George Kelln
Elder Member
Q21.1 Hold Pokhlebin! playtest v. Ernie Cameron; a swirling battle in a windswept village on the eastern front.
The German set up in the village uncertain from which way the Russian attack will come. The Russians attacked from the south quick seizing 4 of the necessary 7 building south of the road.
The German adjusted his forces, still wary of the yet to arriving reinforcements from any direction on turn 3. Laying down fire on the Russians in the buildings south of the road, the Germans were able to break 2 of the 4 5-2-7 squads and kept them DM’d and out of action for two more RPh.
The Russians pushed up the village’s eastern side, capturing the two-hex building all the while taking fire from a 4-6-7 + HMG directed by a 9-1 located in the (X4) fortified building. The Russian fire from the (BB4) woods and into the German 8-0 and 4-6-7 in the (Z3) building resulted in the leader rolling Boxcars (ELRing & Wounding) and was forced to eventually move back to the (Y3) orchard.
By turn 3, the Russians had captured 5 of necessary 7 buildings and they Turn 3 reinforcements (T-34M41, 8-1, 2x 4-5-8 Assault Engineers toting a DC) arrived along the north edge. A 4-5-8 +DC Armored Assaulted with the tank through the (CC2) gap, the squad breaking by fire from fire from a German 4-6-7 located in the (W3) building; but the tank continued forward and VBM froze the 4-6-7 located in the (Z3) building. Just before the tank entered the building, the German 50mm PaK 38 appeared in the adjacent (Y3) orchard, spinning the CA two hex-spines started firing on the tank striking it with 50mm AP rounds (TK 13) hitting the tank in the (AP 11) hull. Meanwhile, the 8-1 and 4-5-8 rushed forward to support the tank while the Russians continued to move up under cover of the building along the east side of the village. Despite getting units up to the PaK, the German had managed to pin down the Russian, preventing them from advancing into CC with the PaK crew.
The PaK having failed to penetrate the T-34’s armour in the DFPh, in the PFPh loaded APCR (TK 17), fired, and hit the tank in the turret (AP 8). The TK resulted in a flaming wreck (something that we failed to notice the effect of). The PaK then turned it sights on the 8-1 and 4-5-8 adjacent to it and during PFPh, pummelled into submission the 8-1 and 4-5-8. Scoring, at least 6 hits, including 3x CH (TH 8, +2 PB, and +2 Acq), when the dust settled, all that was left was broke a 8-1 which slunk away to the BB3 woods.
The Russians seeing that the Germans appeared to be heavily defending the west side of the village, shifted 2x 5-2-7 & the 9-1 right and into the two-hex building, leaving 2x 5-2-7 to defend the four building south of the road and continue to press the German on the west side of the village. This decision proved unwise as quickly both squads were broken with one CR’d and the entire rear was open to a counterattack.
In what was close-in, hand-to-hand fighting, swirling around the German 9-1, 4-6-7 +HMG in the (X4) fortified building, the Russians were attacking counter-clockwise around the north of the village, while the Germans were counterattacking counter clockwise around the south of the village. The Russians had first a 4-2-6 go Berserk and charge the Germans in the fortified building, dying in the (Y5) road (22FP -3). Later a 9-1 went Berserk and encouraged its accompanying 5-2-7 to come along on it charge to the German 4-6-7 located in the (W3) house. The 9-1 and half the squad (2-2-7) made it into the house and in the subsequent CC managed to eliminate the German squad – regaining their composure.
Turn 5 Ernie realized that there should be Drifting Smoke from the Flaming Wreck and it should be drifting to the southwest, right into his fortified building. This helped and hindered both sides, but declaring A.2 in effect, we carried on with the last two turns.
The fight was for the two (V3 & W3) northern buildings as the Germans attempted to counter attack with 1.5 squads. Meanwhile a German 2-4-7 raced south across the roads and recaptured 3 of the 4 buildings. The German 4-6-7 in the (V3) building broke and ELR’d from fire (4+1) from the Russian 9-1, 2-2-7 in the adjacent (W3) building. The German 9-1 leader moved out of the fortified building attempting to rally a broken HS in the (W5) building.
The Russian 9-1 leader advance into the street keeping the broken German Squad DM’d, which worked for one turn, but a German 2-4-7 guarding a prisoner then advanced into CC with the 9-1 leader with no effect the first CCPh now locked in Melee. The German 9-1 moved back into the fortified building containing the 4-6-7 + HMG but fired ineffectively at the Russians, which quickly surrounded the smoke-covered building. A Russian 5-2-7 +LMG in the (W5) building fired into the Melee which resulted in a 1MC, German broke, the prisoners were CR, and the Russian 9-1 rolled snake-eyes and once again went Berserk. In the ensuing Melee, the 9-1 eliminated the broke German HS as it attempted to withdraw, freeing the prisoners.
In a greedy move, the Russians attempted to race a 2-2-7 HS from the (V3) building to recapture the (V7) building and later the other buildings the Germans had retook. It was eliminated by the German 2-4-7 in the (Y7) building (2FP -2) result K/1. In hindsight, the HS should have moved into the (W6) building to prevent the Germans from doubling back to retake the buildings on the western side of the village.
German Turn 5, hindered by the smoke and needing to retake some buildings, the German 9-1 & 4-6-7 advanced out of the fortified building and into the (Y4) smoke covered road in CC vs. a Russian 5-2-7 +LMG. The Germans hoped to eliminate the Russian squad and then later deploy and retake a couple of buildings. In the subsequent CCPh, the Germans rolled BOXCARS! allowing the Russian to withdraw – into the fortified building.
The last turn, Russians controlled the necessary 7 buildings for victory, but the German still had a 9-1, 4-6-7, and 2-4-7, the Russians needed to either: capture more buildings, while not losing any units doing so, or prevent the Germans from taking back any buildings. The Russians went for the latter.
First, the Russians fired at the German 9-1 & 4-6-7 in the smoke with the 4-5-8 directed by the 8-1 in the (Z4) building (8FP +1) which resulted in a 1MC; leader passed and the squad Pinned. In the subsequent APh, a 5-2-7 +LMG to cover the western buildings, the 4-5-8 +DC moved to south end of the building to cover the (Z6-Z8) road, and the 8-1 and a 5-2-7 +LMG advanced in CC. The Russian won the (1:1 -1) attack and survived the German (1:2 -1) attack.
German Turn 6, the German failed to self-rally his DM’d squad in the wood to the west of the village. All the was left for the German was 2-4-7 in the (Y7) building. The only chance for the Germans to rip victory from the jaws of defeat was for the 2-4-7 to dash across the road and retake the (AA5) building. The Russian had only two units that could stop it; the 8-1, 5-2-7 +LMG in the (Y4) road could fire (4.5FP +1) and the 4-5-8 in the (Z5) building. Up to this point in the game Ernie had been rolling well while I had been rolling not so well. The German dashed, the Russian fired (2FP -2) result was DR3 = 1KIA and Russian victory.
This game was an intense, get up in your face battle that had both sides just able to hang on for one more turn. Well fought Mr. Cameron.
Now back to Normandy and more fighting in the bocage.
The German set up in the village uncertain from which way the Russian attack will come. The Russians attacked from the south quick seizing 4 of the necessary 7 building south of the road.
The German adjusted his forces, still wary of the yet to arriving reinforcements from any direction on turn 3. Laying down fire on the Russians in the buildings south of the road, the Germans were able to break 2 of the 4 5-2-7 squads and kept them DM’d and out of action for two more RPh.
The Russians pushed up the village’s eastern side, capturing the two-hex building all the while taking fire from a 4-6-7 + HMG directed by a 9-1 located in the (X4) fortified building. The Russian fire from the (BB4) woods and into the German 8-0 and 4-6-7 in the (Z3) building resulted in the leader rolling Boxcars (ELRing & Wounding) and was forced to eventually move back to the (Y3) orchard.
By turn 3, the Russians had captured 5 of necessary 7 buildings and they Turn 3 reinforcements (T-34M41, 8-1, 2x 4-5-8 Assault Engineers toting a DC) arrived along the north edge. A 4-5-8 +DC Armored Assaulted with the tank through the (CC2) gap, the squad breaking by fire from fire from a German 4-6-7 located in the (W3) building; but the tank continued forward and VBM froze the 4-6-7 located in the (Z3) building. Just before the tank entered the building, the German 50mm PaK 38 appeared in the adjacent (Y3) orchard, spinning the CA two hex-spines started firing on the tank striking it with 50mm AP rounds (TK 13) hitting the tank in the (AP 11) hull. Meanwhile, the 8-1 and 4-5-8 rushed forward to support the tank while the Russians continued to move up under cover of the building along the east side of the village. Despite getting units up to the PaK, the German had managed to pin down the Russian, preventing them from advancing into CC with the PaK crew.
The PaK having failed to penetrate the T-34’s armour in the DFPh, in the PFPh loaded APCR (TK 17), fired, and hit the tank in the turret (AP 8). The TK resulted in a flaming wreck (something that we failed to notice the effect of). The PaK then turned it sights on the 8-1 and 4-5-8 adjacent to it and during PFPh, pummelled into submission the 8-1 and 4-5-8. Scoring, at least 6 hits, including 3x CH (TH 8, +2 PB, and +2 Acq), when the dust settled, all that was left was broke a 8-1 which slunk away to the BB3 woods.
The Russians seeing that the Germans appeared to be heavily defending the west side of the village, shifted 2x 5-2-7 & the 9-1 right and into the two-hex building, leaving 2x 5-2-7 to defend the four building south of the road and continue to press the German on the west side of the village. This decision proved unwise as quickly both squads were broken with one CR’d and the entire rear was open to a counterattack.
In what was close-in, hand-to-hand fighting, swirling around the German 9-1, 4-6-7 +HMG in the (X4) fortified building, the Russians were attacking counter-clockwise around the north of the village, while the Germans were counterattacking counter clockwise around the south of the village. The Russians had first a 4-2-6 go Berserk and charge the Germans in the fortified building, dying in the (Y5) road (22FP -3). Later a 9-1 went Berserk and encouraged its accompanying 5-2-7 to come along on it charge to the German 4-6-7 located in the (W3) house. The 9-1 and half the squad (2-2-7) made it into the house and in the subsequent CC managed to eliminate the German squad – regaining their composure.
Turn 5 Ernie realized that there should be Drifting Smoke from the Flaming Wreck and it should be drifting to the southwest, right into his fortified building. This helped and hindered both sides, but declaring A.2 in effect, we carried on with the last two turns.
The fight was for the two (V3 & W3) northern buildings as the Germans attempted to counter attack with 1.5 squads. Meanwhile a German 2-4-7 raced south across the roads and recaptured 3 of the 4 buildings. The German 4-6-7 in the (V3) building broke and ELR’d from fire (4+1) from the Russian 9-1, 2-2-7 in the adjacent (W3) building. The German 9-1 leader moved out of the fortified building attempting to rally a broken HS in the (W5) building.
The Russian 9-1 leader advance into the street keeping the broken German Squad DM’d, which worked for one turn, but a German 2-4-7 guarding a prisoner then advanced into CC with the 9-1 leader with no effect the first CCPh now locked in Melee. The German 9-1 moved back into the fortified building containing the 4-6-7 + HMG but fired ineffectively at the Russians, which quickly surrounded the smoke-covered building. A Russian 5-2-7 +LMG in the (W5) building fired into the Melee which resulted in a 1MC, German broke, the prisoners were CR, and the Russian 9-1 rolled snake-eyes and once again went Berserk. In the ensuing Melee, the 9-1 eliminated the broke German HS as it attempted to withdraw, freeing the prisoners.
In a greedy move, the Russians attempted to race a 2-2-7 HS from the (V3) building to recapture the (V7) building and later the other buildings the Germans had retook. It was eliminated by the German 2-4-7 in the (Y7) building (2FP -2) result K/1. In hindsight, the HS should have moved into the (W6) building to prevent the Germans from doubling back to retake the buildings on the western side of the village.
German Turn 5, hindered by the smoke and needing to retake some buildings, the German 9-1 & 4-6-7 advanced out of the fortified building and into the (Y4) smoke covered road in CC vs. a Russian 5-2-7 +LMG. The Germans hoped to eliminate the Russian squad and then later deploy and retake a couple of buildings. In the subsequent CCPh, the Germans rolled BOXCARS! allowing the Russian to withdraw – into the fortified building.
The last turn, Russians controlled the necessary 7 buildings for victory, but the German still had a 9-1, 4-6-7, and 2-4-7, the Russians needed to either: capture more buildings, while not losing any units doing so, or prevent the Germans from taking back any buildings. The Russians went for the latter.
First, the Russians fired at the German 9-1 & 4-6-7 in the smoke with the 4-5-8 directed by the 8-1 in the (Z4) building (8FP +1) which resulted in a 1MC; leader passed and the squad Pinned. In the subsequent APh, a 5-2-7 +LMG to cover the western buildings, the 4-5-8 +DC moved to south end of the building to cover the (Z6-Z8) road, and the 8-1 and a 5-2-7 +LMG advanced in CC. The Russian won the (1:1 -1) attack and survived the German (1:2 -1) attack.
German Turn 6, the German failed to self-rally his DM’d squad in the wood to the west of the village. All the was left for the German was 2-4-7 in the (Y7) building. The only chance for the Germans to rip victory from the jaws of defeat was for the 2-4-7 to dash across the road and retake the (AA5) building. The Russian had only two units that could stop it; the 8-1, 5-2-7 +LMG in the (Y4) road could fire (4.5FP +1) and the 4-5-8 in the (Z5) building. Up to this point in the game Ernie had been rolling well while I had been rolling not so well. The German dashed, the Russian fired (2FP -2) result was DR3 = 1KIA and Russian victory.
This game was an intense, get up in your face battle that had both sides just able to hang on for one more turn. Well fought Mr. Cameron.
Now back to Normandy and more fighting in the bocage.
