German set-up was predicated on the idea that there was little point in trying to prevent Soviet steps exiting. Rather, the goal was to attempt to play for a Minor Victory and, hopefully, prevent a corresponding Soviet Minor Victory.

The Germans place:

1xSCH + 1x50mm + LT dug-in on the road north of the town. 3xSCH + 1xHMG + 2x81mm in the town. 75mmIG + 20mmAA in the north and south hexes of the town. Marder + 1xSCH + 1x75/41 in the SE corner of the fields SW of the town.

Soviets:

Goal was a pincer attack on the town; using the woods to hold the artillery to allow self-sighting of the town and northern SS holding units; smaller tank force to the N; larger to the South, using the fields as partial cover.

Attack Group North: 1xT-34a + 3xT-34b + 3xSMG + the 3x76.2mm/KMS.

Attack Group South: 6xT-34c + 6xSMG

Turns 1 - 3:

Disaster for Soviets. German OBA factor and on-board 81mm roll (not in order) 3, 4, 10, 11 inflicting DIS/DEM on the company of tank-riding or unloaded company of SMGs. Further, the first two AT rolls by the 50mm were both 10's, reducing and DEM two platoons. First volley of 76.2 mm counter-battery fire by Soviets was ineffective.

Southern force unloads the SMGs at a range of 6 taunting the SS AT units. The rapidly grave situation in the North, has Soviet commander dispatch 2xT-34c's off to the SW to gain the eight countable steps exited required by VCs.

SS roll a '5' on Turn III bringing on the StuGs + 2xSCH. These enter on the SW board edge to "cut-off" the T-34c's. In response to this, the Stalinites likewise rush the surviving two T-34 platoons from the Northern group past the 50mm.

Remainder:

The T-34b's make it past the 50mm (it finally missed) and exit the board for 8 countable steps. Soviet 76.2's attack the SCH+50mm whilst they are the targets of counter-battery fire by the SS OBA. After 5 turns, the Soviet 3xSMGs recover (hiding in the woods), and mount a foot attack supported by the two remained reduced T-34 platoons. One of the latter is killed before the Soviets can assault the hex. The SCH platoon, though alone, is dug-in and has better morale. It and the 50mm eventually are lost, but at the cost of 2xSMG + the other T-34.

The two "exiting" T-34c's in the south are cut-off and destroyed by the StuGs, though a StuG platoon step is lost and the reduced step DEM.

The 6xSMGs go after the SCH + 75/41 in the fields whilst the 4xT-34cs try to avoid the SS AT force, and move to attack the town via the fields to the East. The SS move the Marder though its fields into the town.

The dug-in SCH and 75/41 are eventually destroyed, but so savage the Soviet SMGs that the Stalinites have nothing in good-order to make any assault on the town. Further, the 2xSCH reinforcing elements are moving north along with the surviving StuG.

So the Soviets eek out a Minor Victory of their own (4 steps of SCH; 2 steps of AT guns; and 2 countable steps of StuG). They never seriously threatened the town.

The SS have a Minor Victory by controlling the town and killing 12 countable steps of T-34's (3 platoons net); and 7 steps of SMGs.

RKKA leadership was a factor as only one of the five had a morale bonus and one other a combat bonus. The Northern attack was seriously disrupted in the first two turns as the supporting SMGs were heavily morale damaged leaving the tanks without support. This allowed the German OBA and mortars to assist vs. the SMG attack in the south whilst the northern group recovered (with no leader with a morale bonus).

Given the fragility of the Stalinite leadership/morale situation in this scenario, perhaps keeping the entire Soviet force in contact might prove more effective.

The SS did take some casualties and damage here - and presumably this result would match well with the historical result of "A Close Call" that would alert the SS Panzer Korps to the tenuous nature of its Eastern flank.