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.

Endgame number 2

The end action is kind of anti-climatic, however....

I get my infantry into Woods R, although the BT-7 is proving more problematic than I would wish it to be.

The BT-7 manages to immobilize my Armored Car (they passed their "Oh Crap" check and got an 8-0 armor leader to boot !) but is promptly destroyed by return fire from my other AFVs. The BA-6 is ineffective, and rolls to press forward where it can actually hit something (the field hinders the To Hit roll).

The BT-7 dies and I drive the infantry out of woods S

The Soviet Infantry was pretty inneffectual at stopping me, failing morale check rolls and routing, although I took a few losses cleaning out woods I. In that attack, the BA-6 is destroyed and along with it any chance the Soviets can change their fortunes in this scenario.

Endgame, 12:25 PM

The few infantry on hill O could do nothing to stop me and the ? markers wound of blank (an HMG that appeared in woods K routed after 1 shot from my task force). I had broken the Soviet will to resist and Victory was mine !

German Losses:
3 rifle infantry
1 Immobilized AC

Russian Losses:
21 rifle infantry
LMG
ATR
2x BT-7
1 x T-26
1x T34-M40
1x 45 AT (captured)

My personal leader gained enough elan to reach 8-1 status and I gained an 8-0 armor leader in my scout car (which should be repaired for the next scenario).

All in all, the rules worked fairly well (I need a few tweaks here and there).

Its onward to the East from here......

Pressing the advantage....

The Soviets manhandle the gun to the backside of hill A, where they can hold up my advance down the road until I can clean them off. My infantry working its way through the woods on the hill squares off with the Soviets, using its superior firepower to keep them at arms reach (and out of melee range) while the mortar lays down good supressive fire on the gun, allowing me to work around the hill and bring more firepower on the defenders.

The Germans work their way around the hill

I clear field C and house D, working my way west of the road, but the Soviets start popping up on and around hill E. Things are heating up all across my front now.

A BT-7, T-26 and a  T-34 makes an appearance, along with a scattering of rifle sections around hill E. I quickly manage to destroy the BT-7 and T-26 (that armor is terribly weak) and drive off the infantry, but the T-34 parks his butt and proceeds to blast my troops. His front hull armor is virtually invulnerable (except to a fluke or critical hit) and I can't flank him since I don't even control hill A yet.

Luckily the Soviet resistance on hill A crumbles, allowing me to assault the farm F and begin to flank that nasty T-34 (his gunnery is terrible- miss, miss, gack (broken gun) which he hurredly manages to fix).

The T-34 begining to be flanked

My Pz IV and Pz III ding rounds off the T-34, limiting his actions (a hit does not neccesarily have to penetrate to affect an AFV- multiple hits can reduce the amount of things an AFV can do). A lucky shot tears into a track, immobilizing the T-34. The crew fails its "oh crap" roll badly and bails. Victory !

I finally clear off hill A, and capture the 45 AT gun which I intend to turn against its former owners with the help of my personal leader. Now, the next stage is to mount an advance to the crossroads- only rifle sections appear to be appearing and those I can brush off with HE/MG/Infantry fire.

Onward to the crossroads !

I embark my infantry and head towards woods H and I. So far not much appears that can stop me. The few rifle sections I disperse with the help of me on the overwatching 45 AT (which thankfully hasn't gacked or run out of ammo).

I get my troops up and organized for pressing across to field Q to clear the crossroads.

Soviet resistance flares anew in the form of BA-6 Armored car and BT-7 on the far side of field Q and some rifle sections in house M. They may have weak armor, but that 45 gun can hurt my early war German armor so caution is the keyword !

Right before the final push (hopefully)

My forces are ready for what I hope is the victory push to clear the SE part of the board. With 10 min still to go to clear the ? markers, it might be a bit tight time-wise but is definitely do-able.....

Second Scenario- June 23rd 1941

Regiment has not made good some of the losses from yesterday's hectic day. They let me retain the 250 halftrack and the rifle section, but do not forward me another Mk II. However, at least the Mark IV was quickly patched up and on the move again- those boys in Panzer Maintenence are on the ball !. I could've used some more infantry, however.....

All this largesse from the Regiment means only one thing- I am to continue to advance at the sharp end. "Go down there, get shot at and report back...."

My Forces :
1 Pz IIIH
1 Pz IVE
1 Sdkfz 221 Armored Car
1 251/1 Halftracks
1 250/1 Halftrack
2 Opel Blitz trucks
5 Rifle sections (20 figs)
2 LMG sections (2 LMG, 2 assistant gunners for 4 figs)
81mm Mtr and crew (Mtr and 3 figs)
2 Leaders (an 8-1 and an 8-0)
1 Campaign Leader (me as an 8-0)
 

Since beating back the Soviet Counter-attack yesterday, resistance has been non-existent. The whole Polish countryside is hot, dry and spookily empty except for the rumble of our tracks and the occasional grunt from the dusty Panzer Troops....

Overhead, the droning of a Fieseler Storch makes its presence felt as it swoops down and drops a message cannister- the enemy has been sighted ahead around a small crossroads.....

The Situation

My scout car edges its way up the road, drawing fire from some jumpy Russians on Hill A and Woods B. So far so good.... except that as its last activation, it turns up 45 AT on the East edge of Hill A. Luckily they miss the thin-skinned vehicle, and the scout car scurries out of its line of sight further up the road.

The rest of my force enters carefully, with the Pz IV laying some smoke and blinding the AT gun- we'll deal with it when I get my infantry and mortar up and online.

End of 1st Turn

I clean the Soviets out of woods B. With that as a fire-base for my mortar and MGs, I can now combat the Russians and that gun on Hill A. Soviet fire has been negligible and ineffective and it appears I have confused them with the suddeness of my attack. Its a good start so far......

Pressing the Russians on Hill A...

Endgame.... or maybe not....

As I position myself to clear out the remaining nests of resistance, a rumble from the North edge turns into a Soviet counter-attack Event ! With trepidation I roll the forces that are activated (some ? markers wind up being nothing or advancing without activing). A T-26 and some truck borne infantry emerge from the North, bearing down upon my re-organizing forces.

The intitiative cards favor me, however, and my tanks, MTR and MGs make short work of the T-26 and the trucks. Thankfully only the T-26 AFV (and not a T-34) was activated and not further East where they could've added to my woes to clear the board or further west where they could overrun my mortar. The end result :the Soviet counter-attack had blundered into a trap !

The Soviet Counter-attack stopped cold !

Since the counter-attack occured, I had gained an extra 30 minutes to win the scenario, so I had about 35 minutes to clear the last of the board. No problem..... right ?

Not so fast. As I move into Farm (E) with my Pz III covering from the south and the Pz IV covering from the North, they activate a dreaded T-34 M40 in the  woods (G). My attack toward the farm is stopped cold until I can deal with the monster.

The T-34 is in the upper right corner while the Infantry and 251/1 scramble for cover.

My tanks move to engage but the T-34 is in an defilade position- we have no shot. Thankfully, neither does he as the infantry and APC scramble to make themselves "non-visible" as possible.

The T-34 takes the bull by the horns and breaks the deadlock by backing out to the road. Luck favors the Soviets this time and he passes his radioless check, moves back and gets his shot off at the Pz IV before he can respond (damn initiative cards !). The shot pierces the hull, immobilizing and stunning it. Thankfully, the crew pass their "oh crap !" MC and don't bail. Now if they can only rally....

While the T-34's attention is drawn to the Pz IV, the Pz III manages to slip around the flank, and due to initiative cards (the Soviet got 2 in a row, now the Germans did as well and I didn't pull the "Re-Mix" card) slammed a round into the T-34 turret side. The tank is immobilized and the crew panics and bails.

Endgame 12:37 PM

With that last flurry of action, the Soviet resistance breaks, and since I've activated all the ? markers and only the soviet 76.2mm Infantry gun in the far corner is still active with over 25 minutes left for me to win the scenario, I declare victory (I've got a feeling that the gun crew would high-tail it out of there).

My men and I scramble over the abandoned T-34 to get a better look at this beast....

The end result is a victory in a little over 37 minutes.

My casualties are:
1 Infantyman
251/1 APC (and 2 crew)
Pz IIF (and 3 crew).
1 Immobilized Pz IVE (which should be repaired before the next scenario).
My leader gains 8 elan points (need 2 more to get promoted to 8-1 !)

Enemy casualties are much heavier:
51 infantry (including: ATR, LMG, HMG, 82 MTR, 2 x 45 AT, 76.2mm IG)
3 Trucks
2 BT-7 (1 chased off, the other destroyed)
1 BA-6
2 T-34 M40 (1 destroyed, 1 abandoned)

All in all, a fun game (it took longer to play out than it normally would because of the picture taking, notes etc). The events made it unpredictable to be sure. The counter-attack was unexpected and mercifully short-lived ! My little Kampfgruppe advances to the next scenario.

Advance East ! Its always East......

Just when things look like they are going my way.....

With the Soviet opposition begining to fade, its time to start advancing again.

My personal leader along with a rifle section and LMG team will hold the woods by wrecked half-track while the still mobile parts of my force north of farm (E) and flanks it. An 8-1 leader, rifle section and LMG team in woods (L) will provide a fixed firebase to combat any enemy infantry that pop up to harass this advance.

The situation at 12:10 PM

So, with a plan in place, things get rolling. And as it always seems to happen, things start to go wrong......

As I was pounding farm (E) engaging the soviet infantry there with my personal leader and my mobile units advancing down the road to the North, a 45mm AT gun activates in the eastern woods bordering field (M).  Considering the state of this German early war armor, a 45 AT is enough to do some damage if it can hit.

The plan starts to go wrong.....

Luckily, my attack has not progressed too far out on that flank, and my tanks and APC withdraw behind the western woods bordering field (M). Let the mortar and infantry in woods (L) take out that gun !

Unfortunately, Soviet infantry begins to filter forward (event of "infiltration" which refreshes some of the areas already free of "?" markers), while an HMG appears in woods (J), an ATR and some rifles begin moving forward from farm (E) and a BA-6 armored car and a BT-7 tank activate on the far edge of the board, south of field (K). Things are heating up again- even before my advance get get underway again.

Time is my biggest enemy at the moment- I have to clear the board in 30 minutes to win this scenario and I am over 1/3 of the way there.....

My infantry in (L) which was trying to pound the AT gun in woods (J) is brought under long distance fire from the BA-6. Luckily, the soviets don't hit too well, but being unable to respond, that half-squad skulks back out of any effective Line of Sight. My mortar starts scoring hits on the AT gun, immobilizing it and killing one of the crew and pinning the survivors.

But the Soviets are not just passively sitting and firing back. The BT-7 begins to head towards Farm (E), while soviet riflemen help to re-crew the AT. Also, an ATR and some infantry has skulked forward opposite my personal squad east of field (F) to get some long range side/rear shots on my armor that is working west of farm to engage the BA-6 and (now re-crewed) AT gun.

The scene at 12:15 PM. Ignore the battlefield debris of my intiative cards, figures and my 30 sided die (used for extra damage determination !)

The soviets start getting the card draws and the ATR begins pounding my Mark III in field (F) which has immobilized the BA-6.  The BT-7 holds back, thankfully due to being radiolessness (radioless AFV may not recover from a move as fast as ones that have radios). But the fire from my personal leader is slackening, as my troops in the woods are getting dinged (pinned) from all the fire coming at them from farm (E). The Pz III is under threat of close combat as well as being hurt by that measly ATR !

The Pz II, seeing the Pz III under duress takes action and charges the ATR and panics the infantry section there. Unfortunately, the ATR team passes with flying colors and promptly scores a critical hit (damn snake eyes !) which knocks it out. The crew bails, and the Soviets in farm (E) attempt to close with them to wipe them out.

My personal leader is just "getting his shit together" (a.k.a rallying) from all the fire he was taking that is now redirected in an advance toward the hapless Pz II crew and the Pz III in the field. But the Pz III attempts to overrun the Soviet infantry, pinning driving them back but its too late for the Mk II crew- they are cut down in a flurry of entrenching tools and rifle butts.....

The Pz II burns merrily while the Pz III engages the Soviet infantry

But all is not bad- the AT gun is finally knocked out and my Mk IV comes forward to engage the BT-7 which had begun to engage my infantry in the western woods bordering field (M). The half squad that skulked away in woods (L) loads up on the halftrack and heads toward the Pz IV to lend support against the infantry that is still in woods (J) and the remnants fleeing from farm (E).

In the ensuing exchange of fire the BT-7 promptly breaks its 45mm main gun. Failing its gut-check test, it heads off the field to the East as fast as it can. The BA-6 is finally knocked out, but in the process the farthest ? marker (in field (K)) turns out to be another gun- this time a 76.2mm Infantry gun and not the AT gun thankfully.

My MK III begins taking it under HE fire, while I begin my advance toward finally clearing farm (E) which is now empty of Soviets thanks to my Pz III's aggressive maneuver.

There's some infantry north of the farm (in woods C and J, a MMG in woods (J) and a 76.2mm infantry gun in field (K). The only part of the board that has ? markers is woods (G) and field (H).

The Situation before 12:20 PM and the clearing of farm (E)

With only 10 minutes to go and only 1 area I have to activate (if I can clear the road from West to East I win the scenario) I am confident that I can bring this one to a successful conclusion.

The first few minutes....

My Pz II edges down the road, checking the woods (A) which wind up to be empty. However, some enemy infantry are found skulking around far end of the field (B) and in the house east of the (A) woods.

I bring my 2 APCs into the woods west of field (B). My truck born mortar and squad head into woods (A). The Mk III and Mark IV begin engaging the infantry around field (B) and the house.

So far so good. I've only activated some infantry and have cleared my entry part of the board edge of potential enemies.

My infantry debark from the halftracks (my personal leader is in the leftmost halftrack) and trucks, while my 81mm Mortar begins setting up. Desultory Russian fire does not damage me (and I gain my 1st elan points needed for promotion, directing my squad's fire). In addition, an Event is drawn that turns out to be a directed battery of 105mm howtzer fire (thanks to the priceless Storch). The German concentrated fire breaks the nearest Russians up and routs them. Time to move on eastward !

I cross field (B) and clear clump of trees (L) in preparation to use it as a new firebase for my advance. More Soviet infantry is revealed further back and appear to be advancing to contest me. Suddenly, from behind the westernmost woods around field (M) emerges a T-34  M40 belching fire !

Luckily the Soviets is a poor shot and he misses my Pz IV by a mile. My experienced crews begin to take on this priority target with the Pz IV engaging from the front and the Pz III attempting to maneuver for a flank shot. Cards are pulled and the Germans get the jump (those "Any" cards are worth their weight in gold !)

Luck is with me- the Pz III hits but does no damage, but the Pz IV critical hits the turret front- the shot penetrates and the T-34 is destroyed ! A hornet's nest has been stirred up, however, as more Soviet infantry emerges and begins to close with my advancing troops (you do not want to get into close combat with Soviet infantry- they hold the advantage there).

Note the vehicle card in the upper left keeping track of who is on that APC !

Five or so minutes have gone by, and I've managed to destroy a T-34 and kill/rout some Soviet infantry. My superior firepower begins to tell, and the Soviet counter-attack falters despite the help of a Soviet 82mm Mortar team in woods (C). My central firebase group (Infantry Section and LMG section) in the woods East of field (B) takes a pounding but still manages to return fire effectively. Concentrated tank HE and infantry fire puts paid to the mortar before it can do much more damage. 

Meanwhile, my skulking in the rear (I am on the far left of the picture in the woods near the board edge) has come to an end, as a 251/1 comes to pick me up so I can renew the advance to the westernmost woods boardering field (F).

As my APC enters the woods, Soviet infantry along with a Heavy MG team activates to the East across the field. The HMG pummels the APC and bullets enter the passenger side vision slit, killing the driver. We come to a screeching hald and bail out, stunned and under a hail of fire, with Soviet infantry bearing down upon us.

My APC burns merrily from the HMG in the foreground as the Soviets close in for the kill.

My 81mm Mortar is finally on line, and with help from the leader in woods (L), it brings down its fire on the advancing Soviets (for simplicity, leaders can call in on-board mortar fire) and us as well. The experienced mortarmen manage to rout the Soviets just in front of my positions without causing me any casualties (I think the fact that we cowering stunned face down and in no condition to do anything else had something to do with this as well :D) but my halftrack takes some damage and is finally hors de combat.

So, after about 8 minutes of game time I have lost a halftrack, but have destroyed a T-34, 82mm Mortar, HMG and some Soviet infantry. Not a bad start at all.