Panzer Grenadier Headquarters - Library: Broken Axis #38 - Operation Katja Scenario 6: South of Iepureni

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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Operation Katja Scenario 6: South of Iepureni Broken Axis #38
(Attacker) Germany	vs	Soviet Union (Defender)

Formations Involved
Germany		Grossdeutschland Division
Soviet Union		11th Guards Tank Brigade
Soviet Union		16th Tank Corps
Soviet Union		202nd Rifle Division

	Total
Side 1	1
Draw	0
Side 2	0

Overall Rating, 1 vote
5 4 3 2 1 5
Scenario Rank: --- of 940

Parent Game	Broken Axis
Historicity	Historical
Date	1944-06-03
Start Time	10:00
Turn Count	18
Visibility	Day
Counters	132
Net Morale	1
Net Initiative	1
Maps	2: 103, 104
Layout Dimensions	86 x 28 cm 34 x 11 in
Play Bounty	175
AAR Bounty	171
Total Plays	1
Total AARs	1

Battle Types
Hill Control
Inflict Enemy Casualties
Urban Assault

Conditions
Anti-infantry Wire
Minefields
Off-board Artillery
Randomly-drawn Aircraft
Smoke
Terrain Mods

Scenario Requirements & Playability
Broken Axis	Base Game

Introduction
On the previous day the Grossdeutschland Division stopped just short of Iepureni. Driving the Soviets out of the town would unhinge the Soviet defenses west of Stânca. Knowing the gravity of the situation, Third Ukrainian Front pressed the Soviet 16th Tank Corps to push on through the night to reach the battlefield. After a short rest, the 15th Motorized Rifle Brigade took the fight to the enemy.

Introduction

On the previous day the Grossdeutschland Division stopped just short of Iepureni. Driving the Soviets out of the town would unhinge the Soviet defenses west of Stânca. Knowing the gravity of the situation, Third Ukrainian Front pressed the Soviet 16th Tank Corps to push on through the night to reach the battlefield. After a short rest, the 15th Motorized Rifle Brigade took the fight to the enemy.

Conclusion
While the 16th Tank Corps only mustered twenty tanks for their attack, about half of them were the powerful new Josef Stalin models. The Germans employed about equal numbers of their own heavy tanks to support their infantry, making for a fairly even fight. The Soviet counterattack took all the steam out of the German advance and they again spent the night just outside of Iepureni.

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). Open-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables, but DO take step losses from X and #X results (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT). If a "2X" or "3X" result is rolled, at least one of the step losses must be taken by an open-top AFV if present. 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 Assault Gun: if closed-top, provide the +1 Assault bonus, when applicable Self-Propelled Artillery: do not provide the +1 Assault bonus, even if closed-top (SB) Anti-Aircraft Weapon Carrier: apply a -1 modifier to an air attack if within three hexes of the targeted hex (15.14). APC – Armored Personnel Carrier: These are Combat Units, but stack like Transports. They can transport personnel units or towed units. They are not counted as combat units for the +1 stacking modifier on the Direct Fire and Bombardment Tables (4.4). They may be activated by regular leaders and tank leaders (1.2, 3.34, 4.3, 5.43). They do not provide the +1 Assault bonus (ACC). Unarmored Weapon Carriers: These are unarmored halftracks (Bufla and Sk7/2) or fully-tracked vehicles (Karl siege mortar) with mounted weapons. All are mechanized, except the BM-13 (Katyusha rocket launcher mounted on a truck). They are weapon units, not AFV's, so they are never efficient and cannot be activated by tank leaders. (SB)

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).
Open-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables, but DO take step losses from X and #X results (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT). If a "2X" or "3X" result is rolled, at least one of the step losses must be taken by an open-top AFV if present.
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
Assault Gun: if closed-top, provide the +1 Assault bonus, when applicable
Self-Propelled Artillery: do not provide the +1 Assault bonus, even if closed-top (SB)
Anti-Aircraft Weapon Carrier: apply a -1 modifier to an air attack if within three hexes of the targeted hex (15.14).
APC – Armored Personnel Carrier: These are Combat Units, but stack like Transports. They can transport personnel units or towed units. They are not counted as combat units for the +1 stacking modifier on the Direct Fire and Bombardment Tables (4.4). They may be activated by regular leaders and tank leaders (1.2, 3.34, 4.3, 5.43). They do not provide the +1 Assault bonus (ACC).
Unarmored Weapon Carriers: These are unarmored halftracks (Bufla and Sk7/2) or fully-tracked vehicles (Karl siege mortar) with mounted weapons. All are mechanized, except the BM-13 (Katyusha rocket launcher mounted on a truck). They are weapon units, not AFV's, so they are never efficient and cannot be activated by tank leaders. (SB)

Display Order of Battle

Germany Order of Battle

Heer
Foot Leader Mechanized Motorized Towed

Heer

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Motorized

Towed

Soviet Union Order of Battle

Army (RKKA)
Foot Leader Mechanized Motorized Towed

Army (RKKA)

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Motorized

Towed

Guards
Foot Leader Mechanized Motorized

Guards

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Motorized

Display Errata (6)

6 Errata Items
	The reduced direct fire value of the Heer HMG became 5-5 starting with Fall of France. (plloyd1010 on 2015 Jul 31)
	The morale and combat modifiers of German Sergeant #1614 should be "0", not "8". (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)
	All SPW 251s have an armor value of 0. (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)
	Liberation 1944's Tiger movement and armor ratings are backwards. They should be Armor 7 and Movement 5. (petermc on 2014 Feb 14)
	The reduced direct fire value in Kursk: Burning Tigers is 4-4. (plloyd1010 on 2015 Jul 31)
	All Guards JS-IIs should have AT fire values of 8-8. (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)

Display AARs (1)

South of Iepureni

Author	Juiceman
Method	Solo
Victor	Germany
Play Date	2023-03-01
Language	English
Scenario	BrAx038

This was an interesting scenario both sides start the game dug in, most of the VPs are behind the Soviet lines with several in the German rear, so you as the Soviets could try a spoiling attack on the Germans to try and capture the other objectives or you could sit back and wait for the German attack.

Both sides had air support for this battle, but you had to roll the dice to see which side would get to draw aircraft that turn, high roll wins, if you won by 3+ you got to draw two aircraft.

The scenario is primarily an infantry show, but there are several armor units that had their own separate battles that went on for most of the game. On side of the map two platoons of Tiger tanks fought the same number of Stalin tanks at long range, the Tigers drew first blood but the remaining Stalin’s drove off the Tigers, both platoons reduced. On the other side of the map a company of T34s traded shots with a company of StuG’s, this battle was more one sided as the StuG’s got the better of the T34s.

In the end the Germans took the outlining hills and the town but failed to get up the big hill to capture the 40m hill objectives on made 103, still the Germans had the VPs to win the scenario.

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