Skirmish in the sand

My gaming buddy and i decided that we'd try the scenarios from the new campaign book by Warlord Games; Duel in the Sun. In particular scenario 5: Skirmish in the sand (page 51), with its unusual deployment rules. Basically for each unit you write the unit on a piece of paper, plus a piece which is blank. I had 9 order dice so had 18 pieces of paper in total. These are then placed in a container and we take it in turns to place a piece of terrain and a paper at random on each terrain. Once we felt there was enough terrain, then any units not drawn were in reserve. Then it was time to see which units would be deploying where, exciting stuff! Though to our amusement the first phase was pretty spartan. My Germans had a panzer II  near the tower and the 2nd Lt dug in, in the rough ground. The British/ Indian division had an anti tank rifle in the sandbagged area and a truck horribly exposed in the centre. 

We also used the rules for climate conditions, in particular Hot, Damn Hot, Sand, Sand... And more Sand. These essentially add an extra -1 to shooting at long range. Vehicles get an extra pin if they're pinned (we forgot about this rule) The effects of dehydration added something different to the game also. If you wanted to run we have to roll less than the current game turn number. So it becomes harder to run as the game progresses, unless you start your run near an oasis.

The Germans lost the roll for Blindside, which meant that firing towards the long edge of my opponents side gave an additional -1 to hit. This had a huge effect on the game as at long range I was hitting at a -3 to hit, before any modifiers for cover or small team. We were concerned that it would be a sniper fest with so little cover but these additional modifiers made for a challenging game.

Axis and Allied columns advanced towards the small settlement both aware that the other was doing the same. The intent was to establish a defensive perimeter, rest and refresh their water supplies. Sadly they became disorientated in a sand storm and all units hunkered down to wait for the storm to pass. They were shocked to find that their lines had become intertwined. 

With so few forces on the table, turn 1 was fast and uneventful. The 2nd Lt started dug in and stayed down while the panzer II opened up with his turret mounted MMG at the anti tank rifle, which returned fire and was equally ineffective. The British truck finding itself horribly exposed ran for its own table edge to avoid being automatically destroyed at the end of the turn.

Turn 2 began with the panzer II traversing its turret, tracking the truck as it ran for safety. Sadly advancing in the open, apparently unaware of the danger the driver didnt even see the thing that killed it, first blood the Axis! Both forces begin to bring in reinforcements from reserve. The Indian division swarms towards to the rear of the Panzer hoping to assault it next turn. Seeing the danger it pivots on its axis and attempts to open the distance. Axis reinforcements are delayed by soft sand and struggle to reinforce their 2nd Lt.

Turn 3 & 4 unfolded slowly as all reserve units moved into position and began to advance. The German Kubelwagen used to rocky escarpment as cover while being able to provide enfilading fire to anyone moving into the open. 

A small 5 man team ran into the building on their left flank and took up position on the roof affording them a commanding field of fire. The troops paused briefly as they heard the roar of a motorcycle. Cheering as it swept past their position to harass the advancing infantry.

Axis forces dug in, confident that they had superior fire power and planned to mow the Allies down as they advanced. The 2nd Lt spotted the enemy recce carrier and recognized it for the threat it was "achtung carrier!". "Jawohl commander!" replied the panzer, ignoring the advancing infantry to its rear and accelerating towards the carrier.

Smiling the tommy manning the anti tank rifle sighted between the sand bags, waiting for the Panzer to roar past. Squeezing the trigger he was as suprised as the Panzer crew when he hit weak point in the armour. The antitank round penetrated the magazine and the tank exploded sending its turret arching through the air. All heads turned at the sound, the Allies cheered and the Axis groaned.

The Allies renewed their advance, pressing the Axis in all areas. Unable to recover the initiative after the loss of their armor the Axis held on pouring fire into the advancing enemy, unfortunately for them the low sun blinded them making accurate fire impossible.

The Axis commander sensing things were running away from him glanced over his shoulder as he felt the wind picking up. "bring me sand or bring the Luftwaffe!" Troops from the Axis left flank left the safety of the house to attempt to reinforce the centre while the kubelwagen moved to plug the gap on the right. The Allied carrier, realising the Axis now had no anti tank capability brazenly advanced down the field pouring fire into the exposed troops.

The 2nd Lt received the radio message that he had dreaded "no reserves at this time. Withdraw and wait for further orders". Pondering how he was supposed to achieve this with no covering fire and the Allies almost at their throats. Looking from his makeshift bunker he could almost make eye contact with the enemy commander who was advancing behind his troops.

Fortune smiled on the Axis forces as the sand storm that had ruined their plans came to their rescue obscuring the battlefield and allowing for a less than ordered withdrawal. 

At the end of turn 6 both sides had lost 3 units each so technically a draw. However I think its fair to say that the Allies had the best of it. 

Battle of Raseiniai AKA the Beast of Raseiniai

Rock on Tommy and I decided to fight the Battle of Raseiniai where a KV-2, broken down held up the advance of a German division. 

See http://www.warlordgames.com/scenario-monster-in-the-road-the-battle-of-raseiniai/

Soviet forces quickly moved to support the stricken beast taking up positions in the sand bagged emplacements.

German forces massed and began their advance.

The German forces began their advance by firing lots of smoke hoping to blind the KV-2 but to no avail, the shots went wide allowing it to smash the heavy field car as it advanced up the road. The Pioneer squad inside bailed out with minimal casualties but proved unwilling to leave the cover of the wreckage for the whole battle. Effectively ending their campaign from the outset.

The German artillery observer called in his barrage well wide of the KV-2 hoping to walk it into the tightly packed Russian infantry. However the battery was quicker than expected and the barrage landed on and empty road way, only pinning one unit of Russian infantry behind the sand bags.

The 8-Rad continued to fire smoke shells in the hope of covering the advance of two units of heer up either side of the road. One unit moved through the fields to take cover behind a fence. The other unit took shelter in the building preparing to ambush what ever moved around the woodland to their front. The unmistakable whinnying of Cossack cavalry giving away the Soviet intent.

The Cossacks galloped around the woodland hoping to smash the German centre but were cut down mid charge, ambushed by one unit while the charged unit had time to pick off the horseman. Only one Cossack made it across the open ground, taking two Germans down before being torn from his horse and dispatched.

More Soviet reinforcements poured in presenting an intimidating line of infantry, thankfully their inexperience resulted in their inaction. The commissar was forced to shoot several soldiers as an example to the others, this had the desired effect.

The 8-rad and light mortar continued to pepper the battlfield with smoke, finally blinding the monster to the road ahead. Unfortunately the Hanomag and two SS inside chose this moment to advance into the open on the left flank. Thankfully they had debused before the Hanomag was blown apart killing the now redundant artillery observer manning the MG34. The KV-2 then killed all 6 SS before the other unit was reduced to half strength by the combined fire of the entire Soviet left flank.

Sensing the German attack had fatally stalled the Soviet right flank began to advance putting additional pressure of the already shaken Germans.

The German attack stalled on the left flank and the remaining troops attempted to switch flanks using the thick smoke screen as cover. Sadly this was far too little, far too late. 

The now unsupported infantry wavered and eventually began to withdraw under the rapidly diminishing smoke screen. Sadly reporting that the Beast still held the cross roads and a much stronger German force would be needed to capture it.