Flames of war - Early war - Counter attack

Forces 1500

Barbarossa - Soviet tankovy (FC)
HQ T34

2x T34

8x T26

1x KV-1 (CC)

Platoon of unarmed pioneers (CC, 19 stands)

Sporadic air support

Rising sun - Japanese Hohei Chutai (FV)
HQ

Platoon
Platoon

2xHMGs

2x 70cm Battalion guns

2x 37mm Rapid fire guns

2x 75mm Regimental Guns

2x 150 mm Howitzers (FT)

This scenario takes part in an alternative Manchuria the winter of 1940. The Japanese defenses are put to test as the first t-34 tanks rolling of the factories lines are sent to the Japanese occupied parts of Russia. 

The scenario is a Counter attack with the Soviet tankovy as the attacker. The Japanese deploy using mobile reserves, but as they field no wheeled or tracked units they deploy their full army, except the 37 mm guns placed in ambush.

Turn 1
With only three dice to start with, no air support turns up the first turn. The Soviet army march forward.

The Japanese double a platoon f infantry towards the second objective to defend it. Artillery bombardment bail one T-26 and pin the infantry.

Turn 2
This turn a single Chaika Bi plane arrives to support the soviet advance. The infantry unpin and the tank remount. The soviet tanks moves further into fire position abut fail to inflict any damage with their machine guns. The aircraft fail to it range against the howitzers.

Return fire from the Japanese prove slightly better, as one T-26 is destroyed and two infantry teams are killed in the combined bombardment from regimental and battalion guns, as well as Howitzers.

Turn 3

Air support arrives again! The Soviet tanks re position to find range and sight to the Trained Howitzers. With some marksman like skill, the T-34s destroy one gun and the T-26s destroys the other gun, leaving the command team and the staff team with their pants own in the small woods. The aircraft with its sight aimed for the howitzers leaves the field with ammunition to spare.

With the only effective ranged anti tank on the table destroyed, the Japanese decides to unveil their hidden rapid fire guns! Concealed behind the railroad embankment, the guns open fire upon the T-26s... hitting 3 out of six shoots on 2+ resulting in two bailed and one destroyed T-26. The Soviet tankers takes a deep breath of relief.

Turn 4
The T-34s are rushed to reinforce the flank where the Japanese field their rare anti tank weaponry. But even with the full bombardment from the whole tankovy only one of the rapid fire guns are destroyed, as most bullets hit the railroad embankment. The Japanese gunners takes a deep breath...

The Japanese infantry protecting their left flank gets the order to reinforce the right flank. Return fire from the AT guns proves more effective as two T-26 are destroyed and one is bailed. The mortars kills another infantry team and the T-26 platoon is forced to test for platoon morale(company) morale and pass their test!

Turn 5

Now at point blank range the tankovy maneuvers just enough to avoid oncoming charges from the infantry on the soviet right flank.  The last AT- guns is taken out, but the Japanese command team pass its morale and hide away.

The AT-gun command pass its sole survivor test and remain in control. The Japanese battle plan remain the same - kill the enemy. With combined fire from the Hohei infantry and their HMG as well as battalion and regimental guns, two T-26 tanks are bailed, forcing a platoon (company) Morale test...

The fearless tanks roll a 2 but the Battalion commander joins in a for a re-roll and its a... 2... The platoon (company) of T-26 retreats, taking the Battalion commander with them in the process.

Turn 6-8
Reduced to two t-34s, one KV-1 and a pinned platoon of unarmed infantry things are looking ugly for Stalins heroes. One Chaika Bi plane arrive and manage to kill a Japanese light mortar, but the Japanese veteran warriors barley noticed the casualty.

The Japanese dug in infantry raise from their foxholes and runs forward to finish the tanks with deadly Nikuhaku teams. The fearless warriors throw them self towards the Soviet heavy armor with no regret. 

At the end of Japanese turn 8 the Soviet tanks are destroyed and the infantry are forced to flee the battle. Meanwhile the rapid fire command team passed another three sole survivor tests, contributing to a massive 6-1 victory for the Imperial Japanese army.