After a late war game I thought some early actions in the Poland 39 campaign would be in order for a September IABSM game. I stole this scenario directly from Rob Avery's excellent Vis Lardica site. See AAR here.

Grudziadz from the west

View from the SE corner

Grudziadz is a town in the Polish Corridor and the Germans were actually attacking from East Prussia. The attackers were from the reserve 10th Panzer Regiment. They had a load of light tanks: two platoons of two Panzer Is and three Panzer IIs; and a HQ platoon of two more Pz IIs and another Pz I and a Pz I Befelswagen.

They also had a company of three platoons of infantry, a 4-gun MMG platoon, two AA Halftracks The last two units came in after five 'Time' cards had been drawn.

View from the NE corner

This is the area that Kyle elected to bring in his German attackers. He used his 3 dummy blinds on the south side of the road to hopefully keep anything on that flank in place. Its a flat table with a lot of open ground to cover.

The Germans had to get into the town and have active units in the town on every turn from the eighth appearance of the 'Time' card. We would call the game if they were thrown out or it was obvious that they were there to stay.

Overview of the town

The town was strategically important because it had several military schools and staff offices. But it was lightly defended. Only infantry and border units (KOP) and some artillery.

Jon had the defending Poles. He had three 2-section platoons of infantry. One of KOP troops and the other regulars. They were large sections of ten men though. The regular platoons also had an ATR and a Light Mortar. Also three taczankas and three 37mm Bofors ATGs. Two medium mortars and some artillery--which never came in. Rob had some PZL 37 aircraft to bring in but alas, I did not. All the Poles could be dug in within the perimeter of the town outskirts.

Panzers move in

Kyle's panzers advanced quickly through the fields. The HQ platoon followed the other platoons up to the last hedge. Lot of automatic fire available here. One platoon is still under blind on the road.

Bofors ATG

Plenty of targets for them. They were firing over the heads of troops dug in along the far hedge in the church yard.

Panzers charging in

Jon's first platoon was dug in along the hedge and trees. Lot of auto fire coming in and he could only replay with the ATR and a MMG and his strike dice were not very hot.

Overview of the assault

German infantry mostly under the blinds. Dummy blinds on the left flank.

Right flank attack

Kyle sent a platoon around the far right to get in behind the church. It encounter another taczanka team in the north woods off to the right.

More covering fire

Another German platoon stayed back to fire into the church yard.

Remaining panzers

2nd Platoon watching the lead platoon move up to the Polish lines. One Pz I KO'ed and another Pz II with mobility damage.

KOP platoon deploys

They spotted the MMG platoon moving on the south side of the road so started shooting before they could deploy.

Taczanka vs grenadiers

After doing as much damage as they could the Poles pulled back to escape a close assault.

Poles pull back from the church yard

The 1st platoon retreats back across the road when a fresh German platoon comes up to assault the dug in church yard line. The German MMG platoon is deploying behind the far hedge.

Germans attack the church yard

Jon moves back his surviving 1st platoon which was down to one section. The taczanka was destroyed also.

Defenses in rest of town

The other regular platoon was dug in along the south edge of the road and behind the KOP. Remaining taczanka and Bofors were also back here.

Taczanka from the north flank retreating

Bofars ATG situated to fire down road at an intersection.

HQ panzers move up

The two panzer platoons have moved into the church yard. One panzer bogged going over the hedge and entrenchments.

MMG platoon deployed now

And the two AA halftracks are coming in on the road. Still no activity from the Polish mortars and artillery.

The Germans now had overwhelming firepower to throw at the Poles.

Their casualties had been acceptable: only four tanks were KO'ed or immobilized. Five casualties on the MMG platoon. Twelve casualties in 1st platoon, two in the 2nd platoon, and twelve in the 3rd platoon. Total of 21 dead along with the 2nd Platoon leader.

The Poles had twelve Regulars dead and thirteen in the KOP platoon. one taczanka and one ATG wiped out.

Definite victory to the German attackers!

Mark Luther