This is a Bolt Action scenario set at the Battle of Kursk in 1943. It represents a Russian hasty block on the road against an advance unit from Kampfgruppe Shaun, Grossdeutschland PzGrd Division. The Red Army has a Churchill with 6pdr, a light tank, a 45mm AT gun, and a light field gun with infantry support hidden in the woods.
Heart of the attack is a Panther, a StuG III Special, an armoured car and a Hanomag with an infantry platoon.
The battle starts with an engagement between the German medium armour and the Soviet guns. The field gun on the Russian ight flank is taken out almost immediately and the Hanomag races forward carrying an infantry section to exploit the situation.
The Russian infantry on the right flank hill are taken out by the deadly Spandeaus of the armoured infantry. The Churchill foolishly charges into the wood to rectify the situation and is close assaulted with AT mines: kaboom.
All should not be lost as the Soviets are still blocking the road with infantry supported by a medium AT gun, mortar, MMG, AT Rifle and a light tank with a medium AT gun.
However, it is a massacre. The Germans hold off at long range and the two tanks smash up the impotent Russian defence.
The German medium armour is invincible so why in the real world did all tank formations fail miserably?
Some thoughts on fixing this problem next time.
Nice AAR. Poor supply routes from what I have read.
ReplyDeleteAwful, the Germans had no strategy. Charge until out of supply then get clobbered.
DeleteGreat battlereport and splendid miniatures!
ReplyDeleteThanks
DeleteI'd go Simon Q's incisive analysis. Beevor and Hastings have spent thousands of pages telling us basically just that. Hitler over extended the Wermacht by beliving that he knew better and they left of broken men and machines all the way home again.
ReplyDeleteCompounded by the sheer weight of numbers that the red army brought to bear meant that they did not ever the chance to recover etc etc. I am sending you to sleep now, I can tell.
For a better wargame, don't alter the rules, just get used to the reds have three or four times the points total.
Dear Zzzz
DeleteAbsolutely, you are dead right. Bloody non-existant strategy.
j
Great report, I think if you had some heavy artillery or heavier guns it may have made cracking the armor easier.
ReplyDeleteYes, true.
DeleteI think it's a general problem in any game where only some things can only really be hurt by a few other things. Take those threats out, and free reign. Perhaps the solution is not in the rules, but in more cluttered terrain? Less ability for the tanks to have long clear fire lanes and having to get close enough to risk infantry attacks.
ReplyDeleteDear Sons
DeleteTrue but the Russian front terrain was mostly open.
Really very nice blog and wonderful shared to bolted tanks
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Nothing nw to add, but I do like this style of battle reports: great stuff!
ReplyDelete