6mm IABSM game played at Gigabites Café in June 2017

Germans begin their assault

This was a late December clash between German panzer units and Soviet 6th Guards Tank Army north of the Danube (present day Slovakia). I was inspired by a unit formed by the Soviets to guard the 6km line between the Ipoly river and the Borzsony mountains. It consisted of 100 mm M 1944 BS guns (possibly from 34th Independent AT Artillery Brigade) and IS-2 tanks from 49th Guards Heavy Tank regiment. It was named after the CO of the tank regiment, Major Kochurov.

Pick up the Days of Battle book by Norbert Szamveber for a good account of combat north of the Danube in December '44 and January '45.

Germans were attacking with a weak company of seven PzIV H (me) and halftrack borne grenadiers (seven sections), a pair of Stummels, and a SdKfz 251/10 (William T).

They also had a pregame stonk (1/2 size due to ammo shortages) and an FO for offboard mortars.

View from the Russian side

They were able to have all their units dug in and hidden at the start.

Martin had four 100 ATGs, three ATR teams, two MMG teams, and a weak infantry company of six sections.

There was also an FO for medium mortars. The five IS-2s (Rob) could appear at the rear after two appearances of the Turn card.

Right side Panzers

 

Three of the PzIVs swung right and the remaining panzers followed the grenadiers to the left to provide fire support.

Dummy blind moving to their right front.

ATR team

 

The stream was fordable but also could cause bogging (roll more 'ones' than 'sixes').

The 251s got stuck a couple of times, but managed to unstick.

First ATG under fire

Spotted after hitting a PzIV on the right.

These ATGs were surprising hard to hit throughout the game.

Another PaK on the right

It's as if realizing these PaKs were nastier than usual made my panzers firing more erratic.

We did a terrible job of killing them.

PaK in the center

One more appeared further back in the center.

Burning PzIV

The grenadiers have crossed the stream to the left. Boggy ground slowed a couple of the 251s

Stummels deployed

They weren't any more effective against the ATGs. The ATR and MMG teams did get wiped out or chased away though.

Grenadiers gain a flank

It looked like we might start to push defenders out. William's grenadiers overran one ATG and had spotted the Russian infantry further back.

Heavy tanks appear

Rob finally arrived with his IS-2s The first pair engaged the grenadiers. My PzIVs were still vainly trying to silence the remaining three 100mm ATGs.

Big but still 1/285

GHQ models

Russians still in pretty good shape

I have only hit three crew in one of the gun teams. The triple MG halftrack and Stummels are going after the Russian ATRs and MMGs.

German flank attack slowing

 

I am down to three functioning Pz IVs now and seeing more huge red tanks lumbering towards us, I think its time to depart.

I had no tank aces here apparently.

Lead grenadier unit forced back

Attempts to take out the JSIIs with Panzerscherck and fausts failed. Neither side's mortars seem to be in contact. Germans need something to cover an advance.

More JS-IIs

A total of five of these behemoths came on the table

Time to retreat

 

William lost 16 grenadiers, the 'shreck teams, the Sdkfz251/10 and a Stummel. I had two PzIV totally destroyed and two more with main gun damage.

The Russians lost only one 100mm ATG, four infantry, and all three ATRs and two MMGs.

Time to bring up some more artillery or get an air strike here.

Historically a couple of attacks were beaten off by Kochurov group.