General de Brigade

[DCRBrown]

OPERATION BAGRATION 1944 – BATTLEGROUP PANZERGRENADIER AAR
COLOURS 2008

The Battlegroup PanzerGrenadier game at Colours was based on the German defence of Minsk taken up by the 5th Panzer Division during the Russian 1944 summer offensive Operation Bagration.



The game started off well for the Germans on the right flank with their one Pak 43 slicing into the Russian heavy IS2’s that lead their tank advance. However the opening barrage for the Russians katyushas battery soon put paid to the gallant efforts of the 88mm gun crew!!



The middle ground was manned by PanzerGrenadiers holding out in the ruins that lined the main road to Minsk; however they were remorselessly pressed back as Russian infantry backed by heavy SP guns used impressive (for Russians!) fire and manoeuvre tactics to take building after building. The German armour in this section was effectively neutralised by the Soviet heavy SP’s guns and good use of 120mm mortars, (not helped by the fact that digging in a Marder right on a main crossroad makes it the most obvious artillery target!). The next few game turns saw the motley German armoured collection of two PzIV’s, a lone StuG and a Marder competently smashed, the only operational German tank at the end of the game was a lone PzIV that had collected the complete set of Battlegroup PanzerGrenadier Damaged, Low on Ammo and Suppressed markers!!





The Germans had better luck over on their left flank where elements of the Heavy Tank Battalion 505 with its Tiger 1’s shot up virtually every advancing T/34 at long range and effective range as the Russians struggled to get with close range to have some impact upon the German heavy tanks. The presence of the Tigers effectively stalled any Russian advance in this sector.



Nonetheless with Russian infantry penetrating the main German defences and with the Russian IS2’s irresistibly grinding forwards and smashing each make shift German defence in turn with their 122mms; the Germans soon called it a day!





DB

[Ross Mcpharter]

Great pics DB!

What size washers are the inf sections based on?

How did the 2nd edition changes and activations go?

Regards, Dave

[sgtsteiner]

Hi DB et al

Excellent set-up and looks like a very fun game

As Ross asked how did the 2nd Ed stuff go down (assuming they were used ) ?

Cheers
Gary
_________________
Gary Barr
N.Ireland UK

"Merry it was to laugh there, where death becomes absurd and life absurder. For power was on us as we slashed bones bare, not to feel sickness or remorse of murder."
Wilfred Owen

[Alexb83]

Looks very impressive - alas, I didn't make colours in the end - had to work.

Are those 20mm minis?

[DCRBrown]

A,

The figs are all 15mm - mixture of OG, Peter Pig and FoW ( )

All the infantry are based on 2p coins - probably cheaper than washers these days and certainly easier to get hold off. (Obviously the kids money box has been raided once or twice )

The 2nd Ed stuff went down very well and helped slot into place the final (hopefully) last few bits around activation and air/arty strikes.

These have now been amended quite considerably since the 1st 2nd Ed. QRS was first posted on the site!!

Now all I have to do is write up all the rule amendments

DB

[Ross Mcpharter]

They look good, thanks for that DB

Look forward to the 2nd ed

Regards, Dave

[Alexb83]

[Cacadores]

These are great pictures, DB.

There are more pictures from the Colours show here:
http://ilovewargameing.21.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=1958