Guards Motorstrelkovy vs Finn Pioneers (Blind Domination)

This battle is Game two in our Operation Bagration Campaign. I didn't take a picture of the board but you can consult the bottom of this post to see a map. In this game, Sean attempted to relieve his surrounded forces by counter attacking from Lepel to the recently captured Berezino. Train Tracks, bridge, and swamps by Battlefront Miniatures Roads and Creek by JR Miniatures We rolled for the mission and came up with Blind Domination- we both agree that this is one of our absolute favorite missions. The first three movement steps are pre-planned out for you, and we love how this makes for a really smooth transition from deployment to playing.

Sean's Finn Pioneers HQ + Panzerfausts Finn Pioneers + Panzerfaust + Supply Wagon Finn Pioneers + Panzerfaust Finn Pioneers + Panzerfaust 3 Captured T-34/85 3 Sturmi German 10.5cm Battery (Firestorm)

Steven's Soviet Guards Motorstrelkovy HQ (all FT) 2 Platoon Motorstrelkovy Company + Komissar 1 Platoon Motorstrelkovy Company + Komissar & Maxim HMG Motorized Mortar Company 3 SU-152 + Tank Escorts 5x SU-85 + Tank Escorts Spetsnaz w/ captured halftracks (FV) 3x T-34/85 + Tank Escorts (forestorm) (CT) 5x T-45 + Tank Escorts (Firestorm) (CT)

SETUP AND DEPLOYMENT

The board from the soviet POV.

UNITS IN RESERVE
Sean's Finn Pioneers	Steven's Soviet Guards Motorstrelkovy

DEPLOYMENT SUMMARY

Sean's Finn Pioneers: Both armies orders are pre-planned through turn 3. Steven's Soviet Guards Motorstrelkovy: Both armies orders are pre-planned through turn 3.

TURN 1

Only recon forces arrive on turn 1, but Sean sends the 105 observer up

Spetsnaz moves up the road, contesting 2 1 point objectives.

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Sean's Finn Pioneers	Steven's Soviet Guards Motorstrelkovy

TURN 1 SUMMARY

Sean's Finn Pioneers: Observer moves on. Steven's Soviet Guards Motorstrelkovy: Spetsnaz move on.

TURN 2

The battle slowly develops.

Sean brings 105s on immediately to let them get setup (Guns are allowed to move as wheeled vehicles on the turn they arrive in this mission)

On the Soviet right, Sean brings "Center" pioneer platoon.

The trifecta arrives in the Soviet center.

While to their right, SU-85s show up and move into a wood.

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Sean's Finn Pioneers	Steven's Soviet Guards Motorstrelkovy

TURN 2 SUMMARY

Sean's Finn Pioneers: 105s and Pioneers arrive. Steven's Soviet Guards Motorstrelkovy: SU-152s and SU-85s get into position.

TURN 3

Now the rest of our force gets to arrive.

On the Soviet left, "Right" Pioneer platoon arrives.

Sturmi arrive in the center.

Left Pioneer platoon with a supply wagon.

T-34/85s bog while trying to cross the raised track.

Center platoon moves forward, poised to control the bridge.

After disengaging from direct fire from the Sturmi, the Spetsnaz come under fire from the 105s.

Soviet T-34s arrive on the left.

The large motorstrelk company arrives on the left.

Assault guns move into covered positions.

Mortars similarly deploy in the center.

SU-85s move into position.

The small Motorstrelkovy company double times through the gap in the woods.

T-34/85s arrive on the extreme right flank.

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Sean's Finn Pioneers	Steven's Soviet Guards Motorstrelkovy

TURN 3 SUMMARY

Sean's Finn Pioneers: The entire army deploys. Steven's Soviet Guards Motorstrelkovy: The Motorstrelkovy are all in now!

TURN 4

The fight just got real!

T-34s are having a hard time with the tracks. The one in the center gets on the track, and attempts to free the other- to no avail.

Finns keep advancing!

As the Sturmi reposition, one throws a track.

10.5s range in on the small Motorstrelkovy company, causing the first casualty of the game!

The large, unwiedly blob on the left marches forward. I immediately realize they are too far away from anything important to matter- I blew their deployment.

T-34s push forward. Two cross the tracks,

The small motorstrelkovy and T-34/85s move forward.

The first Finn stand falls to a T-34/85s MGs.

SU-85s pop a Sturmi.

SU-152s knock out a second.

Mortars fire a barrage...

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Sean's Finn Pioneers Right Pioneers: 1 stand Sturmi: 2 tanks 10.5cm Battery: 1 gun	Steven's Soviet Guards Motorstrelkovy Small Motorstrelkovy: 1 stand

TURN 4 SUMMARY

Sean's Finn Pioneers: Sean goes aggressive and everything that can moves forward. Steven's Soviet Guards Motorstrelkovy: The large motorstrelkovy flounders a bit, but the central armor core has success in knocking out 2 Sturmi.

TURN 5

Turn 5

The T-34s YET AGAIN cannot get across the tracks or free themselves. Sean has now rolled something like 6 ones in a row for these guys.

Finally the improvised recovery vehicle rules shine, and 2 tanks make it across thanks to some good ol' fashioned towin' cable!

Left Pioneers move forward aggressively, nabbing another point.

But the reds aren't having that. The T-34s push across the tracks and even through the woods to counter the pioneers! A bloody assault is coming.

Mortars cut into the right pioneer platoon

Fire pinns the pioneers and knocks out 2 stands.

Armor leads the way!

With initial success

Finns counter attack!

And wipe out 3 tanks! The other 2 are forced out of the woods.

Spetsnaz in their German equipment take over and charge in!

Several bloody rounds are fought, leaving only the finn platoon Commander to fight back!

And damned if he doesn't knock the Spetsnaz down to one team (plus the attached mortar observer)

But finally, the assault is victorious- at the cost of 3 tanks and 4 spetsnaz stands

The bloody result.

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Sean's Finn Pioneers Left Pioneers: DESTROYED Sturmi: 2 tanks 10.5cm Battery: 1 gun Right Pioneers: 3 Stands	Steven's Soviet Guards Motorstrelkovy Small Motorstrelkovy: 1 stand Tankovy: 3 tanks Spetsnaz: 4 stands

TURN 5 SUMMARY

Sean's Finn Pioneers: Sean now controls 4 domination points. T-34/85s finally have some success getting across the tracks. Sean continues his aggressive posturing. Steven's Soviet Guards Motorstrelkovy: I control 4 domination points. Everything advances! A bloody assault is launched on the left flank (which, ultimately has very little in the way of objectives. Both the Spetsnaz and the tankovy are beaten down- but both pass morale to stick around. The Finn unit is entirely destroyed.

TURN 6

The bloodiest fighting has occured in the least important ground so far

T-34s mount the track for easy movement.

In the center, Sean goes for it. Center pioneer platoon moves to capture the 3 pointer objective.

105s range in on the assault guns, but cause no harm.

After a quick assessment, I decide to counter Sean's bold movement with full force.

The Center Pioneers start taking casualties from tank MGs...

And then learn the true power of Volley Fire.

After being crushed in direct fire, the small motorstrelk follows up.

The assault goes back and forth for a bit, but swings in the soviets' favor.

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Sean's Finn Pioneers Left Pioneers: DESTROYED Center Pioneers: 8 Stands Right Pioneers: 3 stand Sturmi: 2 tanks 10.5cm Battery: 1 gun	Steven's Soviet Guards Motorstrelkovy Small Motorstrelkovy: 3 stand Tankovy: 3 tanks Spetsnaz: 4 stands

TURN 6 SUMMARY

Sean's Finn Pioneers: One T-34 remains bogged, but the other 2 ride the rails! Like 2 hobos fightin over a bean. Center pioneers charge forward into the breach! Steven's Soviet Guards Motorstrelkovy: Effective fire is poured into the center pioneer platoon, knocking them down to a single stand.

TURN 7

It's looking bloody everywhere now

Finally all 3 T-34s are mobile!

Finn Armor is desperate, with everything driving forward!

105s range in on the 2 remaining tanks, bailing one out. They pass morale and stick around, however.

The FInn armor can't score any effective hits.

The small strelkrovy braces as the Right pioneer platoon prepares to launch an assault!

The strelkovy suffers casualties, but stays strong!

The counter attack is brutal.

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Sean's Finn Pioneers Left Pioneers: DESTROYED Center Pioneers: 8 Stands Right Pioneers: 3 stand Sturmi: 2 tanks 10.5cm Battery: 1 gun	Steven's Soviet Guards Motorstrelkovy Small Motorstrelkovy: 5 stands Tankovy: 3 tanks Spetsnaz: 4 stands

TURN 7 SUMMARY

Sean's Finn Pioneers: Sean has one last attempt- he sends all of his armor in... and whiffs. He assaults the strelkovy with his battered pioneers, but is wiped out leaving the soviets in firm posession of the objectives. Steven's Soviet Guards Motorstrelkovy:

With that, I start holding the 3 from the center bridge. 2 on the wooden bridge, and 3 other 1 pointers giving me 8 domination points. This was a fun game- I'm really liking soviet "infantry" (I mean, really, I have way more armor even in this mechanized list...) vs Finn infantry. It's been a blast! The after math of this campaign turn. Note the soviets ahve just captured Lepel in the center, even though I haven't marked it just yet. The next campaign turn is decided. Sean will immediately counter attack from Borizov into Lepel with 105s and Panthers! I will be ready to face him with the same FS troops I've used in the last 2 games.

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