WAFFEN SS; DAS REICH, TRAINING THREAD #2

[∬: Erhard Strumfelder]

Wolfram, in your absence Kriegheld gave the go ahead for this, and I realise it would take some time for you to go through it, so I bipassed you. If you have any comments, and this goes for everyone, please PM me and I'll iron it out. There is also a sign up thread located here.



20:50, 9th July 1943
Avola Seafront, Sicily
Clear Sky, Southerly Wind 18knts

Overview:
British forces are landing along the shale beaches of Avola, as part of Operation Husky, fifteen miles south of Syracuse. There is a strong wind, and therefore a very choppy sea, leading to a surprise attack. Each attack boat has a five man capacity. Two boats have just landed in the second wave, but only one boat of men survived from the first and were able to gain a foothold in a seaside shop, but are in dire need of reinforcement. One side will play as the Attacking British, while the other will play as the German defenders

Map:
Like in Epic Battles, the map will not be edited, so be descriptive with your posts. If you wish to send an edited map to the Mod-marker so your location, feel free. This develops an air of tactics and a fog of battle.



Key:
The buildings are constructed out of three different shades of grey. The lightest shade represents any ground floor levels; the middle shade represents any first floor levels; and the darkest represents any second floor levels. The only way for units to more from level to level is either by jumping, or climbing. The grey you see on the map is the top floor eg. the darkest grey means there is another level below, then the ground floor. Many of the levels are only half remaining, meaning the other half has fallen away. No building has a roof.
Windows are the small gaps in walls, with a grey line filing the break in the black line. Doors are usually larger, with a brown line filling the break in the black line. All doors remain, but the glass in all the windows has been blown out. All windows can be climbed through, except the ones in the church, which as slightly too small. With some of the buildings you can only see the windows on the uppermost floor. There are more windows located directly below the windows which are visible.
To destroy the radio tower, explosives must be placed and detonated on at least two of the leg supports (black boxes)
To reach the top level of the churches bell tower, you must scale the side of the tower, because there is no floor directly below the top level.
The wall between the beach and road is one storey (2.5 metres) tall.

Objectives:
Allies:
1. Destroy the radio mast with explosives. OB 1
2. Do not let the shop fall to the German forces. OB 2

Axis:
1. Recapture the house. OB 2
2. Do not let the Radio mast be destroyed. OB 1

Special Rules:
1. All Allied units have been equipped with explosive charges, which are one use weapons, and require wire detonation. (Wire and plunger)
2. It’s getting darker by the minute, so aiming is harder, and will continue to get harder the further into the battle.

Players:
The battle is two Axis players vs. two Allied players. The Allied players must bring no more than 13 NPC units. The Axis must also bring no more than 13 NPC units. The streets are covered in rubble from a heavy bombardment, and the shale beaches are unsuitable for armour. No tanks or armoured units may be used.

Set Up:
1. Allied player 1 will set up with four NPC units inside the shop. POINT 1
2. Allied player 2 will set up with four NPC units from attack boat 1, forming a squad on the Southern edge of the map. POINT 2
3. Five NPC units form attack boat 2 will set up on the Northern edge of the map, forming another squad. POINT 3

1. Axis player 1 will set up with four NPC units to the south west of the shop, forming a squad. POINT 4
2. Axis player 2 will set up with four NPC units on the western side of the map, forming another squad. POINT 5
3. Five NPC units will set up to the north west of the shop, forming a squad. POINT 6

Design Notes:
This will be played out like any Hostile RP, just with our own members on each side. I’ll ask a staff member to mod-mark this, but you will not loose any of your NPC’s if they are ‘KIA’ in this battle. The idea behind it is that it will help develop Urban Warfare tactics, something which we are not well acquainted to. You will learn how to hold, defend, and assault enemy positions, as well as how to push into an occupied city, only with infantry.
At a quick glance, it may appear bias towards the defenders, heaving more troops, closer to their objective. But the attackers are able to bring their entire force to bare much faster, because they only have a sort stretch of beach to traverse, instead of a city. But by the time the fighting at the shop has intensified, or is over, then the defenders can use their extra man power.

[∬Hartwig Kriegheld]

OOC: Warning, when I say 1st floor, I could mean the ground floor. ‘Tis one of those dialect things. If you see a fallacy, let me know. BTW, who is modding this? I would like to send a map.

Standing on the coast of France was a small building, miniscule in a geographic sense, but enormous in a sense of warfare. Hauptsturmfüherer Kriegheld was standing in the middle of that small building. After landing on the beach, he and his men had taken the small building with many casualties as expected. Now, Hartwig was supposed to hold the building. So far, the enemy had quieted down and Hartwig was taking the chance to prepare himself for the upcoming battle.

Holding his MP44 tightly, he walked under the 1st floor that lay broken above him. He had four other men with him in the store; Schützen Kreutzer, Gattyemeier, Gräbner, and Ruckhofer. He was unfamiliar with the men, but he was sure they would take orders as they should. “Kreutzer, gelange zwischen jene zwei Fenster an den Westen und halte einen Ausblick auf dem Gebäude zum Nordosten. Gatzemeier, gelangen zwischen die zwei Fenster an den Norden und halten einen Ausblick für Rottenführer Albertsein. Du mußt auch das Gebäude zum Nordosten auf der Nordecke aufpassen. Gräbner, erhalten zwischen der Osttür und dem Fenster nahe bei ihm. Suche den Feind auf beiden Seiten. Ruckhofer, kommen mit mir heraus die Osttür.„ The men were now in position.

Hauptsturmführer Kriegheld and Schütze Ruckhofer slipped out the east door and got down onto the beach to travel north a short ways to cover Rottenführer Albertsein as he made his way up the beach. The two soldiers got low enough that they wouldn’t be seen and waited as they saw Albertsein collect his squad to go up the beach. Hartwig took the safety off the MP44 and readied the assault rifle to fire on anything in the north building that moved. He wasn’t going to have too many casualties on his watch.
Rottenführer Albertsein had finally reached the beach. Hauptsturmführer Kriegheld was waiting at the shop to cover them as the small group made their way up the beachhead. Werner looked around the beach, finally deciding there was no safe way to get up it; the group would have to rush up to the concrete barrier at the top of the beach. He began and the men followed, finally reaching the concrete block, Albertsein could see Kriegheld.

Hartwig saw Albertsein arrive at the concrete barrier and made his way through the wet gritty sand to the corporal. Finally reaching Rottenführer Albertsein with Ruckhofer on tow, Hartwig spoke to him. “Rottenführer, f wir imsind Begrif, einen Durchbruch in den deutschen Linien zu inszenieren. Meine Männer im Speicher bedecken dich, wie du deine Weise in das Nordgebäude bildest. Du löschst das Nordgebäude von allen möglichen Feinden und hältst, daß Position bis Hauptsturmführer von Epp in der Lage ist, sein zweitensobjektives zu erzielen und das Südgebäude zu nehmen. Wir erlauben uns nicht, von den Deutschen eingeschlossen zu werden.„

The orders were now given, Kriegheld left the group and made his way south to meet up with Haupsturmführer von Epp at the south end of the beach barrier. From his position in the store, Hartwig had looked from the 1st floor down to the beach and the buildings to the west after climbing over some timber into the upper level. He had come up with a plan to defeat the enemy. Von Epp would soon be at the barrier separating the beach from the street above and Kreigheld was going to speak with him.

Trnaslations:
“Kreutzer, gelange zwischen jene zwei Fenster an den Westen und halte einen Ausblick auf dem Gebäude zum Nordosten. Gatzemeier, gelangen zwischen die zwei Fenster an den Norden und halten einen Ausblick für Rottenführer Albertsein. Du mußt auch das Gebäude zum Nordosten auf der Nordecke aufpassen. Gräbner, erhalten zwischen der Osttür und dem Fenster nahe bei ihm. Suche den Feind auf beiden Seiten. Ruckhofer, kommen mit mir heraus die Osttür.„
~Get between those two windows to the east and keep a watch on the building to the north-west. Gatzemeier, get between the two windows to the north and keep a watch for Rottenführer Albertsein. You also need to watch the building to the north-west on the north corner. Gräbner, get between the west door and the window next to it. Watch for the enemy on both sides. Ruckhofer, come with me out the east door.

“Rottenführer, f wir imsind Begrif, einen Durchbruch in den deutschen Linien zu inszenieren. Meine Männer im Speicher bedecken dich, wie du deine Weise in das Nordgebäude bildest. Du löschst das Nordgebäude von allen möglichen Feinden und hältst, daß Position bis Hauptsturmführer von Epp in der Lage ist, sein zweitensobjektives zu erzielen und das Südgebäude zu nehmen. Wir erlauben uns nicht, von den Deutschen eingeschlossen zu werden.„
~Rottenführer, we're about to stage a break-through in the German lines. My men in the store will cover you as you make your way into the north building. You will clear the north building of any enemies and hold that position until Hauptsturmführer von Epp is able to achieve his secondary objective and take the south building. We will not allow ourselves to be trapped by the Germans.

[∬: Erik Schneider]

Obersturmfuhrer Schneider stepped out into the open, illuminated by the starlight and moonlight. He clutched his MP44 tightly before he signaled the rest of his men who were still hidden in the debris of a building. Out stepped four other men who had survived the initial assault of the British. The small squad gathered around in the middle of the street. This battered town offered minimal protection anyway. There wasn't a single roof in sight. Schneider crouched down and grasped one of the men's shoulder, Sergeant Alex Wolf. "Wolf get over here. We got a few minutes before the next wave hits. Get over to that blasted church and supervise the defenses. Watch Luther's squads ass alright? We need some manpower over here too, so send Jager this way alright?"

The German sergeant nodded, and sprang to his feet, vanishing into the distance. Schneider was on the move once again, sprinting low to the floor towards a fountain to the east, in the middle of what looked like a ruined building. He slammed his back against the small outskirts of the fountain, and slid down the floor. The three remaining men: Barbarossa, Wolfgang, and Eichel squat down in a half circle around him. "Barbarossa, set up behind the fountain. Keep your rifle trained on that beach wall. You see a head pop over, you blast it to hell." As the private nodded, Schneider and the other two were taken off towards a door to the east. They took precaution as they slid it open, Schneider aiming his MP44 at it as Eichel pushed it open, just in case there was a surprise outside.

Schneider and Eichel huddled on the right side of the doorway, while Wolfgang leaned against the wall opposite of them. Schneider hushed Eichel down, and started to believe he could actually hear voices in the distance. As silent was possible, Schneider turned to Eichel, "Hide here and wait for Barbarossa to open fire. When he does, get low to the floor, and lean in front of the door and open fire. I think a crouch stance should be enough to stay out of the way of Barbarossa's bullets. And stay quiet. Be prepared for anything."

The Obersturmfuhrer peaked his head out of the door and couldn't see movement, so he hurriedly crossed over to the North, where Wolfgang was in position. He tapped the man on the shoulder and moved west out of the ground floor building. There was rare remnants of another floor. The German Private followed closely, and as they exited, the found a waiting soldier. Jager stood at attention and saluted. Schneider just nodded and told the private to follow. The trio entered the building directly North of where Barbarossa and Eichel were set up in. Making their way east through the building, Schneider approached a pair of doors. To the south of the doors were two windows where Schneider was pointing too. "Jager set up at the Southern most window, and keep a good eye on the South. Wolfgang, set up at the window beside him and make sure to keep a keen eye on the east. Fire at the Brits before they can fire at you." Slowly, Schneider leaned against the more Southern door of the building, and slipped open the second one a crack. It was good enough that he would be able to see any movement to the North and open fire with his MP44. Now that whole strip of the beach should be covered.

Sgt. Alexander Wolf had planted his feet in the center of the church and was ordering around his men. He had commanded Hertz to set climb up to the church tower, that had an amazing view of the beach. He was the most experience of the shoulders, and also quite the marksman. He was qualified for the job, and had even served with Schneider before. He had given the order that the man not reveal himself until the outbreak of battle. The rest of men had set up on the Eastern side of the church, the second floor. There were about 11 windows along the side of the church, overlooking the beach wall. Wolf ordered them how to set up along it, so that there was a single window between each man. At the Northernmost window Klein set up, then two away from him Wolf set up, two away from him Reichmann set up, and two away from him Kappel set up. "Get ready boys. Here comes hell."

[wozah]

Position 2


Drenched in seawater, and slightly freezing because of the wind, five dark figures ran quietly across the moon lit beach, moving as fast as they could towards the only cover that was offered infront of them. Aided by the roaring surf, any sound they made became mercifully muffled, thus aiding them as they reached the wall without incident.

Backs pressed against the wall, Hauptsturmführer Horst Von Epp let his squad catch their breaths first, then motioned them to unshoulder and ready their weapons quietly.

Following his orders, Horst unshouldered his MP40 Submachine Gun and very slowly, very delicately pulled back the reciver. Then, controlling the momentum of the reciver with his hand so that it would not make any sound, he gently let it slide back.

Once that was done, he gently took off the safety and looked back to his squad, which was getting ready for war as they quietly readied their rifles. They were a decent bunch from what he knew. Although he could not see their faces in the darkness, he knew them well enough to tell them apart.


Or maybe, he thought contradictingly.


"What next sir?," One of them asked, whispering.

Was that Dietrich?

No that was Reinhard, a thought corrected him.

"We need to coordinate with the other squads," Horst whispered back. "4 of you will stay here and hold your positions, Reinhard?"

"Sir?" The dark figure next to him looked at him.

"Come with me. Stay extremly close to the walls."

Looking to his left, Horst saw in the distance, edges of what seemed to be a house. Objective #2 he thought. While sticking to the concrete wall, he moved with a bent back towards the it, reaching it in just a few moments when he saw something move and motioned Reinhard behind him to stop, automatically pointing his weapon at the two figures approaching him, who like him, were sticking to the wall.

"Reinhard, cover me." Horst whispered behind him.

Then, with his right hand free from the grip of his MP40, he waved at them discreetly.

[William Luther]

Luther slowly walked along the platform, his rifle gripped tightly in his hand as he squinted into the darkness. He span his body around while keeping his head facing out towards the sea. He stopped as he heard an irregularity in the waves, was it somebody making their way along the beach, a landing craft? The questions that flashed through his mind were only heightened by his small paranoia that helped him survive the war.

The weather on the small Italian island was beautiful, war hadn’t stopped that, and it was a clear night, a full moon spreading a helpful glow over the island. It seemed even nature was on the side of the Germans. A light plane buzzed in the sky overhead, and the German looked up, smiling at the recognition of the Messerschmitt. He looked back towards the sea, and saw a small flashing in the distance – a warship.

”Heimlich,” he called out softly, ”You and Ischia wait here. Top floor and keep an eye on that building over there. It’ll be the only piece of cover for the Brits past that wall. Understood?”

The two gave a brief nod as the Sturmscharführer put his hand on the ledge of the first floor he was stood on and dropped down, landing in a crouch. He took half a moment to brush off his uniform. ”Liebknecht, Kölln, with me.” The trio ran out of the back door of the building across the narrow alleyway into the trio of buildings behind them. There wasn’t a suitable door, so they climbed through the gutted window into the ground floor hall of the building. ”Plan: Liebknecht, far right, top floor. Kölln, go down as close as possible to the radio tower, again, top floor. I’ll be in the middle. Remember, if the shit hits the fan, just yell.”

The two privates turned and ran to their respective sides of the house. There was a small amount of grunting and scrambling as they climbed onto the platforms using various parts of the building and pieces of rubble as stepping stones. Luther turned back to his job. He felt along his belt, checking the ten-round magazines for his 43k were still in position and weren’t going to fall off the second he started running. He pulled on the cocking handle a final time before raising it his shoulder and dropping to one knee, after kicking a small pile of rubble out of the way. Now, the barrel of his gun was resting on the window frame and he was looking directly down at the building in which the invaders would likely hole up in before starting their attack. Let them come!

[∬Hartwig Kriegheld]

OOC: Sorry for the dreadfully late post but outside factors got the better of me. I would also like to know who I need to send my map to.

The wet sand crumbled beneath Rottenführer Albertsein’s feet as he and his men began erecting a ladder to get up the retaining wall at the top of the beach. Gerwulf could only see Kriegheld’s outline in the dark as he walked along the wall. Albertsein looked back and pulled out a small square of plywood from his bread-bag and threw it to the ground, letting the sand absorb the force and muffle the sound. Looking over, Albertsein saw Schütze Jeider pulling out another plywood square. Throwing it to the ground, the group then pulled out the metal poles they had each packed and began constructing the ladder. They set the ends on the plywood to prevent them from sinking in the sand. It was about 2.5 metres tall and very strong. It was wide enough to allow two people to climb up. Sitting at the bottom of the ladder, each of the men then made last minute checks of their gear before the fighting was to begin. Meanwhile, Hauptsturmführer Kriegheld was moving down the southern end of the wall.

Hartwig took a deep breath as he arrived at von Epp´s position; “von Epp, my name is Hartwig Kriegheld, I’ve secured the area right now. The sop on top of the wall is the only place that has cover on top. I’ll protect that position and I’ve sent another squad out on the north side. As you know, the second objective is the south building. Do as you will, but I see it as tactically necessary to take both buildings.” Kriegheld listened for an answer and then began walking back toward the storefront. He reached the ladder and climbed back into the building with Ruckhofer in tow. All was set for the assault. Hartwig began climbing some of the rubble to get himself onto the first floor of the store.

He could now look down onto the north area and get a clear view of the south. Keeping his MP44 in close proximity, he pulled his binoculars from a side bag and looked down on the open areas next to the store. No one seemed to be in the open space. Kriegheld put the binoculars down and held his rifle instead. Moving slowly, he crawled to the edge of the first floor and looked down to see his men in their places, watching for the German menace. “Getzemeier, take this smoker,” he said as he tossed down the smoke canister to Private Gatzemeier, “you know when to use it.” Hartwig then moved back up and pulled out his flair gun. Pushing a flair into the chamber and locking the gun back in position, the British officer prepared himself for battle.

[∬: Erik Schneider]

OOC: Just noticed it was my turn to post. I would like to be skipped to be honest . No offensive actions have been and since I'm being defensive... So I would like the next person to post, Von Epp, and hopefully we're all prepared soon and the battle will begin.

Von Epp's gone inactive, so waiting for him to post could take a while.
Kriegheld, either send your map to Danny, or wait a few days and send it to me when I can legally Mod-mark this. Your choice; I don't mind either way.

- Strumfelder

[∬: Erhard Strumfelder]

Since I've got my powers now, I'll be Mod-marking this thread. Please send your maps to me, and I'll mark this the first chance I get, once I have the map(s) I need. I want to get this thread moving.

[wozah]

(OCC: Sorry for the long wait. RL's come up like Kreigheld. Might or might not be able to continue this rp. So if I fall off the activity, feel free to make my character an NPC in the thread. BTW quick question... Operation Husky was a surprise attack, not because the Allies wanted it but because the weather and choppy sea gave the advancing Allied units the element of surprise. Why then, are the Axis players in a heightened sense of awarness?)

Position 2


Horst wondered thoughtfully whether the dark figure approaching him was the enemy or friend. Although his eyes by now were adjusting to the darkness, he could only guess who the figure was, and he was very tempted to shoot the figure. It was when the man was approaching near enough did he recognize the dough boy's helmet that he let his guard down.

Finding it rude that his counterpart did not return the signal when he waved his hand, Horst ignored this and greeted the figure with a polite nod. Kneeling on the sandy beach and introducing himself as Kriegheld, his counterpart began to discuss tactics against the incoming surf.

“The sop on top of the wall is the only place that has cover on top. I’ll protect that position and I’ve sent another squad out on the north side. As you know, the second objective is the south building. Do as you will, but I see it as tactically necessary to take both buildings.”

Horst shook his head and answered in a gentle tone.

"Forget the South building Kreig, we should concetrate on the Northen approach, take or bypass the Church and take the Radio Tower out. Meanwhile, my men and I will climb up the walls and support the other squad on my North. At exactly 3 minutes, it would help if you chaps opened up and lit the place up, firing randomly or something. It would distract the jerries from us as we begin our approach over the walls. Mind you, start shooting in 3 minutes after I bypass your position. Undoubtly, the Jerries will try to counter-attack you."

Horst paused then added. "So...Goodluck defending that storefront old boy. Godspeed."

Patting the man on his shoulder, Horst looked behind and whispered to Reinhard, who was crouching behind him in the darkness. "Bring the men to my position. We'll be moving up North. Go."

Reinhard nodded and about faced, running back to the old position to bring back the men with him to Horst. It took a few moments, but when his squad was with him, Horst told them of what he planned to do and ordered them to follow him as they moved North along the wall. Bypassing the storefront 2 minutes later, Horst saluted the dark figures inside and continued on for another few minutes until he reached Position 3.

"Allow chaps," Horst whispered as he crouched suddenly near the figures, who had their backs against the wall.

"Evening Captain, what's the plan?" One of them replied back quietly. Looking closely in the darkness, Horst saw it was an NCO by the chevrolets on the man's sleeves. Promptly Horst replied.

"We're going above this wall Sargent but we're waiting for the distraction."