20MM RAPIDFIRE: MTSENSK 6th OCTOBER 1941

Dave Paterson and I had not decided on our game at Falkirk on Monday so I quickly adapted a game that I played previously.  I supplied the troops, scenario and the club provided the scenery.

The game was a variant on the 1941 Kamenewo scenario in the Rapidfire Eastern Front scenario book.  I simplified the terrain by omitting the river in the original map – moving it of table and revised the German OB to agree with the models I had available.  Dave Paterson commanded the Germans, Kevin Bowman the Soviets whilst I umpired.

Germans advance confidently against the weak Soviet rearguard

The Germans made an impressive start to the game sweeping onto the table and quickly knocking out the rearguards T26 which was dug in near Woin.  The Germans panzers were making good going when on turn 6 the soviet BT7s and T 34 command appeared on the scene.  The shooting of these reinforcements was uniformly abysmal. Next turn the T34s and KV1 appeared and their shooting was not much better.  The game was all over in 2 more moves with the Soviet player conceding at the end of turn 9 by which time their only remaining tank on the field was the T60.  The Germans lost one tank destroyed.  This was a complete reversal of the result the last time I staged this game.  This game has inspired me to do another 1941 game next week

PZIV heavy tank company covers the motorcycle troops

Here is the OBs and briefings for the players.

Soviet Forces

Rearguard

HQ:  CO + 3 figures including 50mm Mtr, car
Rifle Coy:  8 figures
Rifle Coy:  8 figures
Rifle Coy:  8 figures
Supp Coy:  82mm Mtr, 45mm ATG, 6 figures, truck
Att Coy:  T26

Reinforcements

4^TH Tank Brigade HQ  - turn 6
T34/76 , T60

2^nd Tank Battalion – turn 6

4 BT7

1^st Tank Battalion – turn 7

4 T34/76, KV1

4^th Motor Rifle Btn: - turn 8

HQ:  CO + 3 figures including 50mm Mtr, car
Rifle Coy:  8 figures, truck
Rifle Coy:  8 figures, truck
Rifle Coy:  8 figures, truck
Supp Coy:  MMG, 82mm Mtr, 6 figures, truck

Morale.  Test per battalion.  4^th Brigade tanks are ELITE!

Objective

The German objective is to cross the table and advance to Woin.  The Soviet objective is to stop the German advance and drive them back to within 2ft of the fascist entry side. Urraah!

Notes

The Soviet rearguard including the T26 can be dug in any point 2ft north of the south table edge.
Reinforcements enter anywhere along the north table edge.
Woods are impassable to tanks.
The Germans will enter along the road or on their wide left flank due to them crossing the river running along the south table edge.

Soviet armour burning in front of the German right flank

 

German Forces - elements of the 4^th Panzer Division

35th PANZER REGT

HQ: PZIII Cmd
1^st Coy: 2 PZIII
2^nd Coy:2 PZIII
3^rd Coy: 2 PZIV
4^th Coy: 2 PZ38t
5^th Coy: 2 PZII

34^th MC Battalion

HQ: CO + 5 Figs incl ATR, 50mm Mtr, car
1^st MC Coy:  9 Figs on 3 MC combinations
2^nd MC Coy: 9 Figs on 3 MC combinations
3^rd MC Coy:  9 Figs on 3 MC combinations
4^th MG Coy: 2 MMG, 81mm Mtr, 9 Figs, truck
5^th Hvy Coy:  50mm ATG, 75mm IG, 6 Figs, 2 trucks
Attached
Armd Inf Coy: 10 Figs, Sd251

Support

AA Bty:  88mm AA, 5 crew, tow

Morale – Regular.  Infantry test as 1 unit. 
Tanks are ELITE.  Tanks test per company.

Objective

The German objective is to cross the table and advance to Woin.  The Soviet objective is to stop the German advance and drive them back to within 2ft of their entry side.

Notes

The German units must enter in a 1 vehicle wide column along the road and in a 1 vehicle wide column on their left flank.  This simulates them crossing the river Lisiza of the south table edge.  The Panzer Regt must all be on table before any other German units can enter.

Woods are impassable to tanks.