This was a 6mm IABSM game played at Gigabites Cafe in Feb 2014. It was loosely based on the German defence of Kantemirovka airfield by gruppe Tyroller (Kdr le Flak Abt 84 (mot)) during the Little Saturn operation in December 42 - January 43.

From December 20-23 1942, elements of the Soviet 1st Guards Army broke through the front held by the Italian 8th Army and advance to the outskirts of Kantemirovka and pushed recon units beyond the town, momentarily cutting the railway. The line was quickly restored and H Gr B was ordered to hold it. On December 24, "stutzpunkt kantemirovka"was being held by just 500 men. By December 25, the 1st Guards spearhead had been deflected away from the rail line, passed 40-50 kilometres to the east of Millerovo and had driven further southeast threatening the key supply airfield at Tatsinskaya (subject of the Osprey Red Christmas Raid book), which is 200 kilometres SE of Kantermirovka. On December 26 a company of reinforcements were flown in by JU52s. From December 29 on, most of the Soviet pressure was on Millerovo and between Kantemirovka and Millerovo, but on December 31 a strong Russian attack on Kantemirovka was thrown back with the loss of 10 tanks (info from Axis History Forum).

I realized that the actual dimensions would be way too large to cover in a Saturday game on a 4x6 table, so made some compromises. I wanted to have the defenders threatened with an actual overrun and not able to hold off the attackers at long range and off the table. So decided that the attack would happen in an early morning fog, like the successful raid on Tatsinskaya.

The defences would consist of several small defence platoons and AAA guns. All units could be dug in. The Luftwaffe defenders had five small platoons of two sections each, five MMG sections, three 88mm and three 20mm AA guns.

The attacking units were from the 17th Army Corp under General Polubojarov. By the time they arrive near the air field their units were pretty weak. The Russian players had three 'small' tank units with tank riders.

We had an incredible turnout for this game. Besides some of the usual suspects, a gang of 4 came up from Savannah and Statesboro. So an abundance of games for a 4 player game.

German air field

The German players (Chris, Doug and John) divided their units out to try to cover all approaches. Those units are all dispersed along with some dummy blinds in this picture.

Junkers Ju 52s

My recently finished Ju52d awaiting clear weather to take off with wounded and other evacuees. This game starts in the early morning with fog limiting visibility to approx. 12 inches. You can also see some of the Shapeways crates, fuel drums and tents in this shot.

Destroyed village

I wanted to have something of interest off to one side of the field so put a few burned out huts and hedges in the corner. John had a couple of MMG and a 20mm close to this.

We (players and ref) had an issue with the noise and ability to coordinate during this game. So two Big Men wound up being isolated from their units inadvertently. That did not help with the German defence later.

Doug and John

Two of the Luftwaffe defenders munching pre-game. Plenty of supplies on hand at the air field apparently.

Barclay and Adam

Two of the assaulting Soviets getting a brirfing from the ref. Dean in the background. They and Nathan made the trip up to Marietta to play a couple of TFL games.

Opening Shots

The first Soviet unit to appear was armor and some tank riders in the NW corner among some leafless trees. Four T-34s and a very weak company of infantry. They ran into fire from some entrenched troops, an MMG and a 20mm AAA gun. This shot is after fire has been exchanged and both sides have taken casualties. There is an 88 under the Blind to the left.

The first wave

Because the game started with a fog limiting visibility the opening action started at close range. The Russkies wanted to come in at the corner and use the woods for cover but they were off a bit in their navigation.

More scrutinizing

Doug, Dave P, Dean (not playing in this game) trying to figure out whats what. To tell the truth I don't think we ever did.

Barclay and Adam

The suave and sophisticated owner of Gigabites, David, is in the background.

More attackers

From the opposite corner, another group of T-34s appear out of the mist. This was a five tank group with riders.

To simulate the difficulty of coordinating an attack from different points in the fog, I had the players roll a D4 to see what turn they appeared-after the turn desired- and 2D6 to see how far off from the desired entry point that unit appeared (odd number was to the left and even to the right).

John's MMG fire is pretty ineffectual, but one T-34 did bog when it ran over some ruins. This was where a couple of German Big Men were left in positions all by themselves. They were out investigating sounds of engines I guess.

Soviets bogged down

The tank riders are taking hits and one section has fallen back already. An 88 is hoping to get a shot on the T-34 also, but the fog allowed the Soviets to get in close and under the slight rise and a blind spot of the 88. Half of Doug's infantry in the trench is hiding and not joining in the fight apparently. One of the difficulties with 1/300 scale rules that are in 1/300 scale, is that players are still in a 1 inch equals 25 yards and each stand is a platoon mindset. They forget that this is very much a what-you-see-is-what-you-get game and those eight little men on two pennies is a section and not 30 guys.

Weak corner

This part of the defence turned out to be pretty open. I suspect part of that was the confused pregame setup as more and more gamers showed up and got involved. Start time was delayed already due to the usual late shows, but with a limited time allotted we really had to move on and I'm afraid that the game play suffered.

It would also have worked better on a 6 X 8 table I believe.

More Russians!

Dave P's T-70s and riders arrive at the air field and the 88 is overwhelmed with targets. This unit consisted of seven T-70s and a weak company of tank riders. I really missed the opportunity to get pictures. I have the nice Adler tankriders, but, alas, no pics of them hanging on the backs of the tanks.

Point blank destruction

The T-70 immediately in front of the 88 is pulverized, but the limited visibility really handicaps the big gun. Little chance that they can stop this onslaught of light tanks.

Tanks running amok

The MMG did clean of some tank riders, but without help from the AAA on the other side of the runway, they couldn't stop the tank. And once again, no pics of the tankrider minis.

Ju-52s moving and T-34s going the opposite way

The fog is lifting, but it looks like its too late for a clean escape for the Junkers. Meanwhile the initial group of T-34s (sans Tank riders) is doing a run around the perimeter of the airfield and coming under fire from other groups. the lead tank has been hit by some light flak and is out of action.

Pushing the troops along

The initial unit of infantry is starting to move from the cover of the slope having chewed up the MMG team and the first section of Doug's defenders. Their T-34 transports are heading off to stir up more trouble among the other positions.

T-34s breaking into the open

And getting ready to overrun some more German positions. A 20mm Flak is having a tough shot across the the friendly dug in MMG to smack the T-34s. More missed opp. of decent photos here. Some cool looking burned out trucks, burned down huts and nice entrenchments along with the tank riders are not getting their closeups.

Taxiway head ons

The T70s are ignoring any requests from the tower to halt and are about to cut the departures off.

88 gets another

Desperate swivelling going on here. Too many close and quick targets for the heavy flak and some of the T-70s zip past to the runway.

Flightline

The JU's start out to the taxiway to attempt an escape. T-34s scurrying around the back side of the aerodrome.

Another flak position about to be crushed

This 20mm AAA is to be the next victim in the T-34 rampage. In the upper left is the base of a Ju-87 that overflew the airfield but could find no targets on table. I'm sure that it saw some juicy ones off table though.

Grounded

This flight is cancelled. T70s knock out lead Junkers. Their infantry has dismounted also. Some are heading over to close assault the 88 position

Flak position overrun

The riders from the T-70s close assault the 88 position and easily defeat the Luftwaffe gunners. At this point we decided to call it. There was no way that the Junkers were going to get out of there with Soviet tanks running amok. The Russian players got lucky with their deployment on the table-not too far off and pretty coordinated. The Germans had some miscues with their deployment that cost them some commanders getting units into action. I had thought about giving the Germans a couple of Marders since there were some in the area earlier, but thought there was just too much firepower already out there. Overall, I think this would've worked better on a bigger table-8X6. I did enjoy getting some new players involved into the TFL universe.

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AAR 1942 Kantemirovka Air Field by Mark Luther