The Maus That Roared

[CCB]

Meeting Engagement
Germany vs. USSR
Topchin, Germany April 23, 1945
Turns: 15

Design Brent Grenadier Richards

Kampfgruppe Kummersdorf vs. 1st Ukranian Front

I just played this one and it was a good one! I liked the write up on the briefing screen about the background of Kummersdorf, very interesting.

I first played as the Germans at default settings. I left all the units where they were except the 2 Pz IIs, the Pz I, and the 2 flakpanzers, and the unarmed Maus. I moved the 2 Pz IIs to the hamlet in the middle of the map just below the main highway to boaster strenght the infantry teams there. I placed them behind buildings in ambush positions covering the victory hexes. I moved the unarmed Maus and one of the flakpanzers up to boaster the position of the armed Maus. I moved the Pz 1 and the other flakpanzer to the top part of the map to watch for a flanking manuever. I knew this team couldn't stop it, but they could warn me when/if it developed.

The AI sent the Soviet straight on toward the victory hexes and into the fire of my units. Two hexes in front of the armed Maus was a mountain of scrap metal. The Maus racked up 62 kills. The flakpanzers and the 2 Pz II were very effective at anti-tank when used at point blank range in amush positions. The northern flanking attack never developed though some Soviet infantry did show up north of the highway. They were quickly dispatched by the Pz I. The hamlet was beseiged but was still in German hands at the end of the scenario, surrounded by destroyed or abandoned Soviet tanks. The Germans won a Decisive Victory.

I then replayed the scenario, but this time as the Soviets still at default settings. This time the Soviets did make a wide flanking move north of the highway and well south of the hamlet. I then turned them in a pincer movement just behind the hamlet and they joined up on the highway. The battle for the hamlet was heavily contested, but with combined arms was won by the Soviets. The unarmed Maus was caught in the pincer. Even at point blank range (in the hex just behind it!) it could not be knocked out by T-34s. An infantry squad did assault in the same hex and did finally manage to knock it out with Molotov-cocktails. The armed Maus was surrounded by eleven tanks, half of which were in turn destroyed. But even then the surviving Soviet tanks including T-34/85s, ISU152s, and JSIIIs could not destroy it hitting it from all sides. Though the German crew did abandon the Maus and were in turn shot down in a vicious cross fire. By turn eight all victory hexes were in Soviet hands and all German forces were either destroyed, captured, or routed.

The Soviets lost 16 tanks compared to seven lost by the Germans. Unfortunately for me, by the point system I was only able to achieve a draw. If I were to replay this scenario I would take greater care to preserve Soviet tanks! But in this scenario the Soviets have an overwhelming force advantage.

Also, the Germans have the Maus in this scenario, but it is interesting to note that the Soviets have a few prototype and unique tanks also. Notably the SU-76i(g) - a PzIII sporting a Soviet turret and a 76.2mm gun. And the T-44, father to the T-54 family of tanks.

Note: Neither side in this scenario had any artillery nor air bombardment.