[Albow0001]

BEWARE: LONG STORY!

Here is my Actual story from within Close Combat 1.

Just a little backround info: We have spent 9 days fighting throught the hedgerow hell. We have made very few advances, and every objective we have gained has been payed for in blood. We lie now on a phase line, along a long strip of hedgerow, fighting back and forth across phase lines o gain small amounts of ground. Earlier in this match, i tried a rapid advance on Phase Line 2b: We used 3 our three remaining tanks (the other two having been ravished from an earlier battle with a Panzer 4) to advance fast across the ground. Earlier, scouting party had said the area was clear. However, they had used the time in between to move an AT gun into place, and it destroyed all three advancing tanks, as it was hitting them from a side, and i had not expected it. We now lie fighting back and forth across the Phase lines, no armoured power left, in control of a church about 100 metres from the front, the church being a major objective for this sector. What lies ahead of our frontline is a series of small twisted hedgerows, and one major road running through them. Roughly half an hour before this story starts, our two assault teams managed to gain control of Phase line 2A, a major goal for any adancement.

It is at this time that i decide that for the next major battle, i am going to need a hold on the road so my tanks can advance. That is where Phase Line 2C comes in. It will secure the road curve, and it gives us a long field of view down it. Phase line 2C is surrounded by hedges, and is located tight after approximately 100 metres of orchard, trees lined up one after another in a straight line. I decide that the best move is to send 2 BAR teams forward on it. I named the commander after myself, so naturally, since it was going to be an easy attack (so recon suggested) i would send myself and my team as well as another team. Both teams consisted of a compliment of 8 men.
We had been holed up in the church up until now, and we began our advance to the frontline orchard from the church. The germans by this time had decided that the church must be mortared to get rid of it. Unfortunatly their aim was off, and all of their shells came down along the dirt road we were to follow to the orchard. The shelling was so heavy that my team got lost on it's way to the orchard, and ended up 50-75 metres in the wrong direction, and 1 man short.
Standing in the field, we knew we had ended up going the wrong way, so i scream at them to head back to the orchard. However, as we stand up to walk back to the orchard, one of our riflemen is shot dead right where he stands. After about five minutes of careful recon work, we discovered that a sniper and a German recon team were in the bushes. We managed to draw their fire, and when we had them pinned, we advanced, fired at them, smoked them out, then rushed them, taking 2 prisoner, and killing the sniper and one recon.
WE were now down to six men, and im pretty sure the other BAR team would be pissed when we get there (wouldn't you be?)
We found our way back to the dirt road. Well, it'd like this. The other BAR team had advanced down the main road right in to a German rifle team who were going to advance on the church when the shelling stopped. The BAR team had been wiped out, and the german rifle team was three down. Thankfully, i had already sent out a recon team to take care of the remainders.
So, now our job was to advance down the orchard annd capture Phase line 2C. 10 men short of full strength (2 from my squad, the whole other BAR team). I decided i would send reinforcements in to help them, but it would be at least 10 minutes, they were 400 metres down, and still in heavy fire fights along Phase Line 2B. I decided i would send 2 rifle teams and 1 bazooka team. They would arrive at Phase line 2C ETA 10 minutes. So, it was decided that due to the wait it was best to advance now, and keep surprise on our side. We made it down almost 80 of the 100 metres of field.
That was when the field caught on fire. Down at the Phase line was an MG 42 that was guarding the strategic objective. The shots ripped down the woods, tearing apart one of our team members instantly. That left us at 5. Thankfully, ther ambush had left us at smoke range. Using what was left of our smoke, we smoked them out.
POOF. Suddenly, they couldnt see 10 feet in front of themselves By the time the smoke had cleared, the BAR team was gone. They waited, eyese scanning their short horizon, watching every leaf and twig. That is when 1 of the MG42 team takes a bullet and keels over. The MG 42 team spins around to find fire coming from on the road. We advance to fast for them to set up the gun, and take 2 prisoners. We now hold the Phase line. Our objective is to hold off for reinforcements. Reinforcements which had to be rededicated to Phase line 2A when German forces broke through our defenses. No reinforcements were coming.
The team waits for almost 25 minutes, while reinforcements dont arrive. The sounds of heavy fire crackle across the sky, and the phase lines shift back and forth.
In this time, i try to shift a .50 cal to assist in holding the location. On route to the objective, the .50 discovers that teams have advanced around us, and hold the orchard behind us as well, so there will be no falling back.
Suddenly, one of my BAR team spots a German patrol in the bush. Not just a patrol we soon learn, but a whole German Rifle team, with a compliment of 9. They begin to advance from their positions, slowly at first, to capture back the phase line. Soon, they are moving fast across the 50 metre stretch of field between one hedge and the other. I am forced to make an executive decision : Ditch the crucial Phase Line now and hold on to my team, or fight for our lives and hope reinforcements can be freed up.
We are to fight. The team is within our touch almost, 10 yards away. We come out of hiding in the hedge, throwing grenades, the BAR crackling. 3 germans are cut down in 30 seconds, and the german rifle team kisses the ground. We throw more grenades, and rush them quickly. The remaining three fall back into the hedges 50 yards away. We decide to hold out on the Phase line.
A further 10 minutes pass. we wait, while our boys gain back Phase line 2A. It looks like reinforcements may be free, until 2 rifle teams launch enough of a counter-attack to sap my forces. Well we lie in wait, we hear voices in the hedges 50 metres away. And a low rumble. For 2 minutes, we listen as voices jabber back and forth, in low, hushes tones. The rumble grows into a roar.
The roar continues. I can tell that behind those hedges lies something mighty, and it is coming my way.
The rumbling drones on, the voices pierce through our minds, we wonder what is concealed behind those hedges.
Then, we discover, and we wish we had never found out.
CRASH! Throught the hedges in front of us, something almighty rips through the bocage, and tears forward. We barely have time to hit the dirt before shots rip over us. Lying in front of us is a Tiger tank and 1 assault team, apparently in reserve from the Axis forces. They rip across the field. The tiger roars towards us, while the infantry keep close behind, laying down heavy suppresion fire. But then, at 40 yards, they stop.
It appears as though they were expecting us, but they cant find us. I issue orders to keep our heads down, and don't even twitch. The krauts appear to decide they want to advance after all. However, they are going to check this field very carefully. They inch forwards
30 yards away. The rifle team appears to pause, and then lets heavy fire crack through the hedge, right above our heads. my team is starting to panic
20 yards away, the fire stops. the germans appear to be looking for something, anything. We dare not even breath, they are advancing cautiously and alertly
15 yards: The tiger's main gun begins to rotate. It is aiming slowly but surely towards our position. In the bushes to our left, we can hear the rustling of other units advancing as well. It is certain, we are surrounded.
10 yards: We can hear the krauts breathing on us. The tiger has decided to stop, and is almost completely locked on us. The rifle team continues it's advance
The rifle team is now 5 yards. The rest of my team is completely panicked. The Tiger is sitting 10 yards away, it's main gun aimed right down at our positions. The germans rifle team has begun to aim their rifles into the hedges. They are standing and aiming. We are still hiding.

That is when it happens. The tiger team appears to be unbuttoned (ie the hatches are open). Newberry or Nickel or something, i can't remember the kid's name (i usually remember my team member's names for the game, gives it a more personal feeling) stands up. Out of his pocket, he produces the last grenade our team has, wich he throws at the tiger's hatches. As he does so, a Mauser shot rips through him. We have lost our cover. The rifle team begins screaming something, and our team immediately fires into the bushes. The BAR and thompson do an excellent job, killing 4 krauts right away. The reaminder open fire. Another team member takes a shot, and is incapacitated. We continue to fire away into them, their standing making them excellent silhouettes.we manage to have killed six all together. My gun jams. I switch to my pistol. I can't understand why the Tiger hasn't fired, until i click on it and learn that the main gunner is dead, and someone else is taking the main gun. Action has to be taken fast? But what? I continue to fire into the rifle team with a pistol, when another member of my team is shot down. The two of us collectively have a BAR, a jammed Thompson, and a Colt Pistol as weapons. we suppress for as long as we can, while the infantry team suddenly starts to run at us. at 10 yards away (because when we first opened fire they fell back), it looks like their charge will be successful. We have nowhere to fall back on, the germans hold the orchard.
As the infantry team rushes us, the only thought in my mind is "Shit, i;m gonna have to surrender or die. I'd rather die." Apparently my computer equal thinks the same, as the computer soldier Luke stands up and his mental condition changes to "Heroic". He fires at the oncoming rifle teams, and is hurt when he gets shot by a german rifle. Well, it is over now, they are right on us.
Suddenly, the bushes to our left come alive with fire: my 2 rifle teams have made it! We fell back from Phase line 2A, but the fight exhausted local German units and the advance was quick. It took only 7 minutes to reach us, so they got there around when we heard the sounds in the bushes to our side. As the Tiger turret rotates to focus back on us, the bazooka hidden in the shrubs scores enough of a shot to make the crew bail. They surrender as our rifle teams advance on the weakened german rifle teams. They disappear back into the hedges, and we hold the line for a further 30 minutes until we score a Major American Victory.

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