The German army
was frozen in place. Bitter cold and deep snow made the thinly-clad Wehrmacht
dig in and fight first for warmth, then the Russians. The Siberians were well
equipped for war in the snow, but the Soviet High Command still threw them
piecemeal at the German strongpoints. The much-heralded Soviet winter counteroffensive
was in fact a series of small-unit actions amongst the white and
evergreen of the Russian winter. The raid on the crossroads northwest of Staritsa
was just one of many. To protect the critical crossroads, the Germans had cut a maze of
trenchworks through the snow. If not in comfort, at least in cover, sentries peered into
the snowy distance. Deep silence. Then, the sound of tank engines. The white, boxy
shapes of T-34s with their snowmen-like supporting troops emerged from the east heading
straight for the crossroads.
Attacker: Russian (31st Soviet Army)
Defender: German (Infanterie Regiment 18, Infanterie Division 26)
4.5 turns
Players: 2 OBA: None Night: No
Unit Counts:
Squads: A:6.0 D:3.0
AFVs: A:3
T-34 M40 x 3
AFVs: D:1
PzKpfw IVE
Guns: A:0 D:1
3.7cm PaK 35/36
Misc Rules:
DS, EW, roads buried. A: Winter Camo. D: German Pz IVE is dug-in.
I felt like I was losing this entire game as the German defenders. I managed to eliminate one T34 and break a bunch of Russian infantry but lost my dug in tank and the AT gun couldn’t get anything but AP ammo which made it difficult to affect the remaining T34s. They both managed to exit the map but I had enough firepower to keep the Russian infantry to having things so easy and the Russians ran out of time before they could get enough units exited to clear the VP threshold.
2023-04-27
(D) Jeff B
vs
Magnus Rimvall
Russian win
Russians came on heavy south, no surprise with this being the route closest to the exit. A sneaky LOS eliminated a HS trying to relocate, early casualties the Germans could ill-afford with their tiny force. Extreme winter was especially hard on the Germans all game long, with the BMG breaking on the dug-in tank on Turn 2. It then proceeded to X-out it's MA on Turn 3, and the Russians were in position to start their exit off. The AT gun had yet to show its face. It would appear on Turn 4, knocking out a Russian tank, until it too succumbed to extreme winter and Xd-out. Both German leaders were eliminated, and a DC placement attempt bungled, but one intrepid HS was able to survive CC in the key hex of AA1. With both vehicles being needed to exit the board on the last turn, the Russians would be forced to weather two FLs in their bid to run around AA1. But extreme winter and cowering nullified both FLs, allowing the Russians an easy exit of 21 VP. Besides being a very statically boring defense, way too small and dicey for my liking.
2022-11-01
(A) Simon Staniforth
vs
Mick Allen
German win
I’ve played this a couple of times before a few years back and don’t recall having so much trouble with the Russian tanks. Secret Bog DR activated on T2 and 2 of the platoon bogged with both going on to immobilise in subsequent turns. I was pushing through most of German infantry quite well but having lost a full squad to the 9-2/MMG combo when I strayed into their Bore Sighted hex, I was left with just 20VP mobile so needed to exit all of this for the win. The tank got off, passing various non-platoon NTC and reliability DRs, but the infantry was stymied by the last remaining squad. A quick to play scenario, I swapped the “0” leader for a Commissar rather then the “-1” figuring I could well need the extra VP
2022-08-20
(D) Jonathan Kapleau
vs
Johnson, Bret
German win
2022-08-15
(D) John Nebauer
vs
Chris Harding
German win
2022-03-06
(A) Vic Lauterbach
vs
JM
Russian win
Fun little scenario that plays fast. I got a early lucky LR CH on the cupola that hurt Jim's chances of immoblizing another T-34. Still close due to CC. The squad w/DC broke then died from fate, and I passed the needed bog DRs to get through the Z1 woods for the win.
2022-01-10
(D) Ken Rutkowski
vs
Bill T
Russian win
Last die roll gave the Russians the victory
2021-09-26
(A) O Ramaille
vs
Eric W
German win
The Russian launched their assault with the T34s riding in the open snow and infantry slowly progressing through woods and buildings. The deep snow caused one of the T34 to bog and the hidden AT gun destroyed another Tank on a lucky TK roll. The infantry progression was better eliminating the German that tried to retreat and forcing the others to surrender. The defender only has his AT gun and the dug-in panzer left. The AT gun shot a critical hit that immobilized the still mobile T34. And the bogged T34 mired and freed itself too late to exit the area. Most of the Russia infantry exit through the victorious area but with lacking EVP. The Germans win helped by the extreme winter conditions and lucky shots from the AT gun.
A scenario that relies too much on DR results imho. Moreover, the feel of the scenario is that extreme winter is a serious advantage for the defender regarding exit victory conditions whereas we could expect in 1941 more a disadvantage to the Germans wich still have a very high ELR of 4. So a bad feeling with the design of this scenario.
2021-03-25
(A) Gerry Proudfoot
vs
Brian Wiersma
Russian win
The Russians scored an early kill against the Pz IV up on the north side of the map. The Russian 628s attacked along the south edge through the woods towards X1-Z0 and pried open the German line allowing exit by turn 4. A decision to IF the AT gun despite severe winter cost the Germans the battle when it malfunctioned. This effectively allowed the Russian option on who and what to exit with time to spare. At this point the Germans conceded.
A sharp action with a small OoB that forces both sides to use some caution in making 'risky' moves lest the dice turn sour and end the game early.
2020-11-08
(A) walter mcwilliams
vs
Tom Kerney
German win
Tom had played Al earlier int he week as loosing as the Russians and since we played at his bunker I took the attacking Russians. Tom played a great game and had the dice to back it up as numerous low fire-power shots came up with big results. He did manage to malf and break the AT gun, the turn after it succeeded in deliberately immobilizing one of the T34's but by turn 4 it was obvious I wasn't going to be able to get enough infantry along with the two surviving T34's off for the victory. This is a time tested scenario and maybe in a few months I'll feel like playing again us the otherside or giving it ago again as the Russians. Otherwise I think it lacks replayability.
2020-06-29
(A) B-E Karlsson
vs
German
Russian win
2019-03-08
(A) Juhani Bonsdorff
vs
self
German win
Russians exited 2 AFVs with 1 left mired in trench. German Infantry suffered heavy casualties but a leader, squad and MMG was just able to prevent Russian infantry from exiting board.
2018-11-17
(D) Dan Best
vs
Kermit Mullins
Russian win
2018-11-17
(A) Kermit Mullins
vs
Dan Best
Russian win
Quick playing scenario as Dan and I finished in roughly two hours. I muffed the exit location right off the bad and moved straight ahead before realizing I had to exit in the southeast corner. Dan's 9-2 and MMG wrecked my infantry and killed all but one squad and the 8-0. But...my tanks all managed to exit and I managed to steal the win.
2018-08-14
(D) Shane Pask
vs
German win
Russians led with the tanks and lost one to DC on turn 1. The other two exited turn 3. Russians slaughtered my infantry but without tank support, my guns mauled the Russian infantry. Final VP tally 18 out of 20 needed. 3 Russian squads became fanatic (but still failed to reach the exit point).
2017-10-17
(A) C. Scott Kippen
vs
Neil Gowen
German win
2017-02-22
(A) David Garvin
vs
Logan Stallings
German win
2017-02-10
(A) Richard Jenulis
vs
Rick Fehenbacher
Russian win
NWASL Championship 2017
2017-01-05
(D) rene cote
vs
MRosberg
Draw
The extreme winter rules do make a difference. The Panzer flamed one T34 but malfunctionned after. The AT gun broke on first shot. Couldn't quell the onrush of Siberians enough.
2016-11-28
(A) Alberto Griffa
vs
Darrell Wright
Russian win
2016-02-22
(D) Dwayne Duval
vs
Kevin Duval
German win
2016-02-22
(A) Kevin Duval
vs
Dwayne Duval
German win
Used Russian balance.
2014-09-07
(D) Simon Staniforth
vs
German win
2014-08-22
(A) Simon Staniforth
vs
Russian win
2013-08-18
(A) Jesus Pie
vs
Eloisol
Russian win
2013-06-28
(A) Luis Felip
vs
R
German win
Russian player (me) managed to scape with 15 VP, after a few tactical errors from both sides. Almost impossible to exit 20 VP of the initial forces of 24 VP!
2013-03-24
(A) Richard Agnew
vs
solo
German win
Soviet armour spent too much time trading shots with the dug-in Panzer, instead of racing for the southern map border. Result was, only exiting 7VP (all infantry).
2012-11-18
(A) Rohan Carty
vs
Nick Kerr
German win
T-34's ended up just driving through the trench line, but infantry was unable to make it through.