ARR Retiurn the Stoyanka State Farm 16th July 1941 8am

With our second campaign move of the campaign completed on the map we returned to Stoyanka State Farm (or so we've named it). A large set of agricultural buildings on the outskirts of Ivanstoya on the West. Landser of the 6 Panzer division repelled the early morning attack by the Soviets here and are now moving to occupy the farm counterattack begins from the West.

The battlefield has moved somewhat to the West and the State Farm now takes the central position with a large forest to the north and open fields to the South. The Soviet forces having a reconnaissance counters nearby won the reconnaissance battle to deploy with the road through their deployment zone the German forces would deploy from the fields. I use the Panzer March! special rule to bring my forces quickly onto the board beginning with forward observer and some infantry. Then my three Panzer 35(t) tanks which arrived from the fields on the southern border edge whilst the Soviet's brought the horse drawn limber with an anti tank gun and a Maxim gun as their first move in their counterattack. The campaign map shows that the Soviet tanks would not arrive before turn 3 - one hex on the campaign map away from the battlefield. A good roll for re=enforcements brought almost all the rest of the German force a Schutzen platoon. An 75mm infantry gun and PAK 36 anti tank gun with their loaded teams in the next turn but I will be playing with poor orders every turn. 

This little led to a very dangerous pile up of troops arriving at the border edge on the South and east but without the orders to move them. I would pay dearly for this later. The German observer team deployed into the large barn in the State Farm using the upstairs hayloft to observe the Soviets and bring them under fire from their off table mortars. Meanwhile Soviet sniper got into position in the woods and the panzers went on to reserve fire ready for the inevitable Soviet armoured attack. This will come in turn 3 the T26 tanks driving up the road and then turning South across the fields angling for my own panzers. One was destroyed by reserve fire, a second when a mortar bomb hit it and tore it apart, but the others continued to race forwards firing as they came supported by their infantry.  Covered by the Maxim machine gun team. The orders  drought on the German side continued.

The last German infantry section deployed only having a few orders ( 3 !). The move forward was slow the German anti tank Gunners went to push their gun to the crossroads.  The German infantry Gun crew pushed their gun forward to the goat pen setting up there and taking an objective. The T26 rolled on exchanging fire with my own Panzer 35(t).  One of the panzers was pinned and another T26 was knocked out by return fire for the German tanks. 

The Soviet sniper in the woods began exchanging fire with a German machine gun team. The Germans taking cover behind a wicker fence found themselves pinned down as they blazed away at a undetected enemy in the woods on either side of the road. An excellent use by the Soviets of their sniper and spotter.

Now the Germans would pay for the orders drought early in the game as the Soviet timed artillery began four times strikes  across the board hitting the farm and the fields outside the Infantry Gun and much of the infantry was pinned although casualties were light. But this fire would return turn after turn wearing down the battle groups morale with the need to unpin infantry to try and get them to cover. The observer team in the barn were hit directly by it  pining them but only causing one casualty. With this the fire support from the off-table 80mm mortars died away. The panzers would have to defend from the tanks on their own.

Meanwhile Soviet Infantry deployed into the woods and began to advance towards the objective in the farm. The sniper talking objective in the woods by the road. Things looked grim, the the Germans outflanked and with Soviet Infantry The building only lightly held by a single infantry squad and the observer team.  Soviet Infantry used the used Urrah! special rule to advance quickly towards the farm. The Soviets were also suffering from an order's drought but made good use of their special rules to keep their forces moving forward and engaging the Panzers things looking desperate. Some of the small teams, the anti tank gun and several machine gun teams eminated by the artillery fire. There was a constant need to unpin the German troops but all together this is put the Germans in a perilous situation regarding their break rating.

With the Russian infantry poised to capture a hardly occupied farm. The Landser needed something desperate. One squad decided on a desperate action and charge from the barn to try and dislodge the Russians from the North West corner of the State Farm. Throwing stick grenades and firing their submachine guns their assault killed 5 Soviet infantrymen and the remainder of the squad thought the better of it and fled. The farm was once again in German hands but the brave Landser but left themselves very exposed.

The Soviet guns in the fields and woodland bordering the road zeroed in on this movement on the farm in the farm and open fire. Miraculously the German infantry made their cover save it seems that the desperate plan that paid off. However the Russian infantry in the woods then open fire killing two of them. The remainder failing a morale roll and fled. 

The situation at Stoyanka State Farm was clearly untenable. The commander of the battle group ordered the retreat. The German force broke with 27 BR points taken - one over there total whilst the Soviet battle group taken 22 points from a limit of 30. A hard fought and well deserved victory for the Soviet forces the men of the 6 Panzer division will now withdraw to a defence line that has been prepared by their engineers closer to Ivanshoya.

on the workbench Sanitatsdienst Heer

on the workbench U-2/Po-2S Polikapov

One for my Soviet Naval Infantry 246 Tamansk Night bombers for the Camo and decals. Air support spotter plane or harassment bomber. 

on the workbench Sturmpioneer Platoon Blitzkrieg /Barbarossa /Kursk

German assault pioneers are a really interesting troop type in Battlegroup. Expensive high BR infantry with unique equipment. When the enemy are in prepared defences there demolition charges and flame thrower teams can be exceptionally useful. 

Minesweeper at work from Grubby tanks

An infantry sectiuon infiltrate through the ruins Advancing MG 34 team  from EWM

the rest from my old War of the Rats range from an old manufacturer who name a forgot

Platoon HQ with radio  and a flame thrower team all from War of the Rats range except the rifle man supporting the flamethrower from Grubby tanks

Sturmpioneer section from Grubby tanks armed with grenades and demo charges

, 

Flamethrower from War of the rats and demo charges from Grubby assaults a bunker

The war of the Rats flamewurfer and a Britainia commander for the flamethrower followed by Grubby demolition charges from Kelly's Heroes

Another War of the Rats democharge on a pole and Grubby flamethrower

The third flamer thrower team for Kursk games

Antitank mines  to add to sections armed with them

HQ in a log bunker

mineclearer covered by Kellys Heroes models  for these  infantry men

a mix of miniatures in this section, The wire cutters from Grubby

On the workbench Vultee Vengence MkII

The Vultee Vengeance MkII was an American purpose designed dive-bomber aircraft purchased in large number by British Empire and Commonwealth forces and used in the Far East. There were over 700 in total each carrying 200lbs of bombers Although Battlegroup does not require the use of models for air attacks I love to see them on the board. Battlegroups philosophy is "toys on the table" .  Both preplanned and random air attacks now have the option for this dive-bomber in addition to my Hurri-bomber.

This old FROG model from back i the 70's or 80's. It was a pleasure to  finally put this old kit together. Even the decals held up so I didn't need to use my alternative RAF decals. This set of decals  in for  84 squadron RAF (SEAC) Maharajpur India 1944.

The crew models are replaced with Grubby Tanks Britannia WW2 pilot models as I wanted to make this one with the canopy open so replaced to tiny old pilot models with these detailed metal ones.

All planes end up on my flight base for games I thought about replacing the twin .30 caliber MG in the rear seat with metal but in the end decided to keep the original and mount... good enough. perhaps I will revisit in the future.

Battlegroup Barbarossa Campaign Luga River 15th to 20th July 1941

End of Move 1 in Turn 1 Morning of July 16th

Stoyanka State Farm Move 1 Morning 16th July  Counters within three hexes can move into the battle as reserves. Guns with 15 hexes can be used as additional artillery support

Germans advance guard  from  Kampfgruppe Raus of 6th Panzer division have deployed around the bridge over the Luga river and the village of Ivanskoya. The Soviets advance from the east and west. The Germans counter move with infantry and armour in spoiling attacks. Our first battle will be on the Western approach 400 points of Soviets and 400 points of Germans both with additional artillery support allowed due to the range to off table 

German infantry advance under fire from infantry guns 

Schutzen platoon HQ and artillery forward observers 

The first full battle from the campaigns after the first moves will be an attack counter attack the German bridgehead from the West. The Russians advanced onto the board first bringing anti- tank guns and infantry guns with horse drawn limbers to take up position around the Stoyanka State Farm they had closed their artillery  into the woods to the north and will be able to fire from off table (additional fire support may be chosen- a lot of counter battery fire!). Two long 45mm antitank guns, one  on each

Soviet guns and infantry take up position in the farm

flank of the position an 76.2mm infantry gun lots of loader teams would make these key guns hard to shift. 

Infantry gun and Soviet HQ at the centre of the Soviet position

 

The German counter attackers advanced from the east initially using the road with a Stug III supported by two infantry squads and a heavy machine gun advancing in the thick woodland on either side of the road this would begin a duel with the Soviet anti tank called at the far end of this road which would last for most of the battle. Early on the Germans got lots of reinforcements the "panzer marsch" really help there. Out in the fields another German section and the HQ took up position whilst a forward observers in a medium truck tried to move forwards but they can quickly under fire from an infantry gun in the farm it's made life difficult as there wasn't much cover.

StuG III leads the German infantry in the advance down the road

Russians had two infantry platoons one of which took up positions in the farms buildings they had one section in a lorry the restaurant thought meanwhile a girls Jeep with HQ came forward and took up position in the barn the Soviet 76.2mm infantry guard fired out into the fields supported by Maxim machineguns from the farm buildings. The attacking Germans faced the 45 millimetre AT gun on the road continued to tangle. On the road the gun exchanging fire with the Stug III the gun lost this duel early point became pinned indicated by the smoke. Soviet infantry advanced through the farm and through the woodlands to the North. Meanwhile in the animal pen covering the fields they would soon be busy!

Russian artillery and anti tank guns take there toll on Pz 35 t

As turn three began the German attack got underway in earnest. A timed artillery with devastating effect what text advanced across the fields towards the farm. The StuG III continued its advance along the road exchanging fire with a 45mm anti tank gun. The dead cows and tractor parts indicate objectives claimed by the Russians as they occupied the farm. The 37mm guns of Pz.35 t's begin their deadly duel with the Soviet anti tank guns. The German squads MG34 brings the gun under fire but the cover of the farm and fencing and the loader team made it hard to take out the crew and allowed it several extra shots which it made count against the advancing German infantry pinning them. The gun pins the platoon headquarters the infantry out in the fields preventing them from calling on the mortars that could support the attack.

Tanks and infantry advance across the fields 

German artillary pounds the farm whilst the StuG advances.

StuG meets its end ambushed by Soviet Armoured cars and infantry

The StuG assault gun continued its bold advance along the road almost reaching the crossroads objective beside the farm. Many of the infantry were still pinned by the heavy German artillery fire and from beyond the table edge to the rescue came  three armoured cars - a BA6 from two BA10. Their  long 45mm guns prove a considerable danger and the Stug's attempted to engage with its few armour piercing shells from its short 75mm gun. Missing the largest of the Soviet armoured cars. The strength of Soviet armoured cars in Barbarossa games should not be under estimated. As the armoured cars have very good long 45 guns in their turrets and can advanced quickly on roads. This the Soviet light armour did just this  sweeping  past the assault gun to engage it's side armour, successfully knocking it out, but only after it had been pinned by anti tank rifle shot from the  infantry in the woods. The armoured cars surrounding the StuG from every direction it took fire from two of them to destroy the vehicle.

Pz 35 t and Landser counter assault the barn of the state farm

Meanwhile out in the fields the German panzers were having a hard time of it as the Soviets own artillery began firing pinning down vehicles and destroying others pretty swiftly. Only one of the Panzer 35 t remained. However the infantry in the woods beside the buildings continued to press on bringing the Soviet infantry in the nearest barn under suppressing fire. While Panzer Grenadier manoeuvre to assault the building. Seeing what was happening the Soviet commander chose to evacuate the barn rather than face the German Panzer Grenadier is in a close assault. The final panzer 35 t moves off to support and engages a Soviet armoured car with its 37mm main gun this would prove that this will prove the end for the armoured car. 

 Out in the fields however machine gunfire from the Panzer II and MG34 finally destroyed the crew of the AT gun that has caused much execution amongst the advancing tanks. With the gun holding this flank knocked out at last the remains of the panzer II's - only one of them - are getting ready to move towards the farm now the gun was removed as a threat. The German forward observers and platoon HQ made good use of two mortars in an of table battery and a supporting mortar in the woods beside the road to pin down and harass the Soviet defenders of the farm. Soviet counter battery fire was directed at the off table mortars but proved mostly ineffective.

The Panzer Grenadier of the 114th regiment would take the barn the first of the buildings from here they could bring under fire the Soviet infantry gun in the farmyard killing all the crew. With German infantry occupying the barn structure and only one gun left for a combination of artillery fire but the bold seizure of the bar caused the Soviet commander to think the better and withdraw this battle was won with the Germans having taken 17 of 30 BR but the Soviet force exceeding its BR of 24 with a victory for the defenders of 4th Panzer division which means but the Soviet Luga Line defence involved will have to withdraw back towards the start line display give the Germans some breathing space future moves in the campaign will show how important this is but the clock is ticking. Next the battle on east of the bridgehead.