In the early morning hours, the 'Nordost Abschnitt' (northeast sector) of the town held in part by elements of Pioneer Battalion 656, was probed by Russian infantry. Then at 0700, five Russian tanks emerged from their usual eastern staging area in the 'Panzernest' and attacked from the southeast; they were supported in their effort by more infantry. Therefter, Russian heavy artillery soon added their weight to the fray. By 0840 the last of the two German anti-tank guns in the sector was out of action and Russian tanks were moving through the streets relatively unfettered, their guns setting aflame the sector's ammunition dump. Just over half an hour later, at 0915, Russian infantry broke through the German defensive positions along the line of houses just north of the Northern Graveyard and into the sector proper.
I hit the middle hard with almost everything I had (sending only a couple squads south to mess with rout paths), even driving a couple tanks into rubble to sleaze freeze. Thanks to a couple kindly reminders from my opponent, Interrogation proved a boon to me as the low-morale Germans were quick to surrender. One big mortar turned out to be in the middle, so my force split like water over a dam to move around him. The Germans tried their hand at Molotovs once, only to break and start what would become an isolated fire. As Scott said, I lost my radio on Turn 3 to said mortar when I missed a sneaky LOS after he had manhandled it to a better spot. After 4 Turns I was feeling pretty unstoppable, as my inexorable crush kept sweeping forward. As the game went on, our forces both suffered attrition, the Germans getting the worse of it in the casualty bin. Scott did a nice job of making a stand in Blocks 6 and 11 though, and I would be forced to use my last few precious tanks to try and oust him. I thought his strongpoint in DD10 would prove to be too much, but a nice shot by one of my T-34s did the trick. My reinforcements came on just in time to provide an extra push in taking this Block, which was good because my push on Block 11 had lost steam. The at-start Blaze in AA12 finally saw fit to spread on Turn 7 into Scott's rally haven , and my forces overran him. I had pushed dangerously hard with my vehicles and, thanks to neither of his guns having HEAT (a definite game-changer if either one did), I survived with the minimum one tank. Surprisingly I think Scott liked this game even better than I did. I don't think I could've had the stomach to watch my force get inevitably pushed to the brink of the river and enjoy it.
2020-02-15
(D) Scott Sherer
vs
Jeff B
Russian win
Tried to hold blocks 6A and 11A along the river but the determined Russians were able to take 6A for the victory. Knocked out the Russian radio before Turn 3 with a CH so the Russians didn't even get their OBA, but persistence Russians and a steady diet of VBM freeze that I didn't counter well resulted in the Russian win.
2018-03-25
(D) Simon Staniforth
vs
German win
2017-03-30
(A) Ian Morris
vs
Gerard Burton
German win
2017-03-01
(A) Tom Abromaitis
vs
German win
Tough to overcome malfing 4 Russian MAs.
2015-06-14
(D) Rich Weiley
vs
Kong Tang
German win
Paddington Bearz - June 2015.
2014-01-04
(A) Richard Jenulis
vs
Brent Morris
Russian win
2012-04-14
(A) Bob Callen
vs
Keith Spurlock
Russian win
Had very good luck with OBA once I finally drew a black chit. This one takes patience for the Russians. I tried a human wave on turn 1 with the conscripts and got shredded, but slowly ground forward and won on a last turn CC.