Panzer Grenadier Battles on November 21st:
Desert Rats #16 - The Panzers Pull Back Desert Rats #19 - The Panzers Return
Desert Rats #17 - The Tomb Of Sidi Rezegh Jungle Fighting #7 - Line Of Departure
Desert Rats #18 - A Pibroch's Skirl South Africa's War #5 - Irish Eyes
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"Defend Posad as though it were Spain"
Blue Division #5
(Defender) Spain vs Soviet Union (Attacker)
Formations Involved
Soviet Union 225th Rifle Division
Soviet Union 305th Rifle Division
Spain 250th Infantry Division
Display
Balance:



Overall balance chart for BluD005
Total
Side 1 0
Draw 0
Side 2 3
Overall Rating, 4 votes
5
4
3
2
1
3.5
Scenario Rank: --- of 940
Parent Game Blue Division
Historicity Historical
Date 1941-12-05
Start Time 08:15
Turn Count 40
Visibility Day
Counters 111
Net Morale 1
Net Initiative 1
Maps 6: 15, 17, 20, 21, 3, 6
Layout Dimensions 86 x 84 cm
34 x 33 in
Play Bounty 176
AAR Bounty 171
Total Plays 3
Total AARs 1
Battle Types
Inflict Enemy Casualties
Urban Assault
Conditions
Off-board Artillery
Severe Weather
Scenario Requirements & Playability
Arctic Front Deluxe Counters
Blue Division Base Game
Eastern Front Maps + Counters
Road to Berlin Maps + Counters
Introduction

The town of Posad, the deepest point of the Blue Division's bridgehead over the Volkhov River, came under repeated Soviet attack once the Axis advance ground to a halt. The corps commander had already reported that Blue Division's commander, Agustin Munoz Grandes, "seems to me ready to sustain any number of casualties, so that his force will be pulled out." But the Spanish general had his orders from Madrid to demonstrate Spanish resolve to the Germans: if they would accept any number of dead and wounded to hold a worthless town in the Russian taiga, what would be the cost should Germany invade Spain? At Posad, three depleted Spanish battalions (one from each of the division's regiments) prepared to resist to the last man.

Conclusion

Munoz Grandes got the political victory his Caudillo had demanded: a lengthy butcher's bill, and a direct order from the German 16th Army instructing him to abandon Posad. Operation Felix, the German plan to force their way across Spain to take Gibraltar from the British, would be indefinitely shelved. Spain now could negotiate her entry into the war, or refusal to do so, on her own terms.


Display Relevant AFV Rules

AFV Rules Pertaining to this Scenario's Order of Battle
  • Vulnerable to results on the Assault Combat Chart (7.25, 7.63, ACC), and may be attacked by Anti-Tank fire (11.2, DFT). Anti-Tank fire only affects the individual unit fired upon (7.62, 11.0).
  • AFV's are activated by tank leaders (3.2, 3.3, 5.42, 6.8). They may also be activated as part of an initial activating stack, but if activated in this way would need a tank leader in order to carry out combat movement.
  • AFV's do not block Direct Fire (10.1).
  • Full-strength AFV's with "armor efficiency" may make two anti-tank (AT) fire attacks per turn (either in their action segment or during opportunity fire) if they have AT fire values of 0 or more (11.2).
  • Each unit with an AT fire value of 2 or more may fire at targets at a distance of between 100% and 150% of its printed AT range. It does so at half its AT fire value. (11.3)
  • Efficient and non-efficient AFV's may conduct two opportunity fires per turn if using direct fire (7.44, 7.64). Units with both Direct and AT Fire values may use either type of fire in the same turn as their opportunity fire, but not both (7.22, 13.0). Units which can take opportunity fire twice per turn do not have to target the same unit both times (13.0).
  • Demoralized AFV's are not required to flee from units that do not have AT fire values (14.3).
  • Place a Wreck marker when an AFV is eliminated in a bridge or town hex (16.3).
  • AFV's do not benefit from Entrenchments (16.42).
  • AFV's may Dig In (16.2).
  • Closed-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables. Do not take step losses from Direct or Bombardment Fire. If X or #X result on Fire Table, make M morale check instead (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT).
  • Closed-top AFV's: Provide the +1 modifier on the Assault Table when combined with infantry. (Modifier only applies to Germans in all scenarios; Soviet Guards in scenarios taking place after 1942; Polish, US and Commonwealth in scenarios taking place after 1943.) (ACC)
  • Tank: all are closed-top and provide the +1 Assault bonus, when applicable
  • Prime Movers: Transports which only transport towed units and/or leaders (May not carry personnel units). May or may not be armored (armored models are open-top). All are mechanized. (SB)

Display Order of Battle

Soviet Union Order of Battle
Army (RKKA)
  • Towed
Spain Order of Battle
Army

Display Errata (2)

2 Errata Items
Overall balance chart for 951

The reduced direct fire value in Kursk: Burning Tigers is 4-4.

(plloyd1010 on 2015 Jul 31)
Overall balance chart for 993

Kommissars never get morale or combat modifiers. Ignore misprints.

(Shad on 2010 Dec 15)

Display AARs (1)

How long can the Spaniards hold out?
Author GeneSteeler
Method Solo
Victor Soviet Union
Play Date 2010-12-14
Language English
Scenario BluD005

Note: Score will be denoted by (x-y), where x=Soviet casualties, y=Spanish casualties.

BATTLE SUMMARY

Soviet forces launch a 3-pronged attack. A major prong from the east, another from the southeast and a 3rd smaller prong from the southwest. Mortars and artillery set up in the southern woods.

Spanish forces greet the oncoming Soviets with artillery and mortar fire. The first casualties are inflicted. (2-0)

Soviet artillery begins to pound away at the Spanish defenders. First the Spanish AT Gun in the SE is eliminated. The accompanying INF flees and is wasted by the heavy Soviet artillery barrages.

Soviet 76.2mm guns advance too far. They come under range of the Spanish infantry gun. They are spotted and demoralized by Spanish artillery fire. The crews rout because of the Infantry guns.

Soviets in the east come under Spanish HMG fire as they approach Posad. (7-5)

Soviets advance against Posad and come under heavy fire from the Spanish HMGs.

Soviets have lost 3 batteries of 76.2mm artillery. They should have stayed out of sight deep in the southern woods. (14-5)

Soviets attack Posad from the west and the east with armour support.

To the north the Spanish in the woods are eliminated.

In the west the Soviets assault the small village but are repelled.

Soviets enter Posad! (18-9)

Soviets in Posad take a pounding and come under heavy HMG fire. Casualties are high but they manage to demoralise some of the Spanish defenders. (25-11)

Breaking Point

The next 45 minutes prove pivotal. Everything goes right for the Soviets. Artillery strikes are deadly accurate, Demoralised Spanish flee and are cut down. Their good Tenente deserts. Spanish artillery and HMGs have no effect. Soviet HMGs return fire with deadly (2X) accuracy!

Spanish casualty count doubles! (27-23)

All but lost for the Spanish now!

In the far west the Spanish village is holding its own against a whole Soviet Infantry battalion.

But Posad is almost completely taken with only 1 company still remaining to defend.

Soviet armour moves toward the central small village. (31-26)

The battle now proceeds quickly. Over the next couple hours the remaining Spanish continue to dwindle in numbers. Soviet Kommissars inflict more casualties than the Spanish guns. The Spanish Colonel deserts Posad and his men flee and are eliminated by artillery.

By the eighth hour, the Spanish surrender. (45-29)

SOVIET MAJOR VICTORY!!!

Aftermath

The Spanish were holding off well until the 4 hour mark when everything went to hell. Soviet strategy of the human wave finally overcame them. If you attack enough times, you will eventually get lucky! But this was absolutely brutal.

I thoroughly enjoyed this battle. It felt similar to Scenario #3 (used the same map configuration, which was handy with set-up!). But it was on a somewhat smaller scale.

Scenario Rating: 4/5. Good battle that is fun for both sides.

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