WG211 Mainstein's Counterstroke; (BETA)
Scenario Design by Phil Grasha; Updated 070830
The Ukraine, February, 1943:
After the surrender of 6th Army at Stalingrad, the Russians pressed westwards
across the Donetz River. The 1st Guards Army, the 6th Army and the Popov Cavalry
group reached as far west as the banks of the Dneiper at Zaporozhe. To restore
the front, Manstein planned a pincer attack with the 4th Panzer Army from the
South and the SS Panzer Divisions Liebstandarte and Das Reich from the North.
The SS panzers had recently been equipped with the new heavy Tiger tank, just
starting to come off of the production lines. If Manstein could pinch off the
Russian salients, order could be restored to the front before the arrival of
the spring thaws.
VICTORY CONDITIONS: The Russians must
exit 14 "squads" off of the West edge of the mapboard between 15Y1
and 17G1 (Inclusive) by games end to win. Tanks count as one squad exited if
they have functioning main armament. Any other result is a German victory.
BOARD LAYOUT:
SCENARIO SEQUENCE:
Both sides enter on turn 1; Germans move first; 8 turns
| Germans
Setup First |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
END |
| Russians Move
First |
GERMAN
FORCES:
- TURN 1: Elements of the 4th Panzer enter East of
Hex A9 Inclusive:
2x91; 4x467; 2xLMG; 2xPF42a; 2xPzKwIVH; 1xSPW251/1; 3xSPW251/2; 1x91AL
- TURN 1: Element of Das Reich SS Panzer enter East
of Hex GG9 Inclusive:
1x91ss; 1x8-1ss; 4x658ss; 3xLMG; 4xPF43a; 1xPzKwVIE; 1xPzKwIVH; 4xSPW251/1;
1x10-2AL SS
-
TURN 1: Russian Vehicles enter
per SSR1 on the West edge. Russian vehicles are restricted to 2/3 MF on
turn 1. Russian infantry and cavalry enter anywhere on the West edge using
full movement.
1x81; 2x80; 1x70; 3x458; 5x537; 9x447; 5xHorses; 2xLMG; 1xMMG; 1x6-12HMG;
2xATR; 2x50mm MTR; 6xT34/76C; 2xSU76 (1 ROF, no AAMG)
SPECIAL SCENARIO RULES:
- WG211.1: TERRAIN: Ground snow exists, but it has
no effect on movement. Treat all ponds (17AA10) wheatfields as clear terrain.
Treat all Brush (17C7) as Woods. Treat all Orchards (17V5) and Crags (15L5)
as Shellholes. All Hills on board 15 are ground level with open ground level
3 and level 4 as ground level woods.
- WG211.2: Russian tanks MUST enter on
the 4 marked hexes on boards 15 and 17. No more than TWO vehicles may enter
on any particular road hex with following vehicles paying sequential movement
costs. All forces must enter on Turn 1. Russian Infantry and cavalry can
enter anywhere along the Western edge of the Map.
- WG211.3: No AFV Optional equipment is
available for either side.
- WG211.4: The German attack was such a
surprise to the Russians after Stalingrad, they were caught completely off
guard. To simulate their unpreparedness, Russian vehicles can only expend
2/3 of their MF ( fractions rounded up ) during their turn 1 entry. NO ESB
roll needed to move the full 2/3 MF and extra hex movement not allowed.
AFTERMATH: Within a week after the start
of Manstein's Counter Stroke, The German Pincers closed behind the Russian forces
near the Donetz River. The severe shortage of German infantry made it impossible
to seal the pocket completely, and many Russian soldiers slipped away on foot
or horseback at unguarded points across the Donetz River. The German army demonstrated
a tactical and technological superiority over the Russians with its tactics
and Tiger tanks, but the Wehrmacht's lack of numbers meant that the end was
slowly drawing near.
PLAYTEST STATUS: This
scenario is currently in playtest (Beta Release), please contact Squad
Leader Academy to join this effort. The 'final' version will be published
as a SQLA/Wargame Academy (WGA) scenario pack. Playtest credits to date: Alan
Page, Dennis Jorgenson.