20 replies to this topic

[Sacha]

Alright, here we go....This battle was translated from a Steel Panthers battle based upon an armored clash in early February of '45. The Soviets were pushing towards Berlin crossing the Oder River along a wide front. In one area, elements of the 21st Panzer Division with a Schwere Panzer Abteilung were ordered forward in a meeting engagement. In the skies above, Rudel, with a wing of his tank busters flew relatively freely as the Germans obtained limited air superiority during the battle.The battle has quite the mix of air, tank, infantry, AA, and artillery. I chose to make this an armored engagement in hopes of completing a game.The kill ratio ended up being quite lop sided and quite extreme.

[Sacha]

and here is the physical battlefield.

[Sacha]

The Soviets had a 2:1 or maybe 2.5:1 advantage in armor with mostly T34/85, some T34/76 and 2 companies of JS-II and SU-76 tanks. A guard company of T34/85 were veteran and 1 company of JS-II. The rest were regulars.The Germans had a platoon of elite King Tigers, A veteran platoon of Panthers, regular platoon of Panthers and 2 regular platoons of PZ IVj.and 2 platoons of Jpz IV regular.

[Sacha]

Detail shot with creative decor.

[Sacha]

Soviets maintain advance. Cross country movement was reduced by a quarter due to snow. Soviet Guards are highlighted here.

[Sacha]

Von Luck and his King Tigers move forward down the road towards crossroads.

[Sacha]

Panthers and Mark IV tanks move down from the Seelowe heights with the King Tigers out infront by 2000 yards....could the Tigers flank be a bit vulnerable?????

[Sacha]

FIRST BLOOD!!!!!The long arm of the "88" L71 makes its presence known. Under the thumbs of elite crews they will prove to be quite formidable. Especially its sick front armor.

[Sacha]

At 1,200 yards, the Soviet tankers are like carrots in a food processor. The soviets make a switch to the south side of the road as they took hits on its north edge.Quite honestly the guy who commanded the T34/85 has only gamed with us 4 times and didn't expect King Tigers, even if he did he didn't realize that at that range the best he could do was scratch their paint job.

[Sacha]

Close up of mark IV and Panthers.

[Sacha]

ENTER....the JS-II tanks!!!!!

[Sacha]

....and now the Panthers with their 75mm L70 gun prove their effectiveness!

[Sacha]

A lead JS-II is disabled after Germans blow a rigged bridge. 2 batteries of SU-76 SPG do direct lay and barrage the Panthers. A lot of pings and pins but no real damage.

[Sacha]

and here is where it got sick..... I believe in the background one King Tiger got knocked out as rushing T34/85 tanks got shots at the flank.

[Sacha]

2 platoons of Jpz IV tanks appeared from the woods. Though when they shot, they only caused suppressions.

[Sacha]

JS-II tanks slow to get into the action towards the village.

[Sacha]

JS-II tanks make it to the crossroads, another King Tiger is taken out.Some Soviet tanks have already begun to rout. This may not be enough to push them back.

[Sacha]

Aftermath....

[Sacha]

German OOB [file name=da8b2bcd46c26f864e35f67b042e8da1. size=315714]https://www.odgw.com/components/com_simpleboard/uploaded/files/da8b2bcd46c26f864e35f67b042e8da1.[/file]

[Sacha]

Soviet OOB [file name=2bfd2441896d056e0567d4387d0582d4. size=314033]https://www.odgw.com/components/com_simpleboard/uploaded/files/2bfd2441896d056e0567d4387d0582d4.[/file]