On Aug 27th, we finished our 1941 theme by playing a Barbarossa scenario out of the April 1982 issue of Wargamer’s Digest (vol 9, no.6) “Battle Stations – German Panzer Attack – Pruzana, Russia” (pages 12-13).
Operations Order No.9
General Situation – The “Battle of the Frontier” is concluded’ Panzer formations have broken through the Russian front along its entire length, and have gone over to the exploitation phase. Kampfgruppe Krugger is leading the 3rd Panzer Division in this sector. The Russian Army is attempting to block our attack with isolated “Brigade Strength” units.
Opposing Forces – Air Reconnaissance has reported a Russian Brigade Size force in the vicinity of Pruzana. This Russian force is positioned along the route of advance of Kampfgruppe Krugger. Air Reconnaissance reports that the Russians have established a “Forward Defense” along the stream forward of Pruzana. The Russian force is thought to consist of basically infantry, supported by some tanks.
Friendly Troops – Kampfgruppe Krugger is through the Russian Frontier Defenses with its leading elements in the Village of Vidomia. Its forward Reconnaissance elements have reported coming under heavy fire as they attempted to move from Vidonia towards the stream on the road to Pruzana. The balance of 3rd Panzer Division is mopping up Russian defenses, and reorganizing for the exploitation.
Mission – Kampfgruppe Krugger is to clear the main road Vidonia – Pruzana which is the axis of attack for the Division. The area around Pruzana is to be secured for further operations.
Terrain – The weather has been dry and ground conditions are firm. Streams in the area of operation…can be made “Fordable” with minor engineering work.
The Game:
The Terrain consisted of typical flat countryside with a number of small wooded areas and numerous ripened wheat fields. Pruzana is located in the center of the eastern section, while the town of Vidonia is to the western edge. For this game we modified the stream that meandered through the center of the table from shallow to impassible.
Scenario Special Rules:
- Play was length wise using a template map in the magazine.
- All units were built from the scenario OOB. Even though the scale of the units in the scenario was different (one stand/vehicle = one platoon), we decided to use the exact number of stands and vehicles to represent the attrition that took place during the initial phase of the operation. All unit specifications were taken from the Barbarossa Book.
- All the Russian units began hidden on the board and were exposed in one of three ways: If a German unit came within 4 inches the location; a recce unit within 8 inches or if the Russian unit began to move.
- The Russians were allowed Opportunity Fire if German units exposed their positions.
- The stream crossing involved two methods. There was a bridging unit of engineers that could construct the bridge when they successfully rolled six Skill Tests and an assault boat section that could ferry infantry across the stream in one turn.
- To complicate the game even further, the Game Master invoked a special rule that each unit had initial orders of where they were to move or not. If you wanted to change their orders, you had to roll a successful Skill Test.
- There was no air power in this scenario.
- The Germans received the first move.
Forces:
The German Kampfgruppe, which consisted of two platoons of 3 x PZ III Gs, one platoon of 3 x PZ IVDs, 2 x PZ II recon platoon, two Kradshutzen recce platoons and a company of Armored Shutzen troops with engineers and a few artillery and AT guns. All German units were rated Fearless Veteran.
The Soviet 205th Motorized Infantry Battalion with three infantry platoons with HMGs, 45mm AT guns and several ATR attached. Also attached were elements of the 30th Tank Brigade: a 4 x BT-7, 2 x tank T-34s, an SMG platoon and a 3 gun 76mm Artillery battery. All Soviet units were rated as Confident Conscript.
Narrative:
During the Recon Move, the Germans surged their recon units forward to the river line to expose any Russians in the woods adjacent. This resulted in the loss of one PZ II, several stands of Kradshutzen and bail a couple of armored cars.
On Turn One, the German main forces attacked the pesky Russian Infantry in the center (killing several), while the recce troops continued to draw out the Russian fire. Both sides lost several more stands, but the Germans succeeded in killing off the Russian AT and HMGs.
For the next several turns, the Germans methodically eliminated the Russian Infantry front line.
On Turn Four, the Germans began to swing their Pioneers over to the southern edge of the stream that was furthest from the Russian Line, in order to emplace a bridge. The Shutzen provided support to the assault boats to cover the bridge.
On Turn Five, the Germans rolled two successful skill checks for the bridge. On Turn Six, four more were rolled and the bridge was up! The Panzer Shutzen rushed across the river, establishing a bridgehead. Meanwhile, the Soviet general desperately tried to redirect his surviving units’ orders to swing towards the endangered flank. Alas, without success.
By Turn Seven, the Soviets finally activated the BT-7s just in time to drive head long into a hail of shot from the PZ IIIs.
Over the next two turns, the Soviets managed to change the orders for the SMG platoon, which dashes from field to field towards the German Tsunami. Even though the battle was looking bleak, the Soviet general smiles…. The last reserve consisting of T-34s are on the way and will most definitely give the Germans a pause.
On Turn Nine, the shock is complete as the Germans approach some wheat fields only to detect the T-34s staring back at them! However, the T-34 crews seem to be too busy drinking vodka, missing all their PZ IIIs and only manage to kill one stand of infantry! Oh Fudge!
On Turn Ten, The panzers surround the T-34s, bailing them with the hail of fire. The infantry moves up and so much for the vaunted Soviet armor.
The fame ends with a complete historic German victory.
– Manteuffel