Author	Dan Storm (Germany)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	Germany
Participants	cjsiam (AAR)
Play Date	2019-12-23
Language	English
Scenario	PGUM005

So this one is definitely an enigma and what we thought would happen - never did happen. We both thought for sure the Tiger would perch on the hill and rain shells down on the T-34's while the T-34's would suffer the (-1) for shooting uphill. in Reality - The tiger never moved - only fired - and fired well. Now - Initiative played a large role on this one and the Germans had a slight +. Turn 1- Russians win Initiative and charge across the bridge - 3 Platoons in 0610 and 3 Platoons in 0710. The Tiger set up in 0813 so only had view to the 3 platoons in 0610. Which was enough. Roll 1 was an adjusted 13 - 2 steps lost - 1 counter gone - Initiative down to 1. Roll 2 took out a 1/2 platoon. They somehow passed the M2. German Infantry charged into hex 0711 hoping to tie up 3 tanks for turn 2 in assault. Turn 2 - Germans win Init. 1 Activation. Tiger Must Shoot at the full platoon of T-34's in hex 0610. Roll 1 is a hit and another 1/2 platoon is destroyed in hex 0610. M2 Roll = 9 = Demoralized. Russian Init now = 0. Roll 2 is a hit on the good order 1/2 platoon of T-34;s in hex 0610. Hex 0610 now only has 1/2 platoon of demoralized T-34's. Hex 0710 has 3 full good order platoons of T-34's. Russian's Action Phase: 1 platoon moves to hex 0913. 1 platoon moves to hex 0714. 1 platoon charges the hill and moves to hex 0812. The Crossfire Is On! The German infantry move to hex 0713 without incident. Turn 3 - Germans win Init - get 1 activation. Tiger Activates a fire mission: Roll 1 - Shoots at T-34 Platoon adjacent in hex 0714 - Adjusted roll of 13 - entire platoon gone. Roll 2 - Shoots at T-34 platoon adjacent in hex 0913 - Adjusted roll of 14 - entire platoon gone. T-34 shoots at Tiger from atop the hill - Miss. Demoralized T-34 fails rally and retreats across the river. German Infantry assault the last T-34 platoon in hex 0812. Turn 4 - Germans get 2 activations. Activation 1: Tiger shoots at T-34 Platoon in assault: Shot 1 is a miss. Shot 2 is a hit - The 1/2 platoon of T-34's misses its M2 by more than 3 and is demoralized. Activation 2:The German infantry assaults and does zero damage. Germans achieve their victory conditions.

Author	Dan_Huffman (Soviet Union)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	Soviet Union
Participants	plloyd1010
Play Date	2020-04-07
Language	English
Scenario	PGUM005

The Soviets should line up from the bridge to go across. As they activate cross the bridge and split into 3 groups. All Soviet tanks go across the bridge. I did not and the Germans blocked the bridge with inf. I put my tanks far apart to keep the Tiger confused. Do not bother.

I was across and spread apart with four counters. Set up cross fire shots. Hope for low rolls by the Tiger as it is +4 at 5 hexes. Peter did. Got one step missed. Next turn peter got initiative. He missed both times. Moved my tanks adjacent. Won initiative with 2 and it was a net +1 for the 2 adjacent tanks. First shot got a step loss and the Tiger demoralized. Second shot also was a step lose to win the scenario.

This is a great short scenario to play.

Author	Dan_Huffman (Soviet Union)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	Germany
Participants	unknown
Play Date	2020-04-17
Language	English
Scenario	PGUM005

The stats for the T - 34a and PzMk IV aka Tiger I getting Soviet initiative important. Then better set up cross fire die rolls. I move close for the plus +1 with 3 units. All 3 missed with a +1. Groan.

This is a maneuver scenario. Get the units over a bridge. Then spread out to get the crossfire shots.

Author	elfram2 (Soviet Union)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	Germany
Participants	plloyd1010
Play Date	2020-08-30
Language	English
Scenario	PGUM005

soviets forces managed to lose every initiative. Never had a chance to try crossfire as they were picked off very quickly.

The Germans deployed with the Tiger tank platoon 6 hexes southwest of the bridge in the woods, with the infantry on the hill closer to the bridge. The Soviet tanks raced across the bridge, and pushed east with the aim of circling around to the northeast of the hill to keep out of line of sight of the Tigers if possible. Two Soviet platoons moved adjacent to the hill. The German opportunity fire from the Tigers failed to halt the advance. The German infantry platoons tried to make an impact by advancing to assault the adjacent tanks. The ensuing assault over the next couple of turns saw the Soviets withdraw one tank unit and leave the other to its disrupted fate. Meanwhile the bulk of the Soviets moved east of the hill, out of sight of the poorly placed tigers. The assault, supported by Tiger fire eventually destroyed the Soviet unit for the loss of half a German infantry platoon. However, the Soviets won a handsome victory with 5 tank platoons safely across the bridge at the end of the game. Thanks yet again for the excellent guidance from treadasaurusrex.

Author	cjsiam (Soviet Union)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	Germany
Participants	Dan Storm (AAR)
Play Date	2019-12-23
Language	English
Scenario	PGUM005

Man...that gun is BRUTAL....so winning the initiative as the Russians---we dash over the bridge and spread out a little north of the hill---we can only get one hex from the bridge....

The Germans...waiting just below the south end of the hill with their Tiger...their infantry to the front.... And the tiger shoots...at 5....an 8...vs. 4...+4 ....rolls 9...+4=13...2steps POOOF 2nd shoot....takes out a step....

That was turn 1..... By Turn four the last surviving steps (other then the demoralized step heading north....) on the hill are overwhelmed with Infantry...though they gave as well as they got---the Tiger was only 1 hex away at this point....have been swamped, pointlessly, by the T34s which remained after the first two fire sequences of the Tiger....

Tiger took out step with almost every shot.......

no wonder ...

Author	cjsiam (Germany)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	Soviet Union
Participants	Les Staurt (AAR)
Play Date	2019-12-28
Language	English
Scenario	PGUM005

So, have played this scenario as the Russians, and getting my Arse handed to me ...I figure this was pretty much a German victory for sure....

So I set up 5 away from bridge with my tanks...infantry in front of tanks closer to bridge within 3. The Russians ran to get over the bridge and spread out....they did so....I took my fire after moving an infantry to provide an interluding activation....and took one step, he passed the M2 !!! and I missed on the 2nd shot!... on second turn the soviets got the initiative and moved down to set up cross fires. I took my shots and took out a unit....but still there were 3 units on one side and 1.t units on the other ...I moved infantry up to assualt the tanks to keep them from shooting if I got the chance...

But I didn't get the chance....the Russian got two activations---and he fired the 1 reduced unit on one side....and with the 2nd activations fired the 3 units on the other side---with cross fire......and he rolled two 11s....taking two steps off the tiger....

Took him out....Wow.... So---It can be done as the Russians.... We played again cause it was quick, and the result was the opposite, more like the first game where the Tiger was just knocking off steps and picking up units....they tried the same thing, but they were unable to pass the M2s...thus their number of units was reduced and the Tiger was able to destroy the adjacent tanks before they could shoot and get cross-fires....

So---with a little bit of luck and planning it's POSSIBLE to win as the russians..... Good fun!

Author	Les Staurt (Soviet Union)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	Soviet Union
Participants	cjsiam (AAR)
Play Date	2019-12-28
Language	English
Scenario	PGUM005

Ordered to cross an unfordable river into the teeth of waiting Tigers at a single bridge, I fully expected to have my command blown apart, leaving nothing but scattered hulks of burning T34s littered across a desolate landscape. But the heroic courage of our armored forces proved that even the greatest Panzer so far fielded by the Nazi army can be defeated by our brave tankers.

The Nazis deployed two platoons of infantry about 600 meters from the bridge, and a single platoon of the dreaded Tiger tanks further to the rear an additional 400 meters, giving them excellent command of the bridge.

Our most excellent tanks, 6 platoons of T34As dashed across the bridge and fanned-out to the right and left on the far side of the river. The Nazi tanks sprang into action and scored hits that reduced one platoon but failed to knock out any unit completely. Our heroic tankers held firm against the terrible onslaught and continued their drive across the river to get within effective range of our tank's guns.

Our enemy’s infantry was unable to anchor either flank, so our tankers were able to easily bypass them and race to the flanks of the Nazi Tigers. With excellent speed and agility, I was able to split my command and drive to the Tigers flanks, placing them in a deadly cross-fire.

Amazingly, the Tigers failed to organize a defense in good time and our T34s fired quickly and accurately, destroying Tigers before they were able to get a shot off in their defense.

This situation is an excellent example of the difficulties facing both sides fighting in open terrain with widely scattered forces. The Axis defense was too far from the bridge and too sparse to effectively stop a crossing, and excellent Allied initiative and speed, not to mention outstanding (lucky) gunnery, was able to overcome the Axis's armor superiority.

Author	Les Staurt (Soviet Union)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	Germany
Participants	unknown
Play Date	2019-12-28
Language	English
Scenario	PGUM005

This was a second playing of the Tiger Trap? scenario, and the results differed greatly from the first.

The two Nazi infantry platoons deployed 3 hexes from the bridge, and the single Tiger platoon 5 hexes away, which gave the Tigers excellent cover of the bridge, but left the infantry with no anchors on either flank, exposed and easy to bypass.

Hanging back and attempting to destroy the Tigers at a distance is not a valid option as the Tigers have a much better chance of destroying the T34As at long range than the T34's have of destroying the Tigers. Not to mention the threat of being assaulted by Axis infantry once across the bridge.

The superior armor and firepower of the Tigers leave few options for the Soviets but to dash across the bridge, bypass the infantry, and close the range on the Tigers, to have any chance to destroy the Nazi tanks. Although offset by superior firepower and armor, the limited quantity of the Axis forces is a weakness. To win the Soviets must win the initiative and attempt to use their numerical advantage to destroy the Tigers before they can eliminate the Soviet tank threat. And once committed, the Soviets have little chance to withdraw and try again if the first assault fails -- it's an "all or nothing" attack that will either leave the battlefield littered with wrecked T34s, or a destroyed platoon of Tiger tanks.

The outcome of the first playing of this scenario was a spectacular victory for the Soviets! Once across the bridge the Tigers were only able to reduce one platoon, and the Soviets passed their moral check, leaving the entire Soviet command virtually intact. The result was a flanking maneuver by the T34s that placed the Tigers in a deadly cross-fire. Winning 2 activations in the 3rd turn gave the Soviets the opportunity they needed to attack with both flanks before the Tigers could return fire, and excellent gunnery by the T34s destroyed the Tigers.

This, the second playing of this scenario, resulted in an equally spectacular Nazi victory.

After the T34s dashed across the bridge and fanned out, the Nazi infantry closed to within a hex of the T34s. Then the Tigers worked over the T34s, reducing and demoralizing two platoons. The Soviets continued their advance in an attempt to flank the Tigers and place them in a cross-fire. Attempts to rally the demoralized platoons failed and they routed back to the bridge. The Tigers then continued their attacks on the hapless remainder of the T34's. The result was the destruction of another platoon and reduction/demoralization of a fourth. With 4 platoons destroyed and/or reduced and demoralized, and only two remaining unscathed, and infantry assaulting the demoralized units, it was clear that the Soviets had been soundly defeated and the game was called.

This scenario (designed to teach players the mechanics of the armor rules I suspect) is also an excellent example of how initiative can drastically influence the outcome of a scenario. Winning 2 activations in the first game gave the Soviet player the opportunity to destroy a superior unit before it had an opportunity to reduce the threat. Failure to win the initiative resulted in disaster for the Soviets in the second game. Poor gunnery on the part of the Tigers in the first game, coupled with excellent moral and gunnery rolls by the Soviets, are two additional factors that played a major role in the games outcome, but the ability to move/shoot first, and more than once, was the deciding factor in the first game.

In summary, while it may seem impossible for the Soviets to win this scenario, it's not a given, and even superior units may be overcome by inferior units with good leadership and competent game play.

Author	geofgibson
Method	Solo
Victor	Germany
Play Date	2021-12-27
Language	English
Scenario	PGUM005

This one is quite a challenge for the Soviets. The Tiger has such thick skin that the only hope for the T-34s appears to be to get close and get the +2 crossfire bonus before they die. That and lucky dice rolls would be their only hope. Keep moving until they've got crossfire shots and hope for the best. The Germans were also able to effectively use the infantry to assault a lone tank. In this scenario it helped that the Germans drew one officer with +1 combat mod. and one with +1 morale. It occurred to me at the end that it was less important for the Germans to knock out the T-34s as merely demoralizing was enough to prevent the Soviets from achieving victory. And, as there was no real terrain to block shots. If a tank didn't recover then he had to run away and that got him North of the river.

Author	g1ul10
Method	Solo
Victor	Germany
Play Date	2020-08-04
Language	Italiano
Scenario	PGUM005

Se i Tedeschi piazzano la loro fanteria a tre esagoni dal fronte e vincono l'iniziativa, possono occupare il ponte nel primo turno. Questo rallenta molto le unita' Russe che o eliminano la fanteria a forza di cannonate o la assaltano. Io ho giocato nel primo modo, sperando di costringere la fanteria a sloggiare e poi passare coi carri. Ma la cosa non ha funzionato e l'unico effetto e' stato lo smembramento di tre plotoni di carri russi da parte dei Tigre tedeschi.

Author	treadasaurusrex (Germany)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	Soviet Union
Participants	plloyd1010
Play Date	2021-08-22
Language	English
Scenario	PGUM005

Playing as the Germans, I was able to keep my Tiger Platoon intact for the obligatory 4 turns, but that was mostly by luck as my clever Soviet opponent used his superior mobility to flank the German heavy tanks and caught them in a 3-way crossfire. My German infantry tried their best to engage by assault but failed to inflict the correct number of step losses. In the end, the Germans suffered no step losses, but the Soviets won this scenario going away despite the loss of 6 out of the 12 steps of T-34 units that began the scenario.

Author	ACav (Germany)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	Germany
Participants	Tambu
Play Date	2023-05-25
Language	English
Scenario	PGUM005

An awful scenario to play. Only fun for the Germans. Should be for solitaire play only.

Author	Grognard Gunny (Germany)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	Soviet Union
Participants	treadasaurusrex
Play Date	2024-03-11
Language	English
Scenario	PGUM005

Once the Soviets set up their cross fire it was all over.