On the eve of Operation Barbarossa, SS-Kampfgruppe Nord was upgraded to a full SS Motorized Division. Not only the outfit's designation was new to the men, but also their weapons and in many respects the whole concept of warfare. The attack route lay through rough and unscouted terrain swept in haze from the prepatory barrage. Under the worst possible conditions would the Nord troops receive their baptism of fire.
Attacker: German (SS) (Bataillon I, SS-Infanterie-Regiment 7, SS-Division “Nord” and Gruppe Tölke, Panzer-Abteilung 40 zBV)
Defender: Russian (122nd Rifle Division and 2nd Tank Battalion, 1st Tank Regiment, 1st Tank Division)
6.5 turns
Players: 2 OBA: None Night: No
Unit Counts:
Squads: A:12.0 D:7.0
AFVs: A:2
PzKpfw IIA PzKpfw IIID
AFVs: D:2
BT-7 M37 BT-7A
Guns: A:0 D:0
50mm RM obr. 40
Misc Rules:
EC Dry, Gusty. 3 Woods Blazes placed by Russian player, will not spread. D: Green 4-4-7s
I was Russian defender vs German attacker. VPs for Mobile AFVs, 2 bridges and buildings. German needed 8. I was able to fall back successfully towards the east side village and minimize my infantry casualties. A stubborn single squad in the north center held off 3 German squads single handedly. German inexperienced infantry (Only 3 Movement Points normally) had difficulty moving around the minefield through the woods. When the German closed in to the village my defense was pretty well set. A lucky shot (from my BT-7A) took out his Panzer IIID as he was charging in to the village. German Conceded turn 6 with only 3 VPs in hand and it was going to be tough to get much more. Admittedly good dice rolls on my side for most of the game.
2023-10-04
(D) Craig Renier
vs
Chris Hofland
German (SS) win
The Germans win instantly upon gaining 8 VPs. 5 VPs are virtually guaranteed (2 VP bridges, 1 VP building, and 2 VP German mobile AFVs), so the German player needs to secure 3 more VPs. The main Russian advantage is the terrain, forcing the Green German MMCs to slog their way forward generally just a couple hexes at a time. The Russians withdrew carefully as the Germans advanced. Every opportunity to inflict casualties on the Germans ended up with no effect, including a 2 FP AT minefield on the road. At the same time, the Germans caused multiple MCs, stripping concealment and breaking Russian MMCs. The Russians subsequently handed the German player 2 more VPs with back to back box cars on Rally attempts, one of which was under the direction of the Commissar. In the end, though, it was a major Russian blunder on Turn 6 that gave the Germans the win. A building was left undefended that could be reached by one German HS. The Russians made a feeble attempt to stop the HS once the danger became apparent, but it was no use. With the HS able to Advance, taking control of the building for the 8th VP, and no Russian defender with LOS, the Russian conceded.
2023-02-23
(D) Neal Ulen
vs
Scott
Russian win
Wow, this was a really intense scenario. The green SS have to slog all the way through a forest in hopes of securing 8 VP, which wins them the game instantly. The Germans are basically gifted 5 VPs up front (2 working AVFs, 2 easy to capture bridges, and 1 building they are very likely to capture). Leaving them needing only 3 VPs to instantly win, either by capturing buildings in the village and/or eliminating units.
I played the Russians and Scott quickly got to 7.5 VPs because I didn't retreat fast enough. Thankfully my blaze and resulting smoke counters slowed down some of the Germans. I pulled back very carefully, knowing if I lost just a half-squad it was instant defeat. We played cat and mouse through the woods and meandering stream, until my Russian AFVs came on and most of my infantry had withdrawn to the rear. But he left the earlier capture building and bridge on the top of the board unsecured, so I managed to run my 10-0 commissar (exchanged in OB) and squad to go back and back capture.
Scott pushed hard into the village, with my Russian squads and AFVs firing furiously, laying down residual everywhere they could. He kept is German AFVs on the west side of the bridge out of caution, which is probably good because I converted the AP mines into 2 factor AT mines and placed them in the road just east of the bridge.
In the end Scott capture another building in the village, finishing with 6.5 VP. Had I not run back to re-capture those two objectives, or if Scott had kept a skeleton force, the Germans likely would have won. Either way, great scenario, very tense the entire time. Kudos to the designer.
2022-09-04
(D) Paul Works
vs
Paul Lauger
Russian win
2022-09-04
(A) Dan Best
vs
Glen Taylor
German (SS) win
Omaha ASL Tournament 2022
2022-01-19
(A) Andy Bagley
vs
Matt Ellis
German (SS) win
Great scenario, really challenging for both sides. For the Germans, moving Green squads through streams and woods is a nightmare, plus the danger of a -1 capture attempt against them in CC. And only two leaders slows things even more. The Russians on the other hand need to slow the German advance whilst not losing casualties, in order to keep under the VP level.
The Russians started well, with an upfront defence that retreated as soon as German units entered the stream, and the minefield placed just across the bridge on the main road. However, I eventually managed to take two bridges and the northern building whilst keeping both my tanks alive, so just needed to eliminate three Russian squads to win. This I did during turn 5, kindly helped by the Russian commissar (perhaps a mistake converting the 8-1 leader) who repeatedly failed to rally broken Russian squads/HSs. One Russian tank made a last dash to try to eliminate one of my tanks, but failed when a fanatic HS and hero caught it with CC Reaction Fire.
2021-08-31
(A) Asad Rustum
vs
Bob Zinselmeyer
German (SS) win
2020-04-15
(D) Matias Dahlbäck
vs
Stefan Fiedler
German (SS) win
Things I could've done differently:
- change the AP-mines for AT-mines and put them towards the end of the road, near the village. A threat unrealized is sometimes more effective than a threat realized and overcome
- thought: have the HIPpie near the edge of the setup and have it reveal and re-take objectives once the Germans have rushed through and on their way towards the village?
2019-09-15
(A) Jonathan Kapleau
vs
Duenskie, Ron
Russian win
2017-06-23
(D) Paul Works
vs
Roy Connelly
Russian win
2017 Texas ASL Tournament.
2017-06-02
(A) Rich Weiley
vs
Dave Longworth
Russian win
2017-04-20
(D) Steven Cummings
vs
David Rosner
German (SS) win
2016-01-29
(A) mark watson
vs
Arnold Shimo
German (SS) win
Game ended top of turn 3. A few bad rolls and the Germans hit the VP cap. Anti-climatic!
2015-11-22
(A) Andy Beaton
vs
Andrew
German (SS) win
Teaching scenario - German armour was stifled but Germans got in behind Russian defenders and cut off routs
2014-06-20
(D) Jeff T
vs
Brent Morris
Russian win
First game of the 2014 Berserk Commissars Human Wave mini-tournament and it was the best of the weekend. I set up forward with my MMG covering the middle road and smoke drifting over his woods hexes that could hit that stack. It forced him into the road. My mines also worked as he stumbled into them, however they only pinned a squad. He was ahead at 7.5 of the 8 VP needed and it looked like a win for his SS but I scored a bounding fire kill on one of his vehicles and that gave me just enough breathing room. He got another squad to move it back to 7.5 VP but my last squad held on in the last turn for the win. Great fun in this little package.
2013-10-10
(D) Rich Weiley
vs
Jeff Coyle
German (SS) win
ASLOK 2013.
2013-10-10
(A) Andy Beaton
vs
David Goldman
German (SS) win
ASLOK 2013 FtF
2013-05-13
(D) Andy Beaton
vs
Jonathan Kay
Russian win
7 VP for the Germans but they just couldn't pull the trigger on a 2-1 CC for the 8th point. Excellent, close game; a real nightmare for the Germans to push green troops around on board 32.