Author	libel_paris
Method	Solo
Victor	Soviet Union
Play Date	2020-04-14
Language	English
Scenario	PGUM001

Assault repelled [warning : german set-up was made too far !]

Summary :

As the germans approached a small town by the road, they were stopped by some resistance from a small but determined soviet force. Trying to move closer by superior firepower, they experience some losses and some units fled. However an assault was to be launched by a lieutenant-led force of one INF and one ENG platoons. They were to be supported by the fire of the other units. However the germans presume the strength of their firepower and the assault was canceled as units suffered a heavy returning fire. There were new losses and the moral was eroded again.

On this hot weather of summer 1941, what could go wrong for german forces as they moved forward through soviet defenses ? ... maybe a bad recce ?

Set-up :

The germans arrive by the road within 700 meters east of a small town. There are 5 INF platoons, 1 ENG, 1 HMG led by 1 captain, 2 lieutenants and 1 sergeant. The soviets have 2 INF platoons, 1 HMG and 1 SMG, all led by 1 captain and 1 lieutenant. The captain and the SMG is at the center of the town. All others are on the western edge of the town. The soviets wait for the germans, as on their side noone is spotted yet. [the germans set up at 4 hexes by mistake]

11:00 : 1st turn

All german units manage to advance within 3 or 2 hexes of the town without any loss, despite soviets opp-fire from the HMG at the enter of the town and later with one INF on the south side. Only the sergeant is disrupted. The soviet captain decides to reinforce the frontline units. 1 INF from the north joins the HMG and the lieutenant as it will be the main point of the german thrust. The SMG goes south to reinforce the INF unit.

11:15 : 2nd turn

The germans begin with a massive fire on the HMG hex from the captain and lieutnant led units. However with no result. 1 INF comes to reinforce the captain hex for firepower. New fire by the second lieutenant hex on the HMG, closer, but with no result too. The sergeant manages to recover. The soviet captain activates everyone for firing, but with no result too.

11:30 : 3rd turn

Soviets go first. The lieutenant hex fires on the german sergeant stack. It manages to make one step loss taken by the INF. Both the sergeant and the INF are demoralized, whereas the ENG remains unscathed. New massive fires on the HMG hex from the captain and lieutenant led units. The HMG is disrupted, other units are ok. The ENG takes this opportunity to move directly next to the HMG-INF-lieutenant hex at the enter of the town. The second lieutenant stack moves to join the ENG unit. South, the soviet INF opp-fires but the german moral hold on. The demoralized units (sergeant + INF) fails to recover and flew west by the road. The soviet captain orders the SMG unit to reinforce the lieutenant stack in front of the bulk of the german forces.

11:45 : 4th turn

A new massive fire is decided by the germans on the HMG hex. The goal is to prepare for an assault by the second lieutenant stack. However there is no result again. The second lieutenant hex fire too then. But it is also a miss. The soviet captain activates everyone. All hexes fires separately on the lieutenant stack. They achieve quite a result : both the lieutenant and the ENG are demoralized, the INF is disrupted. The demoralized units (german sergeant + INF) manage to recover and become disrupted as they stop fleeing.

12:00 : 5th and last turn

A new massive fire from the germans on the HMG hex, with no effect again. The soviet captain activates everyone else. The lieutnant stack fires on the german lieutenant hexes and manage to make a step loss, taken by the INF. The demoralized lieutenant manage to pass the moral check. However the ENG unit fails and takes a step loss and the INF unit fails too and become demoralized. Both the lieutenant and the ENG manage to recover however, whereas the INF flees west.

At midday the german assault on the town is repelled.