Bolt Action - Game 28

Campaign Stalingrad - Last Bridge over the River Don 12 Aug 1942

Introduction

This is the first scenario in the Bolt Action Campaign Stalingrad book. A sensible place for Kevin and I to fight our way through the book.

Situation

The Soviet forces are retreating in Aug 1942 in front of a sustained blitzkrieg from the German 6th Army. The retreating forces are seriously weakened, and the only hope is to retreat over the River Don.

Enemy Forces

The German forces are likely to be a mixed force of infantry and Panzers.

Friendly Forces

A small bridge guard was in place, ready to blow the bridge, of a Zis-3 and a MMG team. The last troops expected were the remnants of 2nd Battalion 1075th Rifle Regiment (2/1075 RR) commanded by Lt Vasiliy Ugryumov. He had drawn together 3 infantry sections and an anti-tank team. He was fortunate to have found some transport. Bringing up the rear were a scout squad and NKVD squad.

Mission

The 2/1075 RR is to complete the crossing of the Don and then blow the bridge. The Bridge must not fall into enemy hands,

Post Mission Report

Lt Ugryumov loaded the vehicles with as many men as he could. Their mission was to get to the bridge and reinforce the bridge guard. He placed his inexperienced troops on the southern flank and NKVD took the northern flank.

The MMG were optimally placed on the second floor of the building closest to the bridge on the south side of the road with the bridge detonators routed to their location. The ZIS-3 was deployed on the northern side of the road near the bridge.

The transport managed to get across the bridge unscathed and were able to reinforce the guard force. The retreating forces were greatly helped by the failure of the German forces to get to the battlefield quickly enough.

Once the Germans arrived they did so in force, and they fought hard to destroy as many of the Soviet units as they could. First to be destroyed were the inexperienced infantry who never really managed to even load their weapons before they were cut down. The T-34 provided as much fire support as it could as it withdrew. On the northern flank the Germans lost their truck, but the surviving infantry managed to start bringing their MGs to bear on the Soviet northern flank protection.

The Soviet northern flank protection was easily mopped up by the Germans and they continued to press home the attack trying to close in on the T-34 as it withdrew. A German mortar crew that arrived late made up for their late arrival by zeroing in immediately on the Zis-3 and destroying it and its crew.

The Germans continue to close in on the Bridge but Lt Ugryumov is adamant that he wants to recover the T-34 before the bridge is blown. As the T-34 rolled across the bridge the MMG team were told to blow the bridge and the charges fired and the bridge went up in the face of the advancing Germans. They would have to find another way to cross the River Don

Outcome

A Soviet victory, despite the loss of a number of infantry. Importantly the T-34 was saved and the bridge was blown.

Bolt Action - Game Report 27

Demolition - Germany March 1945

Introduction

Onto the final game against Luke, and hopefully a little better result.

Situation

The overall strategic situation for German forces was dire situation, with the allies advancing rapidly. In the haste to withdraw our forces have exposed a critical industrial complex. High Command determined that this had to be destroyed, and the other key technology recovered which must not fall into allied hands.

Enemy Forces

The enemy advancing on the industrial site were identified as a British infantry unit with armour support. Reports from the units withdrawing indicated that the British were using a new tank that we had not yet encountered.

Friendly Forces

KG Von Wittak leading elements consisted on a PZIVG, an infantry platoon of 3 sections, a squad armed with assault rifles mounted in a SdKfz 251/1 halftrack, a sniper and an artillery observer.

Mission

KG Von Wittak is to destroy the industrial complex, and recover the technology which must not fall into enemy hands.

Post Mission Report

The lead platoon moved forward to seize the start line. The assault troops remained mounted as a strike force to go where needed as the opportunity presented itself. The PZIV protected the right flank.

The right forward section accompanied by the platoon commander, advanced to the church in to establish a base of fire. The artillery observer called down fire on the wood to the left of the church.

On the right the PZIV decided to expose itself and took a shot at the enemy tank. The shot went wild. In returning fire the enemy tank destroyed the PZIV with its first shot.

The German commander decided to attempt a left flanking manoeuvre. A major close range fire fight broke out seeing the British take a number of casualties. Meanwhile the rest of the advance broke down with the British Tank dominating the battlefield. We were able to seize and maintain control of the technology. But the industrial complex remained in Allied hands.

Outcome

A draw with neither side achieving their objectives.

Bolt Action - Game Report 26

Sectors – Operation Eilbote Tunisia 1943

Introduction

Second game was on to fight Josh and his Americans – an easier proposition to define a credible scenario for the mission report; albeit that it would have to be in the desert.

Situation

The allies have landed in North Africa. Scratch German forces from have been sent forward to support the newly arrived 10th Panzer Division’s attack to push back the allies. KG Von Wittak is operating in support of the division and has been tasked with seizing ground to open the road for the Panzer Regiment to exploit forward.

Enemy Forces

The American airborne forces were heavily armed with automatic weapons and bazookas, but with good mobility with Jeeps.

Friendly Forces

KG Von Wittak leading elements consisted on a PZIVG, an infantry platoon of 3 sections, a squad armed with assault rifles mounted in a SdKfz 251/1 halftrack, a sniper and an artillery observer.

Mission

KG Von Wittak is to secure the ground in order to allow follow on panzer forces to exploit and drive the Americans out of Tunisia.

Post Mission Report

KG Von Wittak left the PZIV, half track and its section and another section in reserve. The platoon commander took two sections forward to seize a start line on the right flank.

The reserves were late in arriving and by the time they arrived they were confronted with volleys of Bazooka and machine gun fire. The PZIV was lost early in the engagement.

Very aggressive action by the American paratroopers, with very effective fire support from the browning machine guns allowed them to advance to engage the only positions left in German hands.

Outcome

A significant loss for the Germans that significantly delayed the arrival of the follow on forces.

Bolt Action - Game Report 25

Meeting Engagement – Operation Margarethe March 1944

Introduction

For the next Bolt Action tourney at Entoyment I decided that I was going to field a German force. I managed to build and paint it relatively quickly. I made one big mistake. I didn’t read the fine print of Michael’s invite for the competition. This tourney was going to be for armoured platoons; I was effectively taking a knife to a gun fight with my force!!

First game was against Dave’s Hungarians where I was going to get a rude awakening of what it meant by armoured platoons.

Situation

High Command had ordered the occupation of Hungary because of concerns that the Hungarian leadership were about to conclude a separate peace with the allies. Sources from within Hungary reported that some army units were supporting the current Hungarian leadership and would resist the occupation. KG Von Wittak was formed to lead the advance and bring these rebels to heal.

Enemy Forces

The Hungarian rebels were equipped with a platoon of 43M Zrínyi assault guns and supporting infantry.

Friendly Forces

The advance guard of KG Von Wittak consisted on a PZ IVG, an infantry platoon of 3 sections, a squad armed with assault rifles mounted in a SdKfz 251/1 halftrack, a sniper and an artillery observer.

Mission

KG Von Wittak is to advance and engage the rebels, and then to liberate Budapest.

Post Mission Report

The advance guard moved swiftly forward with the intention of seizing the dominating ground. The PzIV moved to provide overwatch from the left flank as the sniper moved to provide fire from the rough ground.

The platoon commander ordered his sections forward. He decided to keep the mounted troops in reserve. The threat from the assault guns meant that manoeuvring the half-track would be a challenge.

The Hungarian infantry advanced rapidly to seize the key terrain. They were well supported by the assault guns which destroyed the German sections with HE fire.

Once the forward sections had been destroyed there was only limited progress that could be made. The fire from the PZIV failed to destroy any of the assault guns.

Outcome

A significant loss for the Germans.