Played with Alan Sawyer over Skype and receives a solid '3' rating. Definately winnable by both sides dependent on leader selection, set-up, moves in the game and results. Seems a good balanced one overall to me.

The scenario asks the Germans to achieve quite a lot with the resources available and so the German player should find this one an interesting challenge. The Soviets meanwhile, with a useful set-up and their ubiquitous fighter support, will enjoy trying to knock off enemy casaulties. I think Alan basically covered the salient points in his report and below is simply the version as I saw it my side of the table

Our German column arrived along the main road around 1100 hours.This consisted of a truck borne battalion supported by a whole company of StGIIIB assault guns. Ahead of them there was a strong Soviet infantry force ensconsed in a town supported by one of the feared 76.2mm batteries. On the Russian left, a strongish force of rifle units with one of their more inspirational leaders had been positioned Soviet Anti-tank guns were out of sight. The Germans would certainly not send full ahead the assault guns whilst the 76’s were in place and though the Soviet right flank looked bare and their infantry troops were positioned on the left so as to make the right flank look even more sparse, it occurred to German command that that would be just where any Soviet AT gunnery would be. Instead, the Germans determined to send the StG’s on against the Russian left, supported by two well-led platoons of infantry and artillery support. The rest of the infantry plus mortar support would probe the town in order to make in-roads upon it. There was one fly in the ointment to all this. Never had so many Soviet fighters been seen in one area on the Eastern front to date. Where was the Luftwaffe ?

The opening rounds went well for the attackers. The infantry force on the Soviet left was hurt badly by German OBA, causing casualties, and also ridding them of any leadership they had. As a result, these Red troops would be quite unable to instigate any free-thinking offensive moves of their own. Whilst in such strife, the armour and infantry opposing them continued at them. In the town, the Soviet artillery crews proved quite cowardly. Receiving some fire, they became immediately wary and within minutes had abandoned their guns and made off ! Against these set-backs, the Soviet air-force constantly strafed the advancing Germans and if not hitting many troops as casualties, they were definitely holding up and disrupting their operations. Combined with the German lack of ability to reply to them, it was a useful asset. Also, like the Russian gun teams, the German mortar NCO responsible for guiding and leading mortar bombardments also disappeared early, thus fragmenting the mortar offensive capability available.

Having reached the edge of the town, the German troops laid down some pretty well-directed fire, hitting the targets with morale sapping power. But the Soviets just would not budge. Though the German fire was heavy and debilitating, casualties were actually low and the 152nd Rifle Division’s men were not going to move. The fire-fight must have last about 90-100 minutes, with absolutely no progress made by the Germans at all. As well as this, there were some forward Soviet probes developing on either flank threatening to cut off the attackers from the town they had held before the battle began. Deciding that with the minimal progress made so far, and refusing to allow his troops to remain in the open under air-attack that would sustain needless casualties, the Germans pulled back to their start line. They easily blunted the flanking probes, with the StG’s inflicting a few horrible casualties on the Soviets left probe. On that note, the battle was broken off by both sides. The Germans would not be capturing the enemy town and the Soviets with what they had available would be quite unable to inflict many worthwhile casualties on the enemy. A draw

(Losses: German 2 steps and an officer – Soviet 5 steps and 2 officers)