Height of Combat

[Fredrick Davidson]

Location: A nameless plot of ground near Berlin
Time of Day: 1200
Weather Conditions: A cool spring day.
First post neutral:

The blade of Rick Davidson’s entrenching tool pierced into the earth, and he turned around to dump it into the floor of the foxhole. As he stomped his boot down onto the lump, a tap on his shoulder made him stop. It was time for Rick to pass the shovel to his foxhole buddy, a German private. But the sergeant declined. It looked good enough, and they should stop before they exert themselves. Instead, he walked up the rudimentary incline the two of them had dug, Standing above his men’s positions Rick felt like he had a target over his face, for a Russian sniper aiming straight at him as he walked right out in the open. It was a feeling he felt many times since he first fired a rifle in anger, and with how the war was going he knew now there was no point in fearing if that mysterious Russian sniper would fire the fatal shot. It was only a matter of when. And he should face it strong, and fearless.

”You’ve made yourself a good position” Davidson congratulated two more German privates in their native tongue, as he crouched over a foxhole that looked very similar to his own. ”You can stop now. Better not tire yourselves out. Just continue to keep your eyes on that forest. The Russians might attack our little defense at anytime.” Rick stood up, but then thought up another piece of advice, ”One of you should put on your bayonet, we all know how those Soviet bastards love their mass charges.” Rick then moved to the last occupied foxhole, and told those two soldiers the same thing, their fortified position was just as good as the rest, and one of them should attach their bayonet while they both start watching their area, the south and southwest.

As Rick walked back to his own hole in the ground, he gave a thumbs up to Private Vogl, as the German checked for anything useful from the destroyed truck. Anton was a good soldier, he didn’t need any of those little pep talks to do his job. He’ll watch their flank even without being under the watchful eye of the sergeant.

Back in his own spacious foxhole, Davidson helped the last private attach his bayonet, then grabbed his own rifle and took a step onto the small dirt mound they had made. His head raised up a few more inches above the ground, giving him a better view. But there was nothing to see up to the northwest, so he lowered himself down into the foxhole, and waited.



OCC: MAP

NPCS:

- NPC: Niklas Specht
- NPC: Anton Vogl
- NPC: Moritz Bühren
- NPC: Karl Kreutzer
- NPC: Max Gatzemeier
- NPC: Dietmar Gräbner

[☭ Joseph Petrov]

Sweat dripped from Joseph's forehead as he crouched next to the cool wall of the old stone vineyard on his right. Since the day had begun it had been one long dash from the Oder river to Seelow Heights. And now they were there, at least Joseph thought they were, but the officers seemed to know so that was good enough for him. Turning back to the three soldiers behind him he whispered. "Ahead of us lies the Germans, and Berlin. Behind us, Mother Russia and her armies." Joseph took a long quit breath. "This is it. It's victory, or death." The three privates, Viktor, Rada, and Ivan, nodded their heads in solemn agreement. Joseph didn't normally give speeches, but he felt that it might help in some way.

Joseph looked over towards the wooden a few dozen meters away from him. The rest of the squad was supposed to be there. Then Roman appeared around the buildings corner. Then he gave the V for victory sign. Then Joseph did the same, but he but his other hand up to signal to the four other soldiers not to begin their attack yet. Joseph thought for a moment. "Viktor, you and Rada get in to the vineyard by the gate around back. When we start the attack," Joseph whispered. "Jump up and shoot." Then Joseph turned back around as the soldiers went to find a gate. His hand was poised, ready to give the signal to attack, with his other hand on his SVT-40. A few more seconds and Viktor, and Rada would be in the vineyard. Almost. Joseph's heart began to beat faster. Now! Joseph dropped his hand and brought it back on his SVT-40. The attack was beginning.



OOC: img825.imageshack.us/img825/5949/hoc.png <-- Map

NPC: Ryd. Viktor Vorobev
NPC: Ryd. Aleksei Novikov
NPC: Ryd. Rada Stepanova (F)
NPC: Ryd. Roman Leonov
NPC: Ryd. Anton Mikhailov
NPC: Ryd. Andrei Belyakov
NPC: Ryd. Ivan Baryishnikov

[Edward"Butcher"McMillan]

Moderation Post:

Allied Soldiers:

Efreitor Joseph Petrov

Ryd. Viktor Vorobev
Ryd. Aleksei Novikov
Ryd. Rada Stepanova (F)
Ryd. Roman Leonov
Ryd. Anton Mikhailov
Ryd. Andrei Belyakov
Ryd. Ivan Baryishnikov

Morale = Moderate

Axis Soldiers:

Unterscharführer Frederick Davidson

Shutze Niklas Specht
Shutze Anton Vogl
Shutze Moritz Bühren
Shutze Karl Kreutzer
Shutze Gatzemeier
Shutze Dietmar Gräbner

Morale = Moderate

Actions:

- Given that there was no sign up for this battle, I am unaware if first posts are to be neutral or hostile.

- The Soviet troops were a bit surprised by their commander's orders to fire on what they thought was nothing. They had yet to make contact with the enemy, none the less they followed orders and fired sporadically. A couple rounds whizzed close by the German troops, but none of them hit.

- The German forces instinctively lowered themselves slightly as the fire near their position rang out having been unaware of the enemy presnce.

- Since no direct or standing order had been given to open fire, most of the German troops didn't as they had no clear targets to engage. However Kreutzer took initiative having been one of the few to see the muzzle flashes and fired a pair of rounds toward the Soviet position, far more accurate, but inflicting no damage. After his rounds he called out that enemy forces were to the southwest then put his eyes back down range.

Next Post: Davidson

-JT

[Fredrick Davidson]

Unterscharführer Davidson and his men stood in their foxholes, rifles in their hands and helmets on their heads, as they awaited for the eventual Soviet advance. Suddenly it happened. Shots rang out from the forest and bullets flew through the air over the German positions. There was minimal return fire, Rick and the rest of the men had little idea where the shots were coming from. A few sporadic shots rang out from the middle foxhole, and Davidson called out to them, ”You see the enemy?”

“Southwest!” replied the voice of Shutze Kreutzer. Six pairs of eyes turned there to try and find a target, and bring glory to themselves by spilling Soviet blood. Rick shifted his attention down there as well, but quickly returned to watching the western edge of the forest. It was foolish to turn all of their attention one way and leave that flank exposed.

”Open fire if you have a target, otherwise just keep your eyes open!” Rick called out to the other foxholes, ”And pay attention to that garden, and the shack. Who knows how spread out they are” Hopefully it was just a scouting party, and not a whole advance to plow through Davidson and his squad.

((OCC: No change in map))

[Edward"Butcher"McMillan]

Moderation Post:

Allied Soldiers:

Efreitor Joseph Petrov

Ryd. Viktor Vorobev
Ryd. Aleksei Novikov
Ryd. Rada Stepanova (F)
Ryd. Roman Leonov
Ryd. Anton Mikhailov
Ryd. Andrei Belyakov
Ryd. Ivan Baryishnikov

Morale = Moderate

Axis Soldiers:

Unterscharführer Frederick Davidson

Shutze Niklas Specht
Shutze Anton Vogl
Shutze Moritz Bühren
Shutze Karl Kreutzer
Shutze Gatzemeier
Shutze Dietmar Gräbner

Morale = Moderate

Actions:

- The German soldiers locked their gaze upon the southwestern sector of their line, very little could be seen that could be confirmed as enemy forces.

- However a few rounds were fired as it was obvious they were under attack. None of the rounds hit enemy soldiers, only kicking up dust and chipping away at building surfaces.

- The Soviet troops are starting to wonder if they made the right move opening fire so quickly as the return fire was more accurate. It has not phazed their morale yet.

Next Post: Petrov

-JT

[☭ Joseph Petrov]

Map=
Red lines are firing lines.

Joseph grinned inwardly, he was right, there were Germans on the other side. In hindsight it was probably not the best move, but it had hopefully paid off. Joseph turned over to look at the soldiers around the wood house. He motioned for them to attach their bayonets and start firing at the Germans. After they had started, he turned around to look at Ivan. Go and make sure Viktor and Rada keep shooting when they get the chance. Then go to the other side of this vineyard and start firing, stay behind cover."

As Ivan started to run off, Joseph grabbed him by his shirt collar. "Make sure to fix bayonets!". Ivan nodded and hurried off. After turning around, Joseph put on his bayonet, Taking a deep breath, he started to inch closer to the edge of the vineyard. Then he pulled his SVT-40 up to his shoulder, and then he moved out form the edge and took five shots at two German soldiers in a foxhole. Joseph moved back behind the wall as quick as he could. Then he moved back and shot the remaining rounds at the same two targets. Joseph pulled out the ammo cartridge and then put in a new one. After reloading Joseph turned and watched his men at the wood house fire at the Germans

Joseph's mind raced as he tried to think of what he should do next. Keep shooting? No they couldn't do that forever. Rush them? Not yet at least. Then he had an idea. When Roman turned to look at his leader, Joseph motioned for him to keep looking. Joseph then proceeded to make motions with his hands to tell Roman to send two men to attack the Germans from the north. Joseph had made them as clear as he could, and he hoped desperately that Roman would understand.

[Edward"Butcher"McMillan]

Moderation Post:

Allied Soldiers:

Efreitor Joseph Petrov

Ryd. Viktor Vorobev
Ryd. Aleksei Novikov
Ryd. Rada Stepanova (F)
Ryd. Roman Leonov
Ryd. Anton Mikhailov
Ryd. Andrei Belyakov
Ryd. Ivan Baryishnikov

Morale = Moderate

Axis Soldiers:

Unterscharführer Frederick Davidson

Shutze Niklas Specht
Shutze Anton Vogl
Shutze Moritz Bühren
Shutze Karl Kreutzer
Shutze Gatzemeier
Shutze Dietmar Gräbner

Morale = Moderate

Actions:

- The Soviet Soldiers continued to fire and the German soldiers continued to stay low in the positions.

- There was little return fire from the German soldiers as they were confident in there defenses.

- No injuries were incurred.

- Not all of the Soviet soldiers are fully aware of the enemy location, only that there are indeed enemies in the area.

- The majority of the Soviet soldiers have started to reload as they have exhausted their weapons current ammo.

- Roman understood his orders even through the light chaos but has not actually carried them out yet, waiting for the order to move by his commander.

Next Post: Davidson

-JT

[Fredrick Davidson]

As guns fired and bullets smacked into the ground around them, Davidson and Shutze Buhren comrade sat out of sight and listened to the symphony of war. The chorus of bolt action Mosin Nagants gave way to a gun with a fastest tempo, coming from the garden. Slowly though, the music faded away. Carefully, Fredrick peeked over the edge of his foxhole.

”They’re reloading,” He called out in German, ”Open Fire!”

As the Germans began their own performance, the Finn quickly slid his K98 onto the edge of his position, then grabbed it with both hands and moved it into his shoulder. He glanced towards where the bullets fired at him originated from, and there, under a tree and beside a building were bodies in Soviet uniform. Automatically he brought his rifle sights into his view, and a slight flip of the hand holding the rifle stock, brought it’s post right between it’s rear sight and the Soviet uniforms. All of this happened in seconds, and moving his pointer figure to squeeze the trigger took even less.

Instantly his hand left the trigger and pulled the bolt towards him, then back. The rifle fired again now aimed towards the soldier on the left, followed by Fred falling down into the foxhole, then jumping back into position. And then he shot again, but this time at the target on the right.

Davidson lowered himself into the foxhole again to drop a shell into dirt. Buhren and the Germans continue to shoot towards the Russians. The surviving enemy would be reloaded now and ready to fire at the black helmets poking up from the ground. Fredrick gave the order, ”Supressive fire!” and he stood back up, this time firing from a freestanding position towards the Soviets to empty his clip and his men did same. So one by one, they lowered themselves back underground to reload their guns and prepare for another song.

Map

[Edward"Butcher"McMillan]

Moderation Post:

Allied Soldiers:

Efreitor Joseph Petrov

Ryd. Viktor Vorobev
Ryd. Aleksei Novikov
Ryd. Rada Stepanova (F)
Ryd. Roman Leonov
Ryd. Anton Mikhailov Wounded/MINOR
Ryd. Andrei Belyakov
Ryd. Ivan Baryishnikov

Morale = Moderate

Axis Soldiers:

Unterscharführer Frederick Davidson

Shutze Niklas Specht
Shutze Anton Vogl
Shutze Moritz Bühren
Shutze Karl Kreutzer
Shutze Gatzemeier
Shutze Dietmar Gräbner

Morale = Moderate

Actions:

- The Calm and focus of the German leader allowed him the first blood letting shot of the battle. His first round zipped through the air and sliced through the upper part of Mikhailov's right calf. The round missed the bone by only milimeters, since the man was knelt down reloading he did not fall very far receiving no further injuries.

- The Soviet Conscript next to Mikhailov is now in the process of moving the wounded man behind the cover of the small structure, the pair are momentarily unable to return fire.

- No other German rounds found soviet targets, but their fire was increased due to the lack of Soviet fire, many rounds were close enough to feel the shock as they traveled through the air, this has yet to have an effect on troop morale given the determination of Soviet forces, however too many more instances could see them become worrisome.

Next Post: Petrov

-JT

img862.imageshack.us/img862/4168/hocr.png - red slash = wounded

[☭ Joseph Petrov]

Map = Here

Joseph squeezed closer to the stone wall as bullets chipped stone and threw up dirt around him. But his number was not picked yet. Soon the German fire stopped. Joseph quickly motioned for Roman and the other soldier to start the flanking attack. They both rushed off to do their duty. As they left Joseph peeked around the wall, the Germans were reloading! He moved around the corner of the wall, this time he would make sure to take careful aim. He found his target and held his breath, he lined up the German's head in the sites, and let loose two rounds from his SVT-40. Then he released his breath and stood up. "Shoot the Fascist dogs while they reload!" Before dropping he saw another target. Taking two shots at the German he dropped back down again as the rest of the Soviets began to shoot back as well.

As Joseph readied himself for another shot he realized the two soldiers to the north of the house had not yet begun to fire, then he heard one of them shooting. Only one. Joseph hoped nothing bad had happened to them, but he couldn't think of that for long. Before he left his cover he looked to his left to see if Roman and the other soldier had made it. He could just see them between the branches of a fallen tree readying their weapons to kill Fascists. Joseph quickly turned back to start shooting more Germans. He crouched at the edge of the stone wall. His rifle placed in his shoulder. This time he aimed for the German behind the one he had shot at a moment ago. He looked carefully down his sights, held his breath, and fired. Three rounds this time. Then he quickly went back behind cover, making up for the breath he hadn't breathed. After caching his breath he decided it would be best if his gun had a full clip of ammo in it. So he began to reload. Keeping the clip and it's three rounds for later use. All the while his soldiers were still shooting.

[Edward"Butcher"McMillan]

Moderation Post:

Allied Soldiers:

Efreitor Joseph Petrov

Ryd. Viktor Vorobev
Ryd. Aleksei Novikov
Ryd. Rada Stepanova (F)
Ryd. Roman Leonov
Ryd. Anton Mikhailov Wounded/MINOR
Ryd. Andrei Belyakov
Ryd. Ivan Baryishnikov

Morale = Moderate

Axis Soldiers:

Unterscharführer Frederick Davidson

Shutze Niklas Specht
Shutze Anton Vogl
Shutze Moritz Bühren
Shutze Karl Kreutzer
Shutze Gatzemeier
Shutze Dietmar Gräbner

Morale = Moderate

If you are going to post a map full of action lines you also need to post a map with said lines removed, it's called a clean map and doesn't give me a headache.

Actions:

- Petrov was able to line up his sights near the top of a lone German soldiers head, most of them in the process of reloading had taken cover.

- The round zipped through the air crashing into the man's helmet with great force, tearing it from atop his head and throwing it several meters into the distance.

- The soldier himself has suffered no physical injuries but has been momentarily disoriented and of little use for a round of posting. (The most forward of the two soldiers in the middle foxhole)

The pair of Soviet soldiers heading north were able to do so with little hinderance, with the consistant swapping of volleies from bolt action rifles, moving during your own sides volley is the easiest.

- The wounded Soviet soldier, although in no immediate danger is becoming worried, he has received little to no help, in addition to two of his commrades just running passed without so much as a worried look.

Both sides of this battle have been more or less lightly suppressed for almost it's entirety, restelssness is beginning to set in, granted in it's mildest form, but more so for the Germans as the Soviets have open ground and are maneuvering a little

- No further injuries were incurred by either side.

Next Post: Davidson

-JT

img36.imageshack.us/img36/7865/hoc2.png

[Edward"Butcher"McMillan]

Mac, you have one week to respond to this thread, after that i must move the battle forward.

-JT

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using ProBoards

[Fredrick Davidson]

Clean Map
Movement

Only Niklas Specht, one of the Germans in the eastern foxhole, could return the Russian's fire as the rest of the squad kept their head down to cower from the bullets that pelted around them. Davidson could just listen to the sole K-98 crack among the Mosin Nagants and other Russian guns. Slowly it began to sound like the enemy weapons were stretching out over their western flank, but with faster enemy fire whizzing by his foxhole, he dared not raise his head to see what the Soviets were doing.

But interrupting the dull and regular gun shots, Fredrick heard the sound of a helmet firing off and tumbling on the ground outside another foxhole. While making sure to not lift his head over the edge of his position, the SS-Unterscharführer called out to his men, "Kreutzer, Bühren! What happened?" As the firing began to die down because the enemy was beginning to reload, and the Germans started to bring up their own weapons to fire once again across the stream, Kreutzer simply gave his comrade a simple look over and replied "nothing" before squeezing the trigger of his own weapon.

While some of his soldiers fired quickly to suppress multiple targets, a few Germans carefully aimed their shots to try and hit center mass of a Soviet. Fredrick himself popped his rifle, his eyes, and little else above ground to scan the limited tree line for the moving soldiers he during the Russian volley. Quickly he turned his sights towards two of them. With a simple reflex of his left hand he moved the rear sight into position with the front sight, both pointed towards the men among the tree. Then Davidson squeezed the trigger and his rifle fired it's bullet towards one of the Soviets. Instantly and automatically his hand moved up to the bolt, and as another round was loaded from the clip, he called out again to one of his subordinates, "Vogl! Vogl! There's Communists flanking from the northwest.!" And as Fredrick aligned his sights for another shot, Anton crawled over to shoot under the smoke that continued to billow out from the burning truck. Together the two men fired on the flanking enemy, until their guns were dry and Fredrick and the squad once again fell back down into their foxholes.

[Edward"Butcher"McMillan]

Moderation Post:

Allied Soldiers:

Efreitor Joseph Petrov

Ryd. Viktor Vorobev
Ryd. Aleksei Novikov
Ryd. Rada Stepanova (F)
Ryd. Roman Leonov
Ryd. Anton Mikhailov Wounded/MINOR
Ryd. Andrei Belyakov
Ryd. Ivan Baryishnikov

Morale = Moderate

Axis Soldiers:

Unterscharführer Frederick Davidson

Shutze Niklas Specht
Shutze Anton Vogl
Shutze Moritz Bühren
Shutze Karl Kreutzer
Shutze Gatzemeier
Shutze Dietmar Gräbner

Morale = Moderate

Actions:

- The Height of Combat once again shifted, this time into the German favor. As with the majority of hostile actions in the battle, a volley of fire was sent fromm cover to cover.

- Davidson's first round missed it's mark by a matter of inches, impacting the tree next to the two Soviet conscripts, tearing away at the trunnk and spinning off into the distance, this caused the men to try and become as small as possible. Further rounds did little more than assure them that beinng small was the best bet, couple with the rounds from Anton the Soviet move around the flank has effectively been stopped in it's tracks.

- No injuries or worse were incurred and morale for both sides is remaining stable as both try to vie for suppression control.

- No changes to the map.

Next Post: Petrov

-JT

[Heiko Alkema]

This battle will resume under my moderation in the absence of JT. The next post is Petrov's.