Panzer Grenadier Headquarters - Library: Fire in the Steppe #27

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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For the Night is Dark Fire in the Steppe #27
(Defender) Germany	vs	Soviet Union (Attacker)

Formations Involved
Germany		16th Panzer Division
Soviet Union		34th Tank Division

	Total
Side 1	2
Draw	0
Side 2	0

Overall Rating, 1 vote
5 4 3 2 1 3
Scenario Rank: --- of 940

Parent Game	Fire in the Steppe
Historicity	Historical
Date	1941-06-29
Start Time	21:00
Turn Count	32
Visibility	Night
Counters	100
Net Morale	1
Net Initiative	2
Maps	4: 1, 4, 5, 6
Layout Dimensions	86 x 56 cm 34 x 22 in
Play Bounty	177
AAR Bounty	171
Total Plays	2
Total AARs	1

Battle Types
Breakout
Delaying Action
Inflict Enemy Casualties
Rural Assault

Conditions
Off-board Artillery
Smoke
Terrain Mods
Illumination

Scenario Requirements & Playability
Fire in the Steppe	Base Game

Introduction
Soviet doctrine called for a prompt counter-attack against enemy penetrations, and by the book the advance by Rudolf Sieckenius' battle group merited such treatment. But in June 1941 the book had perished under the reality of the rapid German advance and Soviet difficulties in leadership, organization and supply. But on occasion, the Red Army could still fight the way it had trained, or at least hoped to train.

Introduction

Soviet doctrine called for a prompt counter-attack against enemy penetrations, and by the book the advance by Rudolf Sieckenius' battle group merited such treatment. But in June 1941 the book had perished under the reality of the rapid German advance and Soviet difficulties in leadership, organization and supply. But on occasion, the Red Army could still fight the way it had trained, or at least hoped to train.

Conclusion
The fury of the Soviet attack - including 34th Tank Division's surviving T35 "land battleships" - shocked the Germans. "The Russians fought very hard," 16th Panzer Division reported, "and on several occasions they jumped onto the combat vehicles themselves, firing at the crews." Panic broke out and Sieckenius' battle group fled. "It seemed nobody was listening to orders and random firing broke out around us," a division veteran wrote later. "The charge of tanks and infantry could only be stopped for a short time."

Conclusion

The fury of the Soviet attack - including 34th Tank Division's surviving T35 "land battleships" - shocked the Germans. "The Russians fought very hard," 16th Panzer Division reported, "and on several occasions they jumped onto the combat vehicles themselves, firing at the crews." Panic broke out and Sieckenius' battle group fled. "It seemed nobody was listening to orders and random firing broke out around us," a division veteran wrote later. "The charge of tanks and infantry could only be stopped for a short time."

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 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)

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
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
Foot Leader Mechanized

Heer

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Luftwaffe
Towed

Soviet Union Order of Battle

Army (RKKA)
Foot Leader Mechanized Towed

Army (RKKA)

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Towed

Display Errata (5)

5 Errata Items
	The reduced direct fire value of the Heer HMG became 5-5 starting with Fall of France. (plloyd1010 on 2015 Jul 31)
	The Pz IVe appearing in the original Panzer Grenadier game had an Anti tank value of 4-7. As of Afrika Korps (2002), continuing onward through the 3rd and 4th edition games, the anti tank value has been 4-4. (plloyd1010 on 2016 Jul 25)
	The morale and combat modifiers of German Sergeant #1614 should be "0", not "8". (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)
	All SPW 251s have an armor value of 0. (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)
	Kommissars never get morale or combat modifiers. Ignore misprints. (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)

Display AARs (1)

#27 For the Night is Dark

Author	Juiceman
Method	Solo
Victor	Germany
Play Date	2021-12-01
Language	English
Scenario	FitS027

The reverse of the previous scenario, this time the Soviets are advancing, trying to clear the Germans from the north side of the E-W road on maps 5 & 6, the only problem, there was a lot of woods for the Germans to hide in.

This was a good battle, the Germans fought well but their left flank collapsed under heavy Soviet pressure but they were able to regroup in the woods on map 6, extracting heavy casualties on the T26 tanks, especially when they came into range of the Flak 88, it was like boom two steps gone, until the Soviets finally silenced it. In the end the Germans prevailed. Played this scenario with illumination optional rules.

Man are those KV2 & T35 tanks slower than molasses in January, now I know why the scenario was 32 turns!

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