Our battlefield was set up by about 10am in a friend's lounge in Stoke, New Zealand. A homemade battle mat--a simple, green futon cover decorated with spray paint--was draped over folding tables. Brown paper roads connected resin farmhouse models sitting on felt templates. The dark, irregular patches of cloth peppered with trees served as templates for wooded terrain. I didn't bother with hills in this game, I wanted to keep it simple. This is a view from the German right flank.
The historical setting was probably Poland in July 1944. We assumed that Soviet forces had shattered German Army Group Centre; in our game, the defenders had rushed various armoured units to hasty positions in front of a Red Army mechanised spearhead. The Germans had to occupy five of the six villages by game's end in order to score a victory.
Here's the launch pad for Axis forces. My opponent (it was a one-on-one game) has an extensive Flames of War miniatures collection for the German side. (Most of it is unpainted, but we'll work on that later.) I provided the Soviet forces--also Flames of War models--and had them arriving on a set schedule, but with random die rolls to determine where they entered on the table. Essentially, the Soviet attack was gamed out in a role-playing style, since I was acting as an adviser and helper to the German commander. He had no idea what was coming at him. As it turned out, he was hit by most of a full-strength Soviet Tank Corps. Never a dull moment!
We used a homebrew set of rules called
Hail of Lead, which uses command rolls for variable movement, plus handfuls of dice for firing. Each full game turn represents 20 to 30 minutes of real battle; each model (or base with figures) represents 40 to 50 men, or 3 to 5 vehicles/weapons. Players fire with platoons (models), but maneuver with companies and battalions. The ground scale: 50 centimetres on the table represent one kilometre (or, put another way, one milimetre represents two metres of actual distance).
Now, on to the game!
The Germans have set up their initial defenses. Each of three villages on the Axis half of the table contains troops.
The German right flank consists of a couple of Panzergrenadier companies on foot. Note the attached 7.5cm PaK40 anti-tank gun team with tractor.
The German left flank has more Panzergrenadiers on foot, plus a company of Marder III M tank destroyers hidden in a patch of woods.
The German mobile reserve consists of a StuG III G assault gun company hidden in the table centre.
The German centre is protected by a couple of batteries of 7.5cm PaK40 guns. Note the German headquarters unit skulking in the woods to the left. There's a division command team with a staff team and a mobile anti-aircraft gun in there. During the game, there was the ever-present threat of the appearance of Soviet IL-2M Sturmovik attack-bomber aircraft, but they appeared only briefly for no effect.
Another view of the German centre.
The game gets underway! Elements of a Soviet Motorcycle Battalion--a recce element of the Tank Corps--appear at the German right flank. BA-10 heavy armoured cars lead M3 White scout cars filled with submachine gunners. Not pictured: the small column nearest the Germans was wiped out to the man by the PaK40. Ouch!
The meat of the Soviet Motorcycle Battalion advances in column.
A Soviet "armoured car" company, consisting of a BA-64 light armoured car leading two captured German half-tracks filled with submachine gunners. This group moves towards the German centre.
Enter the dragon! On the German left flank, a couple of Soviet BA-64 reconnaissance vehicles fan out in front of self-propelled guns and tanks. SU-76M assault guns are at the lower left; three battalions of four T-34/85 tanks come in at top. Foot personnel swarm into the empty village. The Germans are facing a Light SU Regiment and a full-strength Tank Brigade.
In the centre, the German player brings on reinforcing reconnaissance elements: a motorised infantry company with a heavy armoured-car company (armed with SdKfz 231 8-rad vehicles). These open fire on the soviet armoured-car company, and send them packing.
Another full-strength Soviet Tank Brigade appears opposite the German left!
A turn later, the first Soviet Tank Brigade has essentially lost a tank battalion. Where did that fire come from?
You had to ask. German armour, of course. A Marder tank-hunter company in the centre, flanked by two Panther tank companies that just arrived in time. The Marders have traded hits with the T-34/85's, and come out the worst, with only one model left. The yellow marker beside it shows it to be suppressed (unable to fire). This last vehicle would soon withdraw after expending all its ammunition.
A different view of the Soviet attack. Now the SU-76M's have lost half their number.
The second Tank Brigade swings towards the centre, while the first Tank Brigade continues to push against the German left flank. Note the appearance of Soviet IS-2 heavy tanks (middle right). The Germans were now dealing with two Tank Brigades and a Heavy Tank Regiment.
The first Soviet Tank Brigade attacks in the centre. Note the German tank company (two Panzer IV H tanks) at upper right; these were inflicting losses that halted the Brigade. Also note the German reconnaissance teams in the woods at left. The Soviet tanks would force these elements back.
A closer look at the Soviet Heavy Tank Regiment, with supporting personnel.
The German Panthers have been reinforced by the rest of the mixed Panzer Battalion. Note the battalion headquarters at centre right: a command Panzer IV H with a Möbelwagen anti-aircraft tank.
Another wide view of the Soviet attack, as seen from the German left. The Soviets have been reinforced with another unit: a Medium SU Regiment, armed with four SU-85 tank destroyers.
The German commander surveys the battlefield.
New German arrivals on the right flank: a Panzer Pioneer company (right) and a Panzergrenadier company (center), all in armoured half-tracks. The latter unit have a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun attached. The German player has decided to push for the unoccupied town in front of them.
Elements of the Soviet reconnaissance are lingering on the German right flank. A company of T-34/76 M1942 tanks moves up to threaten the centre.
Unfortunately for those same T-34's, the Germans bring on a Heavy Panzer Company consisting of two Tiger I E tanks. The Soviet vehicles were quickly dispatched at the distance of almost a kilometer.
In addition, the German centre is bolstered by a full-strength Heavy Tank Company made up of King Tiger tanks. This signals the beginning of the end for the Soviet second Tank Brigade.
The German left flank under pressure. The closest Panther company has lost one tank (marked by a red ball), and more dismounted Panzergrenadiers march up behind the patch of woods to support the panzers. Those German tanks are low on ammunition at this point in the battle.
Soviet positions opposite the German left. The SU-85's (centre) have lost half their number already, mainly due to fire from the long guns of the Panthers. Remnants of two tank battalions are moving up through the woods (left) to keep up the pressure.
A top view of the battle in the centre. Note the German Tiger I heavies (left) and the King Tigers (middle top) facing the Soviet tanks. The Kings would knock out both battalions of T-34/85's with no loss to themselves--but a few close calls! The German heavies then fell back with shaky morale.
In the final chapter of the battle, a third (!) Soviet Tank Brigade with more T-34/85 tanks races onto the battlefield from in front of the German right flank towards the centre. Note the Tiger I heavies at top left. The front-most Soviet battalion will suffer several casualties from the Tigers as the game is called due to time constraints. One Tiger was suppressed for all that.
The battle was declared a German victory. They occupied four villages, and were about to try for a fifth. And the Soviets had lost approximately 30 tanks and self-propelled guns while destroying or driving off three Marders, two Panthers, and two Panzer IV's. This result was not unexpected. The German defense was solid and well-planned, whereas the enemy units attacked randomly and without good coordination. Also, the Germans were shooting as veterans, whereas the Soviets shot as a quality step below that. Finally, the Soviets could not bring their off-table mortar artillery to bear effectively because their command teams did not move into good positions for observation before the Soviet armour attacked. Big mistake.
The day's lesson: think smaller next time. This battle could be fought to conclusion if we halved the forces. But the point of the game was to roll lots of dice and get heaps of armour on the table; we have no regrets.
