Posting #1

I decided on this scenario as my game of the week. It peaked my interest for a number of reasons. It has Italian, Hungarian & Soviet nationalities in it. It uses the Gold-Club PG counters from 2007, which I rarely get to use. It is 30 turns long, it has a manageable amount of units. Lastly, it just looked fun to play.

The victory conditions are a mix of controlled hexes/road/town & step losses, a little different for each side but will cause some good clashes. Also there are different levels of victories for both sides to think about, both Minor & Major victory conditions. A Draw is possible as well.

Soviet strengths: • A good amount of armor. • Great off board Artillery.

Soviet weakness: • Only three leaders. • Maybe not enough Infantry to control the required areas. • A 7/6 morale.

Axis strengths: • They have a blocking force to stall until the bigger Italian force arrives. • Italians have a nice 8/7 morale. • The P70/44 unit.

Axis weakness: • The Hungarians have a small force, that could end up serving as a speed bump. • The Italians don’t have as much armor. • The Hungarians 7/5 morale.

Axis Hungarian:

• 4 x INF • 2 x NHP • 1 x 75mm • 1 x Wagon • 2 x Leaders

Axis Italian:

• 9 x BERS • 3 x BERS MG • 8 x P23/41 • 1 x P70/44 • 2 x 81mm • 14 x Truck • 9 x Leaders • 5 x Tank Leaders • Off – Board Artillery 2 x 10

Soviet:

• 9 x SMG • 12 x T-34C • 4 x T-34/85 • 2 x Su-76 • 3 x Leaders • 7 x Tank Leaders • Off – Board Artillery 4 x 12, 2 x 18

Posting #3

North & South, things are picking up now.

You Better Run, You Better Take Cover!!!!!!!

Posting #4

In the South I lost my only Hungarian Infantry Leader in the Area and in the North I lost my only Soviet Infantry Leader in the area. The Italians have enough Leaders in both the North & the South to go around but really the Soviet total offensive could be in trouble. That 3X really hurt. There is still a chance, all depending on how things go in the South but that Terrain is a real killer. The Soviets are taking out some good P23/41 Italian armor but they are losing some of theirs as well and that big P70/44-Tiger II is still looming. I'll have to bunch some T-34/85's and go after it but I just can't maneuver around the terrain well enough.

I think the one type of counter, the Soviets couldn't afford to lose in this scenario was a Leader counter. Dang, there are only three of them to start with. That Soviet Armor better start carrying it's weight.

Posting #5

Into the thick of the Battle. Both South & North are raging to a fever pitch. A lot will be determined in the next three turns. Either way, I doubt it will need to go the full 30 turns.

The Soviets got some of their valuable armor tied up in the South but nothing is for sure in either section yet.

Posting #6

With company coming over tomorrow, I had to bring this battle to a conclusion after playing a little more then half way through I called the Battle as it was a clear Axis Major victory. In the North the Soviets were all but routed, with no Infantry support left that wasn't demoralized and hadn't left the battle area. In the South the Soviets attack has stalled out and the higher Italian Morale is really taking a total on the Soviets. Their Armor numbers in dwindling and they haven't even taken out that monster P70/44. The Terrain was a killer in the South.

The key for the Axis Victory, was using the Hungarians as a forward road block, giving the Italians enough time to get into all the best defensive positions and terrain: Hills/Towns. Once this happened, the Soviets which were weak to begin with in Infantry & INF-Leaders had to use their armor to try to win the battle but the Italian had enough bite that this was not going to happen, especially with a higher morale.