In the close quarters of the Krolowa's up-armored bridge, Snowy squeezes off a stream pepper-spray into the surprised face of the Czech. Despite the accuracy of the attack, microscopic droplets spew in all directions, rapidly filling the small, semi-enclosed space with a nostril-singing, lung-scorching, eye-watering miasma. Blinded, the Czech nevertheless finishes drawing his pistol as Snowy kicks out at his left knee. As he ducks reflexively to avoid the barrel of the swinging Makarov, Snowy’s boot glances off inner thigh and thrusts inside the Czech’s leg. A shot rings out, the bullet pancaking off of the bridge ceiling. Off balance, legs entangled, both men tumble to the deck, wrestling desperately for the pistol. Another shot rings out, the round slaloming along the bridge floor and into the aft bulkhead. After a few desperate seconds of grappling, Snowy gets the better of the exchange, his years of training kicking in almost automatically. After a few hard elbows to the man’s ribs, Snowy wrestles the gun from the Czech and, left hand holding the IPAT man down by the collar, presses the cold barrel of the Makarov to his forehead. The man, eyes shut tight, ceases struggling, although his body continues to be wracked by coughing. Walter and Adam cough along in a chorus of empathetic discomfort.

On the deck below, as Minh finishes subduing the Artur, Dawid thrusts his body against the trail of the Vasilek, swinging it into position. The IPAT men, noting the threatening maneuver, open fire on the tug from their unprepared positions along the shore. Protected somewhat by the steel-plate and sandbagged barbette that houses it, Dawid makes minor adjustments to the trim of the gun-mortar over its open sites, and kicks the firing pedal, sending a white phosphorous round at the green and brown IPAT BTR-80. The round misses wide right [8m], detonating in a cascade of burning particles and thick white smoke which, nonetheless, quickly envelopes the armored personnel carrier. The BTR gunner, temporarily blinded by the burning white wall, fires his big KPV machine gun in the general direction of the Krolowa, sending 14.5mm rounds sailing hopelessly high over the tug’s superstructure.

Moments before the Vasilek sends its first round downrange, Viktor, alone and exposed in the barge-mounted ZU-23-2, unleashes a burst at the IPAT C&C Humvee. The API rounds scream just over the head of the enemy gunner in the Humvee as he swings his pintle-mounted Mk-19 towards the barge. Rounds crack all around the big Pomeranian fighter as automatic rifleman join in on the duel. Ritter fires a second burst at the same target and watches as they once again fail to hit their intended target. A burst of 40mm counterfire [three 40mm HE grenades) detonates on and around the ZU, showering Ritter with dozens of bits of shrapnel and damaging the cannon's firing mechanism. The big Pole jumps spasmodically in his seat from the near-simultaneous multiple impacts, then slumps, bleeding, to the deck. He will be dead in a matter of minutes.

Tucker, on the right-hand side of the forward companionway, fires a burst from the PKM at the IPAT RPG gunner in the center of the IPAT’s firing line. His rounds kick up soil next to the man, as he raises his launcher tube to fire at the tug. Discomfitted by the near miss of Tucker's first burst, the man sends the AT rocket into the water ten meters from the Krolowa's forward quarter, kicking up an impressive but harmless geyser of white water.

On the forward companionway, Griet struggles to move the PKM to the starboard side. Plunking it into place on the sandbagged wall, she shoulders the weapon and fires a quick burst at the RPG gunner. Waves of pain radiate up her arm and into her and upper back chest as the burst flies wildly out of control. Griet releases the trigger and nearly drops the machine gun’s wooden butt-stock to the deck.

On the poop, the third IPAT chaperone stares down the long, cylindrical barrel of Clarence’s silenced pistol. Glancing sidelong at Bone’s M240, as its muzzle swings towards his chest, the Pole decides that discretion is the better part of valor. As the firing starts up from the shore, the man drops the AKM from his shoulder, turns, and after three loping strides, vaults over the starboard side into the frigid, brown Vistula water.

Jason, taking over the aft Dushka for the indisposed Milk, swings the barrel around as far starboard as it will go. Due to the oblique firing angle, it will be several seconds before any targets come into view.

Meanwhile, on the western shore, Chopper joins in on the action, sending a short ranging burst at the enemy Humvee on shore. It's difficult to quickly adjust fire due to the long flight time of the arcing rounds, and Chopper watches through the smoke of the heightening battle for the fall of his shots. It's difficult to tell whose fire is having what effect, but it seems that his first burst was long, passing over the IPAT Humvee and detonating some distance behind it.

OOC: I didn't post an action for Mariusz as I was not sure what his intentions were (either crawl on to the bridge roof to snipe, or take over the starboard Dushka for the indisposed Snowy.)

Jason will have opportunity fire on targets that come into view from right to left or he can choose a specific target for this next round.

Actions?
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:56, Wed 26 Mar 2008.

"HEDP on stand by." Quyen says over after the first shot from the mortar. As soon as Dawid exhausted the current clip of 82mm WP she will load the HEDP rounds. While waiting she lays the rounds on the deck next to them. Reaching over she grabs one of the RPK-74s deployed at her station. Choosing a random soldier on the shore she fires off two bursts.

Quyen
No.2 on Mortar
RPK-74
Firing 2 bursts of auto fire at any dismounted soldier on shoreline / ready to reload mortar
This message was last edited by the player at 07:58, Wed 26 Mar 2008.

Crouched behind cover, Anneka thrust the radio handset at Clarence.
"Take it and get the the starboard gun."

She knew that the old Warrant Officer wouldn't need any more direction than that. He was a professional who knew that returning overwhelming fire was perhaps their only hope - that and accurate fire support from the bike team. Although to her knowledge it had not been discussed, she assumed that Konrad would be the one issuing corrections, but if he was wounded, Clarence must be in a position to take over immediately.

Radio passed over, she trusted Stoner would also begin firing now that the immediate danger of their chaparone had been dealt with. Cocky he may be, but she was betting her life that he would quickly become the consumate professional with it counted.

She considered for a moment her options before dashing for the L86 where it lay atop a pile of stores, centrally located on the upper deck and providing some small measure of cover. The light ripping of the ZU could barely be heard briefly before first the mortar and then shore mounted gun drowned it out.

"Mariusz!" she yelled, testing her lungs against the quickly building noise.
"Clarence will take over. You back to the port gun once he's there!"

Passing the radio back to Clarence before dashing for the L86, yelling instructions to Mariusz.
HP-35, 3 mags + harsh language

Mariusz was about halfway up the ladder when he heard someone calling his name, he continued climbing toward the bridge roof and yelled back, "What?!"

Mariusz
G3 (slung on back)
Climbing ladder to the roof of the bridge
Answering Anneka.

Greit gritted her teeth against the pain that wracked her body. Her wounds ached from the percussive recoil blows of the machinegun. She realised that she was going to be unable to maintain long bursts of suppresive fire which was really all that the PK would be any use for in this fight.

It was too late to change weapons though and she doubted that she'd find anything else much easier to use given her injuries. She would just have to try to make every shot count. She adjusted the lay of the machinegun slightly and squinted along the sight. The gunner in the Hum-Vee had done the most damage so far, she aimed carefully at him, she might not hit but she hoped she'd
give the bastard something to think about.

Griet
PKMG (195/200)
P64 (7/7)
Aiming at the Hum-Vee 40mm grenade launcher gunner

Hicks yells, forgetting his military courtesy in the excitement, "Stan! Do we still have commo? My rounds looked long - get a confirmation!". He changes the angle of the barrel to adjust his fire to the HMMWV and starts firing at maximum rate.

As the ship moves into battle, Jason's first attempt at firing the Dushka brings the weapons alignment into perspective. Letting loose a few rounds, he feels the weapons power for the first time, as the ship moves into range.

As the ZU explodes on the tug, he becomes painfully aware had Milk not told him to man the Dushka, he would be in a world of hurt. The water plume from the near miss by the RPG sends his body racing and he begins to seek ut revenge

"CORPSMAN! TO THE TUG! MOTHERFUCKERS!" He exclaims as he sights the infantry along the shore.

Jason Kasparov
Targeting target XA-X(RPG-16)
Aft Dushka
This message was last edited by the player at 17:46, Wed 26 Mar 2008.

Tucker tries to correct his aim from his previous burst to take out the AT gunner that just barely mised the tug.

Tucker
PK MG
Right-hand side of the forward companionway & adjusting fire

As soon as the Polish IPAT goes over the side, Dave runs up to sandbag wall and puts the M240 to work. Seeing the Zoo rounds flash over the HMMWV, he'll start there, aiming att he gunners.

OOC: Dave's not ignoring Jason, but we're both on the poop deck, and he shouldn't be able to see whats happening on the barge

Dave
M240, 100 round belt
AK-74, 6 loaded mags,slung across back
BG-15, 3 HE, 1 IllUM
shooting mg at HMMWV

Bayer stands in the bridge, field glasses in one hand, his radio in the other. Watching the impact of Chopper's 40mm HE barrage, he relays back corrections to Stan to bring it on target (the rear vehicle column).

Behind him, he hears Snowy finishing securing his opponent. Over the bursts of heavy machinegun fire and the rounds impacting on the tug, he calls out, "Snowy, we need more fire on the close target. Get those machinegunners on target or find out whats going on."

Bayer
Bridge
G36/HK69 (HE)
Relaying corrections (For. Obv) to Stan/Chopper
This message was last edited by the player at 01:11, Thu 27 Mar 2008.

"You know," says Snowy panting, "you bloody make it hard for someone not to shoot you, you bastard."
Snow hand cuffs the man's feet and hands, searches him for weapons and deposits the finds on the table next to Adam. Any intel materiel goes there as well.



"I'm on it boss," replies Snowy, checking his equipment. He puts his combat helmet on over his cap and checks his mike boom is situated correctly. Hefting his M4, he scurries out of the bridge keeping low and makes the rounds of the machine-gunners, looking to see if any are hit or have stoppages.

<radio:> "Snowy to Sun Ray, Man Down. Forward autocannon. Snowy out."

Snowy.
Starboard (contact?) side, upper deck house.
M4 +6 mags.
Moving along from cover to cover, checking gunners.

The rhythmic thumping of the grenade launcher punctuates the cool mid-morning air as Hicks opens up on the IPAT command Hummer.  Simultaneously, the opposing beach erupts in a brilliant frenzy.  The billowing phosphor clouds quickly envelop their target in an awesome pyrotechnic display, the unmistakable manifestation of the Vasilek's rapid-fire assault.  With his left hand on his raised binoculars and his right clutching the radio's handset, Switek barks at Bayer,

"Sunray, Buddha.  Target obscured.  Looks like we went long. Please confirm!"

As the monk orchestrates fire, his automatic rifle hangs off his back, barrel down, slung behind him like a rock star's electric guitar.



[Switek - Vest, No Helmet]
Riverside West
RPKM + drum 7.62mmS (75/75)
Spotting/Communicating

"Sunray. Confirmed long." Bayer replies, and then relays the corrections again to bring the fire on target.

[Private to Trevor 'Snowy' White: There are two DSHKs not manned aren't there? I might be wrong but thats what Bayer was getting at. Our fire isn't a great as it could be.]

Dawid kept low behind the gunshield as he serviced his targets. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Viktor slump over like a rag doll, but blocked that out of his consciousness. Rounds screamed over his head.

He thought, Holy Mother of Czestochowa, Thou art full of grace, Goodness and mercy...

Seeing his first target adequately suppressed, Dawid shifted fire to the rocket soldier [X(RPG)], no doubt desperately trying to reload his RPG, and then to the closer armed Humvee (#2). He fired 2 phosphor rounds at both targets, emptying the Vasilek's magazine.

"Minh, reload with anti-armour (HEDP)!"

"Then take single shots or switch the Plamya for the love of Christ!"


82 mm Vasilek, (4 82mm WP + 5 HEDP)
Bow
Firing for 1 turn (4 shots at 2 targets), then reloading with HEDP.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:45, Fri 28 Mar 2008.

Mariusz reached the bridge roof amongst the chaos of all the yelling, noise and fire. He lay flat after unslinging his G3 and crawled forward until he could see the IPAT forces on the bank whilst still offering as little of himself as a target as possible. He braced the rifle firmly against the  roof and sighted down the Soviet scope. The grenade launcher on the Hum-Vee seemed to be doing the most damage and Mariusz focused his sights on his back, glad that the smoke hadn't obscured his view yet. He breathed deeply and relaxed himself, the sight settled and stayed in one place and Mariusz gently caressed the trigger and then squeezed a round off.

Mariusz
Lying on the bridge roof
Firing the scoped G3 (19/20)
M1911A1 (7/7)

[Private to Cap'n Rae: Rules stuff: This is two turns worth of post, an aim turn and a shot so it may carry over from your next post depending on the timeframe, if you just want to deal with Mariusz aiming in your post that's fine, I'll describe the recoil etc after that and you can deal with the shot in Saturday's post. As for number crunching: Mariusz Aimed shot is 14, with the scoped G3 short range is 80, I'm assuming a range of 200m/240m so he hits on a 7 or less obviously if the target is up to 160m from him, he hits on a 14 or less and if its more than 240m, he hits on a 3 or less, good luck Mariusz! I'm a bit hazy on the distances because I forgot to check the tac map before posting so I I have commited myself to an impossible shot that's my fault and I accept the concequences. Good action, I'm enjoying it.]

Griet felt her body tense up in anticipation of the pain from the recoil to come. Deliberately she made herself relax to make it the best shot she could. As she felt the tension release, she focused on the target once more, hoping to make every shot count.

Griet
Starboard railing
Aiming the PKMG at the Hummer gunner (195/200)
P64 (7/7)

[Private to Cap'n Rae: This is an additional post to give you the crunchie stuff and ask a question. 1) Crunchy stuff: PKMG on bipod (braced on the railing) short range=90m so again, I'm assuming it's a long range shot hitting on a 7.  Question, After this shot, which will probably miss, griet is likely to assume that given her condition, the PK is the wrong weapon for this fight, my question is, would she be any better off on the unused Dushka? It will depend on the mount, if it's the equivalent of a tripod, the recoil will be the same problem, if it's the equivalent of a vehicle mount, there's no recoil and thus might be easier for her. Let me know what your take on it is, bearing in mind Griet's military experience etc. If you think she won't have the chance to make such a decision in the heat of battle, let me know and she'll stick with the MG, it is in her hand after all. Cheers.]

Seeing that Jason has taken over the aft Dushka, Clarence realizes that it'll be a potentially fatal waste of time to switch off again and if the starboard Dushka is out of action for some reason, its return to the battle is of the utmost importance to the crew's intended survival.

"I'm on it, Major." he returns, shoving his silenced HK into his chest webbing.

Grabbing his radio pack with one hand and his AK in the other, Clarence makes for the starboard Dushka position with haste, bent low in an attempt to make the best use of whatever cover is available.

Small arms rounds clang and ping off of the stack and superstructure above him, reminding him of the urgent need to answer with the maximum amount of fire possible.

Milk
AK-74M (30/30)
Heading to the starboard HMG position

The next ten seconds are extremely fluid, a flurry of fire crossing back and forth over the Vistula river as the tug runs the gauntlet.

Dawid adjusts the traverse on the Vasilek to engage the RPG gunner. As Tucker's GPMG fire goes wide, two 82mm WP shells explode in brilliant white plumes just a couple of meters away from the enemy rocketeer, effectively immolating him. Minh is momentarily deprived of targets as the bank to her front and right* is blanketted in thick white smoke. She looks downriver and picks out an exposed rifleman, giving him a couple of short bursts from the RPK-74. All the while, the IPAT BTR gunner, firing blind from inside the growing white wall, is unable to hit anything more vital than the very top of the tug's stack.

Apparently satisfied with the destruction he's managed to sow on the barge, the grenadier on the Humvee begins to turn his sights on the Krolowa. A fusilade of incoming rifle, machine gun, and grenade fire [from Griet, Mariusz, and Chopper], however, impacts on or near his stationary ride and sends him scurrying desperately over the tailgate for cover. Furthermore, Chopper's latest burst of 40mm HE discourages any of the men posted near the parked convoy from rushing towards the riverbank and their comrades' immediate aid.

As the tug passes along the first of the enemy shore positions, Jason opens up on the shore with the aft HMG. He fails to hit anyone, but the sound and the fury of the Dushka's fire compells the IPAT riflemen facing the Korlowa's starboard, aft quarter to endevour frantically to bury themselves in the dirt. Bones adds to the din with the M240, ripping several lines of tracers through the immediate vicinity, further impairing an effective enemy response.

Clarence and Snowy nearly run into one another near the starboard Dushka. Each man gives the other a nervous "we're really in the shit now" grin before quickly moving on to their respective destinations.

The balance of fire has now swung, with the Krolowa sending out more than it is taking in. A few dozen meters more remain before the IPAT rendevouz is behind the Vistula Queen...

Actions?

OOC: This assumes that Minh is to Dawid's left. If she's on his right, she can't effectively fire across his front.

Please check the Tac-map for updated unit positions.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:42, Sat 29 Mar 2008.

Noting the short ranged M4 carbine that was currently Snowy's only weapon, Anneka yelled to the Australian as loud as she could in an attempt to be heard over the roar of machineguns.
"Here! Take this!"
The L86 was the only weapon available on the upper deck that had the range to make much difference. Anneka knew that her own limited skill and still injured arm would mean any shots she fired were likely to be nothing more than wasted ammunition.
"Is there anyone wounded?" she asked, still unaware of Viktors fate.

Offering L86 and mags to Snowy
Asking about casualties
HP-35 + 3mags
L86 + 6 30 round mags
[Private to GM: Will immediately head for the ZU if she's told about Viktor grabbing emergency medical kits as she goes. L86 stays where it is.]

The power of the Dushka in his hands, Jason continues his protection of the vessel, aiming past the smoke and hoping to surpress more of the softer targets along the riverbank.

Jason Kasparov
Firing Aft Dushka
Targeting XE and Humvee

Mariusz grinned as he saw the Mk-19 gunner scramble for cover. he wasn't dead but it was the next best thing. The Mk-19 still represented a threat to the boat if anyone was brave enough to try manning it so Mariusz focused on the weapon itself. He waited patiently for the range to close and then began systematically aiming and firing at the weapon until he scored a disabling hit.

Mariusz
On the bridge roof
Scoped G3 (19/20)
M1911A1 (7/7)
Conducting aimed fire on the Mk-19 until it is out of action or out of range.

[Private to Cap'n Rae: Mariusz will wait untill he's within 180ms to fire, shouldn't be long now, he'll aim every time at the Mk-19. I can't find rules for called shots like this but the Mk-19s quite a big beast so I'd say he'd be firing at one band greater difficulty, only hitting on a 7 or less. The bonus to this is that I reckon the aiming would count as covering anyone that did try to use the weapon. It wouldn't be opportunty fire like griet is going to try but I reckon I wouldn't have to reacquire the target.]

Dave takes a quick look forward where most of the team is, looking to see if anyone needs his medical attention. He sees Milks and Snowy almost run into each other and smiles. The he returns to working the M240, firing at visible targets.

Dave
M240, 100 round belt
AK-74, 6 loaded mags,slung across back
BG-15, 3 HE, 1 IllUM
shooting mg targets of opportunity
 

Griet saw the Mk-19 gunner run and switched to targets closer to the bank. She saw the IPAT men diving for cover and held her fire, she waited to see if any would raise their heads to fire.

Griet
PKMG (194/200)
P64 (7/7)
Starboard railing
Opportunity fire on IPAT men to the left of the dead rocketeer.

[Private to Cap'n Rae: If Griet gets the opportunity to OPPORTUNITY FIRE, she'll fire a single aimed shot at the target and then regardless of her accuracy, she'll loose of a burst of five shots, hopefully this will keep people's heads down. Hitting is less important to Griet than stopping the IPAT people shooting back.]

Seeing the target moving off to the right and judging that he had a little more play in the traverse, Dawid aimed at the abandoned Humvee and fired another phosphor shell to destroy it. After all, there would otherwise be nothing to prevent the IPAT from mounting up and using it to harass them.

Assuming the BTR was still in the game, that would leave 1 shot left in the magazine, until Minh reloaded him with anti-armour.

82mm Vasilek (2/5 WP)
Aiming and firing 1 82mm WP round.

[Private to GM: For clarity, ammunition represents the magazine before any firing action, so after firing there will be 1 round left (unless I've miscounted). May I suggest being engagement of 1 target/turn for unpowered manual traverse like the Vasilek, 2 for rapid unpowered mounts like the AA (which have to be able to track fast-low-flying targets) and 3 for powered traverse like auto-cannon or coaxial weapons. Just a suggestion.]

"Roger, Sunray," Switek acknowledges the Hauptmann's corrections for fire.  "Confirmed long."

With the tug moving into a position soon to obscure their view of the opposing beach, Switek sees a narrow window for another burst before they lose sight of the IPAT contingent.  The monk turns to the sailor and relays Bayer's suggested adjustments.

"Maybe time for one more long burst?" he advises.  "Then we should get out of here."



[Switek]
Riverside West
RPKM + drum 7.62mmS (75/75)
Spotting/Communicating