This battle was played over a skype link with Alan Sawyer, our third such encounter. As usual, all played in a fine spirit, though the pain felt with the loss of each tank could be heard down the mike. This pits a Soviet ALL tank force completely unsupported by anything! Against them a useful defensive German AT line made of infantry, guns and leaders. It also includes the lesser spotted 150mm Infantry Gun!

The Rumble Of Enemy Tank Tracks Can Be Heard As The Morning Breaks

Somewhere Near Kaunas

Our piece of this particular action begins at 0800 hours on the 25th June 1941 where a force of 60-70 Soviet tanks (14 platoons) composed nearly of all BT variants and some T28’s attempt to push past a defended river. The defenders are made up of a reduced battalion of infantry supported by a collection of guns made up of three platoons of 37mm AT, and three infantry gun platoons, one of which being a 150mm IG (this fires HE dustbin size cocktails). Spanning the minor river was a bridge that the German commander placed his two HMG platoons to defend. The rest of the troops were strung out with the guns being placed so as to be able to support each other across the line of the river. All guns were defended by nearby infantry platoons. The 37mm units were concealed in wooded and town areas.

The Soviet tank force headed down the main north-south road so as to be upon the river in the shortest of time. To the Germans pleasure, they saw the enemy force split into two main parts and then divert east and west to probe the German lines. OBA bombardments regularly hit the Soviet tanks, but this failed to steer them off course as they drove through the bombardment with no losses or hold-ups, albeit the tankers nerves were tested a couple of times (2 x M MC's all passed). The trouble began for the tank force once they closed to within 400-600m. At this point, some of those hidden AT guns began belching out their iron death-letters and the Infantry guns also found themselves within range to hurl large charges of HE shells. It was around 0900 hours when this defensive AT fire began to knock out the first 6 of the attacking tanks and cause some disruption in the attack itself. On the west flank, the Soviet tanks immediately pulled back from revealed enemy 37mm’s as these pesky guns knocked out two of their BT-7’s. Over the next 15 minutes, another 6 tanks had been taken out. The situation did not look good for the Soviets already. The western attack had retired to support other probes. The bridge held by the HMG’s and 150mm was not going to be budged and the east flank would need more support.

The Soviet tankers now spent time trying to re-shuffle and recover their units, at the same time, those in good order laid down MG and HE fire at the defenders across the river, albeit most of it ineffective. The 150 IG platoon behind the bridge had taken out a number of the enemy and had proved of value, but finally, around 1015 hours, Soviet fire eventually managed to knock out these guns. This was to be practically the only Soviet success of the day. Losses on the defenders had been minimal and yet some 20 AFV’s from the attacking force had been eliminated.

In the closing stages of the attack, with desperation taking hold of Soviet thoughts, they managed to push 10 vehicles across the river, but these represented a fraction of what was required to make the breakthrough. The attack had been thwarted by a prickly line of defenders that managed to react well and support each other as and when required. The Soviet repulse, as it was with only 10 of the 60 or so tanks getting across the river showed how tanks simply can not operate on their own without any other support. A very ill conceived plan from the Soviet hierarchy above.

Final Points Tally : Soviets 11pts, Germans 33pts

I rated this a 3 because it was standard PG fare. Entertaining, and probably, for the Soviet player, quite thought provoking. Our play appeared skewed towards the defenders. But saying this after one play is probably premature - maybe not? I'd like to see a Soviet attack with their whole force pushing at possibly one flank. The German has no choice but to initially deploy in which way he sees fit, along the line of the river, and such an attack would mean the Germans having to take time to redeploy in support of any flank threat. I look forward to seeing more plays of this.