Panzer Grenadier Headquarters - Library: Sinister Forces #5

Panzer Grenadier Battles on February 2nd:
An Army at Dawn #22 - Counterattacked	Edelweiss IV #39 - Attack Without Pause
An Army at Dawn 2nd Ed #21 - Clearing the Ridge	Edelweiss: Expanded #31 - Attack Without Pause
An Army at Dawn 2nd Ed #22 - Counterattack at Sened Station	Road to Berlin #27 - Oder Flood
Edelweiss #24 - Attack Without Pause

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Trouble at Ivanovskloe Sinister Forces #5
(Attacker) Germany	vs	Soviet Union (Defender)

Formations Involved
Germany		122nd Infantry Division
Soviet Union		NKVD

	Total
Side 1	2
Draw	0
Side 2	5

Overall Rating, 6 votes
5 4 3 2 1 3.33
Scenario Rank: 548 of 949

Parent Game	Sinister Forces
Historicity	Historical
Date	1941-08-30
Start Time	08:00
Turn Count	20
Visibility	Day
Counters	127
Net Morale	1
Net Initiative	2
Maps	2: 3, 6
Layout Dimensions	56 x 43 cm 22 x 17 in
Play Bounty	135
AAR Bounty	160
Total Plays	7
Total AARs	2

Battle Types
Bridge Control
Road Control
Urban Assault

Conditions
Off-board Artillery

Scenario Requirements & Playability
Eastern Front	Maps + Counters
Sinister Forces	Base Game

Introduction
After capturing Liuban' and splitting apart the Soviet 48th Army, the Germans advanced on a wide front, straining to capture Mga, Kirishi, Kolpino, and Volkhov. To counter these moves, STAVKA transferred in the the 168th Rifle Division and ordered the 48th Army to regroup and organize a reliable defense, including tank barriers and especially anti-tank mines, and then find a way to counterattack. Into this sector also went a rapidly-formed NKVD Division with no name. Its order were to defend the hamlet of Ivanovskoe and its environs, up to the mouth of the Mga River. This was a tough unit built around Karelian border guards who feared no man.

Introduction

After capturing Liuban' and splitting apart the Soviet 48th Army, the Germans advanced on a wide front, straining to capture Mga, Kirishi, Kolpino, and Volkhov. To counter these moves, STAVKA transferred in the the 168th Rifle Division and ordered the 48th Army to regroup and organize a reliable defense, including tank barriers and especially anti-tank mines, and then find a way to counterattack. Into this sector also went a rapidly-formed NKVD Division with no name. Its order were to defend the hamlet of Ivanovskoe and its environs, up to the mouth of the Mga River. This was a tough unit built around Karelian border guards who feared no man.

Conclusion
Attacking with the easy confidence of an army that had always rolled forward, the Germans were unpleasantly surprised. The former border guards repelled the Germans with ease. This was all the more surprising because except for a few anti-tank guns, the Russians had no heavy weapons, and no machine guns either. So, from Ivanovskoe to the mouth of the Mga River, the German juggernaut was suddenly stopped cold.

Conclusion

Attacking with the easy confidence of an army that had always rolled forward, the Germans were unpleasantly surprised. The former border guards repelled the Germans with ease. This was all the more surprising because except for a few anti-tank guns, the Russians had no heavy weapons, and no machine guns either. So, from Ivanovskoe to the mouth of the Mga River, the German juggernaut was suddenly stopped cold.

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 Assault Gun: if closed-top, 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
Assault Gun: if closed-top, provide the +1 Assault bonus, when applicable

Display Order of Battle

Germany Order of Battle

Heer
Foot Leader Mechanized Motorized Towed

Heer

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Motorized

Towed

Soviet Union Order of Battle

Army (RKKA)
Foot Leader Mechanized Towed

Army (RKKA)

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Towed

NKVD
Foot Leader Towed

NKVD

Foot

Leader

Towed

Display Errata (5)

5 Errata Items
	The reduced direct fire value of the Heer HMG became 5-5 starting with Fall of France. (plloyd1010 on 2015 Jul 31)
	The morale and combat modifiers of German Sergeant #1614 should be "0", not "8". (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)
	The StuG IIb appearing in the original Panzer Grenadier game had an Anti tank value of 4-7. As of Eastern Front Deluxe (2005), continuing onward through the 3rd and 4th edition games, the anti-tank value has been 4-4. (plloyd1010 on 2022 Jul 21)
	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)

Display AARs (2)

NKVD Sacrifice

Author	scrane
Method	Solo
Victor	Soviet Union
Play Date	2010-12-27
Language	English
Scenario	SiFo005

This was an interesting battle pitting a very strong German force against an NKVD battalion backed up by RKKA infantry, with no real support weapons. The Germans must control the east-west road at the end of 5 hours.

The Russians defended with their NKVD units forward in a forest south of the road. They were utterly demolished by a German steamroller of infantry, HMGs and StuGs. However, after this initial success, the Germans repeatedly failed to follow up their attack by making it to the north side of the road, where the remainder of the Soviet infantry awaited them. What seemed like a sure German victory turned into a Russian victory because they couldn't put across an organized assault.

0 Comments

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Trouble With the Victory Conditions

Author	Player9
Method	Solo
Victor	Soviet Union
Play Date	2023-11-27
Language	English
Scenario	SiFo005

When I started play, I had that funny feeling that given the balance of forces, the VC's for the Germans were a tall order. 12 German infantry squads, 6 HMG's,and two engineers oppose 16 NKVD, 9 RKKA and 9 RKKA SMG units. Not really a German advantage. In the tank department, the four Stug IIIB are clearly superior to the seven T-60's on the Russian side. The Germans field an assortment of seven onboard guns, while the Russian weigh in with 6 x 45mm ATG's and whopping five dual purpose 76.2mm field guns. The Germans get a total of three off board artillery modules, the Russians none. I stacked three of the 76.2's for 30 artillery factors, giving the Russians some decent bombardment strength.

With this OOB, the Germans need to control all road hexes reaching from the east edge to the middle of the western board and have ten steps of units across the Neva River. Now I may not be the best PG player, but I don't think this is happening for the Germans. Granted, the Russians will have to spread their forces to protect the road, the river and the town (which features in the major victory for the Germans), but there is enough material to contest control of the road as it winds its way through forests and have some forces to protect the other objectives.

Fairly early on, I changed the VC to the Germans just taking the road portion between the two forest patches on board 6 and not lose more than 10 steps. This turned out to be a tight and enjoyable contest, with the Russians controlling the road in just one hex and the Germans losing 13 steps.

1 Comment

treadasaurusrex

(edited 2023-11-27 20:38)

Good AAR!

Yet another example of a scenario that was not properly play tested. Your revised VC set for the Germans sounds correct and will likely improve game balance and fun.

Perhaps a 4 is rather a high rating for this one as published?

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