CM:ICS - Axis Battlefield Reports.

[Doctor Sinister]

By request of the Axis Commanders, this separate thread will contain the story elements of the CM:ICS.

Although the story will be regularly updated, this thread will be locked for responses, all discussion of tactics etc. must take place here.

Dr. S.

[Doctor Sinister]

El-Kafir, Libya, June 1942.
North-Western approach road...06:25 AM.

The beginning of a new day...


A gentle breeze blew westwards from distant hills as the sun crept over the horizon, spreading orange fingers over the land. As the glow steadily increased, this part of the world began to awaken.

Hauptmann Holz, Co of A Company wiped the dust from his binocular lenses for the third time in as many minutes as he peered through them to the town ahead.

"Well, there it is. We're dead on target." Holz turned to his companions, Hauptmann Kiesfeldt of B Company and Leutnant's Hoffman and Gerdes of his Panzer Platoons.

"Not bad for a night march" commented Kiesfeldt ruefully.

"Yes, a pity that the rest of our supporting Panzers didn't arrive - but we must press on."

Holz walked casually back to the nearest Panzer IV and held a large map up against the side armour.

"The Airfield is to our left. Ahead of us is the Administrative Centre, the Mosque and the Governor's Residence. Our orders are to seize control of the west bank of the river in order that we might force a crossing. I anticipate that the British will want to remain within the defensive perimeter of their airfield, so we ought to be able to achieve this with minimal difficulty. Any comments?"

"Sir, the aerial reconnaisance we spotted earlier may have reported our position."

"Let them report away, unless the pilot had a steady hand and a telescope capable of peering into my pockets, our attack plans are a well-kept secret." The men around Holz chuckled. He was an excellent field commander, well-respected by his peers and soldiers alike.

"Besides which, I've already thought of that. If they want to fight on this side of the river, they'll be splitting their forces. I can't see them abandoning the Airfield completely, so if they've brought troops forward to stop us here, we have enough strength to blast our way through and inflict a defeat in detail."

The Officers nodded as they studied the plans. Holz was an expert at this kind of operation, and they trusted him implicitly.

"Alright then, let's get moving and take this one for Rommel, and the Fuhrer!"

Holz went back to his binoculars as the tank engines behind him gunned to life.


Dr. S.

[Doctor Sinister]

North-Western approach road...06:30 AM.


Leutnant Hoffman sat bolt upright in his Panzer IV and scanned the horizon before him. Sitting at the head of his Platoon of four Panzers, Hoffman was not quite at the very vanguard of the German advance line, but he was close to the front, and nearest to the Airfield. If anything were to attack them as they advanced, Hoffman's unit would be the first to know about it...

On the rear of his Tank, Obergefreiter's MG42 team were along for the ride. Each of Hoffman's Platoon were similarly laden with men and equipment.

To Hoffman's left, B Company led by Hauptmann Kiesfeldt stood ready to head off to the tree line to the east, and A Comnpany were on the other side of the road to Hoffman's right. Hoffman peered behind him one final time to see the Half-tracks and trucks that carried other men into battle, and looked
ahead and to his right to see Leutnant Gerdes' beaming face smiling back at him from his own command Panzer. Gerdes was escorting A Company into battle, but his Platoon too was at the front of the formation. Gerdes made an obscene gesture to Hoffman and laughed coarsely. Hoffman merely grimaced in return.

"OK, let's roll!" he shouted to the driver, and at his command, the Platoon began to trundle forward like some huge multi-bodied beast. Hoffman settled back slightly and allowed the breeze to blow over his face. But not for long...

"Dust plumes to the left Sir!" It was Unteroffizier Schwindt shouting across from his own vehicle.

Hoffman sat upright again and raised his binoculars. Schwindt was right, damn his eyes, something was approaching from the direction of the Airfield, a large cloud of dust was rising from the desert surface. He lowered himself to shout down to the crewmembers inside the Panzer.

"Signal Hauptmann Holz that the enemy are coming out to meet us". Hoffman gripped the edge of the hatch and cursed the Allied aerial reconnaissance.



Dr. S.

[Doctor Sinister]

West Bank of the Rahman river...06:31 AM.

Unteroffizier Getzendammer slowly eased the Half-Track forward as he crept along the edge of the river. The current was flowing fast and he had no idea how soft the riverbank might be...no telling if it had undermined the sand on which he was driving, or if it would support the weight of the vehicle...

He felt a nudge on his left arm. His gunner was trying to get his attention.

"Yes, what is it?"

"I can...hear something Sir."

"What can you hear? Quickly, I've got no time to mess around..."

"It sounds like...some kind of armoured vehicle - but from up ahead Sir. Over by the bridge."

"Don't talk rubbish, we're the ones on the move, not the British..." he was cut short as a flash of light over by the bridge caught his eye. Moments later, machine gun bullets spattered over the front armour plate of the Half-Track.

"My God!" Getzendammer immediately put the vehicle into reverse and drove back behind a large rocky outcrop. "Get word to the CO that there are enemy Matildas bearing down on us. NOW!!"



Dr. S.

[Doctor Sinister]

North-Western approach road...06:32 AM.

Leutnant Hoffman whirled around at the sound of the machine gun fire from the river. He simultaneously heard a cry over the radio from another member of his Tank Platoon - it was Unteroffizier Wegberg in number 4 Panzer.

"I have enemy Infantrymen in my sights - running from the direction of the Governor's Residence!"

Almost immediately after Wegberg issued his report, a deep boom echoed from the muzzle of his main gun and a shell leapt towards the Infantry ahead.



* * *

Leutnant Gerdes heard the radio chatter over his headset and immediately realised that the attack was not going as planned.

"Herr Leutnant!" It was Unteroffizier Von Marwitz from Gerdes' number 2 Panzer. "Sir, I can see enemy Tanks approaching from the direction of the Administrative Centre..."

"HALT!" Gerdes' order was obeyed immediately. "Rotate left and bring main guns to bear."

* * *

Spearheading the advance in an SPW 251/10 Half-Track, Unteroffizier Karlshorst was rounding a series of low buildings en-route to the Mosque when shells began to fall around him. Instinctively he ducked, but then felt foolish as he realised that the shells were merely obscuring the area with a layer of smoke.

"Something's not right here, the British should be defending the Airfield..." He whipped up his field glasses and saw...

"Infantry! Almost a whole Company occupying the Mosque! Fire! Fire at will!!"

Machine gun fire began spitting from the Half-Track towards the Mosque.

Dr. S.

[Doctor Sinister]

North-Western approach road...06:33 AM.

A short distance behind Karlshorst's Half-Track, Unteroffizier Damm followed in an identical vehicle. Turning left into the row of buildings revealed the situation.

"We have a lot of Infantry, supported by some kind of light Tank - difficult to say what they are, the dust is too thick. Report back to the Hauptmann immediately..."

With a sudden screech of tearing metal, the Half-Track shook.

"And tell him we are taking incoming fire, from an unknown direction."

As Damm looked around him, he could see Karlshorst's own vehicle frantically reversing behind. The Half-Track rocked on its suspension again and again as more incoming fire spattered into the armour plate.

"I think it might be time for us to get out of here..."

With a sudden crash, shards of metal flew about the interior of the vehicle. Damm looked down to see a wet stain spreading across his tunic, and then he looked up to see the cause of the problem - his driver's brains were splattered all about the cockpit.

* * *

Following behind the main advance, Hauptmann Holz observed the proceedings so far.

"Order Gerdes' Panzers to move forward and support the Half-Tracks. If we can lay down enough fire onto that Mosque maybe we can inflict some heavy casualties..."

* * *

To the east, Hauptmann Kiesfeldt's Company B had run into trouble. Spread out across the tree line, they were in a prime position to observe British Matilda Tanks disgorging troops from their rear decks before the armoured vehicles then headed back to a defensive line near the northern bridge.



"Dammit, it's not going to be easy getting across that river." The men in his command staff said nothing, but stared back at him in grim agreement.

Dr. S.

[Doctor Sinister]

North-Western approach road...06:34 AM.

Holz listened impassively to the report from his Stabsfeldwebel as the distant rattle of machine gun fire echoed across the desert.

"Herr Hauptmann, we have reports that B Company is engaged in close quarters fighting with enemy Tanks. Leutnant Gerdes' Panzer Platoon reports that enemy armour is moving towards the El-Kafir Mosque."

"What news of our Panzer IIIs?"

"There is no news Sir".

Holz pondered his options.

"Have the trucks brought forward and unload their troops. A Company will advance through the woods ahead and see if we can force the issue on our terms. That is all".

The Stabsfeldwebel saluted and turned to obey.



Dr. S.

[Doctor Sinister]

El-Kafir, 06:35 AM.

Unteroffizier Von Marwitz peered through the vision slot in his turret and smiled to himself. Ahead was the El-Kafir Mosque, almost glowing with radiance from the early sun. It was a beautiful target.

"Sir, Leutnant Gerdes instructs we should fire at will."

"Then fire away!"

The Tank rocked on its suspension as a shell leapt from the turret, exploding within the outer perimeter wall of the Mosque compound. As Von Marwitz watched, he could see the chaos that ensued amongst the enemy troops.





"Keep it up!" he ordered cheerfully.

Dr. S.

[Doctor Sinister]

North-Western woods, 06:36 AM.

Hauptmann Kiesfeldt crept cautiously through the wooded area along with the men from his Company. Although well-hidden by the foliage, his troops were taking no chances as they pressed forward, for the ominous shapes of Matilda Tanks could be seen up ahead at the edge of the treeline.

Behind and to the right, the Hauptmann could hear the heavy crash of explosive shells and machine gun fire. Suddenly, his front tier of men were dropping to their knees and bringing up their rifles.

"Contact Sir! Enemy troops are in the trees ahead!"

"Lay down suppressive fire and try to flank them on either side..." Kiesfeldt knew that his own men outnumbered the British - they had an entire area to defend, whereas Kiesfeldt was funnelling almost an entire Company through a small space.

And then - he could see them. What looked like three whole Squads of British Tommies charging hell for leather at the advancing Germans.



"Fire! Cut them down!" ordered Kiesfeldt, but his troops were well-drilled and didn't need telling. Even as the Matilda Tanks fired shells in support of their advancing friends, the pride of the Afrika Korps opened up, sending a hail of bullets through the trees.

A supporting Heavy Machine Gun on the German's left flank fired in support - and Kiesfeldt watched as the British soldiers dropped to the ground in defensive postures. They were close enough now that Kiesfeldt could see their faces, and close enough for both sides to start throwing grenades at one another. As shrapnel flew around his head, the sounds of battle intensified. Troops on both sides fell choking to the ground, dead or injured.

"Keep firing! Push forward!"

As his men continued shooting for all they were worth, the weight of fire soon began to show against the British and Kiesfeldt could see some of them begin to crawl away.



The British line was beginning to crack.

Dr. S.

[Doctor Sinister]

North-Western woods, 06:37 AM.

The British withdrawal from the woods was becoming a full-scale retreat. Seizing the initiative, Hauptmann Kiesfeldt rose to his feet.

"Pursue them! Don't let them escape! If we can destroy their Infantry here, we have ourselves a breach in the line!"

He avoided thinking about the Matilda Tanks nestling by the edge of the woods - although one had been immobilised by his Infantrymen, the others would have to be dealt with by other methods...and right about now...

* * *

...Leutnant Hoffman's Platoon of four Panzer IVs was positioned well to the rear of B Company. Facing North, they were in an excellent position to prevent any attack on the rear flank of the German advance...but now their time had come.

Hoffman listened intently to the orders he received over his headset and knelt down into the turret to communicate with his crew.

"It looks like the British forces have committed themselves to engaging our Infantry at close range - and now they are nicely bottled up. We're going to be the cork." He smiled at the confused looks from his crewmen and, sitting upright again, he motioned his Platoon to drive forward.

By heading along the edge of the river - his Tanks had a perfect opportunity to encircle the enemy and hit them in the rear...



* * *

Facing the Mosque, Leutnant Gerdes' own Platoon of Panzers kept up a steady rate of fire. Already the building was beginning to emit smouldering black smoke, the windows shattered and the stonework covered in soot.

It was Von Marwitz who spotted the threat first.

"Enemy Matilda Tank bearing down on us!"

Gerdes peered to his left and saw the Matilda emerge around the curve of the road.



"Damn, and I thought we had that Infantry on the run." He pondered the situation. "We can handle this, maintain our assault on the Mosque and take shots at that Tank as it comes to bear - we must press through!"

Dr. S.

[Doctor Sinister]

North-Western woods, 06:38 AM.

Kiesfeldt's men pushed forward to fill the sudden vaccum left by the retreating British troops. Their withdrawal had become a rout and the Hauptmann could hear their terrified screams over the firing.

Dead bodies littered the woods - and the German advance continued...



* * *

Elsewhere, the advance faltered. To the south, Leutnant Robbe crouched near a small oasis. Ahead lay the El-Kafir Mosque. But between his Platoon and the Mosque, British Tanks, Matildas and smaller models patrolled up and down the roadside. Already, Robbe's force was taking casualties and many of his men were beginning to panic.



Robbe felt a tug on his arm - it was his Feldwebel, scarred and bruised from the battle.

"Sir, we need armour support..."

Robbe nodded in agreement. "I know, but those Matildas are tought nuts to crack - perhaps the Hauptmann is waiting for our Panzer IIIs to arrive."

"We can't wait Sir, we're out on a limb here and we're sitting targets for the British armour - can't we do something?"

Robbe looked the Feldwebel in the eye and shook his head. "We hold until ordered otherwise - for the Fatherland!"

Dr. S.

[Doctor Sinister]

El-Kafir, 06:39 AM.

Leutnant Gerdes felt a cold trickle of sweat down his back as Von Marwitz's voice came over the radio.

"Herr Leutnant, the smoke is clearing, we can see three Matilda Tanks bearing down on our position."

"Keep firing on the Mosque!" ordered Gerdes. "We must clear the area!"

"But Sir..."

The ground rumbled as incoming shellfire announced the first range-firing shots from the British Tanks. Gerdes bit his lip whilst his brain ran through the possible options. They had the British on the run here, it would be a shame to lose this oppostunity.

"Frohlich - you will target the Matildas". An acknowledgement from Frohlich's Panzer and an echoing boom from the main gun confirmed receipt of the order. The first shot fell short. "Von Marwitz and Schruller, you will...."

But Gerdes never got to finish the order. With a shattering crash and the sound of rending metal, a solid shell from the lead Matilda blew an enormous hole through the front armour plate of Gerdes' Panzer.

"Get out! Everybody out!" Blinded by smoke, Gerdes pushed open the top hatch and emerged, coughing into the air. As he rolled off the top of the Panzer he collapsed in a heap on the ground, wretching and bleeding, only barely hearing the screams from inside the front compartment of the Tank as his driver drowned in his own blood...



* * *

Unteroffizier Wartburg felt every inch the conquering hero as he led Leutnant Hoffman's Panzer Platoon around the edge of the river. As the Panzers approached, the sounds of battle intensified, but one thing was clear.

Wartburg grabbed his radio.

"Sir, Hauptman Kiesfeldt's men are advancing and the British Infantry are in full retreat. Enemy armour appears to be retreating to form a defensive line along the roadside."



"Engage the enemy and fire at will!" came the order, and without hesitation, the Panzers opened fire on the exposed Infantry.



Dr. S.

[Doctor Sinister]

North-Western woods, 06:40 AM.

As Unteroffizier Wartburg's Panzers rounded the hilltop, he could not help but smile to himself.

Though the air was thick with dust fromt he tracks of his Platoon, British Infantrymen were in full view, totally exposed to the guns of his Tanks, the panic in the British line was evident. Some men were cowering on the ground, apparently taken by surprise with the appearance of the Panzers. Sporadic fire from the line pinged off of Wartburg's armour, but it was nothing to be concerned with.



"No mercy, we must sweep them aside..."

But something was wrong...the British weren't trying to hold the line, many of them were in full retreat, and over to the south, Tanks could be seen backing away, reforming the line to the East.

"Sir, they appear to be heading for the Northern bridge".

"They are trying to regroup in the proximity of the Airfield - we must stop them getting that far. OPEN FIRE!"

* * *

To the south, Hauptmann Holz conferred with his Platoon Leaders in a densely wooded area.

"It's time to earn our pay. Right about now we have Panzers reinforcing the centre of our line, and more Panzers engaging the British in a pincer movement to the North. So far, we've not been spotted and as far as we can tell, the British have committed everything they've got to the area around the Northern bridge."

Holz turned to Leutnant Wolf, the trusted leader of A Company's 3rd Platoon.

"Herr Leutnant, I want you to take your Platoon to the administrative centre and secure the area. The Mosque has been abandoned, British troops are fleeing all across the line and don't anticipate much resistance - but nevertheless, we will cover you from here. Get to it".

Wolf saluted crisply and ran back to his men. Holz looked at his watch as Wolf's Platoon headed across open ground to the centre of El-Kafir. Only 11 minutes into the battle and it looked like it might all be over very soon...



Dr. S.

[Doctor Sinister]

El-Kafir, 06:41 AM.

In his Half-Track, Karlshorst patrolled the centre of the German line. Using the trees as cover, his Platoon of vehicles took every opportunity to fire at enemy Infantry, only now, a Platoon of enemy Light Tanks faced them.

Machine gun fire spattered off of his front armour as the Tanks saw him and opened fire.

"Back us off, slowly, and then press back forward again".

Karlshorst knew that his Platoon had already sustained casualties, but at the same time, he knew that the advance might falter here if he didn't support the German troops in the trees ahead.

"We must maintain pressure all along the line - if we lose it here, we could lose the battle".

He felt rather than heard the low rumble at first. The hairs on the back of his neck began to bristle and an icy shiver went down his spine.

"Sir..."

"I know, I can fel it too."

And then he could hear it. The low roar of an approaching plane.

"They've scrambled Fighters! Evasive action - NOW!", but the order was futile. As the Hurricane sped overhead, deadly strafing machine gun fire lanced out from its cannon and suddenly Karlshorst's half-track was full of smoke and flame.



"Bail out! Bail out!!" he screamed, but half of his crew were unable to hear him, lying dead in the cabin. As Karlshorst staggered bruised and bleeding from his vehicle, he saw at least one other crew attempt the same thing from another Half-track. Above him, the Hurricane performed a snap roll of victory and sped skywards.



"Damn the RAF, damn them to hell..."

* * *

Wartburg saw the planes sweep across the sky and ran his hand over his brow. The stakes were getting higher. But he had problems of his own. His four Panzers were engaged in pitched battle with two Matilda Tanks. It was a deadly duel, for in between thw two sides, British Infantrymen ran for their lives, chased and harried from the woods by the German infantry under the command of Kiesfeldt.

A loud bang to his left made Wartburg turn to see Hoffman's Panzer take a direct hit. The vehicle sat there, immobile.

"Hoffman, are you alright?"

There was no reply over the radio. Just static. But the crew weren't bailing out, that was one thing at least.

Explosions rocked the ground between the two armoured forces, occasionally, Wartburg's Panzers gave the British soldiers an encouraging blast of fire to aid them in their frantic retreat.

Wartburg stared at his opponents in the Matildas ahead, but he never saw the shell that hit his own Panzer until it was too late. Clutching his ears in agony he felt blood ooze from a gash in his head.

"Are we alright?"

The crew responded in the affirmative one by one. Wartburg cursed under his breath - first planes, now the British start to score lucky hits on his armour. It wasn't going to be as easy as he thought.

Dr. S.

[Doctor Sinister]

El-Kafir, 06:42 AM.

Coughing with the fumes from his burning vehicle, Karlshorst slumped to the dusty gound and gulped in the fresh air. Beside him, his driver, wounded and dazed, collapsed in a heap. Their gunner had not made it.

"So we live to fight another day eh?" Karlshorst smiled at his friend and, "Let's see if we can find a medic..."

He looked up sharply as the thunderous roar of the planes overhead reached a crescendo. The Hurricanes had completed their turn and were approaching for another pass.

"NOOOOOO!!!!!!"

Karlshorst died instantly, his torso ripped open by aerial cannon fire, his blood discolouring the dry dusty ground.

In less than a minute, the entire Platoon of Half-tracks had been turned to scrap.

Seeing the disaster unfold, nearby Infantrymen, already shaken by the stiff British defence, began to run for their lives.




* * *

To the North, Wartburg was only just recovering from the last British shell when a further shot hit his turret square on. Flames erupted from the top of the vehicle and Wartburg died in an instant inside his beloved Panzer IV whilst the rest of his crew scrambled to safety.

Seeing their leader die, the surviving members of Wartburg's Platoon reversed behind a blanket of white smoke.



Dr. S.