Early November ’44. The Soviet Autumn offensive to take Budapest has failed and the Germans are counter-attacking the battered and exhausted Soviet forces.
Chris, Phil and Rob encouraged the Soviets to stand and fight whilst Dave, Greg, Malcolm and Tony barked orders to their German crews.
The Soviets rolled onto the board first, with the T34/85s advancing carefully along the top edge of the board. Phil’s SU85 and mighty T70 were left to hold the rest of the table. Interesting tactics.
The Germans reacted with Tony’s Stug parking itself in brush for the entire game, leaving the MkIVs and Panther to do the real work. Dave’s MkIV seemed fixated on the T70 and was to spend much of the game hiding in a wood as a result. The game degenerated into a long-range gunnery duel, with no casualties. Hits were hard to make as crews wisely “buttoned up” and the dice rolling “to hit was abysmal.
Eventually Tony’s Stug scored a mobility hit on the SU85 which turned round and moved away. The T70 was still in control of a full one third of the table area, and was also joining in the firing against Malcolm’s MkIV. Order of Lenin for him!
Greg was becoming frustrated, and dreaming of cheese and whisky. A potent combination. Well, more potent than his Panther was proving! Eventually the Russian discipline gave way, and Chris and Rob’s T34 /85s moved out of their positions to attack at close range. Rob’s tank became a fireball as it took a long-range flank shot in the open from the Stug.
Chris managed to use the T34’s “fast” attribute to flank the German position and try a side-shot into the Panther. Clang! A roll or three saw the shot bounce. Greg’s revenge. The Panther turned on its tracks and fired a lethal 9 dice into the hapless Chris.
Boom!
With the Soviets left with only a mechanically crippled SU85 and the plucky T70 they conceded the table to the Germans.
An interesting but frustrating game. Unlike Normandy where the Allies normally have numbers vs German quality, this game was much more even tank vs tank, and kills proved much harder.
Simon
Chris, Phil and Rob encouraged the Soviets to stand and fight whilst Dave, Greg, Malcolm and Tony barked orders to their German crews.
The Soviets rolled onto the board first, with the T34/85s advancing carefully along the top edge of the board. Phil’s SU85 and mighty T70 were left to hold the rest of the table. Interesting tactics.
The Germans reacted with Tony’s Stug parking itself in brush for the entire game, leaving the MkIVs and Panther to do the real work. Dave’s MkIV seemed fixated on the T70 and was to spend much of the game hiding in a wood as a result. The game degenerated into a long-range gunnery duel, with no casualties. Hits were hard to make as crews wisely “buttoned up” and the dice rolling “to hit was abysmal.
Eventually Tony’s Stug scored a mobility hit on the SU85 which turned round and moved away. The T70 was still in control of a full one third of the table area, and was also joining in the firing against Malcolm’s MkIV. Order of Lenin for him!
Greg was becoming frustrated, and dreaming of cheese and whisky. A potent combination. Well, more potent than his Panther was proving! Eventually the Russian discipline gave way, and Chris and Rob’s T34 /85s moved out of their positions to attack at close range. Rob’s tank became a fireball as it took a long-range flank shot in the open from the Stug.
Chris managed to use the T34’s “fast” attribute to flank the German position and try a side-shot into the Panther. Clang! A roll or three saw the shot bounce. Greg’s revenge. The Panther turned on its tracks and fired a lethal 9 dice into the hapless Chris.
Boom!
With the Soviets left with only a mechanically crippled SU85 and the plucky T70 they conceded the table to the Germans.
An interesting but frustrating game. Unlike Normandy where the Allies normally have numbers vs German quality, this game was much more even tank vs tank, and kills proved much harder.
Simon
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