In response to the increasing pressure of the Soviet offensive to take Karachev and sever the rail link between Briansk and Orel, Panzer Division Grossdeutschland was shifted to the region northwest of Orel. To foil the Soviet plans, the division was split into several Kampfgruppe and sent into villages in the forest to the northeast of Karachev. July 28th saw the initial test of the newly established German positions. The Soviets, with the aid of heavy artillery support, managed to take Alisovo, but ran into stiff resistance from elements of Grossdeutschland at Kusmenkovo.
Attacker: Russian (31st Guards Infantry Division)
Defender: German (Bataillon II, Panzergrenadier Regiment Grossdeutschland, Panzer Grenadier Division Grossdeutschland)
6.5 turns
Players: 2 OBA: None Night: No
Unit Counts:
Squads: A:12.0 D:10.0
AFVs: A:4
T-34 M43 x 4
AFVs: D:1
StuG IIIG
Guns: A:0 D:1
7.5cm PaK 40 5cm leGrW 36
Misc Rules:
Bd 37 woods/roads are Paths. No Cellars. Buildings wooden
It took me 3 turns to get into the right position, On the forth turn I let loose the dogs of war. My tanks freezed german stacks (3 of them) his GUN did nothing, then the infantry pushed, 1 DC placed and I was able to send I squad in his backyard. He quickly lost 3,5 squads to Failure to rout. On his 4th turn he broke the GUN while the Stug try to get into position. Unfortunately for him on my 5th turn I CH his GUN and vaporizede it getting to 19 CVP while one of mine T34 got into the back of his TD and dispatched it with a CH.
The scenario ended here but the situation was not so bright at the beginning of my 4th turn, mine was a desperate move because if I had played it safely he would have put into better position his infantry and the reinforcement would have closed any possible exit strategy. VC are very hard on Russian that cannot risk his precious tanks (he need them to exit) but the terrain is horrible and the exit area easily defended. Basically you cannot plan to win on CVP if the German doesn't stand and fight because you basically need to wipe our almost his entire OOB. So you need to exit those points but it's really hard. Plan accordingly.
Remember that ground and level -1 hex adjacent to a marsh are BOG hexes for AFVs.
This is a classic on forest warfare and it's highly advised to be played.
2023-04-09
(D) Andy Bagley
vs
Alessandro Demichelis
Russian win
I can understand why some people report this scenario as an exciting bloodbath. Unfortunately in this game the blood was all mine (German). Started OK with my AT Gun taking out a T34, but that was it. Missed all its other shots, my StuG missed a point-blank shot and was promptly despatched, both my DCs and both daisy chains were ineffective, and I failed several PAATCs (even the one that needed 9 or less). So the other 3 Russian tanks strolled unhindered round the back of my defenders, cutting rout paths and encircling me with point-blank fire. I had nothing left to stop the Russian hordes, so conceded at the and of Turn 5. Very well played by my opponent though.
2022-12-28
(A) Dave Mareske
vs
Rex Loewen
Russian win
After breaking two MA, the Russian attack solidified and was able to push the Germans out of the village taking all building in Turn 6 and leaving the Germans very little to counter-attack. The German AT gun was fairly forward and only got off two shots before being overwhelmed by other tanks and infantry.
2022-08-21
(D) Kevin Duval
vs
Dwayne Duval
Russian win
German defenders got steam rolled to edge of the exit area & the re-enforcements were quickly wiped out whilst trying a desperate counter attack.
2022-08-21
(A) Dwayne Duval
vs
Kevin Duval
Russian win
2021-02-27
(D) Dan Best
vs
Kermit Mullins
German win
2021-02-27
(A) Kermit Mullins
vs
Dan Best
German win
Lots of chess moves until Turn 3, when all hell broke loose and Dan's German let loose on my advancing Russians. Daisy chain immobilized one T-34, the 75L took down another and the Stug MALF'd it gun in intensive fire and was immobilized by the immobilized T-34. Dan and I traded bad rolls until Turn 5 when Dan got rate with nearly every weapon and destroyed my personal ELR. Dan would finished with 20 CVP and my Russians finished with 18 CVP. Good win for the Germans.
2020-09-21
(D) Vilis Pavulans
vs
Stephane Renaudin
Russian win
A bit spread out german defence in the beginning. Good movement from the russian side and the failure to use the Daisy chains in a good way invited the russians into the game. The germans managed to spot good hexes for boresighting and that cost the russians one AFV and a squad. When the reinforcements come in the german defence was already hard pressed. The StuG managed to get into the woods and knock a T34 out but bogged down and was later destroyed from the behind by another tank. The russians got another AFV immobilised just before an OVR and would have had problems getting offboard with enough troops but by then the village was taken and the germans had no means of taking it back.
2020-07-09
(A) Jason White
vs
Owen White
German win
Messed up with my pacing and the Russians could not get off the board fast enough. Probably should have held back my tanks to provide covering fire for the my infantry to leave. Lesson learned!
2020-07-09
(A) Jason White
vs
Owen White
German win
Messed up with my pacing and the Russians could not get off the board fast enough. Probably should have held back my tanks to provide covering fire for the my infantry to leave. Lesson learned!
2019-01-27
(A) Jonathan Kapleau
vs
Duenskie, Ron
German win
2019-01-03
(D) Jeff B
vs
Magnus Rimvall
German win
7.5 hrs
My first ASL game of the year may very well end up being my closest. To no surprise, the Russians amassed along the woods road upon entry, staying mostly concealed. The restrictive terrain (stream to the east, marshes to the west) effectively funneled them up the middle, which is where the bulk of the German defense was. I had just enough of a token force in the west to try and prevent a sweep. Russians were very wary of the still-hidden daisy chains, and on Turn 3 sent a tank through the trees rather than risk the road. By the end of the Turn though both carriers would be broken and routed deep back to the village. Turn 4 saw the first casualty when I lost a HS and MMG to a VBM motion tank in CC. This could've easily been avoided had I broken and ran like my instincts told me. Thankfully I received my reinforcements just in time as the Russians had finally begun to break through. My StuG positioned itself concealed in the western woods watching that exit, while a HS with a LMG would rally back next turn and get into position to lay a FL along the southeast edge. Meanwhile I lost my HMG and HS to a CH, after having lost possession of my gun the turn before. Things were starting to look a bit grim. My attempt to reclaim my well-positioned gun failed when I was locked in melee with the possessing Russian, but I had just enough of a wall of bodies to make Russian progress difficult. On the final Russian MPh he had to get the full 32VP off. I flamed the first tank that tried, but left the armored assaulting infantry unhurt and in position to advance off. The next armored assault succeeded in getting a tank and two squads off, and one more sole tank was able to exit. I broke the whole stack of infantry in the last armored assault, but if I didn't stop the tank on an IF shot from my StuG it would be game over. I needed a 3, which is what I rolled, and blasted the tank to bits from the side, preserving the victory. Had this tank made it he would have had exactly 32. Great game!
2018-08-20
(D) Øyvind Jacobsen Bjørkås
vs
Kristian
Russian win
2018-08-02
(D) Louis Langdeau
vs
Andrew S
Draw
Didn't complete the scenario. We're planning to play a few games of this scenario, so we wanted to have one try out to get the rules down.
2016-11-25
(A) Jason Wert
vs
Jim Travers
German win
2015-09-27
(A) Russell Dewhurst
vs
Daniel S
German win
2015-09-11
(D) Russell Dewhurst
vs
Gordon
German win
2015-08-06
(D) Vic Lauterbach
vs
MA
Russian win
Risky move with T-34s paid off with two trail breaks and no bog - Russian HMG did heavy damage with rof, and flanking tanks covered exiting infantry. Exciting scenario that came down to the last Russian MPh.
2014-12-06
(A) Michael Rodgers
vs
John Merritt
Russian win
2012-03-30
(A) St La
vs
E Batisse
Russian win
2012-03-17
(A) Andy Beaton
vs
Richard Hooks
Russian win
Russians won via the CVP cap. High casualties all around and a lot of fun.
2012-01-21
(A) Paul Messina
vs
Dan Preston
German win
What an amazing scenario! This game came down to the final close combat of the final turn. In the end, the Germans won by a single CVP! This is a must play for anyone who wants to live on the edge!
