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Monday 1 October 2018

Robinski Routed

You may recall way back in February last year we played the first game in the Rawnstadt campaign, no? me neither I had to look it up.
Well the second game would focus on General Robinski's attack from the south, this would be easy, the Germans were focusing all their efforts on stemming the Red tides advance from the east under General Bikkliski. The southern sector would only be thinly held, Robinski gleaned from prisoner interrogation and reconnaissance reports that the road to Rawnstadt would only be held by infantry so launched his assault accordingly. In the haste to attack, the re-supply of the tanks was not achieved, so only the ISII had a full supply of HE the three T34s had an over stock of AT (I thought it a tad unfair that knowing the scenario I could load up with all HE, so before the game I diced for each T34s ammo mix, I am too kind methinks).
Unknown to the Soviets the Germans were well dug in along a ridge intersected by the road to Rawnstadt, when this was discovered the attack had the benefit of an air and artillery strike, it certainly helped but troops in reinforced cover are hard to shift. The attack started well but I attacked on too narrow a front and too tardily, the infantry held back to long and came under heavy fire and it was not long before several squads were either pinned down or forced to retreat. The Germans launched a pre-registered nebelwerfer strike, from which the Soviets got of lightly, only one T34 being pinned the other was pinned by a hit from the only two effective shots from the German Pak40, more on the second later.
The Infantry Appear Reluctant To Leave The Cover Of The Woods

Meanwhile Their More Enthusiastic Comrades Take Cover In The Corn Field

A T34 Is Knocked Out By A Panzerschrek Shot

Meanwhile The ISII Burns On The Left

The Reason It Burns, I Pull An Ammo Low Chit, Result The PAK40 Has One More Shot Before Running Out. I Don't Belieeeve It!

With Only One Full Infantry Squad Is Left, It Is All Up For Robinski's Attack, Another Chit Pull Confirms The Inevitable And The Attack Is Aborted
Well I can go on about my inability to pin or hit the entrenched Germans and my uncanny ability to roll ones when testing morale, but at the end of the day my tactics were poor. Result the Germans have now evened up the score in the campaign, but due to the poor showing by Robinski, the forces of Bikkliski will no doubt get an influx of troops to continue the main thrust, while a nice desk awaits Robinski somewhere.

TTFN 


7 comments:

  1. Nice looking game Phil … I see you've warmed Mr.B. up for our Wednesday WW2 bash.....lets hope his luck has run out.

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    1. Well he did roll a few 5s & 6s during the game, so may have used up all the dice gods favour.

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  2. Luck? Wash out your mouth!
    In truth a taxing game for both sides I thought, though I was aided by some poor dice from Phil at crucial moments, loosing only three figures and having only one Pinned unit in the whole game.

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    1. Glad you enjoyed, especially as you prefer periods where men stood up to fight.

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  3. Nice looking contest Phil, you know I love the eastern front 🙂

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