3-1-8 Rkt Art III 0410
3-1-8 Rkt Art III 0609
2-3-8 Art III 0410
2-3-8 Art III 0810
1-10 mot AT II 0708
1-10 mot AT II 0807
2-10 mot hv AA III 0509
2- 10 mot hv AA III 0907
2-6 Eng III 0810
2-6 Eng III 0410
0-1-5 Cons III 0810
0-1-5 Cons III 0410
2-1-10 Aslt Gun II 0309
2-1-10 Aslt Gun II 0810
2-1-10 Aslt Gun II 0907
Truck 0609
Airfields 0410,0517,0810
Me109G 0410
Me109G 0410
Me109G 0810
Me109G 0810
Fw190A 0810
Ju87D 0513
Ju87D 0513
5x Ju88A Off-Map
3x He111H Off-Map
All Other Units Per German OB

Note: Substitute KAbtC for 3x 2-3-6 Inf Cadres

Dahman Commentary

This deployment allows no overruns by the Soviets. However, it is weak up front. Here, I am restricting the depth the Soviets will be able to attain during exploit. Some ground will be given up in the southern sector as it is deemed that the northern bridgehead is more dangerous. Kiev will be sacrificed early to allow a strong defense to the west of it. If the Soviets choose to push westward, then the rear guards can step up as fillers. Also, the artillery was placed in the center as offensive counterpunch should the Soviets overextend themselves.

Judge's Verdict

Sam, Sam, Sam... you know better! Here is more evidence that even excellent Europa players have occasional lapses. Sam is a top-rate player, and yet he has also overlooked the fact that cadres don't support units stacked with them. Thus, the strength of 0309 is only 6.5 and 0907 only 5.5 points: the Soviet player can overrun either (but not both) of these two hexes. Unfortunately, overrunning either hex unhinges the whole deployment. The Security divisions backing up the line will fall easy prey to the Soviet juggernaut, and without their ZOCs the second line does not amount to much more than isolated hedgehogs.

There are aspects of this defense I like. The concept of defense in depth, as advanced earlier by Frank Watson, is a generally sound idea, but in this scenario it requires a delicate balancing act. A misstep such as Sam's brings down the entire game plan like a flimsy house of cards.

Evoking the Korpsabteilungen rule is a good idea; the Germans can use all the ZOCs they can muster and a 'DR' result against hex 0207 may allow them to salvage a 2-3-6 cadre.

Verdict: 5th Place

Training Exercise #2: The Battle for Kiev, 1943

Pukalo Deployment
Yanaway Deployment
Watson Deployment
Dahman Deployment
Jennings Deployment
Celebuski Deployment
Dickenson Deployment
Carrenne Deployment