From Lviv to the Mius
Introduction
: This is a SASL Historical Campaign recreating the SS-Division “Wiking”’s part
of Operation Barbarossa. You will find
25 Weekly Missions from July to December 1941.
General :
Use 17. Solitaire Campaign rules.
17.21-24 are NA (see below).
Unit : 15.
Kompanie/Standarte Nordland/SS-Division “Wiking”
Composition
[US#56/42]: Leader x 4, 468 x 12, 248 x 2, 127 x 6, HMG, MMG, LMG x 6, 50mmMTR
x 3, ATR x 3, Cycle x 8, Sidecar x 14 (motorcycles never count for US#
calculation).
ELR : 5
Special :
v
The
campaign is played in a weekly interval.
If desired players can pick one for every month.
v
Command
structure
o Company commander : SS-Hauptsturmführer
Cesper
o 1. Zug : SS-Untersturmführer Caub
o 2. Zug : SS-Untersturmführer Pauli
o 3. Zug : SS-Obersharführer Goerling
o 4. Zug : SS-Untersturmfüher Peters
v
The 15th
Company was the reconnaissance element of the Nordland regiment and had motorcycles
(with sidecars). These are permanently
attached.
v
All
468 are considered SS for all rules purposes and have their broken morale
raised by one. The unit is Elite.
v
German
units never have Winter Camouflage (E3.712).
On a dr £ 3 the Russians have it when Ground
Snow is in effect and on a dr of £ 4 when Extreme Winter is in effect.
v
The
FBE is West unless stated otherwise.
The
SS-Division “Wiking” had been held in reserve of 1st Panzer Army in
the opening stage of Operation Barbarossa.
In the last days of June the Nordland Regiment advanced into the vast
Ukraine farmland. 15th
Company was sent out to Recon. Only slight resistance was met and stragglers
were rounded up and the regiment was able to continue to cruise through the
steppe.
Type :
Recon (3)
Mapboard
selection : do not roll on A8e but directly on A9 Farmland with a -1 DRM
Initial
mapboards : Roll on A9 Farmland with a
-1 DRM
Weather :
EC are Dry with no Wind at start.
Enemy ELR :
2
There is an
additional +1 DRM on tables R2, R3, R7 and R8
MSR 3 is NA
Near the
end of the first week the first real resistance was met along the river Slutch
being part of the Stalin Line. Nordland
regiment was ordered to take the bridge west of Proskuriv and clear the road
for the rest of the division. After the first contact along the river some
companies of the regiment laid a firebase and crossed it in force. Although the first serious casualties had to
be noted, one of whom was no less than CO Haupsturmführer Cesper, soon the road
to the east lay open.. Obersturmführer
Klapdor had taken over command of Nordland’s motorcycle company.
Type :
River Assault (17)
Mapboard
selection : See below.
Initial
mapboards : Determine the eastern board as per A8d with a -2 DRM (and a -1 DRM
applies to the subsequent A9 DR).
Western board is 40.
Weather :
EC are Dry with no Wind at start.
Enemy ELR :
3
There is an
additional +1 DRM on tables R2, R3, R7 and R8
After a
successful advance of more than two weeks the Nordland regiment encountered the
first staged counterattacks of the campaign. The battalions and support
companies had to form a in depth line to hold off the Russian attacks supported
by air. After the initial onslaught the
Russians were thrown back with heavy losses.
Type : Hold
the Line (10)
Mapboard
selection : A8e
Weather :
EC are Dry with no Wind at start.
There is a
-1 drm for both RE Numbers
Enemy ELR :
3
Read every
Enemy RE of ≥ 61 results as RE 64-65
MSR 3 : No
OBA and all guns received are 75* INF.
After
holding off the counterattacks Wiking Division cautiously advanced trying to
locate enemy units south of Kiev. Once
again 15th company spearheaded Kampfgruppe von Scholz (CO of
Nordland regiment). Resistance was of
variable quality and density and other companies were called in as soon as the
company met more than it could handle.
Type :
Coutious Advance (1)
Mapboard
selection : Do not roll on A8a but on A8d
Initial
mapboards : Roll on A8d
Weather :
EC are Moderate with a Mild Breeze from the Southeast.
Enemy ELR : Roll. DR£5 = 4, DR 6-8 = 3, DR ³ 9 = 2
Friendly
RE# is increased to 6/7 as soon as ³ 20 enemy units are on map
End of
July saw the Wiking Division along the heights just west of the Dniepr. They met growing resistance and then were
attacked by massed tank units. Some
Kampfgruppe von Scholz elements had to fight for their life but again lack of
coordination and tactical mistakes resulted in yet another Soviet failure. The
Wiking troopers were relieved although they had seen nothing yet. Little did they know they would be fighting
for their lives “for real” within 2.5 years at almost exact the same place.
Type : Tank
Attack (11)
Mapboard
selection : Do not roll on any A8 table but directly on A9 Hills wit a -1 DRM
Initial
mapboards : Roll on A9 Hills with a -1 DRM
Weather :
EC are Dry with a Mild Breeze from the Southeast
Enemy ELR :
3
Read every
Enemy RE ≥ 55 as RE 55
After
being released by other units Wiking Division pressed eastward along with the
rest of the 1st Panzer Army.
Mostly only scattered resistance and/or retreating enemy units were met
but sometimes coordinated action was required.
Type :
Pursuit (15).
Weather :
EC are Very Dry with a Mild Breeze from the Northwest. Steppe. Terrain (F13.2)
is in effect.
Mapboard
selection : Roll on following table
|
DR |
Steppe |
|
2-3 |
26 |
|
3-4 |
27 |
|
5-6 |
28 |
|
7-8 |
29 |
|
9-10 |
30 |
|
11-12 |
31 |
Enemy ELR :
2
S?
Placement : Black S? as per 4.1b (read brush/woods as brush/hammada and on
every coordinate) and 4.1e Grey S? in
each hex in a straight line (coordinate determined with a chit draw starting
with the westernmost board) six hexesfrom the FBE and ending six hexes from the
EBE.
Mission End
: Starting at the end of turn 6 at the end of each player turn a roll of
≤ 3 ends the Mission immediately.
MSR 3 is NA
After a
lot of rural, farmland and steppe fighting Wiking Division met its first urban
stronghold. Some elite enemy units were
reported and 15th Company had to recon the city. Unaccustomed to the new terrain some units
managed to get ambushed or were being repulsed with some losses. The division would have to take the city by
brute force.
Type :
Recon (3)
Mapboard
selection : do not roll on A8e but A9 City directly
Initial
mapboards : Roll on A9 Village for the friendly
setup board and A9 City afterwards
Weather :
EC are Dry with no Wind at start.
Enemy ELR :
3 for £ First Line and 4 for Elite units
There is an
additional –2 DRM on R2 table
S?
Placement: Use 4.1d
VP Schedule
: FRIENLDY side gains 1 VP for each VPO with none or unconcealed enemy units in
addition to the Mission VP schedule.
MSR 3 is NA
After
the first recons it became clear that Dnieprodzherzinsk would not fall without
an all out assault. Well defended
strongholds and little fortresses were defending the inner city and the Wiking
Division and Wehrmacht elements had a lot of trouble pushing forward.
Type : The
Fortress (6)
Mapboard
selection : do not roll on A8b but directly on A9 City
Initial
mapboards : Roll on A9 City.
Weather :
EC are Moderate with a Mild Breeze from the
Northeast.
Enemy ELR :
3
There is an
additional –1 DRM on R2 table
Every
doubles on the A1 table results in a possible fortification being activated on
the A5 table but with a +1 drm.
MSR 2 is NA
German RE
generated units are Wehrmacht on a DR ≤ 7.
Slowly
making their way through the city Nordland Regiment closed in on the huge
Dniepr river and was ordered to create a bridgehead to facilitate the future
drive to the east of the First Panzer Army.
Even before getting over the river they were pounded by artillery cadet
units from the city itself. Although
the Scandinavians experienced one of the toughest artillery barrages of the war
they managed yet again to realise their objectives.
Type :
Bridgehead (18)
Mapboard
selection : See below.
Initial
mapboards : Roll directely on A9 Village for the central board and roll on A8d for
the eastern board. Western board is
7.
Weather :
EC are Dry with a Mild Breeze from the Northwest.
Night rules
are in effect (S12.8) with Half Moon and no Cloud Cover. NVR is 4.
Both Enemy and SS Majority Squad Type are Normal, Wehrmacht are Lax.
Enemy ELR :
3
There is an
additional +1 DRM on tables R2, R3, and R7 but a – 1 drm on the R8 table
Read Enemy
generated RE of ≤ 31 as RE 31.
Treat
Soviet Artillery as if the were German as per C1.3
MSR 2 Take
only ½ (FRU) of the German US# as offboard S? but add 3 artillery strikes which
will be activated as soon as one German unit lands on the left side (eastern
river bend) of the river.
German RE
generated units are Wehrmacht on a DR ≤ 7.
After the
Mission note all concealment terrain occupied by friendly units.
Thinking
they had seen already about everything the Soviets had up their sleaves
Klapdor’s men were in for a nasty surprise.
For the first time they experienced the massive “Hurrah” coming from a
Human Wave trying to crush the bridgehead.
Nordland and its Wehrmacht friends would hold the bridgehead for more
than a week before the remainder of the Wiking Division would join them on the
far side of the river..
Important
: If last Mission
failed to create a bridgehead repeat that Mission in daylight conditions
without refitting.
Type :
Human Wave (14)
Mapboard
selection : Take the same configuration as last Mission without the river
board. Friendly units can set up within 3 hexes of a concealment terrain
occupied during last Mission. Add another board for every board (EXC the river
board) with German units during last Mission using A8c with a -1 DRM for the
subsequent A9 roll
Weather :
EC are Moderate with a Mild Breeze from the Northwest.
Enemy ELR :
3
German RE
generated units are Wehrmacht on a DR ≤ 7.
Steiner’s
division just had a very tough fight in holding the bridgehead or it was
ordered to move back to the right side of the river and clear the town of
Kamenka west of Kremenchoug. Resistance was variable but the absence of Soviet
artillery made the task feasible. After
a few days the remaining 5000 Soviet soldiers on the right riverbank
surrendered to the Wikings.
Type :
Pockets (2)
Mapboard
selection : Do not roll on A8a but A8b
Initial
mapboards : use configuration B FBE is
south, east and west.
Weather :
EC are Moderate with a Mild Breeze from the
North.
Enemy ELR :
2
There is an
additional –1 DRM on R2 table
S?
Placement as per 4.1a and 4.1e
With the
Dniepr line secured the Wiking Division moved to the northeast along the far
side of the Dniepr to clear the city of Kremenchoug. With the Germania Regiment
experiencing a Human Wave counterattack too Nordland elements had to cover the
division’s flank. The city was taken in
one swift swoop without the division’s flank being endangered.
Type :
Cautious Advance (1)
Mapboard
selection : Do not roll on A8a but on A8d
Initial
mapboards : Roll on A8d
Weather :
EC are Moderate with a Mild Breeze from the West
Enemy ELR :
2
In order
to attack the enemy forces still blocking the bridgehead in the back Steiner
decided to create a reconnaissance kampfgruppe made up of the Recon Battalion
and the motorcycle companies of Westland and Nordland under command of Recon
Battalion CO Sturmbannführer Baron von Reitzenstein. Roaming during night they stumbled into a Soviet reconnaissance
party and by the time the sun rose they were completely intermingled. When the dust cleared a mass of Soviet
vehicles were captured.
Type :
Patrol (8)
Mapboard
selection : do not roll on A8* but on A8e
Initial
mapboards : Roll on A8e
Weather :
EC are Moist with a Mild Breeze from the Northwest.
Enemy ELR :
3
Temporary
Attached units : Armor Leader x 2, PSW221 x 1, PSW222 x 5, PSW231(8rad) x 1
All
non-motorised Soviet units come with a transport vehicle : roll on R7
Each final
even DR on the Table A1 is considered to be a Recon vehicle and the printed
result is ignored : roll on R6b
Marching
east towards Pavlograd the Wiking
Division was ordered to move to the south and help sealing off the Melitopol
pocket. Scattered resistance and feable
counterattacks to reopen the pocket failed and another large pocket of about
60000 Soviet soldiers surrendered.
Type :
Cautious Advance (1)
Mapboard
selection : Do not roll on A8a but on A8d
Initial
mapboards : Roll on A8d
Weather :
EC are Moist with a Mild Breeze from the Northeast
Enemy ELR :
2
Enemy AC :
2
There is a
– 2 drm for Friendly RE number determination
The Soviets
receive an offboard pool of grey S? equal to 1/3 US# (FRU) of the German
units. These grey S? and all units
activated from them have an Advance Attitude.
All past
successes could not disguise the fact that the Germans were behind schedule and
with the Summer season over another enemy joined the fray : King Mud. With heavy rains the landscape changed in a
blurry mess where vehicles and men got stuck and were unable to advance. It took
ages to advance and clear the remaining pockets of resistance along the way.
Type :
Pockets (2)
Mapboard
selection : Do not roll on A8a but A8d
Initial
mapboards : use configuration A FBE is
south and west.
Weather :
EC are Mud with Rain and with a Mild Breeze from the North.
Enemy ELR :
2
Mud was
replaced with snow after only a week and allowed for some renewed
mobility. 15th Company was
ordered to recon the town of Amvrosievka southeast of Stalino. Obersturmführer Klapdor sent
Untersturmführer Petz forward with some Kubelwagen but they were ambushed
costing Petz his life.
Type :
Recon (3)
Mapboard
selection : See Below
Initial
mapboards : Use A8e for the initial two
boards. The first board activated has
to be done one A9 Village, the following boards are on A8e again.
Weather :
EC are Wet with Falling Snow and no Wind at start.
Enemy ELR :
3
S?
Placement: Use 4.1d.
MSR 3 is NA
You get an
additional 3 x Kfz 1 Kubelwagen. Roll
as per H1.41 for optional armament.
Alte
Fritz was a bit depressed by this new drawback and it took a stunt from the
Dane Hauptsturmführer von Schalburg from Divisional HQ to convince Von
Scholz. He dressed up as a Soviet
officer and drove on a Soviet artillery tractor to the enemy lines,
interrogated some NCO’s informing them he was Marshal Voroshilov, drove back
and reported Soviet strength to Von Scholz.
Nordland attacked the next day and cleared the road for the
division. Soviet prisoners reported
that the Germans had missed a big catch since Marshal Voroshilov had just
visited the town the day before…
Type : Take
the Highway (5)
Mapboard
selection : See below
Initial
mapboards : Use the same configuration
as previous Mission.
Weather :
EC are Wet with Ground Snow and Overcast.
Enemy ELR :
3
15th
Company was again in the lead of the Nordland Regiment as Soviet elements tried
to make a stand along the small river Krynka near Kolpakovka. With a lot of cunning they quickly
eliminated Soviet resistance and occupied Kolpakovka.
Type :
River Assault (17)
Mapboard
selection : See below.
Initial
mapboards : Determine the eastern board as per A8d (and a -1 DRM applies to the
subsequent A9 DR). Western board is 40
(a two lane wooden bridge exists from Q2 to Q3)
Weather :
EC are Wet with Overcast and no Wind at start.
Enemy ELR :
2
Mission End
: Start rolling as per Mission at then end of Game Turn 8.
There is an
additional +1 DRM on tables R2, R3, R7 and R8
VP Schedule
: Each bridge hex is worth 5 VP
MSR 2 is NA
Crossing
the Russian-Ukraine border they met yet another but larger river called the Mius. Nordland did not waste any time and
established a bridgehead south of Dmitrienko, a town southeast of
Kubjetsevo. Not much later they
witnessed a scene out of history : Hundreds of Cossacks were charging towards
them, their chachka sabres in their hands. They were cut to pieces and only a
handful managed to escape. Wounded prisoners told them they had been mistaken
them for a Soviet unit until too close when all they could do was charge…
Type :
Bridgehead (18)
Mapboard
selection : See below.
Initial
mapboards : Roll for the central board on A8d for the central and eastern
boards. Western board is 8.
Weather :
EC are Wet with Ground Snow and a Mild Breeze from the Northeast.
Enemy ELR :
3
MSR 2 :
Each infantry unit from activated grey S? (EXC if PP of a SW is ≥ 4) will
come as Cavalry A13.
Only
just were the panzerjäger installing their PaK’s in the bridgehead as the first
enemy tanks appeared. Although the
gunners easily hit their targets there every round bounced off these vehicles’
armor. They had to resort to deliberate
immobilisations to stop the monsters. The Wikings had just made acquaintance
with the most famous Soviet tank : the T-34.
Type : Tank
Attack (11)
Mapboard
selection : Roll on A8e
Initial
mapboards : Roll on A8e
Weather :
EC are Wet with Ground Snow and no Wind at start.
Enemy ELR :
3
MSR 4 is NA. Take 4 x 37mm PaK 35/36
MSR 7 A DR
on Table R6 of ≤ 4 will result in a T-34M41, a roll of 5-8 will result in
a
T-34M40,
threat rolls of ≥ 9 as per Table R6.
The
SS-Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler division had taken Rostov but the gate to the
Caucasus had proven a trap for the German forces and were assaulted from every
side. Nordland was defending one of the
Rostov suburbs, Darjevka, against the Soviet onslaught. Thanks to the help of a piece of 88mm FlaK
Soviet troops were held back. 1st Panzer Army’s commander von Kleist
decided to give up Rostov since it was threatened to be cut offs.
Type : Hold
the Line (10)
Mapboard
selection : Do not roll on A8e but on A8b
Turn the
boards 90° to the left, FBE is south
Weather :
EC are Snow with Ground Snow and no Wind at start.
Enemy ELR :
3
MSR 3 is NA
: You get one 88mm FlaK 18.
MSR 7 : all
activated squads are 468 SS
With
Rostov lost 1st Panzer Army had to withdraw to defensible
positions. Wiking was given the order
to cover that withdrawal. This meant a
lot of ground had to be covered : Nordland was responsible for more than 40 km
of frontage ! Alte Fritz kept 15. Kompanie in reserve but had toput them in
action after 2nd Battalion was engulfed. After helping the Battalion the motorcyclists clung onto the
town, with Untersturmführer Friedel being wounded, untill all elements of
Nordland had withdrawn. Obersturmführer
Klapdor was the last German to quit Astachovo.
Retreating from the village the columns were struck by artillery causing
even more losses.
Type :
Escape (19)
Mapboard
selection : Do not roll on A8e but see below
Initial
mapboards : Roll A9 Farmland for the westernmost and central boards and on A9
Village for the easternmost board.
Weather :
EC are Snow with Deep Snow and Hard Wind from the East.
Enemy ELR :
3
You get an
additional 3 x Kfz 1 Kubelwagen. Roll
as per H1.41 for optional armament.
Although
the Tuslov river had been chosen as the main line of the defence the situation
was too instable. The frontline became very fuzzy and it was hard to tell were
the enemy was. In few cases some
companies and even whole battalions were cut off and/or run over by storming
Soviet units. It was decided to pull
back once again on the Mius river.
Type :
Besieged (12)
Mapboard
selection : As stated
Initial
mapboards : As stated
Weather :
EC are Snow with Deep Snow, Extreme Winter and a Hard Wind from the Northeast
Enemy ELR : 3
Wiking
Division moved back to the Mius with some difficulty. The Soviets were not willing to wait and managed to get across
the frozen Mius near Russkoje and at the Slovak held sector around
Golodajevka. Steiner scrambled a
Kampfgruppe from parts of his Engineer Battalion, 15th Company of
Nordland Regiment and some Wehrmacht Panzers.
The desperate Germans managed to push the Soviets back over the river.
Type :
Block Party (7)
Mapboard
selection : See below.
Initial
mapboards : Take board 8. Turn North
arrow 90° to the left (the board number is turned to the north on a dr £ 3).
Weather :
EC are Snow with Ground Snow, Extreme Winter and a Mild Breeze from the
Northeast. The river is Frozen.
Enemy ELR :
3
Friendly RE
is 3/4
VP Schedule
:
v
First,
second and thrid are in effect, fourth is not.
v
The
ENEMY gains 5 pre-game VP for the Slovak and tank component (MSR 4)
v
The
ENEMY gains VP for every good order unit on the west side of the river.
v
The
FRIENDLY side gains 1 VP for each building controlled on the west side of the
river.
MSR 4 is NA. You receive
v
Slovak
elements : 8-1, 8-0, 347 x 6, 137 x 2, LMG, MMG with an ELR of 2.
v Wehrmacht (non elite) Panzer elements : 8-1 AL, PzKpfw IIIH x 2, PzKpfw IVE
MSR 5 and 6
are NA
Only shortly after the Mius line was restored and the Nordland units were be back in their trenches the Soviets assaulted once again. The bitter cold raged as much through the ranks as the Russian soldiers but the river line was held. Second half of December was to become quite but even colder. When Regimental CO Standartenführer “Alte Fritz” Von Scholz visited the trenches things looked grim but his regiment would hold their line all winter and would be on the move again next summer, towards the Caucasian mountains.
Type : Hold
the Line (10)
Mapboard
selection : Do not roll on A8e
Initial
mapboards : Eastern board is 7. Roll on A9 Farmland for the Western board. German units can set up west of the river.
Weather :
EC are Snow with Ground Snow, Falling Snow and Extreme Winter and a Hard Winds
from the East. The river is Frozen.
Enemy ELR :
3
VP Schedule
:
v
Both
are in effect
v
Soviet
side gains 1 VP for every building and Trench counter west of the river under
control on board 7.
MSR 2 : In
addition to the dr the Geman player gets 12 x Trench counters.
MSR 6 is NA. Treat Trench counters as German occupied
VPO.
MSR 7 :
Make only 3 dr to determine the number of German squads.
© 2002 By
Hans Mielants
Sources :
Jean Mabire “La Division Wiking : Dans l’Enfer Blanc 1941-1943” Fayard, 1980.
George Nafziger “German OoB WW II. Volume 2” 1994.