World War III Chapter IV

If you read my last post you know I had to play a battle with lots of russian toys and my german marders on the table.  I have a German squad rolled up ( actually the whole platoon because a German Panzer grenadier platoon only has 2 squads) so used them.  Didn't roll up a scenario as this was going to be a Soviet attack.  Did roll up the board which put a river on the board.
The German characters are:

Lt Weiss  A generals son with a mercurial temper    Gr 0 leader
Sgt Lachman   a dockworker briefly before enlisting.   Careful in all he does   Gr I leader   1st squad
Sgt Blaum  a drifter before he found a home in the Bundeswehr.  Glum outlook  Gr I leader  2nd sq

The Germans are average troops ( 8/8 for FoF) and 2nd squad is down 1 man.  

The following action is taken from chapter IV from Jonathan Lachman's book Wrong Place; Wrong Time.  My view of WW III .  Published by Tasche books, Koln Germany, 1987.  [ Please note this is not a real book!  I am setting the stage for the story as it makes for a better game.]  If you want to read about Sgt Lachman's first encounter please go back to here:  http://platoonforward.blogspot.com/2017/09/chapter-three-tornado-corner.html    ( sept 2017 post Tornado corner)

In the four days since my first encounter I had slept once.  We had one skirmish with Ivan as a whole platoon in which second squad was hit hard.  The Lt still didn't know what he was doing but at least he wasn't making bad decisions anymore.  Capt Zeiss told us that the Soviets had to be stopped.  The company was going to plug several possible approaches.  Ours was at a stream in front of  the town of Krinholden.  There were no tanks left but we would get a Jagdpanzer and there were 2 helos assigned to the company.

Krinholden on the right.  Soviets will enter from the left.  Stream is not fordable.  All buildings are average construction except factory.  

The Lt placed me at the bottom of the picture with my squad.  I was to cover the bridge.  I left the Milan on my track so we could hide in the buildings.  Blaum was in the forest upstream of the bridge hoping to pick off some forces before they reached the bridge.  He would then retreat to the brick houses.  The Lt was at the gas station with the Gustav rocket launcher and the RTO.  I didn't think it wise to be in a gas station with petrol tanks around me but who am I to question a German officer?  

The road into town.  Whoever painted that road did a nice job!

My track and the Jadgpanzer.  This photo was altered by removing the roof so you could see the house my squad occupied.  Nice decal on my track I must say!

The business end of the Jadgpanzer

The Soviets roll on! 

The Soviets continue to roll forward.  I saw many german missiles fly by but no hits!  The lead BDRM started shooting at 2nd squad.  I held my breath and told my squad to not move as the lead Soviet tank rolled toward our buildings.
My track also saw the Soviet tank and fired a missile with the plan to shoot and then duck back.  Of course the Milan is not a fire and forget.  

The Lead Soviet tank was not willing to forget!  Fortunately no one was killed.

The Jadgpanzer got one shot off that missed and ducked back successfully.  I just watched the tank roll up to our position and stop.  Thank God for the stream!
 Sgt Blaum's panzerfaust had immobilzed 1 BDRM but he was forced to withdraw to his track with 1 serious wound and 2 lightly wounded.  

Sgt Blaum recovers his squad.

There was nothing to stop the russians from continuing into the town except the Gustav.

Bulls eye!   The bridge is blocked!

Board at mid game.  Lead Soviet tank looking for targets. ( He has failed to spot 1st squad)   Orders 2 tanks to force bridge and turn hard right to flush out the Jadgpanzer.  1 BMP to accompany and a second if necessary.

I can see the Soviets start to force the bridge.  I decide not to fire as my guns will do little damage and will invite the T-80 in front of me to blow up my house.

Just then a hear a "whop whop whop whop".  I run to the window and see...

Through my tired eyes it looks like an Apache helicopter!  I am mistaken though it is actually a german HOT toting helo.

The Russian Shilka crew gets all excited.  They were built specifically for this purpose but on their reaction roll they have to draw a FOW card and.....

THEIR FIRE CONTROL SYSTEM BREAKS!!!!!!   I built this model for nothing!!!!!!!!!
Worse 2 turns later while trying to repair it I roll snake eyes so it is permanently damaged.  The crew do the honorable thing and get back in and ask a T-80 to blow them up.
Back to the story...

The Helo blows up at T-80 which slows Ivan down momentarily.  But soon he is back at it.  The commander's track firer's a missile that just misses so the Soviets decide to dismount their infantry to cross the bridge.  At this point I hear a loud roar and find myself staring up at the sky.  Dazed I find my men and we pull back from the rubbled house. 

Sgt Lachman taking stock of the situation.   In the background is his panzerfaust team.

Soviet infantry start to cross.  The lead tank is pinned.   The Soviet NCO is my Khurasian figure.  He did fit in fine despite my concern.

Soviets engage 2nd squad from the bridge.

Board towards the end game.  Lachman's rubbled house across from the T-80 who finally spotted him. Blaum still holds brick house and trees.  Gas station wrecked and survivors in apartments.

Soviet infantry enter Krinholden.

I mean a lot of Soviet infantry enter Krinholden!


As I gathered my squad Herman came around the corner and said Ivan was streaming over the bridge.  With no track and no Jadgpanzer I decided we had better make ourselves scarce!
I met up  with Blaum 5 hours later at the rally point.  He said the LT had been wounded but was expected to recover.  Well, I will give the LT this much, he is no coward.

Great game that really showed off all my vehicles.  It was fun.  I called it a draw as the Germans were substantially outnumbered and staved off Ivan for a long time.  Post game the LT does make it back for next battle.  Lt Lachman's squad appreaciates his carefully approach to keeping them alive and their morale goes up by 1.  Capt Zeiss notices Lachman's leadership as well.  Who knows where this will lead.  Guess we will have to read more of the book!

Enjoy

Joe