The Road to Stalingrad – Turns 9 & 10 (The Trench)

TURN 9 (Map 5, Morning 21st August, 1942)

After our heroic defence of Map 4 it was onto Map 5 and another chance to throw back the invaders. We had been promised reinforcements if we could hang on long enough and we had clearly bought enough time to be joined by another infantry section.

Comrade,

We are slowing the fascist viper down in your sector. The job is far from done and there is much still to be done. To your work.

A Workers' Otdyelyeniye (section) will be with you by this afternoon. You may allocate then to any map you wish.

Yours,

Comrade Svinovoda

On Behalf of the SNADK

Postulating that the cut up terrain and restricted lines of sight on Map 5 would make an extra infantry section useful we chose to deploy the reinforcements here. We already had a Red Army platoon supported by an infantry gun positioned here behind mines and wire.

Map 5 - the battle that never was

Alas, it was not to be…….

Comrade,

After the spirited defence of Map 4 the Red Army Vzvod, including the Workers Otdyelyeniye, defending Map 5 has surrendered without a fight. 

Yours,

Comrade Svinovoda

On Behalf of the SNADK

So in fact our next line of defence would be Map 6 and the river crossings.

TURN 10 (Map 6, Afternoon 21st August, 1942)

Map 6 - the river crossings

Here we had previously ordered the construction of an anti-tank ditch and, with little cover on this table, we aimed to get our jump off points in the ditch with a fall-back position in the farm house.

The Russian position 

 We also mined the farmyard on the German table edge, reasoning that this was an obvious fire position for the enemy; much to the consternation of the Germans as they had placed one of their Jump-Off Points there.

Russian obstacles

However, the Germans did have the forethought to bring along two pioneer teams; one wire team and one mine clearance team. Naturally, these were the first troops they deployed and spent the early part of the game attempting to clear the farmyard of obstacles. Whilst they did eventually clear the mines we were content to remain hidden and the delayed attack allowed us to build up an impressive number of CoC dice.

Once the mines were cleared they began their attack in exactly the same way as the previous four games; namely establishing  a base of fire in the farmyard before bringing on a tank.

German attack begins

We countered by deploying an infantry section into the anti-tank ditch, to draw their fire, before deploying an anti-tank gun.

Heroic Anti-Tank gunners

There then followed an impressive bit of shooting from Comrade Uttherwaite on the Anti-Tank gun – five hits no less! 

Good shooting Comrade!

The Germans managed to save two of these but, with three net hits, it was curtains for the unfortunate panzer.

Another one bites the dust

In desperation the Germans then deployed an infantry section, in the open, on their left flank. We countered by deploying a second section into the ditch and a sniper in the farmhouse. The use of a CoC dice to interrupt the next German phase also gave us a well-timed second shot at the faltering panzergrenadiers.

Russian Firing Line

The grenadiers in the farmyard were now down to one man and the section in the open close to collapse. German Force Morale had also plummeted to a mere five.  Furthermore, as we still had a plethora of CoC dice at our disposal the Germans decided that the best course of action was to retreat.

Death of a Panzergrenadier

So, incredibly another win for the Russians. It appears that their win of the previous week had gone to the German's heads and they had forgotten the hard earned lessons of the previous games. However, it has to be said that their ‘tactical advisor’ (von Allan) was also absent this week – just saying!