This scenario pits a small team of Russians against an awful lot of Germans and thus is ideal fodder for Gauntlet Publications` Cross of Iron. During the German assaults many of Stalingrad`s defenders found themselves cut off behind the German lines; in this instance our heroes of the Soviet Union are an artillery OP team. They have an easily defended position but there are not many of them. The Russians consist of a Lieutenant with PPSH and pistol, a Sergeant with PPSH, a Corporal with radio and pistol, and three Privates one with PPSH, the rest with rifles. Roll 1xD6 for their ammunition status: 1,2,3 Low 4,5,6 High. Roll 1xD6 for each man's hand grenades: 1,2 none 3,4,5 one 6 two Give them a spare DP LMG - it will come in useful. There is a body of opinion that the Russians were a pretty characterless bunch. This depends on your perspective - particularly if you are Russian, eh Nicolai! In a game with 6 or less Russians I suggest giving them all characteristics. In a game with more figures, give two characteristics to NCO`s and two or three to officers. Soldiers in specialist formations such as Assault Pioneers, Scouts etc can have a character on a die roll of 5,6 but otherwise the others will have their RODINA (in place of SCHNELL) but no characteristics - they are just proletarian soldiers. Modify RODINA depending upon unit involved: Militia -1, Siberians, NKVD, Guard, Naval Rifles +1. In this scenario, roll for one character per figure - give either the Lt or the Sgt two. Cross of Iron players may want to consider using the following conversions from German to Russian characteristics: Russian Speaker = German speaker Olympic Sportsman = Socialist Athletic Hero Snivelling Coward, Shirker, Looter* : These are considered "anti socialist" and after each game a figure with one is sent to a penal unit on a 1,2. There is a +1 if Communist Party Member and +2 if an apparatchik Old Sweat = Old Soldier Ex Con = Record of Anti Social Activities Comedian = Happy Peasant - delete fooling russians with balika, but can still play it. Disaffected = Communist Party Member : 1,2 - Apparatchik 3 Green 4 Brutal 5 Hard 6 Man of Iron. Farm Boy = Siberian Settler Nazi Maniac = Communist Party Member Golden Pheasant = Apparatchik 1,2 Snivelling Coward 3,4 Shirker 5,6 Rotten Swine. The Soviet objective in the scenario is to keep reporting German troop movements. So each turn (which represents say 15-30 minutes) roll to see what happens: 1,2 - Nothing 3,4 - German column moves up 5 - Russian artillery strike. It may not be your work but it makes the Germans suspicious, +1 to next roll 6 - The Germans decide to check the position. Roll again: 1 - False alarm 2,3 - 1xAvD Germans investigate 4,5 - A Squad (2xAvD) is sent to set up in the position 6 - The Germans attack with 2-3 squads, 1-3 MG34 teams and a PzKwIII on a further die roll of 6. The Germans follow a random path to the position, roll 1xD6. Each squad will follow a different route, points 5 and 6 are firing positions; any figures setting up here will fire and only move if the Russians are at 50% of their strength at the start of an attack or if none of the Russians are firing. The Russians can try to keep silent and let the Germans and approach to point blank range; Trigger Happy or Unlucky characters with LOS to the Germans open fire on a 4,5,6. Movement within the position will alert the Germans on a 5,6. So the Russians have to hold on at all costs for as long as possible. If they hold on for say 15 turns or run out of ammunition, you may allow them to exfiltrate back to their own line - which may be another scenario in it's own right, perhaps even through the sewers ! Map: THE HOUSE THAT BORIS BUILT A - Dip in rubble that can conceal men and acts as a hidden trench for Russians. B - Corner of building including upper storey and hidey hole under stairs. Upstairs is the OP, the radio and the corporal are under the stairs. C - Are relatively stable buildings. D - A rubble area E - A rubble area with an incline up to the lip of the trench. 1-6 - The German entry points. NB a tank will not appear in rubble or a building so roll 1,2 left road edge, 4,5,6 right edge. 42 Boris Street: Open plan, semi-detached property with excellent vista across the picturesque River Volga. 250,000 Germans o.n.o. Back to The Gauntlet No. 19 Table of Contents Back to The Gauntlet List of Issues Back to Master Magazine List © Copyright 2000 by Craig Martelle Publications This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com