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[Trotsky]

The first part of this battle has been posted in the Photo Album - the game should be finished tomorrowNo Way Home.This fictitious scenario is set sometime during the Bagration offensive in 1944. It depicts a mixed force of Germans attempting to breakout from an encirclement. Their objective is to capture a road bridge over a minor river which stands in the way of them reaching their own lines.The German forces – All forces are Veterans.Elelments of Motorised Panzer Grenadiers.Company HQ – command x2, rifle x2, LMG x1, Shrek x1, Kubelwagon x2, 251/1 x1Platoon A – PL x1, 251/10 x1, rifle x3, rifle/LMG x3, shrek x3, 251/1 x3.Platoon B – PL x1, 251/10 x1, rifle x3, rifle/LMG x3, shrek x3, 251/1 x3.Platoon C – PL x1, 251/10 x1, rifle x3, rifle/LMG x3, shrek x3, Truck x3.MMG Platoon – PLx1, MMG x4, Truck x2.Motar Section – PL x1, 81mm x2, Truck x1Panzer Company.Company HQ – Panzer IV J x1Platoon A - Panzer IV J x3Platoon B - Panzer IV J x3Platoon C - Panzer IV J x3Panzer Company.Company HQ – Panther D x1Platoon A – Panther D x3Platoon B – Tiger l x3Tank Destroyer Platoon.Stug IIID x4.Self Propelled Gun Platoon.Wespe x3.Artillery SupportHowitzer 17” x4 (off-board) – only three turns of ammo available.FO on motorcycleThe Soviet forces – All forces are RegularsElements of Motor Rifle Battalion with some support elements.Battalion HQ – command x2, rifle x2, Truck x1.Company HQ – command x2, rifle x2, Truck x1.Platoon A – PL x1, rifle x3, rifle/LMG x3, Truck x3.Platoon B – PL x1, rifle x3, rifle/LMG x3, Truck x3.Platoon C – PL x1, rifle x3, rifle/LMG x3, Truck x3.MG Platoon – PL x1, MMG x2, LMG x3, Truck x2Anti-tank Platoon – PL x1, 45AT x4Tank CompanyCompany HQ – T34/85 x1Platoon A – T34/85 x3Platoon B – T34/85 x3Platoon C – T34/76 x3Assault Gun PlatoonISU122 x4Armoured Car PlatoonBA10 x4Reinforcements – randomly enter on turns 2,4 & 6.ATR Platoon – command x1, SMG x6, ATR x3, Truck x3.KV1 Platoon – KV1 x4SU76m Platoon – 1 xGaz AA, 5 xSU76m

Post edited by: Trotsky, at: 2006/01/02 09:03

[Kenny Noe]

Well done!! The Pic are very cool. Looks like a fun game. Thanks for posting.

[Trotsky]

No Way Home – an after action report.My gaming partner and I are both new to miniature wargaming and we took a long time to settle on a set of rules that met our criteria of being relatively quick, intuitive and expandable to enable us to recreate a wide range of actions. Although we play in 6mm a good set of infantry rules were essential. After playing several games of Mein Panzer I have to say I am not disappointed with our choice of rule system, we rarely have to consult the rules or even the reference chart (with the exception of the ‘kill table’) and the rules lend themselves to using units as they were used historically. It is a testament to the game system that decisions are based on tactical imperatives rather than gaining extra modifiers, a problem common with many boardgames I have played.The scenario ‘No Way Home’ was created to use most of the miniatures we have painted and based so far. I took the role of the attacking Germans and my gaming partner defended with the Soviets.Soviet Deployment.The Soviet deployment did not hold any surprises for me, the village was heavily defended, and the small building and wooded area to the west of the village was also defended well. A platoon of infantry was held back in reserve, and the 45AT guns were spread out across the front, most of these were out of command but I guess the Soviets were not planning on moving them anyway. The ISU122s commanded a hill near the river, the penetration of these monsters was of some concern to me. The T34/76 set up in the village and the remaining T34/85’s spread out east of the village. A few infantry units and a 45AT gun held the north bank of the river.German Deployment.My opponent is well known for counter-attacking at every opportunity so to minimise this I decided to advance on a broad front to limit Soviet redeployment. Although the Soviets had deployed a strong infantry presence in the house and woods to the west of the village this still seemed the most advantageous avenue of attack for my infantry mounted in half-tracks and trucks as the trees and hill gave much cover from the Soviet armour. The Pz lV’s advanced down the middle of the board, mainly to freeze any Soviet movement to reinforce the west of the board. The tigers and panthers climbed a hill on the east side of the board in order to give them a good field of fire with their improved optics and superior guns I hoped to dominate the battlefield.I will describe the battle in three sections, opening moves, mid-battle, and the end-game.Opening moves.The Pz lV’s moved down the centre of the board making short work of the T34/76’s even though they were nestled behind a hedge. The next few turns saw the Pz lV’s engage the T34/85’s east of the village - a steady stream of casualties built for both sides. One platoon of Pz lV’s advanced along a long, low hill in the middle of the board – this ended up to be a key position as they interdicted all the Soviet attempts to reinforce the west side of the board. The panthers and tigers advanced to the top of the hill and engaged the ISU122 and T34/85’s. The ISU122 returned ineffective fire and eventually had to turn their attention to the interdicting Pz lV’s as they took out an infantry platoon mounted in trucks trying to reinforce the Soviets on the west of the board.The German assault on the west of the board went well; a platoon of infantry disembarked from their halftracks and began to filter through the woods towards the Soviet defenders. Another platoon of halftracks and the Stugs kept the Soviet defenders suppressed. The Soviets counter attacked with the BA10s and caused some casualties before they were destroyed by the Stugs and supporting Wespes. The Soviets received a platoon of SU76Ms as reinforcements, these were sent to support the battle in the west but they were caught in the open by the interdicting Pz lV’s and two were destroyed. The Germans called down their howitzers on the ISU122 but only managed to immobilise one. The Germans and Soviets joined in close combat in the woods and building in the west of the board - a bloody fight ensued and the Soviet survivors eventually routed from their positions. The Stugs, Wespes and another platoon of German infantry in trucks swung around the board edge and attempted to take a hill which overlooked the bridge. This movement was held up for several turns by the plucky defence of the three remaining SU76M. The tigers took several hits from the ISU122s and T34/85, one was destroyed, one immobilised and another was abandoned.Mid-gameThe German in the captured house and woods in the west remounted their halftracks and prepared to assault the village. KVl reinforcements were seen entering the board making for the village. The Pz lV’s and T34’s had fought themselves to a standstill. The panthers began to advance to the east of the village. The German assault on the village stalled as the KVl’s joined in the defence, the Germans eventually routed away. The armour support for the German assault on the west of the village was caught up in heavy fighting on the hill near the river. The final Soviet reinforcement of an ATR platoon entered the board mounted in trucks, these quickly reinforced the beleaguered defenders of the village. The panthers reached the edge of the eastern side of the village and took out the last remaining Pz lV.The End-gameSoviet defeat seemed inevitable, with little armour left to halt the advance of the panthers and a strong German infantry presence on the west of the board. In desperation the Soviets ordered the KV1 to abandon the defence of the village and attempt to engage the panthers before they reach the village. As the KV1’s left the village the German infantry began to assault it from the west. The KV1’s managed to destroy a panther with a critical hit, but it was too little too late as the KV1’s easily fell prey to the guns of the big cats. The battle for the hill in the west was finally over as both sides were exhausted by the conflict, a platoon of German infantry in trucks sneaked through and disembarked on the riverbank in sight of the bridge. These infantry took many casualties from the defending Soviets encamped in a wood near the bridge. The western assault on the village ended in close combat, despite high German casualties the Soviets were routed. The village was overrun by the Germans and a pincer movement of advancing panthers from the east and infantry from the west take the bridge and Soviet morale was broken.A victory for the Germans, but at a very high price.Dave MurrayEast Yorkshire, UK

[Trotsky]

The last sentence in the paragraph on the mid-game should have course refered to a T35/85 and not a Pz lV.

[Sacha]

Nice AAR and great pics. It seems like you guys covered a lot of territory in the rules.SS

[Trotsky]

The rules worked very well - as I explained we are both new to minature gaming and Mein Panzer in particular, but had little difficulty in handling artillery, infantry and structures. Need to get some aircraft painted up for the next big bash.

[gregoryk]

Super write-up and pictures!Gregory