Russian Campaign

[Loupblanc]

 I like the idea. Anything that makes it different is good
 As long as it's in a good way, lol. But why not? It's about
 telling a story. And, besides, I think the DEVs got plenty
 of pet vehicles (models made) that no problem. Reward
 soviet units and OstHeer units can make up the slack for
 era-accurate units, sorta

[luz777]

Aye that was the plan too.
The early war units that would have to be used in the campaign can be included as reward units once you finish said mission in the campaign.
 

[Loupblanc]

 Oooh, I like. I like a lot!
 Quick! Code that into the game, Luz777 !

[Das Taub]

Finally done, the complete guide to the Liberation of Minsk Campaign. Any ideas, suggestions don't hesitate to add.

Reconnaissance in Force: 20th June, 1944. 20 miles east of Bogushevsk.
Polkovnik (Major) Ivan Danko, formerly in the 13th Guards, and now in command of the 3rd Guards, has been given an assignment to gain experience with his new unit.

“Danko, welcome to Byelorussia. With the wealth of experience you gained while with the illustrious 13th Guards, you are more than fit to command the 3rd Guards. you however have to prove to the men that you are what they need. we need you to scout out the German front lines, see how strong they are, so we can prepare accordingly."

You start out with a couple of squads of conscripts, Strelky, and one squad of Ingerny. You have four sectors to take. Each time you take a sector, you gain re-enforcements. The first sector gives you additional strelky. The second sector gives you a unit of Guards and some Ingerny. The third sector gives you two T70 and a T90. The Opposition consists of Ostpioneers, Landsers and a few 251/22 Pakwagens, Along with some Dugouts and bunkers. After that, the mission is complete.

Medal awarded: for time taken to secure objectives.

Stalin’s Strike: 22nd June, 1944.
The Russian forces unleash their full scale attack against the defending 78th Sturm Division outside Orsha. 3rd Guards must break through the German lines and capture several objectives.

“You hear that sound? That is the sound of 24,000 guns pounding the fascist’s lines. Three years to the day, we take our vengeance. You and the 3rd Guards must break through the front, and start the offensive rolling."

You start out with a base, and have 15 minutes to build up your forces while the barrage is rolling. You have access to all infantry and support. You cannot gain SU 85s, or Stalins. You also have two howitzer emplacements under your command. After 15 minutes, the barrage lifts, and the attack goes through. There are three objectives to take, all heavily fortified with Bunkers, Dugouts, AT Guns, 88s and infantry in slit trenches. The mission will be a bloodbath. After taking the 3rd and final objective, the player must beat off a counterattack by the 189. Sturmgeschützabteilung (or 189th Assault Gun Battalion), consisting of Stugs with infantry support. After that, you have completed the mission.

Medal awarded: if all of 189. Sturmgeschützabteilung is destroyed.

Tiger Taming: 25th June 1944
The 501st Tiger Gruppe is the last obstacle on the road to Orsha. The 3rd Guards, with Stalin II in support, must eliminate the Tigers and clear the road to Orsha.

"Orsha is almost within our grasp. However one thing stands in between us and Orsha, and that is the 501st Tiger Gruppe. They are hardened veterans, and their Tigers are still devastating against our T 34s. However finally we have an answer. The new Stalin II has a 122mm Gun that can kill a Tiger with a single hit. Using these new weapons, the 3rd Guards must neutralize the 501st."

The player has a base, some Ingerny, and several Stalin II. Their objective is to hunt out and destroy all the Tiger 1s. This mission is similar to the one in the original CoH, when the Americans are Panther hunting.

Medal awarded: for lack of Stalin II Casualties. (New Tanks, can’t afford to lose many.

Orsha:  27th June 1944.
The Critical Railhead of Orsha is vital to the drive on Minsk. The remnants of the 78th Sturm have heavily fortified the city. The Railyard must be secured.

“The last remnants of the 78th Sturm Division are holed up inside Orsha. It is imperative that we destroy them, and take control of the city. It is a vital railhead, and without it, this offensive will grind to a halt. Danko, the 3rd Guards must take the Railyard, the most important part of Orsha.”

The player’s starting forces must take a vital building, to establish a forward Barracks. From there, they must take the Station, Water tower (being used by the Germans as an Artillery Observation platform to fall artillery upon the Russians) and coaling tanks. The enemy has several tiger tanks, as well as plenty of infantry and light weapons. The coaling tower allows the Germans to call artillery on the Russian forces. Once all the locations are Secure, than the mission is over.

Medal awarded: for destroying all tigers.

Tolochin Marshes: 28th June 1944.

The Tolochin Marshes are a back door to Minsk, are lightly Guarded, and a haven for Partisans. 3rd Guards must sweep aside the defending Sicherungs (security, Partisan Hunting) troops and seize a vital roadway through the marshes.

“There is a back door to Minsk which has been opened to us. It runs through the Tolochin marshes. The marshes are a haven for Partisans, who tell us of a secret road that we can use to outflank the fascists. Send the troops in there, and with the aid of the Partisans, clear a road through the Marshes.”

You start with two sections of partisans, led by a partisan leader, Yuri Michurin. You must ambush and destroy a convoy of trucks carrying troops and supplies away from Orsha. Once this is done, you must fight your way to the link-up point, where regular troops and a few mortars will join you. There are a number of partisan groups around who will join you when you find them. These troops must clear a route through the mashes, destroying all who stand in their way. Once the route is clear, several T34 Tanks will join in, to help destroy the Sicherungs HQ building on the other edge of the marshes. Once that is out, then it’s mission over. The Germans Sicherungs troops are all weak, and of low quality. There are several scout cars and armoured cars in support of the Germans.

Medal awarded: for finding all partisans.

Borizov: Taking the City: 29 June 1944. The City of Borizov is a vital crossing point of the River Berezina, and 3rd Guards must take the city, and capture its bridges intact.

“The Offensive pushes forward, and everywhere the Fascist dogs give ground. Now we have a new problem. The Berezina is a strong, fast flowing river, and a barrier to our advance. The fascists know it, and have fortified all the approaches to the bridges. Danko, you have gained a good reputation, and now’s the time to prove it. Secure the bridges, at all costs, and INTACT. “

Your forces start with a base in the village of Ikani. There are three bridges, one by the village of Plechenichi, one by the village of Zembin, and the last one in the city of Borisov. All are heavily defended, and after taking one bridge, the others get wired for demolition. At least two bridges must be secured. The Germans have many concealed MGs and AT Guns, along with dug-in infantry. Little to no armour is present.

Medal awarded: for securing all three bridges intact.

Borizov: the German Assault: 29 June 1944. Kampfgruppe Von Sauken, consisting of the 5th Panzer and 505th Tiger Gruppe are launching a full scale counterattack to eliminate the Russian bridgehead. 3rd Guards must hold them back, and protect the Bridges.

“Danko, Kampfgruppe Von Sauken has been spotted moving towards your position. They must mean to re-take the bridges. You cannot allow that to happen. Defend the bridges, and stop the Germans.”

You have 15 minutes before the Germans arrive, in which to fortify the bridge positions. Then the Germans throw everything they’ve got at you. You must defend the bridges, and hold back the tide for twenty minutes, before fresh reserves arrive.
The Germans have panthers, Panzer IVs and IIIs, and Tigers as well.

Medal awarded: for defending all bridges.

A cut scene shows Ju 87 Stukas dive bombing and taking out all the bridges.

Crossing the Berezina: 1st July 1944. As the Germans Retreated, they destroyed the Bridges. Now the 3rd Guards must force a crossing of the river farther north to continue the Advance.

“Those Stuka Sukinsynas took out all the bridges. However not all is lost. Partisans have alerted us to a point where the river Berezina can be crossed. Your task is to cross the river, and secure the ford. Without it, our offensive will grind to a halt.”

The ford is heavily fortified; however you have access to boat trucks, which can deploy boats on the river, allowing you to ship troops and light weapons across the river. Clear both ends of the ford, and defend it while a bridge is built, and its victory. There Germans have plenty of armoured cars and a few halftracks as well. The German Forward Air Observer calls in Stuka Strikes on your forces.

Medal awarded: for taking out German Forward Air Observer

Lepel: 2nd July 1944. The 5th Panzer remnants are the last thing between the Russians and Minsk. 3rd Guards must draw out the 5th Panzer, and then encircle and destroy them.

“Only one thing threatens our final drive on Minsk, and that is our old enemies, the 5th panzer division. Danko, you’ve faced them before, and so you know what they’re like, neutralize them, so they can play no part in the taking of Minsk.”

You must lure out, and destroy the 5th Panzer’s armoured columns. Every time you take a specific sector or the map, a column of Armour is sent against you. Destroy all 4 columns, and take out the 5th Panzer’s command halftrack and its mission over.

Medal awarded: for destroying 60 Tanks

Minsk: 3rd July 1944. Minsk, the last great soviet city still under German control, is almost within the Russians Grasp. 3rd Guards must link up with the 13th Guards and the 4th Guards Tank from the southern spearhead east of Minsk, then drive into the city to liberate it and complete the destruction of Army Group Centre.

"Minsk! After four long years, we will finally liberate it from Hitler’s evil grasp. The fascists are evacuating the city as fast as they can, but it will not be fast enough. You, Danko, get the prize. you must link up with the southern spearhead of the advance, to trap all Germans still in Byellorussia. Then, together drive into Minsk, and raise the red flag above it once more!"

You start in the northern part of the map. Scattered groups of Germans are fleeing the city, and passing through the net. You must strike forward and link up with the southern forces. Once that is done, you must drive east into Minsk, and take the government building. Once that is done, than its mission over. The escaping Germans are all infantry and trucks, all the armour is inside Minsk.

Medal Awarded: for closing the gap in less than 15 minutes.

Congratulations! You have completed the Liberation of Minsk Campaign!

[ford_prefect]

60 tanks is a crap load (you should also just add a Berlin map at the end sense it would be kinda dramatic you know maybe just a three minute video of the fight to get up to the roof to put the red flag up (then make the map a good skirmish map)
all in all a great idea!

[Loupblanc]

 60 tanks is a bit much !
 20-30 okay, but 60? Lol!!!

 Erm, and remember, no units can take part that were not
 in Berlin, according to Ford

 otherwise, it's an amazingly good effort. Das Taub

[ford_prefect]

(Erm, and remember, no units can take part that were not
 in Berlin, according to Ford)
lol dude I just don't understand why Finland they only were involved in a very few amount of battles and plus they never fought alongside their German counter parts (if they did it was not for long)

[Loupblanc]

 Sigh. Well, I don't see why soviets, british, or americans ought
 to be included then. Seeing as they were overall only in few
 battles the germans fought against.

 Or perhaps only the most important opponent of Germany
 ought to be included, the soviets, and the other factions
 deleted? How's that?

[ford_prefect]

 Sigh. Well, I don't see why soviets, british, or americans ought
 to be included then. Seeing as they were overall only in few
 battles the germans fought against.

 Or perhaps only the most important opponent of Germany
 ought to be included, the soviets, and the other factions
 deleted? How's that?

ok ok loup I want the Fins to then  I *cough* "hope!" they will be added

[Voop_Bakon]

Or Yugoslavs. That donation money is still up for grabs 

[vengefulnoob]

Some way back i saw a reply talking about "an elite unit fighting in every battle which is unrealistic" I assume that was about 13th guards? The fact is that simply put, they fought in almost every major battle on the eastern front and saved Stalingrad from falling early on.

Love the continuation of Minsk dude, some good writing going on there!

As for a sniper ace campaign, good idea but only for a mini: a full blown campaign would have to be much larger

just wondering, what do the devs like in these campaigns so far?

[Rikard Blixt]

I personally requested Das Taub to complete that campaign a few days ago.

That's all I say.

No further comments!

[ford_prefect]

I personally requested Das Taub to complete that campaign a few days ago.

That's all I say.

No further comments!

the first dev post I have seen in like a three days!

[luz777]

I'd almost killed myself to death with anxiety 

[Loupblanc]

 !!!! #$(*@$( AWESOME
 - Still think Soviet should get a 2x T34 call-in, like PEs with
 2x Panthers (That way, it'd help assure the presence
 of the silly things on the battlefield in numbers)

 - A dev? Here? Lies! Figment of our imaginations
 - Das Taub : Great work, excellent writing