With our new purchase of Das Book from BattleFront, this weeks battle would use one of the new missions: Breakout.

As the mission uses 'Defensive Battle' rules, Bruce's Fallshirmjager (Infantry Company) would be defending against my Soviet Motostrelkovy (Mechanised Company).

The mission required 2 objectives to be placed in the middle of the table, with Bruce's forces in 1 quarter and half my forces in the adjoining quarters.
Bruce placed both his Fallshirmjager Platoons, HMG Platoon and the 2 Tigers, while I placed in one quarter the T-34/76 Tanks and in the other the IS-2 Platoon.




NOTE: Used my new buildings purchased at Warfare from 'Fieldworks' and 'King&Kerr'.

Swarm of T-34/76s


Fallshirmjager deployment


IS-2 Tanks stand ready inside a wood


Turn 1 for the Soviets - receive a reserve of Motostrelkovy Company which move to support the Tanks


German Mortars smoke the Tanks while the Tigers move and fail to hit.
Then in the next turn the Soviets gain another reserve (I made a mistake placing them on this quarter as they ran out of space to move in the next turns - would have been better threatening from the other quarter).



Next German turn, a Fallshirmjager platoon moves to hold the objectives, while the Mortars and Tigers smoke and destroying 1 Tank.


The IS-2 Tanks move up to Machine gun and assault the FJ Platoon, but the firing is too successful in killing 8 stands (Bruce had dismal cover save rolls).
Before

After

I also manage to get my final reserve on the table turn 3 - the T34/85s but due to the smoke bombardment no LoS to the Tigers.


In Bruce's next turn, fortunes change - the Tigers manage to kill 4 out of 4 Tanks and send the remainder running home


Still game is looking good for me, especially with Bruce's reserves not turning up, and my forces just outside 4" of the objectives. Critically my IS-2's fire on the Tigers but I fail both Firepower tests leaving just 1 Tiger bailed...


Then it all changes - both German reserves arrive - 2 x Jadgpanthers and the AA Halftracks. The Tigers reposition and between them kill 1 IS-2 tank and bail the other 2, I pass my motivation (got to love Guards - Fearless).

See Jadgpanthers in the distance - Bruce also opens up with the HMG platoon and managed to kill 9 Russian Infantry as I also fluff my infantry cover saves.

My IS-2 square off against the Jadgpanthers but need 6's to hit (concealed behind hill and moving with RoF1 weapon) and promptly miss. Infantry dig-in around objectives.


At this point Turn 5 - Bruce needs to push the Infantry off the objectives or at least contest them.


So the Halftrack AA's get in position to fire (killing 1 Team), and the Tigers move full speed out of the woods and up the hill - the hill sides cout as difficult ground, so 2 bogging tests are needed - both come up 1's - Bruce rolls for wide tracks and passes test. Tigers are ready to cause damage.


Tigers shooting fails to kill anyone, meanwhile the Jadgpanthers finish off the IS-2's.
Then it's time to assault - the Tiger rolls forward and runs over a hapless Russian team. The Russians fail their Morale test even after the Kommissar shooting deserters.

The Germans have the Objectives secured.


Now it's my 6th Turn and I'm down 3 platoons out of 5 (IS-2s, T-34/76s and a Motostrelkovy Company).
The Battalon Commander fails his Morale test, the Battalion Kommissar kills the 2inC but the Re-roll fails too.

Game Over - the Russians are routed from the table - well done to Bruce.

Interesting Mission - I see 2 ways to win this game;
Firstly - play to break the opponents army
Secondly - Get your platoons around the objective and dig-in keeping the enemy more than 4" from the objectives.

Can't wait to try this mission again, though have also got the 'Hasty Assault' one to try out.