TANK SOLITAIRE ASL HISTORICAL CAMPAIGN

White Mammoths

21^st Tank Brigade (later 12^th Guards Heavy Tank Regiment)

October 1941-May 1945

Introduction : This is a TSASL Historical Campaign recreating the campaign of the Soviet 21^st Tank Brigade from its creation in Vladimir in 1941 to the crushing of the Czech border defences at the end of the war. You will find 14 Bi-Monthly Missions from October 1941 to March 1945.

-General : Use 17 Solitaire Campaign rules. 17.21-24 are NA (see per campaign).

-Campaign structure : Bi-Montly

-Unit :

v 10/41-12/41 : Heavy Company/1^st Battalion/21^st Tank Brigade

v 4/42-8/42 : 12^th Battalion/21^st Tank Brigade

v 12/42-3/44 : 1^st Battalion/12^th Guards Heavy Breakthrough Regiment*

v 7/44-5/45 : 1^st Battalion/12^th Guards Heavy Tank Regiment*

* Conditional as per below

-Commander : Colonel M. Skvortsov

-Composition :

v 10/41-4/42 : [US#35/21]: Armor Leader x 2, 7 x KV-1M41

v 8/42 : [US#35/21]: Armor Leader x 2, 7 x KV-1M42

v 12/42-7/43 : [US#50/38]: Armor Leader x 2, 10 x KV-1M42

v 12/43-3/44 : [US#50/38]: Armor Leader x 2, 10 x KV-85

v 7/44-11/44: [US#50/38]: Armor Leader x 2, 10 x JS2

v 2/45-3/45 : [US#50/38]: Armor Leader x 2, 10 x JS2m

During refit, when updating the type of vehicle, treat as being understrenght by the number of vehicles indicated as per S17.82

-Special :

v Unless stated otherwise below West is EBE and East is FBE (and therefor reverse Western and eastern board designations in the Missions).

v *If the player’s CG VP is ³ 2 and it has caused more CVP than lost the unit becomes Guards status.

v Crew Morale is 7 untill the unit becomes Guards after which it becomes 8.

Mission 1 : The Kalinin Raid. Kalinin, Russia. 18 October 1941.

The 21^st Tank Brigade was formed in September 1941 in Vladimir in the Moscow District with one company of KV-1’s, one of T-34/57’s, one of T-34/76’s and four of T-26’s, for a total of 87 tanks. The Brigade was sent to Kalinin as the Germans managed to take the city on 14 October. 21^st Tank Brigade and 20^th Reserve Rifle Regiment assaulted the German 36^th Motorized Division supported by tanks of the 1^st Panzer Division. The Brigade almost made contact with 252^nd Rifle Division of 29^th Army on the other side of the city but a counterattack from the German 161^st Division twarted this attempt. After losing a lot of vehicles the brigade was withdrawn from the frontline on 2 November but would be assaulted again before it could regroup.

Do not play according to TSASL rules but do use your tank company

TYPE : Block Party (7)

MAPBOARD SELECTION :

FBE is south

PREVAILING ATTITUDE : Hold

Enemy AC is 3

Enemy RE is 5/6

MISSION END :

At the end of Game Turn 7, and at the end of each game Turn thereafter, perform a dr. If the result is £ 3 the Mission ends immediately.

MISSION SPECIAL RULES :

Replace MSR 3 by :

-The Friendly side is reinforced by an Infantry company : leader x 2, 447 x 9, 237, 127 x 3, MMG, LMG x 2, ATR x 2, 50mmMTR. ELR 2

Delete MSR 4, 5 and 6.

7. Every Gun activated on the Enemy Activation Table will be an Standard AFV {G6} if the colored dr of the activation was £ 3. Reroll on the G6 table.

8. Every Friendly RE generated Standard AFV {R6}will be T-26M37/39 on a DR of £ 6,

T-34M41/57* on a 7, T-34M41 on a roll of 8-10 or a reroll on the R6 table if ³ 11.

*Treat T-34M41 as having a 57LL gun

Mission 2 : Earning the nickname. Rogatsjevo, Russia, 6 December 1941

By December 21^st Tank Brigade was ready to support the major Soviet counteroffensive in front of Moscow. It supported the green 371^st Rifle Division in its drive towardsr Klin. After some desperate fighting the regiment broke through the German defenses, encircled and cleared Klin by 15 December. The white painted KV-1’s had earned their nickname “White Mammoths”.

Do not play according to TSASL rules but do use your tank company

TYPE : Assault (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	≤ 3	5	≤ 4	3	≤ 3	2/3	≤ 3	3/4
≥ 5	3	≥ 4	4	≥ 5	4	4-5	3/4	4-5	4/5
						≥ 6	4/5	6	5/6

MAPBOARD SELECTION : : Place 3 horizontal boards. N

INITIAL MAPBOARDS : Roll on the table below for each board.

DR	Board
2-3	w34
4-5	w32
6	17
7	16
8	18
9-10	w36
11-12	w47

Weather : EC are Snow with Ground Snow and Overcast and a Mild Breeze from the Northwest

Enemy ELR : 2

VPO LOCATIONS : Determine VPO {A6g}for the central and western board only.

S? PLACEMENT : Place Enemy S? as per 4.1 cases a and d on the northern board.

SEQUENCE :

Friendly enter along FBE. Enemy sets up on central and western boards. Friendly side starts first.

MISSION END : At the end of Game Turn 7 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 6.

VP SCHEDULE :

• The Enemy gains 1/2 VP (FRU) for every at start mobile Friendly AFV.
• The Enemy side gains 1 VP for each CVP inflicted.
• Each sides gains VP for VPO.

MISSION SPECIAL RULES :

1. There is a +1 DRM to each enemy activation on Table A1.

2. All Enemy units are Wehrmacht.

3. Russians have Winter Camouflage, Germans do not.

4. The Friendly side is reinforced by an Infantry company : leader x 2, 447 x 12, 237, 127 x 4, HMG, LMG x 2, ATR x 2, 50mmMTR x 2. ELR 2

5. Every Friendly RE generated Standard AFV {R6}will be T-26M37/39 on a DR of £ 5, T-34M41 on a roll of 6-10 or a reroll on the R6 table if ³ 11.

Refit as per new unit composition (see above).

Mission 3 : Severe onslaught. Pogeroloje , Russia. 2 March 1942

After the liberation of Klin 21^st Tank Brigade was attached to the 30^th Army mobile group consisting of 8^th and 35^th Tank Brigades and 46^th Motorcycle Regiment in order to exploit the breaches and trap German rearguard or reserve units. The mobile group smashed German resistance and drove all the way to Rhzev. Here German counterattacks restored most of the MLR and by April the frontline was more or less stable.

TYPE : Pursuit (15)

PREVAILING ATTITUDE: Hold

MAPBOARD SELECTION : : see below

INITIAL MAPBOARDS : Roll on the table below for each board.

DR	Board
2-3	w34
4-5	w32
6	17
7	16
8	18
9-10	w36
11-12	w47

Weather : EC are Moist

Enemy ELR : 2

MISSION END :

At the end of Game Turn 10, and at the end of each game Turn thereafter, perform a dr. If the result is £ 3 the Mission ends immediately.

MISSION SPECIAL RULES :

5. All Enemy units are Wehrmacht.

6. The Friendly side is reinforced by an Infantry motorcycle company : leader x 2, 527 x 7, LMG x 2, MC x 5, MC with Sidecar x 2. ELR 3

7. Every Friendly RE generated Standard AFV {R6}will be T-60M40 on a roll of £ 5, T-34M41 a roll of 6-9 or reroll on the R6 table if ³ 10.

8. On a dr < the turn number (rolled for every turn) the Enemy will receive a number, equal to a dr+1, of yellow S? which have an Advance Attitude and who treat Friendly AFV as VPO.

9. All black and grey S? are activated as per normal SASL rules.

Refit twice times between missions

Mission 4 : Marsh Men. Ostashkova, Russia, 15 August 1942.

21^st Tank Brigade went into the Toropets bulge to support 41^st Army. The Heavy Tank Company received the new KV models and was renamed 12^th Battalion (without changing TO&E but referring to the relative weight of heavy tanks) and led by Lieutenant-Colonel D. Klinfelyd. In very tank unfriendly terrain they supported several infantry units who were under sporadic attacks.

Do not play according to TSASL rules but do use your tank company

TYPE : Enemy Offensive (9)

MAPBOARD SELECTION : : see below

INITIAL MAPBOARDS : Roll on the table below for each board.

DR	Board
2-3	w36
4-5	w32
6	w34
7	w5
8	w42
9-10	w47
11-12	w39

Weather : EC are Normal

Enemy ELR : 4

MISSION SPECIAL RULES :

7. There is an additional –1 DRM on the A1 Table.

8. The Friendly side is reinforced by an Infantry motorcycle company : leader x 2, 447 x 12, 127 x 3, LMG x 2, MMG, 50MTR, ATR x 2. ELR 3

9.The Friendly Tank Company can enter on a dr < turn number.

Refit twice times between missions

Mission 5 : Blasted away. Rosino, Russia, 17 December 1942.

21^st Tank Brigade was pulled out of the frontline before it could participate at the ill-fated Operation Mars and reorganised as a heavy tank regiment and received the title of 12^th Guards Heavy Breakthrough Tank Regiment. The unit was sent to 11^th Army sector north of Demyansk and took part in the attempt to snatch off the bulge, once more together with other tank regiments. Unfortunately they encountered the 184. Sturmgeschütz Abteilung equipped with new StuGIII’s. Oberfeldwebel Horst Naumann became the first NCO to receive the Knights Cross in the German assault gun arm for taking out so many KV’s.

Type : Anti-Tank Screen (Non Standard, TSASL MA1)

Weather : EC are Ground Snow with a Mild Breeze from the Southwest.

Mapboard Selection : see below.

Initial mapboards : Determine 3 horizontal boards. Roll on A9 Rural for the northern and southern boards and A9 Hills for the central board with a –1DRM.

FBE is north

S? PLACEMENT (4.):

Place Enemy S? as per 4.1 case b on the central and southern boards. In addition add one S? on every even or odd numbered Level 2 hill hex.

MISSION END (see also 12.5):

At the end of Game Turn 12 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 12.

MISSION SPECIAL RULES:

1. There is a +1 DRM to each enemy activation on Table A1b.

2. Every Eenemy activated Standard AFV or SPG will be StuGIIIG on a DR of £ 9 or a StuGIIIB on a roll of ³ 10.

3. Whenever a Friendly unit is within 4 hexes of a western or eastern board edge the Enemy RE is two levels higher (e.g 2/3 becomes 4/5).

4. Both sides have Winter Camouflage.

5. All Germans are Wehrmacht but are Elite.

Mission 6 : From Woods to Bush. Bushnevo, Russia. 25 March 1943

After the failed offensive 12^th Guards Tank Regiment was withdrawn to STAVKA reserves were it retrained after the severe losse. By February it was send to 61^st Army in Bryanks Front. The unit probed the enemy lines in support of infantry units. After more than a year in swampy conditions the new terrain was a welcome change.

TYPE : Cautious Advance (1)

MAPBOARD SELECTION : See Below

Initial mapboards : Roll on A9 Rural.

VPO LOCATIONS :

There are no VPO in this Mission

S? PLACEMENT/ENTRY :

Place Enemy S? as per 4.1e [EXC. Replace {A6f} by {A6g} for radius, with placement regardless of terrain] at start of the Mission.

MISSION END :

At the end of Game Turn 8, and at the end of each game Turn thereafter, perform a dr. If the result is £ 3 the Mission ends immediately.

VP SCHEDULE :

§ Each side gains VP for each CVP inflicted.

§ The Friendly side gains 1 VP for each non-Initial mapboard activated.

MISSION SPECIAL RULES :

Use MSR 1 but as per TSASL rules

In MSR 2 change “Controlled VPO” in “S? or units”

3. EXC to 9.25 : Consider the nearest (in hexes) Friendly unit to be the nearest Friendly Occupied VPO for Enemy Move Commands purposes.

4. All Germans are Wehrmacht.

Refit twice times between missions

Mission 7 : Breaking Citadel. Bolkhov, Russia. 12 July 1943

When the German Operation Citadel started 61^st and 50^th Armies had prepared a counterstroke to draw enemy troops away from their main focus south of Orel. 12^th Guards Heavy Breakthrough Tank Regiment spearheaded the assault along with numerous assault engineer units and new heavy assault guns. The Germans lost their MLR but 61^st Army did not achieve a real breakthrough. Nevertheless, the main objective was achieved : The Germans had to give up their offensive in the northern pincer of Operation Citadel.

TYPE : Bunker Busting (5)

Do not play according to TSASL rules but do use your tank company

MAPBOARD SELECTION : See Below

Initial mapboards : Roll on A9 Rural.

MISSION SPECIAL RULES :

Replace MSR 3 table by

dr Assault unit reinforcements

1 Infantry platoon* + Assault Engineer section

2 Infantry platoon + Assault Engineer platoon

3 Infantry company A**

4 Infantry company B***

5 As per 2 and 3

6 As per 2 and 4

4. Every Gun activated on the Enemy Activation Table will be an AT Gun {x5a} if the colored dr of the activation was £ 3.

5. Every RE generated Standard AFV will be a SU-152 on a subsequent DR £ 6.

6. All Germans are Wehrmacht.

*Infantry platoon consists of 3x 527 squads, 1x leader, 1x LMG (if present, otherwise NA)

**Infantry company A consists of 9x 527 squads, leaders as per LG number on the A. National Capabilities Chart (FRU), SW as per H1.83 SW Allotment Chart.

***Infantry company B consists of 12x 527 squads, leaders as per LG number on the A. National Capabilities Chart (FRU), SW as per H1.83 SW Allotment Chart.

Refit twice times between missions as per new unit composition (see above).

Mission 8 : Christmas Clash. Zhitomir, Ukraine. 26 December 1943

Refitted with the new KV-85 the heavy tank regiment took part of the 101st Corps during the Christmas assault west of Kiev. The Germans had assaulted the Soviet positions just days before but were caught off guard by the renewed Soviet Offensive. The 101st Corps threw the Germans back and advanced towards Zhitomir. Parts of 8th and 19th Panzerdivisions counterattacked once more but 12th Guards intercepted and broke the German stroke. 101st Corps would take Berdichev a few days later for which it was to recieve a unit citation.

TYPE : Interception (Non Standard, TSASL MA3)

Weather : EC are Ground Snow with a Mild Breeze from the Northwest.

MAPBOARD SELECTION : See Below

Initial mapboards : Roll on A9 Rural.

MISSION SPECIAL RULES :

2. German and Soviet units have Winter Camouflage

Mission 9 : Spring Cauldron. Starakonstantinov, Ukraine. 9 March 1944

In March 12th Guards Breakthrough Tank Regiment was assigned to 11th Tank Corps to break the German positions near Starakonstantinov. The desperate Germans tried to hold their positions but were unable to mass any kind of reinforcement and were overwhelmed by Soviet armor. The regiment smashed the rear area of the German MLR and allowed the Tank Corps to drive deep behind the enemy lines despite deterioating wheather conditions.

TYPE : Exploitation (Non Standard, TSASL MA2)

Weather : EC are Mud with Overcast. All roads are plowed.

MAPBOARD SELECTION : See Below

Initial mapboards : Roll on A9 Farmland.

MISSION END : At the end of Game Turn 12 and at the end of each turn thereafter, perform a dr. If the result is £ 3 the Mission ends immediately.

Refit twice times between missions as per new unit composition (see above).

Mission 10 : Summer Blow. Zloczow, Ukraine. 14 July 1944

By April the regiment was withdrawn to recieve the JSII tanks. After training the unit was assigned to 38th Army which was to break the front as part of the Lvov-Sandomierz operation. 12th Guards was the only armored element in the army and managed to play a crucial role in breaking the first German line. After gaining 7km the army was stopped and then had to retreat 4km in front of a counterattack by 1st and 8th Panzerdivisions. Thanks to the encirclement and destruction of the German XIII Corps near Brody the Germans had to withdraw and Lvov was taken on 27 July.

TYPE : Fortress (6)

Do not play according to TSASL rules but do use your tank company

Weather : EC are Moist with Overcast.

MAPBOARD SELECTION : See Below

Initial mapboards : Roll on A9 Rural.

PREVAILING ATTITUDE :

Enemy AC is 4

S? PLACEMENT/ENTRY :

Place Enemy S? as per 4.1a, b & c

MISSION END :

The minimum number is turns is equal to the sum of all S? divided by 6 (FRU). At the conclusion of each Player Turn starting on this determined turn, make a dr. On a dr of £ 4 the Mission ends immediately.

MISSION SPECIAL RULES :

Delete MSR 2

Replace MSR 4 by :

The Friendly side is reinforced by an Infantry company : leader x 2, 447 x 12, 127 x 4, LMG x 2, MMG x 2, 50MTR, ATR x 2. ELR 4

5. Every Gun activated on the Enemy Activation Table will be an AT Gun {x5a} if the colored dr of the activation was £ 3.

6. German units are Wehrmacht with an ELR of 3.

Do not refit between missions

Mission 11 : Saving Slovakia. Dukla Pass, Poland. 10 September 1944

38th Army advanced slowly in front of deep German defences and entered hilly border of Slovakia. 349th Guards SU Regiment had joined the army but even then the Army could muster only 22 AFV’s. The Soviets prepared to storm the Carpathian mountains and relieve the Slovakian uprising. 101st Corps breached the lines and as the 25th Tank Corps was to exploit the 78th Sturm Division counterattacked. 12th Guards Heavy Tank Regiment was praised for repulsing the enemy assault. The Slovakian Corps was put into the field but was unable to advance much further and the Germans managed to crush the uprising.

TYPE : Enemy Offensive (9)

Weather : EC are Normal with a Light Breeze from the Northwest.

MISSION TABLES :

Enemy AC is 3

BOARD SELECTION :

Use Table A9 Hills

S? PLACEMENT/ENTRY :

Replace “equal to the total US#” to “1.5 times the total US#”.

MISSION END :

At the end of Game Turn 9, and at the end of each game Turn thereafter, perform a dr. If the result is £ 3 the Mission ends immediately.

VP SCHEDULE :

§ Each side gains 1 VP for each CVP inflicted.

§ The Enemy side gains 2 VP for each EVP.

MISSION SPECIAL RULES :

Delete MSR 2, 3 and 4

7. EXC to 9.25 : Consider the FBE to be the nearest Friendly Occupied VPO for Enemy Move Commands purposes.

Mission 12 : Sotnikov’s Special Platoon. Krajna Porubka, Slovakia. 2 November 1944

Guards Lieutenant Sotnikov had managed to capture a set of intact Panther tanks which he used to infiltrate and probe the German positions in conjunction with 12^th Guards Heavy Tank Regiment.

TYPE : Cautious Advance (1)

Do not play according to TSASL rules but do use your tank company

MISSION TABLES :

Enemy AC is 4

Enemy RE is 5/6

BOARD SELECTION :

Use Table A9 Hills

VPO LOCATIONS :

There are no VPO in this Mission

S? PLACEMENT/ENTRY :

Place Enemy S? as per 4.1e [EXC. Replace {A6f} by {A6g} for radius, with placement regardless of terrain] at start of the Mission.

MISSION END :

At the end of Game Turn 8, and at the end of each game Turn thereafter, perform a dr. If the result is £ 3 the Mission ends immediately.

VP SCHEDULE :

§ The Enemy gains VP for each CVP inflicted.

§ The Friendly side gains 1 VP for each non-Initial mapboard activated.

§ The Friendly side gains 1 VP for each Gun, SPG or Entrenchment eliminated or captured at Mission end.

MISSION SPECIAL RULES :

In MSR 2 change “Controlled VPO” in “S? or units”.

3. EXC to 9.25 : Consider the nearest (in hexes) Friendly unit to be the nearest Friendly Occupied VPO for Enemy Move Commands purposes.

4. Add 3 Panther tanks to the friendly company. Captured use is NA, use Red to Hit Table. The AC and the Morale of the Germans is lowered by 1 when checking activation by a Soviet Panther.

5. Every Gun activated on the Enemy Activation Table will be an AT Gun {x5a} if the colored dr of the activation was £ 4.

Refit as per new unit composition (see above).

Mission 13 : Crossing the Vistula. Maly Vistula, Slovakia. 10 February 1945

On 15 January the “Yaslo Gorlits” operation took off with the major goal to draw away German reserves from the major Polish campaign in the north. Even so 101^st Rifle Corps penetrated 20km in two weeks in this mountain area. By February they reached the Vistula and a mobile team, under command of 12^th Guards Heavy Tank Regiment Lt-Colonel Chalov, made a night dash to cross the river. By the next morning 2 regiments of 185^th Rifle Division had followed and a firm bridgehead was established.

TSASL Mission 17 (P) River Assault

Do not play according to TSASL rules but do use your tank company

This is a Night Mission with Half Moon and Overcast and a NVR of 5 at start. Majority Type is Normal for both sides.

EC : Ground Snow.

MISSION TABLES :

Enemy AC is 4, ELR 1

BOARD SELECTION :

Use Table A9 Hills

S? PLACEMENT/ENTRY :

Place S? on the river board (EBE-side of the river only) per 4.1, cases a, b and c. There is no maximum of S?.

MISSION END :

At the end of Game Turn 9, and at the end of each game Turn thereafter, perform a dr. If the result is £ 2 the Mission ends immediately. . There is a -1 drm for each Game Turn completed after Game Turn 9.

VP SCHEDULE :

§ The Friendly side gains only 1/2 VP for CVP gained.

MISSION SPECIAL RULES :

Delete MSR 5.

Add to MSR 4 : “and Large Rafts (E5.122) per vehicle in the tank company representing rafts capable of carrying one vehicle each”.

7. The Friendly side is reinforced by an Infantry company: leader x 3, 447 x 12, 127 x 4, LMG x 4, MMG x 2, 50MTR, ATR x 2. ELR 4

8. Every Gun activated on the Enemy Activation Table will be an AT Gun {x5a} if the colored dr of the activation was £ 4.

Mission 14 : Taking the old line. Moravska Ostrava, Moravia. 28 March 1945.

By March the 38^th Army reached the Moravian border (German protectorate) and encountered the old fortification line, once build to protect Czechoslovakia from Germany but never put to the test because of theTreaty of Munich in 1938. Although old, some bunker complexes took up to 30 heavy hits before succumbing. The Germans gave up Ratibor to prevent the Soviets from reaching the Moravian plain. The offensive towards Moravska Ostrava was stopped on 30 March. The Moravian city would fall but in the final days of the war.

TSASL Mission 4 Bunker Busting

Do not play according to TSASL rules but do use your tank company

German ELR is 2

S? PLACEMENT/ENTRY :

Place Black S? on the highest level present on the western board (one per hexrow, determine randomly if more than one hex possible), connect these Black S? with a straight row of Black S?. Connect with Black S? to the board edge (hexes with the same row number as closest Black S?). Place a Black S? to the west of each Black S? and a Grey S? to the east of each Black S? as to create a 3 hex wide string from the northern to the southern board edge.

MISSION SPECIAL RULES :

MSR 2 is NA for the eastern board.

Replace MSR 3 table by

dr Assault unit reinforcements

1 Infantry platoon* + Assault Engineer section

2 Infantry platoon + Assault Engineer platoon

3 Infantry company A**

4 Infantry company B***

5 As per 2 and 3

6 As per 2 and 4

4. Every Gun activated on the Enemy Activation Table will be an AT Gun {x5a} if the colored dr of the activation was £ 5.

5. Every Grey S? will automatically be Wire upon activation.

*Infantry platoon consists of 3x 527 squads, 1x leader, 1x LMG (if present, otherwise NA)

**Infantry company A consists of 9x 527 squads, leaders as per LG number on the A. National Capabilities Chart (FRU), SW as per H1.83 SW Allotment Chart.

***Infantry company B consists of 12x 527 squads, leaders as per LG number on the A. National Capabilities Chart (FRU), SW as per H1.83 SW Allotment Chart.

© 2004 by Hans Mielants

Sources :

v History, Panzer Commander, pp 71-81.

v 225. ID. Militar Archiv Freiburg