Rejoice, Comrades! Our gallant forces inflicted a crushing defeat on the fascist invaders!
The treacherous Germans, who invaded the Rodina despite signing a non-aggression pact, sent a full Panzer battalion of 12 panzers accompanied by the 113th Shutzen Regiment armed with anti-tank guns, mortars and flamethrowers (some in armoured cars) to try to break our lines near the Bialystock forest.
Against them, we could field only the 52nd Independent Tank Brigade with a few of our strudy KV-1 tanks and T-34 tanks and a few BT-5's - with a motorized Rifle Battalion in tow and the 45th tank division equipped with T-26's and a Motorised Rifle Regiment.
Our two brave generals in the field split the forces to best overcome the German scum - the infantry holding the forest and the 52nd grouped behind Hill 702. This was to hide the true scale of our meagre forces in the area and to trap the Germans should they try to flank
We have secured some aerial photographs of the battle to illustrate our victory.
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| The fascist pigs appraoch the forest from the West - panzers to the left and infantry on the right. |
The Germans arrived from the West in two columns - a line of panzers and assorted infantry vehicles. The infantry made for Hill 501 (in the bottom right of the picture above) and - just out of shot - Hill 502 to the left.
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| The fascist generals oversee their troops. Note one is an alcoholic and the other appears to be begging for scraps like the dog he is! |
Unconcerned bu this show of might, our brave generals moved their troops cleverly using the cover of both forest and hill to hide their numbers from the Germans and provide a tactical advantage.
At this point, commisar Kruschev arrived to admonish the Germans and to oversee operations to ensure they were undertaken in the true spirit of Soviet Bolshevism.
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| Kruschev provides an impressive lecture on the core principles of international Communism (and referees the game) |
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| One of our brave Soviet generals (sporting Revolutionary Red in both clothing and beverage) oversees troop movements |
Our infantry positioned themselves in the forest - protecting them from direct and indirect fire and therefore were in a good position to prevent a fascist incursion.
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| Russian forces bravely take up their positions in the woods facing Hill 501 |
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| More Russians move in opposite Hill 502. |
The German cowards positioned themselves on both hills. But they were scared of reports that a large Russian tank force was lying in wait behind Hill 702 and so moved their tanks away from ours and positioned themselves between Hills 501 and 502. They were right to be afraid - our force contained three KV-1's which were impervious to any guns the Germans could field. They waited like a coiled spring for the order to leap upon the fascist hordes.
On Hill 501, the Germans leapt from their vehicles and showed that they were a powerful force - over 17 platoons including engineers, mortars, heavy machine guns and field guns! But our brave troops were not disheartened! No! They instead charge the enemy in the flank - but suffer many casualties as they come under withering German fire.
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| Our brave troops attack the German flank. |
At the same time, we undertook the first of several mortar barrages on the enemy positions and managed to suppress and kill numbers of fascists.
The German panzers - scared off by our brave troops - decided to skirt around Hill 502 (probably to prevent our tank forces falling on their troops on that hill.
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| The German panzers run from our brave infantry! |
Back on Hill 501, casualties were taken on both sides - and the Germans also opened up on our troops in the woods opposite them.
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| Bitter fighting around Hill 501 |
It was no different by Hill 502. Both sides opened up (many Germans firing from the protection of their armoured cars rather than fighting in the open like our brave troops). Again, casualties were inflicted on both sides.
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| Fighting erupts around Hill 502. |
By Hill 501, more troops were committed to the flank attack on the Germans.
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| More troops attack the German positions on Hill 501. |
Meanwhile, the panzers decided to return to their original position between the two hills to try to exploit any weakness in our troops' resolve. Some hope! As the conflict intensified by Hill 501, our troops' became braver by the minute.
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| The Germans come off the hill to exploit the death of the Russian HQ unit. |
Casualties grew. While shots were traded betwen our forces and the Germans on Hill 502, the forest in front of 501 became soaked in the blood of our brave troops and the fascist dogs alike. But it appeared that the Germans were winning - their tough Engineers made steady progress through our platoons and whittled down our numbers.
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| The Germans make a solid attack on the forest in front of Hill 501. |
Like a cavalry charge of old, the T-34's, BT-5's and KV-1's swept over Hill 702 and aimed at Hill 502. At the same time, the 45th Tank Division swept onto the battlefield and headed towards Hill 501 to save the beleagured forces in the forest.
Unfortunately, the aerial photographer's camera was sabotaged by the fascists (who had cunningly drained the battery) so we cannot bring you photographic evidence of the end of the battle.
Suffice to say that the forces in front of Hill 502 traded shots with the Germans as our tanks headed towards them. The panzers did not know which way to face as the 52nd came in on their flank and the 45th headed right for them. The 52nd put themselves in danger by advancing right up to the enemy positions on Hill 502 but they started inflicting heavy casualties and shot an armoured car platoon to death.
In front of Hill 501, more heroism as a field gun unit - charged by the German engineers - somehow managed to kill their attackers! As the platoon on the hill itself had inflicted more casualties, it meant that a whole battalion of German infantry was lost - and with them any chance of victory. The Russian tanks were about to run over the infantry positions and the panzers could not fight superior forces on two flanks. The German generals surrendered.
The motorised Rifle Regiment had survived and its commander has been recommended for the Order of Lenin.
Reactions
What a great game! Suprisingly in what was supposed to be a huge tank battle, only one tank (a Panzer) was lost - and that to an anti-tank gun! The infantry in front of Hill 501 pretty much swung the result - but it was a close-run thing. Suppressions were taken by both sides at the worst moment (such as when the Russians charged the hill and threatened the German flank). In addition, dice rolling inevitably came into play - with Russ rolling a succession of 1's in a crucial part of the battle - including when his Engineers died fighting an gun crew!
There were lots of fun bits as well. Russ had rolled a 6 for a close combat and I said 'just roll a 5' to Ian - who then did just that to win the combat! Claims of witchery were then made when on the very next roll I called on Russ to throw a 1 - which he promptly did!
There was also lots of 'trying it on' from both sides - like Russ trying to remove a Suppression marker on a roll of 2 (and also appearing to teleport troops from the rear to front ranks), Ian trying to get two shots off from one unit and Russ also called up for pre-measuring. Of course, these are just normal mistakes in the heat of battle - but each is now pounced upon mercilessly. Mark suggested setting up a league table of TIO (Trying It On) - little knowing that I already have and that he leads it with 17 points!
The battle exposed some crucial elements to the rules - especially command and control. Early Russians can only change orders on a 6 on a d6. Germans can change them on anything but a 1 on a d6. This is supposed to represent the superior command and control but I think it is too penal (were the Germans 500% better than Russians at getting orders out and obeyed?). It certainly hampered us but creates the great challenge for the Russian general and the need for timed orders (i.e. after Turn 3 go here, then after Turn 6 go there). Certainly, if you like to have flexibility and close control, play the Germans!
It also showed, for me, the greater scope 6mm offers compared to larger scales. We used probably 60% of the table at most and it involved considerable manouvering, flank attacks, tank charges etc. Micro-armour isn't for everyone, but it works for me!