In order for the desperate German attempt to relieve von Paulus' trapped 6th Army in Stalingrad to succeed, dubbed Operation Winter Storm (Wintergewitter), the commander of the 6th Panzer Division, Generalmajor Erhard Raus, knew he had to beat an unforgiving timetable. Some of the most bitter fighting took place over days on the heights south of a hamlet by the name of Verkhne-Kumsky, where the Soviets occupied expertly camouflaged, well-fortified positions, bristling with anti-tank guns and a force increasingly confident of its ability to halt the German juggernaut in its tracks.
Attacker: German (Panzer-Regiment 11 and Panzergrenadier-Regiment 114, 6. Panzer-Division)
Defender: Russian (1378th Rifle Regiment and 382nd Antitank Regiment with 4th Mechanized Corps)
7 turns
Players: 2 OBA: None Night: No
Unit Counts:
Squads: A:19.0 D:21.0
AFVs: A:10
PzKpfw IVH PzKpfw IVF2 PzKpfw IVF1 x 2 PzKpfw IIIJ x 2 SPW 251/1 x 4
AFVs: D:2
T-34 M41 T-70
Guns: A:0
5cm leGrW 36 PzB 39 ATR x 2
D:2
45mm PTP obr. 32 37mm ZP obr. 39 50mm RM obr. 40
Misc Rules:
GS (E3.72), Mist (E3.32), A: Air Support (E7) Ground Snow, KGP Mist
The first couple turns proved extremely boring, as the Russians chose to maintain concealment rather than face the German air, with the only casualty being the Russian AT gun to a lucky CH. Turn 3 saw the Germans breach the hill, with both sides losing a squad. Turn 4 saw the Germans lose two squads to the Russians' one, while the much-needed reinforcements poured on to shore up the weak east side of the Russian defense. Turn 5 was a bit costly for the Germans, losing two HT to an ATR and the mortar, as well as another 2.5 squads to the Russians' one. The fighting in the east waged fierce, while the west saw a Stalingrad-like standoff. Turn 6 was hugely pro-German however, with the Russians losing a massive 4.5 squads to the Germans' one; both sides lost a tank, and the Germans started to firmly establish themselves in the east. Turn 7 saw the Germans grab their minimum 18 hexes (having knocked out the aforementioned gun and tank), and the Russians would do their silly mad dash to reclaim just one. The east was all but impenetrable, so it would come down to a breaking of the long standoff in the west. With many Russians lost trying, all German infantry were busted up in V4, but three Russian squads and two -1 leaders unable to bring down the sole stationary German tank that remained, thus preserving the German win. Just like abiut every other HazMo scenario I've played before this was a game that went down to the end, and just like every other one before it proved rather boring to play.
2023-03-23
(A) Richard Jenulis
vs
Steve Anderson
German win
2023 Chicago Open (round one) played at the Nor'Easter.
Well this was a first, Playing round one of a tournament at a different tournament.
The Germans moved aggressively against the small hill on the left and were able to close and clear it by turn three. The Russians brought in their reinforcements to booster up their defense on the large hill.
The Germans were destroyed both guns and one Russian tank, reducing the number of hill hexes needed. The Russians called the game on the bottom of turn 6. We played with the errata. Highlights for the Germans included an 8-1 leader who picked up a LMG and went full Rambo, going heroic and terrorizing the Russians from turn 2 to the end of the game.
Fun, tense scenario. Steve and I had a blast playing this one.
2022-12-14
(A) Michael Rodgers
vs
Bruno L'Archeveque
Russian win
I started this playing before the Dec 1 playing. I set up Germans for some Prep fire on turn one; a waste. Conceded after too many casualties on turn three.
2022-12-01
(D) Michael Rodgers
vs
Kevin Killeen
Russian win
In this scenario, mixed German infantry with assault engineers, air, DC, FT, 4 AFV, reinforced by more of the same, try for hill hexes vs mixed infantry with 2 guns, fortifications reinforced by infantry and 2 AFV in 1942. We had made our Pleva bids (G1 for him, G0 for me) and arrived at sides before we became aware of the errata about a missing T-70. We decided to play it as we bid it. Kevin did a good job of bringing the Germans up quickly while the mist was in effect. I took few shots early on, fearing the air support. When the mist and air support were over, the battle began in earnest. I defended the small hill with about one third of the force. Kevin attacked both hills at the same time. The small hill held out longer than I expected. I had average dice overall, I believe, but the timing of my good dice was key. During the last German turn, they needed one more hex and managed to start a melee in it. During the last Russian turn however, a Russian squad eliminated a lone Panzer in CC to render the melee moot.
