Soviet Strelkovy vs Ersatz Pioneers in Night Assault

This is game 3 in me and Sean's Firestorm campaign. Sean was attacking from Borizov to Lepel in an attempt to stem the soviet tide. His Firestorm troops were 2 Panthers and a battery of 105s. My Firestorm troops were 3 T-34/85s and 5x T-34s. The mission we rolled for was Night Assault.

Sean's Ersatz Pioneers HQ + 2x HMGs (CT) Ersatz Pioneer Platoon (CT) Ersatz Pioneer Platoon (CT) (Small Kampfgruppe with 1 stand from each pioneer platoon and 2iC) (CT) Veteran Tank Hunters: 4x Hetzers (CT) 4x Hetzers (CV) 4x Panzer IV H (CV) Gepanzerte Panzergrenadiers (CV) 2x Panthers (Firestorm)(CV) 105 Battery (Firestorm)(CV)

Steven's Guards Strelkovy HQ (FT) 2 Platoon Strelkovy + HMG + Komissar + 2 Flame Throwers (FT) 1 Platoon Strelkovy + HMG + Komissar (FT) Strelkovy Medium Mortars (FT) Strelkovy Scouts (1 section) (FV) 3x SU-85 (FT) 3x IS-2 + .50 cals (FT) 3x T-34/85 + escorts (Firestorm)(CT) 5x T-34 (Firestorm)(CT)

SETUP AND DEPLOYMENT

The Soviets on the Starting Line

The Soviet Left Flank is weighted with the large Strelkovy, SU-85s, and T-34s.

IS-2s deploy on the right flank with the small Strelkovy.

The German deployment zone.

Hetzers and Panthers form the core. The Hetzers choose the wheat field as their prepared terrain.

On the Right, Pioneers and Panzer IVs deploy behind a ridge.

UNITS IN RESERVE
Sean's Ersatz Pioneers	Steven's Guards Strelkovy

DEPLOYMENT SUMMARY

Sean's Ersatz Pioneers: Armor forms a solid core, with Panzergrenadiers and panzer IVs forming mobile flanks on either side. Steven's Guards Strelkovy: The left flank is weighted heavily, gearing up to charge into the large wood. IS-2s, Strelkovy, and T-34/85s prepare to form a refused flank on the right.

TURN 1

The forces begin to maneuver under the cover of night.

Pioneers move up on the ridge.

Panthers and Hetzers move up to the edge of the wheat.

IS-2s move up to the edge of the wheat as well. Who will come out on top?

T-34/85s move forward on the right flank.

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Sean's Ersatz Pioneers	Steven's Guards Strelkovy

TURN 1 SUMMARY

Sean's Ersatz Pioneers: Panthers and Hetzers form a solid core while Pioneers and panzergrenadiers move out. Panzer IVs attempt to gain control of the woods in the North, but 2 throw tracks! Steven's Guards Strelkovy: A General advance on all flanks! Forward for mother Russia!

TURN 2

the Soviet horde after moving up on the previous turn. 2 SU-85s throw tracks in the dim light, but miraculously all 5 T-34s make it through the wood line! 2 Panzer IVs likewise bog in the woods.

Mortars spot a Pioneer platoon that is already contesting an objective and call down fire.

The huge Strelkovy unit moves forward, ready to catch the Panzer IVs! Two teams go down in defensive fire.

At the cost of 2 Panzer IVs. The remaining 2 are able to succesfully withdraw.

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Sean's Ersatz Pioneers Panzer IV Hs: 2 tanks Center Pioneer Platoon: 3 stands	Steven's Guards Strelkovy Big Strelkovy: 2 stands

TURN 2 SUMMARY

Sean's Ersatz Pioneers: Pioneers grab the central objective, and prepare to hold on for dear life. Panzergrenadiers move into the woods in the South as Panzer IVs and Pioneers attempt to gain control of the woods in the North. Steven's Guards Strelkovy: T-34s and Strelkovy prepare to fight for control of the woods, and earn their first victory by knocking out 2 Panzer IVs.

TURN 3

Turn 3

Panthers absolutely tear up the IS-2s. Two go up with the other bailing out. Being fearless, the remaining tank fights on!

Pioneers and Panzer IVs give up the woods, pulling back to the ridge line.

As the Strelkovy horde moves up, the sun begins spilling over the Horizon.

A mortar barrage softens up the Pioneers in preparation of an assault!

Mortars, T-34s, and SMGs tear into the Pioneers!

The survivors of the Pioneer platoon quit the field.

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Sean's Ersatz Pioneers Center Pioneer Platoon: DESTROYED Panzer IV Hs: 2 tanks	Steven's Guards Strelkovy Big Strelkovy: 2 stands IS-2s: 2 tanks

TURN 3 SUMMARY

Sean's Ersatz Pioneers: Panthers chew apart the IS-2s as the forces in the North pull back. Steven's Guards Strelkovy: Strelkovy and T-34s consolidate their hold on the woods, and concentrate fire on the Pioneer platoon holding the center objective.

TURN 4

The battlefield is now illuminated!

Hetzers are forced to move up as the central objective is now "hot".

A 105 barrage fires counter battery on the mortars, knocking out one team and pinning the battery!

The Large Strelkovy unit backed by T-34s prepares to take the hill. In a last hurrah to Version 2 Flame throwers, a soviet Flamethrower team prepares to light up the Panzer IVs.

And after bailing both tanks, the platoon is destroyed!

The Strelkovy charge up the hill, but the Pioneers are not giving up easily.

The fight goes back and forth with each side suffering casualties.

But neither side will quit!

The Soviet Battalion commander gets involved.

Finally the Soviets win the fight. Two pioneer teams survive and pull back. The Strelkovy is now severely battered.

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Sean's Ersatz Pioneers Center Pioneer Platoon: DESTROYED Panzer IV Hs: DESTROYED "Ridge" Pioneer Platoon: 8 stands	Steven's Guards Strelkovy Big Strelkovy: 9 stands IS-2s: 2 tanks

TURN 4 SUMMARY

Sean's Ersatz Pioneers: Panzer IVs and Pioneers form a defensive line on the ridge as Hetzers and Panzergrenadiers move forward to contest the central objective. Steven's Guards Strelkovy: The Large Strelkovy unit backed by T-34s assaults the ridge. After a long bloody fight, the Panzer IVs and eliminated and the remaining Pioneer platoon is hanging on by a thread.

TURN 5

The Soviets have forced a breakthrough in the North, with the T-34s about to be unleashed!

The Pioneers take cover on the stone wall.

Hetzers split their fire.

105s range in on the T-34s and small strelkovy, causing light damage.

Panzergrenadiers prepare to assault the small strelkovy!

they charge in, scoring several hits!

The Strelkovy are forced back!

T-34s advance on the rear objective as the last flame throwers charges forward with Hetzers on their mind.

Shooting was too succesful! The Pioneers are knocked out by a magic bullet.

Meaning the T-34s are able to consolidate onto the objective.

Flame Throwers, IS-2s, T-34/85s, and a very well placed assault see off the Hetzers.

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Sean's Ersatz Pioneers Center Pioneer Platoon: DESTROYED Panzer IV Hs: DESTROYED "Ridge" Pioneer Platoon: DESTROYED Hetzers: DESTROYED	Steven's Guards Strelkovy IS-2s: 2 tanks Big Strelkovy: 9 stands Small strelkovy: 3 stands

TURN 5 SUMMARY

Sean's Ersatz Pioneers: Sean pours fire into what he can, but is quickly becoming overwhelmed. Steven's Guards Strelkovy: T-34s push into the rear area, running the last Pioneer unit and seizing the objective.

TURN 6

The bloody center.

105s repeat, knocking out a T-34/85 and 2 stands from the small Strelkovy

The Last IS-2 is bailed and quickly quits the field!

Panzergrenadiers assault the understrength Strelkovy.

And grind them down!

But the last 3 remaining teams push back the last of the Panzergrenadiers, and deny Sean a 2nd victory point.

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Sean's Ersatz Pioneers Center Pioneer Platoon: DESTROYED Panzer IV Hs: DESTROYED "Ridge" Pioneer Platoon: DESTROYED Hetzers: DESTROYED	Steven's Guards Strelkovy IS-2s: DESTROYED Big Strelkovy: 11 stands Small strelkovy: 8 stands T-34/85s: 1 tank

TURN 6 SUMMARY

Sean's Ersatz Pioneers: At this point Sean has no way of stopping the T-34s, so he tries to score Victory Points for help in the campaign. He succesfully runs the IS-2s, but cannot drive his infantry assault home. Steven's Guards Strelkovy: T-34s begin the turn holding one of Sean's rear objectives.

TURN 7

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Sean's Ersatz Pioneers Center Pioneer Platoon: DESTROYED Panzer IV Hs: DESTROYED "Ridge" Pioneer Platoon: DESTROYED Hetzers: DESTROYED	Steven's Guards Strelkovy IS-2s: DESTROYED Big Strelkovy: 11 stands Small strelkovy: 8 stands T-34/85s: 1 tank

With that, Borizov is won by the Soviets. The German Panthers escape but the 105s are destroyed. We roll for the next mission and place our markers. Sean decides to counter attack from Smolensk to Lepel in an attempt to cut off the Soviet breakthrough.

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