Wulkow

This game was played Mon 3rd of may at the Dunstable General Club. Dave N, Brian and I played the Germans, John, Roger and Mark played the Soviets. Nearly all the kit on display is mine, but John helped with the Soviet infantry and Dave helped with the German artillery

II/18 Artillerie Regiment deployed at the Bergvorwerk. The leFH-18 are from Fortress Models. The SFH-18 and the SdKfz-11's are from SHQ. The sWS is from Milicast

III Abt 18 Artillerie Regiment deployed around Hermersdorf - SHQ Models, apart from the further FlaK-43 which is by Leva

88's (Airfix & Fujimi) of III/18AR. These were placed as a back stop to prevent Soviet tanks exiting the battlefield to the west.

The 1052nd Rifle Regiment hurls its self towards II/18AR

The 84th Tank Battalion in support of the 1052nd Rifle Regt. Airfix (middle) and Fujimi T-34/85

The 1054th Rifle Regiment runs across the open fields to Wulkow

1050th Rifle Regiment starts to outflank Vulkow. The Soviet CinC (John) was to get somewhat frustrated with the 1050th's tardiness in assaulting the Fallschirmjäger in Wulkow.

The II/18AR was crushed utterly by the the Soviet onslaught. However some of the crews escaped in their half tracks

The 92nd Heavy Tank Regiment watches Wulkow, which is all they did for several hours. The howitzers of I/18AR were an effective deterrent to the tanks advancing. Cromwell IS-2

The 1052nd Rifle Regiment pushes south

The Luftwaffe was particularly active over the battlefield. The VVS was conspicuous by its absence. Not that the Luftwaffe did much, this picture was taken just second before the FW-190A8 (Airfix kit) was blasted out of the sky by the 37mm M1939 AA

The FW-190D (Airfix) totally misses its intended target

1Kp 11SS Aufklärungs Abt arrives from the south, only to be surprised by the advancing Soviet armour. Lucky for the Germans the Soviet shooting was poor and the tracks survived. Mix of Esci and Grubby Tanks SdKfz-250

51 Panzergrenadier Regiment launches itself in to the flank of the 1052nd Rifle Regiment catching it by surprise. PAW-600 is a conversion/kitbash and the SdKfz-10/4 is a hybrid of all sorts of maker's bits

220th Separate Tank Battalion moves west leaving the 1052nd Rifle Regiment to deal with the Panzergrenadiers to the east. One tank is detached to help the riflemen assault Wulkow

220th keeps moving west. The puny 2cm guns of the 11SS Aufklärungs' SdKfz-250/9 are nowhere near good enough to stop the T-34's There is now nothing between the Soviets and Hermersdorf.

118th Panzer Battalion arrives on the battlefield and immediately takes up a blocking position to the east of Hermersdorf. This starts to block the gaping hole in the German lines to the south of Wulkow. Matchbox/Revel JgdPz-IV/70(V) and Fujimi PzKfw-IVJ. The Wirbelwind is an Airfix hull with a Skytrex turret.

The remainder of 11SS Aufklärungs Abt takes up positions in the outskirts of Hermersdorf. Roden SdKfz-233 and Edai Schwimmwagen

The high tide of the 51 Panzergrenadiers' attack. S&S SdKfz-10/4

The 65th Tank brigade enters the battle and immediately pushes west at high speed.

The lead Soviet tanks redeploy back east. However the respite for the Germans was but brief.

The 1052nd push south towards the outskirts of Trebnitz. SHQ SU-76

Pz Abt Muncheburg plunges in to the flank of the 1052nd's advance. Matchbox Panthers

The 219th Tank Brigade rushes to confront Mucheberg's Panthers

219th vs Muncheberg - its a uneven fight which the Soviets lose. However it does stop the Panthers rushing to aid the 118 Panzer Abt in Hermersdorf which is increasing under pressure, by the tanks of the 220th tank brigade and the 92nd Tank Regiment

Once the Russian tanks are (mostly) dealt with Muncheberg's panzergrenadiers can come out of the wood and take on the Soviet infantry. Cromwell SdKfz-251/1 and Milicast SdKfz-251/21

The Soviets concentrate their forces to take out the 118 Panzer Abt. This overwhelming group of Soviet tanks forces the 118 Abt to retreat

The JgdPz-IV/70(V) attached to the SS Panzergrenadiers moves to flank the Soviet tanks

FlaK of the III/18AR moves to a more advantageous position on the outskirts of Hermesdorf.

Finally the last gallant defenders of Wulkow are overwhelmed and the Soviet steamroller moves forward. Although at this point in the battle things are looking grim for the Germans the Soviets have only got enough VP's for a draw, and time is running out.

I/18AR's final stand. They had done very well until this point fending off the Soviets but were about to be overwhelmed by the 65th Tank Brigade. Revel leFH-18

Having defeated the 219th Tank Brigade the Muncheberg's Panthers move to the South east

The 36th Tank Brigade hustles west trying to keep out of sight of the Panthers to the north.

Muncheberg's continued advance brings them neatly to the flank for the 36th tank brigade. The German commander ignored the PTRD to his flank which was to prove a costly mistake. The remaining Panthers took their toll on the T-34's but it was not enough to stop the Brigade heading west.

Ooops! The 118 Abt makes a tactical re-deployment just as the Soviets surge forward.

For the last couple of turns we were very rushed to get the game done so no further pics were taken. The 118 Abt were pretty much slaughtered but took a fair few of the enemy with them. This had an adverse effect on many Soviet battalions' morale. The Soviets didn't have anywhere near enough infantry to prise the SS out of Hermersdorf, but they did wrest Trebnitz from the Germans. In the end the Soviets scored 17 points which gave them a narrow victory.

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