Battle in the Snow
Jeremejewska (Russia - 20th February 1943)
This winter battle was played at Tim O'Connor's place before his trip to the USA at the end of September. Terrain is Tim's "winterfied" by Ian Fainges. Tim O'Conner and myself were the Germans. Brad Smith and Matthew Coombes (www.battlescape.com.au) were the Russians.
Here is an oblique view of the battlefield. Jeremejewska is at the top left with the Russian column strung out along the road. The snow terrain is painted on the reverse side of the tiles used in our recent Rots scenario.
Same setup taken along the length of the table. Russians on road and German ambush force on the right hand side. The "warm" glow in this photo is the 500 watt lamp that I used to improve the lighting on the day. German armour started turn 1 at long range.
A close up of some Russian armour (Dragon diecast) and other Russian tracked vehicles.
Jeremejewska in detail. Buildings Hovels and rubber roads (unknown origin)
German armour and recon vehicles emerge from the forest.
More German armour and Panzer Grenadiers. Tiger from Dragon.
Jochen Peiper leads the Kampfgruppe forward across the first road. Using the snow rules on page 115 of RF vehicles moved 1/2 speed and infantry at 2/3 speed on roads and cross country.
Russian Armour moves through Jeremejewska.
Another shot of the Russian armoured force (Dragon Diecast)
After the liquidation of the Stalingrad pocket, Soviet supply lines had been stretched. A kampfgruppe under Jochen Peiper comprising elements of the 1st SS Leibstandarte Panzer Grenadier Division launched a surprise counter-attack across the snow covered steppe against a supply column provisioning Popov's 3rd Tank Army.
Battle Report
The Germans advanced slowly (damn that snow) towards the Russian column inflicting some long range casualties. The Russians quickly setup there AT guns and having repelled an armoured assault on Jeremejewska moved back down the column to defeat the German attempt to cut the road. The German force eventually reached the road but failed to get the necessary tanks infantry across to win the game. The Russians managed in the last turn to achieve their victory conditions of inflicitng causlaties and exiting supply trucks off the Jeremejewzka end of the road. A great game - the first of our winter encounters.