1st Squad [12/11/11] AAR Frey+Lam Vs 2.SS

113th Cavalry-1st Squad AAR-Freyneux and Lamormenil VS 2.SS
-----------------

1st ID gave mixed reports of contact at Aisne; enemy probed in and out of capzone and fired innacurate HE to try
and locate 1st ID. After 1/2 Hour they assaulted in force with at least one Recon car. 1st ID was lost with the
casualty of one German.

At Trace 1st Squad kept in good cover while I kept watch on the road; my position was located by enemy sniper
and I was almost picked off. This ended up to our benefit because all enemy attention was focused on my last
known position. They began heavy bombardment with Machine Gun, 20mm HE, and Mortar. MG and HE was focused on my
last position and was thus inaccurate; Mortars went off in the treeline behind the capzone, also inaccurate.

Germans sent small infantry forces alternating the left and right to clear the treelines; they were met by fierce
MG crossfire by Bailey and Colt. Our MG fire forced to get them to retreat and regroup multiple times.
The enemy force decided to bring up their second recon car as well as more infantry for one giant push.

At this point we lost Bailey, and Ostermier took his MG and managed to kill the German Artillery Officer (who
for whatever reason decided to get up to the front lines [maybe to try and call a strike]).
The enemy Recon cars closed in but not close enough for us to use the bazooka. After loosing Bailey and
taking very heavy machine gun, HE, and mortar fire, I decided to fall back. Colt brought up the halftrack
intact and we loaded up. I threw smoke to cover us from the incoming HE.
As we headed off we took some 20mm rounds to the halftrack but luckily they had wasted most of the 20mm clip
on the smoke and had to reload. 1st Squad escaped with only one causalty (also, Lawrence due to technical difficulties), at the cost of their arty officer and
possibly one more german.

1st Squad regrouped with 2nd Squad at Freyneux. Laitis and I used binocs to watch the souther approach out of
Trace. 1st Squad acted as eyes for 2nd Squad and Rinaldi's recon car.
After both 1st and 2nd Squad put fire and destroyed the halftracks to the north we took sniper fire to the SW.
Communications were FUBAR since Pelt was pinging out. Orderes were not listened to and
we lost two more men to the sniper and one to FF. After everyone settled down and got into cover I was able to
go scout and eliminate the sniper. Remanents of 1st and 2nd Squad were ordered to retake Lamormenil. Our assault
was successful, but a lone enemy riflemen/AT managed to sneak behind Ostermeir and Brown and take them out. Enemy
riflemen was hunted down by Saunders and Tyler.

------------------------------------------------
On the communications breakdown/teen angst/hurp durp near the end:


I did not hear any reports of infantry about to hit Brown/Ostermeir because I was trying to lead two other guys
over 100m of open ground over the sound of two MG's, recon HE, recon MG,incoming mortar fire, and 3rd Squad's
chatter (we were shoved into the same TS) while they were fighting a mile away at LaFosse.
It was a miracle I barely managed to hear what Tyler and Saunders were saying.

My mistake was not to leave one guy at Frey...but quite frankly I was working with what I had, and what I had
to assualt Lam was 2 mg's and 2 riflemen across 100m open ground and no concealment. Not exactly Ideal. We lost 3
men (one to FF) ( nearly half of our presence at Frey) to the sniper because my order to
'hold fire and keep your heads down so I can locate the sniper' did not fully get through because...

...I was trying to lead two squads through two different channels; the problem being
1) my orders were not getting through in teamchat 2) I was not fully in command of 2nd. It is rather
difficult to tell two squads to constantly shift their attention to different directions, to fire HE, to
give out coordinates of enemy, and to confirm we are not shooting at friendlies at the same time.

Next time a similar situation occurs, I recommend either the SL in command needs to put another PFC in his squad in command
(I could have easily alt tabbed and put them into my whisper) or both squads get merged into the same TS. Neither of which occurred, and I did not know how many of 2nd was alive. That is why I ordered
everyone to meet up in front of the church. I did not know what the hell was going on so I regrouped. I saw I
had 2 riflement and two MG's. I made a decision. Could I have predicted where exactly their camping riflemen are,
or if they even had any more in the area? No. The 3 enemy remaining could have been at Lam, they could have been
a mile away. Should I have had one of MG cover the rear or stay in Frey? Yes, in hindsight that would have been
a better decision.

I know many of you were getting angsty and tired because the battle (if I can call it that) had been goin on
for two hours; but If I can stay calm and patient while trying to do all of the above, then so can you. I
do not need complaints about any wrong decision after I had to psuedo-command two squads through TS and teamchat.

--------------------------------
I would just like to point out...

Everyone in and assigned to my squad performed to the best of their abilities considering he circumstances; While none read the Scrim thread they were all able to adapt to the situational defense quickly. Nearly every single one of them was put into a role they are not usually accustomed to (Bailey and Ostermeir --> Squad MG, Colt --> Halftrack MG, Tyler---> Rear Support, Laitis ---> AT man, Lawrence --> HT flank guard) and they performed near flawlessly with their unusual duties.

The 1st ID were also a pleasure to work with.