"Defend Posad as though it were Spain" Blue Division #5 |
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(Defender) Spain | vs | Soviet Union (Attacker) |
Formations Involved | ||
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Soviet Union | 225th Rifle Division | |
Soviet Union | 305th Rifle Division | |
Spain | 250th Infantry Division |
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Overall Rating, 4 votes |
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3.5
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Scenario Rank: --- of 940 |
Parent Game | Blue Division |
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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 |
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Inflict Enemy Casualties |
Urban Assault |
Conditions |
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Off-board Artillery |
Severe Weather |
Scenario Requirements & Playability | |
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Arctic Front Deluxe | Counters |
Blue Division | Base Game |
Eastern Front | Maps + Counters |
Road to Berlin | Maps + Counters |
Introduction |
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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 |
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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. |
AFV Rules Pertaining to this Scenario's Order of Battle |
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2 Errata Items | |
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The reduced direct fire value in Kursk: Burning Tigers is 4-4. (plloyd1010
on 2015 Jul 31)
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Kommissars never get morale or combat modifiers. Ignore misprints. (Shad
on 2010 Dec 15)
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How long can the Spaniards hold out? | ||||||||||||
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Note: Score will be denoted by (x-y), where x=Soviet casualties, y=Spanish casualties. BATTLE SUMMARYSoviet 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!!! AftermathThe 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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