Battlegroup: Town in East Prussia, 1945.

Another game using the Battlegroup rules, this time featuring the Fall of the Reich expansion. The Germans are defending a village against a Soviet attack.

SCENARIO: Delaying Action
UMPIRING: Bartek Żynda

SCENERY: Bartek Żynda, SESWC

FIGURES & MODELS: Bartek Żynda

1. Forces.

SOVIETS

(Alasdair, David, Tim)

Soviet Battlegroup:

HQ: White Scout Car

Motorised Riffle Platoon

Platoon Command: Officer + 2 men (Jeep)

3 Rifle Squad (8 men with 1 DP LMG, 1 Panzerfaust)

1 SMG Squad (8 men with 1 DP LMG, 1 Panzerfaust)

4 Transport Trucks

Maxim HMG

AT Gun Zis-3 + truck

75mm IG + Horse draw

Light Mortar team

T-34/85 Platoon (3 x T-34/85) 1 Officer

SU-78M Battery (3 x SU-78) 1 Officer

T-70 (Scout)

37mm AA + truck (Inexperienced)

BR: 34

Officers: 4

Points: 550

GERMANS

(Andy, Jimmy, Mike)

German Battlegroup:

HQ: PzKpfw IV (Veteran)

Volksgrenadier Platoon (Inexperienced)

Platoon Command: Officer+5 men (Rifles, 2 Panzerfausts)

3 x Volksgrenadier Squad: 5 men (Assault Rifles, 2 Panzerfausts)

3 x MG Team: 3 men with bipod MG42

HMG MG42 (Inexperienced)

Panzerschreck Team (Inexperienced)

PaK 40 + Truck (Inexperienced)

PzKpfw V Panther (Panzer Ace, Veteran)

Wirbelwind

SdKfz 234/2 Puma (Scout)

Goliath Demolition Squadron (3 men + 1 Goliath)(Inexperienced)

Timed 120mm mortar Barrage

Timed 80mm mortar Barrage

To the Last Bullet

BR:23 + 1D6

Officers: 2

Points: 551

2. The game.

The scenario included four objectives: a church, two gardens on the outskirts of the town, and some ruins within the town. Half of these objectives quickly fell into German hands. When it came to the German deployment, things didn’t go as planned. Jimmy, who was in charge of the rolls, didn't perform well this time, resulting in a surprisingly small number of German units on the table. Furthermore, they scheduled both mortar strikes for turn four, targeting small forests outside the town.

The first wave of Red Army troops arrived, and the Soviets opted for a frontal attack. However, the limited number of orders hindered their ability to reach the city quickly. In response, the Germans opened fire on the approaching Soviet forces. I specifically recall the confrontation between a Puma and a Soviet T-70 tank. The Puma repeatedly targeted the Soviet tank but was unable to destroy it. Despite this, the Soviets continued to advance.

Eventually, the Germans received reinforcements, including the Panther tank, which joined the fight. This tank quickly engaged and eliminated the Soviet light tank mentioned earlier, depriving the Soviets of a valuable scout. As a result, the Germans began to seize the initiative. 

Then came turn 4 and the mortar barrage. The German players had accurately predicted the Soviets' location, and this barrage effectively pinned down the Soviet advance. At this point, the Soviet commanders grimaced at the prospect of defeat, but they still had a few tricks up their sleeves.

As the situation began to look hopeless and victory slipped away from the Soviet commanders, they decided to call for reinforcements. Taking a risk, they requested army-level support. In response, a volley of Katyusha rockets was launched, which proved fatal for the Germans. It's interesting to note that German commanders often lead their senior officers into the thick of battle, putting themselves at great risk of loss. This was exactly what happened in this instance. The Germans faced such heavy losses that their morale collapsed, forcing them to retreat. The town was now under Soviet control!

Thus concluded another game played with these rules. I have more games planned, as I just received two supplements today: Barbarossa and Bagration. I'm particularly excited about Bagration, as it's the operation I'm most interested in among all World War II operations.

3. Links.

SESWC:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/631841809210352

FLICKR:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienieboje/albums/72177720332225396