AAR
Fire lance and company were tasked with hunting down the pirates in their enclave almost to the man. After some back and forth due to concerns of prisoner treatment the mission parameters were solidified. Conduct a full assault onto the small bastion and remove the foothold of pirate forces in the area.
Fire and Norbotten lances deployed southwest. The liason and local St Ives forces deployed south east "alongside" Blitzkrieg lance. Fury deployed via highway to the east on a delayed prong attack and Ironsides deployed after repositioning through the center.
Pirate forces deployed with clear intent forming a centered concave. Additional units deployed almost haphazardly but were placed with intent that very much so became evident later on. Supplementing the forces were old turrets (found and reassembled), local infantry units that were very clearly experienced city fighters and commandeered mining equipment. Among the turrets lay an abomination reconstructed from parts long forgotten and now clearly remembered....
Pirates forces started their feigned withdrawal in the west as soon as Ranger and St Ives units advanced. Eastern pirate units moved for positioning on the east. Both sides sending artillery continued this for some time exchanging fire when able.
Both lines converged artillery targeting pirate support and pirate haphazardly firing into the wind but still being effective in some regard. Both Ranger and St Ives units began taking sporadic longtom and sniper fire fairly quickly. Significant damage would be dealt to at Ives forces initially and Ranger forces the remainder. Many Rangers would recall the shear terror of the sudden explosion and near fatal and crippling damage. Ranger counter battery was highly effective neutralizing the longtoms. The aging helepolis however was about as terrifyingly effective. Under direction of Fire CO air superiority was heavily tasked with constant hard point breaking and later headhunting. This was not an envied role but necessary as Ranger air assets drew heavy ground fire on CAS runs allowing Ranger units to push in the East. Unfortunately heavy damage on the fighters will make down time necessary. One bird was lost with pilot Jose Cano and was unrecoverable.
The west was just as rough although lighter in force. Pirate forces gave just as much hate. They showed the importance and necessary role of ground troops in urban environments. Although Ranger lance Norbotten attempted to breach the city it became apparent the infantry nor mechs were willing to part and break. As the breach began to widen stray artillery struck Norbotten lance forcing retreat. Light units heavily pursued the lance but were eventually defeated or ran. Fire Lance and Ironside broke through the line and kill zone separating the pirate lines. The East was nothing but close in fighting and could be considered nothing less than a brawl. This became the same across the entire battlefield shortly after.
The combat loss groupings began to take hold and heavy damage filled most of the Ranger units. Some specifically drawing ire across the pirate forces more than others. The Rangers dug deep and didn't break. Mop up duties commenced as more pirate forces fell and wrapped up with Ranger victory.
Sadly the fighting claimed a lance member SGT Tara Rathbone of Blitzkrieg. The last defiant action of a black knight blowing out the cockpit while being offered surrender.
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Topic: POLAR GULF Mission 4 - 5/22/58 (Read 1994 times)