IABSM Battle Report; 15/05/05 Rob Avery's Soviets Vs Edward Sturges' German 1942 |
After finding out that Edward Sturges had not played many IABSM games, and was due to take
command of a German force at Too Fat Lardies Stalingrad Day, on Jun 19th, I decided to offer the
invite of a game.
Rob (Vis Bellica) Avery was also keen to take me up on the offer too, as he is due to be a Soviet
commander at the day too.
The offer of a fun practice game was something not to be missed. I decided to umpire and mentor
Edward.
I set up a nice 1942 scenario for the Eastern Front and worked out the orbats below.
command of a German force at Too Fat Lardies Stalingrad Day, on Jun 19th, I decided to offer the
invite of a game.
Rob (Vis Bellica) Avery was also keen to take me up on the offer too, as he is due to be a Soviet
commander at the day too.
The offer of a fun practice game was something not to be missed. I decided to umpire and mentor
Edward.
I set up a nice 1942 scenario for the Eastern Front and worked out the orbats below.
Edward's German Force
Fwd Observer Forward Observer in SdKfz 250/5 (Fast, MG) in contact with four 10.5cm
Field Guns off-table.
· 12” blast zone
· 2D6 + 2 fire effect
· 9” - 18” column
· Automatically Pin
HQ Platoon Rifle squad (8 men)
Four MMG’s (3 men)
Two AT Rifles (2 men)
Hauptmann Bereich BIG MAN 1 (D4)
Inf Platoon 1 Three Rifle squads (8 men)
50mm Mortar (2 men)
Leutnant Bockstein BIG MAN 2 (D4)
Feldwebel Pfalz BIG MAN 3 (D6)
Inf Platoon 2 Three Rifle squads (8 men)
50mm Mortar (2 men)
Unterfeldwebel Kendermann BIG MAN 4 (D6)
Inf Platoon 3 Three Rifle squads (8 men)
50mm Mortar (2 men)
Obegefreiter Ursiger BIG MAN 5 (D6)
Inf Platoon 4 Three Rifle squads (8 men)
50mm mortar (2 men)
Stabsfeldwebel Wurtzgarten BIG MAN 6 (D6+1)
Gefreiter Kichenstuck BIG MAN 7 (D6)
Gun 1 Infantry Gun leIG 18 75mm Infantry Guns (Gun 4) with Horse drawn limber
Gun 2 Infantry Gun leIG 18 75mm Infantry Guns (Gun 4) with Horse Drawn limber
Armour 1 Three PzKpfw III G (Ave, Armour 4, Gun 7)
PzKpfw IV F2 (Ave, Armour 6, Gun 12)
Leutnant Bassermann BIG MAN 8 (D4)
Armour 2 SdKfz 253 Observation Vehicle (Fast, Armour 2, MG)
Three StuG III D (Ave, Armour 6, Gun 7 No MG)
Feldwebel Ockfener BIG MAN 9 (D4)
Air Support Stuka attack with Bomb
· 2D6+6 fire effect
· 0-9” column.
· Blast radius 4
Stuka Schwarm flying overhead. These can make a maximum of D4 attacks per game. When card
is pulled Roll D6;
1 = Friendly fire on a visible unit.
2 - 4 = Flies over table but attacks a target off-table
5 or 6 = Attacks a visible enemy target on-table.
National Characteristics
Dynamic Commander Heroic Leader
Rally Blitzkreig Bonus
MG Bonus Mortar Bonus
Out of Ammo Fuel Shortage
Vehicle Breakdown Gun Bonus
Rapid Deployment Artillery Support
Air Support x 3
Rob's Soviet Force
Allied Inf 1 Three Rifle Squads (10 men each)
Allied Inf 2 Three Rifle Squads (10 men each)
Allied Inf 3 Three SMG Squad (8 men each) Automatic weapon bonus
Support 1 Three HMG (3 crew each)
Support 2 PTRD/S ATR (2 crew)
Support 3 PTRD/S ATR (2 crew)
Gun 1 45mm L46 ATG (5 crew each) [Gun 6]
Gun 2 45mm L46 ATG (5 crew each) [Gun 6]
Armour 1, 2, 3 Three T-34/76 obr.41 (Fast, Armour 7, Gun 8) Raw
National Characteristics
Hesitant Commander Hesitant Troops
Uhraieeee Tank Killers
Gun Bonus MG Bonus
Commissar Out of Ammo
Fuel Shortage Vehicle Breakdown
Fwd Observer Forward Observer in SdKfz 250/5 (Fast, MG) in contact with four 10.5cm
Field Guns off-table.
· 12” blast zone
· 2D6 + 2 fire effect
· 9” - 18” column
· Automatically Pin
HQ Platoon Rifle squad (8 men)
Four MMG’s (3 men)
Two AT Rifles (2 men)
Hauptmann Bereich BIG MAN 1 (D4)
Inf Platoon 1 Three Rifle squads (8 men)
50mm Mortar (2 men)
Leutnant Bockstein BIG MAN 2 (D4)
Feldwebel Pfalz BIG MAN 3 (D6)
Inf Platoon 2 Three Rifle squads (8 men)
50mm Mortar (2 men)
Unterfeldwebel Kendermann BIG MAN 4 (D6)
Inf Platoon 3 Three Rifle squads (8 men)
50mm Mortar (2 men)
Obegefreiter Ursiger BIG MAN 5 (D6)
Inf Platoon 4 Three Rifle squads (8 men)
50mm mortar (2 men)
Stabsfeldwebel Wurtzgarten BIG MAN 6 (D6+1)
Gefreiter Kichenstuck BIG MAN 7 (D6)
Gun 1 Infantry Gun leIG 18 75mm Infantry Guns (Gun 4) with Horse drawn limber
Gun 2 Infantry Gun leIG 18 75mm Infantry Guns (Gun 4) with Horse Drawn limber
Armour 1 Three PzKpfw III G (Ave, Armour 4, Gun 7)
PzKpfw IV F2 (Ave, Armour 6, Gun 12)
Leutnant Bassermann BIG MAN 8 (D4)
Armour 2 SdKfz 253 Observation Vehicle (Fast, Armour 2, MG)
Three StuG III D (Ave, Armour 6, Gun 7 No MG)
Feldwebel Ockfener BIG MAN 9 (D4)
Air Support Stuka attack with Bomb
· 2D6+6 fire effect
· 0-9” column.
· Blast radius 4
Stuka Schwarm flying overhead. These can make a maximum of D4 attacks per game. When card
is pulled Roll D6;
1 = Friendly fire on a visible unit.
2 - 4 = Flies over table but attacks a target off-table
5 or 6 = Attacks a visible enemy target on-table.
National Characteristics
Dynamic Commander Heroic Leader
Rally Blitzkreig Bonus
MG Bonus Mortar Bonus
Out of Ammo Fuel Shortage
Vehicle Breakdown Gun Bonus
Rapid Deployment Artillery Support
Air Support x 3
Rob's Soviet Force
Allied Inf 1 Three Rifle Squads (10 men each)
Allied Inf 2 Three Rifle Squads (10 men each)
Allied Inf 3 Three SMG Squad (8 men each) Automatic weapon bonus
Support 1 Three HMG (3 crew each)
Support 2 PTRD/S ATR (2 crew)
Support 3 PTRD/S ATR (2 crew)
Gun 1 45mm L46 ATG (5 crew each) [Gun 6]
Gun 2 45mm L46 ATG (5 crew each) [Gun 6]
Armour 1, 2, 3 Three T-34/76 obr.41 (Fast, Armour 7, Gun 8) Raw
National Characteristics
Hesitant Commander Hesitant Troops
Uhraieeee Tank Killers
Gun Bonus MG Bonus
Commissar Out of Ammo
Fuel Shortage Vehicle Breakdown
I was keen to make sure Edward had a good innings against the slightly more experienced Rob.
With this in mind I provided armoured, artillery and air support for Edward so he could get a good
feel for the mechanisms in IABSM.
The table was relatively flat and open, though there were small woods, fields, ploughed fields,
marshes, a stream and several buildings. Again all provided to give Edward and Rob a variety of
terrain to fully use all the rules.
Rob was told to hold the village and particularly the bridge in the face of determined German
opposition who were trying to exit Rob's table edge, by passing Rob's blocking force.
Rob could deploy anywhere on his side of the stream, and occupy the village. He could keep
blinds off-table, which would enter anywhere on his table edge. The question was would Rob
realise that Edward did not need take the village to fulfill his victory conditions.
Edward would enter the table on his table edge.
With this in mind I provided armoured, artillery and air support for Edward so he could get a good
feel for the mechanisms in IABSM.
The table was relatively flat and open, though there were small woods, fields, ploughed fields,
marshes, a stream and several buildings. Again all provided to give Edward and Rob a variety of
terrain to fully use all the rules.
Rob was told to hold the village and particularly the bridge in the face of determined German
opposition who were trying to exit Rob's table edge, by passing Rob's blocking force.
Rob could deploy anywhere on his side of the stream, and occupy the village. He could keep
blinds off-table, which would enter anywhere on his table edge. The question was would Rob
realise that Edward did not need take the village to fulfill his victory conditions.
Edward would enter the table on his table edge.
Okay down to deployment.
Rob decided to deploy two T34's in the graveyard, adjacent
to the church. Alongside the Soviet tanks were two Maxim's
with a third and Commissar in reserve. Hopefully these
would dictate the centre of the table and frustrate German
efforts to flank the village or attack frontally.
Deployed in the dead ground behind the graveyard lay a
Soviet Infantry Platoon, with another deployed in the village's
buildings. Extricating this last Platoon would take a major
effort on the part of Edward.
On the Soviet left, lying down with the stream providing
limited cover, Rob deployed his SMG armed Platoon. These
should ensure that no flanking attack could be made on the
village.
In reserve, hiding behind the dead ground provided by the
bridge, was sited a 45mm AT gun.
On the Soviet right as T34 and 45mm truck towed AT gun
were deployed off-table.
Edward deployed two infantry Platoon's on his left, off-table,
charged with advancing and taking the flank, and exiting the
table edge.
In the centre left Edward's Forward Observer in an SdKfz
250/5 was located in a small copse, supported by a Panzer
Platoon off-table. His HQ Platoon was deployed in a
cornfield supported by a 75mm horse drawn infantry gun.
The centre right saw another Infantry Platoon charged with
trying to take the village and keeping the Soviet eyes
focused on here rather than their exposed right flank.
Supporting them were the StuG Platoon.
On the German right flank Edward placed his final Infantry
Platoon with his remaining infantry gun, off-table.
The game started with Edward moving his HQ Platoon
further into the cornfield and activating his FO.
Rob revealed two T34's in the graveyard which opened up
with HE but missed! His supporting HMGs were much
luckier. Spotting the corn moving, and with concentrated
bursts, both German AT rifle crews were killed, the crews of
two MG34's being reduced to a single figure each!
As Edward advanced his Infantry Platoon to occupy a pile of
ashes, and the remains of a burnt wooden building, they
were hit with long range, but effective fire nonetheless from
the Soviet held village.
Edward advanced his blinds on his left only for them to be
spotted as fakes, and brought on others along his entire
frontage. At this point Rob looked a little unwell as he was
clearly heavily outnumbered.
Rob advanced his final T34 and a 45mm AT gun on his left,
making good use of the wooden building to provide cover.
The T34 fired at the 'Armoured Car' Rob could see in the
copse. Beating the armour score of the halftrack by five, the
vehicle and his valuable Forward Observer erupted in a
fireball. Ooops! With its second shot the T34 beat the score
to hit Edward's 75mm infantry gun by two - Kaboom!
Scratch one gun.
The Luftwaffe's Stuka's made continual flights over the table
but either failed to attack or missed their targets.
It was going to be down to the infantry, yet again.
However, Edward had a couple of nasty surprises for Rob.
Firstly, StuG's appearred supporting their infantry near the
village and began systematic destruction of the wooden
buildings. I had decided that on a D6 score of 3 - 6, a
building would burst into flames forcing any defenders to
flee their cover. This occurred straight away, but Rob
tellingly decided to enter the, as yet unoccupied church.
Next, Edward revealed his Panzer Platoon. Rob looked
unworried as he spotted three Panzer III's. However, two
shots later, the two T34's in the graveyard were burning
hulks. Edward had a Panzer IV F2 with a long 75mm Kanone
amongst his Panzer III's.
StuG's forced another infantry squad out of another building
as it burst into flames hit by 75mm HE shells.
It was not all going Edward's way however. Rob had
cunningly placed an AT gun in the dead ground behind the
bridge. This was manhandled onto the bridge with its first
die, fired and hit a StuG with his second destroying its main
gun and then with his third dice manhandled the gun back
out of LOS.
The cornfield containing the German HQ, drew a great deal
of fire. The defenders within it could not tell exactly where
the fire was coming from whilst Rob's Soviets shot into the
corn aware that it was occupied.
Rob had a bit of luck at last when the Pz IV F2 ran out of fuel!
It continued to pour fire into the graveyard and church but
proved less effective in this role.
The last Soviet T34 then hit and destroyed a Panzer III.
On the Soviet right Rob spotted an Infantry Platoon
attempting to enter the crop fields. With his 'MG Bonus' card
he pinned them, killed one man and caused a couple of
wounds.
The fight in the village continued. StuG's blasted the church
failing to set it on fire whilst the brave defenders poured a
hail of small arms fire into the German Platoon occupying the
ashes of an adjacent building.
On the German right a Platoon manoevered toward the
stream and infantry gun occupied a small copse frinig into
the church but failing to hit. They spotted Rob's SMG Platoon
and decided to hunker down. Here both the Soviets and
Germans decided to remain hidden and not advance towards
each other resulting in a stand-off. Edward was clearly trying
to fix the Soviet left in an attempt to advance on the right.
A general firefight erupted around the town the German's
having the worst of it as the Soviets occupied every window
and doorway firing with everything they had.
Edward now decided to flank the Soviet right and revealed
another German Platoon moving towards the lone T34 and
45mm AT gun. In the centre Edward finally managed to move
a couple of MG34's into a firing position in a small Russian
hovel.
Edward then advanced his remaining two Panzer III's toward
the T34 position. One broke down in a field and another
raced to within the 12" short range.
The T34 activated fired and destroyed the remaining
functioning Panzer III.
As the church finally burst into flames it forced the brave
Soviet defenders to assault the German Platoon opposite
them, which had taken severe casualties and was pinned.
The German Platoon broke fleeing 12" which took them
off-table.
The Panzer IV crew finally bailed out and Rob's Soviet's then
assaulted a StuG, to no effect. The StuG managed to activate
next though and squished the Soviets, who had taken
enough casualties to ensure that they failed the attempt to
evade the grey monster!
On the Soviet left I had forgotten to put in Rob's SMG Platoon
chip, Doh!
However, when the next turn started Rob used his
'Uhraieeee' card to assault the crops. Forcing the defenders
back into the copse. Next his SMG Platoon chip came up!
Once again the Soviets launched into an assault on the
copse. forcing the defenders back again.
When the 'Heroic Leader' chip came out Rob did another of
his specials and the remnants of the SMG Platoon launched
their third assault finally breaking the German's and
capturing the copse and its gun.
On the Soviet right the German infantry Platoons had made
slow progress toward the T34 but had managed to kill all
except one of the brave 45mm gun's crew.
Rob had revealed another Platoon behind the village which
had started to shift over towards the threatened Soviet right.
We decided that the game should end at this point.
A strategic victory for the Soviets who had held the village
despite overwhelming odds and heavy casualties.
Edward had manoevered into a position where given time he
probably could and would exit Rob's table edge, but he had
lost almost 50% of his force!
A great game and surprisingly well balanced.
I tried when planning to give Rob a balanced force that could
react to any tactics Edward used.
Not telling Rob what the German objective was meant that he
was quite widely spread. Whereas Edward knew he could
have exited the whole force with a left schwerepunkt if lucky
before Rob could react.
However, Edward, wisely took the safe option and feignted
against the village to fix the defenders, before attempting a
flanking move. The German casualties were truly
horrendous though and perhaps in retrospect Edward had
committed too much to the village.
The loss of Rob's T34's to the Panzer IV F2 was crucial but
no more so than the loss of Edward's FO.
With artillery bombarding the village Edward could have
pinned the defenders and made a run for the table edge with
most of his force. Rob would not have been able to react in
time. Once the FO was lost then Edward's task was much
harder.
As it was the game was a tactical draw but a stategic victory
for the Soviets, who had perhaps lost 1/3 of their force.
A great game though, finely shifting in initiative and
impetous, swinging back and forth.
Thanks to Edward and Rob for a fun afternoon's umpriring.
Lots of lessons learnt for Stalingrad Day on June 19th at
Lard Island no doubt?
Rob decided to deploy two T34's in the graveyard, adjacent
to the church. Alongside the Soviet tanks were two Maxim's
with a third and Commissar in reserve. Hopefully these
would dictate the centre of the table and frustrate German
efforts to flank the village or attack frontally.
Deployed in the dead ground behind the graveyard lay a
Soviet Infantry Platoon, with another deployed in the village's
buildings. Extricating this last Platoon would take a major
effort on the part of Edward.
On the Soviet left, lying down with the stream providing
limited cover, Rob deployed his SMG armed Platoon. These
should ensure that no flanking attack could be made on the
village.
In reserve, hiding behind the dead ground provided by the
bridge, was sited a 45mm AT gun.
On the Soviet right as T34 and 45mm truck towed AT gun
were deployed off-table.
Edward deployed two infantry Platoon's on his left, off-table,
charged with advancing and taking the flank, and exiting the
table edge.
In the centre left Edward's Forward Observer in an SdKfz
250/5 was located in a small copse, supported by a Panzer
Platoon off-table. His HQ Platoon was deployed in a
cornfield supported by a 75mm horse drawn infantry gun.
The centre right saw another Infantry Platoon charged with
trying to take the village and keeping the Soviet eyes
focused on here rather than their exposed right flank.
Supporting them were the StuG Platoon.
On the German right flank Edward placed his final Infantry
Platoon with his remaining infantry gun, off-table.
The game started with Edward moving his HQ Platoon
further into the cornfield and activating his FO.
Rob revealed two T34's in the graveyard which opened up
with HE but missed! His supporting HMGs were much
luckier. Spotting the corn moving, and with concentrated
bursts, both German AT rifle crews were killed, the crews of
two MG34's being reduced to a single figure each!
As Edward advanced his Infantry Platoon to occupy a pile of
ashes, and the remains of a burnt wooden building, they
were hit with long range, but effective fire nonetheless from
the Soviet held village.
Edward advanced his blinds on his left only for them to be
spotted as fakes, and brought on others along his entire
frontage. At this point Rob looked a little unwell as he was
clearly heavily outnumbered.
Rob advanced his final T34 and a 45mm AT gun on his left,
making good use of the wooden building to provide cover.
The T34 fired at the 'Armoured Car' Rob could see in the
copse. Beating the armour score of the halftrack by five, the
vehicle and his valuable Forward Observer erupted in a
fireball. Ooops! With its second shot the T34 beat the score
to hit Edward's 75mm infantry gun by two - Kaboom!
Scratch one gun.
The Luftwaffe's Stuka's made continual flights over the table
but either failed to attack or missed their targets.
It was going to be down to the infantry, yet again.
However, Edward had a couple of nasty surprises for Rob.
Firstly, StuG's appearred supporting their infantry near the
village and began systematic destruction of the wooden
buildings. I had decided that on a D6 score of 3 - 6, a
building would burst into flames forcing any defenders to
flee their cover. This occurred straight away, but Rob
tellingly decided to enter the, as yet unoccupied church.
Next, Edward revealed his Panzer Platoon. Rob looked
unworried as he spotted three Panzer III's. However, two
shots later, the two T34's in the graveyard were burning
hulks. Edward had a Panzer IV F2 with a long 75mm Kanone
amongst his Panzer III's.
StuG's forced another infantry squad out of another building
as it burst into flames hit by 75mm HE shells.
It was not all going Edward's way however. Rob had
cunningly placed an AT gun in the dead ground behind the
bridge. This was manhandled onto the bridge with its first
die, fired and hit a StuG with his second destroying its main
gun and then with his third dice manhandled the gun back
out of LOS.
The cornfield containing the German HQ, drew a great deal
of fire. The defenders within it could not tell exactly where
the fire was coming from whilst Rob's Soviets shot into the
corn aware that it was occupied.
Rob had a bit of luck at last when the Pz IV F2 ran out of fuel!
It continued to pour fire into the graveyard and church but
proved less effective in this role.
The last Soviet T34 then hit and destroyed a Panzer III.
On the Soviet right Rob spotted an Infantry Platoon
attempting to enter the crop fields. With his 'MG Bonus' card
he pinned them, killed one man and caused a couple of
wounds.
The fight in the village continued. StuG's blasted the church
failing to set it on fire whilst the brave defenders poured a
hail of small arms fire into the German Platoon occupying the
ashes of an adjacent building.
On the German right a Platoon manoevered toward the
stream and infantry gun occupied a small copse frinig into
the church but failing to hit. They spotted Rob's SMG Platoon
and decided to hunker down. Here both the Soviets and
Germans decided to remain hidden and not advance towards
each other resulting in a stand-off. Edward was clearly trying
to fix the Soviet left in an attempt to advance on the right.
A general firefight erupted around the town the German's
having the worst of it as the Soviets occupied every window
and doorway firing with everything they had.
Edward now decided to flank the Soviet right and revealed
another German Platoon moving towards the lone T34 and
45mm AT gun. In the centre Edward finally managed to move
a couple of MG34's into a firing position in a small Russian
hovel.
Edward then advanced his remaining two Panzer III's toward
the T34 position. One broke down in a field and another
raced to within the 12" short range.
The T34 activated fired and destroyed the remaining
functioning Panzer III.
As the church finally burst into flames it forced the brave
Soviet defenders to assault the German Platoon opposite
them, which had taken severe casualties and was pinned.
The German Platoon broke fleeing 12" which took them
off-table.
The Panzer IV crew finally bailed out and Rob's Soviet's then
assaulted a StuG, to no effect. The StuG managed to activate
next though and squished the Soviets, who had taken
enough casualties to ensure that they failed the attempt to
evade the grey monster!
On the Soviet left I had forgotten to put in Rob's SMG Platoon
chip, Doh!
However, when the next turn started Rob used his
'Uhraieeee' card to assault the crops. Forcing the defenders
back into the copse. Next his SMG Platoon chip came up!
Once again the Soviets launched into an assault on the
copse. forcing the defenders back again.
When the 'Heroic Leader' chip came out Rob did another of
his specials and the remnants of the SMG Platoon launched
their third assault finally breaking the German's and
capturing the copse and its gun.
On the Soviet right the German infantry Platoons had made
slow progress toward the T34 but had managed to kill all
except one of the brave 45mm gun's crew.
Rob had revealed another Platoon behind the village which
had started to shift over towards the threatened Soviet right.
We decided that the game should end at this point.
A strategic victory for the Soviets who had held the village
despite overwhelming odds and heavy casualties.
Edward had manoevered into a position where given time he
probably could and would exit Rob's table edge, but he had
lost almost 50% of his force!
A great game and surprisingly well balanced.
I tried when planning to give Rob a balanced force that could
react to any tactics Edward used.
Not telling Rob what the German objective was meant that he
was quite widely spread. Whereas Edward knew he could
have exited the whole force with a left schwerepunkt if lucky
before Rob could react.
However, Edward, wisely took the safe option and feignted
against the village to fix the defenders, before attempting a
flanking move. The German casualties were truly
horrendous though and perhaps in retrospect Edward had
committed too much to the village.
The loss of Rob's T34's to the Panzer IV F2 was crucial but
no more so than the loss of Edward's FO.
With artillery bombarding the village Edward could have
pinned the defenders and made a run for the table edge with
most of his force. Rob would not have been able to react in
time. Once the FO was lost then Edward's task was much
harder.
As it was the game was a tactical draw but a stategic victory
for the Soviets, who had perhaps lost 1/3 of their force.
A great game though, finely shifting in initiative and
impetous, swinging back and forth.
Thanks to Edward and Rob for a fun afternoon's umpriring.
Lots of lessons learnt for Stalingrad Day on June 19th at
Lard Island no doubt?
Rob Avery's Soviets Vs Edward Sturges' German
1942
1942
