20 czerwca 2024

Rapid Fire: Ponyri. 9th July 1943.

I recently combined Rapid Fire and Rapid Fire Reloaded when playing my games. I enjoy mixing the two versions and choosing the best solutions from each. This time, I selected the Hill 253.5, Ponyri scenario from the legendary supplement for Rapid Fire, which focuses on fighting on the Eastern Front. This expansion was written by Richard March years ago. I made minor adjustments to the army lists to better fit my collection and speed up the game slightly. Although the game is planned for 12 turns, I anticipated that I needed a faster solution and I was proven right. You might also notice some new terrains on the table, which are ready-made products from Conflix. I found them on sale at my local store, so I bought a few and plan to purchase more.



SCENARIO / SCENARIUSZ: Richard March, Bartek Żynda
UMPIRING / PROWADZENIE GRY: Bartek Żynda
SCENERY / SCENERIA: Michael, Schneider, Bartek Żynda, SESWC
FIGURES & MODELS / FIGURKI I MODELE: Bartek Żynda


1. Forces. Siły.



SOVIET UNION
(Mike, Peter)

1023rd Riffle Regiment

HQ (CO+5 figures, 1 x car)
Gun Battery (1 x 76.2mm IG)
AT Battery (2 x 45mm ATG)
Mortar Battery (1 x 120mm mortar)
AA Coy (1 x 37mm AA, 1 x truck)
1st Battalion
HQ (CO + 4 figures)
1st (SMG) Company (7 figures)
2nd (Rifle) Company (7 figures)
3rd (Rifle) Company (7 figures)
Mortar Company (1 x 82mm mortar, 1 x 50mm mortar)
MG Company (1 x Maxim MMG)
2nd Battalion
HQ (CO + 4 figures)
1st (SMG) Company (7 figures)
2nd (Rifle) Company (7 figures)
3rd (Rifle) Company (7 figures)
Mortar Company (1 x 82mm mortar, 1 x 50mm mortar)
MG Company (1 x Maxim MMG)

Artillery Support

Observer Team (2 figures)
Artillery Battery (2 x 122mm Howitzer, off table)
Rocket Battery (1 x SP BM-13 'Katyusha')

Anti-Tank Regiment

1st Company (1 x 76.2mm ATG, 1 x truck)
2nd Company (1 x 76.2mm ATG, 1 x truck)

Air Support

1 x Fighter Plane (2 x 20mm, 1 x PTAB bomb, 3 moves)



THIRD REICH
(David, Tim)

508th Grenadier Regiment

HQ (CO + 5 figures, 1 x staff car, 1 x Sd.Kfz.250/3)
AA Platoon (1 x Sd.Kfz. 7/1)
Artillery Company (1 x 75mm IG + horse tow, 1 x StulG 33B)
AT Company (1 x 75mm PAK 40, 1 x truck)
Mortar Company (1 x 120mm mortar, 1 x heavy car)
Engineer Company ( 9 figures, 2 flame-thrower, 1 x Sd.Kfz 251/7)
1st Battalion
HQ (CO + 4 figures, Sd.Kfz.250/1)
1st Company (9 figures, Sd.Kfz.251/1)
2nd Company (9 figures, Sd.Kfz.251/1)
3rd Company (9 figures, Sd.Kfz.251/1)
Mortar Company (1 x 81mm mortar, 1 x truck)
MG Company (2 x MG42 MMG, 1 x truck)
2nd Battalion
HQ (CO + 4 figures, Sd.Kfz.250/1)
1st Company (9 figures, Sd.Kfz.251/1)
2nd Company (9 figures, Sd.Kfz.251/1)
3rd Company (9 figures, Sd.Kfz.251/1)
Mortar Company (1 x 81mm mortar, 1 x truck)
MG Company (2 x MG42 MMG, 1 x truck)
3rd Battalion
HQ (CO + 4 figures, Sd.Kfz.250/1)
1st Company (9 figures, Sd.Kfz.251/1)
2nd Company (9 figures, Sd.Kfz.251/1)
3rd Company (9 figures, Sd.Kfz.251/1)
Mortar Company (1 x 81mm mortar, 1 x truck)
MG Company (2 x MG42 MMG, 1 x truck)

654th Heavy Anti-Tank Regiment

Company (2 x Ferdinand)

Artillery Regiment

HQ (1 x Sd.Kfz.250/3)
1st Observer Team (2 figures, 1 x car)
2nd Observer Team (2 figures, 1 car)
1st Battalion (2 x 105mm Howitzer, 2 x truck)
2nd Battalion (2 x 150mm Howitzer, 2 x truck)

Nebelwefer Battery

Battery (1 x Nebelwefer, 1 x truck)

Air Support

1 x Fighter Plane (+1 dog fight, 6 x MG, 4 x 20mm, 1 x medium bomb)





2. The game.

During a recent game, I made a promise to David that he would be rewarded for his accomplishments by being sent to the Eastern Front to engage in a mission to storm Soviet positions. The promise is now coming true. The Germans initiated an air attack on the Soviet positions, but this time the anti-aircraft defence successfully repelled the German planes. The Germans then proceeded with their advance, but one of the battalions faced heavy artillery fire, leading to the loss of command and its temporary stop. In response, Soviet artillery and aircraft launched a counterattack, destroying one of the German heavy gun batteries. As a result, the German forces paused momentarily to regroup...






The German forces were determined to be the first to eliminate the Soviet aircraft from the battle, which they were successful in doing. They then launched an effective attack on the Katyusha's battery. However, their success was short-lived as the anti-aircraft artillery once again took out the German aviation from the battle.





The Germans launched a general attack, using the forces of two battalions and a company of sappers, with the support of all artillery, to capture Hill 253.5 after heavy fighting. By turn 6, they had an open road to Ponyri village, securing the game as the Soviets could not stop the Germans from capturing the final objective. To balance the scenario, I recommend supporting the Soviets with a tank battalion (5 x T-34) once the Germans capture the hill. This game was quite intriguing, and I look forward to returning to Rapid Fire and this supplement soon.







3. Links.

SESWC:

https://www.facebook.com/Seswc.co.uk/posts/863796052444394

FLICKR:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienieboje/albums/72177720318097314

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