More FoB ww2 action, with a Ukraine 1941 scenario based upon scenario#1, in the 1994 published scenario book for Clash of Armor - 'PanzerKampfe'.
This scenario was a little unique, in that I had a chance to pitch each force at either end of the command/sequence deck spectrum.
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| 'Hans...did you invite the bloody bridging unit again???' |
The Soviets outnumber the Germans by 2:1, but have a poor sequence deck / command ability, thereby terrible rallying capabilities, and a sequence deck full of stoppages/initiative transfers (lulls) and poor co-ordination.
The German force is highly mobile, but lack reserves if it all goes wrong. Their sequence deck is 'superior'.
The scenario is semi-fictional, and involves 9th Panzer facing off against elements of the 19th Tank Brigade and 32nd Infantry Division.
A nice game, and quite tense and close as usual, despite the vagaries of Soviet inflexibility; when they could get going - they were heavy hitting.
The scenario took place around the towns of 'Karatin' and 'Dvinsk' with Germans attacking a rapidly waking Soviet force to the north.
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| German Recce heads north on the German right along the Tokman / Dvinsk axis |
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| German reserves in Karatin |
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| Soviet 24th Tank Brigade elements at the collective farm estate |
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| German assault on the Russian right, at the farm |
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| 9th Pz attempts a wide flanking movement - it is stopped temporarily, though poorly commanded Soviet light tanks are no match |
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| Time to wake up the Russian heavies |
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| Right hand battalion heads north - right up the middle |
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| The battle for the farm lasts all day |
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| Recce spots most of Russian Infantry and armour in the open - inevitable artillery strike |
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| The KV2 could be menacing, if it can get going |
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| Soviet infantry rushes from the left to the centre, where the situation remains very confused |
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| Soviet assault on the German left. The recce battalion hunkers down in Dvinsk, which costs them dearly during the Soviet assault |
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| ...though they do last for a few rounds , causing much damage to Soviet troops in the open |
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| The fight for the collective farm |
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| Soviet assault on the left, and desperate fighting on the right |
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| ...though the Germans have an ace...or a Stuka...up their sleeve |
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| Germans choose to reinforce Dvinsk with an infantry battalion - continuing to bleed the Soviet assault dry |
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| ...as Panzer battalions wreak havoc amongst the Russian armour |
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| A second German assault on their left flank, starts to pay off |
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| Russian forces pushed back again and again at Dvinsk |
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| ...the KV2 out out of action due to accurate fire from the ridge-line |
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| more devastating incoming German artillery with targets in the open |
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| The Soviets get the best of the fight for the farm, after repeated close assaults |
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| As the afternoon starts to draw to a close - fires in the battered Dvinsk |
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| ...it is close to the night turn, but Russian morale is shattered |
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| ...and they fail their first test |
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| ...all over, but again, a very tense game - this time outlining the range in the rules, of tests and card draws, highlighting differences between well commanded troops and a less than effective force. Another great game. |
