Copyright © 2024, Philip Robinson. All rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced, in whole or in part without prior permission of the creator

Monday 7 June 2021

Reich On The Ropes

 For the second post lockdown game here at OHQ I decided on a WWII game using Battlegroup rules, the timely arrival of WSS114 would provide the basis for the scenario.

Steve Shann has provided a scenario for the Battle of Schonfliess, 16th April 1945, ostensibly for Rapid Fire rules but easily adapted to other rulesets and bath tubbing down. I modified it for a platoon level game using the Battlegroup Fall of the Reich supplement, as ever Dave would adopt the persona of General Bikkliski and command the Soviet forces, their objectives are circled in red below.


The initial Soviet force would consist of two batteries of SU76Ms and an infantry platoon with the support of a 76mm infantry gun and a 50mm mortar team, from turn three reinforcements would arrive at D6 units per turn these would consist of another infantry platoon supported by a Zis3 76mm divisional gun a two tube 82mm mortar battery, a Gaz truck mounting a multi barrelled maxim AA MG, a forward headquarters and a forward observation team to to instruct the off table gun batteries.


Defending Schonfliess would be a German Volksgrenadier platoon with a Panzerschrek, 82mm mortar and a tripod mounted MG42 in support, reinforcements arrival would be diced for, turn five, eek!, the worst possible result. These would comprise of a further infantry platoon with a PAK40 and two Tiger IIs, again these would arrive at the of D6 units per turn.



The Soviets pushed the SU76 batteries forward to pound the German positions ahead of the infantry, confusion rained amongst the inexperienced German platoon, the panzerschrek team falling victim by a Soviet battle counter draw.


Despite mounting casualties the platoon held on, they were not making the best of their cover failing many saving throws and were still able to strike back but not with sufficient force against a numerically superior enemy.




  An SU76 falling foul of a panzerfaust strike and the forward observer Bren carrier and crew being taken out by ambushing Germans before they could call down fire. With squads wiped out by combined HE and small arms fire the surviving Germans began to fall back with the arrival of two Tigers and supporting squads the morale increased, a battle rating counter draw giving them additional rating although some of this was negated for losing an objective to the advancing Soviets.

Seeing the Tigers, General Bikkliski sent all available SU76s forward to engage them, a frontal penetration would be impossible but if they could be pinned this would enable others to get on the flanks  and engage successfully. Despite a panzerschrek team taking out one of them and a Tiger a second one managed to an all important side hit and Kaboom. Meanwhile the Soviet infantry had been whittling away the German infantry who again were failing to take full advantage of the available cover the battle counters were rising again, seeing the battle was lost the Germans took one more counter to unpin, the gamble did not pay off and their rating was exceeded after an exciting twelve turns of play.




Below are pictures of the latest additions to the collection, a PAK40 with crew in winter attire and another building for Bikkelheim.






TTFN






 


24 comments:

  1. Phil a hugely enjoyable AAR, especially when read in conjunction with the WSS 114 article, it translates well to the Battlegroup rules.

    Very good photo touch adding the scene to resemble the late war iconic photo of the red flag being raised over the Reichstag building ..... do you recall who makes that model building?

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    1. Thank you Norm, it is one that Colin Rumford used to supply painted, I think it may now be available unpainted from Sentry Models.

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    2. Phil, I have since gone back and read the WSS article twice more and am increasingly impressed by the cleverness of the scenario and the special rules.

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    3. Indeed it is rather good I thought, I have Steve's self published Seelowe scenario book, again aimed at larger actions using Rapid Fire and again easily bath tubbed down for a smaller table. I'm currently looking through it for the next game here.

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  2. Cool looking game Phil and I really like the plane!

    Christopher

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    1. Thank you Christopher, I usually use the plane as an objective marker but today it was just table dressing.

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  3. A thrilling game which I thought at one point I had lost, but the comrades came good in the end! A super AAR and photos. Bikkelheim is shaping up nicely too.

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    1. That would be a bit of Tiger fear🙂 proves you don't need silly rules to replicate it. Never underestimate late war Russians staying power. Have another house ready for priming tomorrow.

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    1. Thank Paul, it was a challenging scenario for sure, but for the Germans in 45 what isn't 😕

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  5. Lovely looking game Phil, what’s not to enjoy with WW2. I do think you were in a poor starting position with the odds against you somewhat, I would have liked to see th pe tigers some on earlier !

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  6. Thank you Matt, I would have liked the Tigers earlier too but that was in the lap of the dice gods and you know what they think of me.

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  7. Another fine looking game Phil. Plus I see you too have had a visit but this time from HS1945 ;-D

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  8. Nice game Phil, reminds me I need a some aircraft.

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  9. Thank you George. Planes are good, although in Battlegroup a rarity unless as a timed air strike. I am currently finishing off a Focke.

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  10. I great looking and sounding game Phil…
    Isn’t it about time the Germans got a nice (white) flag…😁

    All the best. Aly

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    1. Thank you Aly. A white flag, where would be the fun in that🙂

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  11. Lovely looking battle and nice additions, you're not winning streak continues, but you were really up against it in this scenario I think!
    Best Iain

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    1. Thank you Iain. They certainly were, as it was and should be in April 45. Success is measured with how long they can hold back the flood, in this respect I thought they did well.

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  12. Great looking game and AAR Phil. Pleased you enjoyed the scenario (and the book). Really nice to see it bathtubbed with a different set of rules - glad it worked!

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  13. Thank you Steve, will be trying one out of the book next time out maybe using RF Reloaded this time.

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    1. Please let me know when you do. Now lockdown is easing a few people/groups are playing the scenarios and would be really interesting to know how they played for others.

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