Red Warriors, scenario #14: Feldwebel Schaffer

*Back to the old days of PG with a scenario from Red Warriors, reminds me of so many memories from the past but back to the game. This looked like an interesting scenario with Soviet having about three times the force but with three objectives to take for a major victory and two for a minor and the German victory levels below this. The Deep snow will made movement slow and both sides have off-board artillery. 25 Turns of fighting ahead!

*First of all, how to setup the Germans? Help defend the town hexes, and setup to block or slow the Soviets exit points, dug-in when possible and setup to do as much damage as possible. Still, there are still so many options in setup and a small German mixed force to try it with. This could play out differently with each game-play.

*The Soviets don’t have enough Transportation for all the Infantry, even if they use all their armor for tank riders, so at least 9 units must go on foot. One battle-group of Soviets head for the first town, to see if it’s possible to get 8 town hexes under their control and eliminate at least 8 German steps. The Second battle-group of Soviet tries an end-round the forest, to exit 15 steps off the North edge of the map or engage the second town in the north if all is going well in the battle of the southern town.

*The Battle for the town hexes in the South really fell apart for the Soviets, so bad in fact, that I now decided a Major victory could not be had at this point in the battle but a minor one was still attainable and was now the new goal. Losses in the south were heavy to both the Soviet Infantry & Armor units, as the Germans setup a good crossfire of armor and fortified the towns with everything else. The Soviets however had already eliminated 12 steps of Germans, so the only thing left to do was exit 15 steps and forget the German held town in the North. The KV-I moved so slow in the deep snow and everything else was slowed down as well. There was a dash for the northern border; with the remainder of the German armor trying it’s best to stop the truck loads of Soviet Infantry and support units. The Soviet unloaded the 45mm AT guns and the KV-I were finally able to assist, as the T-34A’s & T-60’s were burning or demoralized. The PzIVF2 was also gone but there were still a few StuGIIIB’s and PzIIIG’s but not enough to work in blocking the Russians.

*The Soviet had their minor victory and this is kind of an interesting battle for both sides to make decisions. It’s difficult to say which strategies are best, only playing this once, so this has replay value. The deep snow makes progress slow however.