Hill 242 - the Kill Box Unwrapped

Report:  

Soviet armor on the move.  

Columns detected moving in the vicinity of Kastenwald.

Moving North East toward your position.

KV-1 tanks spotted.

Hold at all costs.

OUT. 

In the next episode of Steve's Ponyri Firestorm campaign, it was all out action, and as I had reported to Steve, an immeasurable Pucker Factor (when I write a set of rules, that's what they'll be called - you can also look up on Google...).

(ok...that isn't just dust on the KV-1 from not being used ...IT'S BATTLE DUST)

We used Rapid Fire with variants.

These are now called Vapid Fire (variant based on hexes and cards similar to Field of Battle and the Nations in Arms variants for Road to Berlin). 

  Armour ratings and combat, with a variant on teh armoured mechanism for infantry combat, from RF is in place. This would prove quite critical actually, as the StgIII has a class 2 gun and can claim cover in the correct circumstances.

 Soviet Units will approach from the southwest, a reinforced battalion with heavy armour.

...just like this...

'Today, I vill show you, verr zee Iron Crosses grow...'

'Rrrrrright...'

'Right ...you know what to do. ...like you have a choice!'

Soviet Recon determines the position of the StgIII in fixed position ...the hard way.

Soviet KVs (there might be some KV2s and an SU100 thrown in there to make up numbers), with heavy infantry support, leaves the start line.

German tank hunters (what they have of them) are in the trees and sunken areas.

The emplaced StgIII does not last long.

This prompts the Soviet reserve to immediately embark upon a flanking action. This would end with some of the most ferocious fighting of the day along the treeline.

Wait...those Hidden Unit markers are dummies ...that means...

...the German 'Kill Box' is unwrapped; flanking shots from German Armour and PAKs devastate the KVs.

The fight on the German flank is horrific, with troops displacing as much as possible, but with many Russian troops thrown into the meat-grinder.

German armour, now having managed to disengage with infantry support along the defence line, relocates and provide more accurate shooting from the exposed flank.

The German flank to the south is holding, but not for much longer.

The area around the farmyard is completely overrun and the scene of bitter hand to hand fighting.

German units start to fall back to 'The Alamo' - their final line of defense around the ruined buildings to the north.

Russian Armour pours on.

 

Soviet Armour gets close - somehow the Germans need to push for another morale roll.

Fighting on the flank becomes confused, with Russian units assaulting remaining German positions in the farmyard, while taking enfilading MG fire from positions to their rear, which in turn suffer horrendously from Soviet heavy gunfire.

Armour and infantry losses are reaching terrible levels. The Soviets pass one morale test for armour.

'The Alamo' - indicated by the coffee cup.

Soviets pop smoke from mortar fire in a last assault, but there are too many concentrated German units now.

Soviet forces disengage, at speed.

Russian armour, followed closely by Russian infantry, starts to withdraw. The line ...somehow...has actually held!

'You knew you had to win right?'

Soviet Forces - 50% casualties - 50% losses in Armour.
German Forces - 40% losses.