Ivanovka 1943

[Hertsblue]

The Soviet Kharkov offensive of February/March 1943 pushed deep into the German positions, liberating the city and creating an enormous and tempting bulge in the Soviet lines to the west of Kursk. The offensive was finally brought to a halt, but only after hard fighting. One last effort from Zhadov's 5th Guards Army struck at the small village of Ivanovka and involved elements of Pivorarov's 178th Tank Brigade, from Burkov's 10th Tank Corps. Available troops consisted of two weak companies of T34/76s, a platoon of heavy KV1e, a platoon of the brigade's motor rifles as tank-riders, a battery of 152mm howitzers and one of 76.2mm guns from corps reserve and various attached reconaissance and anti-tank troops. Also included was a smaller tank force with tank-riders, T34s and T70s, which boasted a half-battery of BM-13 Katyushas

Opposing them, a small battle-group drawn from Kruger's 2 SS Panzergrenadier Division Das Riech contained a scratch force of panzers, a pair of Tiger 1 Es, three Pz IVHs and two Pz IIIMs. A weak company of two platoons of armoured panzergrenadiers from the Der Fuhrer regiment, with their attached mortars, HMGs and a pair of PaK 40 anti-tank guns, plus a section of two 15cm Grille S.P. infantry guns, completed their order of battle. A battery of 10.5cm field guns lent welcome supprt.



The German left



The German right.



The Soviet start-line.

Iovanovich, commanding the Soviet main body, elected to throw his entire weight up the left flank. His T34s, supported by the 76mm battery, forged ahead whilst the KV1s remained in reserve. Just to east of a low rise near the village of Ivanotherovka, they came into contact with the German panzers, commanded by von Stepan, and a lively firefight ensued. The Soviets took full advantage of their elevated position to nullify the superior German gunnery, and the combat was fairly even. Von Stepan, realising he was outnumbered, ordered a withdrawal to Ivanovka village.



Meanwhile, over on the German right, Montikin, commanding the Soviet subsidiary force, was being plagued by faulty staff-work. Errors in order-transmission had seriously delayed his advance, and when it did begin he left behind his company of light tanks. The German artillery had also been firing steadily and accurately and causing consternation among the advancing tanks and their riders.  Even more telling, the PaK 40s concealed in the copses had quickly got the range and forced two of the enemy tank crews to bail out.



As night fell the Germans were still hanging on to their positions, but it had been a near-run thing.



Models by Pendraken; large house by Timecast, roads by Fat Frank; arm by Ian.

Rules were a heavily butchered FOW with a new command and control system bolted-on. The game took about three hours to play with four players.

       

[Ithoriel]

Superb!

Working my way (very slowly) to being able to do something similar in size, style, period and location. Not sure right now if I'm inspired by the standard you've achieved or dismayed by the prospect of achieving the same!

I'm aiming to use BKC2 rather than FoW but can imagine using similar forces.

Very nice.

[Steve J]

Very nice looking game .

[jfariahitech]

Great report.

[General Bt Sherman]

great looking game!

[Bernie]

Lovely looking game - very inspiring!

[Leon]

 

[lekw]

Wow that really looks good. What is the make of the trees and houses they look fantastic?

[Hertsblue]

Wow that really looks good. What is the make of the trees and houses they look fantastic?

The trees, I believe (as they're not mine), are by Realistic Modelling. The houses were specially made for our club's 2000 demo game by Ralph Sellar who is an architectural modeller by profession. I bought them from the club at the end of the season.

[petercooman]

Extremely nice!!

[lekw]

Thanks, are these the same houses that were in an issue of Wargames Illustrated a 10mm WSS game?

[nikharwood]

Very nice indeed, Ray 

[Hertsblue]

Thanks, are these the same houses that were in an issue of Wargames Illustrated a 10mm WSS game?

Yes, well spotted. 

[OldenBUA]

a small battle-group drawn from Kruger's 2 SS Panzergrenadier Division Das Riech

Not only are they Fascist Vipers, they are smelly Fascist Vipers!



Oh, and nice setup too. Though, nice as they are, those types of houses do look a bit out of place on an Eastern Front game. Whereas the Timecast house is spot-on.

P.S. Leon does offer some excellent alternatives...

[Hertsblue]

Quite possibly, but the Soviets weren't exactly lavender-fresh either