Our third offering our December Game Day West was a visit to the the Eastern Front of WWII presented by Dave Schaffner. As always Dave gave the players a spectacular visual experience along with a tightly run moving puzzle to solve as the sides jockeyed for position with move and counter move trying to outguess each other’s deployment and intentions.
Dave was kind enough to send in some great photos and a very descriptive after action report so we will pass the torch to him for the game wrap up……
“Saturday we dove into a Greatest Tank Battles game based on fighting in eastern Ukraine during 1944. “
“The scenario pitted a Soviet Medium Tank Brigade with a leading Recon element, against a German Infantry Bn. dug-in, and reinforced with a PanzerJager company (backed up off-board by a PzIV tank company). The Soviets began their attack with a proper and successful reconnaissance probe, that triggered some German responses, but importantly revealed some potential approach routes towards their crossroad objective.”
“The main action began with two tank battalions, in company echelon, pushing in the center and on their right – these spearheads hit hard up against the German infantry/AT strongpoints. Mostly placed as a Battalion hedgehog defense in the middle of the battlefield, this solid German position denied the Soviets a direct route westward, splitting their attacks into a left and right wing. Within this battle space, there was hard fighting as the Panzerjager SPs dueled it out very successfully with the advancing T-34s commands trying to find open ground to exploit.“
“The Soviets took up the challenge resolutely, and sent in their final third tank battalion along the edge of the German defenses to seize the crossroads, this was not unanticipated, as the PzIV company had arrived and was pushing to the front. Here near the crossroads the final tank battle was fought, as both T-34 wings converged, and the German armor fought back!“
“As the smoke settled, the Soviets had gained and barely held onto their objective…….”
“Well played Gents! – Chris, Dave, Burt, Chris, Steve, Steve, Frank, and Bob.“
Thanks Dave for a great game, pics and report that takes you into the action of the day. We look forward to your upcoming Eastern Front Project in the coming months and know it will be a big hit. We also extend our appreciation to all the players and the fine staff at Miniature Market Rock Hill for their continued support.
