Panzer Grenadier Headquarters - Library: Fire in the Steppe #21

Panzer Grenadier Battles on April 27th:
Arctic Front Deluxe #40 - Children's Crusade	Broken Axis #14 - Târgu Frumos: The Second Battle Scenario 3: Sledge Hammer of the Proletariat
Army Group South Ukraine #6 - Consternation	Road to Berlin #73 - She-Wolves of the SS

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Like a Spear Fire in the Steppe #21
(Defender) Germany	vs	Soviet Union (Attacker)

Formations Involved
Germany		297th Infantry Division
Soviet Union		10th Tank Division

	Total
Side 1	1
Draw	0
Side 2	1

	Total
Side 1	0
Draw	0
Side 2	0

Overall Rating, 2 votes
5 4 3 2 1 4.5
Scenario Rank: --- of 913

Parent Game	Fire in the Steppe
Historicity	Historical
Date	1941-06-28
Start Time	09:00
Turn Count	28
Visibility	Day
Counters	107
Net Morale	0
Net Initiative	0
Maps	4: 1, 4, 5, 6
Layout Dimensions	86 x 56 cm 34 x 22 in
Play Bounty	179
AAR Bounty	171
Total Plays	2
Total AARs	1

Battle Types
Delaying Action
Hill Control
Urban Assault

Conditions
Off-board Artillery
Randomly-drawn Aircraft
Smoke

Scenario Requirements & Playability
Fire in the Steppe	Base Game

Introduction
Just to the west of VIII Mechanized Corps, XV Mechanized Corps pressed forward as well in what was intended to be a diversionary attack to assist the main effort. The two tank divisions of XV Mechanized Corps had suffered serious losses and the corps had lost its commander, Ignaty I. Karpezo, who had been seriously wounded. But 10th Tank Division remained a potent combat force thanks to its veteran cadre.

Introduction

Just to the west of VIII Mechanized Corps, XV Mechanized Corps pressed forward as well in what was intended to be a diversionary attack to assist the main effort. The two tank divisions of XV Mechanized Corps had suffered serious losses and the corps had lost its commander, Ignaty I. Karpezo, who had been seriously wounded. But 10th Tank Division remained a potent combat force thanks to its veteran cadre.

Conclusion
The defenders could count on massive Luftwaffe air support, what with Hermann Goering's personal regiment in the front lines. The Germans had also augmented their anti-tank defenses not only with the big 88mm weapons of the Luftwaffe anti-aircraft gunners but also howitzers from their divisional artillery regiment. These heavy weapons gave them the means to combat the thickly-armored Soviet tanks, which came at them with little coordination. "Enemy shells could not penetrate our armor," wrote Capt. Z.K. Slyusarenko of the 19th Tank Regiment, "but they could break the tracks and destroy the turrets. The KV to the left of me is bursting into flames. A plume of smoke shot into the air above the tank, with a thin shot of flame from right in the core, like a spear."

Conclusion

The defenders could count on massive Luftwaffe air support, what with Hermann Goering's personal regiment in the front lines. The Germans had also augmented their anti-tank defenses not only with the big 88mm weapons of the Luftwaffe anti-aircraft gunners but also howitzers from their divisional artillery regiment. These heavy weapons gave them the means to combat the thickly-armored Soviet tanks, which came at them with little coordination. "Enemy shells could not penetrate our armor," wrote Capt. Z.K. Slyusarenko of the 19th Tank Regiment, "but they could break the tracks and destroy the turrets. The KV to the left of me is bursting into flames. A plume of smoke shot into the air above the tank, with a thin shot of flame from right in the core, like a spear."

Display Relevant AFV Rules

AFV Rules Pertaining to this Scenario's Order of Battle
Vulnerable to results on the Assault Combat Chart (7.25, 7.63, ACC), and may be attacked by Anti-Tank fire (11.2, DFT). Anti-Tank fire only affects the individual unit fired upon (7.62, 11.0). AFV's are activated by tank leaders (3.2, 3.3, 5.42, 6.8). They may also be activated as part of an initial activating stack, but if activated in this way would need a tank leader in order to carry out combat movement. AFV's do not block Direct Fire (10.1). Full-strength AFV's with "armor efficiency" may make two anti-tank (AT) fire attacks per turn (either in their action segment or during opportunity fire) if they have AT fire values of 0 or more (11.2). Each unit with an AT fire value of 2 or more may fire at targets at a distance of between 100% and 150% of its printed AT range. It does so at half its AT fire value. (11.3) Efficient and non-efficient AFV's may conduct two opportunity fires per turn if using direct fire (7.44, 7.64). Units with both Direct and AT Fire values may use either type of fire in the same turn as their opportunity fire, but not both (7.22, 13.0). Units which can take opportunity fire twice per turn do not have to target the same unit both times (13.0). Demoralized AFV's are not required to flee from units that do not have AT fire values (14.3). Place a Wreck marker when an AFV is eliminated in a bridge or town hex (16.3). AFV's do not benefit from Entrenchments (16.42). AFV's may Dig In (16.2). Closed-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables. Do not take step losses from Direct or Bombardment Fire. If X or #X result on Fire Table, make M morale check instead (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT). Closed-top AFV's: Provide the +1 modifier on the Assault Table when combined with infantry. (Modifier only applies to Germans in all scenarios; Soviet Guards in scenarios taking place after 1942; Polish, US and Commonwealth in scenarios taking place after 1943.) (ACC) Tank: all are closed-top and provide the +1 Assault bonus, when applicable Prime Movers: Transports which only transport towed units and/or leaders (May not carry personnel units). May or may not be armored (armored models are open-top). All are mechanized. (SB)

AFV Rules Pertaining to this Scenario's Order of Battle

Vulnerable to results on the Assault Combat Chart (7.25, 7.63, ACC), and may be attacked by Anti-Tank fire (11.2, DFT). Anti-Tank fire only affects the individual unit fired upon (7.62, 11.0).
AFV's are activated by tank leaders (3.2, 3.3, 5.42, 6.8). They may also be activated as part of an initial activating stack, but if activated in this way would need a tank leader in order to carry out combat movement.
AFV's do not block Direct Fire (10.1).
Full-strength AFV's with "armor efficiency" may make two anti-tank (AT) fire attacks per turn (either in their action segment or during opportunity fire) if they have AT fire values of 0 or more (11.2).
Each unit with an AT fire value of 2 or more may fire at targets at a distance of between 100% and 150% of its printed AT range. It does so at half its AT fire value. (11.3)
Efficient and non-efficient AFV's may conduct two opportunity fires per turn if using direct fire (7.44, 7.64). Units with both Direct and AT Fire values may use either type of fire in the same turn as their opportunity fire, but not both (7.22, 13.0). Units which can take opportunity fire twice per turn do not have to target the same unit both times (13.0).
Demoralized AFV's are not required to flee from units that do not have AT fire values (14.3).
Place a Wreck marker when an AFV is eliminated in a bridge or town hex (16.3).
AFV's do not benefit from Entrenchments (16.42).
AFV's may Dig In (16.2).
Closed-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables. Do not take step losses from Direct or Bombardment Fire. If X or #X result on Fire Table, make M morale check instead (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT).
Closed-top AFV's: Provide the +1 modifier on the Assault Table when combined with infantry. (Modifier only applies to Germans in all scenarios; Soviet Guards in scenarios taking place after 1942; Polish, US and Commonwealth in scenarios taking place after 1943.) (ACC)
Tank: all are closed-top and provide the +1 Assault bonus, when applicable
Prime Movers: Transports which only transport towed units and/or leaders (May not carry personnel units). May or may not be armored (armored models are open-top). All are mechanized. (SB)

Display Order of Battle

Germany Order of Battle

Heer
Foot Leader Mechanized Towed

Heer

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Towed

Luftwaffe
Towed

Soviet Union Order of Battle

Army (RKKA)
Foot Leader Mechanized Motorized

Army (RKKA)

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Motorized

Display Errata (6)

6 Errata Items
	Two 105mms (ID#s 1204, 1205) have "16-31" fire values in black (direct fire), when they should be in white (indirect fire). (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)
	The reduced direct fire value of the Heer HMG became 5-5 starting with Fall of France. (plloyd1010 on 2015 Jul 31)
	The morale and combat modifiers of German Sergeant #1614 should be "0", not "8". (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)
	The movement allowance on the counters in Airborne is misprinted. It should be "3." (rerathbun on 2012 Jan 30)
	The reduced direct fire value in Kursk: Burning Tigers is 4-4. (plloyd1010 on 2015 Jul 31)
	Kommissars never get morale or combat modifiers. Ignore misprints. (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)

Display AARs (1)

Brilliant Counterstroke by Soviets

Author	SARACV3
Method	Solo
Victor	Soviet Union
Play Date	2020-05-07
Language	English
Scenario	FitS021

This action was part of the larger St. Vitus Day offensive which started on June 28, 1941. This The 15th Corps had lost its commander. However, the RKKA pulled off an apparent upset here by using a cross pincer attack into the central forest. Thus, it appeare to its opponent, the 297th Infantry DIvision, that formidable forces could be picked off.

The German 297th Infantry Division, which had been fighting for a week,, was tired, judging from its somewhat diminished morale. But it really was a matter of indecision that held it from responding to the at tack 9n the forest along with poor marksmanship. Even the 88s missed lead Russian T34s, whose destruction was vital to stop the attack from succeeding. Even the 105s couldn’t deal w the RKKA infantry. The infantry reached the forest before the Germans could move their forward guns out of harms way. Here’s where the extra forces would have been invaluable. In the end, the Soviets reached the town. By that time the Germans were so weak, that their morale had fallen to one. This meant they couldn’t possibly win the scenari9.

The RKKA bypassed the town, letting the left flank deal w it. The right flank, still strong, pulled out of the forest, cut the road on board’s four and five and set. up their attack against the hills. Since the Wehrmacht had retreated to the town from the forest, the hills were weakly defended. The RKKA had little trouble capturing the hills and destruying the defending guns and infantry.

One other major problem for Germans was that AirPower was effective less than half of the time. This factor was key to German success, but it failed.

Minor victory = Russia, 26 German steps destroyed Germany = 20 RKKA steps destroyed

2 Comments

Wargamer1939

2020-07-12 17:35

thanks for posting

JayTownsend

2023-07-16 19:48

I think you mean their initiative fell to one.

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FitS020

FitS022

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