leading units.

[Horseman]

I'm not going to disagree on this one Impar...they are great when you're just slogging through defensive line after defensive line (as the 1st Division is doing in the south) but as soon as you hit clear ground with large distances to travel and no enemy to fight.....well then they lose some of their "power"

Still I'm quietly confidant on this one, though their lack of speed did cost me on the east coast

[Horseman]

October 21st 1945 (7)
It remains cloudy though clear weather is predicted.

The Infantry Regiment has been destroyed and now a strong point blocks the 4th Divisions advance.


The reserve Air Defence Regiment was ambushed by enemy armour whilst approaching an airfield and took heavy damage. Luckily the 3rd Division was close at hand to gain retribution.


Reno has been captured and the defences beyond look impressive.


The 1st Division continue their slow grind – Another Infantry, a M26 and an Anti-tank Regiment are all destroyed.
The Luftwaffe begin attacking the Pacific fleet and in LA we locate an interesting formation. The Secret Service, so this is where the President intends to make his stand, onwards to glory my 1st Panzer Division!


The 24th SE Grenadier Regiment have come under heavy shell fire, analyses of several unexploded shells indicate battleship fire!


The two American Cruisers combine fire with the Artillery in LA and cause massive damage to a Reserve Wurfrahmen Regiment.

[Horseman]

October 24th 1945
In light of the slow progress made by the 1st Division and the heavy defences located at LA as well as the rapid advance of the 4th Division I have decided to redirect the 2nd Division to cross the mountains and support the 1st.
Their Panzers will drive north once the mountains are passed to support in the attack on Seattle while the Infantry and Artillery Regiments will make a push for San Fransisco.

[Horseman]

October 24th 1945 (8.)
We have clear skies once more!

The 3rd and 4th Division's advance destroying the Strong point and the Flak Regiment that was blocking their ways.


The 2nd Division break through to the other side of the mountain range destroying the Infasntry and two strong points.


The 1st Division's slow grind got slower as the majority of the Regiments pause for resupply. They do however destroy the Artillery in LA,
The Luftwaffe sink the two American Cruisers off the coast.


The 20th Tank Hunter Regiment has been destroyed but they put up a fight knocking out many M26 Tanks before they fell to a mass Infantry assault.


The USAF makes another appearance. Luckily their attacks prove inreffective, they weill regret their rash action soon enough.

[Horseman]

October 27th 1945 (9)
Heavy cloud cover is back, I don't think my Meteorologists have had it right yet this campaign!

The 3rd and 4th Division's close on Seattle but the initial probing attack was far from conclusive.


The 2nd Division has cleared the mountains and managed to destroy the M26 and Infantry who destroyed one of my Regiments as well as a Recon Regiment.


The USAF Fighter Wing was easily dispatched by overwhelming numbers. On the ground the 1st Division succeeded in destroying the Flak and Anti-Tank Regiments. Further more the Secret Service troops, sworn to defend their President have been wiped out though there is not yet any information on the President himself, a shame as I'm sure he could have been “convinced” to surrender.


The Pacific Fleet Battleship has reappeared shelling one of my own Artillery Regiments. Its co-ordinates have been passed to my Luftflotte Commander.

[Horseman]

October 30th 1945 (10)
The skies have cleared and are predicted to remain this way, no tthat I have any faith left in the weather predictions.

South of the city an Artillery and Infantry Regiment are destroyed. The 4th Division has crossed the river and will now move to attack from the north.


The 2nd Division prepare for the final assault on San Francisco.
The Luftwaffe sink the Battleship that has been harassing our troops.

The 1st Division will need to re-supply but the LA area is now secure. The US Carrier was sunk in port.

[Horseman]

November 2nd 1945 (11)
Still clear!

The noose tightens around Seattle and it is only a matter of time before it falls.


A Destroyer Squadron is sunk and a Heavy Cruiser badly damaged by the Luftwaffe.
1st and 2nd Division's close in on San Francisco.


In the north a heroic if not futile counter attack was launched.