Panzer Grenadier Headquarters - Library: Fire in the Steppe #29

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

PG-HQ Library - Panzer Grenadier Hall > Scenarios > FitS029

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After Dark Fire in the Steppe #29
(Defender) Germany	vs	Soviet Union (Attacker)

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

	Total
Side 1	0
Draw	0
Side 2	1

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

Parent Game	Fire in the Steppe
Historicity	Historical
Date	1941-06-30
Start Time	21:00
Turn Count	30
Visibility	Night
Counters	105
Net Morale	0
Net Initiative	2
Maps	4: 1, 4, 5, 6
Layout Dimensions	86 x 56 cm 34 x 22 in
Play Bounty	178
AAR Bounty	171
Total Plays	1
Total AARs	1

Battle Types
Delaying Action
Exit the Battle Area
Inflict Enemy Casualties

Conditions
Off-board Artillery
Smoke
Terrain Mods
Illumination

Scenario Requirements & Playability
Fire in the Steppe	Base Game

Introduction
German units pressed the 34th Tank Division into an ever-more-compact pocket while their artillery hammered the trapped Soviets. Corps commissar Nikolai Popel had already decided on the previous day that his battle group had to break out. Heartened by the success of the nighttime counter-attack against the 16th Panzer Division, Popel decided to repeat the attempt in the same sector, but this time with the entire division's remaining strength.

Introduction

German units pressed the 34th Tank Division into an ever-more-compact pocket while their artillery hammered the trapped Soviets. Corps commissar Nikolai Popel had already decided on the previous day that his battle group had to break out. Heartened by the success of the nighttime counter-attack against the 16th Panzer Division, Popel decided to repeat the attempt in the same sector, but this time with the entire division's remaining strength.

Conclusion
Despite their experience of the previous night, the Germans once again were taken by surprise. Thirty-fourth Tank Division lost over half of its remaining tanks and soft vehicles (all artillery had already been lost in combat or deliberately destroyed when ammunition ran out), but it successfully punctured the German perimeter and escaped total destruction. The division's offensive had failed, but at least four German mobile divisions had been held up for days at a time when nothing seemed to stop or even slow their inexorable advance.

Conclusion

Despite their experience of the previous night, the Germans once again were taken by surprise. Thirty-fourth Tank Division lost over half of its remaining tanks and soft vehicles (all artillery had already been lost in combat or deliberately destroyed when ammunition ran out), but it successfully punctured the German perimeter and escaped total destruction. The division's offensive had failed, but at least four German mobile divisions had been held up for days at a time when nothing seemed to stop or even slow their inexorable advance.

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 Towed

Heer

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Towed

Soviet Union Order of Battle

Army (RKKA)
Foot Leader Mechanized Motorized Towed

Army (RKKA)

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Motorized

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)

#29 After Dark

Author	Juiceman
Method	Solo
Victor	Soviet Union
Play Date	2021-12-01
Language	English
Scenario	FitS029

This time the Soviet breakout attempt had plenty of infantry to support their mixed force of T26, BT7 and KV tanks. The Soviet light tanks took a beating losing about 40% of their number before the Germans ran out of illumination rounds, then the German panzertruppen had to get within close range just to spot the Soviet forces and now it was their turn to take heavy losses. In the end the Soviets were able to skirt the German dug in infantry and AT guns while exiting enough steps to more than make up for their losses.

This was one scenario that the Germans had a favorable chance of winning the battle game, alas they failed to stop enough Soviet forces from exiting the map.

This scenario would be a good head-to-head matchup with hidden units for the Germans.

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FitS028

FitS030

PG-HQ Library - Panzer Grenadier Hall > Scenarios > FitS029

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