Pavlov s House 29 October 1942 By Andy Turlington & Ben Lacy. A Final Combat Scenario. From Britton Publishers

Transcription

1 29 October 1942 By Andy Turlington & Ben Lacy A Final Combat Scenario From Britton Publishers

2 The following is presented in a generic format and is playable with any set of skirmish rules. For our play tests, we used Final Combat. This scenario is based on a 4-story apartment building in Stalingrad that was defended by a single platoon from the 13 th Guard Division. They were led by Sergeant Yakov Pavlov, an unlikely hero who was forced to assume command when his superior was wounded. It came to be known as and was a rallying cry for many of the defenders throughout Stalingrad long after the siege was lifted. Pavlov s orders were to reconnoiter the building and develop a plan for a company assault. However, upon his arrival, he noted that it was weakly defended. Together with his 4 man team, he attacked and took control of the building. Initially, they managed to defend it using captured German machine guns. On the second night, Pavlov sent a messenger to battalion HQ requesting reinforcements. On the next morning, he was reinforced by sixteen men with machine guns, anti-tank rifles and 50mm mortars. Sergeant Pavlov and his men fortified the building with barbed wire and minefields at all strategic points. They broke down the non-load bearing walls within the structure to expedite their reaction to each German assault. Forward observes were placed on the roof to call in artillery fire on exposed German positions. One of the most prolific snipers was A.I. Chehov. He made his way in and out of the building along a 200-yard communications ditch that the men dug to facilitate the entry of reserves and supplies Final Combat Page 1

3 from the Volga River. It is believed that Chehov and other snipers killed more than 200 German soldiers during the struggle. Firing constantly, the Germans initiated several assaults per day, but growing evermore desperate they began to support these assaults with armor. In response, Pavlov ordered his machine guns to the roof of the building to suppress the assailing infantry. As a result of this tactic, the tanks were unable to elevate their guns sufficiently to bring Pavlov s men under fire. To further improve their chances against enemy armor, he ordered the anti-tank rifles into the basement. This small force managed to defend the building from 23 September to 25 November (59 days) until relief arrived. After the battle, the men of Pavlov s house boasted that they had killed more Germans than did the French while defending all of Paris. Page 2 Final Combat

4 29 October 1942 German Order of Battle Platoon HQ: Elements of the 389 th Infantry Division HW, 6 th Army, TQ of Professional to Veteran. Platoon Leader SMG, Sergeant SMG, 3 Riflemen w/ Kar98K Squad #1: Elements of the 389 th Infantry Division, 6 th Army, mixed troop qualities, Regular to Veteran. Sqd Ldr SMG, Asst. Sqd Ldr SMG, LMG Gunner, LMG Asst Gunner, 6 Rifles. Squad #2: Elements of the 389 th Infantry Division, 6 th Army, mixed troop qualities, Regular to Veteran. Sqd Ldr SMG, Asst. Sqd Ldr SMG, LMG Gunner, LMG Asst Gunner, 6 Rifles. Squad #3: Elements of the 389 th Infantry Division, 6 th Army, mixed troop qualities, Regular to Veteran. Sqd Ldr SMG, Asst. Sqd Ldr SMG, LMG Gunner, LMG Asst Gunner, 6 SMG s. Squad #4: Elements of the 389 th Pioneer Battalion, 6 th Army, mixed troop qualities, Professional to Crack; equipped with 2d6 satchel charges and 1d6 pole charges. Sqd Ldr SMG, Asst. Sqd Ldr SMG, LMG Gunner, LMG Asst Gunner, 9 SMG s. 5x SdKfz 251/1: (Crewed by Squad) Final Combat Page 3

5 Elements of XIV Panzer Corps: Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf. H 5.0cm KwK38 L/42, crew TQ Professional. Crew of 5: Driver, Radio-Operator, Commander, Gunner, and Loader Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf. F2 7.5cm KwK40 L/43, crew TQ Professional. Crew of 5: Driver, Radio-Operator, Commander, Gunner, and Loader Leadership: All German squad leaders and assistant squad leaders have generic Leadership Attributes of 13 Mission Briefing You are part of the 6 th German Army, fighting in Stalingrad. To date the German forces have taken 90% of the city, but supplies are low, food and ammunition are scarce, and reinforcements are nowhere in sight, things are beginning to look bleak. The Russians have managed to defend several strong points throughout the city. One of these is an apartment building, and you are going to win his fortress for the Fuhrer! You have been allotted armored support for your bid to take this building, several have tried before you, and failed, failure will not be permitted to continue! Page 4 Final Combat

6 29 October 1942 Russian Order of Battle Because this is one of the few engagements in the war where such information is available, the real names of the defenders of have been used below. Although it has no bearing on the game, we thought it would be nice to honor them by name. Elements of 13th Guard: Squad Leader Y.F. Pavlov, Elite, SMG (Leadership=16) Assistant Squad Leader V.S. Glushenko, Crack, SMG (Leadership=13) A.I. Chehov, Crack, Mosin Nagant Sniper Rifle w/ scope G.I. Yakimenko, Veteran, SMG, Chehov s spotter w/ binoculars A.P. Aleksandrov, Veteran, SMG N.Y. Chernogolov, Veteran, SMG I.F. Afanasyev, Professional, DP LMG I.V. Voronov, Regular, DP LMG K. Turgunov, Professional, M1910 MMG A.N. Chernyshenko, Professional, 50mm Mortar Final Combat Page 5

7 T.I. Gridin, Regular, 50mm Mortar A.A. Sabgaida, Veteran, PTRD-41 ATR T. Murzaev, Professional, PTRD-41 ATR M. Bondarenko, Professional, Mosin Nagant FO V.M. Kiselev, Regular, Mosin Nagant FO 45mm L/66 AT gun w/ 3-man crew of Regular TQ Mission Briefing As Yakov Pavlov, you have recently captured an apartment building on 9 th January Square in Stalingrad. You have received supplies and reinforcements and have been ordered to hold the position from all assaulting German forces. You have been here for 37 days, and there is no end in sight. You hear the distinctive roar of approaching armor. They are assaulting again! Yakov Pavlov, and two of the three men who originally took the Apartment Building. Page 6 Final Combat

8 Judges Notes Game Length The outcome should be determined within a 10-turn limit. Each turn is approximately five minutes with 14-seconds of worthwhile action. German Tank Rule In order to maintain historical accuracy, German cannon elevation limitations will preclude direct fire at the apartment roof. Deployment All Russians will start hidden in the apartment complex. The AT gun should be hidden in the warehouse. Troop positions should be noted on the map and will be placed on the board only after firing their weapons, unless they are spotted prior to that. The Germans will enter opposite. The players may withhold units at their discretion. Artillery There are two 50mm mortars available to the Russian players. They are equipped with 2d6 rounds of HE distributed evenly between them. Historically, these mortars were fired from the windows in direct fire mode. The Russian player also has a two-man FO team that must begin hidden on the roof. With 65% availability, they may call two fire missions comprised of four 82mm mortar tubes. The Russians may have one RP Final Combat Page 7

9 (registered point). The FO team may adjust fire from this point, but may only estimate the yardage. The Russian player is not permitted to actually measure the range. The German player has three missions of 8.0cm mortar (2-tubes) with 85% availability. They have two RPs and may fire smoke and HE. Each smoke round will last two turns or 30 chits. The artillery is controlled by off board FO assets with an excellent view of the apartment building. Communications Both the German and Russian FO teams are in contact with their respective Battalion Artillery Commands. Minefield The Russian players will establish a minefield around the perimeter of the apartment building. There will be a 20% chance that infantry entering the area will detonate an anti-personnel mine. A vehicle will have a 50% chance to detonate both AP and AT mines. If a mine is detonated by a vehicle, there will be a 20% chance that it is an AT mine. An AP mine will not damage a vehicle. is bottom center. Page 8 Final Combat

10 A Satellite view of Pavolv s House today Final Combat Page 9

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