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

Tuesday 3 May 2022

Rocky Road To Bikkelheim

 The Soviet advance on Bikkelheim continued at OHQ today, General Bikkliski has sent a force in an attempt to flank the German positions, the position is lightly held but the low lying land makes the area very boggy, recent rains have not helped and the surrounding ploughed fields are now also in a decidedly soggy condition. Time however is not on the Generals side so the attack must go ahead regardless.

The Germans have dug in on the slightly raised ground at Bikkelheim Farm, a further squad and the platoon HQ have taken up position in the farmhouse across from the house is a dug in PAK40. A 75mm infantry gun is in position in the wood on the flank to hopefully counter any Soviet probe on that flank, a light reconnaissance tank meanwhile takes cover behind the building. The support platoons third squad and a Jagdpanzer IV will be coming up in support with the further support of an off table 120mm mortar battery. Its Battle Rating is 16.



The attacking Soviet force consists of an infantry platoon supported by a Zis3 anti-tank gun, a scout T70, a SU57 halftrack and three T34/85's with an off table 120mm mortar battery. Its Battle Rating is 18.

The initial Soviet assault is halted in its tracks by a 120mm mortar stonk, the lead T34s crew being so rattled that they abandoned it.
On the Soviet right flank the T70 makes a demonstration, distracting the PAK40 it is however pinned by HE fire from the German infantry gun.

 Further Soviet troops arrive to bolster the attack.
Whilst unpinning the T70 Dave pulls a confusion counter which he puts on the PAK40 with the required morale test causing it to become pinned, the CO is obviously wanting to know why it is targeting the T70 when T34s are bearing down on the position.


 After some poor coordination and lack of mortar support from the Soviets things improve slightly and the German defenders are now starting to take their first casualties, radio communication on the German side is poor and they also suffer from lack of mortar support.

However the radio op gets through and another devastating mortar strike brings the Soviet force close to exceeding its Battle Rating. 

A shot from the PAK40 takes out the SU57 the resulting chit draw takes the Soviets over their Battle Rating and the attack is called off. Time has been gained to strengthen the defences of Bikkelheim for the assault that will inevitably come.

TTFN and KBO


 

22 comments:

  1. A Russian turkey shoot with their armour stuck to the roads to avoid bogging down...sounds like a familiar storyline to me.

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  2. Nice report and some cool armour on view there Phil.

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  3. Great looking game, Phil and excellent photography. You have a lot of nice toys!

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  4. Great looking game and report. Could I please ask about the battle mat you are using - where is it from?
    Frank

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    1. Thank you Frank. The mat us the autumn one from Geek Villain, very fine products.

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  5. Great looking gmae there Phil and a nice scenario too. The Soviets never really recovered from a bad start, or so it seems to me. Maybe better luck next time.

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    1. Thank you Steve. Yes, Dave had a run of poor dice rolls, probably the worst in record here at OHQ.

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  6. Oh dear that was disappointing I thought with all their might and armour the Russian would push through ? Were you even more unlucky than usual Phil. Regardless of all of that the collection looks beautiful ๐Ÿ‘

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    1. Thank you Matt. Unlucky? not at all I was in command of the defenders ๐Ÿ™‚ and getting better than my usual dose of favour from the dice gods.

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  7. A game decided largely by the vagaries of the d___ g___! Probably the poorest set of throws I've ever had, perhaps even the poorest in the history of wargaming, anywhere, ever! Grand photos though!

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  8. Indeed, verily fate was agin you yesterday. It would have been quite a saga if mine had been on a par with the norm too.

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  9. "poorest set of dice throws I've ever had" Wow! They must've been really, really bad. Another great game & commentary Phil

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    1. Thank you Jon. The dice and gods of war certainly favoured the defenders.

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  10. Lovely looking game and for a nice change a big of good fortune!
    Best Iain

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    1. Thank you Iain. Indeed an unexpected success for the Germans though I doubt it will last.

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  11. A great looking and sounding game Phil…
    But will your luck last?

    All the best. Aly

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    1. Thank you Aly. Mine will most definitely not last, have to hope Dave's doesn't improve๐Ÿ™‚

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  12. Dear me, it will be a very long road to Berlin at this rate! Your dice rolling must have improved since the BoB outing....

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    1. More a case of Dave's getting seriously worse I fear.

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