Leningrad Campaign

Our gaming group has begun a WWII campaign. We are using Command Decision III as the rule set. We are using a bathtub approach designed by the author of Command Decision. We chose the Nothern Sector to play out. Chuck chose a set of maps. Tom is the commander of the Russian army.  I am the commander of the German forces.

Here is the game map:

This whole campaign has been interesting. O ne has to worry about supply and attrition from battles. Rebuilding and reinforcements come on predetermined schedules. You do not go into battle without a plan.
The Russian commander has been done some interesting defensive postures. He has been a great player and worthy oppenent. Most of the Russian troops are Green or Trained in 1941 and yet he has been able to defend and inflict damage on the German advance.

Last nights battle: Battle of Luga

The Germans had to cross the river into heavily swamp and forest area. The bridge was blown. The Germans were fortunate in finding two fords.

The 16th Corps brought forward its recon element to find the fords and seek out the enemy. The 16th Corps was made of the 15th Regiment, 9th Panzer battalion, 1st Artillery (105mm) battalion, 201st Engineer battalion, 1st Flak Battery, 1st Recon Company, 1st Anti-tank battalion. Remember this has been bathtubed 1:25.

The tank battalion and 2 infantry battalions entered the table. The 2 left green clothes pieces represented light woods. The far right and darker green represented forest. The light bluish represented swamp. The battle began at 4pm. Turns are 15 minutes.

The German recon unit found Russians hiding in the forest edge. Taking fire from the edge of the light woods. The fire was ineffective. Sending back to HQ that Russians were close.

The Germans drove the first line of Russians back only to find the next line ready and waiting. The red flags showing the Russian falling back from the fire.

More Germans began to pour across the river with the help of engineers established at the ford. The push was on to exploit the right side of the table. There was no field of fire. Swamps provided cover and one level of blocking. The woods and forest provide cover and protection and represents 2 level height.

The road net was so convulted and had killing areas German command moved off the road to swing around the road.

 

The German pushed deeper into the swamp driving the Russians back. The Russian show up on the right side to slow down the advance, We find T34 tanks and the nasty Russian cossacks.

As the evening ended and darkness took over. The Germans had pushed deep into the heavily swamp and forest area. The Germans needed every bit of their Veteran status to hold on. The Russian thru many surprises. Causing lots of casualities. Hopefully the final push to Leningrad will have less Russian defending the city.

It was a bloody battle. The full weight of the Germans could not be brought to bear. The Russians would fire and fall back and establish another line. It was slow going. I will eventually add the order of battle in the next post.