"Stürme den Graben" 28mm Solo Wednesday Wargame WWII

 Tonight, for a change I decided play a small 28mm Barbarossa era solo game, using the usual AS9 rules. Perhaps we can imagine it's a continuation of the right flank combat in the previous 15mm game?

I set up a trench, defended by two Soviet squads, supported by a sniper. For my game, I treated the sniper like a heavy tank - she added 3 to any roll, so if she rolled 9 or more, she would cause two hits on her target. I also ruled that the Germans could not engage her or do the usual return fire action in response to her activities.

To reflect better equipment, morale, training and tactics, I gave the Germans 15 initiative cards, including three "event" cards, whilst the Russians only had 10 cards and no specials. The Germans had three infantry squads supported by an HMG, a mortar and a PzKfw 38(t).

As the attackers, the Germans automatically got the first turn

A few eye candy pics first to set the scene of the game

German first squad and mortar on the left flank

German second squad and HMG on right flank

German third squad and 38t - hey diddle, diddle, straight up the middle!

Soviet first squad on the left

Soviet sniper

Soviet second squad on the right

After the first turn, the HMG had put a hit on the first squad

The sniper fired at the German third squad - and scored two hits - she should have targeted the HMG instead; it would have been eliminated by this score!

Next turn, the German third squad rolled this rally and removed the two hits

Combined fire from the German first squad and mortar had shaken the Soviet second squad

Meanwhile, their Wehrmacht colleagues in the third squad were also taking some heavy fire.

The mortar crew lent a hand...

.... and dropped smoke in front of them to conceal the squad from Soviet fire

The sniper Yulia lined up another shot ....

... and sent the HMG crew scrambling for cover - their gun silenced as a result!

The mortar crew targeted the second Soviet squad with HE

The constant pounding was too much for the Red Army conscripts, who abandoned their trench and headed towards the rear

In the centre, meanwhile, the third squad followed on, as the 38t crushed the barbed wire in front of the Soviet trench line.

On turn 10, the Soviet first squad was also forced out of the line by the combined fire power of the panzer, the HMG and the mortar.

The second squad meanwhile had rallied back to three hits (perhaps they saw and NKVD blocking line in the rear?) and had moved back towards their former position. Unfortunately for them, in their absence, the German first squad had advanced, cut through the barbed wire (they rolled a 9 to succeed) and then assaulted the trench. The dice rolls were even, so one hit each. In normal circumstances, the melee would have continued in the next initiative BUT the 1 hit put the Soviets back to 4, and they were forced to fall back immediately.

The 38t also breached the Russian defences

Both Soviet squads had been forced back, with the first quitting the field, so Yulia the sniper followed their lead, as the German second squad and their supporting HMG broke cover and also advanced on the now vacant Russian positions.

A quick game - I think maybe only half of the 25 turns were played, and the Germans did not even get one of their possible 3 special event cards - to be honest, they really didn't need to. I obviously need to invest in a 28mm T34!

And now, for something completely different - a garden update!

The apples on our tree are numerous this year and just starting to be ready to eat

Passion fruit a bit underwhelming after such a promising start - but we are still getting a few

And the mandarin oranges have been edible for about three months already - and are still going strong. Likewise, the strawberries, which started in early November and literally just finished of the very last of their fruit this week!

My wife is responsible for garden eye candy! These are two different types of Dahlias.

Thats my lot for tonight - no hosted games this week, so I will probably try to get another solo game in over the weekend sometime. Until then, thanks for your visit and double thanks for all comments!