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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Crossing the Rubicon
Eastern Front #54
(Attacker) Romania vs Soviet Union (Defender)
Formations Involved
Romania 15th Infantry Division
Romania 1st Cavalry Brigade
Soviet Union 95th Rifle Division
Display
Balance:



Overall balance chart for EFDx054
Total
Side 1 2
Draw 3
Side 2 1
Overall Rating, 6 votes
5
4
3
2
1
3
Scenario Rank: 760 of 940
Parent Game Eastern Front
Historicity Historical
Date 1941-08-03
Start Time 05:30
Turn Count 36
Visibility Day
Counters 114
Net Morale 1
Net Initiative 2
Maps 4: 3, 4, 6, 7
Layout Dimensions 86 x 56 cm
34 x 22 in
Play Bounty 106
AAR Bounty 165
Total Plays 6
Total AARs 2
Battle Types
Bridge Control
Exit the Battle Area
Inflict Enemy Casualties
River Crossing
Rural Assault
Conditions
Off-board Artillery
Reinforcements
Scenario Requirements & Playability
Eastern Front Base Game
Introduction

On 31 July, Romanian commander-in-chief Ion Antonescu accepted a desperate German plea for Romanian forces to push deeper into the Soviet Union and capture the important port of Odessa. To open the road to Odessa, first the bridge at Tighina had to be secured.

Conclusion

The Romanian horsemen stormed the bridge under heavy fire while the infantry crossed the river to the north. The Soviets pulled back hurriedly, opening the road to Odessa. Of the 340,223 Romanian troops who set off down that road 92,545 would become casualties by the time Odessa fell in October.

Additional Notes

There are no Romanian trucks or wagons provided in the game. Players may either substitute German trucks and wagons, or download the the DIY counters for Romanian transport from Avalanche Press.


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

Display Order of Battle

Romania Order of Battle
Armata Română
  • Mechanized
Soviet Union Order of Battle
Army (RKKA)

Display Errata (1)

1 Errata Item
Overall balance chart for 951

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

(plloyd1010 on 2015 Jul 31)

Display AARs (2)

On second thought, Fuhrer, I think we'll stay on our side of the river
Author Matt W
Method Solo
Victor Draw
Play Date 2010-12-05
Language English
Scenario EFDx054

The great thing about random events is that they are so...random.

Having decided to cross into the Ukraine, the Armata Romana clumsily attacks with its cavalry, which is hammered by Soviet artillery and takes heavy losses (a total of 7 steps by turn 6, not a good result if they are to keep from losing ten steps overall). Both bridges, however are cleared, a darn good thing for the Romanians given that their engineers were hammered by the artillery as well.

The Romanian infantry had moved forward and engaged the covering companies of Soviets when they got a call to withdraw back across the river. One can imagine the reaction of the men but perhaps Antonescu got an offer he couldn't refuse? A capitulation by the Soviets to the land taken to date? A guarantee of their territorial integrity from Great Britain (sarcasm intended)? The ability to see their future as a Communist country if they did cross the river? In any event, with the territory removed as a victory condition they just needed to pull their infantry back and avoid any heavy losses, which they did.

In this case, the order change made perfect sense and led to an interesting result. I expect to play this one again to see what happens when you aren't suicidal with the cavalry.

2 Comments
2015-12-01 20:21

<snort!> I just read your AAR. My Romanians retreated as well!

2015-12-01 21:29

Glad you enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to more Romanians in the near future with Broken Axis!

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Is it Broke? Or did I Mess Up?
Author arixius
Method Solo
Victor Draw
Play Date 2015-12-01
Language English
Scenario EFDx054

The Romanians have to cross a river and exit 10 steps off the east edge. Soviets can force a draw by eliminating 10 Romanian steps. The Soviets covered the bridges, set up pickets and covered the roads. During the first turn the Romanians focused all their arty & OBA attacks on the lone Soviet HMG covering the north bridge and managed to Demoralize it. It failed to Recover and fled. The Romanians immediately captured the bridge. By the end of the second turn the Romanian cavalry "crossed the Rubicon". The Soviets formed a line and stretched it north to block the speedy horses. The cavalry galloped north and behind the fields. By the end of the 5th turn the Soviet OBA managed to halt three units but the remainder of the cavalry exited the board.

With the Romanian victory condition completed the Romanian player must avoid step losses! The remaining tattered cavalry is encircled by Soviet infantry. A certain loss of 6 steps!

So here is the "gamey" part. To avoid losses the Romanians retreat back across the river! Most managed to reach the safety deep in the woods or town but a few get snagged in assault. Things grind down but after 11 turns of a 36 turn scenario the Soviets managed to eliminate 10 Romanian steps and force a draw.

It seems unrealistic that the Romanian commander would retreat from a successful river crossing but it appeared to be the best way to avoid a draw. But the Soviet grossly under-guarded the bridges.

So broken? Or badly played?

0 Comments
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