Background: Elements of Gross Deutschland Division struggle to contain Soviet's second offensive in Romania in May of '44. During a controlled shrinking of their lines, they have blown bridges near Targu Frumos. A single bridge was kept open for straggler units to reach the German lines. The infantry holding the bridge and the southern bank have fallen back after heavy bombardment smashed their position, and now a small kamfgruppe races to the southern bank to hold the remaining bridge and the adjacent Hill 103.1. The kampfgruppe establishes positions too late as elements of the Soviets 16th Tank Corps have crossed in some force. Also, soviet infantry has crossed a collapsed bridge, without detection, behind the kampfgruppe. This is a meeting engagement of sorts.
Forces: German: 3x Pzkw V Panthers; 1x Pzkw IV 75mm lang; 1x PAK40 75mm AT; 1x Sdkfz 251/9 75mm inf gun; 1x Sdkfz 234/2 Puma Recon; 1x Sdkfz 7 Flak Vierling 20mm; 4 infantry squads; 2 hvy MG; 3 HQs
Forces: Soviet: 3x T34/85; 3x SU-85 AT; 3x T70 recce; 4x SU76 assault guns; 2x SU57 AT; 2x 37mm AAA; 11 infantry (smg) squads; 3 HQs
Objective: Within 8 turns, Soviet player must capture supply dump on Hill 103.1, Germans must hold Hill and try to recapture bridge.
The set up:
The Soviets main column consists of T70s, T34s and then the SU85s with SU57 on flanks near the bridge. A separate column of SU-76 assault guns and infantry skirts the other side of the hill. The Germans are dug in throughout bombed out buildings and protecting roadways, unaware of the threat to their rear...
Here is a view of Hill 103.1 and the supply depot from the rear of German lines, looking towards the Soviet's "bridgehead".
The three T70s get smacked hard and are wiped out, 2 panther shots and a PAK40 round on opportunity fire kill them off. The T34s press towards the panthers, while the SU-85s head to Hill 103.1 to deal with the PAK. The infantry and SU76s make their way under infantry and HMG fire towards the hill as well.
The Germans command rolls stink - pretty much through this game, so their actions are limited. The Sdkfz 234 and 251 hang tight on the road, and the infantry hunker down elsewhere.
The SU85s don't want to go up the hill without infantry who is slogging behind them under small arms fire and getting suppressed. They wheel over and around the hill to help out the T34s in a good ole fashion barroom brawl with the Panthers. The Pzkw IV eventually does land a killing hit on an SU-76...
A Panther gets laid out with a hit through it's flank as the Soviets press on and the infantry try to get steam to get up the Hill.
The kampfgruppe tries to concentrate on the side of the hill and the Flak Vierling and the Pzkw IV race to the panthers. The Flak driver has got to think he is on a suicide run...
As the Soviets charge up the hill to the empty PAK position, the Panthers finally hit a T-34 and wipe it out. The Pzkw IV tries to engage the SU-85s with no success...
With support from the SU-57s and 37mm AAA (which have been fire to little effect all along), the soviet infantry struggle to take the ruins on the top of the hill
Meanwhile, the sneaky infantry squads from the blown bridge have contacted the rear of the kampfgruppe and with good rolls, wiped out the Sdkfz 234/2 and HMG in a series of close assaults
The Soviets quickly wipe out the Pzkw IV as the infantry attack the rear of the remaining two Panthers. The Germans try to coalesce on the southern half of the hill top but they have been decimated. The game ends with the Soviets threatening the depot but not quite capturing it!
Charlie don't surf!