Played solo over three sessions, this three mapper has large Soviet forces with good armour support trying to not only take Urdom but clear the main east-west road of all German units. The German's also have tank support excellent off board artillery and better morale. The German infantry are ski equipped and therefore more mobile than their Red Army Counterparts. The Soviet's also have Rocket artillery, to nullify this its important that the German occupy the 40m hill to the north of Urdom thus able to call on counter battery fire on the Stalin's organs should they fire. The Soviet plan was to encircle the town clear both roads and should time permit launch an assault on the town. The German commanders plan was to delay the Soviet flanking attacks,inflict casualties and then possibly counter attack in order to deny road hexes to the Soviets. Should the Germans lose 20 steps they can not win so minimizing losses is also a German priority, Both plans worked to some extent, and also both plans failed. The Russian flank attacks forced the German units to give ground and the T34's once again proved more than a match for any German armour, inflicting some losses early on. However it was slow going and after 3 hours hard fighting only the eastern road had been cleared. The plus for the Russkies was that German losses had been heavier then predicted and by game turn 22 the magical 20 German step loss had been reached. The only winner now would be waving a Red Flag. The Russian commander perhaps overly enthusiastically ordered a general advance into a hail of fire, here the German artillery proved very accurate (on 3 consecutive turns double 1, double 6 and double 1 again resulting in 6 step losses), German HMG fire from the town also caused losses and the T60 tanks were badly mauled by long range anti-tank fire. Still at last the northern hill was taken and Soviet forces with T34's leading the way had encircled the town. As a back stop defense the Germans had dug in a 37 A/T and GREN right on the board edge this would have to be dealt with if the Red Army was going to claim the victory. A company was sent scurrying westwards to deal with this roadblock but once again well aimed fire slowed then stopped the advance eventually two T34's supported the attack and succeeded in destroying the roadblock and its garrison. But this had left a gap in the line and the surviving PIII's took full advantage breaking out of the town on the last turn and retaking several road hexes. The result a draw. A draw is perhaps the most likely result as it is hard to see the Germans not losing 20 steps in a 37 turn game. Soviet losses were 72 steps to the Germans 26 steps hence the title of my report.

Author	triangular_cube
Method	Solo
Victor	Soviet Union
Play Date	2023-01-06
Language	English
Scenario	TaBa015

German VC of limiting to 20 step losses seems fairly unlikely to be achieved, and hence the lack of balance here. Otherwise the VCs are fairly unique and allow for a fluid game, as the Soviets must target 3 objectives, and both sides have unique advantages. Soviets have numbers and heavy rocket artillery. Germans have mobility via skis (i played as if they could move the full allowance on the snow, although this probably isnt strictly correct), defensible terrain, and lots of OBA. They also have a 40 level hill that can spot the BM13s wherever they fire and drop a finger of death on them if the Soviets dont take this hex first.

Germans deploy with their tanks in firing positions in the woods along the road on board 6 (roads being critical due to heavy snow. Really only the T-34s can do anything off the road). The tanks are supported by the ski troops and the 50. The 50 will be sacrificed, but the skis plan on falling back once the Soviet blob closes.

Soviets set their KV1s on the road, ready to drive up the middle, supported by their massed blob of infantry. The T-34s, rode by SMGs will push around the flanks and close a vice around the sides. Given the time limit it might actually work. The T-60s will flood through the woods with infantry support and figure out something useful to do onece some AT guns get knocked out.

The German plan falls apart almost immediately. They lose the early tank duel of PZIVs vs KV1s, and the blob shakes the OBA (lots of 7s), enveloping the skiiers before they can get away. The T60s join in and mop up pretty much the entire wrecked force in the woods, while the T-34s wipe out the artillery spotter on the hill and sweep around the town securing the western road. Left with their HMGs, ENG, and oddities, the Germans put up a stiff fight in the town, but Soviet rocket artillery, and massed armor adn infantry push through and get a major victory.

Germans rolled poorly and Soviets rolled well at the start, otherwise this would have been much closer. I think a few tweaks to the German VCs (dropping the step loss from the minor win maybe) could produce a "5" here.