This was an interesting one because of the uncertainity of Soviet tanks being able to advance or manuever due to either fuel shortages and/or mechanical problems represented by having to roll 1-3/D6 to get them to move. This made things very difficult for the Soviets to get a combined arms attack going. 6 platoons of T-26s were deployed together on the road hoping to get to the town or wooded areas of the middle map before the German StugIIIB or wagon transported 37mm AT guns could. Unfortunately a whole hour/4 turns passed before they could get moving, even after rolling for two separate groups of them (8 failed attempts!) and by that time it's too late. The other Soviet tanks, Bt-5 and Bt-7s were deployed in the town on map 1 reinforced with reduced units of INF as a reserve but had to be activated in place of the T-26s that failed to intiatiate the attack. Meanwhile, two groups of Soviet foot units cautiously advance through woods and fields to protect the western fringes of map 1. Units in the fields had plenty of time to dig-in as German foot units had no transport available to get them around. Without tanks cooperating early on the Soviets didn't even bother to try stopping the Germans from crossing the river or occupying the central town.

So instead of making a "tank attack" on German units the Soviets go on the defensive hoping to satisfy the easier VCs of eliminating 16 German steps realizing it would be very tough to keep map 1 totally devoid of German units. With the Germans it seems highly unlikely that they will be able to rack up 35 eliminated Soviet steps to satisfy one of their VCs so they do all they can to maintain a presence of at least 15 units on map 1 to achieve the other. Neither side has any ambitions of meeting both of their VCs for a major victory but more emphasis on preventing the other from even gaining one of the two.

There were two separate battles going on at once, both on map 1, taking place in the woods to the north and in the fields to the south. The battle in the woods was predictably stagnant and bogged down - this is where a lot of the reduced Soviet units were placed, mixed in with a few full strength units to act more as speed bumps and keep Germans from advancing further. However, the battle around the fields was a bit more intense. Some interesting things occured during the course of play. Once wagon-transported 37mm AT guns had crossed the border of the maps and hurriedly unloaded and unlimbered while 4 platoons of Soviet INF charged at them to mount an assault. The AT guns were able to fire at point-blank range at them first, generating a step loss and sending half fleeing but 2 platoons got through and ovveran them eliminating 2 of the guns. Also, some Soviet INF units that were hiding in the fields were able to manuever around German units assaulting dug-in positions and attack them from behind almost totally encircling them. As far as the Soviet tanks were concerned, when they chose to cooperate, they were mostly used for their direct fire values triple stacked to increase firepower to 18 points against German foot units effectively. There were a few brief tank v.s tank engagements; the first one resulted in the loss of one T-26 and one Bt-7 step loss before return fire reduced and demoralized the lone StugIIIB platoon. Later on, after fleeing to the safety of nearby woods that reduced StugIII would return to claim another Bt-7 step loss and survive the end of the battle.

As the battle continued little ground was gained or lost. German units continued to manifest themselves on map 1 though, to meet the 15 unit requirement for a German victory. A lot of rallying was needed to keep their presence there. The Soviets were having a tough time reaching their victory conditions of eliminating 16 German steps and it looked for a while that the Germans were going to win this one. In fact it wasn't until turn 24, the last turn that German losses just barely reached 16 steps and not a step more. However, a final count was made of the remaining German units on map 1 and there were 19 across ending all this chaos in a draw.

I really liked this one though it can be frustrating with the Soviet tanks not being able to move at times. Had the T-26s been able to move right away, at least before 4 turns had passed then the battle would of played out a lot differently and an attack would of been made on the Germans somewhere on the central map instead of taking up defensive postions. I had no idea that the Germans were going to get so close to a victory before playing this one out and thought more likely that the Soviets would take this one by the sheer strength of numbers. Rated a "4" for replay value and that it is balanced enough for a decent shared match.