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MISSION: Continue advancing without delay toward Smolensk

DATE: 8 July 1941 - 15 turns

LOCATION: Klepchevo, 150 km West of Smolensk

FORCES: 39th/17 Panzer Regiment - 2 plt Pz II, 3 plt each of Pz IIIG and IIIH, 4 plt of Pz IVE, a Recon company and other support infantry battalion
REINF: Infantry and Engineer plt with 50 mm AT gun - turn 1.
2 plt PzJg I and 88 mm PAK AA gun with 2 plt 37 mm AT guns- turn 2

4 air strikes were available. No smoke was available.

ENEMY: 36th/18 Tank Regiment - Many obsolete tanks: T-26 tanks. There were at least 10 plt of BT-7 tanks and 3 motorcycle platoons. Other BA-20 recon vehicles. A few plts of T-34/40 and a plt of KV-1 tanks showed up.

CONDITION: Major Defeat: -50
Minor Defeat: 175
Minor Victory: 275
Major Victory: 450

TERRAIN: There are not many features on this map except for small hills and valleys throughout the map. There are forests everywhere. No useful paved roads exist on this map. Klepchevo is located near center of the map. There are some villages but Domashevo and Klepchevo are the only noticeable towns. Other towns are very small. There is a lake near Domashevo. Obolyanka River is on the extreme east of the map. There are two unnamed shallow rivers on the map. Overall, Klepchevo is the place where many of the victory HEXs are located. The ground is dry with some light haze in the air.

Opponent: Skip Franklin

A company of Pz IIIHs and a company of recon vehicles were located near Kozlovka which is near NW corner of the map. A company of motorcycle platoon, and Engineer platoon and 50 mm AT guns were located near Zaborye which is near SW corner of the map. Rest of the forces was located 2 km west of Lake Domashevo.

Looking at the map, Domashevo and Dveorets Road was important place to capture as quickly as possible. This became the staging area for the North and the Center groups. The Southern group was sent over toward Morozovka and unloaded there. A platoon of recon vehicles was sent over toward Vitum to monitor a possible flanking maneuver by the enemy. All the reinforcements were also sent over to Dveorets.

The recon units arrived at Klepchevo at turn 3, but they were quickly destroyed by BT-7 and T-34 tanks. The Southern group, minus 50 mm AT and a Motorcycle platoon which was defending Morozovka, were sent toward Klepchevo from the south. The Center group Panzers were sent toward Klepchevo from the west. Rest of AT guns were off loaded in Dveorets and surrounding area to cover the northern flank. This was the only logical area for the flanking maneuver.

My infantry units lead the way into Klepchevo with Pz IIIs and Pz IVs closely behind. Two victory HEXs west of Klepchevo changed hands several times before my forces took them for good at turn 8. My first priority was to destroy or capture T-34s and KV-1s. All T-34 tanks (4 platoons) were captured by assault by turn 9. My Engineer platoons shadowed KV-1 tanks and finally destroyed them on turn 10. Once they were gone, rest of the job was simple. Once it was clear that the enemy force was spent, my recon vehicles were sent out to capture rest of victory HEXs.

RESULTS Axis Major Victory. The enemy was beaten soundly by the turn 10. He held on until the turn 14.

LESSONS: 1. Try to capture Klepchevo. This is the most important position on the map.
2. Recon is very important for this scenario. You do not want to bump into T-34s in the open.
3. Do not engage T-34s in the open. In 1941, Pz IIIs and Pz IVs are not effective against T-34s or KV-1s
4. Use Engineer platoons as much as you can to attack Russians tanks. Other infantry units are not effective on attack.
5. Use Infantry units for defensive purposes in conjunction with AT guns.
6. Do not underestimate BT-7 tanks. They are very fast tanks and deceptively strong.

CONCLUSION: This scenario is one of the most balanced and entertaining one in CS games. The most important aspect of winning this scenario as a German player is to neutralize T-34 and KV-1 tanks by engaging them in city HEXs or in the forest. Trading shots in the open against T-34s is an excellent way to lose this game. Due to abundant forest, movements of the forces are slow unless roads are used. Therefore, capturing little towns where roads intersect is important. Since T-34s and KV-1s have stronger firepower and more mobility, the flanks have to be protected as well. AT guns are very useful for defending flanks.

Skip Franklin is relatively new to the club. His attack is not very coordinated yet. He likes to use tanks for frontal assaults but does not use shoot and scoot method…yet. His recon will need to be improved as well. He is somewhat impatient during attacks but is a fierce fighter and is very aggressive. Once he learns to use tank tactics, he will be a formidable opponent.

Yong Park
XVIII Airborne Corps
"Not all pain is gain."