Baitschen

Well its been a while since last I posted.

Here is an AAR of a scenario from our up coming East Front (Tannenberg/Gumbinnen) scenario book.

The table set up for the Baitschen Scenario. The Russians would be defending the farside of the table, while the Germans enter from the near edge.

Russian Defenders await the German advance.

Turn One

Russian Defenders awaiting the Germans. Dug in and ready to go - 4 full strength Russian Regiments were set to defend the area. Confronting them were the equivalent of three German Regiments. Although the Russians had Green morale they had the advantage of being dug in.

German infantry enter the table, a regiment of 7.7cm field guns can be seen near the top of the shot.

Turn Two
German command closes the distance, Uhlans advance into sighting distance!

Uhlans move ahead of the German infantry and spot a Russian Regiment ensconced in the town!

Turn Three
Russian Artillery drops fire onto the Germans but with no effect, first blood however goes to the Russians destroying a squadron of Uhlans.

On the German left flank, the infantry closes on Baitschen, Russian Artillery drops on target but the ammunition is of poor quality and does no damage.

On the German right flank, the Russian defenders don't get much shooting in but they do destroy the MG stand as it was the only target available. The Artillery battery also suppressed a German infantry stand. (The yellow skulls represent units that moved and cannot shoot. Green is moved and can shoot. Red is suppressed.)

Turn Four
Germans maneuver into position for the assault. On their right flank they take heavy casualties and are forced into a morale check but pass. On the left Russian shooting isn't as good and they only get a couple of suppressions. German fire is mostly ineffective causing only two suppressions on the Russian defenders.

This is turn four movement, two forward German companies would be suppressed in the resulting fire from the Russian defenders.

Turn Five
Germans suffer a second morale check on the right flank and are forced to retreat two turns. Russians on that flank hold strong with only 2 casualties. On the left though the Germans continue to mount more fire against the Russian line destroying two companies and suppressing 2 more.

You can see the German infantry thinning out from casualties but they inflicted more against their opponent.

End turn five shot of the Russian center Regiment. You can see three suppressions and some missing stands (2 in fact), unable to roll off the suppression would be a death knoll for this regiment.

Turn Six
Russian disaster! Suffering 2 more destroyed and 2 more suppressed the center Russian regiment on the German left flank, was forced into a morale test which they failed and ran for the hills.

A HUGE gap opens in the Russian defensive line.

Turn Seven, Eight and Nine
Although a ten turn game, this one lasted nine only. On turn eight one of the German left flank Regiments had to check morale but passed, same for a Russian Regiment. But on turn 9 a second check on the Russians saw them break and run - the field was now firmly in German hands.

Trying to realign the Russians were forced out of their defenses and suffered from the effective German firepower.

Russian left flank (German Right), attempt to move into contact with German forces that previously fell back 2 turns.

This was a fantastic scenario, quick and dirty. The speed of the game - only 10 turns - means the German has to move quickly and decisively to take enough Victory Points from the Russian to win the game. At start it looks hopeless for the Germans but the brittle nature of Green troops showed through in this one!