At the September game day everyone was so caught up in the Battleground WII run by ATAK Miniatures that it was the only game played! Annie and Keith refereed the 15mm battle. It pitted Russians and Germans against one another in a meeting engagement aimed at capturing a bridge. Matt Fritz, Charlie Keller, John Burke, and Ceasar Bennet played the Russians: an infantry platoon in trucks, 2 infantry guns, an AT gun, two T26 tanks, a KVII, and 3 KVIs. Eric Schlenger, Tom Gallagher, Harry Curler, and Charlie M. played the German force: three squads in half-tracks, an armored car force, Panzer IVs, and two Sig33 SP guns.

The fight was long and bloody. The Germans sent a squad and a Pz IV into the town to secure the bridge. Russian infantry and an infantry gun forced them to withdrawal, leaving the Russians in control of the approaches to the bridge. The Germans inflicted heavy casualties early in the fight by catching some of the Russians still mounted in their trucks.

The strong Russian foothold near the bridge was systematically destroyed by accurate direct fire from the German Sig22’s. The Russian infantry was unable to advance without armored support. North of the town a vicious fight erupted in the woods. Both sides took turns close assaulting enemy AFVs and an armored shoot out developed.

With the Russian infantry pinned by MG fire and He the Commisar attempted to single-handedly stalk and kill a German tank as an example to the others. He was ambushed and killed by 5 German soldiers. A last ditch Russian effort to seize the bridge was cut to pieces by the Sig 33s and a Panzer IV, leaving the Germans in control of the bridge. Meanwhile up North the lumbering KV-II finally got into the action. Charlie Keller delivered a defiant final blow for the Russians by ramming a German Armored Car.

In the end the Germans were declared the victors. Eric was named MVP for his part in the battle: securing the bridge and inflicting heavy losses with accurate artillery fire (which is his trademark). Everyone enjoyed the game and many of us purchased copies of the rules and supplements.