This is a good introductory scenario. Few counters, plays quickly, and lets new players learn how to handle armored forces and (if the German player) infantry and transports.

The two sides enter from opposite sides of the field. The Germans won the initiative and moved forward as far as possible to cut down on the Russians' maneuver options. The Russians set up in a line across the road at max anti-tank distance. The Germans spread out, trying to set up crossfire shots on the Soviet tanks. Both sides traded shots as the Germans maneuvered, with the Soviets getting the better of the exchange. They held a lead in steps destroyed for most of the game, but the Germans were eventually able to run down the remaining tanks and surround and eliminate them. The slow speed of the Soviet KV-1 meant that they could not out-run the German infantry, and had to spend several turns just staying ahead of them instead of shooting at the German armor.

Although the entire Soviet force was destroyed in the end, they inflicted an equal number of step losses on the Germans and forced a draw. This one was very close. The Soviets had several chances to take out one more German step for the win, but couldn't quite do it.

Fire In The Steppe, scenario #10: Duel at Sabinovka

I know I have played this scenario before in previous editions but I like to small unit count and fast moving play with so many AFVs. This scenario is all about eliminating more enemy steps than your opponent. Both sides close with their armor. The Russians have stronger armor but the German armor gets to shoot twice having armor efficiency. The Soviets only have two stacks of armor with three units per stack, to take advantage of only having two tank leaders.

Fighting is intense but the German Infantry dismounts from their halftracks and move in for assaults, causing the Soviet armor to pull back, wasting their valuable shooting opportunities, while the Germans continue to shoot twice per unit and get cross-fire opportunities.

The Germans eliminate 10 Soviets steps, while the Soviets eliminate 6 German steps, giving the Germans a 4 point edge and the win!

This is a neat little meeting engagement scenario and a good one to teach the armor rules. The Germans have a mixed tank/infantry force, including a PZII unit which, if its smart, will spend the game hiding (or, perhaps be sacrificed to set up a crossfire), while the Soviets have 6 tank units, including a couple of KV-1s. Historically, a tank duel erupted at 800=1000 meters (4-5 hexes) in this one, with the Soviets getting the better of it. A smart German player will probably want the duel to happen at longer range because his guns have longer range, and there's just not a lot of cover on the 2 maps.

The Germans also have a 5-2 initiative advantage at the start of this one, meaning they will control the tempo of the scenario. In this one, I moved the PZIIIs into the 1 hex woods and onto the 3 hex hill where they had time to dig in while I used the PZIVEs to flank and sent the Infantry loaded SPW251 to the east flank, too. After unloading, they scurried to hide in the woods so the Soviets couldn't chase them down for easy kills.

The Soviets had the slow KV-1s come up the road, while the T-34As came through the fields to hit the German flank. This proved to be the Soviets undoing. I accidentally moved the KV1s 4 hexes from the PZIVEs, meaning the short 75s were in normal AT range. I should have left them at 5, where the KV-1s would be normal strength while the PZIVEs were halved. With the German initiative advantage, crossfires quickly led to 2 dead KV-1 steps. Plus, infantry started to move into assault positions and the KV-1s were too slow to retreat from them (especially the disrupted one). The KV=1s did get some revenge when a boxcars vaporized a platoon of PZIVEs. The T-34s were having more trouble than they should have with the force in the woods, and then I had to send some to reinforce the KV-1s. However, the German infantry caught up and tied up some of the tanks in an assault, and ultimately outrolled the Soviets and were able to take the upper hand, even with the restriction on allowed column shifts. Eventually, the Soviets tried to pull back, and the last KV-1 step was lost leaving the assault, More crossfires took out some T-34As, and the Germans, ahead on the victory conditions, fell back and dared the remaining Soviets to attack. As this was only 1 1/2 platoons, the Soviets declined to advance, knowing the odds were against them.

This is a 22 turn scenario, and I called it after 9. The German range advantage and initiative advantage were tough for the Soviets to overcome. Roughly 14 shots per turn is going to beat 6 shots per turn when a good chunk of those 14 shots are at +2 for crossfire. In retrospect, I should have not moved the KV-1s as aggressively, and should have sent them away from the marauding infantry so they wouldn't get caught in assaults. While they have the DF values to hurt the infantry, every DF shot they take is an AT shot they aren't taking.

Even with competent Soviet play (i.e., not mine), I can see this as a scenario that can be played in 2 hours or less. I'd definitely like to try it FtF sometime.

Author	cjsiam (Soviet Union)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	Draw
Participants	plloyd1010 (AAR)
Play Date	2018-08-05
Language	English
Scenario	FitS010

The Soviets (me) concluded that letting the Germans get on multiple sides of them was a road to disaster....so they did not advance up the board very far, and stayed together. The German player approached, and hoping to entice me to stay in the middle while getting surrounded tried to pass on both sides while unloading infantry in the field in front of me....

Sensing a tightening noose, the Russian tanks ganged up on the eastern group of german tanks, a couple of PZIIIs, and drove at them in a group, getting a chance to take them out before they could retreat... The soviets then passed to the south of the forest to reduce the ability of the Germans to flank...

The Germans started to infiltrate the forest with their panzers coming out the east edge, while their infantry threatened to jump on tanks if not dealt with....

Being ahead at this point---the Russian player unfortunately allow another tank unit to be taken off while trying to rush to the town, away from the Germans in the forests....

The Remaining Russians ended up in the town, and the germans in the woods to the east.... A draw....

Good fun...Scenario was close up to last few turns when it became clear unless someone did something foolish it was going to be a draw.....If only the Russian had been better at staying out of range in last few turns....sigh....A draw is better then a loss....at least :)

Author	plloyd1010 (Germany)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	Draw
Participants	cjsiam (AAR)
Play Date	2018-08-05
Language	English
Scenario	FitS010

Played 4th Ed RaW, a little unusual for me. Had a good time, but would have lost except for a lucky break.

Germans advanced down the map with strong side-watch cover. That second word points to the stupid part, the Germans should be much more reactive in this scenario. As the Germans corralled the Soviets, they got a tank step. Trouble is, corralling a pack of superior tanks is not the healthiest endeavor, I lost 2 steps to return fire and 2 more trying to disengage. I started to setup a fire base in the woods on board 1 as the Soviet tanks leagered in the SW corner. I was fretting about how I might crack that nut.

My luck came when the Soviets decided the town was a better place to wait out the game. The armor brigade began moving east, tormenting my infantry along the way. I managed to kill 2 steps of the swing-guard of T-34s with my PzIIh's. The rest of the Soviet armor went by as I hid in in the woods. Driving to edge and back, I got a couple more shots that had no effect. With the bulk of Soviet armor in the town, I setup a flank shot against the 1/2 T-34, Killing it on my 3rd shot. The game ended with the 2 groups glaring at each other across an open steppe.

I know that against a more experienced player, my head would have been handed back to me on a platter. The Germans need a flexible defense, not a sweeping attack.