


Thermo #3*
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Anzac Delay vs German Advance *

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25 April 1941 *

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Scenario Design: Pyros Lambert*
Map Design: Pyros Lambert*
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Primary Objectives:*
You should deploy in the East edge of the map and you must assist to the defense of the area.*
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Secondary Objectives:*
You should try to stop the enemy flanking maneuver from the North and South.*
You should be very cautious with the casualty rate of your Core Force because you might face total destruction during this battle!*
You should focus on the counter-artillery missions*
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INTEL:*
You will face one Infantry Bn advancing from the South-West, one Infantry Bn advancing from the North-West and two Pz Coy advancing from the West.*
The village will be target of a multi-directional attack, and the enemy patrols will try to infiltrate your lines.*
I suggest you to deploy your artillery assets somewhere to the East edge of the map.* 
You should try to protect your flanks from the North (Tank flank maneuver) and the South (Infantry and Scout units).*
Be cautious with the enemy ON-Map artillery units and try to counter-strike them at any occasion (look for smoke traces).*
The enemy will receive as reinforcements several ammo unit (resupply) next to each on map artillery after turn 20 (10% random) and turn 50.*
You should always consider to retreat and create a new defensive perimeter backward (to the East) from your current positions.*
Whenever possible try to take advantage of the tall buildings.*
The enemy is controlling the West edge of the map.*
The heavy artillery assets (8 x 15 cm) are near the central west area, the light artillery assets (16 x 7,5 cm) are in a location forward of the heavies and the medium 16 x 10,5 cm are on the hill to the SW area.*
Try to first concentrate your counter-artillery missions against the enemy artillery units that are located on the clear terrain and then deal with those located at the rough mountain terrain.*
Try to destroy ASAP the ammo units next to the enemy artillery parks in order to minimize the use of enemy artillery.* 
You should make use of any forward deployed 25 pdr gun for direct fire missions rather than indirect artillery missions.*
It may be rewarding if you can redeploy your AUX artillery to the rear of your lines.*
Expect heavy artillery barrage and air strikes during the first turns of the battle and be very careful with your artillery tactics because the AI will probably plan several counter-artillery mission during the battle.*
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Historical Background (semi historical battle)*
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Evacuation Plans and Moves  *
(text from www.nzetc.org)*
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Long lines of vehicles drove along the road from Lamia to Imir Bei on the 23rd and parked out of range of the 25- pounders, much to the annoyance of the gunners. The 6th Field nevertheless found plenty of targets. When a medium battery took up position by the village, however, Miles took action, calling up three 4.5-inch guns of the 64th Medium to a position just behind Molos from which they could engage the hostile battery. The medium guns did their work well and their counter-battery fire was shared in the afternoon by 29 Battery of the 6th Field, which found another hostile battery south-east of the village within reach and engaged it effectively. A third battery was located beyond the bridge and west of the road, out of reach of the field guns. Two more batteries opened fire from the other side of the Gulf.*
The duels that ensued provided an interesting contrast in styles. The enemy used airburst fuses almost exclusively. This was a type of anti-personnel fire that, accurately controlled, could be most effective in flat ground, causing HE shells to explode low over gun positions and similar targets and wounding many men. In this broken country, however, this fire was largely wasted, most of the shells bursting harmlessly behind ridges in front of or behind the New Zealand guns. The 25-pounders and 4.5s, on the other hand, used percussion fuses against targets on flatter ground with far better result. Counter-battery fire took second place as evening approached, however, to concentrations against likely river crossings or strongpoints covering them, and the day ended with a crescendo of fire of this kind by the 6th Field, the 2nd RHA and the 64th Medium.* 
Only those guns, 2-pounders and 25-pounders, in an anti-tank role remained silent; for they dared not disclose their positions. The weight of defensive fire dropped after dark, but field and medium guns kept up harassing fire at odd moments throughout the night.*
Perhaps the most remarkable feature of the gunnery this day, however, is that it was maintained despite ceaseless air attack and almost regardless of it. Gunners jumped in and out of slit trenches all day, scampering to their guns when immediate danger passed, and demonstrating plainly the inability of even the most earnest efforts of the Luftwaffe to keep them quiet. In this they were greatly helped by the infantry, who opened fire at any low-flying aircraft with every kind of small-arm including pistols, so that the air seemed to quiver with bullets and was thick with tracers, to which the solitary Bofors gun on the roadside before Molos could make but a small addition. If all this had little observable effect on the enemy aircraft, it served at least to reassure the gunners that they were not alone in their battle. Apart from the effects on the nerves of some of the men, these air raids did little damage. No guns were hit. Only a few men were wounded and one or two vehicles were destroyed or damaged.*
The chief trouble to the artillery was that telephone lines kept getting broken. On the other hand, the gunners were greatly cheered by the sight of Stukas diving time and time again on the gun positions vacated the previous night by the 6th Field.*
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