Byelorussian Battle Ticket

[Sharpe]

My son and I kick off tomorrow with the first battle ticket.

He's playing Germans:
Hamster 7 pts
MG 34 7 pts
SSPG 5 pts
Mauser x7 21 pts
Ju 87b 12 pts
EP4 x2 36 pts
StuG x2 30 pts
Pz IVC 10 pts

Russians:
Commissar x2 10 pts
Hero 8 pts
DP27 x2 8 pts
PTRS-41 x2 12 pts
76.2 M1927 10 pts
45mm ATG x2 14 pts
M-N x8 24 pts
M1910 Maxim 8 pts
Pillbox 2 pts

[thommieh]

That will be tough for the russians.. But wait, did I miss something? MG34?

[Slaynar]

NO mg34 in 1939?? pretty sure it comes in in like '41?

Robert

[Slaynar]

sorry that is a mg42 that comes in in '42.
the sandbagged MG for germany comes in in 1939 though and is 10 points?

Robert

[Sharpe]

DISASTER FOR THE MOTHERLAND!

Bad news from White Russia. German forces completely annihilated a valiant Red Army rearguard today in a battle near "Knife Fight."

Early in the battle, a Stuka dove out of the sky and laid its deadly egg on the Russian 76mm cannon situated in an old factory near "Objective Hill." The Stuka fell victim to deadly ground fire and couldn't prevent the cannon from killing the German commander, but the Russian position was unhinged. A Wehrmacht infantry company, supported by a PzIVC and an MG team, pinned down the Russian infantry in the "Widget Factory." Russian fire was almost completely ineffective, despite the comissars' numerous attempts at bravery enforcement.

Simultaneously, German PzIVD's and StuG's struck the Russian right wing. Again, Russian fire was ineffective and the German armor overran a Russian platoon supported by an ATG and an antitank rifle. The armor flanked the main Russian position and poured deadly fire into the rear of the "Widget Factory."

The only highlight for the Red Army came when a 45mm ATG shifted from the left flank to the right and blew up two German vehicles.

The Germans infantry took heavy losses in the final assault on the factory, but the issue was clearly settled by turn seven.

While the Germans moved on quickly, the loss of valuable tanks and junior officers will be felt as the grey juggernaut drives on into the Russian heartland.


Notes: I tried to put some backstory onto this to make it more historical. I postulated that the Russians were the company-sized rear guard of a rifle regiment that was falling back. Their only support was the regiment's artillery that lacked transport. The smart play would have been to use the "wild" points to take one of our 1941 KV-1s, but I couldn't see a KV-1 operating alone as very historical.

[warspite]

Stuka is 1942, isn't it? And what's with the "B" variant?

Bending rules already :)

[Sharpe]

They said we could use house rules, so we use the units we made. We're hoping to do the second battle with about 70-80% Rumanians.

[Marquis]

Wow! Awsome narrative. I'm loving this! On Tuesday my game group meets and I look forward to seeing how we do. Cool report.

[Pletch]

Stuka is 1942, isn't it? And what's with the "B" variant?

Bending rules already :)

Ju87b Stuka was available as early as the Polish campaign 1939. I don't have any sources in front of me, but it was probably available earlier. I wouldn't see a problem with a house rules Ju87b in 1941.

[warspite]

Ju87b Stuka was available as early as the Polish campaign 1939. I don't have any sources in front of me, but it was probably available earlier. I wouldn't see a problem with a house rules Ju87b in 1941.


I know. Stukas flew in Spain in '38. I'm just referring to the fact that the G model on the card isn't available in '41, and would have to be house-ruled. I've been asking for a B or D model in the next set, with a much better AI value, and maybe Corsair-like bombs.

[Sharpe]

If you check the stats on the Ju87B, I think you'd be really disappointed. The bombload is a fraction of the Corsair's and the inherent weapons are weak, a 20mm and a .30 mg iirc. This is our version:

JU 87B 12 pts

1939 Aircraft [G]
AI–7/5/0
AV–3/2/0

Speed–A
Def–4/4

Slow
Aircraft
Once per game:
Sirens– As Covering Fire.
Bombs–AI-10; AV–5
================================================== ========

It might be too strong.

[Latro]

The sirens shouldn't be just once per game. Those things wailed everytime a Stuka went into a dive and Stuka's were known to keep supporting the troops with "dummy-dives" even when out of bombs.

... other than that it looks fine to me!


:cool:

[carl_brisgamer]

The smart play would have been to use the "wild" points to take one of our 1941 KV-1s, but I couldn't see a KV-1 operating alone as very historical.

Don't speak too soon, there are a few examples of individual KV tanks holding up the German advance in the early days of Operation Barbarossa.

[Sharpe]

In the limited time frame of the game, only one screeching dive seemed realistic, as one knowledgeable poster pointed out. Over the course of an hour or two, I think you're right.

The KV-1 was just a feeling, though it did seem tremendously unbalancing. If we switch sides and play it again, I'm sure my kid will use one. He's that way.

[Latro]

In the limited time frame of the game, only one screeching dive seemed realistic, as one knowledgeable poster pointed out. Over the course of an hour or two, I think you're right.



You're right that Stuka's need time to line up for a new attack. I was more looking at it from a gamewise point of view however, because the psychological effect of a Stuka attack also lasted a lot longer than just one minute/round.

To do justice to this very effective terror-attack, something more lasting than just one round seems to be in order:

- standard covering attack each round
- a face-up disruption effect on all targets from the bomb-attack that lasts an extra round (like the wehrmacht sniper)

Just random thoughts (though I like my second thought, might try it myself).


:cool:

[boersma8]

The sirens shouldn't be just once per game. Those things wailed everytime a Stuka went into a dive and Stuka's were known to keep supporting the troops with "dummy-dives" even when out of bombs.

... other than that it looks fine to me!


:cool:

I agree. Make it cost enough ( 25 points or so) and have the sirens work all the time when you attack. Rahther than not allowing that unit to attack, I'd give it an immediate face-up disruption........I just hope if WoTC release an early Stuka they'll also have this mechanic built in somehow. Like your version too BTW, but like Latro I don't think it should be only once per game.......