We decided that Mark needed some practice in fighting as the attacker with this British Paratroopers (most of the time has faced Tank Companies so been dug-in and defending which he has got down to a fine art), but at Tournaments he may have to be the attacker.


So I took my Soviets in a Strelkovy Battalon which consisted of 3 double size Companies, one of which was a SMG armed Company, along with 17 Tanks (is this really an Infantry Battalon!!) and 4 Katyusha Rocket Launchers.


We rolled up No Retreat - with the Soviets defending, I placed 1 objective in the rear area of the battlefield guarded by my CinC and Katyushas nearby. Meanwhile Mark placed the forward objective on a hill in the center, I placed 1 of my Strelkovy Companies dug-in around it.




Mark lined up his force with the Paratroops up front and artillery support behind.



View from the British end.


Mark elected to use the british special rule of 'Night Fight', so shooting ranges were reduced to d6 x 4" till the sun rose after turn 3. So not much shooting was performed while Mark crept up to my lines.


Except that my Scout Platoon of early Spetnaz moved up the left flank and assaulted under cover of darkness Marks HMG Platoon.



These were promptly surrounded and destroyed by his Assault Platoon.


Game Turn 3 and Mark lines up ready to assault next turn; it is still night time.



In my turn 3 we still have night time (failed 5+ on 2 dice), plus my Strelkovy Platoon fails to see the Brits as I roll 1 on the dice to see (Mark was 5" away and I can only see 4").
So the trump card up my sleeve is my Ambush - A full SMG Company rushes out of the trees on my left flank


Decimates the Assault Platoon and follows on to attack and destroy another Para Platoon - eat hot lead...


Still night time in Marks 4th turn, I fail to see his assault with the majority of the Strelkovy Company (as I roll a 1 for distance again), Mark mauls the Company badly.

Which gives him the hill objective - with just 3 Soviet troops contesting!!!


Having received all my reserve tanks during the darkness, I feel confident and send the SMG Company off hunting other platoons,

while the T-34's move up to fire on the hapless Brits trying to find cover on the bare hill.

Unfortunately for Mark Daytime has broke but my fire is way off target.


Mark pushes for the objective and has welcome support from his Typhoon air support.


But too late - the next turn firepower from the Russian Tanks and an assault wipes the Brits from the Hill.


At this point Mark has no platoons in my half of the table.
So a Win for the Soviets.

Good game - the night fight really gave the Brits a good chance at winning, unfortunately for Mark my timely intervention with the ambushing SMG Company hurt him bad.