Panzer Grenadier Headquarters - Library: Fire and Sword #4

Panzer Grenadier Battles on October 24th:
Afrika 1944 #22 - PAKfront	Leyte '44 #12 - Flying Wedge
Fronte Russo #9 - Potemkin Village	Leyte '44 #13 - Failure at Buri Airfield
Red & White #28 - Bastion

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Night of the Elephants Fire and Sword #4
(Defender) Hungary	vs	Soviet Union (Attacker)

Formations Involved
Hungary		1st Hussar Division
Soviet Union		14th Guards Mechanized Brigade

	Total
Side 1	1
Draw	0
Side 2	0

Overall Rating, 1 vote
5 4 3 2 1 4
Scenario Rank: --- of 1094

Parent Game	Fire and Sword
Historicity	Historical
Date	1944-11-02
Start Time	03:00
Turn Count	10
Visibility	Night
Counters	50
Net Morale	0
Net Initiative	1
Maps	1: 54
Layout Dimensions	43 x 28 cm 17 x 11 in
Play Bounty	158
AAR Bounty	168
Total Plays	1
Total AARs	1

Battle Types
Exit the Battle Area
Inflict Enemy Casualties
Road Control

Conditions
Minefields
Off-board Artillery
Terrain Mods

Scenario Requirements & Playability
Fire and Sword	Base Game

Introduction
Despite the slow progress toward Budapest, Malinovsky had a trump card left: the Red Danner 4th Guards Mechanized Corps. In the first days ofNovember, Lt. Gen. Vladimir Ivanovich Zhdanov's crack corps (it had wrested Belgrade from the fascists less than two weeks prior, where Zhdanov was named a Hero of the Soviet Union) was to sneak through the gaps in the Hungarian defenses, take the motorway along the Danube eastern bank and strike Pest directly from the south. The 14th Guards Mechanized Brigade, using an elephant as its identification sign, spearheaded the advance. The night march led them through boggy terrain north ofKunszentmikl6s along a single four-meter-wide road that ran through marshes. Brushing aside the small enemy groups encountered along the way, the 14th Guards reached Alsó-Szent-István, an isolated farmstead in the puszta ("Alsó" means "Low")

Introduction

Despite the slow progress toward Budapest, Malinovsky had a trump card left: the Red Danner 4th Guards Mechanized Corps. In the first days ofNovember, Lt. Gen. Vladimir Ivanovich Zhdanov's crack corps (it had wrested Belgrade from the fascists less than two weeks prior, where Zhdanov was named a Hero of the Soviet Union) was to sneak through the gaps in the Hungarian defenses, take the motorway along the Danube eastern bank and strike Pest directly from the south.

The 14th Guards Mechanized Brigade, using an elephant as its identification sign, spearheaded the advance. The night march led them through boggy terrain north ofKunszentmikl6s along a single four-meter-wide road that ran through marshes. Brushing aside the small enemy groups encountered along the way, the 14th Guards reached Alsó-Szent-István, an isolated farmstead in the puszta ("Alsó" means "Low")

Conclusion
The forward elements ofthe 14th Guards Mechanized brigade charged the 1st Hungarian Hussar Division that has been deployed to retake Kunszentmiklós. Around the farmstead, the Hungarians had set up a blocking position manned by two well-supported infantry companies: the remnants of the once-proud Hussar division now called "Group Makay." During the severe fighting, the Hungarians destroyed several T-34/85s with panzerfäuste. Nevertheless, the Soviet armor gave the defenders no chance. It attacked the position at full speed, crushed it and forced the Hungarians to flee. In the evening of 2 November, the forward units of the 4th Guards Mechanized Corps had drawn close to Dunaharaszti, on the eastern bank of the Danube River.

Conclusion

The forward elements ofthe 14th Guards Mechanized brigade charged the 1st Hungarian Hussar Division that has been deployed to retake Kunszentmiklós. Around the farmstead, the Hungarians had set up a blocking position manned by two well-supported infantry companies: the remnants of the once-proud Hussar division now called "Group Makay." During the severe fighting, the Hungarians destroyed several T-34/85s with panzerfäuste. Nevertheless, the Soviet armor gave the defenders no chance. It attacked the position at full speed, crushed it and forced the Hungarians to flee. In the evening of 2 November, the forward units of the 4th Guards Mechanized Corps had drawn close to Dunaharaszti, on the eastern bank of the Danube River.

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 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
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

Hungary Order of Battle

Army
Foot Leader Mechanized Motorized Towed

Army

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Motorized

Towed

Soviet Union Order of Battle

Guards
Foot Leader Mechanized Motorized Towed

Guards

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Motorized

Towed

Display Errata (2)

2 Errata Items
	Kommissars never get morale or combat modifiers. Ignore misprints. (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)
	All Guards T-34/85 tanks should have AT fire values of 7-7. (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)

Display AARs (1)

Fire and Sword: scenario 4: Night of the Elephants

Author	JayTownsend
Method	Solo
Victor	Hungary
Play Date	2025-08-12
Language	English
Scenario	FiSw004

Fire and Sword: scenario 4: Night of the Elephants

Again, I changed the Mire Rule, so vehicles just lose one MP from their total movement points each turn, as keeping track of mired vehicles is not fun and the side that has to move to win, never can.

This a nice size scenario and plays in the night. The Hungarians are dug-in, or defending in town or woods and have a nice mix of units. The Soviets have three objectives, to eliminate more enemy steps than they lose, clear the north-south road and exit 10 steps off the north edge, all in 10 turns. The Soviets also have an interesting mix of unit types.

The clashes at night were intense and assaults happened as well. The Soviets could not clear the road and spent too much time trying and wasted valuable time assaulting town hexes and dug-in enemy units. By the time they realized their mistake, they had only exited 8 steps and had eliminated one step more of Hungarian troops than they lost. So the Russian only achieved one of three victory conditions, giving the Hungarians a minor victory.

I believe this scenario can be won by either side, especially without the mire rules but a good scenario overall.

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