This was another interesting scenario from Blue Division. I had though this was going to be a tough one for the Spanish, but was surprised how well they did do given their smaller force and more VC's to meet. They did well capturing three town hexes and eliminating ten Soviet steps but they just did not have enough troops to cover all the towns and assault the Soviet units. I would recommend this one for anyone to play, but solo was quite fun.

The Spanish Replacement Battalion has been give a night raid on the Muravevskiia Barracks and the surrounding towns. They must capture six towns from the sleeping Soviets to win, but this is a tall order given that only two reinforced companies will need to take the towns from three reinforced Soviet companies. The Spaniards have a much higher morale than the Soviets as well as the cover of darkness to try to surprise the garrison. The Soviets have a good arsenal to try to stop the Spanish attack. Three companies of INFs and supporting HMG's as well as AT and AA guns and a bit of OBA. But they are bedded down for the night and their morale is average to poor, so the first attack could be a shock for them.

In looking at the Spanish attack, the best approach will be to attack the large town on board 17 and then try for the smaller town for the win. The barracks themselves are too strong to attack as well as the need for other town hexes captured will steer them away. The attack I devised was to advance on the board 17 south of the towns and assault the larger town first then try for the smaller one for the win. This would mean that the first set of turns would be maneuvering to get into position on the larger town and the Soviets get more time to sleep. But this kept the reinforcements at bay for the moment.

Once positioned the Spanish hit the Soviet mortar position first, but alert sentries raise the alarm the Spanish are hit with killing OP fire. Recovering they quickly get into the town and kill the mortar teams and engaging the INF in assault. The assault gets bogged down as the Spanish cannot finish off the INF and another joins the battle. At this point alarm is raised and the Soviets in the barracks awake and take off for the larger town. Two platoons and a LT quickly advance up the road. The Spanish Commandante rushes all troops forward and engages another group of Soviets in the town. This time they score kills and routs the Soviets out of the town. The Soviets try to consolidate, but this leaves an open town which the Spanish quickly capture.

One the Soviet reinforcements arrive from the barracks they position outside of town in the woods to the north. Heavy assault fighting continues with the Spanish killing more Soviet units. Both AT guns and two INF's are destroyed in the fighting while the Spaniards keep going. But the Spanish have a problem, with the Soviets just outside the town in the woods they cannot move away for fear of recapture. This saps the strength of forces that can assault the Soviet forces. The other two town hexes are forced to fight below a decisive assault strength and takes time to reduce the hexes. Eventually, one does fall but one remains contested. But there leaves no time or force to attack the smaller town. But they have eliminate over ten Soviet units.

For the Spanish they will need to settle for a draw, but this is much better than the historical results.