AAR: Clash At The Crossroads

The scenario is a German drive to take a crossroad in the Soviet rear sometime in the summer of 1944. The kampfgruppe has two Panther G platoons of 3 tanks each; a Mk IV platoon of 4 tanks; a mounted Panzer Grenadier company of two platoons (3 squads each); 2 HQ Panthers; and support by an off-map 105 battery. Trailing behind the kampfgruppe are three StuG IVs. Opposing is an adhoc Soviet force of: 1 three gun SU-76M battery; 1 T-34-76 company of 7 tanks; 3 76mm AT guns with Studebaker prime movers; an infantry company of 2 platoons with 2 squads each; a battery of 76mm artillery in support (maybe); an IL-2 sortie; and a depleted T-34/85 company as reinforcements on the way. The troops for both sides were rated as regulars.

Rules are "Mein Panzer".

Scale is 6mm.

This is an overview of the terrain. The Germans will enter from the top of the photo, 6 inches either side of the road. The Soviets will defend the crossroads and its approaches.

This picture shows the German entry path (in blue). The Soviet positions are in red. Position A is a low ridge where the SU-76 battery is deployed. Position B is low ground filled with scrub and small trees. The T-34/76 company is deployed here to ambush the Germans. Position C is the village. The Soviet infantry company is deployed here in dug-in positions. Position D is where two Zis-3 76mm guns are dug-in.

The Germans cautiously advancing along the road. They've already engaged the SU-76 battery which was in the woods to their right front. The Soviets lost 1 SU-76 with the surviving 2 withdrawing deeper into the woods to escape the fire power of the Panthers. The picture shows the first pass of the Il-2. It made a rocket attack on one of the Panthers, but missed.

The German tank line cautiously approaches the Soviet concealed T-34 company in the brushy low ground. The Soviets need to get close and try for flank shots to take out the Panthers, hence they are trying for an ambush.

The Panthers spotted a T-34, engaged it but only immobilized it (back luck on the To-Kill rolls). The Soviets then charged forward and managed to enjoy good To-Hit and To-Kill rolls, killing 2 Panthers and 1 Mk IV, the kills generating brew-ups.

The end of turn 8. The surviving T-34s moved out to try to kill the surviving Panther and to try to get to the Panzer Grenadiers in their transports. It is not to be. The Germans respond by bringing over their right flank Panther platoon who deal with the Soviet T-34s. Unfortunately for the Germans, the Mk IV platoon fails its morale check due to their loss of a tank and Break. The IL-2 returns to the map, makes another rocket attack on a Panther and gets a kill. By now the Germans have lost 5 of their 12 tanks. The Soviets have lost 1 SU-76 and 5 of 7 T-34/76s.

The reinforcing T-34-85 company arriving on the map on turn 10. I had it set so that on turn 8 the Soviets would begin to roll for their arrival, needing a 1-2 on a D6 to bring them on. Once they got the arrival roll. then the Soviet rolled to see how many of the 10 tanks in the company actually made it. Each vehicle was rolled for with a 1-2 of a D6 taking them out of the arrival.

The T-34-85s deploy to the left of the village. They are attempting to dominate the open ground in front of the village, ground over which the Germans must cross.

The Germans recover their temporarily retreated Mk IV platoon and begin to move towards their objective. The Sturmovik returns and lines up to attack the German tanks again, but AA fire from the German halftrack mounted machineguns downs the Soviet plane which falls onto the battlefield.

The T-34-85s engage the advancing German armor.

One of the SU-76 emerges from the woods and nails a Panther (lower left). A Mk IV will be tasked to deal with this threat.

The trailing StuG IVs make their appearance on the board. They will join the battle line but will have no effect on this engagement.

The German directs his Panzer Grenadiers into the low ground from which the T-34s had lain in ambush. This defilade will mask the infantry’s dismount for their assault against the village.

The Soviet T-34-85 line has been trading fire with the German tanks in the center and both sides suffer losses, the Soviets tanks suffering kills, the Germans losing a Panther as a kill and two Panthers and a Mk IV as mobility losses.

The German center, with the Stug IV battery trundling up to the battle line. The surviving T34-85s collect behind the village, shielding themselves from the German tank fire and to provide close support to their infantry against the coming German infantry attack.

The trailing Panzer Grenadiers dismount, their comrades having already moved into the woods heading for the village.

The German artillery begins to fall on the suspected Soviet infantry positions and the leading Grenadier platoon breaks from the trees into the open, their comrades moving up to their left.

Meanwhile, on the German left another SU-76 emerges from the trees and takes on a wary Mk IV. The exchange goes to the Soviet. The SUs from this point remain cautious, not wanting to press their luck in the open, so they stay in the trees waiting for a good shot at low risk, should the opportunity present itself.

The German infantry closes on the village while the German artillery pins the Soviet infantry in their foxholes.

Now the Soviet artillery appears and catches the Germans in the open.

The Soviet Zis now open up on the advancing German infantry. These guns, dug in, are masked from the German tanks, so the infantry is on its own against them.

The German infantry has taken losses from the Soviet guns and the Soviet artillery. This is the moment when the German infantry advance is checked. The right German grenadier platoon breaks and begins to fall back.

The moment when the Germans called off the assault. The German artillery still falls, but now to cover the withdrawl.

Soviet losses: 1 IL-2 shot down; 6 T-34/76s killed; 4 T-34-85s killed; 1 SU-76 killed and 1 SU-76 immobilized.

German losses: 4 Panthers killed; 3 Panthers immobilized; 2 Mk IVs killed and 1 Mk IV immobilized; and 25% infantry casualties.