We held the first (and unofficial) AH2 event in the Beta arena today, "The Battle of the Bulge." A special thanks to the following players for participating:
Allies:
Sabre
68Falcon
Warhound
68DevilM
Emodin
Axis:
Flossy
Sakai
Taxi
DmdJordi
Easyscor
While the group was small, we had a good time nonetheless. The Allied tanks spawned from A3, and moved immediately to take up defensive positions at Bastogne (the town just NE of A3). Three of four Allied tanks moved into reverse-slope positions just east of the town, along the Axis likely line of advance. 68Falcon and I went moved to swing north of Bastogne in the hopes of taking the German Panzers in the flank as they moved on Bastogne. Unfortunately, I got a disco almost immediately.
When I respawned (after announcing my intentions to all), I decided that I would sit in ambush at the spawn point, south and slightly east of the German line of advance.
I moved up into a line of trees to provide some cover, then shut down my engine. I listened to the sound of German armor advancing, and noted after a few minutes the top of a tank turret just over a short ridge line. The enemy tank crested the hill, and began to descend the near slop. At a range of under 400 yards, I fired one AP round on a flank shot; I was rewarded with a fireballed panzer. First kill to the Allies.
Again, I sat and listened, and once again, the sound of the enemy's engines gave them away. I spotted another panzer through a gap in the trees about a thousand yards behind me, moving to get around the back (west side) of Bastogne. I fired up my engine and took off in the direction he'd gone, hoping to sneak up from behind when he stopped to take Bastogne or its defenders under fire. I lost him, but got a radio report that the defensive guns at A3 were firing into the forest southeast of the field. I moved to where I thought the enemy tank was and stopped, again shutting down my engine. I had a bad moment when I heard the crack of a tank's main gun, but the fire was not coming near me. I also heard the sound of the base's guns firing, and noted the direction of their outgoing fire. I fired up the diesel again and set out to find my quarry.
After just a few minutes of driving, I spotted the mottled camo paint job of the enemy tank. His gun was pointed towards the town, where his rounds were landing. No time for finess, I charged him, firing as fast as my loader could chamber the rounds. My first round hit, and I felt momentary elation. This was replaced a moment later with the sinking realization that it had richochetted off. His gun began to swing ominously towards me and it was a race to see who would get off the round first. It was me, my next shot taking out his maingun. I roared past and fired again, then again. As I passed and the distance began to open again, I fired one final round. Ker-blam! Alass, dear Flossy...I knew her well.
Almost immediately, I got word that another enemy tank had been neutralized. Three down and two to go. I began to drive back towards the town along the perimeter of A3, when I noticed another enemy tank sitting just inside the treeline, point blank range. I slewed the turret around, but in my excitement and haste the round went high. It was to be a fatal mistake. As I waited breathlessly for the loader to ram home another AP round, the enemy tank fired once at point blank range. His snap-shot flew true, and my tank immediately brewed up and exploded. I was only slighly cheered by the fact that another of my platoon killed the second to last enemy panzer. And then there was one...
I ran on foot to 68Falcon's tank (i.e. I sent request to join as a gunner), and climbed aboard. I was eager for revenge, but was thwarted when Falcon's tank bogged down and he was unable to move. I spotted a tank turret just visible over a low ridge, and fired. Thankfully, I missed, as it was Emodin, rushing to engage the last remaining enemy vehicle. Falcon at last succeeded in freeing up his tank, and all four of the remaining Allied tanks pursued the lone enemy. His flight was short lived as the Allies took him under fire and quickly destroyed his panzer.
Finally tally, Allies 5: Axis 1. Bastogne held.
Thanks again, all. While our numbers were small, the action was nail-biting thanks to the great terrain in AH2. Nice job, HiTech and company! , all!
