The Road to Stalingrad - Turns 3 to 5

Having held up the German advance, on map 1, we decided not to contest the next two maps. However, we did leave the Germans a little surprise in the form of a couple of  'super-mines' prepared by our divisional artillery.

Turn 3 (Map 2, morning 18th August 1942)

Comrade,

An explosion has been seen and heard from the collective farm on Map 2. The Fascists have halted their advance while they clear the road and what looks to be the wreckage of a vehicle.

Death to the fascists vipers,

Comrade Deti

Turn  4 (Map 3, afternoon 18th August 1942)

Comrade,

Another explosion has been seen and heard but this time from the bridge on Map 3. Once more the Fascists have halted their advance while they re-bridge the river. A report has been heard that a vehicle was on the bridge at the time of the explosion.

Death to the fascists vipers,

Comrade Mladenets

Turn  5 (Map 4, morning 19th August 1942)

We chose map 4 as the location for our first real defensive line which would be defended by a Red Army platoon.

View from the Russian lines

Once again the Germans rolled high for their initial patrol moves gaining 6 moves before the Russians could respond. Surprisingly, they opted to take the same approach as that in game one; making a rapid advance straight up the central road. We countered this in the same way, immediately locking down their lead marker. By the end of the patrol phase we had jump off points in the wood and the German jump offs were clustered around the farm. We also deployed two minefields and two sections of wire.

This time the Germans led the attack with a Panzer III supported by a Panzergrenadier squad in a half track. A second squad deployed into the farm.

Luckily we had anticipated such a move and had ensured that we had a jump off point covering our left flank. From here we were able to deploy an anti-tank gun, supported by an infantry section.

 

After a duel lasting many phases, in which our shot bounced off the tank's frontal armour, we eventually scored a major hit knocking out the stubborn panzer.

In a desperate move the half track raced around the burning tank and sought shelter behind the hedge. From here they unloaded a full panzergrenadier squad. Meanwhile, the Germans seemed yet again fixated by the wire and brought on a pioneer squad to tackle it. They did succeed in removing a section but it would have been quicker to just move around its open flank!

Having now drawn the Germans in, we deployed the rest of the platoon into the wood and proceeded to gain fire superiority on the de-bussed panzergrenadiers. After several phases of intense fire, the grenadiers broke abandoning their half track.
The unfortunate pioneers, out in the open field, had also come under heavy short range fire and also broke.

At this point the German commander decided to call off the attack and retire from the field after heavy losses. And the Russian losses? Nothing. Not a single man. Much jubilation and vodkas all round in the Russian camp!