Its been a while, so high time for a game of IABSM. Michelle chose the Soviets so I had the Germans.

The Germans are on the attack and need to get through the village occupied and defended by the Soviets.

We started on "blinds" which need to be spotted to discover what enemy forces are present.

The German commander recklessly sends his best unit forward: two Panthers

...which are ambushed by two T-34s hidden in a small woods

They are both hit in the flank and badly damaged

Undeterred, another unit is pushed forwards: many Pz.IVs

They probably saw one of their colleagues blow up over on their right when the T-34s had another go at them

Two more Pz.IVs join the attack

In a final exchange of fire, the lead Panther manages to knock out a T-34 as it in turn is destroyed

Flushed with success, a T-34 emerges from the woods and hits another German tank with flank fire

It is destroyed

A reminder of the rule book: had to blow the dust off !

Foolishly, Soviet infantry emerged from the barn and got machine gunned by the massed German tanks

Hopefully, that building is now cleared

The tank shells coming from the right become more of a worry

Fortunately, an anti-tank gun has been set up in the ruins near the German start position and this opens up on the T-34 out in the open

It pays the price of showing its flank to the gunners

This Pz.IV was ready to join in if the T-34 survived

But now three more T-34s emerge from behind the wood, sending a German recce unit looking for cover

The Panzers have advanced beyond the pond but now are in trouble from these T-34s on their flank

The Soviets are the first to shoot - and miss

The Germans don't - two T-34s are brewed up

But now a nasty surprise for the Germans: a Soviet heavy tank crashes out of the barn

...and gets on the back of a Pz.IV

With a predictable outcome !

And another three T-34s dash into action just as the Panzers have turned to face the Soviet heavy tank behind them

The Germans have hurt the enemy big tank but it is still in action

...but the T-34s are picking off the Panzers and then turn on the smaller recce vehicles

They make short work of them, leaving the German commander with just 2 tanks left plus the infantry in the ruins supported by the AT gun. This is just not enough so the remaining tanks retreat

These chaps are not going to hang around either - lets get out of here !

Disaster for the German commander !!!

It was good to play IABSM again and another game is called for. Michelle definitely doesn't need any lessons from me !

Norseygamer