The Road to Stalingrad – Turn 11 (Empty trenches and wet feet)

TURN 11 (Map 6, Morning 22nd August, 1942)

After the previous day’s attack the Germans were back for another go and apparently sticking to their well-tried formula of establishing a base of fire in the farmhouse and bringing on armour support.

We replied by deploying our anti-tank gun, risking the inevitable return fire but felt it was necessary to get in that all important first shot. Unfortunately – we missed.

Here we go again -can the heroic anti-tank gunners save the day

As expected, the Germans replied by calling for mortar support; which arrived on target at the first attempt. This was bad news for us as not only did it blanket our anti-tank gun but blocked access to the anti-tank ditch and closed down two of our jump off points.

Feeling secure behind their barrage, the Germans then deployed a squad on our right flank near the railway line.

Damn those mortars and the marsh mallows of doom

With only one remaining Jump-Off point we had little option but to deploy a squad, along with the platoon sergeant, from the farmhouse. In subsequent turns we moved rapidly to the right flank where we took cover along the river bank.

Run for the river lads!

From here we could target the flanking German squad whilst it was in the open, and causing some serious damage.

Eat lead Fritz!

Without a senior leader on the table none of this would have been possible as our dice rolling was atrocious.

A typical command roll

That said, as soon as we got the chance, we deployed a second section along the river bank to cover the anti-tank ditch. For their part, the Germans moved their flanking squad out of line of sight behind the barrage and brought up support in the form of the tank plus a half-track.

Now we can see again - oh look Germans!

Unlucky for them the barrage ended, with the Russians also gaining another phase. The Germans did spend a CoC die to continue the barrage but we then countered by playing our only CoC die to end the turn again. However, this brief continuation of the barrage denied us the opportunity to take advantage of our double phase but in subsequent phases we were able to deploy a squad into the ditch and open up on the unfortunate Germans.

Vengeance is mine

Although we did destroy the Panzergrenadiers on foot the ditch position was being threatened by German armour. We had several attempts at hitting the tank with our anti-tank rifle but this was a difficult shot over the mound of the ditch. In desperation, for the first time in the campaign, we brought on some supporting armour in the form of a T34.

Aim damn you

Unfortunately, we discovered this particular tank crew were unable to hit a barn door! To add insult to injury the return fire, although achieving no net hits, obliged us to reverse D6 inches – off the table!!!

During this first stage of the battle we had largely been spectators, forced to wait and take it on the chin whilst we awaited the end of the barrage. In the following stage we were again reduced to the role of spectators as the Germans rolled the most multiple phases in a row that I have ever seen in a game – I think they rolled five or six consecutive double sixes. This allowed the Germans to instigate a full on advance, with their full platoon, towards the anti-tank ditch.

Swarms of Boche

With our Jump off points closed down, there was little we could do in reply but we did manage to deploy our sniper team on our far left flank. From here they could target the German light mortar team; who eventually broke.

Vasily to the rescue

The remaining German infantry took up fire positions in the ditch but by now we had established a second defence line with two squads along the river bank and a third in the farmhouse. Although both sides were now in hard cover, the Germans were decisively outgunned and at one point all their junior leaders were out wounded.

A bad day to be an NCO

From this point on it was largely a battle of attrition and the Germans were down to a single functioning MG team and a Force Morale of only two. Incredibly we outnumbered them and were holding out with a Force Morale of about six.

Firefight

Unfortunately, a lucky shot wounded the Junior Leader in the farm house and inflicted enough Shock for them to break. The squad fled from the farm house onto the road bridge, with our Force Morale dropping to four. The beastly Hun, sensing an easy target, then focused all their fire on to the fleeing squad – killing them all including the junior leader. Two more rolls on the bad Things Happen Table and we were suddenly down to zero. Game over!

Well what can I say – we were robbed! Oh well it’s on to Stalingrad then.