Some more action footage from the mopping up phase of my attack battle along the southern coast -- it's still hard fighting as the veteran Shorkertruppen are not giving up easily...
In the first sequence on this video, the crew of an immobilised Sherman of the "Lightning Fist" Brigade struggles to spot a lone Shorker grenadier in the bushes in the back who keeps chucking grenades at their tank, eventually knocking it out.
The crew bail out and then proceed to open up on the enemy soldier with their pistols, firing under the tanks between the tracks and wheels, eventually wounding him.
In the second sequence, a pair of PRRAF infantrymen clearing the top of the eastern ridge take cover behind a stone wall as two hard-bitten Shorker grenadiers charge them... one of which is shot down ... the other hits the dirt, tries to throw a grenade but is taken out by an enemy grenade first ... his own tumbles to the side and explodes, wounding him further.
At this point no quarter is being given and prisoners are rare... at this point it looks like both battles will be victorious for the People's Republic of Rico Armed Forces! Jolly good show, chaps!
Below the PRRAF attack battle, Operation Iron Fist, as it went pretty much to plan.
Two low parallel ridges covered in olive groves, with a dry riverbed in between. Three objectives, on e quite for forward and a bit isolated, two further back ... all based around solid-looking farm buildings.
PRRAF Southern Command decided to hit first the left and then the rear objectives with two pre-timed artillery barrages (heavy mortars and 75mm guns) ... the first on turn one, the second at 15 minutes.
All the tanks (the Lightning Fist Brigade provided 7 Shermans for this battle) and infantry (1x rifle company) were to break through in a concentrated punch right on the heels of the artillery barrage on the left and penetrate far to the rear along the lee of the left-hand ridge, and then swing right, timing their advance with arrival of the second artillery mission, hoping to outflank his AT defenses.
A few recon and scout teams were assigned to carefully advance and keep an eye on the centre.
The attack went too well initially at first ... resistance at the first objective was obliterated quicker than anticipated and the armour was in position to swing right quite early on and proceeded to lose two Shermans to accurate fire from Shorker Marders firing across the valley (one was knocked out early)
Once the artillery started firing (some of it short), the infantry and armour dashed across the valley and up the slopes through the olive groves for the final assault!
