Talk:AFOH/@comment-14850713-20151018170726/@comment-14850713-20151025043300

OOC: No problem Leader. I've been busy with other stuff too.

IC:

Holste watches in frustration as he observes the advance. While the Leopards have proven superior to whatever AFOH units can throw at it, their advance is hampered by the thick jungle and uneven terrain. Several are disabled by fire from artillery and the light tanks, and are finished off by ground-attack fighters as their frantic crews tried to get them going.

2 houses on the outskirts of Wabag are captured by dismounted infantry and a platoon of 6 Pumas immediately burst on an adjacent road, guns firing. There is a tremendous explosion followed by a second one as the first and last vehicles of the column are destroyed by ATGMs, trapping the rest. Infantry fan out to engage the defenders as the drivers try to extricate themselves and their vehicles, but only 2 Pumas are able get out. The attack is stalled, and AFOH aircraft are already taking a heavy toll on the follow-on formations. Holste's radio crackles. " Oberfuhrer Holste, you are to send your brigade to assist in the capture of the town."

Holst's face breaks into a smirk. This was the first time he is addressed using that title, brought back along with the rest of the archaic Federation era ranking system to "improve morale". No, his brigade will not be fed into that meat grinder. "Negative, command", he replies in an irritated tone, "Gruppe Todt must continue the assault on the town. I will take my brigade south of Wabag to cut off the main highway, while Gruppe Muller should do the same in the north." Then he walks off to give orders, not even waiting for confirmation.

He sends 3 Leopards to the south DZ. Once in position, they are to hammer the portion of the Highlands Highway that enters Wabag with HE shells. The 3rd Battalion then leads what's left of the 1st and 2nd battalions in a wide movement behind Gruppe Todt. At Holste's signal, the tank guns open up and 3rd Battalion attacks the road, now defended by SAU troops dug in on the western side a few meters from the embankment. While this shields them from the bombardment, they are surprised by the assault, which is not accompanied by the usual sound and movement of armor. Using only their mortars for fire support, the 3rd overruns the first line of entrenchments, and the other 2 battalions rush the southern entrance of the town. 4 houses are captured and occupied. Within minutes they are subjected to the fire of AFOH artillery. Holste checks the time. He know it will be dark soon. He orders his tanks to reinforce 3rd Battalion and drive a wedge between the Africans and the light mechanized force holding Wabag.