Dubyssa River near Raseiniai, Lithuania

late June, 1941

In this early Barbarossa battle the Germans take full advantage of their experience and expertise against the Soviets, but the encounter with the KV heavy tanks provides a nasty surprise. This is a fun battle to play, with each side getting their "moments of glory". There is very little infantry or artillery in this scenario, so it plays very quickly.

The battle represents the initial contact between parts of 6th Panzer Division (later reinforced by 1st Panzer) and elements of the 2nd Tank Division, part of the Soviet Third Mechanized Corps. The Soviets have been told to take the bridge and secure the area, but when they arrive they find the Germans are already starting to cross over the river.

Set up the Germans with the SdKfz 222's just over the bridge and the Pz38t company coming up the dirt road and about to cross the bridge. The PzIV company follows them, and the AT unit is at the rear.

Soviet armored cars are just rounding the curve in the road when they spot German forces and halt. Behind them are is the T-26 company, behind that the BT-7's.

The Soviets will be reinforced with the heavy tank companies, entering the board as soon as one of the two other companies fails morale or is 50% destroyed. They can enter from either of the southern roads on the eastern half of the map.

Special Rule: The Soviets do not have to roll for Regimental morale, only company-by-company.

The Germans are reinforced from 1st Panzer starting on the turn after their tanks first engage and bounce off of either type of KV tank. They enter from the dirt road in the Northwest. (This may have taken a day or two in 1941, but gamers are not so patient.)

They also get two runs of Stuka attacks -- each Stuka attack is called during artillery phase and attacks the nearest tank to a designated landmark on the map (hill top, crossroads, farmhouse, etc.). The target point must be visible by the second PzBef command vehicle, which is a Luftwaffe cooperation officer. The planes arrive during artillery phase 1d4 turns after they are called. The closest tank to the target point is destroyed by the Stukas (even if it is German), and any vehicle within 100m (2") is destroyed on a 1-2 on 1d6. The Soviets are aware of Stuka power and should know not to pack too close together.

The 88 FlAK guns have only enough ammo for five turns of shooting.

Remember, there are no paved roads in this scenario, so Road Speed is never used. Both the dirt roads and fields are considered Flat ground, so they are equally conducive to movement. Woods are heavy and impassible to vehicles.

Maps

Tables of Organization & Equipment