Crossing the Rubicon Eastern Front #54 |
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(Attacker) Romania | vs | Soviet Union (Defender) |
Formations Involved | ||
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Romania | 15th Infantry Division | |
Romania | 1st Cavalry Brigade | |
Soviet Union | 95th Rifle Division |
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Overall Rating, 6 votes |
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3
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Scenario Rank: 760 of 940 |
Parent Game | Eastern Front |
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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 |
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Bridge Control |
Exit the Battle Area |
Inflict Enemy Casualties |
River Crossing |
Rural Assault |
Conditions |
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Off-board Artillery |
Reinforcements |
Scenario Requirements & Playability | |
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Eastern Front | Base Game |
Introduction |
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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 |
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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 |
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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. |
AFV Rules Pertaining to this Scenario's Order of Battle |
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1 Errata Item | |
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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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On second thought, Fuhrer, I think we'll stay on our side of the river |
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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 |
Is it Broke? Or did I Mess Up? |
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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 |
<snort!> I just read your AAR. My Romanians retreated as well!
Glad you enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to more Romanians in the near future with Broken Axis!