The Last Bridge

[Westbury]

We ran this scenario twice, same basic idea, different forces.
Basic scenario is late war WWII, retreating Germans out of gas not far from the last bridge out of Russia and have to hoof it for the bridge knowing Soviet troops are in pursuit somewhere.
In our first run through we had a single German squad arrive in its vehicles and stop while at the same time a single Soviet squad deployed in the wooden hills to their left and a Razvedchiki squad deployed in the trees to their right. This was fun but didn't go well for the Germans and they were wiped out half way across the table.
For the re run different players, different troop allocations. The Germans were 2 squads and this time they started already out of the vehicles but we diced to see how many had made it this far - amazingly it was 6 each! The Soviets were 2 squads plus the possibility of a command element but this time we diced randomly for their appearance point and for the start time - the command element arrived immediately in the wooded hills but the 2 squads were turns 3 & 4 to arrive on the left and right roads.
We also added a German command element on the bridge waiting for the last stragglers who would only recognise them when they reached a certain point on the table and then could radio contact a mmg and/or mortar on the river bank to give support fire - the German player wasn't told this 

[Westbury]

The opening shots were fired by the Soviet command elements from the tree line hoping to pin the Germans down until the trucks arrived. Good plan but failed miserably when the Soviet player remembered they were armed exclusively with smg's and were out of range! None the less he had declared he was firing so shots splattered near the ground of the German 2nd squad (Steiner) and the lmg team threw themselves to the ground and returned fire; everyone else moved off.

[Westbury]

Realising they were outranged the Soviet command team faded into the woods and moved down to the truck arriving from stage left. On stage right the other truck arrived and drove off road towards the bridge (plan being to cut off the retreat) but the firing persuaded them other wise and they debussed and started slinging lead at the point squad (Tsouras) to no effect.
Alerted by the fire from behind it the 2nd squad lmg redeployed and slung lead which although it hit no one did make the Soviets seek cover.

[Westbury]

At this point it was starting to look good for the Germans and got even better when 1st squad deployed its lmg and opened up on the truck (left road) carrying the Soviet 1st squad and with its bullets ripping through the canvas awning downed most of the squad which put it out of action for several moves as the wounded were tended to.
A couple of soldiers managed to bail out of the cab and supported by the command group returned enough fire to kill Tsuras

[Westbury]

Leaving the lmg team to cover the rear - you just knew these guys weren't going to make it home Steiner's guys scrambled into the ruins to back up the 1st squad and in a firefight that lasted several rounds eliminated the command section - big cheer when the commissar bought it    and more of the Soviet squad scrambling out of the truck of death 

[Westbury]

Still looking good for the Germans the 3 survivors of 1st squad sprinted for the river bank and the old pill box thereby tripping the reserves at the bridge - "oh, what a nice surprise" said the German player.
For Steiner's 2nd squad things weren't looking so good as they were pinned in the rubble with Soviets on both sides of them, losing one man to incoming.

[Westbury]

We were down to the fading light now, who would get home?
The mmg and mortar started to do their work - the mortar was extraordinarily accurate and both Soviet squads took a beating.
It was now or never. The 3 men from 1st squad sprinted for the bridge and, because the Soviets were rather distracted by the mortar shells, made it to the other side and the embrace of their comrades.
Steiner's squad were not so lucky, the remaining three of them sprinted for the pill box but along the way two went down and only Steiner made it 
What happened to the brave lmg team? Well the gunner eventually died of his wounds and the loader was now a lonely soul with enough Soviets between him and the bridge for him to try his luck further down river. 

[Westbury]

A good day's gaming. The scenario worked much better the second time around and gave a really tight game. The rules worked well, the spirit was played to and fun was had.

[has.been]

Looking good Ian.

[CapnJim]

Well done, lad! 

I almost spit out my coffee at...

- big cheer when the commissar bought it    and more of the Soviet squad scrambling out of the truck of death 

 

[Zingara]

Nice dynamic scenario Ian - good write up.

[MaleGriffin]

Excellent action shots! Great looking game!