WesWorld

Indeed! Enjoyable as always!

Those Bulgarian Focke-Wulf Fw44s should hopefully be handy in marking targets. They probably won't be very effective as bombers - they're civilian-designed planes, after all - but in the harassment and spotting roles they should prove quite suitable.

The problems of Fliegerfuehrer Lituanen will be annoying for this campaign, but VERY useful for avoiding such problems in the future...... If necessary, the force can be reinforced from Luftflotte II in northwest Germany, which has more of the same types of aircraft.

October 23rd, 1935: Part F

Lieutenant-General Bartold Jasunski, decided that he either had to launch his counter-attack now, or forget it altogether. The marshalled 1st and 2nd Field Battalions, the WNSD Battalion Cavalry Reserve begin there move towards the positions of the 4th German Reconnaissance Battalion, their supporting artillery pounds the Germans scouted lines. Maj.Generals Witold Haller and Jaroslaw Laskowska are baffled when their planned blow strikes literally empty air. The German recon troops are no where to be found. Increasingly puzzeled, Haller and Laskowska halt their battalions after making a short advance, and wait their artillery support as it is labourously shifted forward. Mounted scouts are sent forward by Lt.Colonel von Kloskowska to probe for the Germans, they move northwest, west and southwest, initially they make no contact with Luck's Battalion, however they do establish that their are no LoN troops to the immediate north, nor to the south. One patrol pushes so far south they run into the left flank guard of the 1st Atlantean Reconnaissance Battalion.

Other cavalry patrols unexpectedly brush up against the edge of Lt.Colonel Luck's scout car outpost line. Wilno Self-Defense men suddenly find themselves trading rifle and carbine shots with German scout cars armed with automatic cannon and machineguns. The Wilno mounted troops in many cases caught in the open quickly scatter back into cover. Lt.General Jasunski is informed of this new development, the German Recon Battalion has fallen back some distance from its former positions, and placed itself in a position of defense. Haller decides to attack immediately, although Lt.Colonel Gradawski warns that only eight guns of his guns will be readily available for such a move. Maj.General Haller decides to chance it regardless, meanwhile Laskowska with Jasunski's permission turns southwards with his 2nd Field Battalion, using the 1st Field Battalion's attack as a shield while he moves to strike the hard pressed 1st Atlantean Recon Battalion in the flank. Von Kloskowska divides his Cavalry troops to screen the 2nd Field Battalion's flank and front as it advances, he also leaves a screen to cover the 1st Field Battalion's attack upon the Germans. Jasunski directs three of his carefully husbanded MG armoured cars, and six of his dozen light tanks, all former Lithuanian FT-17 tanks armed either with a short 37-mm gun or a 7.92-mm machine gun. Jasunski has directed his other four tanks and six armoured cars against Thule and Kreb's Reconnaissance Battalions.

Jasunski, Haller, and Laskowska are confident of success, they believe that Luck's withdrawl offers them an even better oppertunity to totally destroy Thule's Atlanteans stuck in the sunken road, with both flank and frontal attacks. The Wilno Army officers believe that the Atlanteans are doomed, and that a significant victory over the LoN Mobile Brigade is in their grasp. Lt.Colonel Luck, realizes his premotion of trouble is right on the money, when his scout cars report that the momentarily confused Wilno troops have begun advancing again, his scout cars come under increasingly heavy attack as Haller directs both infantry and artillery against their camoflauged positions. Two scout cars are knocked out in rapid succession by Wilno guns, a third is forced to retreat at high speed, other scout cars covering its withdrawl with their weapons. Luck's outpost line quickly begins to cave in, as Haller's attack builds up steam and rolls towards his dug in fusiliers and heavy armoured cars.

Newly promoted Leutnant Christoph von Langhausen, surveys the unexpected advance of the Wilno armoured combat vehicles with cool dispassion from the hatch of his armoured car. He has brought his heavy armoured cars up from reserve to stiffen the Fusiliers defensive line. Von Langhausen directs his men to concentrate their fire on the slowly advancing FT-17s, particularly the gun armed versions. Considering the relative scales of armour protection and armament, between the age-worn Wilno FT-17 and his own modern 8 wheeled, SdKfz 231 heavy armoured cars, the German vehicles are more then a match for the elderly Great War vintage, French built light tanks. 20-mm automatic cannons rapidly traverse and align on their targets, then snarl to life, their muzzle blasts bright and clear. Luck meanwhile orders his fusiliers to hold their fire until the last minute against Haller's advancing infantry lines. The remaining German scout cars also begin to fall back in an orderly fashion, their role as a picket line done, they would be needed to assist the fusiliers. Jasunski's tanks are surprised when rounds begin to hammer into the ground around them, against their turrets and frontal plating.

Ah, good, Luck's discomfitted the planned attack, wasted the Wilno artillery barrages, and now his change of position has split the enemy attack (though that does risk more casualties amongst the Atlanteans, they were getting some reinforcements). Now, to kill those damn tanks..... (ah, for some Pumas!!!)

October 23rd, 1935: Part G

Thule's line is anchored on it's left most point by a small, unremarkable timber cottage, surrounded by dense woods, old stackes of cut timber and long neglected fences of wood or piled stones, this singular building will pass into the military history books of both Atlantis and the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, as the "Bloody Cottage". Men of both the 1st Atlantean Recon Battalion, and the 2nd Jagers ter Paard Regiment, hurriedly dig in, in the grounds surrounding the cottage. They are not a moment too soon, as rapidly advancing rifle platoons from the Wilno Army 3rd Field Battalion, quickly threaten to surround it. A blazing fire-fight ensues for control of this undistinguish patch of abandoned forest and forgotten human habitation.

3rd Field Battalion commander, Maj.General Peter Radowski, orders his advancing platoons to hit the embattled position of the 1st Atlantean with maximum effort. Wilno Army and WNSD Battalion artillery steadily pound, the LoN troops holding grimmly in the sunken road. The numbers of killed and wounded from artillery fire and increasing rifle and machine gun fire are pilling up, they can not be treated properly amidst the storm of gunfire in the line, nor can they be evacuated in safety for the same reason. Many will die where they have fallen, others perhaps more fortunate are dragged into cover by their fellows at great risk, and tended with what supplies are at hand and what care the medics can manage while bullets and shells chew up their positions. The pressure on Thule's left flank and front quickly becomes unbearable, his line threatens to crack at any moment, even with the support of the 2nd Jagers. Thule however stubbornly keeps his men fighting, he will not retreat. Lt.Colonel De Vries, joins Thule, and frantically directs his arriving regiment to shore up, the Atlanteans battle line. De Vries is not optimistic about the situation, and reports to General de Brigade Gerard, that Thule's position is rapidly becoming untendable. He immediately requests that the 2/1st Belgian Lancers be deployed to assist. Gerard refuses, as the Belgian Lancers are his last remaining and uncommitted reserve.

The sound of metallic tracks thrashing through the underbrush, crushing twigs and fallen timber and grinding up leaves, cause many of the LoN troops to look around with worried surprise. The sudden appearance of four FT-17 light tanks creeping towards them, jolts both the Recon and Jagers like a lightning bolt. Several rifle platoons cluster around the tanks, in close support. Three 37-mm guns, and four 7.92-mm machineguns begin to rake the sunken road, the rifle platoons, nearly two hundred strong, dash foreard firing their rifles and carbines, priming grenades as they advance. Thule is confronted by this attack on his front, while, six Wilno ,machine gun armed, armoured cars appear on his left, with a full two hundred Wilno rifle men in support, while troops from the Wilno Army 4th Field Battalion press, some four hundred strong, press hard on Thule's right flank.

The advance screen of the WNSD Battalion Cavalry Reserve arrives at the cottage, it moves forward and right to extend the Wilno lines threatening to envelope Thule's increasingly fragile position. Lieutenant Taldor Valius, the senior Atlantean officer at the cottage, quickly realizes the danger of the situation and calls for reinforcements, there are at this moment however none to send, Thule and De Vries have problems of there own.

The Belgian and Atlantean troops hurriedly ready themselves, in the deadly quiet lull, that has suddenly come over their section of the battlefield. Lieutenant Valius stalks the defending battle line, giving encouragement and directing each rifleman and machinegunner towards a target. His resolute, businesslike and above all calm manner, gives both his own men, and the nearby 2nd Jagers, heart. Taldor Valius, knows they will need it, for the situation looks grim. Lieutenant Valius continues to walk the line in the same unhurried manner, in full view of the Wilno troops, even as the first Wilno bullets and shells begin to strike around the cottage and the rudely constructed rifle pits and shallow slit trenches. Lieutenant Taldor Valius, pauses briefly to ask an enlisted man for a light, he remarks to the surprised soldier that his lighter doesn't seem to be working, then continues to move calmly, puffing away amoungst his troops. Bullets and shrapnel whip around him, with each step, Valius, pauses only briefly to order his men to open fire, while enjoying his smoke.

The men of the 1st Atlantean and 2nd Jagers hit the advancing troops of the Wilno 3rd Field Battalion with every weapon they can muster at almost point-blank range. For a moment, the Wilno troops falter as their front ranks are ranked with heavy and concentrated rifle and machinegun fire. Maj.General Peter Radowski however urges his men on, Wilno Artillery redoubts its efforts to blow the hard pressed LoN troops out of their tenous positions. Shell rains down on the cottage, a dozen explosions bracket the Atlantean and Belgians, in places whole entrenchments vanish and the squads occupying them vanish. Lieutenant Valius somehow keeps his men to their posts, they hit back as best they can.

Lt.Colonel Fritz Luck further north is experiencing his own problems as the 1st Wilno Army Field Battalion rolls towards his lines. Luck has put in a call for air support, and has been warned that several flights are inbound, by an officer in Mobile Brigade Headquarters. Several members of Gerard's Staff do not share his unconcern with his left flank, and are working behind their commander to shore up, Luck's situation, which has them increaseingly worried. Major Jean Piron, commander of the 2/1st Belgian Lancers Cavalry Regiment asks the Brigade Staff if he is authorized to move forward to join the battle. Major Piron is informed that he is the only remaining reserve, and that General de Brigade Gerard will not contrance the Lancers deployment until he deems it necessary. Piron, however is however told that the situation is becoming critical, and that he should exercise his own judgement.

Piron, understands the subtext of what the staffers are telling him. He immediately orders his men, forward on his own initiative. Major Piron dispatches several Lancer troops north to link up with Lt.Colonel Luck, and restablish direct contact with the German unit. Piron is worried by the reports he has been recieving and suspects that the Brigade's flank is about to be turned. Meanwhile he advances eastward with the main body of his command as quickly as he can probing for the Wilno lines, no one at Brigade Headquarters can give him or his officers anything but a hazy idea of the extent of the Wilno Army's positions, the various engagements are fierce, wild and disorganized affairs and incoming tactical reports fragmentary. The area is covered in a patch work of thick woods and clustered bunches of farms which frequently block lines of sight. Smoke from artillery and rifle fire, and the occassional brush fire, hangs thickly amidst the trees further complicating things

On the one hand I find there is more Lithuanian war to read - YAY

On the other, I find I am behind and won't get to read it until Weds. - Waaah.

Just when your men are in the thick of it too!

Sounds like it's about time to hear the growl of motors from the sky!!

Found I had missed some again. Still an excellent read.

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General Gerard chooses to expediate his advance, rather then slow down, fully expecting that he will encounter the mysteriously absent Wilno troops concentrated around Vaskes.

I see Gerard got overconfident as to the foe he was facing, but I do not in fact blame him for pushing on with minimal scouting. Time was of import in order to save the LON forces in Vaskes, and he reasonably expected the Wilno forces to be hard by Vaskes. Not a fair bit up the road blocking the approaches.

The result can become nasty though, esp if the roadblocks are set as the base of a “V” of concealed positions. I wonder if the mud makes the AC's roadbound? I agree with Hrolf they can't dig men out of entrenchments, but as mobile pillboxes they can serve as a mobile fire support base.

“Here and there a armoured car exploded as it recieved a direct hit. O “ which is a problem with using them for support- basically any field gun can take em. Heck even Dutch HMGs can. But given the alternative of fewer ACs and more infantry casualites....

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Thule, curses loudly and profanely at the stupidity of General Gerard

Tsk tsk, such language. There was a need for speed. Besides, Gerard sent some folks to bring the Atlanteans waffles. I am a little surprised Gerard didn't pull back and start feeling for open wings sooner, but if the mud means relatively roadbound, options may be limited.

The sangers sound like field fortifications outlined in a little handbook of Russian WWII field fortifications. Or I'm imagining things again. Do the rest of you see the little blue people?

It's odd, this war is a nice little transition piece from the tactics of the US Civil War- distinct field armies, heavy use of field fortifications, Wilderness Campaign style but also a reliance on mass, mixed in with the equipment of the 1920s- MGs and field artillery are present, Armored cars, clunky tanks. All effective, and capable of beating the earlier period efforts. All very different, rightfully so, from static front Great War actions. For the Dutch, there would seem to be more value than most in examining events, as a defensive war in DEI would have many dispersed fronts.

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the Bulgarian doctrine views ground-attack aircraft as, well, highly-mobile and long-ranged artillery.

The Dutch doctrine still views them as supply interdiction, counter battery, and targets of opportunity for the most part. Of course the Dutch tend to think in the term of the Great War and aircraft aren't expected to do much better against trenchlines and fortifications than artillery. Where they do view them as fire support is for advances, where artillery may have more trouble tracking.

Quite pleased with Van Loons attempted actions. Not just blindly marching to the sound of the guns, but also stopping to inform others of the situation. Unfortunately, no one quite got the message. Reminds me of an instance in the 1850s, Col Cardigan was told to get those guns. It's just he was looking at a different group of guns. Made for a good poem.

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After all, cavalry in the open doesn't deal well with automatic cannon.....

Well horse cavalry. Now heavily armored Rhino cavalry might be a different matter....

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Gerard had his attention firmly fixed on his center and right flank, there he saw the battle being won or lost. Gerard felt that Lt.Colonel Luck was being needlessly alarmist in his interpretation of events.

Now you can blame him. Thats why you have support staff you can detail to go investigate the situation. Only once you have verified or dismissed that do you commit your reserves. Gerard should have used the committed portion of the 2nd Jaegers to apply pressure to allow Thule's unit to retreat, placed that in reserve to rest. Then commit the rest of the 2nd to the decisive point.

Really like hindsighting battles

It's humorous, of all the conditions listed limiting the airpower, parts were not there. Oh wait next paragraph. Still, there is no parts depot, which imposes delays and possibility of the wrong parts being shipped. It's hard for a QM service used to depots to switch to supplying forward positions.

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using all available Junker Ju-52 aircraft to para drop supply cannisters filled with ammo, food and medical supplies to the trapped LoN garrison.

The success rate of that sort of thing tended to be poor. Landing on the airfield, even if you don't plan to take off again, might be a more effective means. Its times like these I rather wish I had deployed, instead of simply offered, the Arend transports, whos gear was specifically meant for muddy short field conditions.

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Konarski made it repeatedly clear to the Wilno Self-Defense men in Festung Kessel that they were the bastion of the Wilno Republic

I detect foreshadowing of a hard fight...

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German Recon Battalion has fallen back some distance from its former positions, and placed itself in a position of defense. Haller decides to attack immediately, although Lt.Colonel Gradawski warns that only eight guns of his guns will be readily available for such a move.

...or change direction and move against the Atlantean flank to crush them, leaving the guns and troops in ambush for when the Germans come out of the defensive position and come to relief.
Not both.

[quote"Bloody Cottage" [/quote]
Nice, shades of Hougoumont. The presence of Tanks will be tough for the Jagers. The Belgians aren't as lavishly equipped as the Dutch. The Dutch organic AT assets, both ATR and ATG would easily deal with weak armor.

The Belgians tend to split that out to dedicated AT units at a higher level. In 1936-37 they will be adding an ATR/platoon, but nothing now. Technically at Regimental level there should only be 4 tractor drawn 47mm ATG, but I doubt they are where they are needed. Probably back with the 4 regimental howizers/mortars.

Air support in mixed lines, forest and with failing Command and Control may prove substantially difficult. What radio frequencies do the dedicated forward observers at battalion..oh are there any? Not among the Belgians, though in this case the Regimental level is present.

Sorry for the long comments, but I enjoyed reading and musing

Heh, the good thing for the air support is that only 1 side has tanks: the enemy. The LoN forces here don't have a single one, so any tank's a bad guy, and forces advancing with them are also bad guys.

German INFANTRY forces would be better equipped against tanks, but the recon forces engaged here are reliant on their armored cars for any anti-tank capabilities. May need to add a couple ATRs to the motor fusiliers.....


On the Ju-52s dropping containers rather than landing, the idea is to supply the troops for a few days, not to support them indefinitely. Also, not much is known, at this time, about what works and what doesn't for supply by air. Not to mention that Germany doesn't want to lose too many transport planes, and the expectation is that most planes that land at Vaskes will be lost.

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Originally posted by Hrolf Hakonson
Heh, the good thing for the air support is that only 1 side has tanks: the enemy. The LoN forces here don't have a single one, so any tank's a bad guy, and forces advancing with them are also bad guys.

True, depending on who's talking to them, and how well they can distinguish the various makes of armored cars and tanks from the air through the woods. Also presuming there isn't a flak trap set up to compliment the ambush. I mean if you know the foe has air assets, and you have some time to prepare...

Though if the terrain does limit the LON ACs, it forms a nice reason to field the DAF M39 on the TRADO suspension system.

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German INFANTRY forces would be better equipped against tanks, but the recon forces engaged here are reliant on their armored cars for any anti-tank capabilities. May need to add a couple ATRs to the motor fusiliers......

Based on IP to Pop, the Dutch have seemed fiscally well off, if manpower challanged- which is why you see Kongo and territorial names as Dutch officers- but why I made a TO&E for them. Considering that AANM put them in potential conflict with the Franco-Russian tanks, a fair amount of AT capability was needed. Since islands were in their future, you see more support weapons and lower echelons.

Belgium on the other hand is about the same as historical, and so I lean on the historic TO&E which is infantry-centric, but with seperate TD companies. Though I see that I did expand the AT to 8x47mm guns/regiment for leg infantry rather than the 4 tractor drawn mentioned above.

I see more ATRs/ tri-car AA/ and TDs in Belgium's future. More like the motorized Inf regiment and motorcycle companies I made.

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On the Ju-52s dropping containers rather than landing, the idea is to supply the troops for a few days, not to support them indefinitely. Also, not much is known, at this time, about what works and what doesn't for supply by air. Not to mention that Germany doesn't want to lose too many transport planes, and the expectation is that most planes that land at Vaskes will be lost.

Given the AA previously encountered, the bad weather (and winds) and the difficulties of dropping canisters intact and in recoverable condition, I think Germany will learn a great deal. And yes, crash landing a Vaskes would total the plane in many cases, but it might be a more reliable way to land explosives than dropping them.

There wasn't too much flak over the LoN positions, it was over the central city where there were flak problems. Most of what was seen over the LoN positions was short-ranged stuff, MG fire and so on, which can be mostly ignored from 5,000 feet or so. Will some containers go awry? Absolutely. but better to get some down and useful than none, since it seems the rescue forces are a bit tied up at the moment. If Germany had some assault gliders, I'd use them, but none are available in 1935.

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Originally posted by Hrolf Hakonson
If Germany had some assault gliders, I'd use them, but none are available in 1935.

Agreed. This is almost the perfect occasion for them, too. Maybe Bulgaria should look into that.

Germany has put out an RFP earlier in 1935 that will result in the historical DFS-230 gliders, but it was just a couple months before everything blew up so the competitors haven't presented their designs yet, much less had one chosen and put into production.

Probably wouldn't be a bad idea to look at the Gotha Go-242 glider as well, at least when the time comes.

Yep, that's in the plans as a follow-on, but first I need the first gliders!

So you're starting with this one then.

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Originally posted by Brockpaine

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Originally posted by Hrolf Hakonson
If Germany had some assault gliders, I'd use them, but none are available in 1935.

Agreed. This is almost the perfect occasion for them, too. Maybe Bulgaria should look into that.

Which is why gliders currently being tested in Atlantis will certainly look more apealing now.

I realized something today.
Col Thule is part of the Atlantean Royal family.

Does that mean when he was born, they announced
"A Thule is born!"

All and all I can see the question - who is more foolish, a Thule or his follower, becoming more relative.


As for gliders, they fall into the category- to limited an application for a midsized military like the Dutch to play with. We'll buy somebody elses.

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Originally posted by Kaiser Kirk
I realized something today.
Col Thule is part of the Atlantean Royal family.

Does that mean when he was born, they announced
"A Thule is born!"

All and all I can see the question - who is more foolish, a Thule or his follower, becoming more relative.

Answer: the foolish one is the guy who makes fun of Thule!