Part 114: Operation Mange Poutine: Turkish Turn 5

Turkish Turn 5

Good news! I remembered to spool up Camstudio this time. Bad news! Sometimes it doesn't record properly; this is one of those times. My apologies for the lack of action shots again. Not a whole lot occurred this time.

When I booted up the turn, three things of import made themselves apparent in the north. One was that the two untouched troops of Challengers from the British backfield made themselves visible as they charge toward my Turks. They came from the estimated positions. The second thing is that the two Javelins on-top of Crescent have run out of missiles. The trouble is two more Javelin teams have been rushed up to the same spot. Finally, a company! of mechanized Chinese are reinforcing the British. They are in the area south of the hamlet below Crescent Ridge.

Watching the replay was disheartening. Chinese and British missiles slaughtered the Greek tanks in the open. A total of 9! Leopard 1s have been destroyed now. The only good news from that is one of the HJ-8L teams and one of the two Javelin teams are both out of missiles, and the other Javelin team has revealed its position.

But from the replay was also one interesting thing. A ZSL-92A edged over the Crescent Ridge to shoot at my Turkish infantry before nipping back behind the Ridge. Interesting for displaying some Chinese in a previously pure-British area and for being singular. Having no friends nor the one in the central valley implies they are loners, and loners imply they carry loner-type infantry. Only three types are deployed singularly: MANPADs, snipers, and forward observers (FO). If the ZSL-92A carried the Chinese Stinger, our aircraft would have encountered them. Snipers are infantry support or recce eyes. If used as infantry support they'd be with the Chinese concentration; if used as eyes they'd be forward deployed and have a lighter faster vehicle as transport. No we're looking at FO transports carrying forward observers. The Chinese, if inclined, can field FO's equal to the West's with GPS and laser range-finders. With the amount of artillery we've seen them to have these well-equipped FO's are not out of the question. Destruction of these ZSL and their near-by FOs should be a high priority.

To begin my turn, I blew up the one Challenger next to Sand Hill. Then the Cobras destroyed one Challenger from each troop moving to reinforce. Now there's only four left. I moved up some more ATGMs to deal with the remainder next turn. The British tank threat is almost entirely defeated and our positions are safe for the moment from an armoured attack.

The other combat of the turn occurred between my infantry and the British scouts. The three teams amongst my positions on Green Ridge and Sand Hill have been dealt with. One of two Spartans on Green Ridge was destroyed; the other was suppressed. When the suppressed Spartan is destroyed Green Ridge will be completely secure. Now only one Scout Team beside Sand Hill remains of the British recce infantry.

After doing the day's damage I initiated the evacuation of Sand Hill. I've been fighting from it for three turns and winning. There is no cover and there is sure to be a reprisal. Instead of languishing under heavy bombardment the boys are moving to Crescent Ridge to push the British off. I'd recommend leaving Sand Hill alone. Crescent and Green can take care of the area.

In the end the British situation in the north is perilous. All four of their forward Challenger troops are completely destroyed. Their recce force is down to three Spartans and one Scout Team, all committed and with little ability to challenge the forces they're engaged with. Once their Challengers and Spartans are finished the only mobile element the British will have is they're Apaches. Only two things are going for the British. They've got two Javelins with a view into the Maple-Sand Valley and the Bison there as well as a company of Chinese moving to save the flank. Both the Javelins and the Chinese can fuck us up good if we don't respect them.


Here's the disposition in the north:





Oh and we've got visual confirmation on a American National Guard M60 on Yellow Ridge.


The Americans are moving forward, but slowly and without much numbers.


Here's the tally.