1944 Rumble After Action Report

After 8 turns of play and 75% casualties, the German team was unsuccessful in wrestling control of Hill 239 from the Russians and thus, the surrounded men of the XLII and XI Corps must find their own way out of the Cherkassy Pocket.

Historically, while 3 Panthers were able to reach the crest of the hill, they were forced off and the Germans were unsuccessful in capturing the hill. Over 70 T34's were destroyed in the battle for Hill 239. The encircled units would eventually fight their way out of the pocket, but of the 60,000 trapped, only a few thousand men would make it.

This Rumble was based on the JDS1 "Schwerpunkt" scenario designed by Jeff Shields. Some minor changes were incorporated into the rumble playing of this scenario in an attempt to balance out the slight Russian tilt as well as making it more adaptable to rumble playing in general. The random Stuka support was substituted for an 105mm OBA. The more historically accurate EC of mist was also incorporated into the rumble version of the scenario. As with most rumbles (and most double blind games actually), the advantage goes to the defender since they do not have to move as much and just have to sit and wait for targets to appear. One of the reason's why I liked this scenario for rumble purposes was that no Russian AFV's set up on board and therefore would not have the "defender" advantage from the start (although three Art guns were onboard at start). Another factor that must be considered when converting regular scenarios to rumble format is the time factor. Rumbles typically require more time since the attacking side is more cautious in advancing. I did allow for additional time in the rumble making the game end after 8 turns subject to a dr, but alas, the game ended after 8 turns nonetheless. Enclosed below is a play by play of the turns as well as notable moments and quotes from the game (some possible Spuddy contenders perhaps?). I have included all of the background information for those who are not familiar with either the scenario or how Rumbles work.

Situation:

16 February 1944, six and a half divisions (roughly 60,000 men) of the German XLII and XI Corps have been surrounded by the Russian 5th Guards Tanks Corps in a pocket centered on the town of Cherkassy, located on the Dnieper river approximately 100 miles downriver from Kiev.

The German 1st Panzer Division along with an attached Schwere Panzer Abteilung (heavy tank battalion) of the III Panzer Corps has been ordered to breakthrough to the encircled troops and save them from certain destruction.

Hill 239 is the high ground dominating the surrounding flat steppe, its capture is critical to the success of the relief attempt. The German's must wrestle control of this hill from the Russians. Who will control the hill at the end of the day?

Map layout:
________________
I 18 I 14 I
I I I
I I I Only hexrows Q to GG are playable.
I I I
I I I
I I I
I I I
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NORTH

German Briefing:

You command tank a in a Schwere Panzer Abteilung which is currently attached to the 1st Panzer Division (the exact numerical identification of the unit has been lost to history...) Since the unit was formed (date unknown), it has tallied over 400 kills.

Army intelligence indicates that Hill 239 is weakly held by a Russian artillery unit. Your orders are to take the hill and hold it against all counter attacks. It is imperative that you successfully capture and hold the hill in order for the breakthrough to the encircled units to succeed. The remainder of the 1st Panzer Division has been tasked with capturing another hill to the north, so there will be no reinforcements. However, division has provided a battery of 105mm howziters to support your attack.

German Victory Conditions:

Have complete control of all the level 2 hexes on Hill 239. Hex 18X5 is the approximate center of Hill 239. Control is defined as having occupied the level 2 hexes and that there are no enemy units adjacent to the level 2 hexes.

Enter anywhere along the West edge of board 14.

This game will be at least 8 turns long.

German SSR's:

Mist (E3.32) and Mud (A24.6/D8.23/E3.6) are in existence. There is a mild breeze from the northwest.

Contrary to A24.6, smoke can be placed, but the hindrance DRM for each smoke counter will be +1 both for Non-Dispersed & Dispersed (EXC: burning wrecks will be treated normally).

No Sunken Roads exist, they are treated as normal Level 0 road/ground hexes instead.

Due to your elite status, all German AFV crews are considered to have a ML of 9.

In spite of your elite status, there is no APCR available.

The OBA has normal ammo and both HE and Smoke available. The CO or 2IC are able to direct the artillery, but not both at the same time. Radio contact, battery access will be done as normal. There is no penalty for directing the OBA, you may still fire and move normally.

Due to the small nature of the battlefield, penalties for overstacking will not apply until there are more than two AFV's in the same hex.

German Order of Battle:

"A" Company / "1" Platoon

Pz VG "A" Major Jeff Kimmel CO (10-2) Grenzer
Pz VG "B" Sgt. Thomas Hoellering (Mark McGilchrist) (Minenhund)
Pz VG "C" Sgt. Darrell Anderson (Laurent Cunnin) Panther C (Dead eye)

"A" Company / "2" Platoon

Pz VG "D" Lt. Jacques Cuneo 3IC (9-1) ZC
Pz VG "E" Sgt. Jakob Norgaard Jakob
Pz VG "F" Sgt. Per Hosinsky BZ

"B" Company / "3" Platoon

Pz VIE(L) "A" Capt. Laurent Cunin 2IC (9-2) Jocken
Pz VIE(L) "B" Sgt. William Johnson (Jacques Cuneo) Ax (ZC)
Pz VIE(L) "C" Sgt. Steve T Fritz

"B" Company / "4" Platoon

Pz VIE(L) "D" Lt. Mark McGilchrist 4IC (9-1) Minenhund
Pz VIE(L) "E" Sgt. Mike Manuel Hans
Pz VIE(L) "F" Sgt. Mike Fachko TJ

Russian Briefing:

You command a tank in the 5th Guards Tank Corps. You Divisional commander received a radio messge from the commander of the artillery unit occupying Hill 239 saying that his postion was under attack by German tanks. Radio contact with the artillery position was lost shortly after the original transmission.

You are being rushed to Hill 239 in order to bolster the defense, or counter attack to take it back as required. The hill must not fall into German hands.

Reinforcement Group/Tank Companies Entry:

Group "A" will enter anywhere on the South edge of board 18 on turn 1.
Group "B" will enter anywhere on the North edge of board 18 on turn 3.
Group "C" will enter anywhere on the East edge of board 18 on turn 5.

Russian Victory Conditions:

This game will be at least 8 turns long.

Russian SSR's:

Mist (E3.32) and Mud (A24.6/D8.23/E3.6) are in existence. There is a mild breeze from the northwest.

Contrary to A24.6, smoke can be placed, but the hindrance DRM for each smoke counter will be +1 both for Non-Dispersed & Dispersed (EXC: burning wrecks will be treated normally).

No Sunken Roads exist, they are treated as normal Level 0 road/ground hexes instead.

Due to the small nature of the battlefield, penalties for overstacking will not apply until there are more than two AFV's in the same hex.

Russian Order of Battle:

Reinforcement Group / Heavy Tank Company "A" enters on south edge of board 18 on Turn 1.

"1" Platoon

SU-85 "A" Maj. Paul Ferraro CO (9-2) Enigmavic APCR 1 Smoke 7 HE 0
SU-85 "B" Sgt. Roy Connelly Connelly APCR 0 Smoke 3 HE 5
SU-85 "C" Sgt. Russell Gough Gough APCR 1 Smoke 4 HE 3
SU-85 "D" Sgt. Mike Rose Woodsky APCR 0 Smoke 2 HE 1
SU-85 "E" Sgt. Frank Payne Sputnik APCR 0 Smoke 1 HE 3

"2" Platoon

SU-152 "A" Capt. William Durrant 2IC Bolokov
SU-152 "B" Sgt. Mixo Weber Mikschovic
SU-152 "C" Sgt. Louis Manios (Carl Pfeiffer) Carlovic

Reinforcement Group / Medium Tank Company "B" enters on north edge of board 18 on turn 3.

T-34/M43 "A" Lt. Dion Loach 3IC (8-1) Kutzyanutzov APCR 3
T-34/M43 "B" Sgt. Dan Wellhausen Wylervic APCR 0
T-34/M43 "C" Sgt. Burnie Fox APCR 0
T-34/M43 "D" Sgt. Kevin Croskery (Roy Connelly) Panic APCR 2
T-34/M43 "E" Sgt. Micheal Sachau Sobolev APCR 2
T-34/M43 "F" Sgt. Mark Eyerman Stoli APCR 0

Reinforcement Group / Heavy Tank Company "C" enters on east edge of board 18 on turn 5.

"3" Platoon

KV-85 "A" Lt. Markwar 4IC (9-1) Markova APCR 0
KV-85 "B" Sgt. Devin Graves Sonofavic APCR 0
KV-85 "C" Sgt. Jo Martin Drugli Druglov APCR 1
KV-85 "D" Sgt. Mike Standbridge (Mark Poulson) Ironmikesky APCR 0
KV-85 "E" Sgt. Sean Spence Spenovic APCR 0

"4" Platoon

SU-152 "D" Lt. Mark Poulson 5IC Poulsnokov
SU-152 "E" Sgt. Patrick Doud Kilnazisvic
SU-152 "F" Sgt. Paul Klimstra (Carl Pfeiffer) Klimstravic

All of the SU-152's each carry 15 rounds of AP and 5 rounds of HE. The B of 10 will be ignored for game purposes. However, they still cannot IF and a 12 will still malfunction their MA.

All the other tanks have the number of special ammunition rounds listed. The ammunition cannot be redistributed, or scrounged from wrecked tanks.

Reference Points:

This battle took place on a part of the Ukranian Steppe that a little over a half a century later would become known for the high number of NHL hockey players that it would produce :)

18R5 Bure Bridge
18X5 Zatan Peak
18Y7 Yashin Bluff
18R2/Q2/Q3 Zubov Rise
18R9 Kovalev Farm
18U8 Federov Gully (in its entirety)
18V3/W4 Ulanov Copse
18DD7 Kovalenkov Farm
18EE9 Yushkevich Rise (entire hill)
18DD2 Mironov Gully (in its entirety)
14S9/T9 Malakhov Farm
14W6 Lakovic Farm
14Z4 Zhitnik Forest
14CC3 Khrislich Farm
14V1 Zholtoc Farm
14X10 Kravechuk Forest

German Pre-Game & Turn 1:

Since I did not specify in the scenario briefing what type of artillery unit was occupying the hill, the Germans seem to think that there will be SPA guns set up there. I do not provide any information to the contrary. Since they assume they will be opposed, they decide to enter on the south end of the west edge since it provides the better cover from anything set up on the hill. They also decide that a platoon of Tigers will enter in the 14Y1 area in order to determine what is on the hill and to engage any targets and report back to the main group. Platoon #4 under the command of Mark McGilchrist consisting of 3 Pz VIE(L)'s draws this assignment. Jacques sends a taunt to Russian team but they don't respond.

The deadline for movement orders comes and passes and 3 players miss the start time, so I commence the game without them, they will have to enter on turn 2. Mark McGilchrist's Tiger enters the board and takes up position in 14X3 facing NE. Unfortunately for Mark, his No. 2 tank bogs in 14Y2 in a blind hex to just about everything, and his No. 3 tank is one of the no shows (name withheld to protect the guilty...). The rest of the German force entering on Q1/R0/S1 area, and move to positions from half to two thirds across board 14. Jacques Cuneo, #2 Platoon leader finds himself well out in front of the main pack, his closest counterpart is only one hex behind and to the side of him, but Per Hosinksy in Panther F is going hell bent for leather and remains in motion as well as being BU in fear of a Russian OBA barrage. Jeff Kimmel is unable to establish radio contact with the OBA.

With Mark being the closest target to the 3 art guns set up on the hill tops he draws the fire of all three of them, the 152 fires and misses, the 2nd 85L turns to fire and misses, the 1st 85L turns and fires, it misses but keeps rate, it fires again, hits the front of Mark's turrent, doesn't penetrate, but keeps rate again! it fires a 3rd time, snake eyes! a critical hit, it seems that this is it for Mark, I roll the effects........Boxcars! its a dud!, the 85L fires a 4th time and misses without retaining rate. All tanks advance fire, but nobody hits anything, the mist sure is making it hard to hit anything. However, the one highlight is Darrell Anderson's crew in "Panther C" they manage to get off 3 rounds at the equally quick firing 85L art gun...how ironic. It doesn't look good for Mark in the coming Russian PFh.......if he survives it will be a miracle.

Russian Pre-Game and Turn 1:

The Russians got a few more days of open communications because of the delay I had in try to contact the missing German players, and they took advantage of it. However, they were uncertain as too whether the Hill would already be in German hands, and I did not proivde any information to clarify the situation. Their basic plan, assuming the Hill was still in friendly hands, was to send the SU85's forward onto the level 1 locations to try and spot the enemy. With the 152's staying back in overwatch positions.

The Russian Art guns all fire at Mark again. The 152 hits him in the turret and shocks him, the 2nd 85 fires and misses, however the 1st 85 (the one that fired 4 times last turn) hits him in the hull and penetrates, thus Mark has the distinction of being the first German casualty. In accordance with the guns pre-programmed instructions they all intensive fire. However, the 152 fails to recognize that Mark's Tiger has been destroyed and IF's at it missing. Both 85's switch targets, the first one spots a tank thru the mist and can't identify it so fires AP and hits, but it bounces off the front of Darrell Anderson's BU Panther. The 2nd 85 identify's Jacques Cuneo's CE Panther and once again follows its pre-programmed instructions and IF's HE, hits and stuns poor Jacques. Surprisingly, none of the guns jam.

The Russian tanks rumble on board, but it seems that nobody wants to crest the hills, probably for fear of what they might see. On Zubov Rise, Carl Pfeiffer (who apparently has a sister named Michelle) stops just short of the crestline.....too bad, since he would of had side shots on the entire onboard German force. No Russian AFV's move into the LOS of any German AFV's. An interesting side note, the only Russian AFV to bog is of course their Commander Ferraro in 18R9.

Steve Thorne's Tiger gets a CH on the 152 position in 18X5........followed by a dud...WOW! the second CH/dud combo and its still only the 1st game turn! Steve gets off another round but it goes high and wide. Laurnet Cunin the commander of the Tiger force gets off a single round hat fly's straight and true, destroying the 85L on 18Z7, everyone else who fires misses. The mist sure is making it hard to hit targets. Jeff Kimmel is finally able to raise the OBA battery commander on the radio and the SR splashes down in 14X2.

Jeff Kimmel corrects the AR and converts it to FFE, it lands centered on hex 18W5, unknown to him however, the FFE actually stuns Roy Connelly in his SU85 in 18V4 and Mike Rose in his SU85 in 18V5 who were both CE. It seems that nobody on the Russian side who saw the SR bothered to report it to their comrades. The crew manning the gun in 18X5 are unaffected by the FFE now falling on them. All other Prep Fire by the German side is ineffective, except for, once again, Jeff Kimmel, whos 75mm HE round goes straight and true and gets a solid hit on the gun position at X5 destroying it.

German Turn 2:

In the German movement Tim Fachko enters the mapboard, sees Mike Manuel is now mired from his attempt to get free from the mud in 14Y2 and moves into position to push him out next turn. Thomas Hoellering finally enters from off board maneuvers into position behind the wreck of Mark McGilchrist in 14X3. Jakob Norgarrd, our last MIA German tanker puts the pedal to the metal and races across the board, taking up a position behind the wall at 14U7, where he is joined by Steve Thorne. William Johnson takes up position behind the wall in 14T7, but bogs in that location. Jacques Cuneo continues to lead from the front, and both he and Per "Mad Swede" Hosinsky maneouver into position in 14Q10. They do not immediately spot Russell Gough in 18T3 in his SU85 until he kicks his tank into motion, being severely out gunned and out armoured, he decides its time to seek a new position. Both Panthers fire but miss, Per restarts and moves into 14R10 in motion....perhaps to give chase? Russell meanwhile gives a shout of warning over the radio regarding the sudden of the two Panthers....but it seems nobody on the Russian side is interested in this news.......

The remaining Russian 85L art gun in 18Y7 notices that Thomas Hollering is CE in his Panther in 14X3 and IF's HE at him, missing with both rounds. Thomas fires back and his round goes high and wide.

Jakob notices that he has a fellow tanker in his location but from a different company, so he decides to go CE so that they can chat.....they exchange pleasantries and Steve "Fritz" Thorne wants to know if Jakob brought any beer with him......glad to see he has his priorities straight!

Russian Turn 2:

Mark McGilchrist returns to the game to take over control of Thomas Hoellering's Panther "B"......so Minenhund rides again! Darrell Anderson in Panther "C" withdraws from the rumble, I temporarily take control of his tank. Due to heavy lobbying efforts by the "Russian Team" I double the word allowance allowed in radio messages for both sides.

Russell Gough in his SU85 in 18T3 decides to take of advantage of the fact he is now in motion and move out of the LOS of the Panthers of Jacques Cuneo and Per Hosinsky (in 14Q10/R10 respectivley) and perhaps get an advantage by moving behind the wall at 14U7/T7, unfortunately, as he enters 18U2 he finds that Jakob Norgaard in his Panther and Steve Thorne in his Tiger are already in 14U7 and William Johnson is in his Tiger (albiet bogged) in 14T7. William fires and misses, however, Steve's shot goes straight and true, and Russell's SU85 is now burning. Roy Connelly follows the instructions of the Russian commander, Paul Ferraro, to find the Germans and drives through the FFE centered on 18W5 to attempt a hull down position at 18X3, not realizing that being BU and Russian, makes the attempt futile, it does not matter, because Jakob Norgarrd in his Panther in 14U7 lets fly with a shot.....snake eyes!...will this be the third snake eyes/boxcars combination of the game?.......not this time....Roy's SU85 goes up in a puff of smoke and flames.....thus ending the career of another Russian tanker. Meanwhile, Mike Rose in his SU85 in 18V5 turns to follow his platoon leader (Roy Connelly) and as he enters 18V4, pays the price of driving through the German FFE and dies without even seeing a German. Ironically enough, Jeff Kimmel the German commander decides to shift the FFE to try and eliminate the position last remain art gun position on Yashin Bluff (18Y7) but it goes wide and lands centered on 18X8. Frank Payne sitting in his SU85 in 18U4 gets nervous as he sees his counterparts drive over the hill and then black smoke columns appear decides to get while the getting is good and slaps his tank into reverse, ending up in 18U6. Paul Ferraro manages to unbog his SU85 in 18R8, moves to 18S9 in order to survey the situation. Bill Durrant in his SU152 decides to sit tight in his hull down position on the bridge at 18R5. Carl Pfeiffer in
his SU152 sits tight in his position on Zubov rise (18Q3). Mixo Weber after seeing the columns of black smoke appear, and with the Russians still not having a good idea of where the Germans are (GM note, remember, nobody paid attention to Russell Gough's message of the previous turn regarding Per's & Jacques Panthers east of Zubov rise) and decides to go find them himself, he does not have far to go, as he leaves his hulldown position he has been sharing with Bill on Bure Bridge (18R5) and enters 18S5 he is fired on by Per Hosinsky in 14R10, but the shot goes wide, Mixo, seeing that the Panther is in motion, stops and turns to face the Panther and
returns the shot, knowing full well that he (Mixo) will get first shot next turn if Per remains in sight. So the Russian Turn 2 ends with three SU85's dead, and an SU152 and a Panther squared off against each other 200 meters apart.

German Turn 3:

The only one to Prep Fire is Mark McGilchrist having taken over Panther "B" in 14X3, he fires at the 85L art gun in 18Y7 and misses. The art gun managed to repair its jam from the previous turn, gets rate, firing 2 HE rounds back at Mark and IF's one more round for good measure, two of the rounds hit Mark's CE Panther, but his crew shrugs them both off, however, he decides to BU nonetheless.

Per Hosinsky in 14R10 facing off against Mixo Weber's SU152 in 18S5 decides to move on, and moves into 18R1 out of Mixo's LOS, Per decides to become CE and climb Zubov Rise at 18Q2 to get a better view of the battle field, his Platoon Leader, Jacques Cuneo has the same idea and also climbs onto Zubov in the same hex. Carl Pfeiffer sitting CE in his SU 152 atop of Zubov in 18Q3 has his day spoiled by the appearance of Per's and Jacques Panthers as they crest the hill, he gives a shout of warning to his teamates, and then fires an HE round at Per, getting a K result on the CE crew. Per is stunned for now, and will have to withdraw to the west board edge, sit out for one turn, and then re-enter. Jacques fires his mg's with no effect at
Carls SU and then misses with his MA! For reasons unknown, Jacques decides not to IF.

Laurent Cunnin, B Company commander shifts his Tiger into gear and moves from 14R8 and bypasses the building in 18T1 along the 18T0 hexspine, he spots SU 152's in 18S5 & 18R5 respectivley, and as Laurent turns his VCA to face off against them, Bill Durrant in 18R5 hits him in the hull with a 152 AP round and setting Laurent's Tiger ablaze. The German B Company is now completely leader less. (GM note: Laurent pointed out that he should of been able to see the SU 152 in 18S5 from his position in 14R8 and he is absolutely correct. Laurent was most accomodating, realizing that to try to correct the movement after being killed by the SU in 18R5 would be unfair & admitted that his move was quite risky to begin with, I decide that the best course of action is to play as is and assume that Laurent had rolled boxcar's on his sighting DR. I missed this LOS completely and once again apologize to Laurent).

Both Steve Thorne and Jakob Norgaard move forward to the base of the hill and Steve's crew get off an amazing 4 rounds at the art gun position in 18Y7, however, as expected, all go wide and high. While Steve & Jakob both spot Laurent's burning Tiger, neither one of them bothers to report it to anyone. Jeff Kimmel the German overall commander, after having lost radio contact with the OBA battery, moves up to a supporting position behind Steve & Jakob; Panther "C" follows its leader (GM note: since Darrell had to drop out, I had been controlling this tank based on rough instructions Jeff had been providing to A company as a whole. Laurent will be taking over & controlling this vehicle next turn). William Johnson's attempt to become unbogged results in him now being mired behind the wall at 14T7. However, on a good note, Tim Fachko is able to push Mike Manuel's Tiger out of the mud in 14Y2. Jeff Kimmel calls for an SR but it ands in 18Y10 out of his LOS.

Overall, turn 3 goes very badly for the Germans, having lost the B company commander there is now no communication between the two companies since nobody has bothered to tell the overall commander about his loss.

Russian Turn 3: (GM note: I stopped taking side notes at this point and am now relying mainly on memory as I write the AAR)

Carl Pfeiffer in Q3 fires AP at the Jacques Cuneo's unstunned Panther in Q2 and gets a solid hit, the TK DR is snakes eyes, so Jacques goes up in flames to a former Anzio Rumble teamate. Per, now recovered from his stun fires back, but with the smoke from Jacques burning wreck interfering with his vision he misses, he IF's and jam's his MA! Paul Ferraro, after managing to unbog himself last turn decides to try his luck again, and bogs after moving another 80 meters at which point he receives some good natured ribbing from his teamates about his tank driving abilities! The T34 platoon under the command of Dion Loach enters along the north edge of board 14, the plan being to enter behind the walled areaand move to the hill. Micheal Sachau manages to read his map wrong and enters in 18GG3, realizes his mistake and then enters drives into the gulley to take cover. Burnie Fox does not have much luck as he bogs in the first hex that he enters, 18GG10.

German Turn 4:

After thinking it over, I decided to allow the entire German team to be on one radio channel with no restrictions on the number or size of radio messages. However, the previous radio procedures still apply for the Russian team.

Per backs off of Zubov rise, turns around and then commences his trip to the medical post to drop off his wounded crewmen and for whatever reason, Carl Pfeiffer decides not to administer a "coup d grais" to this wounded Panther. Laurent in his new Panther moves to 14U10 and spots Bill Durrant's and Mixo Weber's SU's by Bure Bridge and stops to take a shot, missing, Bill turns and fires back, surprisingly getting a hull hit, but the round bounces off of the thick frontal hull armour of Laurent's new Panther. Laurent continues his eastward movement to the base of the hill out of the LOS of the two SU's. Steve Thorne decides to climb the hill at 18W3 and Carl Pfeiffer in 18Q3 turns and fires at him, Steve feels the wind of the 152mm shell as it passes close by and decided to ESB into 18X3 which contains the burning wreck of Roy Connelly's SU85 in order to get out of the LOS of Carl's SU, but ends up in the LOS of the Art gun in 18Y7 which turns and fires at him, hitting but the round bounces, then IF's but misses, Steve fires back, but as expected misses. Mike Manual's luck does not hold, after being bogged until last turn, he decides to move up and join the battle, but once again bogs after moving a mere 80 metres to 14AA4. Tim Fachko puts the pedal to the medal and hurries across most of board 14.

Jeff Kimmel moves his Panther up to 18W2 and calls in an SR which lands in 18BB5.

Russian Turn 4:

Micheal Sachau climbs out of Mironov Gulley at 18DD4 and gets fired on by Steve Thorne Tim Facko, Mike Manual decides not to bother firing at him, surprisingly, both German 88mm rounds go high and wide and Micheal makes good his escape behind the wall complex and continues east, but does not bother to report to his platoon commander that he spotted 3 Tigers in the northern sector of the battlefield. Burnie Fox manages to unbog himself and climbs Yushkevich Rise at 18FF9 to survey the battlefied and spots the same 3 Tigers that Micheal did as well, this time Mike Manual decides to fire, but misses. For whatever reason, Burnier does not report the presence of the 3 Tigers to his Platoon leader either. Dan Wellahusen and Mark Eyerman take up reverse slope positions in 18Y8, but Dan bogs as he enters the hex. Jeff Kimmel corrects the SR to 18Y7, but it lands in 18Z7 and he converts it to an FFE nonetheless and some how manages to avoid stunning Dan who is CE. Kevin Croskery moves his T34 to 18Y10 and bogs facing due south. Mixo Weber decides to go looking for the Panther which retreated off of Zubov Rise and he enters 18T4, he spots Per's in motion Panther in 14Q10, Mixo stops, turns and fires, but misses. Per is unable to return fire because of his disabled MA and his mg's are useless since Mixo is BU.

German Turn 5:

Mike Manual lets fly with another round at Burnie Fox's T34 in 18FF9 placing an 88mm hole in Burnie's turret front setting him ablaze. Steve Thorne decides to give chase to the T34 he saw come out of the gulley and moves to 18Z5 taking a hulldown position in order to survey the courtyard. Laurent CE in his Panther, climbs the hill at 18W3 and Carl Pfeiffer in his SU152 in 18Q3 hits him with an HE round stunning him. The German Commander Jeff Kimmel leaves the FFE on 18Z7 which in turns finally eliminates the last pesky Art gun position on the hill in 18Y7, then climbs the hill in 18W3 and takes a bounding fire shot at Carl, setting Carl's SU ablaze. Per climbs the hedge in 14U9 as Mixo Weber in 18T4 fires at him and gets a frontal turret hit and penetrates, but Mixo does not realize this and only see's the Panther come to a halt with it's turret facing him. Tim Fachko decides to patrol towards the gulley to ensure that it does not contain another other T34's. Mark McGilchrist bogs his Panther in 18Z3 facing the courtyard. Jakob moves his Panther up to 18V1, preparing to climb the hill and support Jeff and Laurent. William Johnson has to withdraw from the rumble and temporarily take over control of his Tiger, actually managing to unbog it and moving it to 14V9 as per Jeff Kimmel's broad instructions to the team as a whole. Jacques Cuneo takes over the Tiger at this point.

Russian Turn 5:

Mixo Weber lets fly with another 152mm AP around at Per's Panther, getting another frontal turret hit, but this time setting the Panther ablaze and thus having a confirmed kill. Micheal Sachau contines his eastward trek along the base of the hill, as Kevin Graves, Mark Poulson and Patrick Dowd from the 3rd Reinforcement Group travel west to take up positions behind the wall in the courtyard. As Kevin, leading the threesome, rounds the 18BB7 farm buildings and enters 18BB6, Steve Thorne in 18Z5 lets fly with a round, getting a solid hit, and Kevin dies without knowing what killed him. Mark takes up position behind Kevin's wreck, fires and misses, Steve IF's at Mark, missing. Patrick moves to 18CC6 and turns and fires at Steve but misses. Both Jo Martin Drugli and Sean Spence enter at 18Q10 and move down to Bure Bridge. Mike Standbridge enters at 18U10 and enters the gulley. The 3rd Group commander, Mark Herrmann, makes his way towards Yashin Bluff. Paul Klimstra does not answer my calls to send in movement orders so I hand off control of his SU152 to Carl Pfeiffer who promptly bogs in 18Z9. Mark Eyerman moves his T34 from 18Y8 to bypass in 18W7 Dion Loach then moves into 18Y8 while Dan Wellhausen successfully unbogs his T34. Mark Poulson temporaily takes over KV85"D" for Mike Standbridge and promptly bogs it in 18U8!

German Turn 6:

Steve Thorne lets fly at Mark's SU in 18BB7, hitting it and setting it on fire. Patrick returns fire from 18CC6 but his MA jams! Steve then IF's at Patrick's SU152 and gets a hit, only to see his round bounce off. Jakob moves his Panther into 18Z5 to give Steve a hand, and fires at Patrick, but misses. With the appearance of Jakob's Panther, Patrick kicks his SU into forward motion. Tim moves his Tiger down into the gulley at 18EE3. Mark does not have much luck with the mud and his Panther is now mired in 18Z2. However, Mike does get some luck and manages to unbog his Tiger and he manages to move eastward somewhat towards the hill. Laurent crashes thru the treeline in 18V3 while bogging in the process, manages to spoil a whole lot of Russian tankers day! Frank Payne in 18V5 kicks his SU85 into forward motion, while Paul Ferraro in his SU85 in 18V7 fires at the Panther and hits, but the round merely bounces. Dion Loach in 18Y8 turns his turret and fires an APCR round missing, then IF's another one of his APCR rounds, missing again. Dan Wellhausen in 18Y8 fires and misses, then IF's and jams his MA. Jeff Kimmel contacts the OBA battery commander, but Divison has called away the assets for this phase. Jeff then moves his Panther into 18V3 as well and both him and Laurent both fire at Paul's SU in 18V7 and fortunately for Paul, both miss. Jacques in his newly acquire Tiger moves to 14U10 and spots Bill Durant's SU on Bure Bridge and Jo Martin's & Sean Spence's KV's in 18Q8 and decides to true his luck with a pot shot and misses, however, Bill is much more likely, fires and gets a solid hit on Jacques setting him on fire (again).

Russian Turn 6:

Paul Ferraro while calling for help from his teamates, first fires a Smoke round and then IF's another one at the two Panthers in 18V3. Both Frank Payne and Mixo Weber answer their commanders call for help and Frank comes crashing into the forest in 18W4 and bogs, while Mixo crests the hill at 18U4. Jo Martin and Sean also join in the rush and climb the hill at 18T2 and 18T3 respectively. Jeff fires at Mixo's SU and misses, however Laurent gets a solid hit on the most dangerous SU152 setting it on fire, Laurent then turns towards the KV in 18T3, IF's and jams his MA. Jeff, seeing that the SU152 is dead, turns to face Frank's SU in 18W4, firing his cmg with no effect and elects not to IF. Jeff contacts the OBA battery and calls for an SR which splashes down in 18U6. Dion Loach in 18Y8 finally realizes that barring a critical hit, that even with APCR he can't penetrate the frontal armour of a Panther decides to try a deliberate immobolization attempt on Laurent's Panther and is successful! Patrick Dowd does not have any luck repairing his MA, and realizing that his only hope of staying alive is to get hull down behind the wall in 18BB5, his luck does for a moment as Steve fires and gets a hit, but once again the 88mm shell bounces off. However, Jakob also fires and gets a hit and the high velocity 75mm shell slices through the armour on Patrick's SU152 setting him on fire. Dan Wellhausen is unable to repair his MA and moves to the base of the hill out of the LOS of the Panthers, Mark Herrmann moves his KV in 18Y8 occupying the space vacated by Dan, and fires at the Panther's, missing. Mark Eyerman climbs onto the hill at 18X6 and turns his turret to fire at the Panthers as well. Frank, Jo Martin and Sean all advance fire but miss.

German Turn 7:

The plan is for Jeff to correct the SR to 18W6 and convert it to a Smoke FFE covering he and Laurent from the Russian tanks to their North while the eliminate the tanks to the south. Unfortunately however, fate intervenes and radio contact is lost with the battery! Jeff fires at Frank Payne's SU85 in 18W4 with predictable results and Frank's SU85 is now a wreck. As Jeff then spins his turret to face the KV's to the south, Paul Ferraro gets a side turret hit and Stuns the German Commander, however, Dion Loach in 18Y8 uses his last remaining APCR round, hitting Jeff square in the back of the turret with it, and Jeff's Panther is turned into a burning wreck. Laurent is able to repair his MA, fires at Sean's KV in 18U3 turning it into a burning wreck. Laurent then IF's at Jo Martin's KV in 18T2 but once again jams his MA! Jo Martin fires his single APCR round at Laurent and gets a critical hit! Laurent's Panther goes up in a ball of flames as well! Wow, the German's loss their commander and an experience player in one turn. Steve Thorne climbs onto the hill at 18Z6, Mark Eyerman in 18X6, turns and fires, and then IF's but misses with both rounds. Steve returns fire and gets a hit! Mark's T34 goes up in flames. Jakob remains in 18Z5 while Mark finally unbogs himself, Tim has to use ESB to exit the gulley at 18EE5. Mike moves his Tiger up to 18Y1.

Russian Turn 7:

The Russians, sensing that they have the upper hand decide to rush the Tiger (Steve Thorne) they suspect is lurking on the west side of Yahin Bluff. Dan Wellhausen repairs his MA and crests the hill in 18Z7 and is promptly set ablaze by Mark McGilchrist in 18Z2. Mark Herrmann objects his commanders instructions to rush as well and crests the hill in 18Z7 and is set ablaze by Steve Thorne in 18Z6 thus making Steve an ace. Micheal Sachau climbs back onto the hill at 18AA8 and takes a shot at Steve's Tiger and misses, Steve return's fire by IF'ing and malfuntions his MA for his troubles. Micheal is also fired on by Tim's Tiger in 18EE5 and Micheal decides to duck behind the east side of the hill out of their LOS's. Paul Ferraro climbs onto the hill at 18W6 where Mark Eyerman's burning wreck is and takes a shot at Steve, missing. Jo Martin moves up to 18W3 and fires and then IF's at Mark McGilchrist's Panther, missing and jamming the MA on his KV85. Jo Martin then moves his KV out of LOS, bypassing the forest in 18W4. Carl, Roy and Mark (Poulson) all unbog their respective AFV's. Mark McGilchrist, is informed by his divisional commander that he now has control of the OBA and calls for an SR on 18X6 which for once is accurate.

German Turn 8:

Mark tries to contact the battery to convert the SR to a Smoke FFE in order to cover Steve, but once again, radio contact is lost at a critical moment. Steve does not have any luck repairing his MA and decides to climb onto the 2nd level location in order to claim control of them. Unfortunately for him however, not only does his trusty Tiger stall, but Paul, using his one and only APCR round gets a solid hull hit, turning Steve's Tiger into a burning wreck. Jakob, ignoring Steve's warning of last turn that there was an enemy tank located in the saddle of the level 2 locations, moves onto the hill in 18Z6, exposing his side to Paul in 18W6, who IF's out his hex containg a burning wreck, at the hex containing Jakob's moving Panther as well as a burning wreck and gets a hit and knocking out Jakob's Panther. Mark McGilchrist's attempt to move onto the hill results in him being bogged in 18Z1. Tim contines to move eastward, north of the hill. At this point is it looking very grim for the German team and I make a dr to see if the games ends which it does.

The battlefield is littered with the hulks of 21 destroyed player AFV's, 17 of them burning. Here is the game end locations of all the participant's tanks.

18FF9 T34M43"C"/Burnie Fox set on fire by Mike Manual
18EE8 PzVIE(L)"F"/Tim Fachko CE/motion/VCA:18DD9/TCA:18CC8
18BB5 SU152"E"/Patrick Dowd set on fire by Jakob Norgaard
18BB6 SU152"D"/Mark Poulson set on fire by Steve Thorne
18BB6 KV85"B"/Kevin Graves destroyed by Steve Thorne
18Z3 PzVG"B"/Mark McGilchrist CE/bogged/VCA&TCA:18Y5
18Z6 PzVG"E"/Jakob Norgaard set on fire by Paul Ferraro
18Z6 PzVIE(L)"C"/Steve Thorne set on fire by Paul Ferraro
18Z7 T34M43"B"/Dan Wellhausen set on fire by Steve Thorne
18Z7 KV85"A"/Mark Herrmann set on fire by Mark McGilchrist
18Z8 T34M43"E"/Micheal Sachau BU/motion/VCA&TCA:18Y8/inbypass along Z9/Z8
hexspine
18Z9 SU152"F"/Carl Pfeiffer BU/motion/VCA:18Y8
18Y5 PzVIE(L)"D"/Mark McGilchrist destroyed by Art Gun
18Y1 PzVIE(L)"E"/Mike Manuel CE/motion/VCA:18X2:TCA:18Z2
18Y8 T34M43"A"/Dion Loach BU/stopped/VCA:18Z6:TCA:18W6
18Y10 T34M43"D"/Roy Connelly BU/motion/VCA&TCA:18W10
18X3 SU85"B"/Roy Connelly set on fire by Jakob Norgaard
18X6 T34M43"F"/Mark Eyerman set on fire by Steve Thorne
18X6 SU85"A"/Paul Ferraro CE/stopped/VCA:18Z6
18W4 SU85"E"/Frank Payne destroyed by Jeff Kimmel
18W4 KV85"C"/Jo Martin Drugli CE/motion/VCA&TCA:X4/inbypass along X3/W4 hexspine
18V2 PzVG"A"/Jeff Kimmel set on fire by Dion Loach
18V2 PzVG"C"/Laurent Cunin set on fire by Jo Martin Drugli
18V3 SU85"D"/Mike Rose destroyed by OBA
14U10 PzVIE(L)"B"/Jacques Cuneo set on fire by Bill Durrant
18U2 SU85"C"/Russell Gough set on fire by Steve Thorne
18U3 KV85"E"/Sean Spence set on fire by Laurent Cunin
18U4 SU152"B"/Mixo Weber set on fire by Laurent Cunin
18U8 KV85"D"/Mark Poulson CE/motion/VCA&TCA:18T6
18S1 PzVIE(L)"A"/Laurent Cunin set on fire by Bill Durrant
18R5 SU152"A"/Bill Durrant CE/stopped/VCA:18T5
14Q9 PzVG"F"/Per Hossinsky set on fire by Mixo Weber
18Q2 PzVG"D"/Jacques Cuneo set on fire by Carl Pfeiffer
18Q3 SU152"C"/Carl Pfeiffer set on fire by Jeff Kimmel

Awards:

Award for best callsign goes to Dion Loach:
Comrade Lt Kutzyanutzov (pronounced Cuts - ya - nuts - off) :-)

Award for most time spent bogged.....Mike Manuel.....5 turns!

Top Gun Award goes to Steve Thorne for 5 Russian AFV's plus an Art gun.

Award for worst luck: Patrick Dowd
In his very first rumble he watched two platoon mates die before his eyes, and they have his MA jam as he squares off against a Tiger and a Panther.

Award for shot of the game: Mike Manuel's 2nd shot at 18 hex range, through mist, against Burnie Fox's moving T34 which had height advantage.

German team MVP: Steve Thorne
not just because of making ace, but also because of his "balls to the wall/damn the torpedo's" style of play.

Russian Team MVP(s): Frank Payne & Mixo Weber
For their willingness to scarifice themselves so that their commander could live. Their entertaining dialogue also helped to keep the game lively.

Quotable Quotes:

-Mixo Weber's reponse to a message from one of his teamates as he's about to engage Per's Panther:

(teamate) We're holding our breath over here, tovarich. Put one down the pipe.
(Mixo) I told my gunner to dip it in Vodka first - makes it rum smoother through the tube, has some risk, though, too - last time I told him to do so he drank the Vodka himself and was trying to get his head into the tube afterwards...

-Laurent Cunin after being killed while in a Tiger by Bill Durrant's SU152 and then resurected into command of a Panther:

"The enemy is strong, the enemy is numerous, and the enemy has big guns."

-Frank Payne preparing to go scouting for his teamates:

"Well, I'm putting my rubber suit on and am ready to play animal proctologist with my 85mm"

-Paul Ferraro in reponse to a message that there might be a Tiger behind Ulanov Copse:

"Always with the negative waves..."

-Paul Ferraro after Laurent Cunin's and Jeff Kimmel's Panthers break through the treeline of Ulanov Copse and both advance fire at his SU85 with four other targets to choose from:

"Boys, I'm sittin' here with two Panther's holding my dick. It's not something I find comfortable."

-Patrick Dowd in a message to the remainder of his Company, after watching a platoon mate, and his commander die, having his MA malfuntion, and staring down a Tiger and a Panther:

"I have the BASTARDS right where I want them!!!!"

-Patrick Dowd in a message to myself (the GM) after he'd been killed:

"I new something was not right when I sighted the T34's BEHIND me."

-Jeff Kimmel on breaking through the treeline of Ulanov Copse and facing five Russian tanks:

"The good news is, every Russian gun I can see is pointed at us!
The bad news is, every Russian gun I can see is pointed at us."

-Laurent Cunin on the appearance of Jo Martin Drugli's and Sean Spence's KV85's on his and Jeff Kimmel's flank:

" another 2 Russian Tanks.... they build them even then faster we shoot them...."

Well, that's it folks, GM'ing was an experience! It was alot of work, I learned alot, and I met alot of people from around the globe. I recommend it to everyone, but be prepared for the surprising amount of work it takes up. I placed the call for rumble participants on the ASLML on January 17/99 and am finally finishing this AAR in the wee hours of the morning of May 31/99.

If anyone would like to post this AAR to a webpage please feel free to do so, converting it to a different format if necessary. See ya's at the end of a gunsight!

Robert Steele....a.k.a. Steeler