Amid the brutal Crimea battles of 1943-44, Ekaterina Mikhailova managed to enlist at the tender age of 15. Affectionately called Katyusha by the troops, she was admired even by the enemy. She safely took water for her injured friends from a contested well, where people were shot daily, as the Germans let her pass. Some Germans played famous Soviet song titled “Katyusha,” to greet her, the others shouted from the trenches: “Russian marine! Russian Ivan! Show us Katyusha! We won’t fire.”
After the battle for Kerch, she fought for the liberation of Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia and celebrated Victory Day, 1945, in the Austrian capital, Vienna. The only Vienna bridge that was not blown up by the retreating Nazi troops was saved by Ekaterina’s battalion. She was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union and received the Florence Nightingale Medal.
Great fun this scenario to play. The rocket OBA caused havoc setting the central woods mass on fire which coupled with a wind change early in the game saw much Smoke across the board. Dummies in the Steeple hoping he would land the rockets there but they hit and rubbled a building on B4 taking some Romanians with them. Russians captured 5VP of buildings and had vehicles, but not infantry, in the victory area going into the final Player Turn. Just had the 8VP needed but an unfortunate malf of a SU-76M MA saw them fall just short. Recommended combined arms scenario
2020-11-01
(A) Ulric Schwela
vs
Stefano Cuccurullo
Russian win
Toyed with the idea of a full flank attack, decided it was too limiting. North flank has no rout terrain for a contested Russian entry, went half up the middle and half along the south edge, to sweep up to the board 4 farm. Katyusha zeroed on 63S9, landed very lucky and took out 3 German squads, 8-1 leader and 105 ART; Stefano had set up strong in the centre, now instead there was a big hole for me to exploit. Romanian MMG at top of 4S4 was troublesome, and I handled the SU-122 badly, losing them to long range Marder shots when I should have kept them in blind hexes. Despite losing a few squads, the Russian always had enough infantry to overwhelm the defenders and press on, and the reinforcements used Riders to good effect. The SU-76 were awesome, taking out the Marders (one had malfed) and dishing out several CH on defenders. The Vanatori de Munte looked scary but were boxed in, and a valiant counterattack foundered for a Russian win with 7 of 8 building hexes taken and several units in the target area.
2020-08-22
(A) Vic Lauterbach
vs
JM
German/Romanian win
Classic East Front action. The rocket OBA hit the Rumanians hard, so I rolled them up quickly but the Marders were tough on AFVs and infantry, many hits, lots of ROF. I had the win until Jim's mini counter attack took out the second SU-122 and the MMC with it. I fell 1 VP short! Exciting with good balance.
2020-07-02
(D) Raoul Duke
vs
MB
German/Romanian win
Great combined arms scenario. Was very lucky the OBA landed off target or I'd have been in *real* trouble.
2020-01-03
(A) Rob MacGinley
vs
James Short
German/Romanian win
Nice combined arms assault but you have to keep momentum - I lost the momentum and lost the game
2018-06-11
(D) Lawrence Spangler
vs
Diane Spangler
German/Romanian win
2018-02-03
(A) jon smith
vs
german
German/Romanian win
Russian OBA scattered ont roumanians in front line and broke a ldr and 2mmc inc a MMG before killed them as they routed back through OBA...
However, the scattered defence proved in hittable by the 122 guns for a critical turn as the Russians piled on the north side and through the central woods... eventually the key german units were broken and the Russians were looking an unlikely winner as they had 3 of the obj bulidings and plenty of units and armour at the obj hex... howveer, I misread the ssc and found at the end I had placed units with 3 of the crossroads rather than with 3 of the obj hex even though they had MP left so lost as only had 7.5 vp with 2 tanks and 2mmc sat 4 hex form obj.... nm.. was good fun and plenty for both sides to do.
2018-01-10
(A) Michael Rodgers
vs
Bruno L'Archeveque
Russian win
Russian objective was southern building hexes and K9 VC hex area. Rocket OBA targeted southern stone building. Broke most Rumanians, but started fires in nearby woods. Won with four building hexes and four units near VC hex.
2017-03-09
(A) Jeff B
vs
Scott Sherer
German/Romanian win
Targeting a victory building with the rockets turned out not to be a very wise move, as the building was engulfed in flames by the time I reached it. Not only did this cost 2 VP, but it forced my Russians to take the long way around through open ground, and allowed the Germans to maintain a firebase in the central stone building compound. A well-placed AT gun and the Marders did some early damage. At the end, a lack of leaders and a malf'd MA made it statistically impossible for the attackers to complete their objective.
2017-03-09
(D) Scott Sherer
vs
Jeff B
German/Romanian win
2017-02-27
(A) Øyvind Jacobsen Bjørkås
vs
Timo
German/Romanian win
2017-01-29
(D) Tom Kearney
vs
Walt McWilliams
German/Romanian win
Good Axis dice at critical points made the difference. I advise that the Soviet pre-register the church steeple.
2016-11-05
(D) Rich Weiley
vs
Adam Lunney
German/Romanian win
Played sometime ago so a bit hazy on recalling the details. I know Adam failed to get the rocket OBA down in the pre-registered hex because there was a concealed unit in the hex and he drew a red card on the second draw. When he did get it down it scattered wildly and had no impact on the game.