Breakthrough
The new attack plan called for two companies of veteran engineers to hook right and one company to hook left and meet at the bridges in town. The 105 Shermans would creep forward in support, a platoon of Greyhounds covering the left flank, a platoon of Shermans supporting the 105 Shermans, crack M10s and 76 Shermans waiting to breakthrough, Scout Cars and 2nd Greyhound platoon ready to charge over the bridges. Instead of the arty barrage, 2 81mm spotters plotted to lay smoke. No time for probe; time to go. Bar teams and bazooka teams used as fodder to draw arty as they moved straight up the middle, and it worked. Mortor rounds started falling on the advancing Bar and Bazooka teams right away. Engineer companies made it to assault positions unscathed. A light German gun opened up on one of the Greyhounds but did no damage and was promptly silenced by a 105 Sherman. The enginners began their assault and were greeted by 81mm rounds (surely a spotter). They hunkered down and waited while the Shermans blasted away at the German infantry exposed near the bridges. Great valor was displayed by the engineers and soon they controlled the west side of the bridges. Smoke covered the east side of the bridgehead and the Scout Cars were given the go ahead for their suicide run across the two main bridges. One was blown to pieces by a faust at short range, the other made it across with damage to its gun. A Greyhound following close behind felt the wrath of a schreck. The engineers spotted two schrecks and silenced them. Another light AT gun was dealt with.
GO GO GO
The Sherman platoon broke for the right birdge and made it across unscathed, followed by the 76 Shermans and the M10s. Soon the engineers were following. Total breakthrough. We control the bridges and are moving to relieve the battered troops in the main town.
All is not lost -- yet.
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"Only the dead have seen the end of war."
Plato
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