Bolt Action - Game Report 16

Point Defence – Operation Asset Strip Phase II Feb 1945

Introduction

With time to spare it was on to game 2. This time we rolled for Scenario 9 – Point Defence, with the Soviet’s attacking.

Situation

NKVD weapons intelligence teams decided after examining the equipment recovered that the entire airfield should be rapidly be captured to determine what further high value technology could be seized. Given the experience gained in his first battle, and intimate knowledge of the battlefield, Junior Lieutenant Boris Magovich was given command of the initial phase of the operation.

Enemy Forces

Overnight patrols detected that the Germans had reinforced the position with lower quality troops. There was no sign of the Flakpanzer, but a captured prisoner reported under interrogation that a Sturmtiger was present on the airbase and under command of Hauptmann Holz.

Friendly Forces

The same forces were made available to Megovich. Additionally, the Regimental artillery officer promised support from the divisional batteries.

Mission

2 Pl is to seize the regimental initial objectives in order to seize and occupy the airbase for technology exploitation.

Battle Report

The preparatory bombardment arrived as promised. Megovich’s forces advanced in a single wave under cover of the bombardment.

The T34 commanded by Sgt Vasilov, advanced cautiously, and spotted the Sturmtiger before they even knew their were Soviet's attacking. His gunner acquired the target and centred the sight reticules on the bulky vehicle and pulled the trigger. There was a direct hit with penetration. Smoke could be seen coming from the hatches and shortly later the crew abandoned the vehicle. The road was now clear to exploit this victory.

On the right flank the scout squad which had deployed well forward over night, launched an attack against the house. It had been occupied by a mortar spotter who was killed during the assault. The scout squad then started to put heavy and very effective close-range fire on the Germans in the field.

The Soviets achieved fire dominance over the Germans using the supporting fire from the T34, the Zis-3 and the regimental howitzer battery. This effectively destroyed three German units leaving the wat open for the Infantry to move forward unopposed to secure the middle objective. On the right the scout squad assaulted the mortar and seized the right flank objective.

Outcome

A victory for the Soviets, who were able to recover a significant amount of technology to advance the development of their own jet aircraft.