And now this weeks battle report, as I'm on a roll with my Soviets I was wondering if an infantry based force could take on the might of the German Forces. Neil has been using his Schwere SS-Panzerkompanie for a while and also at tournaments. Can I survive the assault of 6 Tiger 1e Tanks?

Neils German force


My Soviet force


We rolled Breakthrough which meant that I was defending being a Mechanized Infantry vs Tank Company.
So deployed in two opposite quarters


Giving Neil the river quarter or the buildings to start in - Neil chose the river and placed the objectives over next to the buildings; this looked a wise choice as trying to cross the river other than by the bridge would be a Skill test and you don't want to be bogged with enemy infantry near-by (in hindsight it might have been better as the buildings actually helped me win).


The Soviet deployment - could only place 1 unit of tanks on table so went with the Churchills hiding in the woods.


Neil placed all his Tigers and the Nebelwerfers on the board, left the in delayed reserve. Amazingly managed to squeeze all the Tigers across the river - so no bottleneck there.




The Tigers advanced and the Nebel's tried to dig-in but failed (Neil had moved the Observer and the Artillery Command could not see out of the corn field - acts as a Wood for sight so max 6" distance).
On the Soviet turn, I decide to see if I can take out a Tiger or two with the Churchills but fail dismally, meanwhile I send a Motostrelkovy Company to neutralise the Nebel's.


The Tigers retaliate and destroy all 3 Churchills - first kill to the Germans - now I need to face the Tigers with no AT support!!!


The Tigers continued their sedate journey round the table (with a few failed stormtrooper moves)

And a well placed assault (running straight over the Company Command and the Kommissar!!!)

Meanwhile the Scouts arrive and hide in the buildings hoping no Russians saw them?


NOTE: Special commendation needs to be given to the Battalon Kommissar, he leapt forward to instill righteous bravery in the Motostrelkovy Company being chewed up by the Tigers; after a number of well placed executions the Russians troops decide to stay and hope the Germans ignore them.
He must have actual killed more of his own troops than the Tiger Tanks did (that Infantry 3+ save is superb).

Then the first of the Soviet reserves arrive: 5 T34/85's appear behind the straggling Tiger (that had previously bogged down on the hill slope and been rescued by the Bergepanther)


While the Scout Platoon is swarmed by the SMG Company and beaten back away from the objectives (3 german stands vs 16 Soviet - not a fair fight)


The Russian gunners manage to kill the Bergepanther but only bail a Tiger



The next turn the other Soviet reserves of T34's arrive and double time to contest the objective near the woods


The Tigers settle down at the Objective and start a 3 turn shooting match with the T-34/85's


The T-34 start firing their 76mm cannons at the flank of the Tigers to no effect


In the next exchange of tank fire - the Germans manage to kill 1 T-34/85 for the loss of 1 Tiger - not really fare exchange.
Neil must have fired over 30 shots at the T-34/85 and gone wide of the mark.


Finally the T-34's after firing over 60 shots at the flank of the Tigers, they manage to bail 2 of them from Neils final platoon (CinC & 2inC completely undamaged).
The SMG Infantry seize their moment with encouragement from the Kommissars -1 execution (NOTE: Neil could not defensive fire due to the Infantry being in concealing terrain and having not moved before assaulting) and make threatening noises outside the Tigers at which point the German crew surrender and the Command gracefully depart the field.


NOTE: Reading the assault rules which are very complicated, the CinC and 2inC cannot counterattack as their is no active platoon in the assault to join, so therefore have to fallback out of the melee - which leaves the 2 bailed Tigers within 4" of assaulting troops so are destroyed.

Amazingly the Soviet forces have overcome the German might and it all down to the lowly T-34's and SMG armed Infantry.

Great game - shows why I love FoW, no list or army is unbeatable but is always a pleasurable game.
Don't always find that with GW games at present.