Panzer Grenadier Headquarters - Library: Road to Berlin #58

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 > RtBr058

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Seelow: The South Flank Road to Berlin #58
(Defender) Germany	vs	Soviet Union (Attacker)

Formations Involved
Germany		102nd SS Heavy Panzer Battalion
Germany		303rd "Doberitz" Infantry Division
Germany		Brandenburg Panzer Regiment
Germany		Kurmark Panzergrenadier Regiment
Soviet Union		44th Guards Tank Brigade
Soviet Union		74th Guards Rifle Division

	Total
Side 1	0
Draw	0
Side 2	2

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

Parent Game	Road to Berlin
Historicity	Historical
Date	1945-04-16
Start Time	11:00
Turn Count	40
Visibility	Day & Night
Counters	153
Net Morale	0
Net Initiative	1
Maps	4: 15, 16, 19, 21
Layout Dimensions	86 x 56 cm 34 x 22 in
Play Bounty	138
AAR Bounty	171
Total Plays	2
Total AARs	1

Battle Types
Road Control
Urban Assault

Conditions
Entrenchments
Off-board Artillery
Randomly-drawn Aircraft

Scenario Requirements & Playability
Road to Berlin	Base Game

Introduction
In the farmland south of the Seelow Heights, the Soviets laid on a powerful artillery barrage and sent the infantry forward with immense tank support. Under this weight of metal the recently organized German division holding the sector began to fall apart. Though liberally supported by 88mm anti-aircraft guns (crewed by teenage boys), they could not halt the flood of Soviet armor. The corps command sent it slender armored reserves to fill the gap.

Introduction

In the farmland south of the Seelow Heights, the Soviets laid on a powerful artillery barrage and sent the infantry forward with immense tank support. Under this weight of metal the recently organized German division holding the sector began to fall apart. Though liberally supported by 88mm anti-aircraft guns (crewed by teenage boys), they could not halt the flood of Soviet armor. The corps command sent it slender armored reserves to fill the gap.

Conclusion
The Soviet tanks had been slowed by the infantry division's anti-tank barrier, hesitating to challenge the powerful anti-tank guns and standing off out of range. When the Tigers arrived with even longer-range guns, the proceeded to shoot up the enemy vehicles. Forced to attack or retreat, the Soviets now pressed forward against an even stronger defense, but good long-range shooting by the German tankers inflicted heavy losses on them and the attack broke up. The Red Army finally gave up when darkness fell, but would try again the next day.

Conclusion

The Soviet tanks had been slowed by the infantry division's anti-tank barrier, hesitating to challenge the powerful anti-tank guns and standing off out of range. When the Tigers arrived with even longer-range guns, the proceeded to shoot up the enemy vehicles. Forced to attack or retreat, the Soviets now pressed forward against an even stronger defense, but good long-range shooting by the German tankers inflicted heavy losses on them and the attack broke up. The Red Army finally gave up when darkness fell, but would try again the next day.

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 Assault Gun: if closed-top, provide the +1 Assault bonus, when applicable Tank Destroyer: do not provide the +1 Assault bonus, even if closed-top (SB) 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). Armored Cars: These are Combat Units. They are motorized instead of mechanized. All have their own armored car leaders, who can only activate armored cars (6.85). Do not provide the +1 Assault bonus (ACC). Reconnaissance Vehicle: 8.23 Special Spotting Powers Both foot and vehicle mounted recce units (1.2) possess two special spotting abilities. The first ability is that they can spot enemy in limiting terrain at one hex further than the TEC specifies for other units and leaders. For example, an enemy unit in town can normally be spotted at three hexes or less, but a recce unit can spot them at four hexes.Their second ability is that they can place a Spotted marker on any one enemy unit they can spot per turn, just as if the enemy unit had "blown its cover" by firing. Such Spotted markers are removed as described earlier.

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
Assault Gun: if closed-top, provide the +1 Assault bonus, when applicable
Tank Destroyer: do not provide the +1 Assault bonus, even if closed-top (SB)
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).
Armored Cars: These are Combat Units. They are motorized instead of mechanized. All have their own armored car leaders, who can only activate armored cars (6.85). Do not provide the +1 Assault bonus (ACC).
Reconnaissance Vehicle: 8.23 Special Spotting Powers Both foot and vehicle mounted recce units (1.2) possess two special spotting abilities. The first ability is that they can spot enemy in limiting terrain at one hex further than the TEC specifies for other units and leaders. For example, an enemy unit in town can normally be spotted at three hexes or less, but a recce unit can spot them at four hexes.Their second ability is that they can place a Spotted marker on any one enemy unit they can spot per turn, just as if the enemy unit had "blown its cover" by firing. Such Spotted markers are removed as described earlier.

Display Order of Battle

Germany Order of Battle

Heer
Foot Leader Mechanized Towed

Heer

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Towed

Luftwaffe
Towed

Schutzstaffel
Mechanized

Soviet Union Order of Battle

Army (RKKA)
Foot

Guards
Foot Leader Mechanized Motorized

Guards

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Motorized

Display Errata (6)

6 Errata Items
	The reduced direct fire value of the Heer HMG became 5-5 starting with Fall of France. (plloyd1010 on 2015 Jul 31)
	All SS PzIVH tanks should have a movement of 8. (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)
	All SPW 251s have an armor value of 0. (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)
	The movement allowance on the counters in Airborne is misprinted. It should be "3." (rerathbun on 2012 Jan 30)
	Kommissars never get morale or combat modifiers. Ignore misprints. (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)
	All Guards T-34/85 tanks should have AT fire values of 7-7. (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)

Display AARs (1)

Last man standing claims the ground

Author	Poor Yorek
Method	Solo
Victor	Soviet Union
Play Date	2012-11-09
Language	English
Scenario	RtBr058

To make a long (40 turn) story short:

The Germans must defend against both the northern and southern E/W road routes. Entrenchments and flanking fire (and use of terrain hopes to lure the Soviets into disadvantageous assaults). The Soviets strategy was initially to assault along both, but then to send the southern strike force northwards. One key is to avoid fighting the Germans on their own ground (several entrenchments), but rather force as many Germans to come to you. It is better to have to defend against the German southern force launching a flanking attack than to beat oneself to death against entrenched infantry all the while having 88L71 fired shells destroying one's armor from 2000m.

Airpower is also key here with the Soviets getting several excellent draws with the 3 AT factors. The Germans tried to mitigate by keeping SPWs in hexes with the Tiger II's and PzV's Also Soviet artillery started off slowly, but, once the Vodka warmed up, managed some significant attacks.

Soviet minor victory clearing the N. road. The cost, however, to the Guards and the Soviet tank park was atrocious.

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