Khrushchevo

 The first game of the new year was played 2/1/11 in my conservatory. I played the Soviets and Ian the Germans. All German kit on display is mine as is most of the Soviet kit, but I'd like to thank Dave C for lending me his T-60's and Ian provided some "BEF" Matildas

2 Batterie 119 Artillerie Regt. Set up so it could self observe from the tall ridgeline (AD on the map) down slope towards Ivanovka. Revel gun & Matchbox tractor.

Elements of 110 Schützen Regt in Ivanovka

Elements of 110 Schützen Regt in Ivanovka

110 Schützen Regiment's guns set up behind Ivanovka. Guns by SHQ, Milicast SdKfz-10/4. Cromwell SdKfz-10 and Morris

In the very first turn of the game the Luftwaffe appeared and bombed to 59th Tank Brigade. One T-60 was blown up and a KV-1S was forced back off table never to be seen again. Undeterred the 59th moved forwards searching out a route amongst the ridgelines that was not covered by German AT guns. Although the 88 took a long range snipe it missed and was promptly blasted apart by the Soviet 76mm's that overlooked the battlefield. The 59th advance was supported by a company of the 12th Motor Rifle Bde which can be seen engaging the lead elements of the 111th Schützen Regiment. T-60 closest is an MMS model, the others are from SHQ. KV-1S is from Pegasus

The Luftwaffe was pretty much ubiquitous throughout the whole game causing all sorts of morale problems for the Soviets. Bf-109F strafes and kills a ZiS-3 from the 12th MR Bde

Unfortunately for the Soviets 12th MR Bde's attack on the infantry of 111SR was, repulsed the Soviets failing their morale and falling back shaken. 59th Tk Bde pushed forward to engage the German infantry but failed miserably to inflict any casualties

On the far left of the battlefield the 160th Tank Brigade enters the fray. The lead company of the 111SR is now virtually surrounded by enemy armour but resolutely hangs onto its position. Mostly Airfix Matildas (MK II to the Soviets) with a single SHQ example mixed in.

In the distance 59th Tank Bde also moves forward. There isn't much time to move the length of the battlefield and the Soviets can not afford to spend the time mopping up German infantry

59th Tank Bde approaches 111SR PaK-38. Luckily for the Russians the PaK-38's shooting is lamentable and it misses the KV-1S. Unfortunately for the Soviets their morale rolls are not the best and typically its the commander that fails the worse. The Brigade HQ is forced back shaken

53rd Tank Brigade enters the table and swarms past the 160th which has stalled due to poor morale checks. The 59th is also stalled as its commander has run away. Luckily for the Soviets the divisional staff is on his way in his BA-20 to take charge

The Soviet advance looks quite fearsome from the German point of view. However note the lead elements of the 111SR still holding out in the orchard

The Soviets break though the positions of the 111SR at last. However the poor morale of the Soviets has lead to a very ragged attack. The T-70's (SHQ) are masquerading as T-60's as we didn't quite have enough for the battle

KV-1 out in the lead. However it's way out of command range of the divisional commander who is needed to rally a couple of lagging T-60's.

The VVS finally makes an appearance, bombing the German artillery

Halfway through the battle the 15 Panzer Regiment pushes onto the battlefield and races to cut of the Soviet spearhead

The lead elements of 15PR. Matchbox PzKfw-III and SHQ SdKfz-251/5

Looking back down 15PR column

The deadly accurate Soviet 76mm artillery demolishes a 251, which pins the heavy company. The sand and grey 251's are Milicast as is the SdKfz-10/4. PzKfw-IV by Airfix, PzKfw-II by Matchbox

1Kp 15PR closes with 53rd Tank Bde. To its left is a 20mm Flak (FAA) of the Flakampftruppe which was to prove more of a nuisance than the tanks...

53rd Tank Brigade sneaks behind the bushes to avoid the Panzers, their objective is in sight

The VVS makes another successful bombing attempt

The Soviet 2nd echelon - elements of 12th MR Bde - move up past the floundering tanks of the 59th Tank Brigade, still suffering from constant strafing attacks by the Luftwaffe

YaG-6 (US casts) abandoned by the infantry of the 12th MR Bde as it advances forward on foot

15PR continues its advance, reduced to half strength by air attacks and subsequent morale failures.

PzKfw-IV demoralised by the Sturmoviks

53rd Tank Bde makes it over the Sukhaia Vereika River, the Germans have a couple of turns to evict them if they want to avoid a decisive Soviet victory

The tanks of the 160th Tank Brigade finally make it forward to engage the Panzers. Between them the divisional staff burns, the first victim of the 20mm FlaK. Luckily the divisional CinC is in position to take charge

Stab 15PR drives back to rally the demoralised PzKfw-IV, unfortunately for the Germans time is running short

Leaving the Mk-II's of the 53rd Tank Bde in the open was an error, it left them as a perfect target for the Luftwaffe. Luckily on this occasion the pilot's aim was off.

The German panzers were having a bad day - 1 Kompanie falls back shaken. Its doubly bad news for the Germans as their commander is across the other side of the battlefield chasing the demoralised PzKfw-IV

The Germans send their last Panzer across the Bridge in pursuit of the Matilda's, however the German commander is gambling on there being an extra turn

53rd Tank Brigade follows the last Panzer

The hero (or bastard - depending on you point of view) flak gun and its three victims. By far the most successful German stand killing three tanks. It then survived a fusillade of shots by the remaining Soviet infantry

53rd Tank Brigade hides in the ruins away from the Stuka and the Panzers

There was no 13th turn, so the Soviets had three tanks across the river earning them a hard fought decisive victory. It was a very close battle and a little more or less luck on either side could have turned the result

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