Still thinking about that Soviet Mechanised Corp list

I am still pondering that Soviet Mechanised Corps list for mid war 1943 Spearhead games. The earlier list is tank heavy, and that's certainly a valid option. But I am wondering about the balance. So here's another iteration, removing one of the Tank Brigades, and replacing it with a slightly slimmed down mechanised brigade. This brings a little more balance with enough infantry to suppport the armour, while retaining the Tank Regiment from the Mechanised Brigade assets. I am wondering if the earlier list is in fact legitimate, since that Tank Regiment with the Heavy tank Companies is in  fact an asset for the Mechanised Brigade, and the earlier list had none of the Mechanised Brigade's core fighting units.

Here is the amended list. Remember that this is the on-table elements only. This is 'stiffened' with off table artillery, and counter battery support (yes, I never go anywhere without it).

Russian Mechanised Corps 1943: Attack List
				Quantity	Points Cost	Total	Morale	Number of stands	Modified Total
	Core Troops
		Corps HQ
			T34/76C	1		20		1	18
		1st Tank  Brigade consisting of:
		1st Tank Brigade HQ:					Regular	1
			HQ BA32	1	6	6
			Total			6			5.4
		Tank Battalion					Regular	8
			T34/76C	4	20	80
		Tank Battalion
			T34/76 C	2	20	40
			T70	2	9	18
			Total			138			124.2
		Motorized Rifle Battalion consisting of:					Regular	13
			Battalion HQ in Jeep	1	6	6
			Rifle Stands in Trucks	6	5	30
			SMG Co	3	6	18
			81mm Mortar & truck	1	6	6
			HMG Co in Truck	1	3	3
			45/66 ATG & truck	0	5	0
			Total	1	7	7
						70			63
		Brigade AA Battery
			37/70 AA Gun	0	5	0
			Quad MG truck	2	5	10
						10			9
		Rifle Regiment
		Regiment HQ:					Regular	1
			HQ Stand&Truck	1	5	5
			Mortar Co 120mm Mortar&Truck	1	6	6
			Total			11			9.9
		Infantry Battalion consisting of:					Regular	12
			Battalion HQ	1	5	5
			Rifle Stands	9	5	45
			HMG	1	5	5
			Mortar Co 81mm	1	3	3
			Total			58			52.2
		Infantry Battalion consisting of:					Regular	12
			Battalion HQ	1	5	5
			Rifle Stands	9	5	45
			HMG	1	5	5
			Mortar Co 81mm	1	3	3
			Total			58			52.2
		Infantry Battalion consisting of:					Regular	12
			Battalion HQ	1	5	5
			Rifle Stands	9	5	45
			HMG	1	5	5
			Mortar Co 81mm	1	3	3
			Total			58			52.2
		Tank Regiment
			HQ T3476C	1	20	20
			Heavy Tank Co KV1C	2	23	46
			Tank Coys T34/76C	3	20	60
						126			113.4
		Light SP Gun Regt
			SU76s	4	13	52			46.8

Mid War Russian Spearhead lists

My game with Nick the other week (AAR here) has lead me to think a little more about the composition of 1943 Russian lists using the Spearhead Scenario Generation System. Until now I've limited myself to either Infantry Division or Armoured Division lists. This has always provided a clear demarcation in terms of equipment. The armoured division has plenty of T34s with the option to add some lighter armour (BTs or T70s), always useful for that 'reconnaissance by death'), while the infantry diviison provided me with those tougher KV alternatives in the form of the heay tank breakthrough regiments.

As always there are compromises. The T34s are faster, and reasonably effective, but vulnerable to heavier German guns. The KVs are slow but tougher in the face of German firepower.

Both lists provide plenty of cheaper infantry with that 0.9 modifier for Regular infantry, and being Russian there's plenty of artillery, albeit harder to access for observed fires. I'd simply not paid attention to the Mechanised Corps OOBs until tonight. I wish I'd done that sooner. In my opinion the vital addition is the Tank Regiment in the Mechanised Brigade assets. This Tank Regiment includes 2 Heavy tank companies of KVs. This may be only 2 KV stands, but that's a very useful asset to throw at the enemy. The only limitation is that this Regiment must be used as a single unit. It cannot be attached, nor presumably cross attached with any infantry in the Corps,  and presumably the stands do not count as support stands.

Players with little experience of the Russian OOBs, when told the OOB that their opponent is using, will think T34s for Tank Corps, or KVs for Infantry Divisions, but the Mechanised Corps offers the possibility of the best of both worlds. Armour with the speed and quality to match PzIVs, and a smaller heavy tank component to provide some backbone to the armour. I'm looking forward to trying this OOB on the table.

Here is the on-table component of a possible Mechanised Corps list for 1943.

			Quantity	Points Cost	Total	Morale		Modified Total
	Corps HQ
		T34/76C	1		20			18
	1st Tank  Brigade consisting of:
	1st Tank Brigade HQ:					Regular
		HQ BA32	1	6	6
		Total			6			5
	Tank Battalion					Regular
		T34/76C	4	20	80
	Tank Battalion
		T34/76 C	2	20	40
		T70	2	9	18
		Total			138			124
	Motorized Rifle Battalion consisting of:					Regular
		Battalion HQ in Jeep	1	6	6
		Rifle Stands in Trucks	6	5	30
		SMG Co	3	6	18
		81mm Mortar & truck	1	6	6
		HMG Co in Truck	1	3	3
		45/66 ATG & truck	0	5	0
		Total	1	7	7
					70			63
	Brigade AA Battery
		37/70 AA Gun	1	5	5
		Quad MG truck	1	5	5
					10			9
	2nd Tank Brigade HQ:					Regular
		HQ BA32	1	6	6
		Total			6			5
	Tank Battalion					Regular
		T34/76C	4	20	80
	Tank Battalion
		T34/76 C	2	20	40
		T70	2	9	18
		Total			138			124
	Motorized Rifle Battalion consisting of:					Regular
		Battalion HQ in Jeep	1	6	6
		Rifle Stands in Trucks	6	5	30
		SMG Co	3	6	18
		81mm Mortar & truck	1	6	6
		HMG Co in Truck	1	3	3
		45/66 ATG & truck	0	5	0
		Total			0
					63			57
	Tank Regiment
		HQ T3476C	1	20	20
		Heavy Tank Co KV1C	2	23	46
		Tank Coys T34/76C	2	20	40
					106			95
	Brigade AA Battery
		37/70 AA Gun	0	5	0
		Quad MG truck	2	5	10
					10			9
	Light SP Gun Regt
		SU76s	3	13	39			35
	Corps mortar regiment
		120mm mortar with truck	0	6	0			0

Armoured spearhead repelled-Prokhorovka 1943

Nick and I realised that this year was the 70th anniversary of the battle at Prokhorovka, around Kursk, on 12 July1943. So we decided that we'd try a 20mm Spearhead battle to mark the anniversary. Nick was itching to field as many vehicles as possible, and in his enthusiasm he misunderstood my suggestion that we both use Armoured Division lists, and took a 500 point list composed entirely of tanks.

Realising his error, I did suggest that he amend his list, but he decided to try it out anyway. So here we were, looking for a narrative that might explain the situation .. here goes.

The plains around Prokhorovka appear to be empty - the view looking south.

A solitary German armoured battalion has pushed ahead of its supporting infantry, hoping to exploit the apparent emptiness of the landscape to take and hold the vital river crossings. Glory must have been the agenda for the day.

An under-strength Panther battalion takes up position commanding one of the vital river crossings.

As with so many other facets of this gargantuan battle around the Kursk salient, the Russian army knows what is happening, and pushes forces forward to counter the German armoured thrust. An infantry regiment pushes forward and takes the river line, while an armoured regiment with motorised infantry cross attached positions itself for a sweeping thrust around the southern flank of the German armoured commander.

One of the two cross attached regimental groups pushes ahead undisturbed, moving into position for the intended flank attack.

The regimental commander in BA32 follows closely behind the three platoons of T34s, the lighter BT7s have pushed ahead to provide a reconnaissance screen

The other cross attached armoured battalion takes up a reserve position

The German battalion commander's calls to Regiment have yielded the release of a second armoured battalion, with two of the precious platoons of Tiger 1 tanks in support. But where is the infantry that he desperately needs?

The newly arrived armoured battalion takes up a position on the commanding high ground in the centre.

The Russian left flanking armoured group arrives at its initial positions, with timed orders to move off after a brief stop.

The Russian commander at this stage committed his reserve, manouvring against the German armour in the centre.

The armour swings around to the west of a small village, while the infantry pushes out towards the high ground and the waiting German armour.

Screaming Katyusha rockets fall from the sky, but the German armour emerges unscathed.

With the benefit of smoke from battalion mortars, the infantry advances against the unsupported tanks.

The Russian reserve armour takes up hull down positions on the flank of the German armour but ..

The first round of fire from the Russian went almost unanswered as all but one of the Russian tank platoons was well behind their flank, but the flurry of shooting gave no result. Clearly the Russian tank gunners were over-excited. One platoon of T34s is suppressed.

The German armour manouvres to respond to the flank threat.

A Tiger platoon is suppressed.. but shakes off the suppression.

The southern flanking battalion receives a new order to move off immediately rather than wait in accordance with the initial battle plan, and begins to move behind the centre German armour. However at this stage the German commander also begins to redeploy the Panther battalion to meet the Russian armoured threat.

The advancing Russian infantry begin to attack the German armour in the centre and the first platoon of PzkwIVs is destroyed with infantry anti-tank weapons.

Another of the PzkwIV platoons is suppressed and then destroyed by the Russian armour hull down on the flank.

The southern flanking Russian armour can be seen at the top of the picture.

The German armour in the centre is flanked on two sides with the hordes of advancing Russian infantry. Russian 76mm artillery guns have been pounding the hill for some time creating nothing more than plenty of dust.

And more armour is destroyed by the infantry.

The two Tiger platoons have finally manouvred to meet the flank threat.

And the first T34 platoon is destroyed with the crash of the huge 88mm tank guns.

A second Katyusha strike hits the armour..

and a StuG platoon  from the AT company is destroyed by the Russian infantry.

The Russian infantry have proved unstoppable for the unsupported German armour. The Russian forces hold 4 of the 5 objectives, and the German armour in the centre has failed its morale check and must withdraw.

The German commander curses the inability of his superiors to provide him with the infantry support that he needed, withdraws from the area, and the bridges are lost.

It was quite a learning experience for Nick I think... unsupported armour is so vulnerable. Next time he'll take a more balanced force I suspect

Well played, Nick!!!

"The Regiment will advance.."

The Regiment had been ordered to probe what Div HQ believed was an empty Norman landscape despite Intel's belief that veteran German panzer-grenadiers had occupied forward positions across the axis of advance. The Regiment was advancing, troops moving tentatively across fields and through farmsteads shrouded in early morning mist.

"One zero this is one zero alpha, over".. whispered voices.

"One zero over", more hushed tones.

"One zero alpha. We have movement in the tree line." The chatter of MG42 fire was clearly audible over the radio channel before the pressel switch was clicked off.

The point sections of the 2nd and 3rd Battalions were probing cautiously towards their objectives when fire broke out on 3 Battalion's front. Men dived for cover as 105mm rounds fell on their positions. The advancing Vickers platoons attached to 3 Battalion were early casualties. 2 Battalion continued it's advance through the village of Le Chat, it's first objective of the day, with the squadron of Churchill VIIs crawling reassuringly behind the forward troops.

1 Battalion had advanced to the heights on the left flank where it took up reserve positions.

The battle field seen from the British right, the British advancing from left to right.

Elite Panzer Grenadiers advanced onto 2 Battalion's objective unseen by the lead 2 Battalion platoons. The battalion deployed in depth with it's reserve company seen on the feature at the top of the photo.

The British Regiment had deployed for it's advance in three battalion groups. 1st Battalion at the top of the photo has already reached it's reserve position. Each battalion has a front line, and a reserve line, all very WW1 ish.

3 Battalion approaches it's objective, a small wooded hill, already occupied by those elite Panzer Grenadiers unknown to the British lead platoons.

2 Battalion's right flank company deploys in it's initial position, having reached its first 'phase line' in its attack, coming under fire from German infantry in the outskirts of the village sitting across it's front.

The main portion of 2 Battalion deploys around its objective of 'Le Chat', it's Churchill Squadron in support.

A second panzer Grenadier battalion  crosses a river line advancing on 2 Battalion's main position.

The lead elements of 3 Battalion on the British right come under fire from the previously undetected German elites, and simultaneously 105mm rounds crash amongst the British troops.

1 Battalion sitting in its reserve position on the high ground on the British left, watching with surprise as a German armoured force enters on the British flank, directly to its front.

The StuG IIIs and JgdPz IVs are supported by dismounted infantry.

The 3 Battalion commander order 9 Company to send two platoons right flanking in order to outflank the German position. However the German commander had anticipated just such a move and brought his battalion reserve forward to counter the move.

And suddenly the whole world fell apart as a Battalion Nebelwerfer strike hits 2 Battalion's forward position.

British counter battery assets (a battery of 5.5" guns) finally located the German 105mm battalion, and soon their fire had eliminated the entire battalion. However the damage had been done.

2 Battalion casualties from the German Nebelwerfer barrage were heavy.

And the forward elements of 2 Battalion were coming under pressure from the German battalion applying pressure to its front.

The flanking armoured force was caught by the AT gun screen of 6 pounders and 17 pdrs. One platoon of StuG IIIs was eliminated and another forced to close down and halt. The JgdPz IVs were forced to pull back by the 17pdr AT guns firing at long range.

British artillery had been in high demand across the entire division, and so the 25pdr regiment attached to the infantry regiment was late in lending its support to the regiment. However once engaged the entire regiment brought its fire down on the dismounted infantry, stripping two full companies from the German flank attack.

A second Nebelwerfer strike hits 2 Battalion and panic hits its ranks.

Meanwhile 1 Battalion was hit with heavy fire from the Battalion's flak units. Two platoons of Quad 20mm flak vehicles were taking a heavy toll, stripping the supporting AT gun batteries from the battalion in short order.

1 Battalion had started to take heavy casualties.

The Churchill squadron had been caught in the wrong position and was forced to manouvre to try and counter the armoured threat on its exposed left. I had assumed that 1 Battalion, deployed in reserve, would be able to contain any flank threat, but this was proving difficult. My position was in jeopardy because I had relied on 1 Battalion to protect the left flank, and had failed to deploy 2 Battalion to be able to respond to a flank threat itself.

In addition the 17pdr company attached to 2 Battalion was positioned in anticipation of a German armoured thrust through the centre. Two of the three batteries were able to provide support to the flank against the flank attack, but the third battery was forced to manouvre to try and get into a useful firing position.

2 Battalion was close to a morale check, with 3 battalion not far behind. The Britsh troops had received a severe bloody nose, a result of poor planning and inadequate support.

Overall a great game, but a few lessons for me on list composition and deployment.

The game was played using the 6mm Ros Heroics vehicles and figures from Keith's collect (German) and my own (British). The game was developed using Keith's scenario generation system, and became an advance to contact using defend lists.

My own defend list was proved to need some development, in particular because I had no adequate Option A prepared to add to my defending force.