SITUATION
REPORT
Sochaczew,
Poland, September 15, 1939: The Poznan Army had been falling back without
engaging the Germans since the invasion began because of the lines collapsing
on both sides of them. On September 9,
General Kutrzeba crossing the Bzura River and launched an offensive; breaking
through the flanks of the German 30th Division that was by-passing
their position to the north. As the
offensive gained momentum, more and more German resources were committed to
counter the offensive and push the Poles back across the Bzura. The Polish 25th Infantry Division
failed in an attempt to break out of the encirclement at Sochaczew, the German
1st Panzer Division took advantage of the bridge being intact and
went after the Polish position.
GAME LENGTH:
8 turns
VICTORY CONDITIONS:
At the end of the game the Germans must have one platoon on the south
side of the Bzura River.
THE
BATTLEFIELD:
This view is looking
North. The Bzura cannot be forded and
the embankments are steep. The bridge
can support tanks and is 2 lanes wide.
The center pier of the bridge is in the center of the table. There is a low footbridge to the left (24” in
from the left table edge) that may be crossed by infantry only. The fields are cosmetic only and do not have any effect on movement or line of
sight.
The Polish player
deploys anywhere on the southern river bank (lower edge). The German player may deploy up to 12” in
from the Northern (upper) table edge.
The German player has initiative on the first turn. German artillery may deploy off-board.
SPECIAL RULES: Ammo checks on Turn 5.
The footbridge is of weak
construction; thrown together by troops from a prior offensive. Roll a Firepower test when a stand on the
foot bridge is hit. If it is successful
the bridge is damaged. (Mark which section).
Any stand may make a skill test to repair the bridge during a turn in
which they do not move or shoot. If the
same section takes 3 points of damage remove that section. The bridge is out of commission for the
remainder of the battle.
Any stand that is Pinned on the
foot bridge is placed in the water adjacent to the bridge. Once they rally, they must make a skill test
to get back on the bridge. A ‘1’ during
any skill test results in the stand drowning or getting washed downstream and
they are removed from play. A stand may
remain in the water alongside the bridge (using it for cover and moving
hand-over-hand along the braces). It can
move 2” per turn (roll a d6) and is considered to be in bullet-proof
cover. They may not fire while in the
water.
The high bridge is 2 lanes
wide. Therefore, a vehicle must be
knocked out passing a wreck in order to completely block the bridge. The Polish player may call Opportunity Fire
to hit a vehicle as it is passing another on the bridge (in an attempt to block
it), but the Rate of Fire is reduced as if the shooter had moved; representing
the limited time the firer has to hit the vehicle at that specific spot. He may resolve the rest of his fire normally,
but if the vehicle is bailed out or knocked out it takes place normally at the
end of its move.
Because of the
difficulty in targeting the deck of the bridge and limited surface, Smoke
Bombardments may not be placed on the bridge itself. However, direct fire smoke can be fired at
targets on the bridge.
POLISH ORDER OF BATTLE
Fearless Trained
Elements 25th Infantry Division
Battalion Piechoty
Battalion HQ 50 pts
2 Command Rifle Teams
1 81mm Mortar
Medic [Independent
Unit]
A Company 290 pts
2 Command Rifle Teams
1 Anti-Tank Rifle
3 HMG
12 Rifle Teams
B Company 205 pts
2 Command Rifle Teams
1 Anti-Tank Rifle
12 Rifle Teams
Piechoty ATG
Platoon 90 pts
1 Command Rifle Team
3 37mm wz.36 Anti-Tank
Guns
Mounted Kawalerii
Company 180 pts
1 Command Cavalry
Rifle Team
1 Cavalry Anti-Tank
Rifle Team
5 Cavalry Rifle Teams
Fearless Veterans
Total
Points: 815
The Poles are
Underdogs in this scenario. If the
players wish for an even battle, the Polish force should be brought up to 1,200
points against 1,500 points for the Germans.
GERMAN ORDER OF BATTLE
Confident Veteran
Elements 24th Panzer
Battalion
Leiche
Panzerkompanie
Company HQ 80 pts
1 Panzerbefehlswagen
(Command Pz I)
1 Panzer II (early)
1 SdKfz 9 Recovery
Vehicle
1st Light
Panzer Platoon 215 pts
2 Panzer I
3 Panzer II (early)
2nd Light
Panzer Platoon 130 pts
1 Panzer I
2 Panzer II (early)
Medium Panzer
Platoon 450 pts
3 Panzer IV D
Light Armored Car
Platoon 100 pts
3 SdKfz 221 Armored
Cars
Light Pioneer
Platoon 155 pts
1 Command Pioneer
Rifle team
6 Pioneer Rifle teams
3 Kubelwagens
2 Heavy Trucks (2
stands each)
Light Artillery
Battery 360 pts
1 Command SMG team
1 Staff team
1 Forward Observer /
Motorcycle
4 105mm leFH18
Howitzers
Medic
Supply Truck
Total
Points: 1,490
THE
BATTLE REPORT
Polish Deployment
A Company deployed
into the woods to the left of the bridge with 2 HMG’s and the HQ Mortar
overlooking the footbridge while the remaining HMG faced the near side of the
bridge. HQ deployed in with A Company. B Company deployed along the road and to the
right in anticipation of the Germans coming across the bridge.
Two ATG’s were
positioned at the end of the bridge with the third along the left riverbank to
triangulate their fire on the Germans as they crossed the bridge. The unmounted cavalry
company deployed in the field behind (as a reserve) and chose to dig in once
the battle was underway.
On the opposite shore
the Germans lined up in the order that they would be taking the bridge. The Armored Cars & 2nd Light
Panzer platoon in the road to lead the way (with the armored recovery vehicle
close behind to ensure no wrecks block the bridge). The Engineers started dismounted across the
road and would feint toward the footbridge before moving on the main bridge
behind the armored columns.
The Panzer IV’s &
Artillery Forward Observer would take up positions on their side of the bridge
to pour some fire on the defensive positions while the rest advanced. Finally, 1st Light Panzer Platoon
would move into the woods on the left, offer fire support, then follow 1st
platoon out onto the bridge.
Turn 1
The Poles held their
positions and began firing on the approaching Germans. The Germans closed then distance from their
deployment zone to the river’s edge. In
the initial barrage from the Anti-tank guns, a Panzer IV & Panzer II were
taken out while the second Panzer II in 1st Platoon & an armored
car were pinned. 1st Platoon
passed their platoon morale check, but it could have been significant had the
first panzer platoon broken off.
“Did you see that? 3
shots, 2 kills! The heck with those guys
on the bridge, WE did that!” ATG on the
river bank takes down a Panzer II and Panzer IV while pinning the other Panzer
II from 1st Platoon.
Turn 2
The German Pioneers
reached the riverbank and began exchanging fire with the Poles on the other
side. The first air strike came in and
the Stukas took out one of the ATG’s at the end of the bridge along with 2
stands from B Company and pinning the rest.
Never the less, the German tanks held back on the river’s edge waiting
for some of the fire to soften up the Polish positions.
The anti-tank gun in
the woods that had a flank view of the bridge took out a second Panzer IV and
the remaining tank failed a platoon morale check. With the heaviest tanks quickly disposed of,
morale was high on the Polish side.
The ace ATG came under
fire from the Panzer II’s and was taken out along with one of the anti-tank
rifles. Never the less, the remaining
ATG at the end of the bridge held fast.
Turn 3
With the FO in position, the Germans were
ready to pick up the intensity on the Polish positions. Another air strike came in again, taking out
2 more stands at the end of the bridge and pinning most of the rest. The Panzer II’s collected along the river
bank turned their attention to the last remaining ATG; taking it out along with
the command stand. The way was clear.
Armored
Cars lead the advance across the bridge while Panzer II’s on the far shore keep
the pressure on the Polish defenders.
Before the way had
been cleared, the armored cars and 1st Platoon jumped off and
started their trek across the long span.
Armored Cars lead the
remaining 2 Panzers from 1st platoon across in the face of the
Polish defenders. They won’t be there by
the time they arrive.
Although the German
105’s posed a significant threat to the Poles on the opposite shore, the
opening salvo simply suppressed the HMG’s and Mortar. In the meantime, the German Engineers pulled
away from the river’s edge and headed for the roadway to be the next across.
Turn 4
With the way open and
the Germans showing no intention of coming across on the foot bridge, Company A
began shifting toward the main bridge and the oncoming armor.
Nothing like wheels on
the road! Moving 18” at a time, the German armored cars whiz past the
bewildered defenders. Now the Poles will
have to contend with them in the rear.
The Armored Cars
by-passed the Polish defensive positions and pulled up by the Chair Factory
while the slower tanks assaulted the Polish infantry along the fence line by
the bridge.
1st Platoon
goes to work clearing opposition away from the Polish side of the bridge.
The two panzers
eliminated one stand and forced the rest of the Poles to fall back toward the
trees where the rest of A Company was gathering to launch a counter-attack.
The German engineers
started across the bridge, but found not enough of the Poles had been pinned by
the artillery. The HMG opened up along
with several rifle stands and cut down 2 of the Engineers on the bridge.
Turn 5
Polish B Company
failed their ammunition check, but there weren’t many of them left and the
panzers were within assault range anyway.
With a tentative
foothold on the opposite side, the rest of the German force started across the
bridge.
The Stukas were unable
to range in on the Poles in the trees, but the artillery was effective in
pinning down the most dangerous weapons (the mortar and HMG’s). Therefore there were no casualties on the
bridge this turn. Never the less, the
small arms fire continued to erupt as the Poles pelted the German armor with
bullets in an attempt to get in a lucky shot.
The dug in dismounted
cavalry look on as Company A (on the left) assaults the panzers while remnants
of Company B (right) assault the armored cars.
With the significant
anti-tank weapons gone, the Poles understood they’d have to assault the German
armor if they were to win back the bridgehead.
They converged on them from both sides of the road.
Although there were no
casualties, the Panzers of 1st Platoon won the assault and forced
the Poles to fall back into the treeline again; further widening the
bridgehead. The armored cars killed 2
stands, but the infantry of B Company were able to destroy one armored car and
suppressed the second. The armored cars
failed their platoon morale test and fled the scene. It was too close for comfort for lightly
armored recon vehicles.
Turn 6
The Panzers of 2nd
platoon pour across the bridge & head for the dug in cavalry unit while an
armored car burns to the right. On the
left, the 2 tanks of 1st platoon continue to push A Company back
into the treeline.
The Polish HMG’s had
the opportunity to open up on the bridge once again; taking down 2 more
engineer stands and causing the remainder of the platoon to bug out. This was half the force! The Germans found
themselves having to pass a Force Morale Test with victory in their clutches! It was time to be more careful before the
tenacious Poles pull a victory out of the clutches of defeat.
Panzers assault the
Polish positions again.
Both Panzer platoons
assaulted the Polish positions. They
took out 6 stands including the Commander-in-Chief. 1st Platoon reached the edge of
the treeline and held fast while 2nd platoon was repelled by the
dismounted cavalry (despite inflicting 3 of the casualties on the cavalrymen).
Turn 7
The
Germans had a wide enough swath cleared for their bridgehead and chose to hold
their positions; let the Polish Defenders come to them. Inevitably, this is what happened. Any Polish troops within range assaulted the
German tanks in a final, fruitless attempt.
The cavalry unit took
another casualty and broke from the battlefield. A Company & B Company each lost 2
stands. Time was running out and the
Poles had nothing left to push the Germans back to the bridge. The game was called at the end of Turn 7.
How it ended: German Panzers loitering around on the Polish
side of the river. “Send word back to
Herr General, the bridge is secure!”
AFTERMATH
Historically, the
Polish were able to hold the Germans off long enough so that the Poles could
ford the Bzura River further north and escape to Warsaw. However, they had to abandon all of their
heavy weapons in order to make the river crossing.
