2x PG Platoons
HMG platoon
3x panthers
2x Firestorm Tigers
The Soviets deploy.
The defences looked a bit thin- 2x tigers (one was knocked out in the preliminary bombardment) 7 MG teams + 4x attached HMGs (of which one was destroyed in the bombardment). Being sensible Kent decided not to defend the river bank but held hid forces further back.
Turn1- the infiltrating Soviets make it to the first minefield.The Soviets infiltrated a dismounted cossack platoon with sappers and Zis 2s attached, giving the Germans the first turn.
The tiger bailed but quickly remounted and had a slugging match with the JS iis but managed to miss or if it did hit fail to destroy the target. The HMGs concentratred on the cossack infantry and slowly but surely whittled them down.
Bunker buster ahoy! It ended up a bit of a slogging match. The SU 152s took out a bunker but then the panthers appeared and the SUs were quickly dispatched.
Now we are in trouble!
The JS IIs breakthough the wire. Unfortunately those cossacks behind them were about to fail a morale test taking the attached Zis 2s with them! The surviving SU 152 also retreated off the table. 2 platoons down and we are stalled at the wire!
It wasn't all plain sailing though. A JS II knocked out a panther at long range and the Red Airforce bailed another (which failed to remount) the following turn another airstrike resulted in a second bailed panther and the morale test die was a 1. Bye bye panthers! This changes things.
A bit blurry but the following round the final tiger fell to the 3 JS IIs.
So now I simply had to crush a PG platoon and drive them off an objective- easy. WRONG.
At this time it was almost dark (literally!) so I started to sneak the scouts across the river thinking their eyes and ears would apply- wrong. They were massacred (no concealment and 5+ infantry saves). Suddenly the Soviets were down 3 platoons and failed a company morale test!
Ah well, so close and yet so far!
Thoughts
A bit more cover is needed for the attacker across the river but we both had our chances. Like most LW games it was a bit of a crap shoot (we both much prefer MW) but the dice finally fell the Soviets way. Made for a fun game but like most FoW fortification missions it pays not to defend too far forward- more time to shoot and easier for reserves to reinforce the line.
Next time the Zis 2s will not be attached to the infiltrating platoon, that was a bit silly!
Good win Kent until next time...
Craig
Interesting report Craig. Knocked out a Panther platoon, you tinny or what? Or does all the failed 'fearless' morale tests speak otherwise?
ReplyDeleteLooks like you did a good job getting across the river under fire with only the one (?) bridge there. I laughed out loud when I saw the layout of river, opposite bank stacked with anti-infantry fortifations and then the sole vehicle crossing point mined. I like the way Kent thinks. I should probably have a think about how to do this mission as attacker.
Nice table btw.
-Jamie
There were 2 bridges but I concentrated on one.
ReplyDeleteShould have taken it- brain explosion with the scouts- but an interesting dilemma as terrain was still conceaaing them, not just the river.
Have modifed the terrain slightly to make it a bit easier for th attacker though
The Red Airforce was running hot!
Craig