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
Errors? Omissions? Report them!
"Maybe Comrade Marshal Doesn't Understand..."
Power of the East #2
(Defender) Japan vs Soviet Union (Attacker)
Formations Involved
Japan 19th Infantry "Tiger" Division
Soviet Union 118th Rifle Regiment
Soviet Union 119th Rifle Regiment
Soviet Union 120th Rifle Regiment
Display
Balance:



Overall balance chart for PotE002
Total
Side 1 2
Draw 0
Side 2 0
Overall Rating, 3 votes
5
4
3
2
1
2.67
Scenario Rank: --- of 940
Parent Game Power of the East
Historicity Historical
Date 1938-08-02
Start Time 07:00
Turn Count 18
Visibility Day
Counters 145
Net Morale 1
Net Initiative 0
Maps 4: 14, 16, 45, 49
Layout Dimensions 86 x 56 cm
34 x 22 in
Play Bounty 197
AAR Bounty 171
Total Plays 2
Total AARs 1
Battle Types
Ambush
Hill Control
Inflict Enemy Casualties
Rural Assault
Scenario Requirements & Playability
Eastern Front Counters
Guadalcanal Counters
Power of the East Base Game
Road to Berlin Maps
Introduction

With the heights now in enemy hands, the Soviets mulled their only two options: either back down under the force of arms and accept the Japanese fait accompli, or counterattack and restore the status quo. The Chief of the Soviet Far East Military District, Marshal Vasily Blücher, a former hero of the Russian Civil War, hesitated to react. He doubted the viability of the Soviet claims on the border territory, and the bad weather prohibited any air strikes to assist his troops. "Maybe Comrade Marshal just doesn't understand the situation" opined Josef Stalin, when he heard of Blücher's hesitation. This phrase expressed by the Great Leader often equaled a death sentence for the target general. Nevertheless, Blücher ordered an attack under the pressure from the Soviet high command. It did not save him from fatal consequences for uttering his doubts concerning the operation.

Conclusion

The precipitous and ill-organized Soviet attack on the heights ended in a bloody defeat without having achieved any objectives. Commanders failed to position their troops at their starting positions by the planned kickoff time for the offensive, and the artillery commander completely omitted pre-fight reconnaissance and fire planning for the heavy artillery due to time pressure. Heavy rains over the next few days prevented any fighting, so the Soviets spent the time reconsidering their course of action.

Additional Notes

Maps 45 and 49 come from the non-series game Infantry Attacks: August 1914.


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

Display Order of Battle

Japan Order of Battle
Imperial Japanese Army
Soviet Union Order of Battle
Army (RKKA)
  • Mechanized
  • Towed

Display Errata (1)

1 Errata Item
Overall balance chart for 951

The reduced direct fire value in Kursk: Burning Tigers is 4-4.

(plloyd1010 on 2015 Jul 31)

Display AARs (1)

Hills are for Heros
Author plloyd1010 (Soviet Union)
Method Face to Face
Victor Japan
Participants WightTiger
Play Date 2012-11-25
Language English
Scenario PotE002

... but doesn't end as well as the Combat! episode.

Firstly, if you are the Soviet player, you will not win. The scenario falls completely flat in regards to play balance. That said, I'm a history nut and I got a good historical feel from it.

The game opens with a long march to assault hills on board 14 & 16. The attack is poorly supported. It will be close-in attack against an enemy who specializes in assault combat. Indeed an march of doom.

I began marching up between the lakes, planning to attack about turn 8 or 9. My southern column was harassed by Japanese artillery all the way. Fortunately, only being 12 points the effect was small, though some disruption did occur. The troops arrived before the hills pretty much on time.

The northern column split around the trees of board 49. As the wings deployed, the follow-on troops occupied the woods to form a secondary fire base. The weight of the attack went to the northern flank.

The southern column moved up and deployed in the center of the plain. I attacked in a largely linear formation. This mostly due to a lack of time. The first advance spread the Japanese forces out, but otherwise failed to get a lodgement on the hill. Follow on troops were able to get close and largely pin the Japanese line.

The northern forces enveloped the Japanese line via the southern wing. The north part of the northern column had some success in the firefight. Eventually I assaulted the corner of the hill. The assault surprising lasted 3 turns, mostly due to the tenacity of a reduced squad which kept recovering.

The southern column partly gained the hill with its south wing. After multiple direct fire attacks, an assault opportunity presented itself. A failed moral check by the accompanying leader prevent the execution. The north wing was driven back a second time. It had regrouped and would have tried again, but for the end of the game.

The final body count was 19 steps against the Soviets, the Japanese had lost 2. Comrade marshal did understand the situation.

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