This scenario sees large German and Russian tank forces duking it out for the town in board 2. The movement restrictions more or less dictate that the Germans set up in the town, or immediately next to it, and the Russians more or less drive straight towards it. It becomes a rather straight forward dice rolling contest with the Germans having more shots due to efficiency, but the Russians having more powerful shots. In my game the Russians won, but it could have gone either way.

Of note is the KV1s. which are moving incredibly slow, but due to the excessive movement restrictions on the Germans, are very hard to deal with. It is nearly impossible to get a flanking attack on them if you approach carefully.

Despite its simplicity, this scenario demonstrates the AT system, as there are only 2 german infantry units that are not tanks, and is most likely being used as a tutorial scenario on this system. (This is the first scenario in PG to include tanks on both sides btw). I also find it humorous that this was included before the other Katukov scenario, so all the references to "again" are awkward.

Russians won in what became a late game bloodbath as their small advantage snowballed throghout the game.

The movement rules are so restrictive on the German Panzers that they have no choice but to position themselves in the town and just wait for the Russians to arrive (the primary reason this scenario rates only a 2). With the PanzerIVe errata the Soviets stay at range 8 until the KV's can come up. On turn 6 (coming up the road) they sit at the 3 hex spotting range, daring the German's to shoot, while the T-34s's move up to a 5 hex range.

If the German shoot at the KV's then all of the Soviets may fire back while outside the range of the IVe's. If they do not shoot at the KV's then the 2 Soviet tanks just spend a few turns working over whatever is in range. Should the Germans move back into the town then the T-34's still have the necessary (reduced) speed to enter the first row of town hexes. (The T-60 just stays out of range altogether.)

This latter situation is how we played the scenario out. What followed was a range 1 shootout with the Russian armor have a DR advantage and the Germans with double the number of shots/unit. Overall this gave the Russians the statistical advantage and all the Germans except 1 Infantry and the Leader (in an Assault hex) were destroyed before the end of turn 20. The German infantry went to an Assault and were very difficult to destroy. Russian losses were 3 tank units for a Marginal Victory (it looked pretty decisive on the game board).

1) As Assault DR are optional once locked-in-melee and with the defender's 2 column shift advantage, it can make for a static situation in the hex.

2) Infantry attacking armor in an Assault hex should need to pass a 'Pre-assault Morale Check' prior to moving into the Assault hex or making the DR on subsequent activations. Failure would not engender a defensive DR.

3) It is odd that tanks cannot spot for other tanks (lack of communication?) but losses affect Initiative everywhere on the board regardless of where the losses occurred (i.e. out of line of sight).

4) This scenario would open up if there were some non-board 2 edge-exit VP for the Germans.