A 6mm I Ain't Been Shot Mum game played at GigabItes Cafe in July 2023

Doing the north shoulder of Kursk always gives me a chance to break out the big guns!

This game takes place a few days into Citadel with the German offensive running into a counterattacking Soviet force in wide open terrain.

The German players had 4) Ferdinands, 3) StuG IIIs (with 2 Tank Aces), and 2 StuH42s of StuG 244. German infantry consisted of a weakened company of Grd Rgt 507 and a pair of MMGs in support. Their objective was to continue the advance south and get a viable force off the table.

Ferdinands of PanzerzJaeger Abteilung 653

East side of the board

One platoon of grenadiers was to provide flank protection across the plain. This did not work out well. They ran into an attacking group of T34s from 51st Tank Brg and infantry from the 2nd Coy of 1019 Rifle Rgt. The grenadiers missed a stray stonk of arty. Throughout the game random mortar and artillery fire would appear..

German commanders confer while a Soviet player measures his advance

We had plenty of units on the table but most were quickly unveiled in the open terrain The ground sloped slightly down from the north.

The Russian forces consisted of 2 companies of T34s (19 tanks total) of the 51st Tank Brigade and 2 companies from the 1019 Rifle Rgt.

Early T34 loses

The left hand German platoon (which had only 2 sections) was helped by the Ferdinands dispatching a platoon of T34s.

Tank riders leaving their mounts

No need to stay on the targeted T34s Most sections hopped off as soon as the German stated shooting.

Russian players attempting to coordinate their attack

The long range advantage of the panzers cause the T34s to halt and offload their infantry just a few moves onto the table.

StuGs vor

Grenadiers still not identified and under blinds to their right Russian tanks were too busy shooting at the German armor and the infantry were scrambling in the open, so the grenadiers were ignored for awhile.

Grenadiers engaging Russkie infantry

StuGs and Ferdinand go after the tanks and grenadiers the infantry. A very target rich environment.

Ferdinands at a firing range

Germans were facing 2 to 1 odds and were suppose to maintain the attack Fortunately this part of the battlefield was clear of mines and entrenchments.

Ferdinands starting to advance

Its a wonder they could hit anything with those bent barrels!

StuG Porn!

Left Flank Gone

The weak left side platoon of grenadiers was chewed up and the Russians were turning around to attack the Ferdinands. Could the big guns out run the Soviet infantry?

Ferdinand surrounded

One poor assault gun was having trouble moving and it was overrun by Russian infantry. The close assault failed twice and it managed to scuttle away. Meanwhile its mates igmored its calls for assistance and moved south.

Table view looking NW

Germans push south and the right side group of Russians swing west behind the advancing Germans. More artillery comes in to the west indiscriminately targeting both sides

East side is an easy advance for Russians

Still 7 of 10 T34s in that company are out of action.

Germans reach the south edge

On to the next objective

The Germans did take a few losses among the grenadiers-who were already at 2/3rds strength. The 3rd platoon on their left was wiped out. No real damage to the assault guns.

The Soviets took in on the nose in the exchange. 15 of 19 T34s were out of action. The infantry company on the right was in okay shape only losing 1/3rd strength. The other company facing the bulk of the grenadiers and StuGs however lost at least half of their men

German victory but the followup units will have to fight their way through Russians occupying the German start line.

Mark Luther