TAHGC SSTK1b "Death's Head at Lusho"

Published in the GENERAL volume number 20.6; Scenario Design by Martin Shaw; Clarification and modifications have been made from the published version by Bill Thomson.
Updated 051203; rev 0

LUSHO, EAST OF THE VALDAI HILLS, September 24th, 1941: Noon: as Army Group North continued to press at the gates of Leningrad, to protect its right flank the German 16th Army and the SS Totenkopf Division has been compelled to entrench west of the Pola River. Following fierce engagements in the region since September 8th, the Germans were convinced that the adverse weather and heavy fighting have hurt the Russians far more that it hurt them and still anticipated the collapse of all Soviet resistance before the end of the winter. Not surprisingly, in spite of information received from deserters on the previous day, warning them of the impending attack scheduled for noon, the Germans were caught completely off guard by the size and intensity of the assault. The heaviest blow fell on the Lusho where two Soviet regiments, charging behind a screen of tanks, crashed into the German defenses.

VICTORY CONDITIONS: The Russians win either by being the last side to have uncontested control of all five stone building on Board 3 initially in German hands or by exiting two tanks, with functioning armament, off the west edge of Board 3.

BOARD LAYOUT

North

SCENARIO SEQUENCE:

German set up first	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	END
Russian moves first

GERMAN FORCES:

AT START: Elements of the 2nd Battalion, 3rd SS Totenkopf Infantry Regiment setup on Board 3 as follows: Any Hill hex east of Row L inclusive.
1x10-2ss; 1x9-2ss; 4x658ss; 1xHMG; 1xMMG; 1xLMG; 2xRadio; 5xConcealment; 2xRoadblock; 6xEntrenchment
AT START: Elements of the 2nd Co. of the SS Totenkopf Tank Destroyer Battalion set up on Board 3 between rows V and L inclusive.
1x8-1ss; 3x658ss; 3x238ss crew; 1xMMG; 2xLMG; 1xRadio; 10xConcealment; 1x28LL ATG; 2x37L ATG; 1x50L ATG.
AT START: Hex J4: 1x658ss; 1xLMG; 1xEntrenchment
AT START: Hex F5: 1x658ssl 1xLMG; 1xEntrenchment
AT START: Ad hoc Battery of SS Totenkopf Artillery set up on Board 3 west of row BB inclusive.
3x238ss crew; 1xlmg; 1xConcealment; 1x105L ART; 1x105HE ART

RUSSIAN FORCES:

AT START: Elements of assault infantry set up in any woods hex east of row 3E inclusive, but not adjacent to any German entrenchment:
1x9-1; 3x8-0; 50x447; 2xMMG; 4xLMG
AT START: Elements of Armor Spearhead set up on Board 2 on any road hex east of row G inclusive:
5xT34/76A; 2xKV1A; 1xKV1

SPECIAL SCENARIO RULES:

SSTK1a.1: SSTK1b.1: There are no artillery modules.
SSTK1b.2: The Germans may not request indirect fire until their own player turn.
SSTK1b.3: All woods hexes south of 3B3, 3A4, 2B6, 2C7, 2D7. 2E9, 2F8, and 2G9 are considered woods hexes.
SSTK1b.4: Lusho lay close to the swampy banks of the River Pola; therefore all hill terrain on Board 2 is designated as Marsh. All relevant rules for Marsh are in effect.
SSTK1b.5: The Russian receives air support from two IL2 Sturmoviks arriving on turn 1. The Sturmoviks are armed with 20af/20L mm cannon with an Infantry Fire Table equivalent of 20 factors and a 120 HE/24 bomb load). The air support was employed to strafe German entrenchments; the Sturmovicks are therefore prohibited from attacking further than seven hexes west of the westernmost unbroken Russian squads.
SSTK1b.6: Russian infantry may not prep fire on RT1; units which have not moved may fire with full effect during the AFPh.
SSTK1b.7: SS squads set up west of Hex Row L on Board 3 must be initially placed in stone buildings, no more than one squad to each building.
SSTK1b.8: All German weaponry eligible to do so may utilize bore sighting.
SSTK1b.9: Due to scenario timeframe, Heat ammunition is not available.
SSTK1b.10: The wooden building at 3I10 does not exist.
SSTK1b.11: Lack of Wireless Equipment rules (129.5) apply as appropriate to Russian AFVs.

NOTE: This scenario was used in conjunction with the General article published in volume 20 number 6as an example the pitfalls of scenario design.