Hold the Line, a What a Tanker scenario in Russia 1941

This week our much travelled reporter moved from the sands of the Levant to the open plains of Western Russia during Summer 1941, and the German invasion of Russia codename Barbarossa. The German orders were to destroy Russian armour and cut the road. Nothing was ever revealed of the Russian orders. No doubt the political Commissar hadn’t bothered informing his army counterpart. “If I tell you I’ll have to shoot you”.

The German armour entered the combat zone under a pall of oily smoke courtesy of a line of burning Russian trucks. Nice work by those Luftwaffe boys! Rob performed his usual trick of planting the Pz38(T) in the southernmost copse of trees , and waited to see what would happen.

 

It looked like the most powerful German tank was going to let the others do the fighting! The PzIIs and IIIs entered more to the North, and tried to make best use of the scanty cover. The Ivans clanked on the table to meet them. 

One tank headed South to block Rob, leaving five to take on the four Germans further North. With pretty crap guns this was going to be a game of manoeuvring for flank and rear shots, and a search for cover.

Tony’s PzIII followed Rob’s example and heroically hid in the other copse,

leaving the mighty PzIIs to take the battle to the T26s and BT7s. One PzII exploded, 

but in response the Umpire ruled against a clear German shot on the Russkie. “Commissar Banks” was showing his true colours. He might have well said “they are my tanks and they always win”.

Undaunted the Germans pressed on, killing a Soviet tank

whilst at least one PzIII remembered the mission and crossed the road to take the battle to the massed Red armour. A game of cat-and-mouse ensued around the house and the cornfields, as tanks stalked each other trying to get the elusive killing shots away. Another Russkie suffered  heavy damage but fought on.

In the South Rob woke up, realised he actually had to face combat and took on the might  of the Red army. Dave’s tank retreated with heavy damage but remained in the fight. 

Back North the Germans faced the behemoth that was the T28 or T35. Through the smoke it was difficult to tell. Tony’s PzII advanced heroically but its puny 20mm cannon made no impact on the 5 armour dice. The return fire looked fatal until the “sandbags” card saved the day. Finally Simon’s PzIII found itself outnumbered and  cornered,

and succumbed to a flank shot. Boom!  Photos of the Russians machine gunning  the surrendering crew show the true moral depravity of the Communist regime.

With the light drawing in the Soviet-sympathiser umpire called an end to proceedings. Both sides claimed victory but as we all know “history is written by the victors”. Ergo the Germans won!

Next week we return to Outremer. Chris will be once again a Crusader. I predict a Muslim victory.

Simon