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RE: The Struggle For A Commission: The Diary
Session 2 Scenario "Hells Fury III" from Tank Battles:
Turns 6-9 of a 35 turn game
Wayne and I got together yesterday for this monster game, and with breaks, lunch, chat, we managed 4 hours 40 minutes of play that gave us just 4 turns !
For those that do not remember, the Soviet masses are tasked with taking as many of the 5 towns available as they can and inflicting casualties. The Germans task is to keep the towns and inflict casualties. After session 1, the scene was that a mass of Soviet Guards had, after receiving casualties and disorder, made it to the perimeter of the small town of Nikonovo. Todays session was heavily concentrated on that.
The first turn played out (turn 6) had the Soviets suffering heavy casualties indeed. 2 leaders, a KV1 step shot up by a StGIIIG and 4 other steps. The Soviet artillery inflicted 2 German steps too. These casualties mainly came from the surrounds of Nikonovo (not the KV though) as the intrepid Guards struggled to cohesively get in at the town. The attack was now being supported by no less than 6 batteries of Katuyshin Rocket launchers and these were proving a lot of fun to behold by both players. What with the OBA streaming down and infantry fire flying about, Wayne and I did cogitate the scene and try to imagine the horror that we were enacting. The screaming rockets blanketing the town and areas around it, masses of explosions from the OBA. Troops falling and screaming. This was virtual PG hell (note the scenario title) that no counter would have volunteered to have been mixed up in. The snow must have been churned, blackened and reddened with the maelstrom and slaughter that was going on.
Despite Wayne losing all his initiative points the following turns actually proved less bloody for him. In turn 7, just 4 steps fell and in turn 8 a mere 2 with the Germans losing 1 step. The BM13's continued to entertain us. Having to declare fire beforehand not knowing where they would land, he did on one turn find himself with 100pts of OBA falling on a hex. Maybe a waste as 70 is the max, but these babies give you no inclination of just where they will land. They did on turn 8 remove 2 German infantry steps who in real-life must have been sadly, but absolutely mashed to a pulp !!
Wayne's Guards had finally entered Nikonovo on turn 8 and the town is now being contested in various parts. Ultimately, it will of course fall to The Reds, but the battle here continues. There is also a small sideshow assault in the woods nearby where bedraggled german infantry fight off some other Guardsmen.
Elsewhere, to the north another battalion of Guards are heading south looking like they will attack the town of Maloe Kropotovo. The Germans are steeling themselves for an onslaught, especially as they have 9 platoons of PzIV's and III's heading to the area. Further north, the Soviets have been more circumspect. As mentioned, a KVI step was knocked out here by a StG, but otherwise it has been a cautious entry by RKKA forces. This is the biggest town on the board here (Bol'shoe Kropotovo - does Bol'shoe mean 'grand' or big as in the ballet?) and so far, there has been little threat. I have kept in mind that Wayne also has 2 bands of Cossacks or cavalry floating around. One lot is on the west edge and the other on the east. These have yet to be used but they have to be minded.
It certainly is an epic battle we are playing. Losses have been German 6 steps, Soviet 22 steps. Points so far are a little misleading as the Germans have points for the control of towns. When these fall, or are even contested, then the points swing will change. However, at present, the points stand at German 45pts, Soviet 0pts. Take away the towns and it is German 10pts, Soviet 0pts, but the Soviets, through casualties inflicted will soon suddenly earn 7pts, so its almost 10-7 as a score. Close indeed !
Chances of winning, possibly 55-45 in German favour ?
Next report here, the first session from a Beyond Normandy scenario (43rd Wessex Attacks) which is against Tony Langston. The cute kids of 12th SS take on the monsters that are British Tommies around the town of Mouen. There will be a report in the C&C2 blog of "Lets Play PG" folder as I am playing Brett on Thursday in the 4th session of scenario 2 in our campaign.
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