Counter-Attack! (One Hour Warames Scenario 18)

The Soviets hold the village and are advancing to take the bridge. Meanwhile, the Germans, holding the bridge with a small force, are organizing a counter-attack, with the intent to capture the village. Unbeknownst to the Soviets, the Germans have identified two fords by which they can cross the river.

Soviets: 3 infantry, 2 ATG, 1 mortar

Germans: 3 infantry, 2 mortar, 1 tank.

A lovely day for a battle.

Soviets send two of their infantry and an ATG to take the bridge.

The ATG has an advantage of range but their aim could use some work; the German defenders avoid any serious casualties.

I just like this picture of the ATG deployed.

The ATG calls in a mortar strike which is much more successful - the bridge defenders are in disarray.

They hold on long enough for the main force to arrive.

A battle for the bridge ensues.

The Panzer unit engages Soviet infantry at the bridge, supported by mortar fire, while German infantry cross the ford.

The Soviet reserves look on towards the sound of battle, waiting for their moment.

The village defenders pre-register targets on the road in the event of a Panzer break through at the bridge.

The lead ATG  unit prevents that possibility - disabled tanks litter the road to the bridge.

German infantry across the river.

Both sides infantry are too far apart to engage, so mortar fire plays the biggest role.

Things don't look good for the Germans - cohesion and combat efficiency toes the breaking point.

However, effective mortar fire and an incredible effort by the officers pushes them onward behind the creeping fire of the two mortar units. The Soviet infantry breaks and quits the village, the ATG unit abandons their guns, and the mortar unit outside of town, at full strength and having a banner day, is forced to concede without any meaningful way of staving off the Germans.

 

*****

Rules used were my own Modified Morschauser modern rules (linked in the side bar). The scenario is from Neil Thomas's One Hour Wargames - modified to fit on a 4' x 4' table (plywood on a bed). This was the first time where mortars played a decisive role in one of my games with these rules - in a way they typically do with NT's own WWII rules from OHW. 

I may have given the mortars too many strength points - 3 points each. That's what I've been doing, but I wonder if it should be more like the ATG, tanks, howitzers, etc. and only have 2? I'll think more on that.