by Brooke, GL, VVS10
In frame 3, VVS10 was split into a ground piece and an air piece. I put me (Brooke), HB555 (VVS10's FL), Scotch, Hawco, and Rompa in ground forces and Skech, GypsyB, Grimm, and Monday in Bostons.
VVS10-ground was to be part of AGC (Army Group Center), along with elements of VVS03 and VVS09. Our objective was to capture v49 and a56. I was put in charge of AGC.
VVS10-ground had 47 as its home base, VVS03-ground had 48 as its home base, and VVS09-ground had 35 as its home base (unfortunately, a very long way from the front). So, I asked VVS03-ground to all go in T-34's and go straight to 49 to assault it. VVS10-ground and VVS09-ground would come up behind in M3's and T-34's.
VVS10-ground launched from 47 in M3's and raced to 48. HB and I stayed in M3's. On the way to 49, I rolled my M3. I was passing under a bridge structure at speed, thought I had enough clearance, but apparently clipped it. It was enough to toss my M3 into a roll. Fortunately, it ended up back on its feet. Also, on our way to 49, we ran across a couple of formations of Ju 88's and a Hurricane. We ran for cover and waited while they passed, then continued on. When we got to 49, it was mostly subdued, except for a couple enemy aircraft buzzing around, but they got pushed away soon enough by air cover. HB went in and captured 49.
From there, AGC was now together, and we pushed to a56 map room, which is about 1 mile north of a56. The tanks took it down, and I went in and did the capture. This happened at about T+50. Now that our objectives were met, I asked command "What next?" They told me to go to 57 and join with AGN.
We pushed toward 57 and made it there along with AGN. I waited until the base was announced clear and moved to the map room for capture. After I got out my fourth trooper or so, I was hit by a tank round and killed. It turned out there was a Panzer across the water in the direction of 58. He killed me. Fortunately, some other M3's were around, and they got it afterwards.
I started my long trek back from v47 to the front lines. On my high-speed cross-country journey in my M3, I again rolled it. I hit the edge of a hill and, at speed, it was enough to roll me. Again, amazingly, my M3 landed on its feet. I got back to 57 and took an LVTA2, as the bridges from 57 to 58 could be out.
As I travelled toward 58, I saw that the bridges were out. I did the first crossing and got to the second bridge. There, it wasn't clear if there were many tanks across yet or not. That bridge was down, too. Rather than go across in an LVTA2 as a leading element, I just waited for the bridge to come back up with the armor. Apparently, though, there were enough forces that got across before the bridge went down, and 58 was captured before I got there.
Now AGN's objectives were met. The additional objectives were to go hit 59, then 66, and the AGN/AGC horde moved on. It was hectic, but we were rambling on rapidly without huge opposition. The horde didn't need all that much command - it just needed to know what the next target was and how to get there.
We made it to 59, the tanks cleared it out, and Schatzi, Bboop, and I raced in with our M3's. Schatzi was first in, so I held off, and she got the capture.
It was similar at 66. I ducked into the indestructible hangar, while Schatzi and Bboop went in for the capture.
After 66, Command told us to go hit 69. We went that way and came to a river. At this point, we were long past what anyone had driven in practice, so we fanned out to find a way across. The folks on the left flank found a bridge, and we all vectored in on that and used it.
v69 was more actively defended than the previous few, but all from the air. Unfortunately, the FAF had several fighters up, and none of our fighters were close enough that they could come help anytime soon. Our tanks went in and prepped the field while the M3's (several of them) tried to hide in trees. The FAF circled and looked, and eventually found and killed all the M3's . . . except one: Schatzi. She lived long enough for our fighters to get into the area or for the FAF to give some room, and got the capture.
For me, I was now back at 47 and way too far away to get back into the action. I sat in the tower a bit wondering what I should do when calls came in that 54 was under attack. I was still a long way from 54, but I decided I'd try to get there anyway. I launched an M3 from 47 and drove to 49. Along the way, the Finns captured 54. At 49, I relaunched in a T-34 and headed toward 54. However, by now there was only about 5 minutes left in the frame. I didn't think I'd make it. I thought about going back, getting an M3, and seeing if, by some miracle, I could get there, release troops, and retake it. I turned around back toward 49 and saw an M3 racing toward me. OK, so that was covered. I turned back around and headed back toward 54, but end frame happened before I could get there.
I ended the frame with two deaths and one base capture. I lost my last ride (a T-34) because I didn't get back to a base in time (was trying for 54).
The ground action was very hectic, and it was fun. Hawco got two kills, HB got a kill, an assist, and a base capture, Rompa got several assists and a large number of base buildings, Scotch destroyed some base buildings. VVS10-ground lost 7 T-34's overall. In the air, GypsyB destroyed 3 VH's and had no deaths, Skech destroyed 3 VH's and had 2 deaths, Grimm destroyed three VH's and had two deaths, and Monday destroyed a VH and had no deaths. So, VVS10-air destroyed 10 VH's and lost 4 Boston formations overall. Good work, VVS10, both air and ground!