AAR 1941 Eastern Front: East of the Nemen by Mark Luther

Running to the rear

A couple of T28s of the 1st Battalion head to the rear after getting routed on the other side of the Nemen. I could have up to five T28s in this unit moving to the rear: the total was based on rolling a D4 and adding one. I rolled a one so only had two T28s to play with. The other three were to be abandoned or broken down within 20 inches of where the road came on the table (bottom of pic). The Panzers come in on this same road with the Nemen river off table behind a line of trees.

T28s crossing the tracks

I was trying to get these behind the railroad (RR) to put some cover between them and the panzers. Only one made it.

LaGG attack

The air was full of planes-mainly Germans. The Russkies got the first air attack on the board though with a strafing run by a LaGG 3 to no effect. If an 'air support' card came up (we had one for the Germans and one for the Soviets), we rolled a D6. Germans would get a Stuka on a 1-3 and a Bf109 on a 4-6. Soviets would get a I16 or a LaGG. The I16 version had cannons though. The first Panzers on table were to be a couple of platoons of Pz38ts from II Abt, 25 Pz Rgt. German entry was to be staggered because of the traffic confusion and mopping up the on the other side of the bridge.

There are those T28s

I placed a group of three broken down/abandoned T28 off to the side behind some rolling terrain. The German player had to spot them and of course he didn't know they were out-of-action. The terrain on this table was fairly rolling open grassland that sloped slightly down to the river. Some thick impassable woods were on the eastern half of the table. A few tree lines and a RR running across fom the NE to the SW made up most of the other features.

Pz 38ts of the 5th Co, II Abt, 25 Pz Rgt

The German player had a total of ten Pz 38ts, four Pz IVDs, three Pz IIFs and an attached platoon from the 6 Co, 6 Schutzen Rgt and two MMG teams. Their job was to get to the high group on the other side of the RR.

Dug in T34s

The Soviet player had two weak units of T34s: five T34m1940 and five T34m1941s. The had limited AP ammo: up to three shots only and had to be dug in with at least 20 inches between each unit. With Green crews they were lucky to get a shot off per turn.

IABSM rules say put a card in for each tank without a radio. I simplified this by having a card for each group of 2 to 3 tanks and rolling a D4 to see how many can fire or move when their card came up.

T28s on fire

Not taking any chances, the Pz38ts put the T28s under fire and make sure that they are not going to be a threat. They also managed to KO the tail end T28 trying to get across the RR tracks in front of them.

Coming under fire

The Pz38t s spread out after getting fired on by the T34 and a couple of 45mm ATGs to their left front.

45mm ATGs

The other Soviet units included the 2nd Bttn of the 5th Motor Rifle Rgt. They had two 45mm ATGs, two MMGs, a Motorcycle Scout platoon (guarding the right flank and not getting into action in this game), three BA10 arm cars, two rifle platoon (entrenched along the RR tracks). On the high ground the AAA unit was emplaced. It had two 37mm M1939 guns and two AA HMGs. They were occupied with the Luftwaffe in this game.

T34m1940

These are the CinC models in Timecast castings of tank dugouts. Probably too fancy for what was actually on the field. The Soviets couldn't go hull down due to training or turret construction, so these positions did help their defence.

German advance

This shows the table edge where the Germans had to appear. The Nemen river would be off board behind some woods. The Blinds are the follow on units of PzIVs, PzIIs, truck mounted infantry, and a couple of dummy blinds.

Charging the ATGs

The HE on the Pz38ts is pretty weak so they elect to charge the guns while using their MGs.

Soviet AAA unit

Spread out on the heights behind the front. They were the target of a couple of Stuka attacks.

Tank overrun

A successful tank overrun by the Pz38t platoon. They are about to discover some Soviet riflemen dug in along the RR. The Pz38ts did take some damage before reaching the guns though.

Stuka

One of the two JU87 runs in the game. Historically they were successful in breaking up the Russian counterattacks that occurred after the game.

BA10 emerge

I moved my unit of BA10s out to keep the Germans from flanking the T34s. The pine woods would be impassable in this game.

More T34s

The other unit of dug in T34s is spotted and opens up on the advancing Panzers. The destroyed tail end T28 sits in between the T34s on the road. More Russian infantry are on the other side of the RR under blinds.

Looking for each other

The terrain around this area had several low hills. The BA10s and Pz IIs and PzIVs cautiously advance towards the flanks. The armored cars would manage to get the first shots off and then scoot back.

Good shooting

I got lucky on my hits with the 45mm guns and two of the PzII were disabled. I decided to head back down the slope before the bigger PzIVs could retaliate.

Pz 38t vs the infantry

A MMG manages to damage one of the panzers but the coaxial MGs of the Pz38t start to whittle down the infantry.

Grenadiers de-bus below a LaGG

The German infantry of the 6th Schutzen Company use the cover of some low rises to disembark from their truck transports. Another strafing run by a LaGG catches a few grenadiers.

Panzer amongst the infantry

Only one of the Pz38t get over the tracks in an attempt to overrun the dug in Red Infantry. The other panzers use their MGs to cover their front.

BA10s ablaze

The Russian armored cars miss their shots and pay for it as the PzIVs wipe out two of the BA10s

Grenadiers assault

Two squads and the CO of the 6th Schutzen Co close assault the Soviets along the RR. Pretty uneven fight since the Reds are already chewed up by the Pz38t MGs.

Firing Line

Dug in T34 m1941s and T28s exchanging fire.

Panzers moving forward

Pass the burning T28s and victims of a Stuka strike

Grenadiers advancing also

Reforming after disembarking and the strafing attack, the infantry start towards the Russian positions.

View from the high ground

The AA units have the best view of the fight. Blind to the right is a dummy Soviet one. Blinds to the left are Red infantry behind the RR.

Action at the RR crossing

A couple of the T34s are already smoking. My surviving T28 made a reluctant return to the front to take a shot or two at the advancing panzers.

Advancing panzers

A couple of the panzers have taken some damage, but the exchange with the dug in T34s is definitely going to the Germans advantage.

Grenadiers on the left

The MMGs deploy to cover the advance of the other Grenadiers.

Among the T28s

The other squads use the smoking T28s as cover to get closer to the Soviet positions along the RR tracks.

Still exchanging fire

Martin's panzers continue to trade shots with the T34s along the road. He is winning the shootout. Most of the T34s are only able to get round off a turn if that.

Moving on the crossing

One of the Pz38ts makes it up to the previously damaged T28 and among the dug in T34s before it take a knock to its engine.

Trying to escape

The two surviving T34m1940s make a run for it. One is hit as it moves up the RR embankment.

Panzers at the RR

More of the panzers move pass the KO'd T34s. My T28 has already retreated a second time. The Soviet infantry don't have much to oppose the panzers. Time to disappear.

Last turn

The AA detachment is packing up at this stage also. Their 37mm guns could take on any of the German tanks but they don't have the heart for that sort of action. Only one T34 and T28 and BA10 managed to get away. The Motorcycle platoon was still happily dug in on the far right along the RR. The Panzers lost two tanks as complete write offs. Four others had some damage. Casualties among the Grenadiers were light also. We declared a German victory since the next two turns would see them occupying the heights against no real opposition.