Stalingrad

For the final test of our new WWII rules (Fire team) we've had a crack at a Stalingrad-style battle in a ruined city. Its a good test of the cover and assault rules as things happen at such close range. The Russians would be on the offensive so had slightly more points (10 vs 8).
For this game the forces were:


Vasily Zaytsev lurking

Russian
4 x Infantry sections (1*LMG team, 1*Rifle team)
2 x SMG sections (1*Large team)
2 x Maxims
2 x Snipers
1 x flamethrower team

German
3 x Infantry sections (2*LMG team)
1 x MG42 HMG
1 x Sniper

The Setup

The table featured dense terrain through-out, with a large factory on the Russians right flank and an open road area in front of it. The objective was for the Russians to capture one of the German Jump Off Points to win the game.

View from the Russian left

Corner of the factory on the Russian right and the bombed-out road

German left with a JOP in the building

The German right

Close-up of the factory

The Battle

The Germans were required to defend three JOP in their half. Two were in a residential area in the centre of the table and the third in a water treatment plan on their left. One squad was deployed on top each of the central JOPs and the HMG covered the third, leaving one squad as a reserve. The Russians deployed both HMG's on the bombed-out road area to pin the Germans and used the bulk of their infantry to move around the flanks.

 

Russian snipers claim the tower-top

Russians enter the factory on the right to flank the Germans in the warter plant

Russians in the centre trying to tie-down the Germans

Russian SMG team + flamethrower moves to the left flank

German MG42 on the water plant roof

Germans guarding one of the central JOPs

The other central JOP

Close-up of the water plant

Russian base of fire opposite the water plant

The Russians pressed forward with their flanking manoeuvres. On the right they moved carefully through the factory complex that run most of the width of the table and established firing positions facing the water plant. The Germans did not contest the factory so the Russians were able to move right behind them. On the other flank the SMG squad + flamethrower moved through the rubble strewn streets whilst two rifle squads kept the German defenders occupied. 

 

Russians leap-frog through the factory 

SMG team moves forward through the rubble

And now the SMG squad out-flanks the Germans

The Germans wait patiently in the centre

Russians capture the whole factory

Russian LMGS establish firing positions

With the Russians in position on both flanks the final stages of the assault began.

 

On the Russian right a hail of HMG and LMG fire pinned the German defenders now numbering one infantry squad and one MG42 HMG. Two Russian rifle squads then assaulted the water plant destroying the defending squad and securing the JOP. On the Russian left the flamethrower team pinned the Germans before a spirited assault by the SMG squad pushed them back and secured a second JOP.      

 

Water plant now heavily defended

Flamethrower moves into position

Flamethrower pins the Germans 

Russians gather for the assault from the factory

 





The Verdict

 

In the end a fairly comprehensive victory for the Russians, with superior numbers allowing them pin the Germans before moving in for the kill. In hindsight the Germans were perhaps too passive and relied too much on static firepower from the JOP themselves rather than setting up some overlapping fire zones. Also we agreed that more balanced victory conditions would be 1 captured JOP for a draw and 2 for a win.  

Over watch worked as I had hoped with defenders having the chance to hold fire in the hopes that attackers would break cover and so risk not firing in order to catch them in the open.

With Scipio back in action next week we return to Punic Wars, but the WWII rules now seem fine for the campaign we're planning later in the year.