Budapest Campaign - Counter-attack at Pestszentimre

Budapest Campaign - Counter-attack at Pestszentimre

Hot on the heels of the break through on the Attila Line we've managed to squeeze in scenario six - Counter-attack at Pestszentimre before the New Year work bow-wave swamps us entirely.  We pick up again with the score sitting at 3-2 to the Axis as we finally approach the outskirts of Budapest.  Lt Uri has been re-habilitated after his recent success and is again entrusted with a Guards Mechanised Brigade armoured platoon to try and breakthrough The Scot’s Panzer Kampfgruppe armoured platoon.

Scenario 6 - Counter-attack at Pestszentimre - 1250 points - Soviets vs Wehrmacht.

Soviet Guards Mechanised Brigade Platoon:

T-34 Platoon.  3x T34/76.  Regular.  Platoon Comd has poor radios.

Extra T34/76.  Regular.

SU-76.  Regular.  Versatile ammunition.

White Scout Car.  Regular.  1x HMG.

Veteran Section.  5x Veterans.  2x PzFst, 5x SMG.

Flamethrower Team.  Regular.

FAO.  1x Regular Forward Artillery Observer.

Panzer Kampfgruppe Platoon:

Pz IV Platoon.  3x Pz IV.  Regular.

Puma.  Regular.

Stummel.  Regular.

Grenadier Section.  7x Regulars.  2x PzFst.  1x LMG.

Hanomag.  Regular.

Grenadier Section.  7x Regulars.  2x PzFst.  1x LMG.

Note.  The Pz KG Pl for Hungary does not allow for Puma but it does allow for other Hvy Armd Cars and so rather than proxy we've kept the Puma in.

Soviet Force Selection.  First up the scenario advises using IS-2s.  However, in the interests of not proxying all the armour this is a T34 platoon.  The scenario again, as on the Attila Line, places the greatest scoring emphasis on getting into the Axis end zone.  The two considerations for the Soviet player to balance are having enough firepower to make a hole in the Axis defence while still having enough units advancing fast  and scoring.  This is complicated by the fact that any units not getting into the Axis table-half score points for the enemy.  This deleted my initial intention to bring a towed ATk gun to cheaply increase my firepower - it would need to kill three enemy units to end up in VP profit.  Which raised the next question of whether the T34 vs PzIV match up was going to go well.  The PzIVs would be static while the T34s have to advance in this scenario and of course the Axis have better guns.  The prelim bombardment will help with some pinning but I'm going to need to maximise the infliction of pins to have a chance to get across the open ground.  This need to fix the enemy puts an artillery observer high on the list of nice to have units.  However, the first selection was the mandated 3x T34s to form a platoon.  From here I picked a transport to carry point-scoring units fast into the end zone.  A White Scout Car with a Veteran Squad and a Flamethrower team could give me 9 points relatively easily by making an end game run up the central road, they might also be able to do some damage as well, if required.  This left around 400 points to play with.  I could take a single IS-2 to use as a mallet up the central road but this would eat most of the points and still not be that durable against the PzIV heavy ATk guns.  For roughly the same cost I could bring two lighter vehicles - the SU76 and another T-34/76.  I could also squeeze in a Forward Observer filling the last seat in the Scout Car.   More guns, more pins so the IS-2 lost out on selection to more cheap dross - very Soviet.

Soviet Plan.  The main effort is to get the White Scout Car with its troops into the far end zone of the board to net points.  The T34 platoon will focus on destroying any armour that is physically blocking the road to allow a 'hail Mary' by the Scout Car on turn five or six.  I will aim to keep stacking pins on any Axis ATk assets to reduce their effectiveness.  This is likely to need a turn or two of static firing to improve chances of hits followed by a more rapid advance in the late game to get out of my table half.  The FOO will dismount as soon as possible so the supporting arty batteries can add to the pinning.  

Deployment

Deployment.  Like the previous scenario the Soviets are blessed with the Axis having to deploy prior to the Soviets committing - although on this frontage no one is going to be out of range so it matters less.  The Scot spaced his armour evenly across the frontage taking advantage of the light cover available in the corn fields. The Grenadiers in the Hanomag and Stummel are placed between the tanks ready to dismount and support while the Puma sits near the Pl Comd in the centre.

Before the game began the Soviet artillery was unleashed on the defenders.  The effect was a little underwhelming with no direct hits and only the Eastern PzIV receiving two pins from a near miss.  Still it was a start to get a single pin on all other units less the Puma which just styled the whole thing out.

Despite sheltering in the, admittedly unseasonable, cornfields the Axis take a battering from Soviet pre-H fires.

Turn 1

Turn 1.  Shaken but not burnt.  Turn 1 brought on the Soviets advancing cautiously, engaging on the move.  The left flank came on first with two T34s moving on and both targeting the Axis Pl Comd.  Despite the range both hit, one succeeding in penetrating the frontal armour of the PzIV but only stunned the crew; however, this at least forced one heavy anti tank gun out of the firing line for a turn.  In addition both T34 bow gunners attempted to engage the Hanomag, the western tank was out of range but his mucker managed to land a few hits rattling the half track’s crew slightly.  The Pl Comd's wing-man attempted to return fire, shaking off the after effects of the Russian barrage but still missed the advancing Soviets.  Next the speartip was extended with another T34 cruising up the road and engaging the eastern PzIV.  Again the Soviet gunnery was un-historically good on the move hitting, penetrating and stunning the Axis crew.  Poor fortune for the Axis continued as the Puma missed this central T34.  The Soviets tried to keep up the pressure with Lt Uri bringing his T34 into action, missing his opposite number.  The Stummel also came under fire with the arrival of the SU76; however, the combination of a bumpy road and the cover of the field kept the German SPG safe.  Happily, its return fire was equally inaccurate.  The end of turn brought the White Scout Car nosing slowly up behind the Soviet armour and the Forward Observer jumped out ready to call for fire next turn.  In all a promising start - no burning T34s and some well pinned Axis armour.

The Soviets flow around the wood to run in onto the Axis defence.

The FAO jumps out to call for the guns to repeat the barrage.

Turn 2

Turn 2.  Pause to pin.  With the Soviet spear tip now heavily engaged this turn saw the advance pause to maximise effective fire.  The result was not as a dramatic as I had hoped.  The western T34s again focussed on the Axis Pl Comd's tank stacking him up to four pins but failing to damage him.  In the centre the lead tank again hit the Eastern PzIV keeping him ineffective but not knocking him out.  The Stummel took a pin from the SU76 but, remarkably, its paper-thin armour survived the hit.  Uri kept up his record for ineptitude by failing to hit the Western PzIV as it moved to better cover.  Fortunately, this PzIV also failed to hit the T34 on the road.  The Axis Pl Comd failed to rally while the Puma also missed the central T34.  Lastly with all other troops moved the Forward Observer called for massed Soviet artillery fire centred in front of the Hanomag West of the road, seeking to stack more pressure on this flank.  In all a slowly productive turn for the Soviets and frustrating gunnery for the Axis.

The Eastern PzIV gets the first of many batterings.

The pins start to stack even as the coordinates go to the guns for more fire.

Turn 3

Turn 3.  Incoming...  Prompt, and as requested, the Soviet artillery arrived to pummel the Western defenders.  There were no direct hits but the weight of fire was adequate with three pins apiece going on the two tanks and the Hanomag.  This put the Axis Pl Comd on seven pins and in real risk of being pinned out of the game.  Seizing the moment the Soviets resumed the advance with all units moving up.  However, the gunnery was poor this turn - possibly due to the amount of smoke and dust kicked up by the artillery.  Both Western T34s tried to hit the enemy Pl Comd and remove him from action - both missed.  On the road the central T34 attempted to hit the Eastern T34 in the flank but also missed and, in return, was hit by both the Puma and the Western PzIV.  The lucky lead tank crew survived but were stunned by the experience.  Uri pushed up and again missed the Western T34 but his bow gunner did get another pin on the Hanomag.  For the Axis the Eastern PzIV remained too shaken to act while the Stummel missed the SU76 due to its pins.  The Forward Observer, well pleased with his efforts hopped back into the Scout Car which tucked back in behind the SU76.  Remarkably despite multiple penetrating hits by this point not a single vehicle had been knocked out - there were, however, some pretty battered wagons out there now. 

Soviet armour advances covered by the barrage.

The Wehrmacht Pl Comd receives a lot of attention.

Turn 4

Turn 4.  Paint scratched.  The Scot drew first this turn but was confronted by the need to start rallying off the significant pins his units were carrying.  The Pl Comd set a poor example by continuing to keep all his lights off and pretend no-one was home.  However, his Western callsign shook of the effects of the turn before and prepared to halt the hoard next turn.  With the Western flank largely pinned or rallying the Axis Eastern flank took up the challenge, or rather the light armour did, the Eastern PzIV continued to look mildly menacing but achieved not much more than that.  The Puma hit the T34 on the road again but failed to knock it out.  In response the Soviets advanced on the Western flank with one tank pulling up to engage the Axis Pl Comd with the main armament, missing, while the bow gunner hit the Hanomag in the side igniting the engine.  The transport’s crew had clearly had enough of the Soviet demonstration of pyrotechnics and fled; however, the Grenadiers in the transport were made of sterner stuff - debussing in good order and, despite losing one of their number to the bow gun of the second T34 to their front, they started to prep their PzFsts ready to take over the fight from the PzIVs.  The Soviets on the road failed to score any major successes although Uri swung across the line of advance to put a pin on the Eastern, shaky, PzIV.  In hindsight this was an error - the Axis Pl Comd had seven pins on him and I should have fired everything I had at him to pin him out before he rallied. 

Shielding their weakest vehicles the Soviets push on.

A T34 slips up the left flank while the Grenadiers bail out of their over-hot transport.

Turn 5

Turn 5.  Break through.  With only two turns to go it was now or never.  However, the Axis drew first and, before I could try and pin him out, the Wehrmacht Comd pulled himself together rallied his crew and took a cautious look out at that was going on.  It was a little late, however, as what he saw was the centre T34 (masquerading as a Sherman) using the road to advance alongside him and laying a round through the side armour of his PzIV.  The exultation of the Russian crew was short-lived as the Puma traversed and fired into the rear of the Russian tank stunning them out of their celebrations.  It was all hotting up.  With a path through the centre of the field now open the White Scout Car's driver smashed his pedal to the floor and the wheeled vehicle shot down the road into the Axis end zone.  Seeing the threat the Stummel reversed in a ponderous turn and hosed down the speeding vehicle with MG42 fire - but only put a pin on.  Meanwhile the Grenadiers in the Stummel de-bussed and knocked out the central T34 with point blank PzFst fire.  While things went incandescent in the centre the Western T34 pulled to point blank range but still managed to miss the PzIV by the small wood.  The bow gun was equally inept making no impact on the section of Grenadiers to his front.  These infantry seized their chance and let fly with their PzFsts, but incompetence was clearly transmissible and both shaped charges went wide.  The close of the turn was quiet with the central Soviet vehicles still failing to knock out the Puma and the Eastern PzIV.

The charge up the centre knocks out the Axis Pl Comd...

…but the Axis offensive spirit and use of reserves is swift to counter.

Turn 6

Turn 6.  Infantry brawling...  Soviets drew first and, realising how vulnerable the White Scout Car crew were to being assaulted but also wanting to use the other troops on board to attack with, the Soviet observer sprinted for the cover of the ruins to go to ground.  The next dice was Axis and the Grenadiers by the Stummel set themselves in ambush ready to prevent any more running about in the end zone by the Soviets.  In a staggering display of mutual incompetence the Western T34 and PzIV failed to hit each other.  The Eastern PzIV finally woke up and immobilised Lt Uri's T34 while the Puma and SU76 both dented each other's armour again.  The end of the turn all revolved around the infantry.  I could remain mounted and hope there was no turn seven in which a successful assault by the Grenadiers could lose me the Scout Car, flamethrower team and veterans or i could take the plunge, try and weather the ambush fire and try and clear out the Grenadiers.  The veterans rolled over the side of the Scout Car and advanced towards the craters.  They were met by fire from the Grenadiers and lost two of their number, unperturbed they lined up their PzFsts on the Stummel and launched them gracefully well over the top it - so much for nicking other peoples kit.  The NCO put a pin on the SPG with his SMG but otherwise it had not been a good gamble.  However, slipping unnoticed out the Scout Car the flamethrower team snuck up and burnt two of the Grenadiers and, having taken four pins from this unpleasant assault, the Wehrmacht section broke and ran.  Again vengeance came fast as the Stummel engaged the weapons team killing one and the remaining crewman dropped his heavy, highly flammable, pack and fled.

The flamethrower team makes an entrance followed by a rapid exit.

The embarrassing armoured pillow fight.

Turn 7

Turn 7.  The game's not over until the beer is...  We rolled another turn and there was a slim chance that some exceptional German shooting could level the table somewhat.  However, Soviets were out the bag first and the SU76 advanced up the road, pulled a sharp right stick, and ignited the Puma.  A second pull of the dice for the Soviets sealed matters as another T34 advanced to puncture the flank armour of the Western PzIV.  With only the reluctant Eastern PzIV in the fight events petered out with the Soviet infantry consolidating in the ruins and the Stummel pinning the Scout Car which then failed to motivate itself to move to more congenial location.  

Uri was left as the only Soviet unit to survive but not get into a scoring position - leading valiantly from the rear...

Thanks to a lot of pinning and some unlucky Axis gunnery the Soviets secured a breakthrough and were poised to breakout as we hit the end of Turn 7.

The Puma finally succumbs.

And the T34s gang up on the PzIV despite PzFst fire.

Post-mortem.  This scenario felt more balanced than the previous despite a similar score line.  The preparatory bombardment did offset the German advantage of remaining static.  I do think that the amount of points available for reaching the end zone makes it very challenging for the German player to win as the number of points available for reaching the end zone far outweigh the number the Germans can win through destruction of property; while only a foolish Soviet would pick units that were likely to get stranded in the first 36" of the board.  Post game we chewed over whether the Scot would have done better dropping the infantry and taking another armoured vehicle; possibly, however I think the infantry have a real role in this scenario of cleaning up any light troops the Soviet is most likely to get into the end zone.  Again in hindsight were I to play Germans in this one now I would use a similar force but I think i would want to physically block the road by parking one of my tanks on it then place the other two tanks very wide to maximise flank shots.  The infantry would dismount and move rearwards early on to provide a PzFst counter-penetration force and then clear any small Soviet units by close assault in the final turns.

I do think the open nature of the map makes this a less interesting game though.  The Axis have little option but to set up a gun line and the Soviet have no option but to maximise fires and try and push through.  I would like a map with more cover that ecnourages both sides to manoeuvre through the zones and therefore have to think more and rely less on luck and the vehicle damage table.

Still, another enjoyable game.

And, Uri is now on the outskirts of Budapest (well, his men are, he isnt but hey-ho)... 

Next up "the back door left open".  Soviet Recce versus the University Assault Battalion.

If Carlsberg did gunnery…the bow gunner tries intimidation.