Soviet forces are advancing in the the industrial town of Rahnstadt which has been largely reduced to rubble by Allied bombing. Nether the less it has been designated a Festung and must be held to the last bullet.
Regular forces are being heavily pressed elsewhere and can only provide a solitary Pak43 for its defence. The brunt of the assault must be borne by the Rahnstadt Volksturm.
2. Dug in Panther.
3. Dug in 80mm Mortar.
4. An old Putilov 76mm field gun pressed into action.
5.Volksturm Platoon HQ, officer, mortar spotter.
6. Volksturm Squad one, eight men, two panzerfausts.
7. Volksturm Squad two, eight men, two panzerfausts.
8. Volksturm LMG team, three men, bipod MG34
9. Volksturm Squad three, eight men, two panzerfausts.
10. Booby trapped building.
Meagre reinforcements will arrive in the form of a Stug IIIG, a Volksgrenadier squad and a 251/21 half-track.
The Soviets would be attacking with a Motorized Infantry Platoon with support from an ISU152 battery, a motorized infantry patrol and an off table 120mm mortar battery.
Intimidated by the dug in Pak43 and Panther the Soviets attacked on a narrow front avoiding them but risking being bunched up and making a juicey target for any indirect fire.
As it turned out they were virtually unscathed, the Germans being unable to contact their mortars during most of the assault.
There was some consolation in that the Soviets also had the same communication issues with their mortar battery.
The Soviets close in, the driver of the Lend-Lease Studebaker deserving an Hero of the Soviet Union award for doggedly resupplying the ISUs throughout the assault.
The Soviets enter the booby trapped building but the charge fails to go off, a dud, drat!
Reinforcements arrive, unfortunately for them the Soviet communication problems are solved and a 120mm stonk disabled their supporting Stug.
Mention must be made if the LMg team in the corner house who literally fought to the last man holding off the Soviets until near the very end.
Turn eight and two and a half hours of tenacious defending the Volksturm had to yield the ruins of Rahnstadt to Bikkliski's Soviet forces.
Until next time.........
KBO
Very atmospheric looking, grand to see such terrain and troops together.
ReplyDeleteThank you Joe, that is what we strive for while remaining playable.
DeleteGreat looking game!
ReplyDeleteChristopher
Thank you Christopher much appreciated.
DeleteExcellent looking late war battle, surely you were never going to hold the town?
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Thank you Iain, most kind. Very doubtful but there is always hope😉
DeleteLovely, I love the town building. In photo 5, who does that figure opening the ammo crate? I am Guessing AB.
ReplyDeleteThank you Norm, most kind. The figure came with the Italeri Pak40 kit, while I used AB Figures to man it I utilised the Italeri figures as a loader team.
DeleteGame layout is super, Phil. When I first saw the defenses, I did not envy the attackers’ situation. Luckily, seems the Germans were plagued by comm issues and faced a determined and well-supplied foe.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jonathan. Yes the Germans had few resources and had to spread them across their front unfortunately the communication issue stopped them capitalizing on the Soviets being funneled on the left.
DeleteGreat looking game and so many atmospheric shots to enjoy:)!
ReplyDeleteThank you Steve much obliged.
DeleteOff to a Siberian Gulag for you Herr Robensähn!
ReplyDeleteI didn't surrender I made a tactical withdrawal which means I may get sent to the Eastern Front though, but wait🙂
DeleteCracking stuff Phil…
ReplyDeleteI love the dug in Panther…
All the best. Aly
Thank you Aly, much appreciated as always.
ReplyDeleteWhat a spectacle!
ReplyDeleteThank you Matt.
DeleteThat's a lovely looking table and figures. Quite a tense game too, Germans certainly have their back up against the wall.
ReplyDeleteThank you Mark, much appreciated. The Germans were certainly up against, as they should be in 45. If radio contact had been better they may well have broken the Soviet advance up?
DeleteStunning stuff there as always phil! Wonderful pictures and scenics! If the comms checks had been better you might have even stopped those pesky Russians!! Great game!
ReplyDeleteHigh praise indeed, thank you very much Paul. It was a grand target, if only.
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