Eastern Front game

"Forward with me my comrades for love of the motherland not one step back"

..........  Or else..........

 

Our last game saw us fight a 550pt eastern front BGK game. I played the Russians and to say I took a complete battering would be the understatement of the year, the first turn went well as having the first turn I entered the table with no Germans deployed yet i was able to rush for some objectives, however that was about the only sucess I was to have. 

My Russian force, forward HQ, T34 platoon, SU-76 platoon, 120mm mortars, communication truck, 2x infantry platoons with Maxim MGs and anti tank rifles, Reece foot patrol, Sapoer Squad, Artillery Obsever and 45mm anti tank gun. I think the Germans force consisted of Forward HQ, supply truck, Reece Halftrack, Panzer IV platoon, Stug IIIG platoon, 2x Panzer Grenadier platoons with HMG supports.

Russian infantry dismounting from the T34s ready to secure the objectives.

Another Squad of infantry dismount amongst the crop fields ready to engage the on coming Germans.

German forces enter via the cover of the woods

This was around the time everything wants belly up fo me. During the next few turns my dad managed to pull an aircraft chit which duely arrived in the Shape of a HE-129B fighter bomber armed to the teeth. (I know the model is a Stukka but I don't have a HE-129 model) this plane caused havoc to my force unloading its bombs first and then strafing my infantry for 3 turns before its auto cannons accounted for my final T34. I did mange to hit it twice with some infantry fire but I couldn't keep it pinned for long. Also my dad drew a low on ammo chit which was played on a infantry squad holding an objective, with no ammo left and 3 squads of Germans approaching needless to say I would lose that objective. My dad also managed to draw a confusion and a beyond the call of duty chits before the game was out while I managed to at one stage pull 3 consecutive chits with the number 4, 12 points against my battle rating in quick succession. I did manage to pull my own aircraft though they didn't show and a low of ammo chit also, this I rolled a one for on the effect table so it did nothing to the German squad I played it on.  I really didn't feel it was to be day today ha ha.

The "ace in the sky" fighter bomber falls from the sky and drops its payload on to unsuspecting Russian infantry. 

As the Luffwaffe circle the skies Russian A/T units take shelter in the wood in ambush ready to engage the German Panzers.

Ura Ura, a Russian infantry platoon rushes the objective

Throughout the game true of the evenings form I came out badly in all the tank duels, the times I did manage to spot and hit the Panzers I failed each time to penetrate the armour, while my Dads German Panzers had little trouble destroying their foe, in particular with a long range shot after spotting a obscured SU-76 and rolling the two sixes required to hit on the dice roll, Panzer aces indeed.

My 120mm mortars offered little in the way of support, I found the target plenty of times but never once managed a direct hit and the pinning hits were very ineffective with the German troops been made of stern stuff and shaking off the effects of the bombardments without much fuss.

After a T34 AP round bounced off its hull, the command Panzer IV traverse its turret and sends the culprit up in flames with a well placed shot.

Russian communications instructing the 120mm mortar artillery support 

Running low on ammo the Stugs temporarily pull back to be re-armed from the supply Opel Maultier  

The Russian Sapper squad move through the cover of the woods to try unleash their flamethrower 

With the Stugs pulling back to be re-armed the 45mm A/T gun shows the rest of the Russian force how its done with a direct hit on the German Reccee Halftrack who just peeked a little to far from behind the hill.

"Where is my A/A gun support" .....After strafing the exposed infantry the fighter bomber switches targets and destroys the T34 taking cover behind the house and burning T34..... 

The final nail was truly nailed to the coffin with my last ditch attack to try salvage something from the game,lacking any armoured support now my brave Russian infantry decided to assault the Stugg holding the hill objective head on!  Well I should have said tried, one failed its morale test and wouldn't charge and the other although passing there morale come up short on the result chart as the tanks defensive fire repels the attack, both units pinned now in the mercy of he tanks MG fire now.

The Russian troops armed ith grenades and molotove cocktails fail to overcome the Stugs MG fire and are pinned down on the hill 

And that was that as a futher chit saw me pass my army breakpoint of 40. The arrival of the German fighter bomber was pivotal in this game with the freedom of the skies, it had my troops running for cover. it felt like my Russians had come armed with blanks for this battle and although I don't like to say it as it feels like an excuse my luck was rotton throughout.

Still I enjoyed the game evening if I did feel like throwing the dice out the window at times, but at £15 for the set I thought better of this lol.

The red army hordes will come again........this time with an anti aircraft truck or two!!!