3422 Army Group invested Xyphonica from the east. With the KCC as
the framework organisation, coordination across 3422 AG was possibly
more effective and efficient than across 72 AG, where a much smaller
number of Vostroyan Infantry units had been repurposed as an ersatz
co-ordinating element. Where the various elements of the KCC
were able to give up suitable subunits to be retrained and suitably
equipped for their liaison role, the Vostroyans would not have been
able to change their mindset to match the aspiration of the
Plenipotentiate for War, even if they could have been suitably
re-equipped.
In the XXXXIV Corps
tactical area of responsibility, 569 Div would take the northernmost
sector, immediately to the south 785 Div, built around a core of
Gudrun infantry and Cadian armoured unit made similar progress in the
same way. South of XXXXIV Corps, VI Corps closed in on the outer
suburbs and with most of their infantry fighting power supplied by
militias largely from the Redemptionist and Cawdor factions. The one
actual Imperial Guard infantry regiment in each of VI Corps three
divisions was spread thin coordinating and supporting the militias.
On the western side
of the river, 72 Army Group was similarly beginning it’s advance in
to the city. The plenipotentiary for war, General Muntenfor, had
dictated a slow and steady but relentless pace; the aim was to
maintain a steady level of pressure around the entire circumference
of the city and for everyone to move towards the centre at the same
slow and steady pace. One unit being held up made only a small
difference to the overall picture and as time progressed, these
envelopments would be more easily overwhelmed as the frontage each
unit would have to cover would diminish.
By flattering the
ego of the Brothers of Lostwithial and the Sisters of Casa Bonetti of
the Order of the Sacred Rose by encouraging Inquisitor Hallas
Blingnor to think that it was his initative, these knots of
resistance were framed as worthy adversaries for the Adepts Astartes
or Sorortias. Assault by powered armoured religiously inspired
warrior cults in support of the Imperial Guard are often portrayed as
some sort of forlorn hope. With the Aeronautica Imperialis on call
and the full weight of the Imperial Guard’s Divisions, arrayed for
deliberate attack, in support, the casualties amongst the Astartes
and Sororitas casualties are light and rarely fatal.
The Hrossy Yeomanry
had pushed into the north western reaches of Xyphonica in emphatic
style: the Chimerae mounted platoons would drive onto their
objective, the squads would dismount with their autocannon and the
Chimerae would move off to a distance where they and the dismounted
infantry could mutually support each other. By choosing locations
where they were in range of the sporadic heretic defenders, the
platoons could then use their grenade launchers and autocannon, along
with the multilaster, heavy bolter and pintel mounted heavy stubber
of the Chimerae to suppress the defenders whilst the infantry closed
with the enemy and press home their attack in the best traditions of
the infantry, with lasgun and bayonet.
Each company group
was assigned a pair of tanks from the armoured or engineer group for
intimate fire support. Company commanders are careful to assess
their targets and use the sentinel recce screen. 569 Division’s
Hrossy and Hjaltland Battalions made progress through the North East
of the city, with the Hjaltlanders moving down the river, the
northern boundary and also on the Division’s southern boundary as
well. The Hjaltlander’s light infantry platoons were supported by
individual tanks from the Hellier tank regiment.
Sticking to the
plan, they would only move when they had air cover; ‘Cab ranks’
of on call fighter bombers and roaming interdiction flights of medium
bombers loitering for targets, coupled with the intimate tank support
meant that the block by block advance went ahead as planned. Where
the thin crust of resistance remained, it was bombed, rocketed and
then hit with artillery before the infantry would move up to close
under the covering fire of their own mortars and the direct fire
support from the attached tanks.
76
Bombardment Group, well organised and supported itself, was able
to provide indirect fire support almost at the whim of sub unit
commanders on the ground; although this obviously meant various
combat teams only being allowed to move according to the preplanned
sequence, in order to ensure that there were enough resources on hand
to cover the offensive operations and any defensive fire which may be
required.
By measured,
incremental steps, 569 Div made steady, planned progress into the
city: sometimes blocks were bypassed to be assaulted by 3422 Army
Group’s auxillaries; the co-opted militias and eccelesticarchal
frateris when time allowed. Other areas of the city, sometimes quite
large areas, were pounded to dust by air and artillery power. The
northwest of the city had previously had a larger number of
commercial and industrial districts, allowing just enough open space
for the mechanised assault to be viable.
After two weeks, the
Division was noticeably further in than any other part of either
army. It was decided that the formation would go firm and pause,
conducting a replenishment in place (RIP) and getting ready to be the
ready threat keeping the rebels at bay whilst the rest of 3422 AG (at
least) caught up.
1294 Hrossy Yeomany
(a mechanised infantry battalion) lagered in the shell of an umbrella
factory complex. The outer walls were intact and there was a large
amount of open space, both open and covered. It seemed ideal, there
was enough space for all four rifle companies and their HQ company on
the one footprint. The deposition of the Division was designed to be
mutually supporting with other units and subunits given the manoeuvre
space to fall back if attacked. The umbrella factory was to be the
strongpoint, the hardened lynchpin of any defence, by dint of its
intact walls.
As the 24hour
resupply operation progressed, the logistic assets who were forward
would themselves reorganise in what had been the steel yard, go out
to the other Division units to carry out their replenishment and then
return to the umbrella factory’s steel yard to rest for a few hours
before returning to the rear echelon.
