Given the information gleaned from the last disastrous attack the Russian commander brought the phalanx of T-34s on and parked them menacingly outside of the range of the German Mountain Artillery and PAK unit. This was not going to be a piecemeal attack but a coordinated cut and thrust (see below, famous quote of "a plan not surviving contact with the enemy" comes to mind):
The "cool-handed and cool-headed" Soviet commander (not me I hasten to add) was not to be rushed and brought in flanking companies of Soviet infantry to push forward either side of his precious T-34 Phalanx (see below, I like the terrain-vehicle-figures visual presentation):
The German Commander was forced to play the 'waiting game' as the Soviet Commander ran his infantry up to but not into some cover (see below, the Germans now at least have targets to shoot at next go):
Whereas the attackers are hindered by the numbers of units activated (card selected - half to +/- 1 FV) and always making choices of what to move, the defender can pretty much always decide to shoot at "any targets of opportunity" and his artillery. Note: The "two reserve" German infantry platoons have moved up taking firing positions "in the front line" (see below, the three nearest Soviet infantry units are in the line of sight to one or more German "weapon systems"):
The PAK 40 was the first to speak with a HE shell eliminating a Russian squad/platoon (I am still undecided at what level a basic "manoeuvre unit" is pitched at - platoon is my default assumption) in one fell blow (see below):
A second Soviet infantry platoon is eliminated in quick succession from accurate German Defensive fire by one of the German infantry platoons that had moved up from reserve (see below):
Adding insult to injury a German MG42 section barks and a third Soviet platoon is no more (see below, devastation in a matter of seconds - anybody remember that plan?):
A deep frown is now seen creasing the brow of the Soviet commander. Although his T-34s are still intact the 'first wave' of Soviet infantry has been devastated. After thinking long and hard he decides to act with extreme utility.
4 comments:
Geordie,
Interesting Russian tactics! If I was the Russian commander, I'd be sending in my T-34s and rifle troops in together in the hope that they will swamp the German defences. After all, all the Germans have to do is sit there and pick off the Russians and then - if they still have the wherewithal - mount a counter-attack that will thrown the Russians back.
An interesting battle report. I look forward to seeing how things turn out.
All the best,
Bob
The 'bang you're dead' version of the PW is pretty unforgiving and very luck dependant. I prefer using the strength points as they give players bit more chance to survive mistakes or bad luck.
Hello Bob,
We are playing IGOUGO with the card draw to activation, so the Soviet will activate 5, 6 or 7 units. I think the Russian Commander learned an important lesson with respect to line of sight (LOS) and infantry, MG and AT ranges. The MG 3 Dice attack is brutal!
It was also a fearless exploration of the rules after the previous (Part 1) run through. The horrendous casualties did not phase him .. see Part III
Martin agreed
With a bit of luck I will get to play this with the SP version this week!
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