BATTLE SUMMARY

Soviet forces are prepared for their night raid. They have 5 hours to succeed.

They begin their attack in the west, centre and east. In the west they are thoroughly pushed back by mines and direct fire.

In the east they find some decoy minefields and advance on the Spanish trench. In the centre they suffer a few demoralizations but push onward.

Spanish artillery eliminates some Soviet infantry on the minefields.

Soviets initiate an assault in the east, but they are fought back and the counter-assault is fatal on the Soviet troops.

Soviets enter a second trench in the middle, but they can’t get enough firepower to bear (3xINF = 12DF). Spanish artillery continues to reek havoc on the Soviet reserves in the east.

Eventually after an hour and a half the eastern trench waffles their attack and the Spanish are reduced! The demoralized Spanish infantry flee. The first entrenchment is raided!

In the centre the Soviet infantry waits for the HMGs as their reserves are driven off by artillery.

Soviets make their way through the woods to the next entrenchment while the reserves rally and head west again. Soviets come under heavy fire and have already lost a third of their troops.

Soviets attack the next trench and meet disaster. Spanish counter-assault but their HMG is demoralized and flees.

In the west the Soviets brace the minefields and are reduced.

Back in the east trench both sides suffer casualties but the Spanish send over reinforcements from the centre and the Soviets are fought back.

In the west the Soviets are completely routed.

The Soviet Colonel flees and with 45 minutes to go, the Soviets surrender.

SPANISH VICTORY!!!

Aftermath

Soviets were soundly beaten back and only captured the eastern trench with a bit of good fortune.

Some things to note:

1. Soviets decided not to press their luck in the centre entrenchment. It is possible they could have fought the Spanish down. But with their reinforcements quickly depleted and only able to get to the “5” on the assault column, they thought better of it.

2. Minefields. Spanish received 10 mine factors. This is an old edition scenario. I replaced this with 10 minefield counters: 2 decoys, 6 “1”s and 2 “2”s.

Despite the difficult win conditions for the Soviets this scenario offered an interesting situation and some good special rules.

Scenario Rating: 3/5 – Interesting situation with minefields in a quick night assault.