Introduction

June 23, 1941. As the attacks along the Russian borderlands began to drive towards Moscow on June 21st, the Russian 28th Tank Division found itself too far east to partake in the fighting. To remedy the situation the 28th drove westward. Late on the 23rd, lead elements of the 28th Tank Division met up with the 56th Tank Regiment and encountered elements of the German 1st Infantry Division, about 70km southwest of Kelme…

The main objectives:

1. Capture the town
2. Inflict casualties on the Enemy.
3. Avoid taking casualties.

Note: Score will be denoted by (x-y), where x=German score, y=Russian score German victory condition is to inflict 12 step losses, Russians only need 6.

2200 Visibility is 400 yards (2 hexes) for the entire scenario

The two sides both race to capture the town. Russian armour heads to the north and south.

2215

Both sides trying to take as much of the town as possible during the night hours clash in the northern district.

The sound of distant artillery begins to taint the silent night.

note: Off-board artillery was a non-factor this mission. With only 2x16 for the Germans and 1x10 for the Russians, combined with visibility of 2, 3 negative column shifts for night firing and ‘target in town’, resulted in salvoes which had as much chance of inflicting friendly fire casualties as it did in effecting the enemy. Consequently, it was rarely used.

2230

Germans gain the initiative and the StuGIIIB destroys some T-26s! (2-0). The Russian tanks return fire, but to no avail. (north)

Small arms fire begins to be heard in the town.

2245

The Russians take the initiative and their tanks fire against the StuGIIIB, but the German armour is too strong. Return fire is also ineffective.

In the town, the German forces assault the Russian Captain and the Russians begin to suffer from broken morale.

2300

The Germans push the assault in the centre of town.

A lucky T-26 Salvo reduces the StuGIIIB which is demoralised! (2-2)

In the south, the advancing Russian armour is victim of the German 37mm ATG which claims a victim (4-2)

Night confusion leads to an abrupt end as the Fog of War takes affect.

2315

The StuGIIIB rallies as the Russian armour advances for the kill.

In town, small arms ranged fire is relatively ineffective as close assaults with hand grenades and bayonets. A reduced Russian SMG platoon is eliminated (5-2).

2330

Russians get their orders first and the StuGIIIB is attacked, to no effect! Although disrupted, the StuGIIIB fires at the reduced T-26 platoon at 200 yards eliminating the enemy tanks (7-2)!

The Russian armoured cars, Ba6, try to flank the StuG but they get hit by 37mm Anti-Tank Gun hiding in the town (8-2).

Fighting in town is getting bad for the Russians. (See Aftermath endnote #1)

2345

T-26 eliminates the StugIIIB with a lucky shot (8-4). Shoot enough times and you’re bound to get lucky eventually!

But although this is a Russian victory to the north, the town itself is slowly falling to the Germans as some Russian HMG are killed (9-4).

In the South, the T-26s make a move to overrun the 37mm ATG, but defensive fire from another 37mm battalion in town eliminates half a platoon and leaves the other half demoralized! (11-4)

In the centre of town, a Russian SMG which was abandoned in a general fallback is reduced (12-4).

At the halfway mark of the battle the Russians have now lost too many steps to deny the Germans victory. They need to eliminate more of the Germans and have nothing to lose!

0000, Midnight

The Fog of War sets in quickly, but not before the AT Gun placement in town hit some more T-26s! (14-4)

0015

The 37mm ATGs continue to rain havoc and reduce some T-26 to the north (16-4).

The Russian armour in the north charges into town but to little effect. German infantry reserves rush to the defense of the ATG and Infantry Guns.

In the centre of town, the Russian reduced SMG surrenders (17-4).

The Germans are happy to keep the Russians suppressed in close assault. It is too risky to push the assault and they fortify their positions waiting for the Russians to attempt a suicidal advance.

0030

Russians “jump the shark” by initiating assault in the east side of town. They face heavy resistance by the defending Germans.

sidenote: Both sides increased to the “24” column from leader shift. But the Russian attackers were decreased to the “13” column due to assaulting defenders holed up in buildings. Both sides rolled an “M2” (which was lucky for the Russians), but the Germans quickly recovered (not yet acting this turn, and having a 0-2 SGT with them!) The Russians quickly realised any further assaults were generally hopeless!

The German 37mm ATG southwest of town was finally overrun. Although a ‘step loss’ for initiative purposes, it didn’t count towards victory conditions!

0045

In the northwest of town, the T-28 is hit by 37mm AT gunfire and flees town! (19-4)

The failed big Russian assault sees their Lt and HMG platoon fleeing. They get assaulted by German reserves and the Russian Lt is killed!

0100

With all their SMG platoons tied up in assaults, the Russians are completely demoralized and surrender! (See endnote #2)

Aftermath

As the remnants of the Russian attack force either surrendered or retreated, the Russian command was already planning a further attack by the 28th Tank Division.

I wonder if the Germans could have avoided any casualties if the StuGIIIB stayed with the infantry and focused on providing support for the German infantry in the town.

Maybe I’m missing something, so please comment below, but I don’t see how the Russians can use their armour effectively in this battle. I don’t think night time, urban warfare, was a strong point for 1941 Russian armour. This battle appears to be a bad idea by Russian command and serves only to give the lesson: How not to deploy tanks.

Endnote #1: The Russians had a very hard time pressing the attack in town this scenario. Even when adjacent, two SMG platoons could only muster 12 direct fire factors. Two column shifts up for adjacent is countered by two column shift decreases for defender in town. Another left shift for night fire results in a very weak attack. As none of the Russian leaders are any good at forming multi-hex firegroups, the Russians only real chance on inflicting casualties was close assault. Even then, pushing the assault gave the defenders two column shifts and generally resulted in nasty possibilities.

Endnote #2: With all the German infantry safely within buildings, the possibility for the Russians to inflict any further casualties was extremely thin. As stated above, direct fire was not and option and, now vastly outnumbered, any form of assault also appeared suicidal. With the Germans enjoying superior numbers, superior leadership, and the ability to rally between assaults, further German casualties were very unlikely.