After having heard all your advices about "Smashing the third" I played it yesterday evening against my buddy Rudi Großholderman. Rudi setup most of his units in the bd17 town, but covered the other board by a lmg squad in the most southern building. In front of this he placed the both wire. Behind the building was a T34. Another T34 was of course in the wall surrounded building of board 44. A MMG squad was on the first floor of this building
Two T34 stand in the north while most of his Infantry occupied the buildings of the town.
In the first turn I moved four of my tanks around the northern wood to engage the hull down T34. I stopped 7 hexes away with at least three grain hindrances between me and him. Five PzIV moved in the center and a lonely one in the south. My Infantry mostly CX'ed and rush forward.
The only tank duel was in the north. He missed me. I acquired him and in his turn he failed to kill one of my tanks. My complete DFPH -six shots (including IF) - with almost 7 or 6 for TH I also missed him. In my PFPh the same. If I hit him it was a hull hit. But on my last IF shot I finally got him.
Now I tried to pull my Infantry forward. The 9-2 with a 548/lMG was fired in a wood hex with a 6 even which broke the 9-2. My follow up units managed to break the Russian 447 w/lMG in AFPh Fire. I had a Kill stack with three HS with the MG's and an 8-1 leader. All moved concealed and got into fire position after APh Turn 2. The broken 9-2 routed into their hex too.
His Mortar was positioned to fire at the woods hexes just west of the town.
His HMG was on level one in the crossroad building.
His second T34 in the north was behind the most northerly woods. He fired at my moving Infantry but missed. I used this Opportunity and move two tanks into his Los.
Again there were three Los Hindrances between us and the distance was seven hexes. My first tank acquired the T34 while the second malfunctioned its gun.
This was the beginning of unlucky events for the German. In Russian PFPh the T34 killed the PzIV opposing it. In his MPh my Killstack opened fire on a concealed AM squad. Three good Rof shots later I activated his sniper. He selected the Killstack hex and found exactly the 9-2. All other broke .
In my turn three another PzIV was killed by the northern T34. I then moved a PzIV behind his lines. He fired but malfunctioned a T34's MA. I went on and faced a Motion T34.
My tank with the malf. MA should went adjacent to an Open Ground Russian squad. He lacked 1 MF. The ESB left him immobilized. The most southern tank moved east and stayed in Motion in Open ground. All my forward moving Infantry was broken by the mortar or small arms fire.
My Tank acquired the motion T34. My motion tank became acquired by the "Ratschbumm". In his Turn he disabled the MA of his Malf. T34 and recalled it. His northern tank was surrounded by two German squads toting their PF. He decided to withdrew, but was killed by a Faust doing this. The motion tank saw his only chance in entering a stone building. My tank missed two times while his AFPH shot killed me.
At this point (after 5 hours of fight) and 10:30 in the evening I conceded. We both agreed that the game was far away from being decided, both the actual look favored the Russians. Feeling myself not satisfied with my play I had no problem to accept a Russian victory.
IMHO it is not true that the German have "an edge" as stated on the list. If the Russian stand strong in the town covering their T34 each other and getting always the first shot will normally always take one PzIV with them. The ATR could go for DI what is as good as dead for the German. All Russian weapon are BS and there is always the chance of using APCR with a 6 what's an additional free shot. The Ratschbumm with ROF 2 is an excellent weapon and if the Russian know that he will probably loose all buildings and make the Germans pay for coming to him, the German problems are clear. The PzIV cannot be used to fight against the Russian Infantry if the T34 are still there.
Maybe one SMOKE round, maybe a lucky SD attempt, that's all.
I know that a good German player could do better then I did, but I'm pretty sure the problems he had is faced with are the same. I found it a good idea to go with my Infantry for the Russian tanks. This works well, because the Russian tanks cannot deal with the tanks AND the infantry. The Russian Infantry will be in trouble if the German Infantry develops better then I did. If they break they are probably out of the game.
Enjoyed the game, but not the outcome.
Christian Koppmeyer
