Scenario 3- June 24th, 1941 1:00 PM

The Soviets are regrouping around a small village around a rail line. I've been ordered to scout out the village(mission type is recon- I get points for finding guns/AFV and not losing units) to gauge the level of resistance expected.

The peaceful (for now) village...

As per German doctrine, I am to seize the village if practical.

My force is composed of:
Pz IVE
Pz IIIH
251/1 Halftrack
250/1 Halftrack
221 Scout car
2 Trucks
6 Rifle sections (24 figures)
2 LMG sections (4 figures)
81mm MTR (3 figures)
2 leaders (9-1, 8-0)
My campaign leader (a newly minted 8-1 :D)

I am using a new base system for my troops- they are composed of "Magnet Ready" material (e.g. it is not magnetized itself but magnets will stick to it). They are soft magnet like material I've printed out the numbers for the counters (and IDs) which I can stick my figures on and I've made them double sided. The bases are the same sizes as my metal bases I used previously.

The double-sided bases (German here obviously)

The number of figures in the profile is how many figures would be present if I use figures (the LMG is a Support Weapon, and always has 2 figures). I can flip the counter to represent that the unit is pinned.

For this game, I didn't put the figures on the bases (I can track losses by hit markers- besides, my figures were taking a beating) and I wanted to try out using the counters alone for my infantry units.

Now to the course of the battle:

My Armored Car pokes slowly down the road (its commander head out of the turret naturally), revealing only Soviet small arms (rifle sections) but also unluckily shot and wounded (he's my only armor leader- 8-0- rotten luck !). With the Soviet resistance centered in Woods E and building C, I bring the rest of my force onboard, unloading my mortar and most of my troops in woods B. My personal leader along with an LMG and rifle section head to the woods D on the hill for covering fire.

1:03 PM: Scattered Soviet Resistance, so far...

The Soviets have woken up, revealing more troops (including LMGs) on the northern edge of woods E and a 45AT gun in woods T. So far my concentrated fire beats back the the Soviets and my mortar immobilizes then destroys the AT gun.

With the threat of the gun gone, we trade shots and a few losses, with the Soviets taking the worst of it as I move forward to position myself to cross the rail line.

1:06 PM: Getting ready to jump the rail line.

It is hard not to get too cocky , seeing as I am pushing all the Soviets before me. However, the hand of fate is fickle indeed....

More infantry is revealed in woods O and M. But the real threat is from an 82mm mortar that is revealed in woods S.

The mortar promptly drops an accurate series of rounds on my 251 halftrack (it is carrying a rifle section on it that I am using it as a mobile infantry fire unit along with its MG). A round lands in the open compartment, blowing it apart is a spectacular explosion. Suddenly, I go down in VP (I had 2 for revealing the 2 guns so far but lost -2 for the APC being destroyed and -1 for the rifle section incinerated in it). Fate giveth then taketh away.....

As I position my troops to wreak vengeance on the dastardly mortar, a bigger threat is revealed in the North on my flank from field G. A T-34 emerges, and the initiative cards favor the Soviets. In a few moments, my PZ IV takes a shot in the side of the turret. The crew has no chance and is destroyed.

In less than 2 minutes I have lost my best APC and 1/3rd my armored force. The T-34 is on my flank and I have no way to flank him (his frontal armor is too good for my puny 50mm to get a good odds shot in). I can do nothing more than lose more troops here to no effect. Time to pull a Monty Python and "RUN AWAY !".

1:09 PM: Before the Pz IV is lit up.

I promptly disengage and pull off the map the way I came, cursing my luck.

I lose this scenario by withdrawing, but I don't think I could've redeemed my VP difference considering I had over 1/2 the board left to cover and a menacing T-34 on my flank.

My losses are galling, however:
Pz IVE
251/1 Halftrack
9 riflemen (4 in the dead halftrack alone).

The Soviets losses are minimal:
13 Riflemen
3 crew
45 AT gun

All in all, you could say I performed my mission (I scouted the resistance as I was ordered to do) and Regiment can call in more, heavier means to deal with this bunch of Soviets. But I lost too much doing so (1/3rd my riflemen, 1/3rd my tank support and 1/4 my transport). I will get a dressing down from HQ for sure- I should've ensured the Northern farm was clear before attempting set myself up for crossing the rail line. Sometimes you can push fortune to far.....

Something neat about this system is the fact that you won't always win- you may have to withdraw in order to save some of your forces for the next battle and not lose too badly. But if you follow solid principles of attack (concentration of firepower, ensuring as best as possible you are focused on the right target(s) and attempting to minimize suprises by keeping something in reserve, something I failed this time around) you should win more than you lose.