TAHGC 20 "Breakout From Borisov"

Updated 051208; rev 0

BORISOV, FAR EAST OF THE BEREZINA RIVER, July 2, 1941: After tenacious fighting, the 52nd Panzer Grenadier Regiment drove the Russians from Borisov, and established a bridgehead across the Berezina. The Russians, under direct order from General Yeremenko, where to crush the bridgehead. The only available forces were an assortment of men and equipment from the local Armored forces Training College. At approximately the same time, the 18th Panzer Division was ordered to aggressively expand their bridgehead. The attacking formations met head-on outside Borisov.

RULE INTRODUCED: Sections 100-103.

VICTORY CONDITIONS: The winner is the side having control of the most game boards after ten turns. Control is defined as having at least twice the opponent's number of unbroken squads on a board at game end. A functioning AFV which has all of its guns in working order and is not immobilized counts as two squads; otherwise it counts as one squad. Occupation of half-hexes does not count for control of either board.

BOARD LAYOUT:

North

SCENARIO SEQUENCE:

Russian moves first on a die roll of 1 or 2.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	END
German moves first on a die roll of 3-6.

GERMAN FORCES:

AT START: Elements of the 52nd Panzer Grenadier Regiment enter board 1 anywhere along the west edge
18x467; 6x838; 3x247; 8-1 AL;8xLMG; 4xMMG; 2xHMG; 1xFT; 3xDC; 3xRadio; PzKwIVF1; 3xPzKwIIIe; 1xPzKw38(t); 1xSTGIIIb; 3xSpw251/1; 4xSdKfz7t; Spw251/10; 3xHeavy Truck; Psw222; 2xSpw251/2; 2x28LL ATG; 1x50L ATG

RUSSIAN FORCES:

AT START: Armored Forces Training College plus remnants of local units enter anywhere along east edge
36x 447; 6x628; 6x537; 6x436; 1xHMG; 2xMMG; 5xATR; 6xLMG; 2xBT5; 2xBT72; 2xT28b; 3xT26s; 1xKVI; 1xKVIIa; T34/76a; 6xHorse

SPECIAL SCENARIO RULES:

20.1: All units of the side moving first have only half of their normal movement factors available during the first turn. The side moving second may use its regular movement allowance.
20.2: Germans have four fire missions of 100mm off-board artillery available. Only one of the German radios can be in use at any one point in time. Tanks may not spot for artillery.
20.3: Germans receive random Stuka support.
20.4: Germans may select any 10 leaders from the counter mix whose total leadership modifiers do not exceed 11. The Russians may select up to 8 leaders whose total leadership modifiers do not exceed 7. Neither side may select armor, SS or partisan leaders, or leaders with a positive leadership modifier. Campaign Game (i.e., unnamed leaders) leader counters may be selected.
20.5: The Russian tanks, often without radio equipment and handicapped by the ill-conceived an poorly planned attack, were totally confused throughout the battle. Therefore, the Russian tanks are not given freedom of movement. The Russian player must roll one die during his Rally Phase for every multiple of six (or fraction thereof) mobile tanks he still possesses. The resulting number is the number of his AFVs which he may move that turn. Tanks already on the board are not prevented from firing or pivoting within that hex they already occupy by this rule. The sole exception to this movement limitation is the T34/76A which is considered the Russian command vehicle. It may move every turn without counting as a moving tank.\
20.6: The missing southwest map section is considered all swamp land. It does not block LOS, but does prohibit movement. Hexes and half-hexes on boards 1 and 2 are not affected by the presence of the swamp.

AFTERMATH: Due to the presence of the Training School, the Russians had more than the usual number of cadre for 1941, and were abler to inflict heavy losses on the Germans.The Panzer Grenadiers kept pushing forward despite their losses, however, and with the timely arrival of some much needed air support, succeeded in eliminating the Russian armor. The Germans were able to expand their bridgehead, abut at a far heavier price than they had expected to pay.