Still Serving On The Eastern Front

JUZTUKOV JUNCTION

Yet another WWII game using "Battlegroup Kursk" based on the Narwa scenario in the Rapid Fire 3rd supplement.

The Soviet objective is the road junction to the rear of the large wheat field behind the barn, the Germans will have to take morale chits for the loss of each farm building, each of which has been fortified and provides hard cover, any German squad occupying these at the start of the game can begin on ambush fire orders. The poplars lining the railway denote an embankment which slopes down to the road, the Soviet tanks can only cross at this point, the embankment is a obstacle to infantry. Any Soviets within 6" of the embankment cannot be seen by any German observers on the hill to the left, German FO can be begin the game dug in here, the Soviet FO and ATG can begin the game dug in on top of the embankment. The road to the farm buildings is rural and does not give any movement benefits. The forest is marshy and counts as difficult terrain.

Turn One

The Soviet T34 platoon advances, supported by infantry and an SU122. A 45mm ATG and FO are dug in on the embankment, whilst the 82mm mortar battery deploys in cover of the embankment.

German forces await the Soviet onslaught, infantry are deployed in the buildings, a tripod mounted MG42 on the edge of the woods, FHQ is on the hill dug in with FO team.

Turn Two

The Soviets continue their advance on the occupied buildings, fire from the Tiger deployed on the Soviet objective point gives fire to no effect, something it was going to repeat until turn 5! The Stug's is unable to acquire its target in the meantime, the Soviets timed 122mm barrage hits the barn only managing to pin the Stug.

Turn Three

The Soviets only manage to get four orders which limits their options, although the fire from the off table Katyhuskas cause several infantry casualties along the large field but has no effect on the Tiger stationed there. Meanwhile another Tiger enters the fray, and a nebelwerfer stonk has a negligible effect on the Soviets.

Turn Four

More happening this turn, German 150mm timed barrage arrives, targeting the road just in front of the barn, unfortunately the Soviets not having advanced as far as expected are spared much damage, in fact the Germans were in more danger! The Stug is taken out by the T34 in the wheat field which in turn is taken out by the recently arrived Tiger. The other Tiger again appears to have a myopic crew.

Turn Five

Continued Soviet fire against the Germans in the buildings was starting to take effect, the left hand buildings occupants were all taken out and the MG team in the adjacent field reduced to two men. Meanwhile in the other building under fire from infantry, the SU76 and the SU122 the infantry their retired to the wood. The German tiger that had hit nowt now took out the remaining Soviet T34, things were looking grim for the Soviets.

Turn Six

Unknown to the Soviets the German battle rating was near to its limit, the loss of one of the buildings and another infantry team was enough to take them over, so although the Soviets had yet to take their objective the German force with just the two Tigers, four infantry and HQ remaining together with the half track mounted 20mmQuad quit the field to the Soviets.

A selection of shots from the game

An hard fought game that could have gone either way at various points, Comrade Bykkliski continues his run of victories, the Gulag as yet to beckon it seems.

TTFN

More From The Eastern Front

Another game using the rather excellent Battlegroup Kursk rules. This was another scenario from the rule book, we used a platoon level force of 650 points for each side. Dave again took command of the Soviet forces, winning the dice throw the Soviets took the first turn, dicing for how many units could enter the table Dave threw a respectable four. In my turn I threw a dismal two, things were not to improve has the game progressed. Using the speed of the the T34 and using the Stal! Stal! Stal! special rule the Soviets were able to get into position to meet the German forces as they belatedly arrived on table. The Soviets with Dave's dice throwing were always, due to my poor throwing able to bring on more units, having lost the early initiative the Germans were constantly being pinned by Soviet fire. When they finally got their Stug company in position to take on the Soviet T34's they were subjected to a devastating Katyusha stonk, two Stugs took direct hits and were knocked out, from then on the game was really up for the Germans, by turn six there was no way they could prevent the Soviets taking all the objectives so conceded the field the Soviets. The fact that the only Soviet loss apart from one footslogger was the loss of a T34 to a mine! tells the story, none the less a splendid game and I am certainly looking forward to the next game and to November which will see the release of the Fall Of The Reich supplement.

Some game shots in no particular order, the amount of Soviets in the pics more than tells the story

T34's Advance Past A Knocked Out Sdkfz222 

The Soviet Right Force Stream Towards Their Objective

Soviet Infantry Pass A Burning T34 Struck By A Mine

Aftermath Of The Katyusha Stonk

Soviets Take Possession Of The Heights

German Grenadiers Their Transport Aflame Take Cover



Soviet Forces Advance On The Left Flank

That's all for now folks, I have been painting commission work like a mad man over the last few weeks so I am treating myself with a day out to Colours on Saturday it as been several years since my last visit so I am looking forward to it immensely, I will be looking to get some suitable buildings for use with Fall Of The Reich games.

TTFN
  

Return To The Eastern Front

Following on from my previous post I am still in World War Two mode, I have finished another Russian building and added a barn, collected from Lancer at Partizan yesterday to my to paint pile also added a Zis-5 truck from Rapid Fire/Ready To Roll and a moving Maxim gun team from Under The Bed Enterprises, picked up some Crusader Late War Brits for my 28mm forces for use with the new Lardy "Chain of Command" rules too.

Dave came over to OHQ for a game last Friday, I gave Battlegroup Kursk a try out, we played the clash of reconnaissance scenario. I took the Germans and Dave the Soviets. My first mistake, which was to cost me the game I think, was too bold an advance with my armoured cars, should have known better, sending even tanks in un-supported is risky I know. Needless to say they soon fell victim to Soviet fire, causing me to take counters early, which of course were high ones. 
With my early loss and the arrival of the bulk of his force Dave was able to consolidate his position so by the time my main force arrived it had to run the gauntlet of fire from a then well positioned enemy, the Soviets did not have it all their own way but by turn seven I had exceeded my BR. The Soviets had received counters for half of theirs. Really looking forward to the next game in a fortnight. Some pics, in no particular order, of the action below.

I have not entirely neglected my other projects, I have also completed a unit of Saxon duguth for Dux Brittanniarum



Next game will be over at GHQ, a try out of Sam Mustafa's latest rules for the American Civil War, Longstreet.

TTFN