Panzer Grenadier Headquarters - Library: Lithuania's Iron Wolves #11

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 > LIWo011

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Polish Imports Lithuania's Iron Wolves #11
(Attacker) Lithuania	vs	Poland (Attacker)

Formations Involved

	Total
Side 1	0
Draw	1
Side 2	1

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

Parent Game	Lithuania's Iron Wolves
Historicity	Alt-History
Date	1939-09-01
Start Time	10:00
Turn Count	18
Visibility	Day
Counters	11
Net Morale	1
Net Initiative	1
Maps	1: 5
Layout Dimensions	43 x 28 cm 17 x 11 in
Play Bounty	154
AAR Bounty	171
Total Plays	2
Total AARs	1

Battle Types
Inflict Enemy Casualties
Meeting Engagement

Scenario Requirements & Playability
Deluge	Counters
Fire in the Steppe	Maps
Lithuania's Iron Wolves	Base Game

Introduction
Poland’s two independent tank battalions deployed to face the German onslaught as best they could, but that still left the newly-formed 21st Tank Battalion with its French-made Renault R35 tanks. The Poles hadn’t really wanted them, and the battalion was not ready for action when the Germans attacked. Against a perceived lesser opponent like the Lithuanians, the new battalion seemed a suitable reinforcement.

Introduction

Poland’s two independent tank battalions deployed to face the German onslaught as best they could, but that still left the newly-formed 21st Tank Battalion with its French-made Renault R35 tanks. The Poles hadn’t really wanted them, and the battalion was not ready for action when the Germans attacked. Against a perceived lesser opponent like the Lithuanians, the new battalion seemed a suitable reinforcement.

Conclusion
The tiny tank battle would get little mention in post-war histories; the relatively heavy armor of the Polish Renaults made them nearly invulnerable to the Lithuanian tanks’ 20mm autocannon. But the Lithuanians were much faster, and used that advantage to gain clear shots at the Polish tanks’ rear or side flanks. The Poles retreated, leaving several smoking wrecks behind, and the Lithuanians celebrated a victory.

Conclusion

The tiny tank battle would get little mention in post-war histories; the relatively heavy armor of the Polish Renaults made them nearly invulnerable to the Lithuanian tanks’ 20mm autocannon. But the Lithuanians were much faster, and used that advantage to gain clear shots at the Polish tanks’ rear or side flanks. The Poles retreated, leaving several smoking wrecks behind, and the Lithuanians celebrated a victory.

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). 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

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).
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

Display Order of Battle

Lithuania Order of Battle

Army
Mechanized

Poland Order of Battle

Wojska Lądowe
Mechanized

Display AARs (1)

Polish Power Knocks Out Lithuanian Mobility

Author	gambler1650
Method	Solo
Victor	Poland
Play Date	2023-03-08
Language	English
Scenario	LIWo011

So, this scenario was fun. I vacillated between a 3 and a 4, and settled on a 3 because I could see playing it at most one more time to try out a different strategy for the Lithuania.

It was very smooth, since it was solely anti-tank fire (I should have assaulted with the Lithuanians, more on that below) with a small number of units (11 - since there were no infantry leaders) and low terrain - a small hill and a minor river had minor roles on the battle. It probably took about an hour and a half to play the 18 turns.

The Lithuanians came in and spread out to try to get the +2 bonus for shots through non-adjacent hexsides. It kind of worked at first, with step losses staying even at 3 through maybe the first half of the game. But a couple of good hits by the R-35s on key units (the center of three unit groups spread over 3 hexes was destroyed, and units trying to get into position to assault took step losses) managed to send the Lithuanians into a downward spiral which they desperately attempted to recover from.

After this point though, the Polish armor managed to mostly stay out of crossfire scenarios, and kept whittling away at the Lithuanians until they'd had enough and pulled back. The final tally was 10 step losses to 4, for a major Polish victory. Worse, only 2 of the 6 platoons for the Lithuanians remained on the field (and each was at half strength), while no opposing platoon had been knocked out.

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