25.9.16: Eastern Front '43 Kriegspiel at Little Gaddesden. (Semi Fictional)

Gents,

Sean and I will be undertaking our second game.
We will elaborate over the coming months with briefs and maps etc or we might leave it to the last minute!

However it will be an operational (Divisional) game set in the Ukraine (Summer) with the Germans on the defensive taking knocks and the Soviets getting their act together. We shall see.

Here is the doodle:

http://doodle.com/poll/euie6n5kqw47qtxe

Cheers

Graham

Sounds excellent.  Count me in.

Martin (J)

PS this game has been brought forward from October. The October game will now feature a second scenario for the Vietnam long range patrol and penetration game. More details on that (plus doodle) to follow.

Just a reminder that this game is in 3 weeks. I see we have 8 so far, but could fit more in.

Martin (J)

Hello Chaps

I know that this is late notice but I will be able to make this game on Sunday. I hope that I am not too late?

This would be my first Kriegsspiel game of this type.

If it is ok to join, then can you link me in to any useful information, and how to get there.

I would also be happy to just watch, if this would be better for you guys

Mike

I shall be going so it would be great to finally meet you.

Little Gaddesden Village Hall, Church Road, Little Gaddesden, Herts HP4 1NX


https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Church+Rd,+Little+Gaddesden,+Berkhamsted+HP4+1NX/@51.8116732,-0.5607321,18z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x487645262e430669:0xfd349865ded9928a!8m2!3d51.8118042!4d-0.5598116


I think we meet from 11:00 but I plan to get there at 10:30 ish.

Yes the official start is 11 am, but I imagine the umpire team will arrive a bit earlier.

Martin (J)

Thanks Martin(Digby)

Indeed it will be good to finally meet up. I will try to get there also for 10.30.

I couldn't resist.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RFwflbMo2c

Thanks, you caught my nuances very well as Flasheart there

Ha!
Be sure to leave your revolver at home.

Just a quick post to say thanks again to everyone for the game on sunday. My first Kriegsspiel 'face to face' game was a real pleasure. Thanks for looking after me.

Really good to meet Martin (Mr Digby) too.

Mike

It was great to finally put a face to your name as well Mike. I'm pleased to say you looked pretty much how I expected! You sound tall and you are!

It was a very well organised game with a good orders system and fantastic maps. Graham, Sean and Paul did a good job as umpires and there was almost no slack-time for us on the German team. The abstracted combat felt about right though I suspect 5 Russian divisions assaulting three dug-in German regiments would and should have made faster progress. Apart from that and the stereotyping of the Romanians as complete rubbish ( ) it was an excellent game.

Hi Mike,

I was also very glad to meet you on Sunday, and hope you enjoyed the flavour of face to face KS, albeit playing unusually in a team of two for the whole game.

It certainly requires dedication to drive down all the way from Nottingham, but hopefully we will meet again before too long passes?

PD

AAR, Ukraine Summer 1943.

The main Russian Armour and Infantry concentrations (Black arrows) had formed up on the German side of the river and thrusted straight for Kaczanwka and Iwanowska on a narrow front which was held by the unfortunate, understrength German 222 ID, (Blue Circles). Facing the Germans were nine Rifle Divisions and three Tank Brigades.

By day two, the Soviets attack had cut off the unsupported 222nd Infantry Division within Kaczanwka and Iwanowska.  (Blue Circles).
The Soviet Guards Divisions then crashed through a 5km gap which led the way for The Tank Brigades to push through. Simultaneously The Red air force was attacking anything that moved ahead of the breakthrough.

The German high command appeared stunned by the Red Army steam roller. This was a text book assault by the Shock Army HQ, which led their operations from the Front.

By day 3, all was stopping this offensive was the hastily formed Kampfgruppe ‘Maarten’ was formed by the Korps Stug and Pioneers which although getting battered by various Ilyushin attacks overruled hold orders from High Command and counter attacked the flank of Soviet vanguard. (Green arrow).

Although the Soviets were less than 10km from there objective. This local counter attack seemed to have a memorising effect on the Soviet plans, they held back, they should have progressed.

Day 4, Good timing: The 8th Panzer Grenadier Division (with 50 Pzkw III’s) had just arrived from Army Reserve and formed a blocking position. Mobility was negated as both the Red Army and German armoured formations as stood still, facing each other.  

Action swung south to the battle hardened 12th Tank Corp which was now deployed and was ready to deal the winning hammer blow at the weakened KG Maarten and the remnants of the 222 ID (which had pulled back overnight).

However instead of pushing through the lines the Shock Army command ordered it south.

Unfortunately, it ran into the newly arrived Army Group Reserve, the 14th PZD, (Red) coming in the other direction.
So the Soviet advance was blunted.  Napoleon's requirement for lucky generals rang true.
By hook and by crook the Germans had stopped the Soviets from getting across the map, so they win the day.
The Soviet Generals were never seen again.  

https://i.servimg.com/u/f97/19/35/31/68/croppe10.jpg


https://i.servimg.com/u/f97/19/35/31/68/croppe11.jpg

It was a great game - though the German high command wasn't stunned, we were actually following our plan which worked perfectly except for the unexplained late arrival of 14PD.