Chain of Command 2 - Game Report 4

The 04:30 to Kotelnikovo – December 1942

Introduction

With four CoC2 games behind us Kevin and I thought we should dive into one of the historical scenarios available. I had purchased "Operation Winter Storm" so we decided to kick off with this and for that I needed some Soviet Partisans. A rapid search for stl files secured a nice range of interesting figures to add to some standard Soviet infantry figures for a Partisan platoon.

Situation

Soviet Forces have successfully encircled German forces besieging Stalingrad. Intelligence has indicated that the Germans are moving troops forward to counter-attack and to relieve 6th Army. Stavka has directed that all available regular and irregular resources are made available to counter any German relief of Stalingrad. To that end the South Western Partisan Forces Commander has directed that all relief columns for Stalingrad are to be intercepted and attacked. Local Soviet citizens have come into the camp and reported that a truck column has been seen on the road to Kotelnikov, the road passes close enough to the Lt Gregorvich's area of operations for his Partisan Platoon to be directed to intercept and destroy the convoy.

Enemy Forces

It is known that there are German security forces active in the area and that they are very responsive to any threats. They are equipped with the normal array of infantry weapons, and it is likely that there will be MMGs deployed on any vehicle within the convoy.

Friendly Forces

Lt Gregorvich's Platoon has recently been reinforced with he now has 31 men under command deployed as two sections of 11 men and women and one of 10. The local area commander has provided him with two LMGs, and MMG and 50mm mortar section, a sniper team and a 3 man engineer team.

Mission

To destroy the Trucks before the Germans can react.

Post Mission Report

Lt Gregorvich deployed one section on either side of the road to divide the German response, which in this case was formidably rapid.

The German MMG on the vehicles provided devastating fire that allowed the Germans at the front and the back of the truck column to manoeuvre and engage the Partisans.

Given the effective fire Lt Gregorvich pulled the engineer team out of the line of fire. The Section on the northern side of the road suffered heavy casualties from the German fire and retired. In response the third section was brought forward to support the Southern attack. The Germans were seen to be moving away from the road to close off the Soviet out-flanking opportunities. Lt Gregorvich has moved forward to direct the Mortar fire which has not been sufficiently effective.

The sniper team decided to redeploy to engage the MMG.

The German attempt to outflank from the South was detected and heavy fire disrupted their movement and ability to intercede in the fight.

The northern Partisan section have finally broken from the field through the weight of fire being directed at them, but not before they threw back a German close assault on their position.

Finally, Lt Gregorvich manages to bring forward the MMG team who are able to inflict casualties on the German MMG team, but not sufficient to suppress them. The soviet MMG will be destroyed by the return fire from the German MMG.

The German attempt to redeploy their MMG fails and the remaining infantry providing close protection to the trucks is destroyed by the Partisans who now move in for the kill. Lacking engineer support they throw grenades at the vehicle only to miss the target.

The remaining Partisan section advances to engage the second truck and its grenades similarly miss the target.

As night falls there is no sign of more German activity, and what forces are left to protect the convoy are incapable of offensive action. The Partisans disappear into the night after posting grenades through the truck cabins.

Outcome

Kevin and I agreed that even though the objective conditions expressed in the scenario had not been met to the letter, the Soviet partisans had done enough to destroy the convoy as dusk fell.

Conclusion

A really challenging scenario and one which in this case the Germans were able to respond incredibly quickly which disrupted the Soviet attack. On the other side it was well worth painting the Partisans for this battle.