MEN OF WAR (PC): "Operation Gungnir" - Landkreuzer P1000 Ratte - December 22, 1944

Описание: In Norse mythology, Gungnir (Old Norse "unswaying one") is Odin's magical spear; it always hits its mark and always kills. Designated to be the very tip of the German spearhead "Wacht Am Rhein" offensive, the P1000 Landkreuzer was secretly built in an immense underground German factory known as the "Nibelungenwerks".. Impervious to allied bombing, the Krupp designing phase of the "Ratte" began in 1942, headed by Albert Speer upon the dogged insistence of the Fuhrer.. Rolled out of the factory & tested only on the foggiest of nights, it avoided allied reconnaisance. As "Wacht Am Rhein" begins on December 16th 1944, it was suggested by Field Marshal Von Rundstedt, that this machine can truly produce the "Shock" necessary to dislodge the anglo-saxon alliance.. After a few technical problems the Landkreuzer was directed toward the key strategic town of Bastogne; where the German offensive was meeting the stiffest American resistance. The armour of the "Ratte", even on the top & rear was thick enough to shrug off the heaviest of the allied bomber payloads, even if the weather cleared, the unit would still be able to press onward to Antwerp unmatched. As the Geman field engineer corp. approaches the outskirts of Bastogne escorting the P1000, they are spotted by American recon units.. P58 Mustangs with 500lb bombs are scrambled despite the weather to assist in an attempt to disable the supertank before it can enter the town.. American 101st Airborne responds with every tank & weapon they can muster up in a frantic attempt to halt this tuetonic monster before it can jeapordize the entire allied defensive effort. Pounded by a ferocious American assault, the Uberpanzer drives onward through the enemy lines breaking the very spine of the defenders. Bastogne falls to the Germans as the "Ratte" plows through, leaving a swath for the 2nd Panzer Division and Panzer-Lehr-Division of XLVII Panzer Corps to follow through the gap & eliminate the shattered defenders.. As the P1000 exits Bastogne on it's way to Antwerp, the 1st elements of Pattons' division sets a trap. U.S. Army sets into place a battery of 155mm howitzers & Sherman "Calliope" rocket tanks to confront the Landkruezer, hopefully disable it & then drive fuel trucks underneath from behind it & set them ablaze to cook the German crew to death inside.. This is only if they can get the iron giant to stop.. - pressing on to Antwerp & firinging upon any vessel that enters the port, even with clear weather & allied bombing attempts, nothing can dislodge this rolling fortress... The logistical situation deteriorated enough to halt any furthur allied eastward advance, it was discussed & decided to abandon the ground campaign thus rolling the front back to France & increase the allied bombardment of Germany. This would furthur degrade the German ability to defend against the Red Army.. The "Ratte" was destroyed by heavy English naval gun bombardment on January 12th 1945.. The historical fall of the third reich remained unchanged as the Russians capture Berlin in late April.. The Germans lacked the resources & time to build a 2nd P1000 to deploy to the eastern front