A tough night on the Eastern Front - part 2

 

We convened for a second evening's gaming and the Panther platoon soon opened the batting by seeing off the half-company of T34/85.  Thus ended the Soviet armoured thrust!

The Germans moved up their second MG platoon next to the Panthers  - just in time as the forward MG had taken some hits. 

While the Sov rifle company near the tanks continued to bravely advance, their comrades in the centre took a pasting from mortar, MG and small arms fire.  The other two companies seemed rather shy.

The Sov support platoons dismounted and the MG gunners were soon laying down a withering hail of fire.

Even the Sov CO visited the front to provide encouragement.

The Soviet IG and mortar plts shot off all their ammo in an attempt to soften the German line.

A dramatic moment was the successful close assault carried out by the now very weak lead rifle company.  Having successfully overrun the German AT plt they baulked at assaulting the MG plt and ran off, expiring in a hail of MG42 rounds.  At that point we drew a veil over proceedings.

An overview of the endgame.

Russell and I are planning to try another game on Friday.  Here is the NKVD loudspeaker van touring the Soviet rear areas to stiffen resolve before the next attack.