Village Games' Blog

MOVING OUT EAST            

A couple of weeks ago I finished up the first elements of my 15mm WWII German force destined for the Russian Steppes (long prairie grasses, etc.). Unbeknownst to me, as I had been working so diligently on them at the shop, one of our regulars (Todd W.) had been finishing up his Russian Cossack force just so he could take me on. 

THE BATTLEFIELD

Well as I came in to work on a Saturday he had this smirk on his face, which he then followed up by springing his Russians on me. The gauntlet had been thrown down and I had to pick it up.  

THE RUSSIAN RIGHT FLANK

So we squared off in a small Russian village in the summer of 1943. The vanguard of a Russian assault force – consisting of the Cossacks, some T34/76’s and accompanying tank riders – were trying to quickly push through hastily prepared German defensive positions.  The German force consisted of a pair of Pz. IV G’s, the remnants of a battered infantry platoon and a single working 105mm artillery gun from somewhere behind the lines.

ONE OF THE PZ IV'S IN A GOOD DEFENSIVE POSITION

GERMAN INFANTRY RELOCATING TO MEET ANOTHER RUSSIAN THREAT

The Russians came charging hard - which was their mission - and created all kinds of confusion in the German lines. Only with constant repositioning were the Germans able to deal with the evolving Russian threats. The Russians on their left flank became bogged down in a minefield, but on the right the Cossacks experienced stunning success. The Russian tanks were definitely having a bad day, as two out of the three were knocked out in relatively short order. 

THE OTHER PZ IV...

THE HERORIC ARTILLERY PIECE THAT SAVED THE DAY!

In the end, the Germans were barely able to eke out a victory – and only because of some very deadly, well placed and well timed artillery rounds. Both of us had a great time though, and look forward to many more battles on the Russian front with our now growing 15mm forces!

Well, until next time…

Keep those brushes moving! 

Dan