Hill 225 After action report

Turn 1
II Batallion SS Panzergrenadier Totenkopf has been tasked with seizing the village of Genki and Hill 225.9 immediately to its rear. Immediately to the SW of Hill 225.9 an anti tank trench can be observed with a high probability of minefields in this area. Hill 225.9 appears to be heavily defended with T34s, infantry and AT guns visibile on its NE flank. The NE flank of Hill 225.9 appears to be in the air and consequently 1/3 SS Pioneer. 2nd SS Stug and 1/3 SS Panzerjaeger are tasked to recon in this direction with a view to interdict supply along the road and destroy any rear area assets they encounter. It is hoped this may draw some of the Soviet strength off of Hill 225.9 II battalion SS panzergrenadier Totenkopf will move to infiltrate into Genki.

Smoke placed to cover the deep penetration proves ineffective though no losses are sustained as the small grouip moves down the NE flank.

2/1 SS PanzerJaeger deploys to block the soviet LOC while 2SS Stug battalion bumps into the Soviet Artillery Park. 2/5 SS Pz Gren Seizes an abandoned Soviet Bunker in NW Genki. AT guns deploy to woods in preparation for a later move to the bunker which enjoys views of the ridgeline of Hill 225.9.

Initial fire causes the 76mm battery opposite 2 SS Stug batt to disrupt as well as infantry on ridge of Hill 225.9, AT guns continue to move through woods.

2nd SS stug overuns the 76mm battery killing 7 guns as 1/3 SS Pioneer moves up in support. 6th & 7th Companies of II SS PzGren rush Genki under cover of smoke (largely inffective smoke) Soviet infantry are observed moving SW towards the artillery park. It appears the frantic phone calls of the 122mm battery commander may have been answered. Frantic activity is observed on Hill 225.9

An eventful turn. 2SS Stug disrupts and overuns the 122mm battery destroying another 7 guns. 5th SS Grenadier storms the SW bunker of Genki ejecting a soviet SMG company. 6th and 7th Companies advance encountering Soviet armoured cars in Genki. Objectivce hex is seized and 3 Armoured cars destroyed. AT gun on SW side of ridge in pillbox is disrupted as it mills about in confusion limbering up.

Soviet reaction to the Stugs in the artillery park is now violent and swift and in a breif exchange 5 T34s and a stug are lost. What is probably Katyushas (given GDs colour and heavy casualties inflcited in Genki by them) are observed firing to the SW. 2/1 Panzer Jaeger observes many more soviet tanks with tank riders streaming along the rearward ridge of Hill 225.9 as they make their way to the artillery park. Seems 2nd SS Stug is in for a hot time. AT guns deploy into bunker in SW Genki losing two guns in the process. Most of Genki now secure. Seems that the soviet commander has reacted strongly to the Stug prescent in his rear considerably weakening Hill 225.9

Soviet T34s and infantry attack the Stuf and engineers companies in the Soviet artillery park. Tank losses in this area now stand at 10 T34s and 2 stugs (at this point I should have started a fighting withdrawl with the stugs  ) 6th company of II SS Pz Gren seizes the two SW objectives on the ridge of Hill 225.9. All other soviet troops on the ridge are disrupted. Two T34s are destroyed on the ridge line another by the Panzer Jeager coving the rearward slope of Hill 225.9

2/7th SS Pz Gren advances on Hill 225.9 to restore communications with 6th company. 6th company inflicts heavy casualties on counter attacking Soviet infanty. Things rapidly become desperate for the now isolated 2nd SS Stug and 1/3rd SS Pioneer as they are nearly over run and conduct a fighting withdrawl with heavy losses. Tank losses are now 19 Soviet to 7 Stugs. Things look desperate but they have weakend Hill 225.9 significantly. Panzer Jaegers move up in support and take the T34s in the rear.

Two more objective hexs are seized on hill 225.9 as II battalion beats off fierce Soviet counterattacks. The last of the stugs succumbs to concentrated soviet fire as 1/3rd SS Pioneers escorts the dazed survivors back to the road covered by 2/1 SS Panzer Jaegers.

2/7th SS Pz Gren throws a T34 Company off of the end of Hill 225.9 as more desperate counterattacks are beaten off.

Good Stuff!!!! 

The battle is over with an Axis Major victory at 112 points. All soviet units are isolated and 90% of them are low on ammo. Losses are:
340 Soviet Infantry vs 88  German
27 Soviet Guns vs 2 German
31 Soviet AFVs vs 10 German

On reflection I waited too long to begin withdrawing the Stug and Engineer companies, probably overcome by the prospect of destroying the Katyusha batteries. Hill 225.9 is difficult to take if the Soviets maintain there strength there. The open flank is an invitation to embarrass them so should be seized though the Germans have precious little to work with. A fun short scenario.

Now that is what play testing is for. No-one has gone down that flank before!

Well written up Dave and it's times like these you don't want to be a Soviet artilleryman.

That said, I have asked John to institute the artillery direct fire modifier that is in PzC's. This will allow the 122mm gun's to fire over open sites at you with improved effectiveness at 4 or less hexes....

David

They actually did fire at me though ineffectually which is pretty much what they should have done since the Stugs appeared behind them and they were firing at the town. If you plan on giving them increased performance then maybe they should have facing too, since in reality they wouldnt have got a shot off in this situation.

Not sure on the artillery having an increased factor vs armour, I know some US artillery did well against armour, so did Australian 25lbers. It was very hit and miss though, if the armour wasnt approaching from the direction they were firing from then they didnt stand much chance of redeploying unless they had a lot of warning. Given that they can fire through 360 degrees without an issue increasing their AT factor may be a bit much.