1941 Eastern Front - with Field of Battle

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. 

'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.  

German Recce heads north on the German right along the Tokman / Dvinsk axis

German reserves in Karatin

Soviet 24th Tank Brigade elements at the collective farm estate

German assault on the Russian right, at the farm

9th Pz attempts a wide flanking movement - it is stopped temporarily, though poorly commanded Soviet light tanks are no match

Time to wake up the Russian heavies

Right hand battalion heads north - right up the middle

The battle for the farm lasts all day

Recce spots most of Russian Infantry and armour in the open - inevitable artillery strike

The KV2 could be menacing, if it can get going

Soviet infantry rushes from the left to the centre, where the situation remains very confused

Soviet assault on the German left. The recce battalion hunkers down in Dvinsk, which costs them dearly during the Soviet assault

...though they do last for a few rounds , causing much damage to Soviet troops in the open

The fight for the collective farm

Soviet assault on the left, and desperate fighting on the right

...though the Germans have an ace...or a Stuka...up their sleeve

Germans choose to reinforce Dvinsk with an infantry battalion - continuing to bleed the Soviet assault dry

...as Panzer battalions wreak havoc amongst the Russian armour

A second German assault on their left flank, starts to pay off

Russian forces pushed back again and again at Dvinsk

...the KV2 out out of action due to accurate fire from the ridge-line

more devastating incoming German artillery with targets in the open

The Soviets get the best of the fight for the farm, after repeated close assaults

As the afternoon starts to draw to a close - fires in the battered Dvinsk

...it is close to the night turn, but Russian morale is shattered

...and they fail their first test

...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.