Introduction
: This is a TSASL Historical Campaign recreating the campaign of the 23.
“Eiffel” Panzer Division’s part in crushing the Mius bridgehead during the
Soviet 1943 Summer Offensive. You will
find 4 Weekly Missions during July and August 1943.
-General :
Use 17 Solitaire Campaign rules.
17.21-24 are NA (see per campaign).
-Campaign
structure : Weekly Missions.
-Composition
[US#56/42]: Armor Leader x 4, 14 x PzIVH
-Special :
Unless stated otherwise
v
None
of the PzIVH’s have Schuerzen.
v
West
is FBE and East is EBE.
v
Enemy
ELR is 3 and Vehicle Morale is 7.
v
Weather
: EC are Dry with no Wind at Start
After
the failure of Operation Citadel the Soviet forces moved over to the
offensive. Along the Mius line 2nd
Mechanised Corps broke through between XVII. and XXIX. Korps sectors and raced
to the west. Only 16. Panzergrenadier
Division was present in the area and its recon battalion tried to stem the
tide. 23. Panzerdivision was called
from the Izjum area to stop the Soviet horde. Both armored elements met near Removka. After a very mobile and confused battle the Soviet advanced
elements were halted and thrown back but the Division had but 50 tanks left
operational.
Type :
Meeting Engagement (Non Standard)
Prevailing
Attitude: Advance
Mission
Tables :
|
Enemy SAN
DR |
Result |
Friendly SAN DR |
Result |
Enemy AC dr |
Result |
RE’s dr |
Result |
|
≤ 3 |
4 |
≤ 4 |
3 |
≤ 2 |
2 |
≤ 2 |
5/6 |
|
4-7 |
3 |
≥ 5 |
2 |
≥ 3 |
3 |
3-4 |
4/5 |
|
≥ 8 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
≥ 5 |
3/4 |
Mapboard
Selection : see below.
Initial
mapboards : Determine 3 vertical boards.
Roll on A9 Farmland with a –1DRM.
VPO
Locations : There are no VPO locations in this Mission.
S? Entry:
Enemy side begins with a pool of S? equal to the Friendly US#. At the
beginning of each Enemy player turn when there is 1 or more non-entered S? in
the Enemy player pool, a DR +3 is made to determine the number of S? to enter
that turn. S? enter EBE through an 'assault corridor' 9 hexrows wide determined
by pulling a letter chit (on a randomly chosen board) on the hexrow from the
letter using the four hexrows on either side of the VPO hexrow. If the 'assault
corridor' goes beyond row A or row GG, player uses the 9 hexrows counting in
from the board edge which includes the VPO hexrow. Place all Letter Chits of
the 'assault corridor' in a cup for determining S? entry and put the other
Letter Chits aside. Friendly units enter the FBE via their own 'assault
corridor' to the VPO closest to the FBE, determined in the same manner.
Sequence:
Side moving first determined by a dr.
Mission End:
After the end of game turn 10 and the end of each player turn thereafter,
make a dr. On a roll <=1, mission ends immediately. There is a -1 drm for
each game turm completed after Turn 10.
VP
Schedule:
v
Each
side gains VP for Casualty VP gained.
v
Enemy
gains Exit VP for exiting units off FBE. Each exited S? counts 2 VP.
Mission
Special Rules:
1. There is
a -1 DRM on all Table A1b Activation rolls.
Do not
refit.
After stopping the armored spearhead 201. Panzerregiment drove on towards the Mius. Unfortunately Soviet second echelon units had established a anti-tank defence around a major obstacle called Hill 213.9. The Panzerregiment was stopped cold and by the evening it could assemble but 25 operational AFV’s. Other attempts had failed too and OKH decided to throw in II. SS-Panzerkorps and 3. Panzerdivision to reduce the bridgehead.
Type :
Anti-Tank Screen (Non standard)
Prevailing
Attitude : Hold
Mission
Tables :
|
Enemy SAN
dr |
Result |
Friendly SAN dr |
Result |
Enemy AC dr |
Result |
Enemy RE
dr |
Result |
Friend RE
dr |
Result |
|
≤ 4 |
4 |
≤ 5 |
2 |
≤ 3 |
3 |
≤ 3 |
3/4 |
≤ 3 |
2/3 |
|
≥ 5 |
3 |
≥ 6 |
3 |
≥ 4 |
4 |
4 |
4/5 |
4-5 |
3/4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
≥ 5 |
5/6 |
6 |
4/5 |
Mapboard
selection : Place 3 vertical boards. N
Initial
mapboards : Roll on A9 Farmland with a –1 DRM for the western board. On A9 Hills with a –1 DRM for the central
board and eastern boards. Hexes between
A and D and DD and GG inclusive are unplayable.
Weather :
EC are Dry with a Mild Breeze from the Southeast.
S?
Placement :
Place Enemy
S? as per 4.1 case b on the central and eastern board.
Friendly
units enter along FBE. Friendly side
starts first.
Mission End
: At the end of Game Turn 8 and at the end of each turn thereafter, perform a
dr. If the result is £ 1 the Mission ends
immediately. There is a –1 drm for
every turn completed after turn 8.
VP Schedule
Mission
Special Rules
1. There is
a +1 DRM to each enemy activation on Table A1b.
2. Each
Final even roll on Table A1b will result in a “AT Gun” {x5a}; the printed
result is ignored.
As the
SS divisions attacked from the north 23. Panzerdivision assaulted from center
and 16. Panzergrenadierdivision from the south. After breaching the defences the spearheads of 23. Panzer and 16.
Panzergrenadierdivivison made contact near Garany and encircled 5 Soviet Rifle
Divisions. This task was accomplished
by less than 50 tanks from both divisions.
Play
according to normal SASL rules (i.e. ignore TSASL rules or table)
Type : Take
the Highway (5)
Mapboard
selection : do not roll on A8e
Initial
mapboards : Roll on A9 Farmland with a
–1 DRM.
Enemy AC :
3
S?
Placement :
Do not roll
on {6f}. Radius is 4
Mission
Speical Rules ;
3. Friendly
reinforcements : 3 x leader, 1 x 248, 9
x 468, 3 x 127, 3 x LMG, 2 x MMG, 1 x HMG, 6 x Opel Blitz, 1 x Kfz 1
Kubelwagen.
Friendly
reinforcements are retained for next Mission
Refit both
Tank company (as per TSASL rules) and reinforcements (as per SASL rules and as
if it was a campaign company).
Although
resistance had been stronger in the north near Stepanovka, the combined weight
of II. SS and XXIV. Panzerkorps reduced Soviet resistance. 23. Panzer Division easily crossed the
Olkhovtahik river and the final assault broke the back of the last Soviet
elements west of the Mius. The Mius
line was restored.
Play
according to normal SASL rules (i.e. ignore TSASL rules or table)
Type :
Bridgehead (18)
Mapboard
selection : See below.
Initial
mapboards : Roll directely on A9 Rural with a –1 DRM for the western and
central board. The easternmost board
must be a river mapboard.
Enemy AC :
3
S?
Placement :
Place S? on
the central and western boards and the river board west of the river as per 4.1
cases a and b.
Ignore
other instructions
Sequence :
Friendly
side enter along the FBE. Friendly side
moves first.
VP Schedule
:
Ignore 4th
point.
Mission
Special Rules :
Ignore all
MSR
1. All
hexes west of the river are considered part of the bridgehead (for VP
purposes).
© 2003 by
Hans Mielants
Sources :
v
Kampf
Lage Ost Front No.31 pp.50-63
v
G. Nafziger “German OoB WWII. Vol. I : Panzer, Panzergrenadier, Light and Cavalry
Divisions”. pp.26-27
v
© Rick
Lubben SASL Mission “Meeting Engagement” for Mission 1