Hill 621, July 1, 1944

The below pictures were taken at a recent Eastern Front game in 1\72nd scale. The scenario was drawn from the board game Squad Leader Scenario #5; Hill 621, July 1, 1944 (from Operation Bagration and the destruction of German Army Group Center).

Operation Bagration

The scenario featured elements of the 5th Russian Guards Army assaulting what was left of the German 170th Infantry Division. The game was played out on the squad level with homegrown rules.

The first seven pictures show the initial attack by the 5th Guards Army Infantry and the retreating Germans who are racing to establish another line of resistance.

The next seven pictures show the new line of German resistance buttressed by German armor consisting of PZ IVh and Stug IIIg's supplemented by a single Pak 40 ATG.

What follows is the edited description of the game from the photographer's point of view and scenario designer (MS). 

The first pictures sent show the Guards attacking on foot, pursuing the the fleeing Germans. The Germans regrouped and took up a defensive position in the wooded area blocking a three way intersection. After a brief stand the Germans once again were forced to give way before the numerically superior Russians.

The Guards advance through the woods previously held by the Germans. While the Guards were advancing a platoon of 4, Pzkw IV's , arrived on the southern flank of the Guards catching them in the open.  But, instead of attacking the Russian infantry they took up a hull down  position to the east and engaged the T34’s as they emerged from the town, destroying two of them.

The Pz IV's then moved into a small woods and fired on the flank of the T34’s , destroying another 2,   as they advanced to support the Guards. The remaining T34’s then turned to face the Pz IV's and were locked in a short exchange of rounds.  

It looked as if the German armor was about to cut off the Guards and destroy them from behind, but at that moment the Russian SU’s, three SU-122’s and two SU-152’s arrived. One of the Pv IV's was immediately destroyed and this caused confusion among the rest of the German tanks and they were also destroyed before they could regroup. This meant the Germans went from victory to defeat in one game turn as the German tanks were destroyed and the infantry overrun.

At the last moment the Stug III's arrived at the pass and took up a position to support the Pak 40 and one squad of panzer grenadiers. The Russian tankers, believing the German armor had been eliminated charged out into the open to support the Guards Infantry. The Stug III's , Tank Hunters, lived up to their reputation and began picking off the SU’s at long range.

Next to arrive for the Germans was a Stug 42, 105 mm, which engaged the Guards with deadly effect. Across the front the Russian attack came to a slow halt. With most of their armor support destroyed and with increasing casualties among their ranks the Russians could go no further.

With most of the Guards holding the wooded area at the base of the northern ridge they did gain and control that ridge with two squads and a T34. The Germans were not strong enough to launch a counter attack.

The Russians were stopped, but only temporarily. 

Hill 621, July 1, 1944

The below pictures were taken at a recent Eastern Front game in 1\72nd scale. The scenario was drawn from the board game Squad Leader Scenario #5; Hill 621, July 1, 1944 (from Operation Bagration and the destruction of German Army Group Center).

Operation Bagration

The scenario featured elements of the 5th Russian Guards Army assaulting what was left of the German 170th Infantry Division. The game was played out on the squad level with homegrown rules.

The first seven pictures show the initial attack by the 5th Guards Army Infantry and the retreating Germans who are racing to establish another line of resistance.

The next seven pictures show the new line of German resistance buttressed by German armor consisting of PZ IVh and Stug IIIg's supplemented by a single Pak 40 ATG.

What follows is the edited description of the game from the photographer's point of view and scenario designer (MS). 

The first pictures sent show the Guards attacking on foot, pursuing the the fleeing Germans. The Germans regrouped and took up a defensive position in the wooded area blocking a three way intersection. After a brief stand the Germans once again were forced to give way before the numerically superior Russians.

The Guards advance through the woods previously held by the Germans. While the Guards were advancing a platoon of 4, Pzkw IV's , arrived on the southern flank of the Guards catching them in the open.  But, instead of attacking the Russian infantry they took up a hull down  position to the east and engaged the T34’s as they emerged from the town, destroying two of them.

The Pz IV's then moved into a small woods and fired on the flank of the T34’s , destroying another 2,   as they advanced to support the Guards. The remaining T34’s then turned to face the Pz IV's and were locked in a short exchange of rounds.  

It looked as if the German armor was about to cut off the Guards and destroy them from behind, but at that moment the Russian SU’s, three SU-122’s and two SU-152’s arrived. One of the Pv IV's was immediately destroyed and this caused confusion among the rest of the German tanks and they were also destroyed before they could regroup. This meant the Germans went from victory to defeat in one game turn as the German tanks were destroyed and the infantry overrun.

At the last moment the Stug III's arrived at the pass and took up a position to support the Pak 40 and one squad of panzer grenadiers. The Russian tankers, believing the German armor had been eliminated charged out into the open to support the Guards Infantry. The Stug III's , Tank Hunters, lived up to their reputation and began picking off the SU’s at long range.

Next to arrive for the Germans was a Stug 42, 105 mm, which engaged the Guards with deadly effect. Across the front the Russian attack came to a slow halt. With most of their armor support destroyed and with increasing casualties among their ranks the Russians could go no further.

With most of the Guards holding the wooded area at the base of the northern ridge they did gain and control that ridge with two squads and a T34. The Germans were not strong enough to launch a counter attack.

The Russians were stopped, but only temporarily. 

The Battle of Salem Church or 2nd Fredericksburg

The Battle of Salem Church or 2^nd Fredericksburg

Historical Situation

In the spring of 1863 the Army of the Potomac opened it’s offensive against Richmond with a huge turning movement to unhinge Lee’s defenses overlooking Fredericksburg. The maneuver worked and Hooker took the Army of the Potomac across the Rappahannock River and into the tangle of woods known as “the Wilderness”.  At a point marked on the map as Chancellorsville Hooker came to a halt and promptly lost his nerve.

Lee responded by leaving only a covering force near Fredericksburg and turned to face Hooker. The result was one of the most startling victories of the war as the Army of Northern Virginia broke Hooker’s army. But Hooker had left the VI Corps under John Sedgwick to pin the Confederate forces. Realizing that the bulk of the Confederates had been drawn off Sedgwick’s men carried the high ground above the town on May 3^rd, and then pressed on to join the rest of the army to the west. The Confederates withdrew before the Union advance and, once reinforced turned at Salem Church with the aim of destroying VI Corps. (From Black Powder. Glory Hallelujah)

Map from Library of Congress. Our game board concentrated on the relatively open area around Salem Church and the road. Woods flanked the open areas which contained small buildings, fences and fields.

Scenario Notes

The scenario was a composite drawn from a number of sources. The game scale was 22mm. or 1/72 and played out on a 8' by 4' table. Figures used were Airfix, Musket Miniatures, Italeri, Revell, IMEX and probably a smattering of other manufactureers. The rules used were an early version of On to Richmond with some modifications including organization.

On to Richmond is based on a basic six (stand) element brigade. As the game organizer I divided a historical brigade into two "wings" thus creating two halves of a "demi-brigade. For example Wofford's Brigade or McLaw's Division had an "A" component of 6 stands and a "B" component of 6 stands.

I diced for unit ratings and commander ratings to add to the Fog of War aspect.

Since this was the first ACW game I was running in about 25+ years (with the assistance of JZ) I wanted a straight forward, stand-up fight to learn the rule basics. That's exactly what I got!

Order of Battle

Confederates  JimZ and MikeS

McLaws Division (Command Figure-McLaws, MP=  5 )  JZ

Wofford’s Bde-5 regiments (6 stands x 2)

A. Regular CV 4

B. Regular CV4

Semme’s Bde-4 regiments (6 stands x2)

A. Regular CV4

B. Veteran CV6

Kershaw’s Bde-5 regiments (8 stands x2)

A. Regular CV4

B. Regular CV4

3” gun battery

Anderson’s Division (Command Figure-Anderson (MP=5  )  MS

Wilcox’s Bde-5 regiments (6 stands x2)

A. Elite CV6

B. Green CV3

Mahone’s Bde-5 regiments (6 stands x2)

A. Regular CV3

B. Regular CV3

12# gun battery

Batteries to be attached to the bde  (A or B but not in same bde) of your choice

Federals (Major General John Sedgwick-present, MP= 2  ) BruceR and JustinR

1^st Division General Brooks (Command figure-Brooks, MP3   )  BR

Brown’s Bde, 5 regiments (8 stands x 2)

A. Regular CV4

B. Veteran CV6

Bartlett’s Bde-4 regiments, (8 stands x 1)

A.Green CV3

Russell’s Bde-5 regiments (8 stands x 2)

A. Green CV3

B. Green CV3

1-3” gun battery

1-12# gun battery

3^rd Division General Newton (Command figure-Newton, MP= 5  ) JR

Shaler’s Bde-6 regiments (8 Stands x 2)

A. Regular CV4

B. Veteran CV6

Browne’s Bde-4 regiments (8 stands x 2)

A. Regular CV4

B. Regular CV4

Wheaton’s Bde-5 regiments (8 stands x 2)

A. Veteran CV6

B. Regular CV4

1-3"gun battery

Batteries to be attached to the bde  (A or B but not in same bde) of your choice

Because I was running the game I had not planned on taking pictures. About 1\2 of the way through I snapped 6 quick pictures with my iPhone-all from the Union side looking across at the CSA forces.

The center of the game board around the church. The labels are used to ID the command figures and units. CSA Anderson is on the CSA right, McLaws just to the right of the road as you view the picture. Mahone's command is split to either side of Salem Church. On the Union side Brook's Division is split with Brown and Bartlett on the left while Russell's two green units or on the extreme right. Newton's Division is coming up the road in the center but hindered in a traffic jam.

The bulk of Mc'Law's Division with Kershaw's Brigade on the extreme right of the picture. Semmes and Wofford are facing Browne from Newton's Division in the center of the picture. Russell of Brook's Division is on the right facing Kershaw.The Rebs would eventually seize the fence line and along with Mahone's units "just would not leave" according to JustinR playing Newton's role.

Brown's Brigade from Brook's Division facing Wilcox's Brigade of Anderson's CSA Division. One half of Mahone's Brigade is adjacent to the church facing Bartlett's Brigade which is out of sight.

A nice shot of Brown's Brigade on the left and Bartlett's single unit behind the church represented by the 5th NY Zouaves. Bartlett would eventually route as would 1\2 of Brown's Brigade. Mahone's Brigade (CSA) would be severely punished between Brooks and Newton but held thus clinching a CSA victory.

Elements of Newton's Division stacked up. The Union was never able to deploy it's numerical superiority. This was compounded by the fact that McLaw's Division was able to take out Newton and 5 morale passes at a critical juncture. Brooks and Sedgwick were also taken out and that cost the Union another 8 morale passes. It was a bad day to be a Union commander. The CSA commanders all survived.

Kershaw's Brigade anchoring the CSA left. The 1\2 brigade in front would suffer 50% casualties but not before it routed 1\2 of USA Russell and driven back Russell's supporting artillery.

Which ever side controlled the church and road would get a major victory. Anything less than that would be determined by units routed and casualties. The center of the board obviously became a focal point and as it it turned out it was a major CSA victory. The Rebs controlled the key part of the road and the church as well as routing three Union units. No CSA units routed although a couple were reduced to half strength or less. A splendid time has had by all.