Denke evtl. für manche WW2 Spieler von Interesse.
Ende
November 2009 haben wir (Herford Wargamer und Gäste) unser alljährliches \"Big Game\" gespielt.
Thema dieses Jahr (an dieser Stelle der Hinweis, das ich den Bericht für ein englischsprachiges Forum erstellt habe und mir keine Zeit, zugegeben, auch keine Lust, nehme den ganzen Spaß zu übersetzen. Aber da ein Bild eh mehr sagt wie 1000 Worte ...) :
Stalingrad: Storming the Red Barricades and Red October factories, 16th-18th October 1942Gamed at: Herford, GermanyOrganiser and host, terrain and kit: Dougie, Herford WargamersRules used: Rapid FirePlease keep in mind that the following is from
my perspective of a \"Soviet\" gamer/commander which I was myself during the game. One can also tell from the pictures taken. The game development and description might have mistakes of which I\'m not aware. One didn\'t have much time to take pictures or gather the whole (!) picture of the game. But I think you\'ll get the idea ...
The game set up by Dougie, who attended the Big Game at Wilberfoss last year, was originally staged for 8 gamers, 4 each side. Only 5 showed up due to death cases and organisational problems with some gamers that intended to show up. Nevertheless Dougie managed to umpire a spectacular game which was fun for all participating gamers.
Forces (all according to Rapid Fire rules and unit organisations):
Red Army, Soviets :39th Rifle Division (defending the left Soviet flank incl. the Red October factory)
Red October Factory Militia Battalion
95th Rifle Division (defending the centre and area between both factories)
33rd Rifle Division (as above, 2nd line of defence)
138the Rifle Division (defending the right Soviet flank incl. the Red Barricades/Barrikady factory)
Barrikady Factory Militia Battalion
84th Tank Brigade (T34/76 and T70)with orders to defend the centre and left flank)
Most of the above were actually remnants of battles fought before. So they were all understrength btls. as per rules etc. Some btls. for example only had 12 figures
Corps assets in reserve and in the centre (Corps HQ, Observers, Katyusha and arty batteries, AA MMG\'s and 37mm Guns and Heavy tank coy (actually 1 KV 1, ordered to defend Red Barrikady)
Soviets could set up 4 secret minefields and 3 bunkers, could use some underground sewers unknown to the Germans and have two planes (a Yak1 and Curtiss P-40 Warhawk) that could go into action. The planes had to break through a German plane cordon (needed a 6 on D6 every round) before they could actually come onto the board
45th Rifle Division (HQ and 10th Rifle Regiment with 2 btl. acting as a reserve)
Soviets decided during planning do sit tight and let the Germans bleed. Tanks and reserves were alloted to the centre and left flank divisions but staying flexible as the game developed. The right flank would gamble and send two btls through the sewers, hoping that they would end up behind German lines and might cause some havoc. If the game development would allow, counterattacks were to be considered.
Wehrmacht, Germans:79th Infantry Division (with 208th Inf. Rgt (2. btl.); 212th Inf. Rgt. (2 btl.); 226th Inf. Rgt. (2 btl.), one Assault Gun Btl. (StuG III) and Div. HQ mainly attacking on the German right flank, objective the Soviet left flank incl. the Red October factory
HQ of 24th Panzer Division (incl. a Panzer Rgt (Panzer III and IV) and AT-Btl (Marder III), attacking mainly on the right flank)
40th and 179th Pionier Battalion (Engineers, as above)
305th Infantry Division (with 576 Inf. Rgt. (2 btl.); 577 Inf. btl. (2 btl.); 578th Inf. btl. (2 btl.); one Assault Gun btl. (StuG III), and Div. HQ mainly attacking the centre, trying to split the Soviet defenders
HQ of 14th Panzer Division (incl. a Panzer Rgt (Panzer III and IV) and AT-Btl (Marder III), attacking mainly the centre, beginning on the far end of the German left flank)
305th and 162ndh Pionier Battalion (attacking the centre)
103rd Panzer Grenadier Rgt. with two Pionier btl. (Engineers, attacking the centre)
Germans had pre-game bomb attacks with two Ju-88, Stuka attacks on most rounds and limited arty and Nebelwerfer fire
Day 1All photos by R. and J.Some pictures show small white strips of paper (propaganda leaflets dropped by German Ju-53/3 transport planes). Just kidding, for real these were small strips of paper used by some gamers during the latter stages of the game in order to keep track of their units.
Stalingrad battlefield (Soviets on the right, Germans left; Red October centre, right; Red Barricades, top, right). Germans start their attack. Keep in mind that we played with hidden units)
Red October factory in the morning light
Red October again ... no Soviet action to be seen. Everbody filled with Vodka from the last night? 
Left side of the Red October
Showing the devastation of the former battles (area left and in front of Red October)
Red Barricades factory
Red Barricades factory
Embankment in front of the Red Barricades factory (with two hidden, dug-in understrength btl. of Soviets and an observer in the ruined waggon, who was actually never disturbed during the whole game. Calling in the Soviet arty and Katyusha\'s during the whole game for the Soviet right flank and centre) 
Battlefield German viewpoint
Stalingrad. Red October right hand side
Soviet General ... \"Hmmm, tovaritch, how can we best kick the faschists back to Berlin?\" Soviet tank reserves in the background. Just kidding ...
Yak 1 drive\'s Ju-88 of the battlefield. Opening throw of the game needing a Soviet 6 on D6 (to penetrate the German air cordon) and then throw high to drive off the Ju-88, the Soviet commander of the centre units, and also in command of the airplanes, my wife, throws what was needed. Something she would repeat rather often, to the great delight of the Soviets (first Huuuuuraaaaah!!! yells heard) and frustration of the Germans
The favourite and often repeated die throw of the gamer in command of the Soviet airplanes ... who kept her cool during the game (\"We will defend the Rodina (the motherland) till the end\") ... usually knitting during dice throws. Soviets always have warm feet ...
Germans infiltrating Stalingrad. Right flank and centre
Germans flooding into the centre
Even more Germans ... Does comrade Stalin know about all this?
Germans flooding into the centre and the area in front of Red October
First contact and firefights in the centre. Yak 1 searching for targets
Red Army defends every house and every road block
Steady comrade, steady ... 
German tanks in waiting position on the German left flank. Will they attack the Red Barrikady factory?
The open area in front of Red Barrikady
German artillery opening up
Is that all the artilllery firepower the faschists have? Soviet generals showing some calculated pessimism?
Little action on the German left flank. Only a few units position themselves way ahead of Red Barricades
The far end of the German left flank. Only a few units and a German HQ. Interestingly enough ... the centre ruin harbours the opening of a sewer system (unknown to the Germans) 
German Ju-88 gives it a go. This time succesful, knocking out some Soviets and a T34
Knocked out T34
The German right flank has loads of Germans flooding Stalingrad too
Germans heading for Red October
German tanks and StuG\'s rolling down the centre
Germans giving fire support to advancing units
Pushing slowly forward
Maybe to slowly. German StuG 33b trundling ahead but the Germans might no be aggressive enough and don\'t bring in their engineer units (flamethrowers and minefield dedection and clearance) . Much to the delight of the Soviets ... 
Vorwärts! Schneller! Hunde wollt Ihr ewig leben!?
Germans run into a minefield
Hard fought centre of the battlefield. Every house needs to be taken by the Germans
Rolling, rolling, rolling ...
German Panzer units deployed on the left flank head for the centre. Red Barrikady still sees no action
T34 start to defend Red October
Even more ruins (back end of the Soviet centre)
T70 position themselves on the Soviet left flank. Do they mant to fight the Germans or lure them? Actually no match for German Panzer III\'s.
German Panzer III units appoaching, hit a T70 at long distance
German Pz III tanks advance towards the Soviet T70\'s. Motivated after their above hit ... and both trundle into a minefield simultaneously, both being destroyed! Soviet luring action worked. Huuuuuuraaaaaah !!!
Stuka ... once again ... goes for a dive bomb. Most of the time very much unsuccesfull. This time shot down ... by my missus. She loved it ...
German observers (from an HQ) view the area in front of Red October, scanning the area which has to be crossed next ...
The night belongs to the Soviets (rounds 9-14). Respositioning takes place. Reinforcements arriveDay 2
The umpire giving his battle assessment so far ... reflective German generals
Tanks clash in front of Red October
First German units enter Red Barrikady
Soviets take heavy casualties defending Red October
German Panzer units from the left flank trundle towards ... the centre ... or will they swing back left again and attack Red Barrikady?
KV-1 pops up from behind the embankment (Red Barrikady), but is quickly taken out by German Panzer counter fire
Only \"heroic action\" (as per rules) of the game. German tries to place a AT-mine. Storms out of his hiding but fails to plant the mine ... it slips off. S**t ...
Part of the most hardly fought area of the game. The centre. Germans having mounting heavy casualties. Especially because the Soviet Katyusha batteries target this area and take a heavy toll on the German infantry every second round
Part of the heavy fought centre (German view)
Germans trundle into another minefield
The second Soviet line of defence in the centre. Germans have just wiped out the entire 95th Rifle Divsion. The only survivor, Lt. Pjotr Petrov, regroups with the second line of defence (unit centre, bottom of picture). Petrov is later to receive the \"Geroy Sovyetskogo Soyuza\" (Hero of the Soviet Union) medal.Amazingly during the game, the Soviets didn\'t fail a single morale check. Using my missus (the Soviet lucky mascot?) for the morale D6 throws ... she alway threw a 4, 5 or 6. Easygoing. Especially important for the defence lines in the centre.
Soviet reinforcements retake part of the centre. Germans running out of units
Two Soviet battalions pop up behind German lines, having started their march through the sewers early on day one. Actually popping up next to a German HQ, which dashes off.
Close combat action in Red October. Assaults and counter assaults by Soviet regular units and the Red October
With the game called to an end by the umpire (last round), the Soviet right flank (in front of Red Barricades) decides to charge from behind the embankment towards the Germans over open ground with two battalions (shown here after their casualties have been taken after german reserve fire). Just for the fun of it, having seen no action on their flank during the entire game). Huuuuuuuurah !!!
The final battlefield. Casualties all over the place ...
Game over. The umpire, Dougie, gives his final assessment and declares a marginal Soviet victory. Both sides had taken heavy casualties. The fighting had especially bogged down in the centre. 
German general in deep thought (who knows? What could we have done better? How will I explain this to the Führer ...) as the umpire is obviously enjoying himself.All in all ... lots of fun. Great game, organised and umpired in a well-handled manner. As always ...
