by E.R. Bickford Production: C.J. Doherty 2010 Decision Games Bakersfield, CA. Game Turn 1 Pre-Game Optional Rule: Leningrad Defensive States Die Role. One a roll of one through three, nothing changes; on a four through six, Manstein drags his feet a few days, thereby giving the Soviets more time to prepare. The die roll is a two; so the Soviets begin in complete disarray. There are two other optional rules that I m using in this example. One is Fanaticism. It allows German attacks with at least 50 percent SS Totenkopf units to declare National Socialist Ardor, which gives a minus-one DRM (die roll modifier) on adjacent attacks. Likewise, the Soviets have a similar option when 50 percent of their fire strength is from Komsomol or NKVD units in adjacent hexes. The Soviet player may declare Proletarian Revolutionary Fervor and thus receive the same minus-one DRM. The Germans also have a few airborne units that may arrive as reinforcements. The optional rule allows for an air drop into clear hexes. The Germans need 22 or more objective hexes by Game Turn 10 in order to win. The Soviets must prevent that. Due to stacking limits, the Soviets may only deploy two units in objective hexes; otherwise, Soviet stacking is one unit per hex. One approach is thus to stack full the objectives. Though that would make it more difficult to obtain each objective, it also allows Manstein overall easier access into Leningrad. Another approach to initial deployment is to occupy the fortified line to the south of the city, making it more difficult for the German forces to get their initial breakthrough. In this game, the Soviet player has gone with the first strategy and, accordingly, the forward objectives hexes are front loaded. Photo1 T1a German Reinforcement & Replacement Phase First, the German player determines his reinforcements. Manstein is received automatically. Then six air strike markers are chosen randomly. Three 10s, two 20s and one 15 strength air strike markers are selected. They will be available each turn for the German. Next a d6 is rolled for 56 th Corps. A one is rolled, which is divided by two and rounded up. That results in choosing one unit randomly from among all those support units belonging to the corps. The 62 nd Engineer Battalion is selected, a 2-2 that has bridging capabilities. That unit can also negate terrain effects in close assault attacks. Now a d6 is rolled to determine which combat division arrives first. A two is rolled, and that means the 3 rd Motorized comes on first. Those units deploy from the south map edge. The Germans don t get any replacements on turn one. German The Luftwaffe flies air strike missions next. They can hit anywhere on the map and don t need spotters. Additionally, there s no blocking terrain against indirect fire. The one restriction is the German may combine no more than three air strike markers in the same attack. The German player has decided to package the air strikes into two missions. Two 20-point markers and a 10-pointer combine for 50 fire points against the Soviet 119/13 Regiment in the Elektiosila objective hex. The DRM is plus-four (urban, objective, fortification). The die roll of two leads to an E result, and the Soviet infantry is eliminated. A die is rolled for rubble. There is none. (See Photo1 T1a) A second mission targets the Soviet 42 nd Engineer Battalion deployed at Avtova, an objective in the southwestern part of the city. The strike fails to damage the target. German The 3 rd Motorized arrives. Six battalions move to contact with the Soviet troops World at War 17 AFTER ACTION REPORT APR MAy 2011 A1
Photo2 T1b in the urban area near the Elektiosila. Those units return defensive fire to no effect. The 3 rd Motorized artillery units deploy to the rear. German The German commander attacks the Soviet forces in the urban terrain. The 8 th Motorized Regiment and the 3 rd Engineer Battalion attack the 880 th Infantry Regiment. Since the attack includes engineers, the terrain DRM are negated. An assault is declared so the attackers can advance after combat and gain the minus-one DRM. Two artillery units provide indirect support fire. The Soviet infantry is eliminated. A d6 is rolled to check for rubble, but none is created. Then 53 rd Motorcycle Battalion and the 2/29 Battalion attack the C/42 Infantry Brigade. Though the attack is supported with artillery fire, it s ineffective and the defenders hold their position. (See Photo2 T1b) The 42 nd Army receives reinforcements by adding up the total of objectives held, dividing that number by six and rounding down. That results in five units coming in from 42 nd Army, chosen randomly. They re deployed in objective hexes. Then the Leningrad Front Reserve rolls a d6/2 rounded up. The result of one allows one of that organization s units to enter as a reinforcement. The 98/10 Infantry Regiment is randomly selected. Soviet Movement & German The C/42 Regiment moves through the urban terrain and into the Elektiosila objective. That draws defensive fire, but it s ineffective. Gen. Zhukov s forces move from the north map edge into the city proper. There s no further Soviet movement. Soviet Offensive Fire The C/42 Infantry Regiment assaults the 3 rd Motorized Engineer and the 3/8 Battalion to the east of the Elektiosila. The Soviets can combine only three units per targeted hex, and they add the 704 th Artillery Regiment and fire from the gunboat that s nearby on the Neva River. The Germans defend in urban terrain and thereby receive a plus-one DRM, but the Soviet force assaults, thereby getting a minus-one DRM. The engineer unit is eliminated. Another die is rolled for the 3/8 Battalion, which is also eliminated. No rubble is created. Next the 3/2 Militia Battalion assaults the other two battalions of the 8 th Motorized Regiment. The 51 st Artillery also adds combat support along with the guns of the cruiser Aurora. The attack eliminates the 2/8 Motorized Battalion, but the 1/8M remains in place. The Soviets conclude their combat phase. A2 World at War 17 AFTER ACTION REPORT APR MAy 2011
Photo3 T2a Game Turn 2 Reinforcements Replacements Phase The 8 th Panzer Division arrives from the south map edge. Then 56 th Corps sends in the 92L Anti-Aircraft Battalion. For replacements the Germans will receive one unit. Since the 3 rd Motorized is the only formation with losses, the replacement is used to replenish one of its battalions. That unit is chosen at random. Thus 3/8 Motorized Battalion returns to action. That unit is added atop a friendly unit of the same formation. The Luftwaffe again sorties two packages for air strikes. A 50-point attack is launched against the Aurora RR artillery unit, which fired on German troops last turn. The RR unit is in clear terrain (never a good idea), and is easily wiped out. That s a non-replaceable unit; so it goes into the dead pile. (See Photo3 T2a) A second air attack is launched against the 704 th Artillery at the Badayev warehouses. Since that s an objective hex, the die roll is heavily modified with a plus-three DRM. There is no effect. During the movement phase, 8 th Panzer drives aboard on the German right, into the open area. The panzer battalions advance to contact with the 169 th Anti-Air Regiment, which fires to no effect against them. The panzer division s artillery is moved into the urban areas south of the Lenin Works. That terrain will provide some protection against counterbattery fire and the units indirect fire doesn t need a line of sight. The 3 rd Motorized Division resumes its attacks in the urban area near the Elektiosila. An engineer unit from 56 th Corps is brought up to participate, since it negates the terrain effects. Soviet defensive fire fails to damage any of the moving units. Offensive fire is handled by subcommands. Each sub-command may include some units from 56 th Corps. The 3 rd Motorized Division will attack the Soviet C/42 Infantry Regiment in the Elektiosila, while the 3/2G Militia is assaulted in the fortifications on the right. Available artillery is thrown into both attacks, but the dice end the assault with no effect. Both die rolls are sixes. Next, 8 th Panzer attacks near the Lenin Works. The 169 th Anti-Air Regiment defends in urban terrain. Poor die rolling results in another No Effect result. Four more battalions, joined World at War 17 AFTER ACTION REPORT APR MAy 2011 A3
Photo 4 T2b by artillery, fire at the Soviet forces in the Badayev warehouses. Again the offensive fire comes to naught due to bad die rolls. The defenders also had plus-three DRM for the terrain. The 42 nd Army receives 5 reinforcements, which are deployed in objective hexes in the center of Leningrad. The Leningrad Front Reserve also sends the 204 th and 292 nd Regiments. Movement & German The 42 nd Engineer Battalion is moved from Avtova to the rear. It has 12 MPs and gets to the Obvodny Canal on the Stachev Prospekt. It s a pontoon bridging unit, and it may be useful later if some bridges are destroyed. Commissar Zhdnov leaves the Smolny Institute and re-deploys to the Vitebsk RR Station. Two artillery units on the front line are pulled back. Since they use indirect fire, they can be used virtually anywhere. Then the 292 nd and 204 th Regiments advance from the north to the Neva River near Finland Station. Those units may attempt to demolish some bridges. There s no defensive fire, as none of the moving units are adjacent to the enemy. Near the Elektiosila, the militia and two artillery units fire with 30 factors on the 1/8 and 3/8 Motorized Battalions. Those units are exposed in clear terrain, and both are eliminated. Then, near the Lenin Works, the 169 th Anti-Air Regiment and the 48 th Infantry Gun Battalion fire on the 8 th Motorcycle Battalion, which is eliminated; however, the 1/28 th Infantry Battalion survives. Then the Soviet gunboat and the LG infantry gun unit fire on the 1/8 Infantry Battalion: no effect. The Red Banner Fleet fires at the 59 th Engineer Battalion with no effect. A d6 is rolled to determine when the fleet is allowed to fire again. A one result means turn three. The Leningrad Front Reserve attacks the bridge near the NKVD HQ. Since the Zhukov is present, the normal attack limits are lifted. Even so, the effort fails. Two air strikes are sent against 8 th Panzer Division, A4 World at War 17 AFTER ACTION REPORT APR MAy 2011
but they fail to inflict any damage. The air strike markers are returned to the LFR reinforcement pool. (See Photo 4 T2b area near Lenin Works) Game Turn 3 The Germans receive the 269 th Infantry Division as reinforcement by die roll. The 56 th Corps sends the 1/51 and 1/111 Anti-Air Battalions. One replacement is selected randomly: the 3/3 Engineer Battalion. In the first air strike, 50 points are used to attack the 704 th Artillery Regiment. The guns are in urban terrain and there s an air defense unit within two hexes. Nonetheless, the air strike is successful and the artillery is put out of action. As a result of the strike, the urban area is reduced to rubble. A second air strike targets the 48/13 Infantry Gun Regiment in the urban area near the Nevsky Prospekt. That air strike has no effect. The German player begins movement. Each sub-command moves separately, and must complete its movement before that of another sub-command begins. First, 8 th Panzer maneuvers to set up an attack on the Lenin Works. Then 3 rd Motorized brings in 3 rd Engineer Battalion to attack the Elektiosila, but defensive fire sends that unit back to the replacement pool. The 269 th Infantry Division deploys on the German left and advances toward Avtova and the Kirov Works. The 489 th Regiment leads a close assault against Avtova, and the 490 th Regiment moves toward the Kirov Works. All the units survive the subsequent defensive fire. Photo5 T3a 8 th Panzer. At the Lenin Works, the 181 st Infantry Regiment defends against the German panzers. The 8 th Panzer s artillery also joins in. A close assault is declared. The combat has a plus-three DRM, but it still eliminates the Soviet infantry. German panzers capture the Lenin Works. The 1/8 PG and 59 th Engineer Battalions attack the Soviet infantry gun battalion near Nevsky Prospekt. The 56 th Corps AA battalion and another 8 th Panzer artillery unit both support the combat. The 48/13 Infantry Gun Regiment is eliminated. Fire against the Badayev warehouses is ineffective. 3 rd Motorized. This division resumes its attack on the Elektiosila and the fortified position on the railroad to the west. All the division s artillery is thrown into the close assault. The Soviet C/42 is eliminated and the objective falls. Next, the 8 th Motorized Regiment attacks the position on the railroad, but that s ineffective. 269 th Infantry. The 490 th Regiment attacks the Kirov Works and calls for fire support from three artillery units. The Soviet militia is eliminated, but the 194 th Anti-Air Regiment remains. At Avtova the 489 th Regiment, with help from the 269 th Engineer Battalion, eliminates the Soviet militia regiment and captures that objective. (See Photo5 T3a 269th ID) The 42 nd Army gets five units from its reinforcement pool and deploys them in objectives. Then the LFR sends three units. An NKVD unit is selected and the two air units return. Movement & German The Soviet forces that have been surrounded near the front fall back to a position toward the city center. A marine regiment marches to the riverside to be in a better position for an amphibious move. The units all move so as to avoid defensive fire. 42 nd Army. The Red Banner Fleet fires at the German 4/269 Artillery Battalion with no effect. The fleet is replaced on the turn track, and will be available again on Game Turn 9. Two infantry World at War 17 AFTER ACTION REPORT APR MAy 2011 A5
Regiment moves into range of the enemy forces to the west of there. 269 th Infantry Division. Two regiments with support move in to assault the Kirov Works. The defensive fire is ineffective as the units advance through urban areas. SS Totenkopf. This entire division advances along the Moscow Prospekt and within range of the 42 nd Army units deployed at the Warsaw RR Station. Photo 6 T4a battalions from 269 th Division are attacked in the urban area to the west of the Kirov Works. Soviet artillery support proves effective, and both battalions are sent to the replacement pool. Then the gunboat and the 704 Artillery fire at the 92 nd Anti-Air Battalion and the 59 th Engineer Battalion. Both units are eliminated. Game Turn 4 SS Totenkopf arrives as reinforcement. SS divisions have a limit of four units combining for firing purposes, but they can use the National Socialist Ardor rule in combat. Also the 2/56 Military Police Battalion arrives from 56 th Corps. For replacements, the 8/8 MC Battalion returns to action. A 50-point air strike is launched against the Badayev Works. The area is an urban objective hex with an anti-air unit; so there s a plus-four DRM. Nonetheless, both the D/42 Infantry Regiment and the 115 th Air Defense Regiment are eliminated. One of the air strikes causes the hex to turn into rubble. A second air strike is launched against 52 nd Artillery Regiment, which is in the urban terrain near the Europa Hotel. An air defense unit interferes with the German bombers run-in, and the attack is ineffective at silencing the Soviet artillery. 8 th Panzer Division. The 43 rd AT Battalion moves across Nevsky Prospekt and adjacent to the Electric Works East. Since the 43 rd has anti-armor, the defensive fire is ineffective. The Soviets defend the Electric Works with the 296 th Infantry Regiment and the 704 th Artillery. The artillery is an indirect fire unit; so it can t issue defensive fire. The 10 th Panzer Regiment moves in with motorcycles and mechanized infantry under the cover of the urban terrain. Four more battalions advance just to the left of that force, but the Soviet 169 th AA Regiment takes out the 2/28 th Infantry Battalion with defensive fire. 3 rd Motorized Division. The 3 rd Anti-Tank Battalion advances into the Badayev Works. Then 8 th Motorized 8 th Panzer Division. A combined arms force leads a close assault on the Electric Works, which is defended by the Soviet 296 th Infantry Regiment. With the aid of artillery, the attack generates over 50 fire factors. Both of the Soviet units are eliminated and the German infantry captures the Electric Works. To the left, the rest of 8 th Panzer assaults the 169 th Anti-Air Regiment. It defends across a small tributary. The Soviet AA regiment is also eliminated. (See Photo 6 T4a) 3 rd Motorized Division. A massive firefight breaks out with the Soviet forces at Warsaw Station. The C/42 Infantry Regiment and the 1/2G Militia are both eliminated. 269 th Infantry Division. Two regiments with artillery support assault the Soviet position at the Kirov Works. The 269 th Engineer Battalion neutralizes the terrain and both Soviet defenders are destroyed. The 194 th AA Regiment and the A/42 Infantry go to the reinforcement pool. The Germans capture the Kirov Works. Next the 489 th and 469 th Regiments assault the Soviet 351 st Anti-Air Regiment in the fortifications to the east of the Kirov Works. Another artillery unit is added for support. The 351 st is eliminated. SS Totenkopf. This force uses ranged fire against the Soviet-held Baltic RR Station. It s defended by two units. The A/42 Police unit is eliminated. The militia regiment remains in place. Two artillery units use indirect fire against A6 World at War 17 AFTER ACTION REPORT APR MAy 2011
the 42 nd Pontoon Engineers, which is caught in open terrain and eliminated. Thus far the Germans have captured six objective hexes on the south side of Leningrad. There s still a long way to go, but most of Manstein s assault force has now arrived on the battlefield. Reinforcements & Replacements The Soviets receive four reinforcement units for 42 nd Army. They re chosen randomly. The 704 th Artillery is deployed at the Smolny Institute. Then the 2/3G Militia is placed at the Warsaw RR Station. The 194 th Anti-Air Regiment is placed at the Baltic RR Station. Last, the 309 th Infantry is deployed at the university. The Leningrad Front Reserve also sends in the 1064 th Infantry Regiment from the north. Only meager reinforcements have been trickling in from the LFR. Movement & German The Soviet gunboat is sunk by defensive fire as it attempts to reposition along the Neva River. It s permanently eliminated. That s unfortunate, as the unit was versatile. The 2/42 Marine Regiment uses amphibious movement to redeploy from the RR bridge on the western side to the Baltic Shipyard objective. Rear area forces move forward. The forces deployed at the Baltic and Warsaw Stations offer offensive fire, but it s ineffective. There s no other offensive fire because the direct fire forces have no line of sight and the indirect fire units have no spotters. Soviet forces target structures in the urban areas in an attempt to create rubble, but that effort is ineffective. Game Turn 5 The Germans receive the SS Polizei Division as reinforcements. The replacement point is used to bring back the 1/469 th Infantry Battalion. First a 50-point air strike is launched against the Smolny Institute. There sit the 704 th Artillery and 864 th Infantry Regiments. Both those Soviet units are eliminated and no rubble created. A second strike is sent in against the Moscow RR Station. That location has a powerful infantry gun unit, as well as a Komsomol unit. Both units survive. 26 th Infantry Division. This division divides into two Kampfgruppen. The first advances on the Terminal on the Gulf of Finland. Defensive fire from the Kirov Tank Regiment wipes out the 2/490 Battalion. The other group moves toward the Baltic RR Station. First, the 1/469 Battalion advances along Stachev Prospekt and secures the bridge over the Obvodny Canal. Three battalions cross and move into the rear of the RR station on Zagorodny Prospekt. One battalion sets up to the south, surviving Soviet defensive fire. 3 rd Motorized Division. What remains of 3 rd Motorized attempts to maneuver against Warsaw Station. Unfortunately, two more battalions are eliminated by defensive fire. SS Totenkopf Division. These units advance along the RR toward Warsaw Station. Manstein s headquarters moves with them to help alleviate the SS attack restriction. The force advances on the RR station with anti-tank units, which are virtually immune to the defensive fire coming from that locale. 8 th Panzer Division. The division s commander focuses on the next objective, Moscow Station, which has a powerful infantry gun unit. Three panzer battalions and an anti-tank unit advance on the position. Since it s an urban area, and the attackers have A ratings, the defensive fire is ineffective. Meanwhile the 1/8 Infantry Battalion captures the unoccupied Smolny Institute. SS Polizei Division. This division has a number of weak units; so it will primarily garrison the rear area and hold captured objectives. They do have some artillery; so limited combat efforts could be effective. 269 th Infantry Division. The first fight opens at the Terminal on the Gulf of Finland. The Soviet Kirov Tank Regiment is defending. Engineers negate the terrain modifiers, and two battalions of AA units from 56 th Corps are added to the firepower. The Soviet tanks are eliminated. The rest of this division attacks the Soviet position at the Baltic Station. There are no engineers in that assault; so the defense receives a plus-three DRM. Fortunately, the Germans generate over 50 points of fire strength, and both the defending units are eliminated. 3 rd Motorized Division. Next the Germans attack Warsaw Station. The 3 rd Motorized has infantry and antitank with full artillery support in the assault. The Soviets defend with two militia regiments. There is no effect. SS Totenkopf Division. The SS assaults the Soviet position at Vitebsk Station. Manstein has plotted the attack; so all the units within his command radius can fire, which is three hexes. Normally, the SS can only fire a maximum of four units at a target. The Soviets defend with two Komsomol regiments. One is eliminated, but the other remains. 8 th Panzer Division. The 8 th Panzer assaults Moscow Station. A 10-point infantry gun unit is there along with a marine regiment. The panzers anti-armor ratings have allowed them to get into a position to destroy those units, surviving their defensive fires. The infantry gun unit is blown out, but the marine regiment holds. World at War 17 AFTER ACTION REPORT APR MAy 2011 A7
Photo7 T5a Moscow & Vitebsk Station (See Photo7 T5a) The Soviet player receives four units for 42 nd Army as reinforcements. The 269 th Infantry Regiment is deployed at the Hay Market. The 864 th Infantry Regiment is placed in Gostini Dvor. A security regiment is put in the Europa Hotel, and 351 st AA is placed at the NKVD HQ. The LFR also sends in three units: 53 rd Engineer, 313 th Infantry Gun and 249 th Infantry. Movement & German The 2/42 Marine uses amphibious movement to redeploy from the Baltic Shipyard to the bridge. (One marine unit may use that type of movement per movement phase.) LFR units advance from the north to the Botanical Gardens. The newly arrived units redeploy for defensive advantage. Soviet air strikes are launched against the SS units attacking Vitebsk Station. That s a partial success, and Totenkopf s engineer battalion is eliminated. The urban area is reduced to rubble. (See Photo8 T5b) 42 nd Army. The marines at Moscow Station call in artillery against 8 th Panzer. The tanks prove immune to the fire. The rest of the counterattack also fails to cause damage. The engineers fail in their attempt to blow a bridge across the Neva River. Game Turn 6 Another air strike marker is added as reinforcement. It s selected randomly, and it turns out to be a 15-point Ju-87 strike. Also, the paratroop units are added to the Game Turn 7 track, from where they will arrive next turn. Two replacement points are expended. They can only bring back one unit each from separate sub-commands. The Totenkopf engineer battalion returns to action along with 8 th Panzer s engineer battalion. Two 50-point air strikes packages sent against the Soviet positions at the Hay Market and Moscow Station. The attack at the Hay Market fails to inflict any A8 World at War 17 AFTER ACTION REPORT APR MAy 2011
Photo8 T5b Soviet Air Attack damage. At the RR station, a quality unit, 5 th Marine Regiment, is knocked out and the area is reduced to rubble. 269 th Infantry Division. The part of the division at the Terminal pulls out and moves back to the mainland. The rest remain poised to attack Warsaw Station. Since those units don t move, they re not subject to defensive fire. SS Totenkopf. The panzer battalions skirt around Warsaw Station to a position near the Hay Market. None of the defensive fire is effective. An engineer battalion advances to assist with the assault on the station. 8 th Panzer Division. These units advance to the river and prepare to assault the Waterworks objective. Again, Soviet defensive fire is ineffective. That s due to the DRM for the urban terrain. SS Polizei Division. Objectives continue to be garrisoned by these troops. The 3/3 Battalion moves to the Electric Works. Then the 2/3 Infantry Battalion moves to occupy Moscow Station. Defensive fire is ineffective. The 1/3 covers Nevsky Prospekt. Over at the Terminal, on the other side of the city, the 3/1 garrisons the objective because the 269 th has pulled away. The rest of the division follows along the railroad to the south of Nevsky Prospekt. (It s important to garrison objectives in the rear area, because Soviet Komsomol units can metro-move, using the subway, into empty objectives.) 269 th Infantry Division. An assault is launched against the militia at Warsaw Station. All the divisional artillery is called in, and the two Soviet regiments are eliminated. The objective is captured by a battalion of the 469 th Regiment. That s all of the attacks from this division. SS Totenkopf Division. The Totenkopf panzers attack at the Hay Market with no effect. Manstein was in range and thus allowed the fire combat to multiply, but that still proved to be for naught. The attack at the Vitebsk Station is more successful. An engineer battalion neutralized the terrain, and the Komsomol unit is eliminated. 8 th Panzer Division. An assault is launched against the Soviet 189 th AA Regiment at the intersection of Nevsky and Litiny Prospekts. The Soviet unit is eliminated. Then, at the Waterworks, an assault is launched against the 880 th Infantry Regiment and a Komsomol unit. The Komsomol is eliminated, but the 880 th remains in position. World at War 17 AFTER ACTION REPORT APR MAy 2011 A9
Photo9 T6a Germans closing in. SS T and 8th Panzer SS Polizei Division. The divisional artillery fires at the Komsomol unit near the Europa Hotel. That unit is holding a key bridge across the canal. The fire is effective, and the Soviet troops disappear. The Germans have captured 12 objectives thus far. They need at least 22 by the end of the game to win. Due to the loss of objectives, Soviet 42 nd Army is receiving fewer reinforcements. Three units are taken this time. A militia regiment is placed in the Electric Works West. An infantry regiment deploys to the Army Depot. Then the 181 st Regiment is placed in Hotel Europa. The LFR sends three units. The 29 th Mortar Battalion and the 8 th Infantry Brigade deploy to the north map edge. A 10-point air strike is also received. Movement & German Defensive Fire LFR. The 313 th Infantry Gun unit deploys to the south of the Lenin Studio across the north side of the Neva River. The 249 th Infantry moves to the Lenin Studio. Then 52 nd Engineer Battalion deploys to the Hospital. The 8 th Infantry Brigade moves to the Military Medical Academy. Last, 29 th Mortar Battalion goes to the Stalin Works. 42 nd Army. A Komsomol regiment uses subway movement to transfer from the Heritage to the Waterworks. A d6 has to be rolled for that move. A one through three is successful. The metro move is successful and the unit arrives. Another Komsomol unit attempts a metro move from the Hay Market to the Lenin Works. That is left undefended, but it s surrounded by indirect fire artillery units. The move is unsuccessful. Offensive Fire 42 nd Army. The offensive fire has no effect on the German panzers, which are in urban hexes. The rest of the forces also make attacks against structures, but they have no effect. (See Photo9 T6a) A10 World at War 17 AFTER ACTION REPORT APR MAy 2011
Game Turn 7 Two units from 56 th Corps arrive as reinforcements. The 92 nd and the 2/36 th AA Battalions are received on the southern map edge. The airborne troops also enter play. They may use airdrop if desired. Two replacement points are used to bring back two infantry battalions. One rejoins 8 th Panzer Division and the other rejoins the 269 th Infantry. An air strike is directed at the Soviet position at the Hay Market. That attack is hindered by a nearby Soviet anti-aircraft unit. The 296 th Infantry is eliminated, but the Komsomol unit remains. A second air strike is launched against the Waterworks. Again, Soviet anti-air inhibits the bombers. None of the troops are hit. 269 th Infantry Division. The engineer unit has constructed a bridge across the Neva River. (Engineer efforts may include pontoon bridges, rafts or other means to get troops to the other side.) Several units cross with the aid of the engineers to capture the Baltic Shipyard without a fight. Then they advance into position to assault the Electric Works West. The other regiments focus on advancing toward the Griboyidov Canal, carefully avoiding triggering defensive fire while in clear terrain. SS Totenkopf Division. This force remains poised for an attack on the Hay Market, while panzers advance to attack Gostini Dvor. The SS assault gun battalion is eliminated by defensive fire. There s a Soviet AT unit defending. 8 th Panzer Division. The panzers move to assault the anti-aircraft unit near the NKVD HQ, while the infantry invests the Waterworks. Defensive fire from the anti-air regiment has no effect. SS Polizei Division. These troops continue to take up objective hexes to prevent Soviet forces from using the metro to get behind the lines. Note. There s not much left of 3 rd Motorized Division. 269 th Infantry Division. Four battalions attack the Electric Works. Artillery support s called for, and the Soviet militia is eliminated. The 469 th Infantry Regiment captures the Electric Works. SS Totenkopf Division. Manstein remains nearby and personally directs two of this divisions attacks. The Hay Market is captured after engineers neutralize the terrain effects. The Totenkopf Panzer Battalion leads an assault against Gostini Dvor. A full complement of artillery fire is called in. The attack has partial success, and the 690 th Anti-Tank Regiment is eliminated. The infantry regiment, however, still holds the objective. 8 th Panzer Division. Two assaults are launched by 8 th Panzer. Four battalions with artillery support conduct close assault against the Waterworks and eliminate the 880 th Infantry and a Komsomol unit. The objective falls. It s also reduced to rubble. Then the Soviet anti-aircraft regiment near the NKVD HQ is assaulted by four battalions of panzers and infantry units. There is no effect. 3rd Motorized Division. The divisional artillery takes a shot against the Soviet forces near the Astoria. Those units are caught in open terrain and are eliminated. SS Polizei Division. The divisional artillery fires at the Hotel Europa and eliminates the Komsomol battalion there. The infantry remains intact. The Germans now control 16 objective hexes. The 42 nd Army gets two reinforcements: 5 th Marine Brigade is deployed at the Europa Hotel, and the 189 th Anti-Air Regiment is deployed at the Astoria. Additionally, the LFR sends three units: the 816 th Mortar Regiment, the 108 th Artillery Regiment, and the 156 th Infantry Regiment. They enter from the north. Movement & German Soviet 156 th Regiment tries to move in against the German paratroop battalions near the Botanical Gardens, but it s cut down by defensive fire. The 42 nd Army units make small defensive adjustments. 42 nd Army. The forces on the Griboyidov Canal issue offensive fire and manage to wreck the 2/469 th Infantry Battalion. Artillery fire gets the 2 nd Sturm near the Botanical Gardens. Fire against the bridges is ineffective. Leningrad Front Reserve. The infantry gun regiment and the artillery manage to wipe out the last of the German paratroopers. (See Photo 10 T7a) Game Turn 8 The 48 th Engineer battalion enters as a 56 th Corps reinforcement. Then two replacements are added. The Luftwaffe launches two heavy air strikes against the Soviet rear area. First, the 51 st Artillery s guns are knocked out and then 8 th Infantry Regiment is wrecked. All that s left of the Military Medical Academy is rubble. World at War 17 AFTER ACTION REPORT APR MAy 2011 A11
Photo 10 T7a German advance on the Soviet right The 269 th Infantry Division sends a regiment to attack the Army Depot on the Gulf of Finland. Those units are protected from defensive fire by the urban terrain. 269 th Infantry Division. The 269 th Infantry assaults the Army Depot, but that effort proves unsuccessful and the Soviet infantry there unit remains in place. Just to the west of that attack, artillery fire wrecks the Soviet 2 nd Marine Brigade. SS Totenkopf Division. The forces along the canal make no progress in their ranged attacks. Then the Totenkopf Panzer Battalion, with artillery and rocket support, attacks the Soviet position at Gostini Dvor. The Soviet 1025 th Infantry and the 189 th AA are both eliminated. The panzers capture the objective. 3 rd Motorized Division. This division puts artillery fire into the Soviet objectives to soften them, but that proves largely ineffective. The SS Polizei Division s artillery follows suit, also with no effect. 8 th Panzer Division. These units launch an attack against 351 st Anti-Aircraft near the NKVD HQ. That s successful, and the Soviet unit is eliminated. The German infantry advances adjacent to the NKVD objective. The 42 nd Army receives two reinforcements: the 194 th Anti-Aircraft Regiment is deployed at the Botanical Gardens, and the C/42 Infantry is placed at the Hermitage. The Leningrad Front Reserve sends the 16 th Mortar Battalion. Movement & German The Soviets make only a small adjustment in their deployment. Offensive Fire Most of the offensive fire is directed at structures in order to slow the German advance. They continue to have little effect beyond expending ordnance. (See Photo11 T8a) A12 World at War 17 AFTER ACTION REPORT APR MAy 2011
Photo11 T8a Game Turn 9 Three units from 56 th Corps are received as reinforcements, and two replacements bring back two infantry battalions. A major air strike is aimed at the NKVD HQ. The 891 st Infantry Regiment is eliminated, but the other unit remains in place. A second air strike hits the Europa Hotel, eliminating 5 th Marine Brigade. The other unit remains safe. There s only limited movement, as the overall battle has bogged down into block-by-block fighting. The 8 th Panzer moves forces forward to attack the NKVD HQ. Meanwhile, 3 rd Motorized sends forward two battalions to fire on the Soviet positions behind the canal. 269 th Infantry Division. The 469 th Regiment assaults the Soviet infantry brigade at the Army Depot. This time, with artillery support, the objective falls (17). Then the rest of the division attacks the Telegraph and Post buildings. With artillery support that objective is pulverized: both the 119 th Infantry Regiment and E/42 Infantry Brigade are eliminated. The Telegraph Office is reduced to rubble. Since it wasn t a close assault, the objective isn t captured. 3 rd Motorized Division. These units are ordered to fire on the Admiralty. Again no close assault is used. The offensive fire is ineffective. SS Totenkopf Division. The panzers attack the Europa Hotel, which is defended by the 181 st Infantry Regiment. Manstein orders in some artillery from the SS Polizei Division and manages to take the objective (18). The Soviet infantry is eliminated. 8 th Panzer Division. The NKVD HQ is the target of an assault by 8 th Panzer. With artillery support the firepower climbs to the 50-point mark. Nonetheless, the dice are bad and the attack is ineffective. World at War 17 AFTER ACTION REPORT APR MAy 2011 A13
Photo 12 T9a German perspective The 42 nd Army receives two reinforcements. One is an artillery unit, and the other is a security regiment. The LFR also sends three units: 8 th Infantry Brigade, 48 th Tank Battalion, and 224 th Infantry Gun Regiment. Movement & German The Leningrad Front units advance up to the Neva River, from where they can take the Germans in the flank. There s not much else to do except mark time. 42 nd Army. With Zhdnov directing, the Soviets mass a decent attack on the Totenkopf Panzer Battalion, but it proves ineffective. Leningrad Front. The Infantry guns and artillery manage to hit two of 8 th Panzer s infantry battalions from across the river: both are eliminated. (See Photo 12 T9a) Game Turn 10 The 56 th AA Battalion is received as reinforcement from 56 th Corps. There are two replacements, one for 8 th Panzer and one for SS Totenkopf. Air strikes are directed at objectives, as this is the moment of truth. An attack against the Admiralty eliminates the militia unit there, but the infantry gun regiment remains with its 10 fire points. The second attack is against the Astoria, and it misses entirely. A14 World at War 17 AFTER ACTION REPORT APR MAy 2011
Photo 13 Overview with VP A battalion of the 489 th moves into the old Telegraph Offices along with the 269 th Engineer Battalion. With all the rubble and urban terrain, those units are safe from defensive fire. The rest of the German force takes positions for a final assault. 269 th Infantry Division. The 469 th Regiment attacks the 309 th Infantry Regiment at the University. Artillery is called in, and the corps engineers take out the terrain effects. As a result, the Soviet infantry is eliminated and the University falls to the Germans (19). Next the division assaults the 431 st Infantry Gun Regiment at the Admiralty. Engineers again neutralize the defenses, and the German assault is a success: the Admiralty falls. SS Totenkopf Division. The Astoria is assaulted across a minor canal. Manstein directs the attack and the Soviet infantry guns and AA units are eliminated. The objective falls (20). 8 th Panzer Division. The NKVD HQ is the target of the next assault. With the support of the entire artillery, 8 th Panzer overruns the Soviet infantry and that objective is captured (21). At this late stage the Germans are one objective hex short of victory. There s no need for the Soviet player to take his turn, as the clock has run out. A good part of Leningrad has fallen, but Leningrad can not be said to have fallen. (See Photo 13 Overview with VP). World at War 17 AFTER ACTION REPORT APR MAy 2011 A15