Background
The Battle of Kursk was a Second World War engagement between German and Soviet forces on the Eastern Front near Kursk (450 kilometres or 280 miles south-west of Moscow) in the Soviet Union during July and August 1943. The German offensive was code-named Operation Citadel (German: Unternehmen Zitadelle) and led to one of the largest armoured clashes in history, the Battle of Prokhorovka. The German offensive was countered by two Soviet counter-offensives, Operation Polkovodets Rumyantsev (Russian: Полководец Румянцев) and Operation Kutuzov (Russian: Кутузов). For the Germans, the battle was the final strategic offensive that they were able to launch on the Eastern Front. As the Allied invasion of Sicily began Adolf Hitler was forced to divert troops training in France to meet the Allied threats in the Mediterranean, rather than use them as a strategic reserve for the Eastern Front. Germany’s extensive loss of men and tanks ensured that the victorious Soviet Red Army enjoyed the strategic initiative for the remainder of the war.
To the east, during the night of 4–5 July, SS combat engineers had infiltrated no-man’s land and cleared lanes through the Soviet minefields. At dawn, 5 July, the three divisions of II SS Panzer Corps – SS Panzergrenadier Division Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler, 2nd SS Panzergrenadier Division Das Reich and the 3rd SS Panzergrenadier Division Totenkopf – attacked the 6th Guards Army’s 52nd Guards Rifle Division. The main assault was led by a spearhead of 42 Tigers, but in total 494 tanks and assault guns attacked across a twelve-kilometre front. Totenkopf, the strongest of the three divisions, advanced towards Gremuchhi and screened the right flank. The 1st SS Panzergrenadier Division advanced on the left flank towards Bykovka. The 2nd SS Panzer Division advanced between the two formations in the center. Following closely behind the tanks were the infantry and combat engineers, coming forward to demolish obstacles and clear trenches. In addition, the advance was well supported by the Luftwaffe, which greatly aided in breaking Soviet strong points and artillery positions.
By 09:00 hours, the II SS Panzer Corps had broken through the Soviet first belt of defence along its entire front. … The 1st SS Division had secured Bykovka by 16:10. It then pushed forward towards the second belt of defence at Yakovlevo, but its attempts to break through were rebuffed. By the end of the day, the 1st SS Division had sustained 97 dead, 522 wounded, and 17 missing and lost about 30 tanks. Together with the 2nd SS Panzer Division, it had forced a wedge far into the defences of the 6th Guards Army…”
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kursk)
The Game
Terrain:
The 5×9 foot battlefield was played lengthwise, with typical Byelorussian terrain of open fields, open woods, and a railroad track on the left side. A paved road runs along the right side with a small village about midway on the road.
Forces:
The Germans consist of a SS Panzer Company with Pz IVG HQ, Pz IIIM platoon, Pz IVG platoon and two supporting Pz IV Tiger tanks. Two SS Panzergrenadier Companies, each with two infantry and one heavy platoon. One company was mounted in half tracks and the other in trucks. A battalion HQ platoon of Pz IIIM, sdkfz231 section and a 223/222 section. There was an off board artillery battalion of two 105mm and one 150mm batteries in direct support. All troops are fearless veteran.
The Soviets consist of a Battalion HQ with SMGs and a 85mm AA, two strongpoint companies made up of 4 x 45mm of ATGs, an HMG, 4 engineers (with flamethrowers), 4 SMGs, a Kommisar and 6 ATRs stands. Additional support was in the form of a four gun 82mm and a 4 gun 120mm mortar platoon. In reserve, the Soviets have a Mixed Tank Battalion of 7 x KV-1s, 8 x T-34s and 8 x T-70As. All Soviets are rated as fearless trained.
Special Scenario Rules:
- Terrain: Entire battlefield is covered in low grass. This counts as low area terrain for all infantry and light gun units. Railroad track counts as a road (cross country terrain). Units moving on and off the railroad track must take a cross check). All woods are open woods. Swamp, rivers and woods required cross checks. Hills require terrain dash to cross.
- During set up, the Soviets are allowed to place four actual and four dummy minefields on the table. Each minefield is 4”x2”. Dummy minefields will be uncovered automatically at the end of turn when a unit is on them. Soviet units can freely move over the dummy minefields.
- The Soviets receive four markers for the center point (unit HQ stand must be placed here when unit deploys) of the strongpoints, two actual and two dummy. Strong points are deployed during the soviet turn when the unit moves or fires. In addition, they can be triggered by German units that move within 16” (4” if in cover).
- Soviet Battalion HQ can set up on the table or with one of the hidden companies (the location has to be designated before game play)
- Soviet reserve Tank Battalion arrives on turn 5. Entry points of companies are either the road or the rail line.
- Soviet Artillery Reserve (battalion of 122s and 152s) can be rolled for starting on turn 6. Soviet IL-2 Sturmovik support can be rolled on after the artillery reserve is available. Use normal reserve number of dice per roll per turn, however, only sixes will be successful.
- Off board artillery may only be called in on one target point per turn (all batteries land in the same place). Germans can call in a single battery if they wish to use smoke.
- Soviets set up mines, then Germans and Soviets place pre-planned artillery markers. Soviets then place all onboard and units and hidden unit markers.
- Germans have first move onto the table edge. Germans receive free Spearhead move for recon and other units, using normal rules.
- Game is 12 turns long.
Victory Conditions:
The Germans win if the can trace an unbroken road from one table edge to the other. The road cannot have a single enemy unit within 10” to meet this requirement. Alternatively, the Germans win if they break both Soviet battalions. Any other result is a Soviet victory.
Narrative:
Pre-Game: Soviets places one of their dummy markers forward close to the center of the board. The other was placed in the center of the board to give the impression of a strong center. The real unit markers were deployed in the town and close to the back hill overlooking the railroad track. Germans moved their recon elements forward around the rail road track, stopping short of the forward positioned Soviet hidden marker (these trigger line of sight for purposes of Spearhead), placing all units except the Gepanzert Grenadier Company within 8” of the armored car. Gepanzert Grenadiers were held in reserve for later deployment, once Russian forces had been fixed.
Opening Phase: The Germans elected to throw the bulk of their forces down the rail road track. The Armored Cars lead the way with the Panzergrenadiers following closely behind on foot. The Germans quickly uncovered the dummy markers in both center positions while sweeping the forward woods and open center. Soviet Mortar fire attempted to punish the walking Panzer Grenadier Company, but with little effect. On turn three the first Soviet hidden strongpoint presented itself and began firing at the German infantry (again with little effect). The Panzers kept their distance in order to engage the Soviets out of 45mm ATG range, but close enough to provide fire support. On turn 4 the second Soviet strongpoint was uncovered (those pesky armored cars). The German attack ground forward methodically, but at the cost of their recon units. Uncovered Soviet units began taking casualties under the weight of the German fire support and artillery bombardments. In turn, the Germans pounded the Soviet 82mm Mortars with their heavy artillery and were able to clear it after three turns.
Mid-Game: The Soviets dug in deep and attempted to attrite the attacking German Infantry Company. The Soviet Tank Reserves arrived on Turn 6 and deployed behind the woods to black the German path off the table. The T-70As tried to shoot up the other road for an eventual outflanking action. The two Soviet strongpoints continued to hold on, despite mounting casualties. The T-70As continued up the road taking casualties from long range Pz IV shots. With all Soviet formation now identified, the Gepanzert Company moved at full speed to the sound of fighting. The remaining German Grenadiers finally made it into the Soviet positions and pushed the remnants of the Strongpoint Company off their hill and into the supporting 120mm mortars. The Soviet BHQ determined that they needed to find a safer location and began a rapid withdrawal to the rear to join the arriving tank companies in a final defense.
End-Game: The Soviet Strongpoint Company and 120mm mortars fought tenaciously, fighting to the last stand holding off the German infantry and forcing the Panzers to resort to close assaults and massive short range firefights. Now the Germans began attacking the flanking Soviet strongpoint in order to secure the road from counter attack. They diverted all artillery and a few tanks and the Gepanzert Company to pound the Soviet positions and finish off the remainder of the T-70s. As the Soviet onboard artillery finally fell silent, help arrived in the form of the off board artillery. This was followed up by the arrival of the Soviet airpower. Neither of these caused serious losses, but continued to pick off Germans units. With time running out, the Germans started assaulting the last Soviet Strongpoint Company. While they were able to clear part of the town, the unit still held on, taking out a number of Germans along the way. The T-70s made a mad dash to cut the road in the area of the German entry and were able to cut the road, only to be wiped out on the last turn by chasing Pz IIIs. While the fighting on the flank continued, the Germans started to rush forward to try to clear the Soviet tanks blocking their way from total victory. The T34s were cleared on the last turn by the German infantry and tanks breaking through the woods. The Germans poured all the fire they could into the KV-1Ss, with the hope of killing the BHQ and achieving victory. However, it turned out to be in vain, as the KVs held at the end of turn 12. While the Soviets had taken horrendous casualties, they still stood firm! The game resulted in a non-historical Soviet victory.
– Mantueffel