Background
The Battle of Brody (other names in use include Battle of Dubna, Battle of Dubno, Battle of Rovne, Battle of Rovne-Brody) was a tank battle fought between the 1st Panzer Group’s III Army Corps and XLVIII Army Corps (Motorized) and five mechanized corps of the Soviet 5th Army and 6th Army in the triangle formed by the towns Dubno, Lutsk, and Brody between 23 and 30 June 1941. It is known in Soviet historiography as a part of the “border defensive battles”. Although the Red Army formations inflicted heavy losses on the German forces, they were outmanoeuvred and suffered enormous losses in tanks. Poor Soviet logistics, German air supremacy as well as a total breakdown in Red Army command and control ensured victory for the Wehrmacht despite overwhelming Red Army numerical and technological superiority.
This was one of the most intense armored engagements in the opening phase of Operation Barbarossa and recent scholarship considers it the largest tank battle of World War II, surpassing the more-famous Battle of Prokhorovka.[4]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Brody_(1941)
The Game
The game was set up as a five player game (3 German and 4 Soviet). Each player was given 1,500 points to build a force. Forces would enter randomly on turn one. Entry points were from the middle of each short end of the table and along the back edge for each side.
Scenario Rules
- Each player to build a 1,500 early war tank force. No T-34s or KV1s. No gun teams or infantry teams (It is Tanksgiving after all!).
- Germans enter on board on random die rolls. 1 is left flank, 2 left rear, 3 center, 4 center, 5 right rear and 6 right flank.
- Soviets enter on board on random die rolls. 1 is left flank, 2 left rear, 3 center, 4 center, 5 right rear and 6 right flank.
- Roll off for first player move.
- All hills are cross country, all woods are open woods.
- Victory conditions: Five objective markers are placed on table. One on each road exit exiting center of each short and long road edge. The finally is placed in the middle of the table. Each side gets one point for each objective they control and each enemy tank platoon/company they destroy. Side with the most points at the end of the game wins.
German Forces: The German players fielded two Pz38t companies and one PzkwIII company. They also had Stuka support.
Soviet Forces: The Soviet players elected to field two Medium tank battalions (T35 and T28s), a T26 battalion and a BT7 battalion.
Germans arrive on the field.
Soviet forces move forward cautiously, as Germans begin to mass their tanks.
The Luftwaffe arrives to engage the Soviet hoards….
The Soviet left flank T26 battalion is overwhelmed by the German Panzers…
Mop up in the woods.
The Soviet mediums move grind forward, taking losses along the way. However, they push the Germans back and secure their third objective! Night falls and the game ends. The Soviets control 3 of the 5 objectives. The Germans destroyed three Soviet companies. The Soviets destroyed two German platoons. The game ends as a 5-5 draw. Happy Tanksgiving!
– Manteuffel