This was the April 16 attack up Reichstrasse 1 by 74th Guards Rifle Regiment to the slope in front of Seelow. There were a lot of Soviet units involved in the game but were understrength. Each Russian player had a weak company of two 2-section platoons with two MMG teams. There was also a Engineer platoon of two sections and two additional MMGs and a FO for some 82mm mortars. They were promised armor support but that was hung up in traffic and didn't arrive for five turns of the 'Time' card. This was five IS-2s of the 104th Heavy Guards Tank Regiment.

Rob had the left company, William had the Engineers and extra support (and tanks when they appeared). Sebastian had the center company. And Tim had the late arriving third company on the right.

The terrain was flat below the slopes and boggy. Vehicles could only ascend the slope on the road.

Russian players discuss their strategy

German positions in front of Seelow

Since there wasn't a lot of anything but sitting and exchanging shots, I took the Germans. I had some elements of the 76th Pzgrd Rgt. 2 platoons of 2 sections each and 2 MMG teams and 2 PaK40s I also had a FO for 2 tubes of 82mm mortars.

But the main element was my newly painted Volkstrumm company (from 2D6wargaming). 3 platoons of 3 sections each and 2 MMG teams.

All Germans were dug in with the grenadiers deployed forward on the 2 ridge outcrops. There was also some barbed wire in front on the flanks.

Vehicle off road movement could result in bogging so I placed the ATGs to cover the Reichstrasse. 1 in the center and the other off to the right to get flank shots.

Southern end of the line

There were 2 slopes the attackers had to ascend and most of the front was open. The pzgrd were dug in on both ends. All troops had plenty of panzerfausts The Russians also had some captured ones.

Factory complex taken first

I had so few troops I didn't bother to try to defend this location since it could be overwhelmed quickly. The Russians set up their HQ and support there

Attack on the north side

Williams engineers tried to clear the wire but were suppressed before they got to it. Rob had his company accompany the sappers and Sebastian was on the Reichstrasse side of the trees with his company. Their combined firepower was wiping out the grenadiers in this thin line.

Thin gray line

My 2 sections and MMG team did a lot of damage to the attackers but were badly outnumbered.

Trenches near the road occupied

It became apparent that the weak spot was the wooded slope next to the Reichstrasse. I placed extra trenched out, hoping that they would deter the Russians from going up the center and around their right

Less shots being exchanged here

The German MMG team was eliminated along with most of the grenadiers. Sebastian moved his company to the left to skirt the woods and hill. One of the Engineer sections was destroyed but the other moved up to cut through the wire. By the time they finished making a gap the Russian survivors had flowed around to the flanks.

3rd company arrives

Tim took his units down the center of the table stopping at the wire fence

HQ units set up

At one time there were 4 MMG teams in these buildings along with the battalion HQ and FO I even brought out my medical teams from 2D6wargaming. I just have those for looks.

Volkstrumm open up

Firing at long range was not very effective but they had plenty of ammo (and targets).

Ranging round

Tim prepares to move across the open. I hope to catch him with my mortars.

Firing down the road

More Volkstrumm up at the top of the slope. I had a ATG up here also.

IS-2s arrive

After finally getting through the traffic jam over the few bridges they headed up Reichstrasse 1. The roadblock might slow them down a bit also.

The tanks will have to use the road to get up the slope so infantry armor cooperation is necessary.

These could be trouble

The panzers that were in the area had pulled back to reserve and were not released until April 17th. The Germans do have plenty of panzerfausts.

Meanwhile my left side grenadiers have been wiped out.

Grenadiers on the right under mortar fire

Once Tim's units hit the road I started firing from this position. It drew the mortars quickly though The CO was hit in the initial barrage.

Firefight

Rob and Sebastian both moved some men up on this rise behind the grenadiers' trenches.

Center of the line

There really wasn't much to do as the German player but shoot and get shot. I certainly wasn't going to move out of my entrenchments.

Rob's men in abandoned trenches

I never had the troops to fill those at any rate. This company was down to 1 functioning platoon, their other getting wiped out in front of the wire.

IS2s firing at the Vokstrumm line

The 122mm is a slow weapon and could get off 1 round per activation, but was efficient at pinning the Volkstrumm and cutting down their fire.

Direct fire from the tanks

Where are the PaKs?

Assault up the center

Using the fire from the numerous MGs and the IS2s, Tim makes a run up the center. The grenadiers try to fire into their flank but they are also under fire from mortars They do manage to get into the trenches but lose half their men.

Victorious Russians in trenches

This one was left unoccupied though.

Russian on one end and Volkstrumm on the other

The Germans lost a section and a MMG. The defeated Russian units moved back down the slope taking fire from the Volkstrumm to the right and grenadiers

Russians going around the right

Rob's remaining platoon moving up to the slope on the outskirts of Seelow

Lot of action in the center

Lot happening here. Close combat left Russians and Volkstrumm holding opposite ends of 1 set of trenches.

The Pak managed to damage 1 IS2s' gun and cause engine problems on another tank.

The remaining IS2s and MMG teams are plastering the Volkstrumm line in the center

Mortars are catching 1 of Tim's units below the slope after it was repelled from their attempt to get into the Volkstrumm line.

Russian Centre

The IS-2 in the rear managed to get stuck but the gun still works unlike one of its comrades.

The Russians were getting very low on warm bodies at this stage. We decided that they needed another battalion or more artillery to punch through to Seelow.

Casualties for the Russians were:

• 19 men plus a Pla CO in Rob's right hand company (out of 32)

• 19 men plus a MG team plus a Pla CO and a Company CO in Sebastian's center company.

• 15 men and a Pla CO in Tim's left/center company

• The Engineers lost 9 of 16 men and their CO.

• Total of 71 Soviets

The grenadiers had heavy losses:

• the left side platoon wiped out (16 men plus a MMG team and the Platoon CO).

• The far right unit had 8 men down, and lost their Platoon CO and the Pak crew.

• The Volkstrumm lost 14 out of 30 in their center unit along with a MMG team and a Platoon CO. The platoon on the left had 11 casualties. The right side platoon was untouched.

• Total of 36 Germans.

It was a nasty fight.

Mark Luther