The last station before Rostov - Gnilovskiy Station. 7 Feb 1918, 4 AM, snow was heavy on the ground and the sky was gray. For reference, the 9th of February began the 80-day campaign known as the 1st Kuban Campaign. Single line across the main road. On die line stood an engine with 5 or 6 coal cars other buildings - station building, small village, warehouses 50 Whites under the command of Grekov. General Komilov commanded that all White forces must rally at Rostov. There would be 20,000 infantry and cavalry, along with a large collection of armored Trains. Grekov's group was to the east trying to move west along the rail line. They ran into a Red strongpoint at the Gnilovskiy rail station. The Red contingent consisted of 300 soldiers, a number of machineguns (estimate 5) and long-range artillery. Grekov decided to bypass the station by moving along the frozen Don river. However, it was too bright and the contingent would have stood out and been prime targets for Red machineguns along the banks. 30 Partisans from a separate group of Whites (responding to Kornilov's call) moved into the village ahead of Grekov's. They moved into 4 or 5 houses in the small village and immediately came Linder fire (and house-clearing operations) of the Reds. This group of White's was annihilated. Grekov broke his group into three parts - the first group consisted of 10 Whites to Jay fire down on the Reds at the Station. The second group of 10 would attack the station from the riverside and the third group was to move along the road and bypass the station altogether. The Whites would then regroup about I kin past the station along the rail line where a White armored train waited. The battle and skirimsh for this group of Whites to bypass Gnilovskiv Station took until early morning on die 9th of February, when Grekov executed his plan. And at this same time, the Red's main attention at the Front was drawn by an attack from the Ukraine into Oicir rear. Rail to Rostov - Scenario Figures: - 3 figures per stand equates to ten men. Whites (total - 3 command figures, 5 stands of infantry - 3 figures per stand) Commander Group 1 - Captain Grekov 10 stands of infantry Commander Group 2 - Lieutenant Rvzlikov 3 stands of infantry Commander Gioup 3 - Lieutenant Tarrakhan 3 stands of infantry Reds (total - 2 command figures, 25 stands of infantry - 3 figures per stand, five machine guns) Commander Rail Station Force - Colonel Danilox Station securing group - Colonel 15 stands of infantry 3 machineguns Town securing group - Lieutenant 7 stands of infantry 1 machinegun Riverbank group - Sergeant 3 stands of infantry 1 machinegun Although it seems like a low number of stands for the Reds, not all units were engaged simultaneously. he gives a good representation of how much active firepower the Reds had available. White setup and playing notes: The Whites set up in the area shown for them on the following map. The Whites get initiative for die first three turns (or phases, or impulses - depending on your rules), The Whites get an added bonus for concealment for moving at night. The Whites get a bonus for morale. These Whites have a very good chance that they will maintain good morale for the duration - they are quite motivated. Red setup and Playing notes: The Reds setup generally in the area around the village. The Reds must orient for a 360 degree defense. They cannot simply orient all forces south. Riverbank forces must start with fields offire across the river. The Reds get a bonus for cover for the units in the railway station. Victory Conditions: Whites must exit at least 8 stands and at least one command figure off the north west end of the board (where the Armored train is waiting for diem). Reds must prevent at least 8 stands from getting through the village. Reds lose if they lose more than 10 stands of infantry. Reds instantly lose if their Colonel is killed. Yes, both sides can lose this contest. Back to MWAN #114 Table of Contents Back to MWAN List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 2001 Hal Thinglum 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