Panzer Grenadier Battles on March 31st:
An Army at Dawn #40 - Task Force Benson Conquest of Ethiopia #27 - Salt Spring
An Army at Dawn 2nd Ed #39 - Restless Energy Spearhead Division #19 - The Cats Return
Afrika Korps #8 - Ambush! Spearhead Division #20 - Wewer
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On Habsburg Ground
Fire and Sword #38
(Defender) Germany vs Soviet Union (Attacker)
Formations Involved
Germany 271st Infantry Division
Germany 8th Panzer Division
Soviet Union 18th Tank Corps
Display
Balance:



Overall balance chart for FiSw038
Total
Side 1 0
Draw 0
Side 2 0
Overall Rating, 0 votes
5
4
3
2
1
0
Scenario Rank: --- of 957
Parent Game Fire and Sword
Historicity Historical
Date 1944-12-23
Start Time 11:30
Turn Count 24
Visibility Day
Counters 86
Net Morale 1
Net Initiative 2
Maps 3: 50, 52, 54
Layout Dimensions 84 x 43 cm
33 x 17 in
Play Bounty 235
AAR Bounty 222
Total Plays 0
Total AARs 0
Battle Types
Exit the Battle Area
Inflict Enemy Casualties
Road Control
Conditions
Off-board Artillery
Randomly-drawn Aircraft
Reinforcements
Terrain Mods
Scenario Requirements & Playability
Fire and Sword Base Game
Introduction

So reported 46th Army intelligence on the morning of 23 December. The Soviet 17th Air Army concurred: “The enemy is carrying out a full-scale withdrawal of its rear services from the city of Budapest.” The Soviet 18th Tank Corps’ tankers drove relentlessly northward, cutting through the scattered Axis defenses to reach Esztergom on the Danube and seal the encirclement.

By noon, Soviet tanks were already fighting on the southern perimeter of Alcsút, the site of an old Habsburg palace. Shortly afterwards, at 1230, elements of the 32nd Motorized Rifle Brigade crossed the Váli-víz stream and established a bridgehead on the eastern bank, soon followed by tanks from the 110th Tank Brigade across a newly-secured bridge. Meanwhile, the Germans desperately tried to secure their supply lines to Budapest, launching several strong armored counterattacks.

Conclusion

In the morning hours, the 8th Panzer Division attacked from Tabajd, eastwards toward Budapest just as 18th Tank Corps drove into the same area. A fierce tank battle broke out in the afternoon between elements of the 18th Tank Corps and 25 to 30 German tanks. The German tanks advanced on Hill 198, two kilometers north-east of Alcsút. The 110th Tank Brigade engaged 20 Panthers just to the north of Alcsút while the 181st Tank Brigade concentrated its forces in the woods. At the end of the day, the 32nd Motorized Rifle Brigade joined the fight as well. Throughout the day, 18th Tank Corps came under attack by waves of 12 to 20 German aircraft. Despite this effective air support, German losses increased and Soviet reinforcements kept pouring in. The Germans eventually retreated and by 1700 the Soviets had captured both villages. Sadly, several artillery rounds hit Palatine Joseph’s castle.


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).
  • Prime Movers: Transports which only transport towed units and/or leaders (May not carry personnel units). May or may not be armored (armored models are open-top). All are mechanized. (SB)

Display Order of Battle

Germany Order of Battle
Heer
  • Motorized
Soviet Union Order of Battle
Army (RKKA)
  • Motorized

Display Errata (4)

4 Errata Items
Overall balance chart for 20

The reduced direct fire value of the Heer HMG became 5-5 starting with Fall of France.

(plloyd1010 on 2015 Jul 31)
Overall balance chart for 41

All SS PzIVH tanks should have a movement of 8.

(Shad on 2010 Dec 15)
Overall balance chart for 47

All SPW 251s have an armor value of 0.

(Shad on 2010 Dec 15)
Overall balance chart for 951

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

(plloyd1010 on 2015 Jul 31)
Errors? Omissions? Report them!
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