Panzer Grenadier Headquarters - Library: Broken Axis #40 - Operation Katja Scenario 8: Zahorna

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Operation Katja Scenario 8: Zahorna Broken Axis #40
(Defender) Germany (Defender) Romania	vs	Soviet Union (Attacker)

Formations Involved
Germany		Grossdeutschland Reconnaissance Battalion
Germany		Grossdeutschland Sturmgeschütz Battalion
Romania		18th Mountain Division
Romania		20th Infantry Division
Soviet Union		16th Tank Corps

	Total
Side 1	1
Draw	0
Side 2	0

Overall Rating, 1 vote
5 4 3 2 1 4
Scenario Rank: --- of 966

Parent Game	Broken Axis
Historicity	Historical
Date	1944-06-07
Start Time	08:00
Turn Count	28
Visibility	Day
Counters	161
Net Morale	0
Net Initiative	3
Maps	2: 104, 105
Layout Dimensions	86 x 28 cm 34 x 11 in
Play Bounty	177
AAR Bounty	167
Total Plays	1
Total AARs	1

Battle Types
Hill Control
Inflict Enemy Casualties
Urban Assault

Conditions
Anti-infantry Wire
Off-board Artillery
Randomly-drawn Aircraft
Reinforcements
Smoke
Terrain Mods
Joint Forces Battle

Scenario Requirements & Playability
Broken Axis	Base Game

Introduction
The Germans lacked the manpower to both spearhead the fighting and to hold the ground won. This forced Eighth Army to quickly rush Romanian troops forward to relieve the German shock troops who, after a brief pause to regroup and re-supply, continued attacking. The German Eighth Army staff considered this process a recipe for disaster, but felt that no other alternative offered success. The Soviets concurred with the German assessment, but planned to shape the results to their liking. Quiet hung heavy on the front as both sides made plans.

Introduction

The Germans lacked the manpower to both spearhead the fighting and to hold the ground won. This forced Eighth Army to quickly rush Romanian troops forward to relieve the German shock troops who, after a brief pause to regroup and re-supply, continued attacking. The German Eighth Army staff considered this process a recipe for disaster, but felt that no other alternative offered success. The Soviets concurred with the German assessment, but planned to shape the results to their liking. Quiet hung heavy on the front as both sides made plans.

Conclusion
The Soviet attack drove through the Romanians on Hill 181 and into Zahorna before reinforcements from Grossdeutschland arrived to stabilize the situation. The Germans quickly set to work and cleared Zahorna of Soviets, but ran out of steam before forcing the Soviets to surrender Hill 162.

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 Tank Destroyer: do not provide the +1 Assault bonus, even if closed-top (SB) 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).

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
Tank Destroyer: do not provide the +1 Assault bonus, even if closed-top (SB)
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).

Display Order of Battle

Germany Order of Battle

Heer
Foot Leader Mechanized Motorized

Heer

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Motorized

Romania Order of Battle

Armata Română
Foot Leader Motorized Towed

Armata Română

Foot

Leader

Motorized

Towed

Soviet Union Order of Battle

Army (RKKA)
Foot Leader Mechanized Towed

Army (RKKA)

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Towed

Display Errata (5)

5 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)
	The reduced direct fire value in Kursk: Burning Tigers is 4-4. (plloyd1010 on 2015 Jul 31)
	Kommissars never get morale or combat modifiers. Ignore misprints. (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)

Display AARs (1)

Broken Axis #40 - Operation Katja Scenario 8: Zahorna

Author	Juiceman
Method	Solo
Victor	Germany, Romania
Play Date	2023-03-01
Language	English
Scenario	BrAx040

The Romanian defenders on map 104 held out longer than their historical counterparts, the Vanatori took all that the Soviets could throw at them and dished out some punishment, mostly in disruptions and demoralizations but their defense took far longer to finally clear. It helped that this group had some really good officers, several with two modifiers, but in the end, they succumbed to the sheer weight of the Soviet attack.

Lucky for the Romanians their German reinforcements arrived on time and quickly made short work of the Soviet infantry and armor that was out flanking the town, withstanding repeated Soviet air attacks. If the Germans were a couple of turns late this scenario would have gone to the Soviets.

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BrAx041

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