A 6mm IABSM game played at Gigabites Cafe in December 2021.

This was a somewhat generic game based on actions to the east of Warsaw in August 1944 where the Soviets had sent masses of tanks through thin lines of the German defenders. The panzer units were then forced to scramble to cut those units off before they totally disrupted the front.

View from the west

View from south edge

In this game the Russians (me) were coming in from the east (the left) and trying to get across the table or at least secure the small village in the center. I had two companies of T-34s (19 tanks) and a tank riding infantry company.

Soviet entry edge

I knew that there was some defending armor in the village .

Since I set up the scenario, I knew pretty much everything, but gave Jon (the German player) plenty of leeway in where he could set up.

First fire from the village

Jon had two StuG IVs on table to start. He placed them on his right with a view down the southern flank road a view out to the fields, He had three dummy blinds which he kept moving around the actual village and tree line. Initially there was no damage from the StuG fire but I did dismount the left side platoon to move into the woods on the south.

I had one company of T-34s head down the road and around the treeline to the north and the other company towards the gap in the center of the photo.

The left hand Soviet group

I did not escape totally unscathed from the Stugs. One T-34 was KO'ed before getting into the trees. Meanwhile another of this company broke down out in the field due to a random event.

No opposition on the Russian right

Aside from the three dummy blinds that did slow me down with making spotting attempts, my right flank made good progress.

Southern side

Jon's StuG IVs were generally terrible shots, and we made pretty good progress on this flank also. My return fire was also pathetic and I failed to hit the StuGs with most of my shots.

StuG IVs

Apparently their HE ammo was defective with no hits at all scored on my infantry in the trees or building. Considering that this was the only unit that Jon had on the table for five turns, it was not a good omen for the Germans.

T-34s moving smoothly

Well, except for the one broken down and one burning to the left. I tried to play dumb (generally pretty easy for me) as to the fact that their was nothing that could be deployed outside of the two StuGs, so made sure to do some useless spotting.

Panzergrenadier reinforcements

Jon's other units finally arrived. They could enter anywhere on the south edge. He brought a small mounted platoon of grenadiers and a Stummel in on the road . Dismounted them quickly and started shooting at my troops moving up along the trees into the village.

His other units were a 3-section platoon of Panzergrenadiers in Sdkfz 251s and four Panzer Vs (including a tank ace).

Germans in the village

And this platoon moved into the southern edge of the village and occupied the houses quickly before I could react. There was a German 'Rapid Deployment' card in the deck that came up at an opportune moment.

Panthers!

I feel that my advance will now be curtailed. Jon brought these in further west of the village across one of the grain fields.

T-34s in the village

Now the exchange of fire begins. His crews have four APs and mine are rated as two or three. My 2-man turrets also limit the rate of fire. Immediately I lose one tank and have another damaged.

The killing zone

The firing began at a little over 18 inches (close range in IABSM for tank fire). I was hoping to use some platoons to engage in fire and move more tanks out to the right.

Southern side of the table

The fight continues with the Stummel and other grenadiers concentrating on the section in the house and T-34s and StuG ineffectively trading shots.

Standoff

The grenadiers set up a good base of fire in the houses and gardens in preparation to meet the incoming tank riders across the cleared field.

Attempt to out flank the panthers

I was hoping to get the panthers to at least split their front to the north and west with this move down the road. The tank riders are dismounted and moving into the village to engage the grenadiers.

Rear view of Panthers

You can see some of the gear added to the rear decks of the models. Many of the 5th Company had an un-ditching beam across their rear.

The outflanking is thwarted

So that tank company is now down six tanks.

Suddenly the number of T-34s is much fewer

My attempts to damage the Panthers is not going well. Hopefully I can at least get the grenadiers to retreat.

Firing across the cleared field

The T-34s were not having the best luck against the StuG IVs so I starting shelling the buildings where the grenadiers were holding out.

Grenadiers taking hits

Jon moved the Stummel up to support the units in the village. The sections along the field edge have taken seven kills, mainly on one section. My Russians are also in bad shape with the section in the building taking seven casualties.

Panthers still advancing

The lead T-34 is KO’d…just not burning.

Firefight

Grenadiers and tank riders both getting worn down.

Route of destruction

Panthers taking some hits

As luck would have it, his Tank Ace received a hit that damaged his 75mm. Another Panzer V took some mobility damage.

Halftrack retreating Panthers advancing

The Viking panthers continue to move in to support the hard pressed grenadiers who have had one section bottle.

More T-34s hit

As two more T-34s explode, the Russian infantry lose a section in an attempt to engage the grenadiers.

Overview of the end of the fight

At this time I was down to five undamaged T-34s (of 19 at the start). As far as I knew his armor was still in good shape. My infantry was still functioning well.

Time to call it

We decided that this was a good time to pack it in. I was going to concede the village. I had no infantry AT weapons and the T-34 runners were at the southern side of the field.

Casualties were a lot closer than I knew. Jon's StuGs had one inoperable main gun and one with engine damage. His grenadiers along the southern field had taken nine casualties (of 24). In the village he had one section left. The only real loss to the Panthers was the gun of the Tank Ace's vehicle

My infantry lost two of their platoon COs and 18 casualties, but shock was building up. My armor on the other hand had four good tanks left.