Barbarossa – Day Two!

This week Patrick and Dave were able to make it out, John showed up again, but Gary was busy and Rick and Jackson have the Whooping Cough!?

Following on from Last Week’s episode…


23 June 1941, Somewhere west of Bialystok, Poland

SITUATION

In the day since the Germans invaded Mother Russia all has been chaos and confusion. Constant artillery and aircraft attacks have harassed the regiment’s positions and wrecked havoc with lines of communication since 4am on the 22nd. There have rumours that German tanks have broken through on the flanks and have rampaging in the rear, but there have also been rumors that the NKVD Political Officers have been given authority to summarily execute anyone spreading rumours… so no one talks about it much…

The regiment has taken up a defensive position in some low hills and awaiting the advancing Germans – or some news about what is going on and/or what to do!

The previous afternoon Serzhant Zaitzoff’s squad was sent to patrol the woods in front of their position. They discovered a team of German… and (much to the surprise of the GM!) utterly wiped them out.

Upon their return Rayadovoy Gelakhov was transferred back to Serzhant Trotsky’s Squad. He had been sent with Zaitzoff because the new polish conscripts were thought to be “unreliable”… they had proven themselves otherwise!

The following evening the unit was subjected to a brutal artillery bombardment and at dawn the German infantry attacked.

SCENARIO

The Russians must first set up a defensive position of trenches and wire. Then, after determining casualties from artillery barrage, the Russians must defend their position against a German infantry assault!

The Germans objective is to kill or capture the Russians and or exit their forces off the far edge of the table

Victory points:
Kill or Capture half the Russians +1
Kill or Capture ALL of the Russians +2
Exit half of force off the far edge of the table before turn 20 +1
Exit all of force off the far edge of the table before turn 20 +2

Total
1 = Minor Victory
2 = Major Victory
3= Decisive Victory

The Russian objective is to prevent these objectives. If The Germans fail to complete ANY of their objectives it is a Minor Victory for the Russians. If the Russians kill or capture more than half the German force it is a Major Victory. If the Russians kill or capture the entire German force it is a Decisive Victory.

FORCES

Soviet Forces (Elements of the 13th Rifle Regiment, 2nd Rifle Division, I Rifle Corps, Tenth Army, Western Special Military District)

Rayadovoy Yuri Gelakhov - Wild Card - John
Ag d8, Sm d4, Sp d4, St d6, Vg d8,
Pace 6, Parry 6 (7), Toughness 7
Skills: Fighting d8, Shooting d8, Notice d4, Stealth d4, Survival d4, Throwing d4
Edges: Brawny, Quick
Hindrances: Bloodthirsty
Gear: Mosin-Nagant Rifle (Range: 24/48/96, ROF1, Damage: 2d8, AP: 2), Bayonet (Str+d6, Reach 1, Parry+1)

Serzhant Boris Trotsky - Wild Card - Dave
Ag d4, Sm d6, Sp d8, St d4, Vg d8,
Pace 6, Parry 4, Toughness 8
Skills: Fighting d4, Shooting d8, Notice d6, Stealth d4, Throwing d4
Edges: Rank (NCO)
Hindrances:
Gear: Ppsh SMG (Range: 12/24/48, ROF3, Damage: 2d6, AP: 1, Auto)

Rayadovoy Ovek Satan - Wild Card - Patrick
Ag d6, Sm d4, Sp d6, St d8, Vg d6,
Pace 6, Parry 6 (7), Toughness 7
Skills: Fighting d6, Shooting d8, Notice d4, Stealth d4, Throwing d6
Edges: Luck
Hindrances:
Gear: DP LMG (Range: 24/48/96, ROF3, Damage: 2d8, AP: 2, Auto, Snap fire), knife (Str+d4)

Soviet Conscripts - 4
Ag d6, Sm d4, Sp d6, St d6, Vg d6,
Pace 6, Parry 4 (5), Toughness 5
Skills: Fighting d4, Shooting d6, Notice d4, Stealth d4, Throwing d4
Gear: Mosin-Nagant Rifle (Range: 24/48/96, ROF1, Damage: 2d8, AP: 2), Bayonet (Str+d4, Reach 1, Parry+1)


German Forces (elements of … Army Group Center)

Feldwebel Karl Meuller – Wild Card
Ag d6, Sm d6, Sp d6, St d6, Vg d6,
Pace 6, Parry 5, Toughness 5
Skills: Fighting d6, Shooting d6, Notice d6, Stealth d6, Intimidate d6, Throwing d6
Edges: Rock-n-Roll, Command
Hindrances:
Gear:
MP-40 SMG (Range: 12/24/48, ROF3, Damage: 2d6, AP: 1, Auto)
Luger Pistol (Range: 12/24/48, ROF1, Damage: 2d6, AP: 1)

German Rifle Team #1 (6)
Ag d6, Sm d6, Sp d6, St d6, Vg d6,
Pace 6, Parry 5, Toughness 5
Skills: Fighting d6, Shooting d6, Notice d6, Stealth d6, Throwing d6
Edges:
Hindrances:
Gear: 6x Kar 98K Rifle (Range: 24/48/96, ROF1, Damage: 2d8, AP: 2), Bayonet (Str+d4, Reach 1, Parry+1)

German MG Team #1 (4)
Ag d6, Sm d6, Sp d6, St d6, Vg d6,
Pace 6, Parry 5, Toughness 5
Skills: Fighting d6, Shooting d6, Notice d6, Stealth d6, Throwing d6
Edges:
Hindrances:
Gear: 3x Kar 98K Rifle (Range: 24/48/96, ROF1, Damage: 2d8, AP: 2), Bayonet (Str+d4, Reach 1, Parry+1), 1x MG34 (Range: 30/60/120, ROF3, Damage: 2d8, AP: 2, Auto, Snapfire)

German Rifle Team #2 (6)
Ag d6, Sm d6, Sp d6, St d6, Vg d6,
Pace 6, Parry 5, Toughness 5
Skills: Fighting d6, Shooting d6, Notice d6, Stealth d6, Throwing d6
Edges:
Hindrances:
Gear: 1x MP-40 SMG (Range: 12/24/48, ROF3, Damage: 2d6, AP: 1, Auto),
5x Kar 98K Rifle (Range: 24/48/96, ROF1, Damage: 2d8, AP: 2), Bayonet (Str+d4, Reach 1, Parry+1)


German MG Team #2
Ag d6, Sm d6, Sp d6, St d6, Vg d6,
Pace 6, Parry 5, Toughness 5
Skills: Fighting d6, Shooting d6, Notice d6, Stealth d6, Throwing d6
Edges:
Hindrances:
Gear: 3x Kar 98K Rifle (Range: 24/48/96, ROF1, Damage: 2d8, AP: 2), Bayonet (Str+d4, Reach 1, Parry+1), 1x MG34 (Range: 30/60/120, ROF3, Damage: 2d8, AP: 2, Auto, Snapfire)


THE GAME

As john was the first to show up he got to morrow the pilotka (gaining him a bonus benny – as I decided to reimplement the old house rule that anyone wearing appropriate head attire would get a bonus benny!)

For the preliminary bombardment I figured we’d roll d6 for each Russian soldier. On a 6 they were hit for 2d6 – but added 4 to their toughness (for the hard cover). This was done four times. I thought it might weed out a couple conscripts or start one of the wild cards off with a wound… but these soviets were made of sterner stuff

After each barrage Serzhant Trotsky (who had been issued a flare pistol to call in an artillery bombardment ifhe spotted germans in the area) had to see if they spotted the German attack. The roll was at -6 and only REALLY mattered if they spotted them after the first one… of course if they went bust on one of the others – he would be convinced that they were out there and waste their single flare calling for an artillery barrage on phantoms… he did not… but he also didn’t spot the Germans moving into position after the final German bombardment and thus missed his opportunity to (attempt to) call in thunder on the attackers!

I also had everyone roll a vigor roll to see if staying up all night (during the bombardment) had tired them out – the conscripts failed and gained a level of fatigue.

(Remember: click on the pictures for a bigger version)


The Russians initial dispositions.

Serzhant Trotsky took a trench with the fresh conscripts and deployed his two dependable troopers in the other.

The wire behind them must have been insisted upon by the company’s Political Officer…?


The Germans begin their advance through the woods!


Despite his injury from the previous days engagement Rayadovoy Gelakhov proved himself the hero of the day! Patiently waiting for Germans to cross the a gap in the trees – two turns in a row he tagged infantry as they dashed across from cover to cover. Then, as the first squad’s LMG team was strting to set up in the woods directly to their front he sniped the gunner.


Before they could roll the gunner out of the way and set someone else up on the MG34, Rayadovoy Satan opened up and took out two more of the fire team. Luckily they had pulled a joker earlier and gained a benny through a roll on the fortune and calamity table and the remaining rifleman used that to recover from being shaken by the whole incident!!


The German second squad set up it’s MG at the edge of a stand of woods and started pouring fire down on Serzhant Trotsky’s position. They were just out of short range and didn’t hit a darn thing for all the turns that they blazed away! After the first two or three turns the conscripts were down to “last shots” (having been dealt a couple of deuces right off the bat) and I ruled that for rifles that meant that only half of them (rounded up) could fire each turn.


Despite the First Squad’s troubles things were looking pretty good for the Germans. Both squads rifle teams had made their way around the flanks and were preparing for an assault. The Russians looked doomed….


At the edge of the woods the Second Squad’s Rifle Team tossed a grenade at the soviet trench and fired point blank – the grenade bounced and exploded harmlessly to the rear of the trench and the fire was ineffective.


Meanwhile over on the other flank the First Squad’s Rifle Team, lead by Feldwebel Meuller, was dashing through the bush to prepare for the their own assault. The lone rifleman from the LMG team hit Rayadovoy Satan seriously wounding him (three wounds!). It seemed like it might be all over for the Russians…

Then Gelakhov shot Feldwebel Meuller. He staggered. Gelakhov shot him again and he went down!! He died of his wounds shortly thereafter.


Unshaken by the loss of their feldwebel (perhaps it was seen as an opportunity for advancement?) the remaining riflemen pressed on. One tossed a grenade and missed the trench – but landed it close enough for the concusion to knock out the fading Rayadovoy Satan. (Amazingly he passed his vigor roll – at -4?! – and thus not only did he not die on the spot from bleeding out, the disabled arm will eventually heal someday and be fine… I should say COULD eventually heal… if he lives that long!)

On Rayadovoy Gelakhov’s next card (a joker!) things went down the tank for the Germans! Gelakhov tossed a grenade back at them and took two out, and shook another – the remaining rifleman broke.


(I have a hat to wear too! Yay for funny hats! I hope Comrade Millerov shows up some time with his ushanka!)


The Second Squad’s assault went in…

The first round two Germans ganged up on the conscript on the end, two others attacked a lone soviet, the soviets fought back ferociously and wouldn’t not give in. The German section commander just ran up to the lip of the trench and unloaded his SMG at Serzhant Trotsky. Serzhant Trotsky, who had been caught off guard looked behind himself at the bullet riddle wall of the trench… looked down at his body as if to double check to see if he hadn’t been shot and maybe hadn’t noticed yet, then looked up at the German squad leader and riddled him with bullets (three hits… each causing enough damage take him out!).

The Soviets attacked back in the close combat and were unable to overcome their opponents.

Feeling a bit more desperate the Germans started attacking WILDLY – they hit two, but only took out one of the soviet conscripts! One of the soviets was then able to poke a wildly attacking German and took one down.


The following round… the same round Gelakhov pulled his joker… and then rolled “Quick and the Dead” (allowing the conscripts to act on his joker AND gain the benefits of it!?)… BEFORE the Germans got to go (thus their parry was still reduced to the previous turns wild attacks….) They took out another German rifleman and the Germans morale failed. One of the two remaining surrendered, the other made a run for it into the woods.

The Aftermath

The two remaining riflemen from first squad also fled. They left the two injured by the grenade behind, but checked on those wounded further back and dragged them away. The remaining rifleman in the first squad’s MG team fell back with on of the others who had also been lightly wounded. Two of those left behind were KIAs and two were seriously wounded.

The bloodthirsty Gelakhov, thinking his trenchmate dead leaped out of his trench and pursued the Germans, he finished off the two seriously wounded Germans making it 5 KIAs for the first squad (including Feldwebel Meuller)

Of the Second Squad’s Rifle Team the Section Commander and one other riflemen were KIA. One surrendered, and another two wounded were captured (one seriously wounded, one lightly wounded).

Total losses for the two attacking German sections: 7 KIA, 3 POW, 2 other wounded (but escaped).

Total losses for the Soviets: 1 conscript lightly wounded and Rayadovoy Ovek Satan seriously wounded – disabled arm and four wounds…

A pretty significant victory for the Russians! They really pulled it out of the fire once again!

(oooooh just wait ‘til I get my panzers ready…. I’ll get you next time you commie bastards… NEEEEEEEXT TIIIIIIIIIMMME!!)

Coming soon on Savage Timmy’s Playhouse:

Hopefully a report on the Realms of Cthulhu campaign!