Salute 2009 After Action Report
Rules: Schwere Kompanie version 11.
Scenario: SK #16 The Road to Yelnya.
Players: Russian: Ken Derkson and Sylvester Wrzesinski. German: Mike Hatch and Nells Rasmussen.
I attended and
hosted a game at the Trumpeter's Salute 2009 in Burnaby, BC March 13-15 and it
was a great time. The only sore spot for me was the fact that I had mistakenly
brought my Normandy hex terrain instead of the new Eastern Europe terrain I have
been working on for a year! The plastic tote boxes are identical and I packed
the wrong one (I blame the wife who moved things around in the hobby
room...grumble...grumble...). I
live 18 hours away by road so I was stuck with what I had brought! The scenario
I hosted was set on the Eastern front so I had to borrow some hexes and
buildings from Ken Derkson - thanks buddy - and setup a random map with what we
had. It all worked out pretty well and I think everyone had fun! Pictures are a
little blurry as I did not have the tripod!
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| Random map setup. Germans attacking from top, Russians defending bottom 3/4 of map. Elimination of units the key to victory. Bocage in Russia?!? |
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| The Russians plot the Germans downfall...pretty happy for 1941 Russians! |
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| The Germans divide up their forces...one for you, two for me... |
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| TURN #1 |
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| The 2 German StuG III batteries enter the map, heading for the heights, with an Infantry platoon hitching a ride. German FO moves onboard. The H/W platoon begins to move slowly to the hill. Where are the Hidden AT guns? |
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| A Platoon of Russian Infantry attempts to beat the Germans to the heights. The German brings on the rest of the H/W platoon to counter the Russians...can they make the ridge? |
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| TURN #2 |
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| One battery of StuGs begin to peek around the ridge, Infantry have dismounted. H/W Platoon consolidates behind the ridge. |
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| Russian Infantry begin to jockey for position. |
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| Second German platoon with GHQ and Pionere support enters and heads for the bridge. |
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| TURN #3 |
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| Russian Armor arrives this turn and forms 3 platoons, 1 with 3 x T34s and 2 with 5 x T26 each. They take up positions near the village and on the map edges. A StuG battery crests the ridge to see what's up... |
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| The Russian GHQ starts to range-in the 82mm mortar A StuG battery. German Panzer IIIs enter and join up with the Platoon headed for the bridge. |
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| FIRST BLOOD! A 45mm AT gun finally shows itself and fires on the StuG battery on the ridge. After a heated firefight, one of the StuGs is hit and penetrated - BOOM! |
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| The Panzer III platoon attempts to move to the aid of the StuGs when the second AT gun opens up on their side. Both shots from the AT gun miss! The last panzer is not so lucky when tries to join up, it is hit and destroyed by the AT gun! |
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| TURN #4 |
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| The 2 remaining StuGs from the battery on the hill attempt to get into a good position to engage the T34s and give up the hill to the Russian Infantry. A key point in the battle! The Russians take the ridge and draw fire from the exposed German H/W platoon on the other side. A firefight ensues and the Russian player comes out on top, eliminating 2 x MMGs!! |
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| Again the Germans attack and again the Russians answer back and eliminate a German mortar and MMG. The 2nd German mortar tries to target the Russians on the hill and discovers that it is out of ammo! Vot!! I taut you brought ze ammo!! The panzer platoon is again engaged by the AT gun and loses 2 more vehicles! German attack is loosing steam! |
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| Russian T26 platoon attempts to join the attack on the stricken Panzer III platoon when it is engaged by the StuGs. One is immobilized but the rest move on and join the fight at the bridge. |
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| TURN #5 |
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| The German Infantry near the bridge begin to die and the attack is now in danger of stalling completely. The game is finally conceded to the Russians due to the time limit being reached. In fairness to the German player, the map was not balanced for play and the German forces were reduced by 3 x 1st Line SS squads and 1 x Panzer III (although the Russian player lost 3 x 1st Line squads as well, it affected the German player more). All in all a fun game with some great gamers! |