This scenario was played in a two and half hour session of play against Alan Sawyer over Skype. Alan selected this one as he had selected our previous Kursk meeting. On first glance, they appear quite similar though the make-up of the forces in this one made it quite different. My task as the Germans was to inflict casualties and try to exit at least 10 steps in order to withold a large point swing for the Soviets when reckoning VC's at the end.

At 1430 hours both sides advanced towards each other. Soviet tank riders off-loaded into nearby wheatfields whilst SS Schutzen troops advanced about 2.5km away. German StG’s moved to take positions in wheatfields near to them and Soviet armour split into differing groups with some of their nearby infantry and others pushing forward. Both sides early artillery attempts were wayward and for a peaceful half hour each side was allowed to take up their positions or advance in relative safety.

1500 hours an advance by 4 x Soviet T34 platoons was met by fire from the German StG’s. One step was eliminated but the other units veered to their right to assist Soviet SMG troops as they became pressured by numerous German infantry. These German infantry had split into two groups, and 1/3 of them peeled off to the west to apply pressure to the less guarded Soviet centre and west flank. Soviet artillery, though not knocking out noticeable casualties was causing some disruption and demoralization in some of the German infantry ranks.

1530 hours (turn.5) became the pivotal moment of the battle.The German infantry pressuring the centre wiped out a Soviet SMG platoon with close-in fire whilst another platoon assaulted the T34 platoon that was with the now eliminated SMG’s. Once more casualties were taken by the Soviet tanks. The Soviet response was daring and risky. As they observed German StG’s move out of the wheatfields to try and issue a coup de grace on their struggling comrade Soviet tankers, they in turn pushed forward into effective range in order to force a showdown with the StGs. They hoped to draw fire away from their troubled friends and inflict damage on the German machines. The showdown was short-lived. The guns began to belch out their destruction at 1545 hours and the StGs achieved a hit ratio of 66% at a range of 1200m. This was a devastating blow to the Soviet cause. All their attacking armour had been damaged, disrupted or demoralized. Furthermore, some further infantry were lost and at this point the battle was up for the Soviets. There was basically no line of defence that would be able to hold any German efforts to advance.

With the field conceded, Soviet losses read 4 SMG steps, 1 officer and 7 T34 steps. No German steps were lost in this encounter. Points totals at that time were German 18, Soviet 0

This played through quickly due to the boldness of the Soviet tankers and their subsequent punishing demise. It was a brave move by Alan and I could see what he was trying to do. He could not have expected such a succession of hits to fly in at the range they did and that did for the Red tankers. Though at the same time, its part of the risk and gamble. I guess, when one boils this down, it can be worked out that the German infantry have only 5 'fighting' turns if they are to exit, and the rest of their turns in the game would have to involve forward movement in order to get off the south end of the board. Think of it like that and maybe its possible to come up with a way to delay them for those required turns. I, like Alan, rate this a '3'.