Operation DANUBE

 

As a child I remember reading Viktor Suvorov's The Liberators about the Soviet invasion of Czechosolvakia. But it was Daniel who suggested it might be fun to do a Warsaw Pact 'red on red' game - two horde armies duking it out... 

Although 'horde army' is relative - compared to the WW2 museum collection the Czech's had, the Soviet T-54s and IS-7s seem relatively cutting edge! Despite both sides having 100 points, I was particularly confident that resistance to Soviet Power would be futile!

The Flanking Move mission was selected at random but well reflected the invading Soviets coming in from all points of the compass.

Reserves would be Scattered and Delayed, further adding to the chaos!

Not really reflecting the history though, the Czech team, Daniel and Peter, rolled to be the attacker and to move first!

The table was set up to reflect semi rural eastern Europe with a good road net.

Both sides used their recce platoons...

To open out their deployment zones:

Karl Marx Platz had never known so many tanks - has May Day come early?

Despite only having four units, I deployed to be able to take all three objectives early. 

In some ways the ratcheting point system discourages concentration of effort, but I have learnt that with Clash of Steel it pays to get points on the clock early doors!

Whereas the Czech counter revolutionary fascist running dogs seemed to be focusing just on Objective 3 in the outskirts of town - probably pandering to spoilt bourgeois student activist layabouts from the local Uni...

The ensuing combat was short, intense...

But as we know, resistance to Soviet Power is always futile!

There were also sporadic spots of fascist revisionism elsewhere in the area:

But nothing to seriously trouble the mighty Iosif Stalin 7s!

I will say this for the bourgeoisie though - the local ringleader had a smile on his face even as he was stood against the wall to recieve the People's justice!

Once again Clash of Steel delivered a fast paced and intriguing mission, which, if a little unbalanced (all together now: Resistance to Soviet Power is Futile!) was a interesting change from East - West match ups!

Normandy Hellcat!

This week's theme at the Wollongong Wargamers was WW2 Skirmish games. So Caesar joined me in a game of Achtung Panzer! We played the first mission, which is essentially a battle of attrition.

For the Germans, I had Von Ribbentrop's elite Panther:

And a JagdPanther. 

Caesar had the Northants Yeomanry elite Akilla Sherman V, a Firefly Sherman Vc...

And, perhaps improbably, a lost US M18 Hellcat:

Caesar advanced cautiously on his left, spending a great deal of time an effort fruitlessly brassing up the constricting Ambush Terrain:

To the extent I abandoned my initial plan of hanging back and taking long shots and advanced my JagdPanther forward into the village...

Noticing too late that Caesar had sent the Hellcat racing down his right flank in the shelter of the large bocage field...

The resulting close range confrontation would be decided by who was fastest on the draw - both commanders were unbuttoned so it would be a question of passing crew skill tests for a free conversion of a spot into an aim.

I was first initially, but the Hellcat declined to hang around and be shot at, reversing nimbly back into the shadow of the bocage. Then, it shot back out...

And got the drop on the Panther!

By this stage the Shermans had finally cleared the ambush terrain and were jockeying for position to have a go at the JagdPanther...

The Firefly hit and penetrated sufficiently to cause hull damage...

Then the Hellcat, insufficiently sated, also joined in the fun...

Creeping forwards to get a hull down shot at the giant assault gun:

Once again working hard for a side shot paid off for the US Tank Destroyer crew!

An enjoyable game, even if my impatience led to disaster!