0700 – Engineers enter the river under fire and bombards from the Soviets. Hungarian artillery opens up.

0715 – Hungarian infantry attempts to cross the river but is hit by Soviet artillery. Russian mortar spotted and eliminated.

Crossing will be noted #1,#2,#3,#4 going west to east

0730 – Western woods being cleared out by Hungarian artillery. First of the Hungarian infantry makes it across the river at crossing #2.

0745 – Second Hungarian Infantry makes it across the river at Crossing #1. At Crossing #4 the engineers are disrupted. Soviets move to intercept but are hit hard by Hungarian artillery.

Casualty count: 3 Russians, 1 Hungarian.

0800 – Russians fire on Crossing #4 and all are demoralized. Hungarians lose a platoon and half the German engineers are lost.

Third Hungarian unit makes it across the river at Crossing #3.

Soviet Mortar batteries hit and eliminated by Hungarian 100mm.

0815 – Crossing #4 is demoralized again and the German engineers are eliminated. This crossing is over.

Crossing #2 hit by Russian artillery and demoralized. Engineers flee. (this crossing will need to be re-established if possible).

Hungarians enter the village on the river’s edge.

Fourth unit crosses the river at Crossing #3.

Casualty count: 4 Hungarians, 2 Germans, 5 Russians

0830 – Hungarian infantry reduced fleeing from Soviet HMGs. Two Russain infantry platoons eliminated in the woods and their sergeant is captured. Russian reserves move back toward town.

0845 – Russian HMGs and artillery focuses on Hungarian artillery in the woods on the far side of the river. Hungarian 100mm is eliminated!

Russian infantry in woods eliminated.

Casualty count: 6 Hungarians, 2 Germans, 10 Russians

0900 – Hungarian mortars retreat back into woods as their 2nd 100mm is hit and eliminated so they don’t suffer the same fate.

0915 – Soviet HMG demoralized by mortar fire. Another infantry crosses at Crossing #4 but the rest are demoralized by artillery fire!

0930 – Engineers flee from crossing #3. Crossing #2 is re-established next to Crossing #1.

Soviet HMG continues to draw attention and they are demoralized and reduced by artillery.

0945 – Mortar and artillery fire eliminates the routed Soviet HMG.

Casualty count: 8 Hungarians, 2 Germans, 12 Russians

1000 - 1015 - The second Soviet HMG flees the village at river’s edge, but to no avail, they are eliminated by artillery.

1030 – Hungarian infantry platoon lost trying to cross the river due to Soviet artillery fire.

1045 The battle at the river’s edge grows quiet except for the long range artillery strikes and a single Russian AT Gun battery still holding out in the northeast river village.

1100 – Another hit by Soviet artillery decimated crossing #2 eliminating a Hungarian HMG platoon! Crossing #2 is abandoned.

It is eerily quiet at the Danube’s edge

1115 – The Soviet AT Gun battery is finally eliminated.

1130 – German engineers re-establish Crossing #3 at the broken bridge shielded by the northeast river village.

1145 - 1200 – All is quiet on the Eastern Front as the River Crossings are shielded from Soviet eyes by the woods in the west and the village in the east.

1215 – Six Hungarian units are trying to cross the river behind the woods and two more behind the town.

1230 – Hungarian HMG finally crosses at Crossing #1

1245 – A few more Hungarian units cross the river as their troops are closing in on the northern town.

1300 – German mortar is eliminated by Russian artillery. Hungarians continue to close in on the northern town.

1315 - Hungarians charge the town! Three more infantry platoons make it across the Red Danube.

1330 – Hungarians initiate assault. Soviet HMG flees and is eliminated by indirect fire. Both sides take hits by artillery

Casualty count: 13 Hungarians, 3 Germans, 17 Russians

1345 – Hungarians swarm the northern town!

Russian HMG is reduced and demoralized infantry flees to the South Town.

At the river, HMG crosses with the aid of two engineers. The AT Guns move to cross.

1400 – Soviet infantry is demoralized by artillery and eliminated in assault as their captain is captured. Russian lieutenant flees the town. One town and just under 2 hours to go!

1415 – Hungarian charge the South Town but are broken by direct and indirect fire!

1430 – They try to rally but are hit hard. Hungarian artillery replies.

1445 – Soviets flee, but reinforcements advance to take their place.

1500 – Hungarians assault in the northwest of the town and the demoralized Soviets are eliminated! Hungarians take more losses from direct fire.

At the river, the first mortar crosses at Crossing #1!

1515 – Hungarian artillery eliminates Soviet Lt and reduced infantry. Hungarians lose half HMG to Soviet artillery.

At the river the AT Gun battery makes it across.

1530 – Hungarians in the woods are reduced by an artillery strike. Russians are demoralized by artillery. Hungarians assault! (24 to 8!) Russians are shattered! (2X) Without any leadership, the Soviets are unable to effectively counter-attack.

(At the river a mortar and AT Gun crosses)

1545 - The final minutes witness a further Hungarian assault. The Soviet HMG holds out and rallies. Russian infantry is reduced but doesn’t rout.

(FYI, the first engineers cross the river)

HUNGARIAN MINOR VICTORY!!!

Aftermath

Unable to get all town hexes under their control, the Hungarians have to settle for a minor victory. A bit more time would have given the Hungarians a major victory.

Town Hex Control:

Hungarian : 6 Soviet: 1 Contested: 2

Final casualty count: Soviet – 31 steps lost Hungarian – 18 steps lost German – 3 steps lost

This has been one of my favourite PG battles to date. I loved the river crossing and constant pressure on the Hungarians to push forward. With much better morale, they could take the towns, but risk and casualties were high.

Artillery was strong and it was deadly being caught in the open, especially for routed Soviet units with their poor morale.