Barbarossa - Turn Thirteen

Map relocation (Operation "No Tears or Tears") successfully completed; the game goes on!

First there are the battles:

AGN trying to breakthrough to Pskov,

hard work in the mud.

AGC trying to cross the Dnepr.

Rivers never seem to get wider post rain...

AGS back on the move.

The Romanians mopping up on the border.

They can shoot across but not cross.

The Germans have no issues with crossing into Ukraine.

The situation end of July 17, 1941.

AGN in the mud.

After Pskov there is not much else on this map,

The main road goes off the top north or bottom south of the map.

AGC up against the Dnepr.

Although the Soviets are pulling back

AGS surging East,

still well within their supply lines.

At five miles to the hex there sure is plenty of empty space.

Romania closing up to the enemy.

Next turn there is fine weather and the Italians arrive (arrivano gli Italiani).

A05

One purpose of my blog is to record figures I have painted and projects contemplated (and sometimes even completed).  This also serves as a way of "letting go".

Back when I didn't have much of a collection I was given to numbering units and projects.  This Hinchcliffe French Horse Artillery is A05 and dates from the 1990s.  Can't recall where the figures came from, possibly a second hand purchase at Cancon.  The painting/basing is certainly all mine.

The blue comes up better without the flash. 

Don't Mention The War - Part 37

As we move into May/June 1944 the weather fines up and the skies over Europe are filled with enemy planes intent on mischief.  On the Eastern Front only a few get through, but Communist artillery does the work for them, inverting critical parts of the front line.  Subsequent attacks punch two holes which included capturing Vilnius.

Soviet soldier wearing improved uniform

On the Western Front large parts of the front are ground struck, including Rommel who has newly arrived and was thoughtfully taking some time out in the Ardennes.  A subsequent attack pushed into Belgium.

Defender of Europe bravely telling the Yankees to "go home"

<< nach Hause gehen >>

The only bright side was that few casualties were inflicted on the brave defenders who were actively and successfully dodging bullets (if not shells and bombs).

Elsewhere the Imperialist virus is creeping up the leg of Italy.

Orders to "squash the invaders like bugs"

may have been taken too literally

by this unit.

Production March/April 1944

Strategic bombing cost Germany four build points.  Production is focussed on infantry and fighter planes.

Barbarossa - Vassal - Madness - Turn 2

Turn two and it is still a target rich environment for the Axis.

AGN pushing north

And AGN pushing north east with some help from 12 Panzer

which has swung north west to cut off Kaunas.

This will assist AGC with its subsequent target of Vilnius.

AGC acts to liquidate the pocket at Bialystok,

while still powering east.

The situation end of 25 June 1941

AGN 

Note AG boundary line has been highlighted

AGC seems spread out.

It is very easy to get lost playing this game.

Vassal is both a help and a hindrance in this respect.

Tiny Town

Another test game for the Arnhem campaign.  This time the Germans attempt to retake the Tiny Town which has been occupied by some British paratroopers.

Simon has done us proud with some promising looking terrain to fight over.

Curtis creates a diversion (top left hand corner)

while my armoured column slips round the back.

We're in!

The paras, commanded by John, inflict heavy casualties on the attackers,

but it was a diversion.

The Germans now hold the Tiny Town.

Barbarossa - Completion of Turn Twelve

Mud has really slowed game play.  Only AGN enjoyed dry weather.

Mopping up continues, but it is a costly exercise

(bonus losses from attacking strongpoint without attack supply).

AGN trying to breakthrough the defenses south of Pskov.

AGC trying to breakthrough the Dnepr line.

Regardless of the weather, supply will be a challenge.

AGS mired in mud.

Soviets pull back from Bessarabia.

Situation at the end of the turn (cob 15 July 1941).

Soviets dig in at Talin

AGN trying to work round the flank of the Pskov line.

Note the map edge.

AGC getting across the Dnepr, but their supplies aren't.

AGS still has a way to go to get to Kiev.

And in Bessarabia the map edge beckons.

This could well be the last post on this game as Richard and I will tackle the challenge of repositioning the maps this weekend.  It could all end in tears!

Barbarossa - Vassal - Madness - Turn 1

Being able to study the game on Vassal is one thing, but I found myself also wanting to play it as well.  The first half of the Axis first turn took me six hours.

 

AGN gets off to a good start with lots of small units to eliminate.

However in the subsequent motorized movement phase they make an horrendous error.

AGC northern sector.

A number of variable quality Soviet units make some attacks hard to predict,

but it looks like the Axis will slip into Grodno in the subsequent motorized movement phase.

AGC southern sector.

Again, a number of variable quality Soviet units make some attacks hard to predict,

but Brest will be overwhelmed.

After these attacks there is the Axis motorised movement phase then the Soviet motorised movement and combat phases.

I am playing solitaire and unless it turns out to be a rule error, once I move a unit I like to leave it at that.  Playing this game on Vassal means the window through which the game is viewed is quiet small.  Anyway, I am using that as the excuse for moving the 87 Motorised Regiment away from the 618 Artillery Regiment. Whoops!

The area in question.

The Soviet Tank regiment can spend 4 of its five movement points to reach the German artillery.

The motorised cavalry regiment can use all its eight points to just get there.

(This expenditure I have annotated in black and blue respectively).

The Axis air interdiction has slowed them down 

and they only get full movement in the first turn if they attack.

There is a supply unit under the motorised regiment,

which is just within the 7 hex range required to support the attack.

This all means the Soviets can make a 6:1 attack with a minus 1 for combined arms.

Can the Axis react?  

8 Panzer can't because it is in a ZoC 

(I had forgotten that aspect other wise there is a 9 movement factor unit 

that could have gone to the artillery's rescue).

6 Panzer could make it, but you have to be within 3 hexes to react.

At these odds there is an 80% chance of the artillery unit being destroyed.

If that happens, in the subsequent Soviet movement phase,

they could overrun the three supply units.

Heads will roll!

The Soviets make two attacks in the North, one as discussed is very much a spoiling attack,

the other is an attempt to free some trapped units.

Neither attack qualifies as a Mandated Attack (need six steps - not stacking points).

However at Grodno the Soviets do launch a Mandated Attack

 against an overly ambitious move by the reconnaissance battalion of 20 Panzer.

The die roll modifier will be a +2 after a No Retreat order is issued.  

And the results were...

Attack 1 dice roll was a 9 which became a 10 which saw the Soviets take two losses and the Axis retreat, mission achieved but at high cost.

Attack 2 dice roll was a 5 modified to a 4 which saw the artillery removed.  Very much the desired outcome for the Soviets.

Mandated Attack dice roll was a 5 which became a 7 and each side took one step loss.  Not the outcome the Soviets wanted.

The first turn is effectively a double turn so here we go again!

AGN attacks to the north

AGN attacks to the north east.

AGC attacks to the north east

AGC attacks to the north east and mopping up

AGC attacks to the east

And how did it all finish up?

AGN at the end of the first turn

AGC (with a little bit of AGN top left hand corner)

This image gives feel for the scale and the distances involved.

That is Minsk in the centre.

The defensive line around the city is impressive, but there is a shortage of units to man it,

at present...