In order to complete the encirclement of Leningrad, the so-called “Luga Line” had to be broken first. The Germans began their assault on 22 August with Infanterie-Division 269 fighting its way slowly to the west from Luga into the river bend to the north while the SS-Polizei-Division 4 approached Luga directly. The Soviet 41st Rifle Corps defended the area desperately, launching several counterattacks. On 24 August, the Polizei Division attacked Luga itself. On 23 August, Polizei-Schutzen-Regiment 2 feigned an attack on the Vdraiki. At first light the next day, a flank attack was launched which established the favorable prerequisites for capturing the city. Bataillon III pressed into the city from the east over a bridge that was still intact.
Attacker: German (SS) (Bataillon III, Polizei-Schützen-Regiment 2, SS-Polizei-Division 4)
Well, add me to the very short list of players who have lost this lop-sided affair as the Russians. I even had the good fortune of Steve drawing two red chits in a row and being out of OBA by T3.
However, Steve skillfully used his AE's smoke grenades to give him a less deadly path across the southernmost bridge anyway (I was able to blow the northern bridge, but not the middle). By T4 he had most of his OB across the river of death.
The few surviving Russian squads on that flank put up a good effort, but in the end, were unable to keep that flank from collapsing and opening up an exit pathway.
We both agreed afterward that perhaps a little more depth to the Russian defense line would have been more helpful. I made a few tactical mistakes along the way, and the dice were not always kind, but Steve played an excellent game and didn't give me any openings of significance.
2023-07-31
(D) Craig Renier
vs
Eric Zagdan-Gross
Russian win
This is an interesting scenario that could be a bit dicey. If the Russians are able to destroy one or two bridges, the Germans will have an extremely hard time crossing the river. If the Russians fail to destroy bridges and the Germans are able to successfully lay ordnance smoke early on in order to cover the crossing, the Russians will be hard pressed to stop the overwhelming force. If both sides succeed or both fail, the outcome is up to the skill of the players.
In this playing, the bulk of the German force entered from the South with the objective of crossing the southern most bridge. Another small force entered on the East side with the HMG, MMG, and leader with radio, moving into position on the hill overlooking the battlefield. The Russians set up two Assault Engineers on the southern and middle bridge swith the intent of setting Demo Charges and destroying those bridges. The MMC on the middle bridge broke under fire from Germans on the hill in its attempt to set the DC. On the southern bridge, the MMC failed to set the DC twice and then broke under heavy fire from the overwhelming German forces. On Turn 2, the Germans were able to successfully lay ordnance smoke on the far side of the southern bridge but their approach was slowed by a Russian delaying force on the east side of the river. The leader with radio broke on a long range Russian HMG shot, losing OBA access. Russians placed the MMG in a FH with a fire lane down the southern bridge. As the Germans crossed, the 10-2 leader was pinned and multiple units were broken before the MMG malf'd. The two units that made it across the bridge broke on the far side. The Germans quickly rallied, but the leader with radio was unable to reestablish radio contact for two turns, leaving the bridge crossing dangerously exposed. The Germans pressed on, but the Russian defenders were able to KIA and break more attackers. On the center bridge, a small attacking force attempted to force the crossing, but the Russian HMG was able to hold them back. Radio contact was regained and ordnance smoke laid for another attempt at crossing the southern bridge, this time successfully, helped by fact that the Russian MMG was eliminated during a repair attempt. However, with only 2 turns remaining, the German player conceded given the lack of time to gain control of sufficient buildings for a win.
2020-03-18
(D) Will Willow
vs
D. Perham
Russian win
VASL
2019-10-21
(D) Vilis Pavulans
vs
Tim Hundsdorfer
Russian win
Tim being a seasoned player and me being a newb, him being germans and me being russians. None of us have any clue to how on earth the germans could possibly win this scenario. Could someone who has won as the germans describe how that victory was achieved?
