My first proper solo venture after a few training exercises. The Russians have the advantage in terms of numbers, plus given the artillery support the onus is on the Germans to come forward and attack them.

I set up the Russians in the woods to the east, with two HMG's and several infantry on the edge of the northern wood, and some infantry, an HMG and the mortar on the edge of the southern wood. If the Germans went one way or the other, there would be time for the Russians to move from one wood to the other.

As it was, once the Germans reached the town, I split them with half the infantry and the HMG heading north, whilst the rest moved to the wood immediately to their front ready to move across the open ground towards the Russians. The main effort was to be in the north, where the Germans would outflank the Russians on thewestern edge of the wood and enter the woods themselves from the northeast. The southern thrust was held back, more to simply pin the rest of the Russians in the southern wood.

The Russian artillery was ineffective and even a couple of Russian snipers failed to kill any German leaders. The Russians also received some air support which did slow up some of the Germans to the north, yet the Germans almost managed to reach the north-eat corner of the wood ahead of the Russians retreating through the woods to prevent them. However, some opportunity fire proved deadly as the lead German units were halted just outside. This possibly saved the day for the Russians as they were able to pour more fire into the Germans from close range whilst they tried to recover. Eventually, the Germans did manage to enter the woods but, given their disrupted status, were assaulted by the Russians to great effect.

With the Germans losing steps and becoming demoralised in the north, the southern troops had to make an attack of their own to save the situation. But again, Russian opportunity fire as they closed was deadly, and the Germans never reached the defenders in the woods before they had to retreat.

Definitely a scenario in favour of the Russians, it was a great learning scenario. Before I start to mix things up with heavier weapons and vehicles, I'm gonna move on to "Forgotten Isthmus" and give the Romanians a whirl.

Footnote: I think in future the Russians should probably deploy in the middle of the woods so they can more easily react to whichever direction the attack is likely to come from. But they already have enough of an advantage anyway.