Feb. 8-9, 2014
Revisiting Situation 5 now that I have a better notion of what the Germans need to do.
Russians set up first. In this game, Russian artillery and infantry strength is concentrated on the south end of Board 2. The north end has a heavy howitzer, an ATG in Uschas, and the two SU-76s.
Germans decide to attempt to exploit the north end of the map, where the Russian artillery is a little lighter.
This setup seems to favor the Germans, but we'll see how it goes. Favoring the Germans was partly conscious, to see how well the German armor could exploit a weakness in the Russian line.
Germans allowed indirect fire for H & M guns at greater than half range.
Germans pile on to the north end, will take direct fire from an SU-76 on SG III-75 at 2:1, risking only dispersal. I think I found a terrain hole not well covered by the Russians that the Germans can slip through.
I can already see that the 2 German PzKpfw IV in Uschas should have moved forward. No need to engage that ATG.
Russian fire phase: ATG in Uschas whiffed it, got expected dispersal on the SG III-75 at 2:1. This would have been a kill if I hadn't forgot to use indirect fire from the 120 mm mortar on Hill 135.
Russians mount up to get in better position.
As tempting as it is to hang aroung and fight, the Germans need to seriously hustle through the German line. And that they do, a weak Russian line lets the Germans just swing around and through places the Russians can't reach.
That said, the German put some smackdown on a SU-76. Having the Wespes way out really helps with that indirect fire.
Not much the Russians can do here except mount up and reposition to deny German advance.
Movement only round for the Germans, getting off the map as fast as possible.
Russians positioning, blocking with remaining SU-76, CAT on PzKpfw.
Russians just lost the second SU-76. Germans continue to move. Germans have 12 pieces off waiting one more turn to get 3 more off. All the German armor and one CP halftrack is staying behind to attempt to reduce infantry.
Russians just carting troops around in an attempt to deny the Germans the northern route back across the board.
Germans moving armor around to get the infantry on the run. The last 3 pieces intending to move off the board moved back help clear a lane for the returning units.
Russians continue to move troops north.
Pressuring Russian rifle companies. Trying to get some Wespe action. They are very weak on attack, and not that effective in CAT when German armor is stacked.
Russians are in a bind, having lost both tanks, and with German armor stacked high.
German small armor repositioning, not much to do otherthan wait for the off board pieces to come back on.
Russians rolled a 6 on a 1:1 CAT. Bummer. That would have taken out 2 halftracks.
Germans are back on the board, and have to move fast.
Russians whiffed another CAT, which was a blunder to even try, Russian infantry should be moving to block instead of attacking.
Germans, positioning.
Russian mortar recently emplaced in Uschas takes out a PzKpfw IV, followup close assault does nothing.
Germans trying to escape, having a rough time.
Russians manage to disperse critical unit on a CAT at 1:2, Germans concede.
The Germans were only able to get 2 armored cars off the board. The other units got bound up with Russian rifle companies in the close terrain on Board 2. Lessons learned here include:
sometimes better to risk certain dispersal or elimination by providing the opposition with a dilemma of either certain attack exposes them elsewhere.
The Germans have got to get off the board by the end of Turn 3, or there is almost no way of winning. This is really hard if the Russians are well-emplaced.
Russians almost lost this one, without a lucky CAT in Turn 10, the Germans might well have succeeded.
All in all, the key to PanzerBlitz is understanding the game revolves around movement.
Russian turn 1 could have used indirect fire from 120 mm on south side of Hill 135, which would have been a kill.
Germans should have the CP halftracks trailing instead of off the board where they can't be used to spot for the Wespe. Even taking out a couple of Russian rifles could have tipped the game to the Germans.