During my previous 500-point Infantry Aces style game, one other local player had sown up, willing to have a go at a game at this scale as well; my opponent in my first battle report.
He didn't have his minis with him, so we decided to put something together using the models we had standing in the store and some proxies.
He decided to go with a FHH Gepanzerte Panzergrenadiers force from Blood, Guts and Glory.
The scenario would be Cauldron.
Strelkovy Batalon (Red Army) - Confident Trained
HQ: CC Rifle team, 2iC Rifle team, Batallion Komissar team, 4 PTRD teams
Strelkovy Company: Cmd Rifle/MG, 7x SMG
Strelkovy Company: Cmd Rifle/MG, 7x Rifle/MG
Machine-Gun Company: Cmd Rifle, 3x Maksim HMG
Mortar Company: Cmd Rifle, 6x 82mm mortars
Once more, the PTRD teams would be combat attached, two to each of the Strelkovy companies.
My opponent had the following:
Feldherrnhalle Panzergrenadierkompanie - Reluctant Trained
HQ: CC Panzerfaust SMG, 2iC Panzerfaust SMG, 2x Sd Kfz 251/1
Panzergrenadier Platoon: Cmd Panzerfaust SMG, 6x Panzerfaust MG, 4x Sd Kfz 251/1
Panzergrenadier Platoon: Cmd Panzerfaust SMG, 6x Panzerfaust MG, 4x Sd Kfz 251/1
Flak Platoon: 3x Sd Kfz 251/21 (triple 15mm)
Before deployment, my opponent used the Kampfgruppe rule to create a fourth platoon: he split off two Pzfaust MG teams and one half-track from one Panzergren platoon to make a small unit.
With this, he could still start with two platoons on the table.
Since we didn't have enough Sd Kfz 251 models around, we used a bunch of Shermans to proxy for them. The ones with turrets were the 251/21 FlaK vehicles.
Deployment. One Strelkovy Company on each objective, with two PTRD teams in each. I did kind of fail with the facings of those teams.
The German side had the large Panzergrenadier platoon and the Company Commander up at the far end of the table and the FlaK-tracks to the right, safe from PTRD fire.
My first turn was entirely uneventful; I didn't have any mobile elements and didn't want to leave my foxholes with the sheer weight of fire the German forces would be able to lay down.
So the heroes of the motherland sat and waited patiently for the coming storm.
German turn 1. No reserves yet. The Panzergrenadiers moved forward at the double, behind the cover of several houses.
One of my PTRD teams decided to be a bit daring and moved up to an alleyway to shoot at this platoon, but their shots had no long-term effects.
German turn 2. Both German reserve platoons showed up and moved in to engage my forces along the hardened road.
After some withering MG fire took out both PTRD teams in the far Strelkovy company (the one that was dug in took an unlucky hit, failed save and passed firepower test) the mid-sized Panzergrenadier platoon decided to assault the forces defending the near objective.
Their charge was rathert effective, pushing my forces out of the building next to the objective and several nearby foxholes. With the FlaK half-tracks having a clear line of sight to them, they would have to dig for their lives.
So distressed was the near Strelkovy company that they both failed to unpin and failed to dig in, leaving them useless for the turn and vulnerable.
About two thirds of the far Strelk company moved in for an assault to relieve some pressure before the Germans could move up
With only six shots in defensive fire, needing threes to hit, there was a good chance that this charge would go ahead.
Unfortunately, the German fire proved too effective and the assault was driven back.
All in all, this left the Soviet forces in a horribly exposed postion. To make matters worse, any reinforcements would have trouble trying to relieve them in time.
So, at the start of German turn 3, things were looking grim for the heroes of the motherland.
They would become even more grim as massive amounts of MG and 15mm autocannon fire rained down on them from the German forces.
The far company kept their heads down and weathered this storm, but the troops in the near company, exposed and alone, were not so fortunate. Most of them were cut down, after which the survivors were obliterated by a pair of mounted charges by the Panzergrenadiers.
Soviet turn 4. There would be no reinforcements and the remaining Strelkovy company was too shaken to unpin, even with furious encouragement from their commander and kommissar.
This left no Soviet forces in range to contest the near objective, deciding the battle.
Another Soviet infantry battle, another defeat. I'd say I made a couple of bad choices here in terms of positioning, especially with my PTRDs. When combined with one or two lucky breaks for my opponent (in particular the deflected assault where only 2 teams had defensive fire) this led to a total collapse.
Lessons have been learned, and I hope to put them into practice in later games.
Meanwhile, I'll just have to hope I won't get a visit from our local political officer.
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