The Battle For Rawnstadt Continues

Our scouts told us that the town of Rawnstadt had been deserted, it would be an ideal place for our brave men to rest and await re-supply before continuing the advance further into the Reich. We were somewhat surprised therefore when our lead T34 encountered the enemy advancing on the town, the enemy were in retreat so why they were heading to occupy this back water we cannot guess.

Firing From both Sides Is Desultory But The Germans Start To Get The Edge

German Infantry Advance On The Town, Thinly Held By Two Russian Sections

Russian Reserves Steam Forward

The Germans Push The Russians Out Of The Town

The Tiger Joins The Fray Knocking Out The Russian SU76

The Germans Move To Consolidate Their Hold Of Rawnstadt

At Last The Russian Bear Begins To Bite

The Russian Front Commander Calls Back Dimitri's Force, Manpower Must Not Be Wasted On Such Place. Intelligence Knows Of No Reason For It To Be Of Such Importance

I move up to a vantage point on a nearby hill to see for myself what is happening, there are two Pz.IVs an armoured car and several sections of infantry. I have only sent two sections forward to the town to ready it for the rest of my force, I immediately radio back and urge them forward quickly, the two forward sections will not be able to hold back the Germans I feel, I also call forward our other two T34s. I must try to get in touch with division and find out what they wish me to do.

Col. Dimitri Robinski   

The scenario was played out using the new Iron Cross rules from Great Escape Games, reading about them and seeing reviews on the web, I felt that they would give a decent game in between Bolt Action and Battlegroup rules. Dave and myself were at first a bit dubious of any unit on either side being able to react before the others activation, but it worked quite well, in fact in some ways it made sense. Most other rules unless your unit has been given ambush/over watch orders would have to sit there and take punishment probably from several enemy units unable to do anything in reply until its "turn" providing it was still intact of course.

I must say that at the beginning of the game our dice throwing was the worst we have seen, my attempts to rally off morale markers was hilarious, the number of twos and ones I threw was amazing even for me.

I think I could have put up a better fight if I was not in charge of rules monitoring, but not to take anything away from Dave who even more in the dark about the rules who put in a sterling performance, early dice throwing accepted.

We both enjoyed our first run out with the rules and both agreed will certainly play with them again. 

Afterword

Berlin 1993, Gen. Otto Bikkel (Ret'd) is reading a newspaper article........................

Secret World War Two Underground Research Facility Discovered Near Rawnstadt