Totenkopf
Division SS Totenkopf had the toughest mission. Their objective was to establish a bridgehead across the Psel river from which they could drive up the left flank and attack Prokhorovka from the northwest. In their way were elements of the 52nd Guards Rifle Division and assorted tank units. In addition, heavy rains on the night of July 9-10 had turned the roads and airfields into a quagmire. The Germans would begin with only 2 companies of truck mounted panzergrenadiers with no support other than their attached heavy platoons and a unit of assault pioneers. Artillery, rocket batteries and armor were all off board in reserve and air support was scarce.
Reg. "Totenkopf" comes under fire from the hamlet of Kliutchi
They were successful in pushing up to the river's edge and shooting the Soviet infantry out of the trench line guarding the crossing point, but were prevented from crossing by 4 HMG nests that refused to give up. Day 2 saw the supporting elements begin to appear and eventually their firepower eliminated the nests and the infantry seized the foot bridge which was their only way across the river.
Crossing the foot bridge
Heer pioneers were called up to begin building a bridge heavy enough to support their armor. Totenkopf had the strongest armored force with 10 Tigers and a company of Panzer IVs but they would do no good on the south side of the river. The German commander also saw fit to reinforce them with a platoon from the Stug Abteilung.
Bridge under construction
With the bridge in place the armor could roll, but here is where the German players lost their focus. Rather than reinforcing success and pushing across the bridge, they attempted to flank right up the south bank through some fortified villages. This was due in part to a crafty move by the Soviet commander, who sent tanks down that flank in an attempt to divert and divide the Germans. This tactic worked perfectly, and, combined with a tank attack against the virtually unsupported bridgehead, succeeded in pushing the Germans back across the bridge and recapturing the objective.
Totenkopf's powerful armored force fights on the flank
By the end of the 3rd day the Germans had pushed back across and recaptured the trench line but they had no hope of securing Hill 226.2 or the road to Prokhorovka. Their forces lagged so far behind that the Soviet commander Bill (Rotmistrov) Motley saw no need to commit any units from the 5th Guards Tank Army to their table, freeing them up for where they were more needed.
Leibstandarte Adolph Hitler
LAH had 2 primary objectives for July 10, clear the Komsomolets State Farm and secure Hill 252.2. They accomplished the first objective with lightning speed, smashing through the first trench line and wiping out a battalion of the 95th Guards Rifle Division.
LAH table at the start. Komsomolets State Farm is out of frame at the bottom. Hill 252 and the railway embankment dominate the center. Storozhevo forest on the right. Prokhorovka can be seen in the background.
LAH infantry quickly secures the farm
Sensing a potential breakthrough, the Soviet commander reinforces with a battery of Katyushas.
LAH continued to make decent progress, quickly breaching the anti-tank ditch in several locations and by day's end they were in position to begin assaulting up hill 252.2. The Soviets, however, had a little surprise in store in the form of the 9th Guards Airborne Div. which arrived in the battle area overnight and dug in on Hill 252 and at Oktyabirskii State Farm, which was the German day 2 objective.
Airborne elements dig in among the Hill defenders
Undaunted, LAH crossed the railway embankment and began the assault on the hill. They successfully captured a foothold in one corner and held on, despite heavy bombardments and assaults by the 26th Guards Airborne. At the end of day 2 they still held their corner, while the Soviets occupied positions in the trench right across the road.
SS pioneers assault Hill 252.2
Day 3 saw the arrival of the 5th Guards Tank Army at the front. This came as a complete surprise to the Germans IRL, but our players knew it was coming. They did not expect the script to be flipped and the Soviets to become the attacker. Bill Rotmistrov committed some armor to the LAH table, and the 28th Guards Airborne and their attached tanks attacked up the reverse slope of the hill. LAH had by this time gotten most of their armor across the embankment and was prepared to meet their attack. The Soviets were under orders to move with best possible speed and they could not stop until they had recaptured all objectives and/or exited the far table edge. This was to keep them from forming a gun line with their tanks and just blasting away at full RoF.
Soviet armor advances with infantry riding the tanks
By day's end LAH had managed to repulse everything the Soviets threw at them and had secured Hill 252.2. The Soviets remained in control of Oktyabirskii State Farm and Storozhevo forest, so this table resulted in a draw.
Das Reich
The Das Reich division began the game divided. Panzergrenadier Reg. "Deutchland" was deployed forward in front of the town of Storozhevo, which was their main objective. Reg. "Der Fueher" had recently been relieved by the 167th infantry Division and were en route to the battle area. As with the other Divisions, most of the supporting forces were struggling with the muddy conditions and would arrive from reserve.
Das Reich table viewed from the Soviet lines. Village of Storozhevo in the center, Stalinskoye branch of Oktyabirskii State Farm on the right rear.
Soviet defenses at Storozhevo
Das Reich mobile artillery
By the end of day one, Reg. "Deutchland" had begun to penetrate the defenses in front of the town and were positioned to assault in the morning. The Soviets had attacked with tanks from the unsecured right flank but a lucky air strike had killed their commander and stopped them in their tracks. Das Reich's lone operational Tiger entered the fray only to get Shturmovikked before he could get into position to finish off the T-34s. The Soviet air force would be a pain in the neck for the Germans every day. Repeatedly showing up or shooting down the Stukas even when reduced to a single die.
Tiger Tiger burning bright
On day two, Das Reich had the opportunity to move against Storozhevo in force, their 2nd regiment having arrived on the battlefield overnight. They did not move as aggressively as they could have, however, and attacked on a very narrow front. Despite this they did manage to get a foothold in the southwest corner of the town but could advance no further. The fighting seesawed back and forth with both sides committing more armor to the battle. Despite the numbers and the fact that most of Das Reich's heavy AT had been knocked out on day 1, the engagements slightly favored the SS. The Germans on all tables were given the opportunity to recover armored vehicles in their areas of control. Das Reich got their Tiger back and Totenkopf got back a whole Tiger platoon that had been knocked out by a Soviet air strike. They would need it.
Panzer IIIs and captured T-34s rush to the front
Day three saw the Soviet command commit most of the 5th Guards tanks to this table. With orders to move as fast as possible until confronted by the enemy, this created a traffic jam as at least 70 tanks attempted to push through Storozhevo and the surrounding wheat fields.
Soviet tanks swarm forward
Soviet tankers, under orders from their commander, smash through their own mine fields to get to grips with the hated Fascists! They only lose a single tank to the mines. Perfectly acceptable losses.
The great clash of armor
At the end of the day, Das Reich had a single objective (the one they started with). The Soviets had failed to recapture this but they held both the town and the State Farm, assuring victory.
This was one helluva weekend! The Germans had very tough missions and did well despite the odds, leaving lots of burning Russian tanks on the field. The Soviets took tremendous losses but held the important areas at the end of the 3rd day, sort of like they did in real life. Also mirroring history, the LAH made the best progress in the center, while the flanks faltered. Who says Flames of War cannot do history?
A friend asked me for a breakdown of the numbers so I will repost them here.
Infantry and gun teams - 1313 total stands averaging 3-4 figures per
Tanks/assault guns/armored artillery - 418
Armored halftracks - 65
Utility and misc vehicles - at least 100+
The vast majority of the vehicle models were GHQ, with a few odds and ends that they do not make. Infantry was split between GHQ and a couple of others.
My thanks to the many who attended and helped make this event a success, and to the ownership and staff at Games and Stuff who continue to make us feel welcome and allow us to take over half of their game room for these big events. Next year...we invade Crete!
More pics here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 5d2e4938ce
and here: http://imgur.com/a/1VUF8
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