The 15th of July has not been a good day for the axis offensive so far as this battle marks the third Soviet victory occuring in a row on the same date. It was a close run though and in most cases this one should of at least ended in a draw. The Germans are given just 16 turns to take control of 5 town hexes and to at least occupy the bridge further east of the town. The Soviets meanwhile just have to hang-on and manage 8 German step losses for the win. To the Soviet's advantage they are able to start out deployed in the town and for a change have morale equal to the Germans at 8/7. Also, even more to their advantage, the Soviets can draw up to 3 aircraft each turn depending on a die roll before each turn.

The Soviets divide their forces in half; one equal part in the town and then the rest dig-in and around the bridge, covering all paths towards it. The one 76.2mm artillery battery is placed front and center in the town to discourage the German assault guns from moving straight at the town as it is really the only AT capable weapon that has a chance of stopping those armored units. So immediately the StugIIIB assault guns are sent off northeast through the woods to lay down DF on the bridge positions while the Main mobile German force dismounts at a safe distance to assault the town. The first blast of German OBA blasts through one Soviet position guarding the bridge, taking out one of the 45mm AT guns and a step of INF along with eliminating a Soviet Captain there. The Soviets return the favor a few turns later when a combined air-strike takes out a step of HMGs inching their way towards the town. After that casualties stayed low for both sides for a good spell as the Germans successfully began to encircle the western face of the town. Turns began to pass very quickly and the Germans were failing to weaken the outer Soviet defenses with DF so they had to push in for assaults a lot sooner than desired. By that time 8 turns had passed and there were just 8 left to get the seemingly impossible done.

The urban assaults predictably favored the Soviets though through a few losses the Germans do get a foothold in the town and a few steps of Demoralized Soviet units end up fleeing it's protection but the cost is too high for all the effort invested. It becomes clear that the best the Germans can hope for is a draw but by that time they were already bogged down in three separate assaults and could not hope to withdraw the attack safely or in time. Though not always effective Soviet air power keeps pushing German losses up higher and higher. Just before the battle is over on turn 16, a single Pe-2 aircraft unit is able to track down a fleeing, demoralized German INF unit and score a kill just then pushing German losses up to 8 steps for the Soviet win, thwarting a draw at that final and decisive moment.

I rated this one a "3" as it seems very difficult for the Germans to come out of this one with anything better than a draw but at least with a likely draw that gives this one some play balance. As this was a solo play I did quite enjoy having such a powerful array and quantity of Soviet air units to use. The key mistake I made with the Germans was continuing the urban assault when knowing midway that they would not be able to control all the town hexes or be able to get enough forces close enough to the bridge to occupy it before the scneario was finished. Had it been a shared play I would of likely called the attack of much sooner to save face with a draw. I also made an error in bringing the German 37mm AT guns out of safety as bait for the Soviets in hopes that they would divert their airstrikes towards them rather then the actual assaulting troops. One airstrike elimnated both of those units in one swoop and that loss alone paved the way for a German defeat. However, it was a good close quartered fight most of the battle and the Germans fared much better in the urban assaults than expected actually gaining some ground and holding control of it. Also that 8th required German step loss did not occur until the bitter end so the scenario did have some nail-biting moments.