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Supply Train to Valkenswaar
by Der Teufel

I signed on today and checked the missions queue for something that looked fun. Lots of air patrol missions from Hechtel Eksel, Dilsen Stokkem and Lommel. I'm not going for air missions yet as I'm not an experienced online flight simmer and my attempt to qualify in the Hawker Hurricane last night was an unmitigated disaster. Note to self: Find out what torque is. Considering how badly the fight for air superiority seems to be going in Northeast Belgium. I think I'll leave the battle to those with more experience.

The OKW has kept their flyers very busy up in the North, all of my fellow squad mates have told me they haven't been on an infantry mission up North without being harassed or bombed by Stukas when near any sort of vehicle. Trucks and tanks have been easy prey when on roads. If you stay in the trees, they rarely see you, but if you venture out onto the road, watch out! Whatever German high command has been teaching these dive bombers it's like they're shooting fish in a barrel.

Just when I'm about to select a light infantry auto mission for defense in Eindhoven or Helmond, a high priority SUPPLY mission comes up. Most supply missions are handled by the strategic AI system so this obviously must be an important mission for SOE to post it and the points it will bring for successful completion indicate it. The mission is to drive a supply truck from Neerpelt, across the bridge at Valkenswaar to the town of Velhoven, just West of Eindhoven. I use to dream of being a truck driver and I could use the points so I happily click on this newly posted mission and I'm greeted with the message "Loading Mission Brief. Spawning Neerpelt Depot."

The mission brief explains that the Germans are threatening Eindhoven and that supplies in the area are dwindling fast. The spawn points in and around Eindhoven are being starved of supplies. The virtual Luftwaffe has knocked down rail and road bridges at Heist op den Berg, Genk, Louven and North of Hasselt. The bridges over the canal at Valkenswaar are the only bridges in Eastern Belgium that allow major road access to the North, where the majority of the fighting is happening.

When I spawn into the barracks the first thing I notice is it's DARK outside. A check of the WW2OL game clock reveals that it's 0500 local time. I step out of the barracks and walk my soldier the short distance to where my truck, already loaded with supplies thanks to some helpful server gnomes, is waiting. As I approach the motor pool area I hear the sound of several engines starting up. I round the corner and see 9 trucks, 5 with drivers already in them and an R-35 spawning across the way. As the 2 players of the tank crew climb into their mount, I wonder to myself when I'll see a Char in action. Probably not on this mission. The Chars are far too slow for this type of mission and they're mostly being used up North.

I gather from forum gossip, the SOE hasn't learned much from history. The German forces have been very effective at massing there Armor, just like in the real Blitzkrieg and the Allies have, for what ever reason, been unable to do the same. News on the Allied forums indicate that the German players have largely devasted the Chars when encountered. They either gang up on them and try for rear armor shots or they, harass it until they can bring an 88 to bear, or flat out avoid it and go around, savaging the troops and supply lines in the rear.

I'm snapped out of my day dreaming by the sound of a second R-35 starting it's engine. As I move towards my truck, I see that several soldiers carrying Lee Enfield Rifles and one carrying an HMG are also gathering in the motor pool. They pile on to a truck with an empty bed, save for the small AAA machine mounted behind the drivers cab. This is shaping up to be a more exciting mission than I'd previously expected. Taking note of the soldiers weapons I wonder what my driver is carrying. I check my personal inventory and see 1 Lee Enfield Rifle, 4 clips rifle ammo. Not exactly an arsenal, but it'll keep me out of trouble if we run into any Indians, just better hope they don't bring their tanks or I'll be shooting BB's.

I hop into the cab of my truck and start the engine. I'm rewarded with the satisfying growl of it's virtual diesel. I check my mission map of our route and see we've got to drive a total of about 30 miles (Good thing I don't have any plans tonight), about 15 miles of that will be through open plains. We'll be in deep trouble if a patrol of Stukas spots us. This is probably why the mission was schedule for early morning, not many night bombers in this stage of the war, a brave few hunt with flares, but flying at night in a simulated World War Two aircraft with limited instrument flying capability. Another R-35 spawns, the two man crew hop up onto the hatch and slide down into the turret, a second later the commander's head pops up from the cupola and signals "move out."

Our convoy of 3 R-35 light tanks, 8 supply trucks and 1 troop truck chugs out of the marshalling yard and down the dimly lit streets of Neerpelt and on to the road North towards Velhoven...(to be continued)