A monstrous tank bash game in 6mm played at my place in October 2015.

This was a rather ambitious attempt to make a game out of the large tank battle outside of Radekhov on June 23, 1941. It was a 4 to 6 player game that would involve dozens of tanks on both the German and Soviet side.

The Germans were from the II Battalion, 15th Panzer Regiment, 11 Panzer Division. A mix of the usual Panzer IIs, IIIs and a few IVs.

The Russians units were tanks from the 20 Tank Regiment, 10th Tank Division, 15th Mechanised Corp. A mix of KV1s, T28s and T26s. Lots of KV1s: fourteen vehicles

Mark Luther

The First of the Panzers

Soviet Entry

The Road from Radekhov

Martin came in leading with the 6th Company: Panzer III Hs and Gs (with the old 3.7cm) and some Panzer IIc.

KV1s from 1st Battalion, 20th Tank Regiment

And they start taking hits pretty quickly. Soviets were almost all green crews, so three Shock points is enough to make them bail. In IABSM terms, the armour on the KVs is an 8 and the strike from a Panzer II (5cm) is a 4. The big difference is that the panzers can get off up to four shots for every one from the Soviets.

Soviet Infantry in the Village of Dabrova

I put some remnants of the 32 MRR in this village on the German flank. They only had light mortars and a couple of MMGs but were a nuisance to the panzers.

From the German Entry Point

Nice panorama shot from Martin. Panzer Iv tanks are diverted to fire at the village where the MG fire is coming from.

Mighty Impressive Force

The Russians had a total of fourteen KV-1s in the 1st Tank Battalion, 20th Tank Regiment.

View from the East

The low ground to the right is boggy so the panzers have to check when they go off road. And the gutsy Panzer IIs are all in!

Heavy Company

Martin wanted to make sure that there was no surprises coming out of the village on the flank.

The Full Force

Most KVs I've had in a game at any rate.

Crowded Entry Area

The Germans all came in through the main road through the suburbs and then had to manoeuvre around the boggy area. The Soviets were stacked up on the road and could only roll right around the woods.

T-28s Arrive

These are from the 2nd Tank Battalion.

Panzer IVs Face to the Front

Except for one who keeps shelling the MMGs.

T-28s and KV-1s

T-28s working their way through the abandoned KVs.

Panzer IIs Move In

The Russians are just so outclassed in terms of crew quality.

6th Company Swings to the Left

And takes hits from the Russians.

Behind the Russians

Very unnerving for the green Soviet tank crews.

The Soviet Advance is Well and Truly Stopped

Panorama from the West

Panzer II Explodes!

But lots of KVs with no crews.

A Lotta Tanks!

Altogether we had 23 Soviet KV and T28 tanks plus the infantry unit. And the Germans had 27 panzers.

Panzer IIs Around the Flank

Another Panzer III on fire, but almost all the KVs have been de-crewed or immobilized.

More Carnage!

On to Moscow, Comrades

German Tank Ace Brews Up

One of the Panzer IIIHs had a +2 tank ace, but no more. Another Panzer III heads to the rear with a gun KO'ed. Great view of the table.

Back End of the Panzers

So at game end we had four panzers burning and a couple more out of action. The Soviets were out of tanks for all practical purposes. We didn't even bring the T-26s onto the table. At best this was an exercise in veteran versus green crews. The KVs didn't really get knocked out as much as having their crews rattled to the point of bailing. At least it looked cool!