Drive On Stalingrad – Getting Started

Had a great experience with Drive On Stalingrad (DOS) this weekend over at Tim’s.  Of course, there was football to view, but we were able to get several turns in after our late Friday afternoon setup and initial play-thru.  As always, the first turn was brutal, so it was a quick re-set for Saturday’s action.

The basic system is taken from Panzergruppe Guderian.  However, there are important differences.  I’ll discuss these as the game narrative progresses.

Victory is determined by cities controlled, each of these has point value.  The Axis player (yes, there are Romanians and Hungarians) automatically wins if his victory point total is three times greater than his opponent.

Each side has constraints to their initial dispositions.  The Soviet player must remain on or within a ZOC of an initial defense line stretching across the northernmost of the two game maps.  The Axis player cannot use all of his units during the first turn.

Here’s the initial setup.  North is to the left.  Only the ten or so hexes to the right are in the South map.

The Soviet player has a very limited ability to start with a defense in depth.  On the other hand, the inability to leave ZOCs slows progress for the Axis player, unless a Soviet unit is eliminated or forced to withdraw two hexes.  However, the CRT is relatively bloodless up to 10:1 odds, with most results requiring the choice between withdrawal or a step loss(es).  Punching big holes for the second movement phase (armor/mechanized units only), takes time.

Tim concentrated his armor in the North and South, aggressively advancing in the North.

The Soviets receive 27 (!) units as reinforcements in Turn 1.  A total of three can be placed in a major city, with one each in smaller cities.  Eleven units can move up to 40 hexes by rail.  All I could do was patch up some type of defense in the North, and start pushing reinforcements eastward as fast as possible, using every city I could.

One terrible mistake was to allow the German SS unit to cut my rail line at Voronezh.  Any reinforcements coming by rail from the north had “to take the long way around.”  As a result, three Soviet units were left as a “forlorn hope” to hopefully slow down an Axis infantry advance in the center.

 

 

More Rostov

Cranked out another couple of turns.

Axis was able to make good their deep penetration in the center, as well as develop a flanking attack northwest towards Kharkov. However, the Soviets have built up a defense to counter the panzers, as well as using the rules to “ZOC Up” Axis infantry attacks in the south.

This is the real challenge faced by the Axis Commander.  Soviet units buy time through engaging German units that are unable to exploit tactical success due to the Soviet ability to retreat, perhaps with a one-step loss, but maintain zones of control that limit Axis advances.  Even when there is the possibility for a “ZOC Kill”, a result of less than “2” steps, stops the Axis for an additional turn.  And, in the case of Soviet units with a defense strength greater than “6”, the placement of a step reinforcement.

End German Turn 3
End Soviet Turn 3
End German Turn 4
End Soviet Turn 4

Will develop Axis attack towards Kharkov.

But, for now, off to PDX for Drive On Stalingrad with Tim.

Try It Again – With Charts and Errata

Charts, Errata and  a better understanding of the rules does make a difference.  Shocking!  Been learning and relearning this for decades.

While the actual CRT is somewhat bloodier, the Errata is crucial.  I caught the wrong lettering for the entry areas, but missed the difference in setup for four Soviet units.  Absolutely changes the game.  These units were in the vicinity of Stalino and “V” (see previous post), but now are in the front lines directly opposite the panzer divisions.  This makes a breakout just that much tougher. Here’s a link to the Errata.

Another big mistake on the first game was the assumption that the Germans could automatically withdraw from a ZOC.  Oh No. Soviets can using the withdrawal chart, but the Germans cannot.  This means they are “locked” in ZOCs.  Makes maneuver difficult. This was a topic of some discussion in blogs, but the consensus seemed to be that the system worked just fine with this apparent limitation.

The Germans opened the new game with another attack in the center.  It made limited gains, primarily due to the change in dispositions discussed above.  The panzer units are not that strong, even with the doubling of combat power due to unit integrity. With the center holding, the Soviets had the luxury of shipping their reinforcements to Stalino, with local units building a defense in depth against the immediate panzer threat.

The German used both infantry and armor units to continue the attack in the center during Turn 2, causing Soviet units to pull back. Their second movement phase was used to envelope exposed Soviet divisions.  The Soviets countered by minor shifts in units (their primary units were ZOC’s Up), and building a defensive line running Gorlovka-Stalino-Taganrog.

Situation End Of Game Turn 2 (Ignore the A in the second turn column…..sloppy)

Start-Up

Played four turns of Rostov.  Won’t discuss the rules problems….well it was really a chart problem…..enough.

Here’s an abbreviated account.  Will do my customary re-set after butchering a first playing.

The Germans opened by blasting through the Soviet Center , racing eastward.   The Soviets responded by holding the shoulders of the salient, and rushing reinforcements to a defensive line forming in the vicinity of Voroshilovgrad (to be referred to as “V” from here on out).  The Soviets receive four randomly drawn units each of first few turns, then three.  Rail movement sped the reinforcements westward despite Axis aircraft interdiction.

Both panzers and their supply units continued eastward during Turn 2, with forward elements coming into contact with the Soviets.   A probing attack pushed back Soviet units defending “V”.  The supply units were able to maintain their “chain” of six hexes (roads count 1/2 hex).  Loss of supply halves movement and combat strength.

The Soviets continued to feed troops into the threatened area running from “V” to Rostov.  Attempts to withdraw from their  exposed salient west of Kharkov failed, though without loss.

During Turn 3, the full strength panzers maneuvered to envelope Soviet units, but the attacks failed to inflict any real damage. This was despite a doubling of attack strength for armor and mechanized units due to divisional integrity. Meanwhile, strong infantry units entered from the western map edge.

The Soviets continued to buildup their defenses, now extending their defensive line southeast to Rostov, itself.

The German infantry opened Turn 4 by penetrating the southern flank of the Soviets defending Kharkov.  However, the eastern advanced ground to a halt waiting for reinforcements.

A challenging game.  With the proper CRT and game unique charts covering disengagement of Soviet forces and weather, it should be even better.  Either way, the Axis has its work cut out!

 

A Month?

Not quite, but damn near.  Eclipses, Family, Friends…..and about 4,000 auto miles.

New game on the table before I launch off again.  A relative of Panzergruppe Guderian – Rostov.  Part of the Army Group South quad game, also released as a single game, and then released much later in S&T,

Same untried Soviet units, but both sides can move armored/mech/cavalry units a second time during a turn.  Lots of exclusive rules.

Have it set up and will start this evening.  Here’s the initial deployment as prescribed by the rules.

I know…….the green Soviet counters just look wrong. Tombstone shot glass has the Soviet reinforcements.

Leningrad – Again

Good game, and as advertised in reviews.

Quick play, small footprint.  Unknown strength Soviet units help make it solitaire friendly and increase replayability.

The Germans have to be good and lucky to win.  I didn’t make low odds attacks or try aggressive overruns, and wound up losing.  Sums up the whole historical proposition.

Now, the Soviets have to play their part, too.  Can’t just lay back on Leningrad.  Some level of forward defense is needed and, necessary.

It’s nice for a game to live up to one’s memories.

 

Leningrad – End

Rainy cool weather, so I decided to finish this one off.

The Germans were able to push their way into the western suburbs of the city during Turn 9.  However, they had to withdraw from Norvogrod.

Situation End Of Turn 9

During Turn 10, the Germans attempted to clear out Soviet units just south of Leningrad in order to open up the remaining fortified suburb south of the Neva River for an attack from three different hexes.  This attack was only partially successful, with one Soviet armored unit (9-3-7) still blocking the southern approaches.

Situation End Of Turn 10

Desperate, German armor attempted a low odds overrun (also a 2-column shift), and was able to force the 9-3-7 to retreat.  The following attack on the Southeast suburb only reduced, but did not destroy Soviet units.

Situation End Of Turn 11

In the 12th and final turn, the Germans mounted a forlorn hope attack across the Neva in an attempt to take one of the two victory hexes.  The attack was unsuccessful.  There was no change from the situation at the end of Turn 11.

Neither side had any victory points.  The Soviets did not reduce or destroy any German armored/mechanized  formations, and the Germans did not take the two northern suburbs of Leningrad.  The result was a Soviet tactical victory.

Some thoughts about the game in a followup post.

Leningrad – Enemy At The Gates

 

Uhhhh…wrong epic siege…..

The German advance continued during Turns 7 & 8, with successful attacks eliminating Soviet forces along the Luga River.

However, beginning Turn 7 Soviet reinforcements began applying  pressure from the south.  A German infantry corps was diverted to Novgorad.  The Soviets used Turn 8 to bring up even more units for an attacks that reduced the Germans to an under strength division.

Looks like it will be a slugging match to take the city, and the Germans will have to divert forces to contain the Soviet pressure.

Germans Advance Turn 7.  Attack On Luga Line Begins.  South Flank Exposed.

 

Turn 8 Germans Clear Luga River Line, But Soviets Reinforcements Mass And Attack In The South

 

Situation End Turn 8

 

Even More Leningrad

Hacking away and having fun with this little game.

Germans now approaching the city from the Northeast, but with some pressure in the South.  Soviets feverishly building fortresses and feeding reinforcements in to delay the assault.  Question is, are there enough and can they be massed for a concerted defense?

Situation End Turn 4
Situation End Turn 5
German Phase Turn 6
Skewed View of Situation End Turn 6

Leningrad – Turns 2 & 3

Been lazy about posting up and following up on play.

Germans continued their advance during Turns 2 and 3, but Soviet opposition in and about Leningrad is beginning to take shape.  Big question for Germans is to whether to continue their advance on a northeast axis, or divert resources to cut roads in the Peipus marshes.

A bad role during Turn 3’s combat phase left a stubborn Soviet unit deep in the German rear.  This is similar to what happened during the actual campaign.

Here’s a photo recap.

German Situation Start Of Turn 3
Situation End Of German Phase Turn 3
Situation End Of Turn 3 With Soviet Reinforcements