4 Jul 1941

The Royal Armored Division crossed the Prut River into Soviet-occupied Bessarabia on 3 July, and on the next day fought its first tank battle against the Soviet 16th Tank Divisions near the town of Brinzeni. Rumanian morale would never be higher than in these first days of combat, when the troops saw themselves as liberators of Rumanian national territory.

I have given some names to the leaders in this game. The Rumanian leaders are Capitan Vasile 0-6-0, Locotenent Illie 0-9-1, Locotenent Stancu 0-8-0 and a Plutonier [unnamed hero]. The Soviets highest ranking leader is Capitan Popov 0-9-0, Lieutenant Morozov 0-7-1, Lieutenant Bogdanov, Lieutenant Vasilyev and Sergeant Kozlov.

None of the leaders on either side has a good combat rating and few will help with morale either. Both sides have three tank leaders. The Rumanian side has a 10 factor off-board artillery shot each turn, while the Soviets have an 82mm mortar. The Rumanian R-2 tanks have better firing range and speed than the Soviet T-26’s and T-28’s, which gives them the advantage. Also the Rumanians have two 47mm AT guns which pack a decent punch at 6 hexes.

The Victory conditions require the Soviets to either have units on board 1 (west) or on the main road on board 8 (east). The Rumanians off course, must prevent this. The Rumainians have high morale and a good beginning initiative rating, but they are fragile and degrade every two steps lost. Tanks double. The Soviets are a little better and loseinitiative after every three steps lost.

1000-1045.

Both sides enter the area along the east-west road and engage in the center. The Soviet troops set up on the road and dig in. Rumanian off-board artillery issues fire but misses. Rumanian HMG fire hits the Soviets but they all pass their morale checks. Meanwhile, the Soviet commander orders his 82mm unit to set up on the hill south of the main road. Rumanian HMG fire is ineffective, but the off-board artillery [1-10] hits the Soviet Sergeant and demoralizes his 4-2 infantry platoon. The Soviet 82mm hits Capitan Vasile, a 0-6-0 leader.

1100 The Soviets seize the initiative by one activation. Rumanian off-board artillery fires with little effect. Soviet T-26’s use direct fire on the Rumanian motorcycle platoon with no effect. Capitan Vasile rallies. Suddenly, more fire from the Soviet mortars hit Vasile again. He becomes disrupted and his motorcycle platoon becomes demoralized. The Rumanian motorcycles on the left flank run from the Soviet T-26’s.

At 1115, the Rumanians take the initiative back with two activations. R-2 tanks combine direct fire with Rumanian 4-2 infantry but miss. Rumanian HMG’s fire on the Soviet point position and disrupt the 4-2 infantry platoon. Capitan Vasile recovers his morale, but his motorcycle platoon flees.

Soviet T-26’s advance on the Rumanian left flank, which threatens the position. Rumanian R-2’s respond and move toward the Rumanian left flank, behind the field. The Soviet commander orders the 82mm’s to issue more fire on the Rumanian front lines. The shells hit Locotenent Stancu and the HMG and infantry with him. All of them pass their morale checks. Rumanian off-board artillery fires [1-10] but misses.

1130 The Soviets again have the battlefield initiative. T-26’s fire on the Rumanian left flank using direct fire. They miss. The Rumanians begin to move into position to assault the Soviet front line. A 4-2 infantry platoon is hit with opportunity fire and is disrupted. Another Rumanian 4-2 is hit with opportunity fire and loses a step and is disrupted. A third 4-2 infantry advances and becomes demoralized by Soviet opportunity fire.

The Soviet 82mm mortars hit the demoralized 4-2 infantry but somehow, it passes its morale check. The Rumanian R-2’s advance along the Soviet right flank with the T-26’s in sight. Also a 47mm anti-tank gun is moved into position to support the Rumanian tanks. The two Rumanian motorcycle platoons on the left move up to support the R-2’s. Off-board artillery hits the Soviet troops that are dug in on the front line. A 4-2 infantry is disrupted.

1145 Rumanian force retain initiative. The units on the front line recover their morale. The R-2’s on the Rumanian left fire at the Soviet T-26’s and miss. The T-26’s respond by pulling back. Unfortunately they are still in range of the 47mm AT gun!. The AT guns fire at the Soviet tanks but miss. Soviet 82mm mortars fire at the Rumanian infantry on the front line but misses. Rumanian motorcycle troops move forward along the left. The Soviets fire at pointblank range on the attackers on the main road. The Rumanian 2-2 is demoralized while the 4-2 passes the morale check. The Rumanian R-2’s combine with the infantry and issue direct fire into the Soviet front lines. Sergeant Kozlov is hit but passes his morale check. The 4-2 [dug-in] becomes demoralized and the other 4-2 infantry is disrupted. Both Soviet units rally. Another Rumanian 47mm unit moves forward on the right flank. Opportunity fire reveals a Soviet HMG on the hillside. The OF has no effect. The HMG fires again but misses. A Rumanian R-2 platoon joins the 47mm on the right flank.

1200 The Soviet’s manage to get a sniper in range of Locotenent Llie. He misses. The Rumanians continue to maintain initiative. Another assault is made against the Soviet east position on the main road. The Soviets are dug-in and have first fire. Both sides remain intact. The Rumanians move an 8-4 HMG forward and Soviet opportunity fire misses. The Soviet 4-2 infantry [dug-in] fires on the HMG and leaves it demoralized.

Rumanian 47mm AT guns fire at the Soviet T-26’s on the left flank, but miss. The T-26’s pull back out of range. Rumanian R-2’s advance along the left flank and close with the Soviet tanks.

Soviet 82mm’s fire on the main Rumanian position along the road but miss. In the center, Rumanian R-2’s combine with infantry to fire at the Soviet infantry dug in along the center. The Soviet units all pass their morale checks. The Soviets hit a Rumanian HMG platoon which passes its morale check too. On the Rumanian right, R-2’s fire and miss the Soviet T-26’s hiding behind the hill. [Not hiding anymore!] The turn ends early due to a fog of war dice roll.

At 1215 the Rumanians take a three activation initiative. The R-2’s on the left manage to hit a group of T-26’s which take a step loss and are disrupted. Then 47mm AT guns fore and miss. On the right, R-2’s fire and miss the T-26’s to the south of the main road.

The Soviet 4-2 infantry [dug-in] in the center fires at Rumanian troops in the center and misses. The Rumanian assault continues and leaves the Soviet 4-2 infantry disrupted. It fails to recover.

It is now 12:30. The Rumanians have a three activation initiative. Locotenent Stancu [0-8-0] leads a 4-2 into the assault hex which leaves the Soviet 4-2 demoralized. The R-2’s hit the T-26 on the right flank. The Soviet tanks lose a step and becomes demoralized. The 47mm AT guns attempt crossfire on the T-26’s but miss entirely. The demoralized 3-4 tank flees to the safety of the rear area. Rumanian armor continues to press the Soviet tanks. On the north flank, R-2’s fire and miss the T-26’s. The Soviet tanks attempt to pull away out of range. In the center, A Rumanian HMG, which is outflanking the dug-in positions hits the Soviet 7-4 HMG and disrupts it. The Soviet HMG quickly recovers.

Rumanian off-board artillery [1-10] hits the Soviet position along the main road. A 4-2 infantry platoon is demoralized but the Soviet Sergeant and the other 4-2 infantry passes. Both sides attempt to recovery demoralized and disrupted units. The Soviet 82mm mortars hit Capitan Vasile, who becomes disrupted. His 4-2 infantry platoon becomes demoralized. The R-2’s off course are unaffected.

1245 The Soviets have lost 2 steps of tanks which count as 4 steps, while the Rumanians have lost one step of infantry. The Soviet initiative is lowered to one.

The Rumanians retain one activation initiative. Locotenent Stancu [0-8-0] moves another infantry platoon into the assault. This overwhelms the Soviet infantry which is destroyed. [2 steps] The Soviets have now lost 6 steps total and their initiative plummets to zero. The Soviet’s leader, Major Popov issues direct fire at the adjacent Rumanian assault force. There are three platoons stacked so this gives a good modifier. Although the direct fire hits, all of the Rumanian troops pass their morale check. Lt. Stancu calls in off-board artillery fire but it misses entirely. No friendly fire hit either. The Soviet 82mm’s also miss.

Rumanian tanks continue to attack the center position with direct fire. Unfortunately it misses. While toe Soviets focus on morale recovery, the R-2’s move deeper toward the T-26’s on the left flank. Two Soviet 4-2 infantry platoons activate and join the T-26’s on the north flank. Meanwhile, the Rumanian AT guns on the left move forward into range of the T-26’s. The Soviet tanks recover from demoralization. Then Lt. Llie [Rumanian 0-9-1] moves into the Soviet position from its northern flank. Along with him are a 4-2 infantry platoon and an 8-4 HMG. The Soviet tank commander moves the T-28’s out of reserve and into position to attack the R-2’s on the southern flank, hoping to set up a crossfire attack. The R-2’s fire and miss. Soviet HMG’s on the hill fire at the AT guns and miss. The 47mm guns then take out some of the T-28’s. The Soviet tanks lose a step and demoralize. [Soviets have lost 8 steps now.]

1300 The Rumanians have the initiative. R-2’s on the left flank fire at the Soviet T-26’s and miss. Then the 47mm AT guns hit the tanks and the T-26’s lose a step and become demoralized. [The Soviets are now at 10 step losses.] Soviet HMG’s on the hill on the southern flank fire at the other section of 47mm’s but miss. The 47mm AT returns fire on the reduced T-28 and eliminates it. [Soviet Steps:12] The Soviet 82mm bombards the Rumanian central position and leaves Lt. Stancu disrupted. The rest of the troops pass the morale check.

The Rumanian HMG and infantry combine direct fire and disrupt a Soviet 4-2 infantry platoon on the main road, but the 74 HMG passes the morale check. The Soviet HMG returns direct fire on the Rumanians and disrupts the 4-2 infantry platoon. Lt. Stancu recovers to good order, while the Rumanian infantry on the center manages to disrupt Major Popov [Soviet]. Popov quickly recovers.

The Rumanian R-2’s in the center perform a dangerous advance and outflank the Soviet road position to the south. The armor survives Soviet opportunity fire. Nearby, Soviet T-26’s recover their morale. Rumanian off-board artillery is ineffective.

Soviet T-28’s fire on the exposed R-2’s which are behind enemy lines. One of the Rumanian platoons is completely wiped out. [With a total of 5 Rumanian steps lost the Rumanian initiative lowers to 2.] One R-2 remains in the rear area.

1315 The Rumanian Army continues to have initiative. The R-2’s take a quick shot at the T-28’s but fail to hit. On the main road, Locotenent Stancu issues direct fore with three infantry platoons which causes the Soviet major to become disrupted along with a 4-2 infantry. Also, the second 4-2 infantry becomes demoralized.

Soviet T-26’s on the northern side of the road fire at the R-2’s that have penetrated the Soviet position. They miss. The R-2’s on the south flank move to the center position. Then Soviet HMG’s in the center hit Lt Ilie’s force. A Rumanian 4-2 is reduced and becomes demoralized. [This brings the Rumanian steps lost to: 6] The Rumanian HMG in the center returns fire and disrupts the Soviet HMG and a 4-2 infantry.

Soviet HMG’s on the hill to the south fire at the Rumanian AT guns but miss. The 47mm’s fire at the T-28’s and miss. The Soviet 82mm bombard the AT’s and cause them to disrupt.

In the north, the Rumanian AT guns fire and miss the T-26’s. The R-2’s also miss the Soviet tankers. The Rumanian off-board artillery hits the Soviet Major [Popov] but he and his troops pass the morale check. Friendly fire hits the Stancu’s men but they also pass their morale check.

1330 The Soviets have the first activation. Sergeant Kozlov and two 4-2 platoons fire pointblank at the Rumanian troops that are preparing to assault the main Soviet position. They miss. [despite maximum modifiers]. Rumanian Locotenent Stancu leads an assault against the Soviet dug-in position on the main road. This leaves both Soviet infantry platoons demoralized.

A platoon of R-2’s continues to sit in the Soviet rear position. Two Soviet T-26’s attempt to damage the Rumanian tanks but miss. The R-2’s fire on the Soviet T-26’s north of the main road and eliminate one of the units. [Soviet step losses:14] The demoralized Soviet infantry under assault attempts to recover but fails.

Next, Locotenent Illie use direct fire [pointblank] against the Soviet HMG 7-4 and infantry 4-2 positioned on the north side of the road, and then the Soviet HMG and infantry return fire. Everything misses. The Rumanian R-2’s in the north part of the battlefield attack the remaining T-26’s but miss. Soviet HMG’s take a shot at the R-2’s in the Soviet rear but fail to damage the armor. The R-2’s fire on the dug-in positions along the road but miss.

Soviet 82mm’s fire at the Rumanian armor but fail to damage them in any way. Rumanian 47mm AT guns fire on the Soviet tanks in the which are barely in range and miss. A Rumanian Plutonier brings an 8-4 HMG and a 5-2 MC into range of the Soviet dug-in positions. The rest of the direct fire by Rumanian units misses and the off-board artillery also misses.

1345 Rumanians have first activation. The assault along the road continues. A Soviet 4-2 loses a step and suffers a compound morale failure. Major Popov is disrupted and the other 4-2 infantry platoon loses a step to compound morale failure. Major Popov is killed and the Soviets suffer decapitation. [Soviet steps lost:17 and one leader]

The Soviets fire the HMG on the hill and miss followed by the 82mm mortars which are ineffective. Rumanian R-2’s pound the Soviet dug-in positions along the road to no avail. Although the Rumanian 8-4 HMG and motorcycle hits the front line positions, the Soviets all pass their morale checks. Finally the R-2’s in the north sector take out the remaining T-26’s. [Soviet Steps lost:19 and one leader].

Rumanian infantry uses direct fire on the Soviet positions along the road and manage to disrupt a 4-2 infantry platoon. An 8-4 HMG and 4-2 infantry hit the Soviet HMG which is demoralized. The Soviet 4-2 infantry with it loses a step and becomes demoralized.

Soviet Lieutenant Vasilyev 0-6-0 and his 4-2 platoon hit the Rumanian AT guns and disrupt them. They recover right away. Then Rumanian off-board artillery [1-10] hits Vasilyev and leaves him demoralized.

1400 The Soviets have first activation despite their miserable morale. It is used to make a last ditch rally attempt, which ultimately fails. Locotenent Stancu continues his assault on the main Soviet position. A Soviet 2-2 infantry platoon becomes demoralized. Soviet attempts to recover fail. The Rumanian 47mm in the south fires and misses and then the Soviet 82mm’s fire at the AT gun and miss. Locotenent Illie assaults the Soviet position just north of the main road. A Soviet HMG unit passes a morale check but the 2-2 infantry is eliminated due to a compound morale failure. [Soviet Steps lost:21 and one leader]

The turn ends suddenly with a Fog of War roll. [Uh oh!]

1415 [last turn] The Soviets again steal the first activation. A reduced platoon of T-26’s moves from the south onto the main road and survives fire from nearby R-2’s. A platoon of T-28’s also moves up onto the main road. Rumanian R-2’s in the rear area fire at the Soviet tanks but miss. The Soviets focus on recovery. Locotenent Stancu finishes his assault against the Soviet infantry ensconced in the main position on the road. A Soviet 2-2 infantry is eliminated leaving the position to the Rumanians. [Soviet steps lost:22 and one leader].

While the Soviets continue to rally, the Rumanian R-2’s in the northern sector move into position to contest the Soviet tanks on the main road. The Soviet 82mm’s fire and miss and Rumanian R-2’s fire and miss. Locotenent Illie continues his assault and leaves the Soviet 7-4 HMG demoralized. Then the Rumanians activate for direct fire against the Soviet positions on the southern side of the main road and leave a 4-2 demoralized and another 4-2 infantry disrupted. The remaining bombardments and AT fire has no effect.

The Soviets have lost 22 steps to the Rumanians 6 steps. Additionally the Soviets lost Captain Popov, their highest ranking leader. Despite that, the victory conditions require that the Soviets be cleared from the main road and from Map 1. Although the Soviets were never on map 1, they manage to have to tank units on the main road, a T-26 platoon and a T-28 platoon. Although these units will soon be eliminated, the Soviets have managed to delay the Rumanians just enough to claim a moral victory.