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[Mark 1]

This is the second in a series of AARs describing the experiences of the Bay Area TankNet Pewter Pushers, a loose collection of die-hard treadheads, as we came to know and game with the Mein Panzer rules over the past couple of years.This AAR describes only our second game with Mein Panzer, played in May of 2006.The players:Soviets:Mark 1Rick GriestGermans:C.G. EricksonErick Lee (not a TankNet regular)Darryl Parker (not a TankNetter)Our setting was spring 1943 on the Eastern Front. 3 SS Pzr Grenedier Division Totenkopff is re-building after the winter battles, in anticipation of the big Citadel offensive (which will be delayed for several weeks).Soviet forces are moving their lines, and Totenkopff is called in as the fire brigade.Neither side knew what the other’s forces were. Neither knew what the other’s objectives were. We used hidden movement with “chits”, that were replaced with models as they were spotted per the rules.The Germans started partially deployed on the western end of the board. They had a screen out front, but the majority of their forces were on the edge of the board, as if they had just entered. The Soviets entered along the eastern edge of the board on the first turn.This is a view from the eastern edge of the board, as the Soviets are entering. Our battlefield was built from 12 of C.G’s absolutely beautiful terrain boards. Each board is 1 x 2 feet. He also covered the gaps between boards with loose flocking. In some of the pictures the seems are very visible – I think that is an artifact of the photo flash, because in person the flocking was a very effective camouflage for the gaps. There was a river running east to west along the South end of the board, which was bridged in two places. The bridge toward the west was a reasonable bridge. The one towards the east was a flimsy wooden bridge, which would not carry tanks (10t limit). There was a single paved road, which ran indirectly from east to west, with a big bend in the middle. This bend in the road turned out to be the centerpoint for most of the combat. There was also a network of dirt roads, and miscellaneous farm structures spread about.This is a view from mid-battlefield, looking west. The back end of the bend in the paved road is visible in front of us. The Germans are moving up the roads quickly to re-enforce the screening forces deployed in front of them.The Soviets came on the board in two columns. Here we are looking from the north, at the northern-most column.This was my command, the 2nd battalion. Per our plan, I entered the board, and quickly deployed off-road into hiding positions around the estate on the north-east corner.The 1st battalion, which made up the southern column, then split into two, with the 1st company continuing along towards the west on the southern half of the board. They were spotted as they crossed a small rise to reach a dirt road, and the models were placed on the table.Shots rang out, but no hits were scored. The Soviets were unable to spot where the fire originated. Camouflaged guns are hard to spot! The 2nd company of the 1st battalion passed in front of my force to screen me to the west. The Soviet plan was to deploy the 1st BATT in front, seizing two pieces of high-ground with its two companies of T-70s, in order to “develop” the battlefield and give some notion of the forces we were facing. My 2nd BATT, two companies of T-34s with two platoons of infantry riding them, would then advance along whichever half of the board seemed to be the most lightly defended. My 1st COY, with the infantry riders, would deploy to fight with any forces blocking their path. My 2nd COY would pass through, and make a non-stop run for the end of the board. Our objective was to get units off the Western edge.This view is from the north, looking at the German forces deploying.At this point, it was not at all obvious where or if there was a weak side to the German defenses.... more to come.-Mark 1

[Mark 1]

As the 1st COY of T-70s seized their high-ground, they found a German scout team had already taken position. This was not a happy moment for the German scouts. We found that 45mm HE was not a very effective anti-infantry round. This was our first encounter with using infantry in the Mein Panzer rules, and we had some difficulty figuring out how to shoot at infantry from a tank. After two tries with the 45mm HE, and various interpretations of its anemic firepower, Rick switched to the co-ax 7.62mm MGs for the next two shots. That produced a most satisfactory result. First blood to the Soviets!However, we found that two direct hits from 45mm HE could not destroy their abandoned schwimmwagon. Hmmm. This seems a most peculiar artifact of the rules.However, popping over the crest to shoot-up the scouts came at a heavy cost. Shots range out, and two T-70s brewed up!And then, an even more unpleasant development. At this critical point, the Soviets failed to retain the initiative. So the Germans got to shoot again before the T-70s could pull back to the safe side of the hill. Two more T-70s were roasted!The culprits! A pair of Marder II’s! As the 1st COY of T-70s fell back over the crest, the 2nd COY of T-70s came up into position, and started dueling with the Marders.Here we see the 2nd COY of T-70s, shooting it out with the Marders as they move towards the cover of a small rise. There was a toll to pay.But the price was right, for the value! Both Marders were shot-up. One was destroyed outright, the other was immobilized, only to be destroyed in the next turn.This view is from the north. At this point we still did not have enough information on the Germans’ forces, and even with out the Marders, they still looked strong everywhere.But now the Germans started to commit. They began to maneuver against the now-depleted 1st COY of T-70s. One platoon of 3 “chits” moved in a wide right hook, while another came right up to the base of the hill the T-70s sheltered behind.This was the sign I needed. My BATT of T-34s began to assemble on the road. I would run up the northern half of the board....more...-Mark 1

[Mark 1]

The 1st COY of T-70s popped over the crest, and ferociously attacked the closest PLT of Pz IVs at knife-fighting range. Two Pzs were destroyed, and the third was suppressed.The T-70s’ attack came so swiftly, that the 2nd PLT of Pz IVs was unable to reply. (They had already been activated that turn.) They wound up as spectators to the carnage among their compatriots.However, the 3rd PLT was not so passive. They were at longer range, and so chose to close the range for a moving shot (SM2).But then, the Pz IVs were not the only game in town! Three Tigers were also prowling in the neighborhood.But like the 2nd PLT of Pzrs, they had already been activated, and so could not shoot at the audacious T-70s.However, the Soviets chose yet again to loose the initiative roll at a critical moment! And so the hapless T-70s had to sit on the ridge and suffer the two turns of fire from the 3rd PLT of Pz IVs, as well as 1 turn of fire from the 2nd PLT, and the Tigers.There were no survivors.During the heroic (and futile) attack by the T-70s, my T-34s made their move. Down the road they came in a rush.However, it appears that this too was a toll-road.The toll-takers.The Tigers had placed themselves specifically to get flanking shots on the T-34s as they advanced. And so T-34s would die on each turn. The German plan was now revealed. This is a view from the west, along the road the Germans were using for their advance. The T-70s burn in the distance.The Germans were positioned to make a right-hook into the Soviets. All of their armored strength was on their right, along the southern half of the board.Further west down the road, only PAK guns and some infantry stood between the bulk of the Soviet armor, and their goal.So it was a toll road, but …The T-34s were paying their toll, and moving down the road!And a LOT of T-34s were moving down the road.... more ...-Mark 1

[Mark 1]

The Germans would have a tough time bringing more of their tanks to bear against the column. The 2nd COY of T-70s was still in position, protecting the flank of the T-34s. The panzers would have to deal with the T-70s first. All the while, the ace up the Germans’ collective sleeve, their 88’s, were positioned at the western bridge on the river. They had been the first to fire, with a couple long-ranged shots at the T-70s. But from that point on they were out of the fight, too far away to participate.And all the while, the Soviets tried and tried again to spot any of the camouflaged guns. A battery of 122’s was just waiting for the call. But it never came, and the big boys never made a peep.Had the game continued, the German Panzergrenadiers would have faced a difficult challenge. Two or three Paks, and these fellows were the only forces between the T-34s and the edge of the board.Unhappily for us, that was the point at which our game was called. Too many of us have to work for a living, and gaming on past 10:00pm or so on a Sunday just ain’t in the cards.If the Germans rolled well, the Tigers may have whittled the Soviet armor down to the point where the PAKs and the infantry could hold them off. But in three turns, the Tigers managed to throw three misfires! So it was not at all clear that they could be counted on for good dice.The Soviets were three to four turns away from the western edge. Could they have made it? I guess we’ll never know.That's the end of our show today. Hope you enjoyed. Comments and questions are quite welcome. And don't forget to watch for the next installment in this series.-Mark 1