Tonight, I ran another 15mm WWII solo game. This time, the Russians who took Lindenhof Farm in my previous game, were surprised by a fierce German counterattack - read on to see what happened!
The Russian position at Lindenhof Farm - three infantry units with HMG and mortar support. The Germans at the top of the picture have four infantry units supported by two mortars.
The German assault commenced with four infantry units, each with an HMG plus the two mortars in support.
The scenario included German armoured reinforcements after the 4th German initiative and Russians after the sixth German initiative - there were also two "event" cards in the 22-card activation pack.
The German attack commenced with an artillery barrage - a roll on each Russian unit, adding 2 to the roll - and the result was four misses - not a very auspicious start!
The Russians then got three initiatives in a row and between the one mortar and the two HMG's, they put four hits on the right-hand German unit, causing it to have to fall back.
The Germans then had one turn automatically and then turns 7 to 9 were Russian again - a second infantry unit in the cornfield was driven back by the Russian infantry fire!
Turn 10 was the 4th German activation so I rolled on a chart for how many tanks and what type - there was an 65% chance of PzKfwIV (1-4) and 17% chance each of Panther (a 5) or Tiger (a 6) and of course, I rolled 1 = 1 tank then 6!
The Tiger had an immediate impact, putting a hit on one of the Russian infantry units, then the mortars finally got their eye in and caused a couple too, as well as the two left-hand infantry units' small arms fire.
On Turn 14, it was German turn 6, so I rolled again for German reinforcements - and on came 3 Panthers! However, the Russians did even better, with two 6's rolled, and their armored reinforcement was SIX IS III heavy tanks!
On the German left flank, the two remaining infantry units assaulted the defending Russians, who were already sitting on 4 hits. Winning the melee, the Germans forced the Russians to pull back.
The Russian tanks could not fire on the first move but advanced in trios on each flank of Lindenhof Farm.
The first exchange of tank gun fire came in turn 17 and two Russian tanks were brewed up by the Tiger and one of the Panthers.
The infantry and mortars targeted the Russian infantry in one of the houses, causing two hits, return fire from the Russians put two hits on one of the German infantry units, taking them to four and forcing them to fall back. The one remaining German infantry unit attempted to assault the Russians sitting on 4 points occupying the building - but they failed to roll high enough to reach it!
By turn 19, all three Russian infantry units were sitting on 4 hits and would have to fall back as soon as it was a Russian turn. Tank fire was exchanged, a Panther exploded in flames, but immediately, the Germans hit back, knocking out another two Russian vehicles! Meanwhile, the two German infantry units that had been on their right flank had been driven off the field, having accumulated 4 hits each and being unable to rally them off, despite the command group using up all their 4 extra rally attempts to assist!
On turn 20, all three Russian infantry units were sitting on four hits and rolled high - being near their own table edge to start with, they were forced to retire off the table. The mortar and HQ decided the time was right for a strategic withdrawal too.
The Russians managed to take out another Panther, then....
The very last card was a black ace - the German event card! Again, it was an artillery strike - two D6 and add 2 to the score.....
This time, I rolled two 9's, add 2 = 11 = the last remaining pair of Russian tanks were knocked out!
The Wehrmacht had executed a successful counterattack and won a small local victory, although at considerable cost, with three of their four infantry units driven from the field and half the tank force also destroyed.
Was the small gain worth the sacrifice of men and equipment? Let's see in the next game!
Another fun game that kept me entertained for about 90 minutes, excluding set up and tidying afterwards - hopefully it was as interesting to you to read about.
Another rich game to draw you in, all in a small space and with a very convenient 90 min playing time.
ReplyDeleteThe German reinforcement rolls sounded really lucky, but the arrival of so many IS for the Soviets actually ensured a goo match-up.
Thanks Norm, the initial roll of a single Tiger mid game had me thinking the Germans were going to be unlucky again, but the second roll of three Panthers was what they needed! The Russians should have still had the edge but their shooting wasn't as effective!
DeleteEarly on, I thought the pair of initiative runs by the Russians might shift the nature of the battle toward the Russians' benefit. That was not to be, though. I am always surprised at how many turns you play in a game. 20 Turns seems unattainable in one gaming session especially to get them in within 90 minutes. You are fast player.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jon, I had the same thoughts although knowing there are 10 initiatives each, there is always going to come a point where the boot is on the other foot!
DeleteBeing three or four units per side and solo, it's a lot quicker to play than a larger scale, multi player game!
No dithering there! You have hit on a good combination for solo gaming. Nice table as well.
ReplyDeleteThanks Joe, it would be nice to have something a bit bigger to play on but then, games might take twice as long to complete!
DeleteSuch a brutal fight for a small tract of land!
ReplyDeleteIt's the nature of the Ostfront in 1944/5 I guess, Greg!
DeleteLoving the size of these games and the speed of play. Great looking game.
ReplyDeleteCheers JBM! The smaller scale certainly allows for more troops and action....maybe my next project needs to follow your AWI lead....?!
DeleteGreat stuff Keith. Some savage exchanges in all of that... and so many turns.
ReplyDeleteThanks Richard, these games are very Hobbesian...."solitary, poor, nasty , brutish and short" ! 😆
DeleteA brutal skirmish and perfect solo game
ReplyDeleteCheers Scotty, the rules certainly ensure stuff happens!
DeleteThat was quite a lucky last ditch artillery strike for the Germans. Would the Russians have prevailed if that hadn't happened?
ReplyDeleteIt was a bit of a fluke but seemed appropriate somehow Lawrence. No the Russians were done....all their infantry had decamped and the Germans had troops in the farmyard, so they had prevailed but at great cost!
DeleteAn interesting action and enjoyable read.
ReplyDeleteThank you Peter I am glad you enjoyed it!
DeleteAnother lovely solo game.
ReplyDeleteI have ot of 15mm Flsmes of War tanks and minis and have to try solo game:)
Thanks a lot Michal....I would definitely encourage you to give a small solo game a try....look forward to seeing early war Poles v Germans??!
DeleteA great game Keith. I like the way the initiatives shift back and forward and the event cards which gives a lot of interesting action in only 90 minutes.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ben - the unpredictability is a good option for solo gaming - keeps me "honest" and prevents any favouritism!
DeleteGreat looking fun late war game, thought the Germans had had it when the six IS11s turned up!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Thanks Iain, and yes, it felt that way to me roo but the Germans kept getting 11 or 12 when firing!
DeleteYowza, 20 turns? I don’t think I’ve ever played a miniature game that had 20 turns. 😀
ReplyDeleteOur group has had longer games Stew....but they take six hours to play! To be fair, in these games, some turns only take a minute or two!
DeleteGreat stuff once again Keith! You really seem to be getting into the small solo gaming groove, which is good to see. Mine is AWOL for a variety of reasons but mainly down to focusing on painting for a show game in a month's time. The Germans did well, albeit it at heavy cost (feels historical once again) and especially when those 6 JS-II's turned up!
ReplyDeleteThanks Steve...yes. I always suspected I would quite enjoy solo gaming but never really had the facilities or infrastructure required until about a year ago...even now, it's not ideal having to squeeze into the available space in the garage....but it's better than nothing!
DeleteAnother splendid game Keith…
ReplyDeleteI suspect that by the time the Germans had dug themselves in… the Russians will have manufactured another thirty tanks.
All the best. Aly
Lol, that is how I see the next game developing too, Aly!
DeleteGreat stuff. Glad to see you are still using/enjoying the rules!
ReplyDeleteCheers Andrew and yes....definitely!
DeleteI wonder what's left to care about in that poor destroyed village? All the artillery dropped on it. All the mortars dropping down. All the missed tank shots blasting through houses.
ReplyDeleteVery true Dai - the folly of war and all that!
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