Panzer Grenadier Headquarters - Library: Fire and Sword #23

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

PG-HQ Library - Panzer Grenadier Hall > Scenarios > FiSw023

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Unable to Resist Fire and Sword #23
(Defender) Germany (Defender) Hungary	vs	Soviet Union (Attacker)

Formations Involved
Soviet Union		7th Guards Airborne Division

	Total
Side 1	1
Draw	0
Side 2	0

Overall Rating, 1 vote
5 4 3 2 1 3
Scenario Rank: --- of 1093

Parent Game	Fire and Sword
Historicity	Historical
Date	1944-12-06
Start Time	12:45
Turn Count	18
Visibility	Day
Counters	89
Net Morale	1
Net Initiative	1
Maps	1: 52
Layout Dimensions	43 x 28 cm 17 x 11 in
Play Bounty	170
AAR Bounty	168
Total Plays	1
Total AARs	1

Battle Types
Inflict Enemy Casualties
Road Control
Urban Assault

Conditions
Off-board Artillery
Randomly-drawn Aircraft
Reinforcements
Joint Forces Battle

Scenario Requirements & Playability
Fire and Sword	Base Game

Introduction
Despite German counter-attacks, the Soviet 21st Rifle Corps continued to expand its bridgehead across the Sió canal at Metzökomárom. They faced a motley Axis force including the 1st Panzer Division’s palace guard company, a machine-gun battalion and the remnants of the Hungarian 24th Infantry Regiment (which had lost most of its soldiers, but somehow held onto many of its heavy weapons). The Hungarians would hold the town of Enying to keep a retreat route open for the Germans, but by 0900 the leading Soviet elements had already entered the outskirts.

Introduction

Despite German counter-attacks, the Soviet 21st Rifle Corps continued to expand its bridgehead across the Sió canal at Metzökomárom. They faced a motley Axis force including the 1st Panzer Division’s palace guard company, a machine-gun battalion and the remnants of the Hungarian 24th Infantry Regiment (which had lost most of its soldiers, but somehow held onto many of its heavy weapons). The Hungarians would hold the town of Enying to keep a retreat route open for the Germans, but by 0900 the leading Soviet elements had already entered the outskirts.

Conclusion
Supported by ground-attack aircraft, the Soviet paratroopers overran the older soldiers of the German machine-gun battalion and the escort company and entered Enying. Joined by four tanks, the Germans re-grouped and went back into the town, aided by a handful of Hungarians. The Axis attack cleared the town, but then the Soviets ejected them again before the Germans crept back into the shattered buildings. The front briefly stabilized, now running through the middle of Enying.

Conclusion

Supported by ground-attack aircraft, the Soviet paratroopers overran the older soldiers of the German machine-gun battalion and the escort company and entered Enying. Joined by four tanks, the Germans re-grouped and went back into the town, aided by a handful of Hungarians. The Axis attack cleared the town, but then the Soviets ejected them again before the Germans crept back into the shattered buildings. The front briefly stabilized, now running through the middle of Enying.

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 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
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 Towed

Heer

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Motorized

Towed

Hungary Order of Battle

Army
Foot Leader Towed

Army

Foot

Leader

Towed

Soviet Union Order of Battle

Guards
Foot Leader Mechanized Towed

Guards

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Towed

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)
	All SS PzIVH tanks should have a movement of 8. (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)
	In Fire & Sword, the SK7/1 counter is labelled SK7/2. (leonard on 2025 Jun 16)
	All SPW 251s have an armor value of 0. (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)
	The movement allowance on the counters in Airborne is misprinted. It should be "3." (rerathbun on 2012 Jan 30)
	These units should have a Direct Fire rating of 2-3, just like the RKKA and NKVD counterparts. (danradz on 2011 May 04)

Display AARs (1)

Tough struggle for Soviet paras

Author	joe_oppenheimer
Method	Solo
Victor	Germany, Hungary
Play Date	2025-01-12
Language	English
Scenario	FiSw023

This was an odd scenario. The notes mentioned that the Soviet paratroopers easily defeated the old men staffing the German units, but here you have 7/6 morale Soviets having to advance across open ground to take on 8/6 Germans who are dug in or in good terrain. The 7/6 Hungarians were a little easier to take on but my opening Soviet advance got smacked hard by DF and bombardment. I think getting the Soviet reinforcements early and getting air units will be crucial to Soviet success. If I play this again the Soviets will concentrate on the Hungarians in the northern town while hoping for early reinforcements from the south.

I have noticed that Fire & Sword has a number of scenarios where the attacker has lower morale and has to dig out a better morale enemy in good terrain. That's a tough thing to do when you're advancing in the open and more likely to fail morale checks.

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PG-HQ Library - Panzer Grenadier Hall > Scenarios > FiSw023

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