AAR 1943 Eastern Front: Mius River (Part One) by Mark Luther

The road and ridgeline that had to be taken by the Panzers. The intersection at the bottom is the high point that is the goal of the Germans.

The German forces moved out from the village through the cornfield alog the ridge

The Russians could setup up to the edge of the gulley on the other side of the sunflower field. Their forces were divided evenly with an infantry platoon, two MMGs, four 45mm ATGs, four ATRs and a dug in T70 on each side of the road. The HQ is back at Point 219.3 at the bottom of the picture.

The two Panzergrenadier platoons are moving through the cornfield. The left flank T-70 position is also shown.

These are the left flank ATGs coming under fire from the PzIV platoon

The Germans opted to put their main effort on their right side and move up through a cornfield. Two panzergrenadier platoons, a PzIVF2 platoon and a PzIIIL platoon

These two 45s are under fire from the PzIVs opposite them in the cornfield

The left side of the German attack was this platoon. An MMG gun at the edge of a sunflower field is covering this flank also.

One 45mm ATG position has been exposed in the small sunflower field. Three more are in the fields behind. Other units are on blinds. The dug in T-70 is to the left

Both platoons charge across the gap to engage the Russians in the sunflowers. They find more than they expected--a dug in platoon with two MMGs and ATRs and 45mm ATGs. The number chits are 'wounds'. Several 'kills' are also scored on both sides.

One German platoon manages to break into the Russian postions but the other is thrown back to the gulley.

Both sides go to ground with all squads taking hits. The right hand German platoon is especially weakened.

Afraid of hitting their own troops the Pz IVs wait for the action to settle. They are taking fire from 76mm guns off board. They have managed to take out the dug in T-70 and a couple of 45mm ATGs, but have had twoof their number immobilised (one of which has bailed).

Losses mount on both sides. Visibility is limited among the sunflowers and the fight is bloody at such short range.

Meanwhile the right flank Pz IIIs crush the two 45mm ATGs.

The Germans in the gulley are just about wiped out but the Russians are gradually beaten down.

Trading shots with the PzIIIs on the north side on the ridge

The grenadiers use their superior automatic weapons(some squads with two LMGs) and Big Man dice to silence the Red infantry.

The offboard ATGs try to KO some of the PzIIIs, forcing the panzers to face about. Its pretty lonely in the sunflowers, so the tanks aren't going to stay up here for long.

One grenadier platoon is just about gone, but the Soviets are also running out of troops.

Despite being dug in, the Russians are losing too many troops to the small arms of the grenadiers.

After taking several hits from the PzIIIs, the engine finally ignites, forcing the crew to bail.

The PzIIIs turn their backs to the offboard 76mm fire to help out the grenadiers.

The Germans decide to drop some mortar on a likely Soviet postion. The blinds in the gulleys consist of a lonely Red tankhunter squad.

At this point, the pinned down 2nd platoon is so worn down that they must withdraw. They need the cover of the panzers to pull back.

The PzIIIs have taken out the lone T-70 that they spotted and mortars are coming down on edge of the sunflower field.

The MGs from the PzIIIs combined with fire from the remaining grenadiers are quickly silencing the dug in Russians. Lucky for the PzIIIs the offboard 76mm have been poor shots.

The Pz IIIs decide to advance and move through the cornfield and into the gulley. A Soviet tankhunter squad waited all game for this opportunity...only to fail miserably

The remaining Pz IVs decide to advance into the field along with the remaing grenadiers. The Pz IIIs will pull out the survivors of the 2nd platoon.

As the Pz IIIs advance and drive off the tank hunter squad, seven T-70s and a infantry platoon move on to the field. The PzIIIs quickly tag a couple of the light tanks.

The Russian infantry head for the woods while the T70s face off with the Panzers. Two are quickly immobilised.

The PzIVs and grenadiers look for more Russians while the PzIIIs and the sadly depleted 2nd platoon prepare to head back. Visibility through the field is just a few yards so not much of a blitzkreig here.

Between suspecting mines and a ATR or other attack at point blank the Germans are moving very slowly.

Two T-70s manage to scoot past the PzIIIs and on to the main road. A recently displaced MMG crew dives for cover in the cornfield while anothe MG hunts for targets in the woods.

The off table 76s have managed to KO one PzIII and damage another, the 2nd grenadier platoon is shot up, two PzIVs are abandoned, and now medium and heavy mortars are starting to fall. And the left flank PzIIIs have radioed that tanks are getting past them.

Really not much there. Just the HQ units, sniper, and a tank hunter squad and some dummy blinds. But the Germans have had enough. Meanwhile the Russians on the right have been getting shelled by the German mortars

The retiring PzIVs are presented with such fine targets. The two German infantry guns in the rear had been firing madly at these fast target to no avail.

Artillery fire begins to dominate the field. Red medium and heavy mortars on the south side of the road and German medium mortars and 105s on the north side.

Everyone trying to avoid the artillery

Russian infantry working its way up the gulley through the woods but the light tanks are taking too many hits.

The second breakthrough T-70 is smoking, but the Germans have shot their wad and are heading back.

Pz IVs looking for more errant T-70s.

Another MMG moves up to stimie the Russian infantry as the PzIII repostion to target the T-70s.

One of the PzIIIs and a T-70 light up while two more light tanks are disabled. Another one has pulled into the woods with a KO'ed gun.

The Pz IVs retreat past an abandoned comrade and two burning T-70s

Without any infantry support, these panzers are not going anywhere either. They know that there are 45mm ATGs in their front and who knows what else lurking in the cornfield and off board. The game ended with the Germans back at their start line after overrunning the Russian frontline on one flank. Not enough infantry for the close terrain. This attack just didn't have enough resources, but was rushed to drive the Russkies out before they really established themselves.