Hammer and Sickle Total War Battle Report Generals Ken Camel and Wayne Turner Ken and myself worked on Hammer and Sickle together and we thought we’d be ideal candidates to play the first battle report for this book. We also decided to try out the new Total War rules in the Firestorm—Bagration campaign set.

The Total War rules are designed to play larger Flames Of War games involving multiple companies. In a Total War game you field your various companies as separate forces, but with the Divisional Support pooled under the army commander. This lends itself ideally to multi-player games, with each player taking a company and the last player in each side taking on the role of commander and chief and taking command of the Support Group. However, in our game we ran two companies each without any minions. Ken and Myself took forces from the parts of Hammer and Sickle we’d worked on, Ken took Germans and I Soviets. We both had 3000 points to spend.

Ken’s Force Sperrverband and Schwere Panzerkompanie   Sperrverband (Reluctant Veteran)   Company HQ Company Command Panzerfaust SMG team, Windgruber 2iC Panzerfaust SMG team Anti-tank section with 2 Panzerschreck teams 75 points 40 points Combat Platoons   Sperr Pionier Platoon 3 Pioneer Squads Command Panzerfaust SMG team Pioneer Supply Maultier half-track 215 points Sperr Platoon 2 Sperr Squads, 1 Machine-gun Section 145 points Sub-total 475 points Schwere Panzerkompanie (Confident Veteran)   Company HQ 1 Tiger IE tank 225 points Combat Platoons   Schwere Panzer Platoon 2 Tiger IE tanks 430 points Schwere Panzer Platoon 2 Tiger IE tanks 430 points Sub-total 1085 points Support Group   General Der Panzertruppen Dietich Von Saucken 65 points Assault Gun Platoon (Reluctant Veteran) 3 StuG G 220 points Veteran Tank-hunter Platoon (Confident Veteran) 3 7.5cm PaK40 auf RSO 185 points Panzergrenadier Platoon (Confident Veteran) 3 Panzergrenadier Squads Command Panzerfaust SMG team Sd Kfz 251 half-tracks 285 points Panzer Platoon (Confident Veteran) 3 Panzer IV H tanks 285 points Armoured Artillery Battery (Confident Veteran) 1 Gun Section with 3 Wespe Observer Panzer III OP tank 260 points Sub-total 1300 points Total 2860 points

Wayne’s Force 29th Tank Corps Gvardeyskiy Tankovy Batalon and Motostrelkovy Batalon   Gvardeyskiy Tankovy Batalon (Fearless Trained)   Battalion HQ 1 T-34/85 obr 1943 with Cupola 3 ZSU M17 anti-aircraft half-tracks Brigada Komissar Dedov 80 points 80 points 40 points Combat Companies   Gvardeyskiy Tankovy Company 10 T-34/85 obr 1943 with Cupola 635 points Gvardeyskiy Tankovy Company 10 T-34/85 obr 1943 with Cupola 635 points Sub-total 1470 points Motostrelkovy Batalon (Guards: Fearless Trained)   Battalion HQ Company Command, 2iC and Battalion Komissar 35 points Combat Companies   Motostrelkovy Company 3 Motor Rifle Platoons (SMG teams) Add Komissar 410 points 15 points Motostrelkovy Company 2 Motor Rifle Platoons (SMG teams) Add Komissar 280 points 15 points Weapons Companies   Heavy Mortar Company 2 Mortar Platoons 150 points Sub-total 905 points Support Group   Spetsnatz Platoon (Fearless Veteran) 2 Spetsnatz Squads 180 points   Guards Rocket Mortar Battalion (Fearless Trained) 4 Rocket Mortar Platoons Model BM-13 Katyusha Rocket Launchers with 5 or more crew 210 points 40 points Tank Killer Company 3 M10 tank killers 155 points Sub-total 585 points Total 2960 points

Brigada Komissar Dedov will commandeer a T-34/85 tank from one of the Tankovy Companies at the start of the game. An extra M10 would of sucked those extra points up. Time for the painting team to whip up another! Set-up and deployment A Total War game also has its own mission called Total Victory (pages 96 to 97 of the Firestorm—Bagration campaign book). The mission gives you several options for table setup, so we decided to place the centre line diagonally through the corners of our 6’/1.8m by 4’/1.2m table.

This would give us a wider front for our large forces and some extra depth towards the opposite corners. Once we had set up some terrain we went about dicing for deployment side and placing objectives. We got three objectives each to place, one each on the attackers side, one each on the defenders side and one each near the centre line (on either side). The mission has some time limits for planning and deployment, but as there was just the two of us this wasn’t an issue. In a larger game with more players this serves to keep the game moving (yes we all know those players who seem to take an eternity to plan their moves each turn). However, I’m a “by the seat of your pants” player and sometimes my brain is not engaged at all during setup and deployment. I should do something about this. Both of us decided to hold some troops in Reserve. I placed my smaller Motostrelkovy Company, Gvardeyskiy Tankovy Company, and Tank Killer Company in Reserve. Ken held the Panzer Platoon and Panzergrenadier Platoon in Reserve.

Wayne’s Plan Beyond the forest on my right flank the ground Ken had to hold was relatively open, so I deployed my large Motostrelkovy Company, supported by the Heavy Mortars, to take this position’s relatively undefended objective. The plan was to drag the Motostrelkovy Company forward with the Spetsnaz Platoon. In the centre I deployed my Katyusha rocket launcher to cover both flanks. On my left I deployed the first Gvardeyskiy Tankovy Company behind the large forest with the HQ where they would wait to see what happens.

Ken’s Plan Selecting the Sperrverband company with a heavy tank company gave me the best of both worlds for defence. This allowed me to supplement the two companies with some offence, so I chose an armoured Panzergrenadier platoon with some Panzer IV support. Adding von Saucken would allow me to help get them on board where I needed them as well as getting them to any threatened part of the board. I placed the Sperr Pionier Platoon in the centre of the board to support the main road and backed them up with the tank-hunters and StuG assault guns.

I flanked the pioniers with a Sperr platoon, allowing the Sperr to cover the outside objectives quickly. The Tigers and artillery I placed in the rear to support any defensive actions in the centre or right flank of the board. This left my left flank a bit weak but with von Saucken I figured I could reinforce it quickly with mobile reserves.

Strategems In Total War you can also select to use a Field Marshal Strategem. This is a special rule that apply to some aspect of you army during a Total War game. For the Soviets I had a choice of either Vasilevsky or Zhukov. Ken could choose between Model or Rommel. I selected Vasilevsky and got the Maskirovka and Deep Operations special rules. Maskirovka allowed me to place an extra object and before the game began take one away. Deep Operations allowed me to score two points for each objective held in the enemy deployment area (it is usually 1 point each). Ken went for Model with the Kampfgruppe and Just Enough Reserves special rules. Kampfgruppe allowed Ken to attach one Support Group platoon to each of his Combat Companies, counting them as Weapons Platoons.

Just Enough Reserves allows platoons arriving from reserve to double at three times their movement for the turn they arrive (if they choose to double of course). Reconnaissance Before we began turn one we did the usual reconnaissance moves. I could have used my Spetsnatz as a Reconnaissance platoon by themselves, but I decided to take advantage of the Forward Detachment special rule and I infiltrated them and the right flank Motostrelkovy Company forward 16”/40cm. This moved both units through the wheat field and into the wood.

Soviets As the attacker I had first turn. I was pretty lucky with my one Reserve die and my Tank Killer Company of Lend-lease M10 tank killers arrived. I immediately moved them in behind the advancing Motostrelkovy Company on my right. I kept pushing my Spetsnatz and Motostrelkovy into the forest with the M10 tank killers moving through the wheat field behind them.

On the other flank the T-34/85 tanks moved up to the forest edge. The Katyusha observer moved into a house in the village positioned on the road. With few enemy targets yet to present themselves my only shooting was to range the Katyusha rockets on Ken’s infantry position, where the huge Devastating Bombardment template of the Rockets was able to get several platoons. The bombardment pins the Sperr and Sperr Pionier platoons and knocks out the Pioneer Supply Maultier half-track and a MG42 HMG team.

Germans Ken reacts to the advance of my Motostrelkovy Company by bringing on his first Reserve platoon, the Panzergrenadiers. The machine-guns on the Panzergrenadier’s half-tracks will prove a problem for any Motostrelkovy caught in the open. To support them Ken moved over his Sperr Platoon to cover the exposed objective threaten by my Motostrelkovy. He’d shut the gate on that opportunity pretty fast, my large Motostrelkovy Company now faced two infantry platoon, where before there had been none!

On the other flank Ken played the waiting game and held his Sperr Pionier Platoon, and Tigers in position watching my Tankovy Company.

In the centre, as well as repositioning the Sperr Platoon, Ken moved the 7.5cm PaK40 auf RSO tank-hunters into the wood in the centre. However, he did manage to bog down one entering the difficult terrain. One StuG kept watch down the road towards the Soviet tanks, but the other two repositioned behind the farm buildings to the Soviet left. The Panzergrenadier fired their half-track machine-guns on the Motostrelkovy Company with little effect. On the other flank the Tigers fire on T-34/85 tanks that can be seen in the village and behind the forest. The Tigers destroy three tanks, one belongs to Brigade Komissar Dedov. He makes his Warrior save and jumps into an adjacent tank. However, he is then fired on by at the Veteran Tank-Hunter Platoon and has another tank destroyed. Dedov yet again make his Warrior save and takes command of a third tank. A total of three T-34/85 tanks are destroyed. Victory Points At the start of each turn in the Total Victory mission you calculate Victory Points and keep a running total. A side gains a Victory point for each objective that it holds at the start of its turn, and yields a Victory Point each turn it is held. So you calculate Victory Points over the entire game. This turn as we each hold the 3 objectives on our side of the battlefield we each get 3 points. Germans 3, Soviets 3

Soviets My Reserve dice prove fortuitous again and I receive my second Gvardeyskiy Tankovy Company armed with T-34/85 tanks. This moves up behind the Motostrelkovy and the M10 tank killers. The Motostrelkovy Company on my right, having been caught in the open by the Panzergrenadier half-tracks, quickly move into the concealment of the forest. On the other flank the T-34/85 tanks of the 1st Tankovy Company and battalion commander started moving into the forest to their front.

However, the forest proves thicker than first thought and two tanks bog down and only three make it into the interior of the forest, away from the Tiger fire. The M10 tank killers, having moved into the wheat field, fire on the newly arrived Panzergrenadier half-tracks. They fire a volley of HE and anti-tank round at the vulnerable half-tracks knocking out one vehicle and MG team passenger. The Heavy Mortar Platoon observer, positioned in the forest with the Motostrelkovy Company, calls a bombardment on the repositioning Sperr Pionier Platoon and knock out a Rifle/MG team. The Katyusha rocket launchers fire on the same area again and once again hit and pin the Sperr Platoon and also bail out a StuG assault gun and Von Saucken’s half-track.

German Ken recovers Von Saucken and the Sperr Platoon, as well as unbogging a RSO in the forest. Ken’s good fortune (or is Von Saucken and his one die re-roll?) continues and he also receives another Reserve platoon. This time he brings on his Panzer Platoon to counter my M10s and T-34/85s. He also swings his Tiger company commander over to my right to take on the newly arrived Gvardeyskiy Tankovy Company.

He also dismounts his Panzergrenadiers from the half-tracks. Ken continues to move his RSO tank hunters through the forest up to the edge to fire on my first tank company. He bogs down two more RSOs and only one is in a firing position. The Sperr Pionier Platoon, now it a position to defend and contest the objective threaten by the Soviet right, digs in. The Panzer IV tanks of the Panzer Platoon fire on the M10 tank killers and their powerful 7.5cm guns cut through the M10’s light armour. One vehicle is destroyed. The Tiger commander joins the fusillade, but is unable to hit one of the Lend-lease vehicles. The Tiger platoon positioned on the road and in the form is able to see the Katyusha beyond the centre wheat field, the crops only conceal the rocket launchers. They hit two of the rocket launchers, which are easily destroyed. The Wespe self-propelled guns of the Armoured Artillery Battery also range in on the Katyusha battery using their cunningly positioned commander in the water tower. They knock out another two BM-13 launchers. This left only four models, which counted as eight gun when firing. I’ve well and truly lost the use of the Devastating Bombardment template, but I still re-roll my misses.

Finally the Panzergrenadiers fire on the Motostrelkovy Company with both half-track machine-guns and the dismounted MG teams. They knock out one SMG team, but fail to pin the massive Soviet company. Victory Points Each side gains another 3 points. Germans 6, Soviet 6

Soviets The Reserve dice continued in good form. Another Soviet platoon arrived from Reserve. This time I brought on the second Motostrelkovy Company. This arrived behind the first Gvardeyskiy Tankovy Company on my left flank and took up positions covering the objective. On the same flank I drove my three T-34/85 tanks in the forest up to the edge to take on the StuGs. They then fired and missed. On the other flank the second tank company advanced on the Panzer Platoon through the wheat field. The M10 tank killers remained at the edge of the wheat field and fired on the Panzers and missed.

The Heavy Mortar Platoon ranged in on the Panzers but rounds dropped harmlessly around the German tanks. A generally dismal turn.

Germans However, Ken had no such trouble. He quickly set about ignoring my T-34/85 tanks in the forest and moved his second Tiger platoon along the stream towards the objective.  He also boldly advances his StuG assault guns on the forest. On the other flank the command Tiger moved forward to cover both the T-34/85 tanks and the M10 tank killers. The rest of his force held position and fired. However, he did fail to remount one StuG from bailed out. The Panzer Platoon then knocked out another M10 and bailed the last. The command Tiger missed. A barrage of anti-tank fire by the RSO tank-hunters, Tigers, and StuGs destroyed two T-34/85 tanks at the front of the forest. The third of these tanks was bailed out by a shot from Sperrverband Panzerschreck. This wave of fire caused the Tank Killer Company and the first Gvardeyskiy Tankovy Company to take Motivation checks for being below half strength. The Gvardeyskiy Tankovy Company only passed after a re-roll by Brigada Komissar Dedov. The Tank Killer Company, with just the one bailed out M10, passed with ease. As usual when facing a German army a variety of shuffling and repositioning was taken with Stormtrooper moves during the Assault Step. Victory Points Each side gains another 3 points as we each still held three objectives. Germans 9, Soviet 9

Soviets The bailed out T-34/85 tank at the front of the forest recovered. I decided to keep pushing what was left of my left-hand Gvardeyskiy Tankovy Company into the wood. This at least kept them out of the line of fire of the Tigers. The tank already positioned at the front of the wood fired at the StuG assault guns with little effect. One tank at the rear of the wood could see the RSO tank-hunters and fired a volley at them, but also missed.

The recently arrived Motostrelkovy Company advanced on the objective behind the remnants of the first Gvardeyskiy Tankovy Company while the Motostrelkovy Company on the right flank advanced on the German Panzergrenadier Platoon. The last remaining M10 tank killer fired on the German Panzer Platoon and knocked out a Panzer IV H tank.

The right flank Motostrelkovy Company fired on the Panzergrenadiers taking out one MG team. They then assaulted the German platoon and destroyed the closest team. However, Ken selected to retreat the Panzergrenadiers, and with only the one team in the initial assault distance, they were able to keep out of 4”/10cm  and avoided any further combat. Germans The Tigers advanced down the road in the centre of the table towards the Katyusha battalion. On the other side of the wood, on the soviet left, the other Tiger platoon followed the stream so they could overlook the objective. On the other flank the Panzergrenadier’s half-tracks moved to fire machine-guns at the Soviet first Motostrelkovy Company. They were joined by the Panzergrenadier MG teams and pinned down the Soviet motor infantry and knock out several teams.

The Panzer IV tanks return fire on the M10 tank killer. The lend-lease vehicle explodes in a shower of debris and flame. The Wespe self-propelled guns ranged in on the Motostrelkovy Company contesting the objective on the Soviet right. The bombardment had no effect. A storm of fire impacts on the remaining T-34/85 at the front of the left flank wood. It was soon ablaze.

Victory Points Soviet gain 3 points for holding three objectives. The Germans gain 2 points, as one objective is contested neither side gets a point.   Germans 11, Soviet 12

Soviets The under-strength first Gvardeyskiy Tankovy Company survived a Motivation test and continued to fight on. I set about moving more infantry forces forwards. The Spetsnatz Platoon advanced on the RSO tank-hunters in the central wood. My plan was to assault the RSOs with my small, but elite, infantry platoon.

I also unpinned the first Motostrelkovy Company and prepared them to have another go at the Panzergrenadier Platoon.  On the other flank the second Motostrelkovy Company moved towards the Tiger in the hope making them break off after a round of assault combat. The last tank loitering at the back of the wood from the first Gvardeyskiy Tankovy Company was actually Battalion Commander. But as he caught up with the last few remaining company tanks his T-34/85 tank became bogged down in the thick undergrowth. T-34/85 tanks from both flanks find various German targets. Another Panzer IV was destroyed and the last tank leaves the battlefield. Fire on the RSO tank-hunters was not so effective and the Germans escape the few pot shots unscathed.

The infantry was a more effective and the first Motostrelkovy Company let rip with submachine-guns on the Panzergrenadiers. Two teams were destroyed, but the Panzergrenadiers remained unpinned. With the Panzergrenadier Platoon unpinned I decided not to Assault.

Germans Having destroyed most of the T-34/85 tanks in and around the wood, Ken decided it was safe to skirt the wood with his Tigers and StuGs. They quickly advanced on the Soviet infantry positioned around the objective. Across the rest of the front the Germans opened fire. The Panzergrenadiers fired on the first Motostrelkovy Company and destroyed three teams. The Sperr Platoon, having taken up positions between the central wood and the objective, fired on the Spetsnatz. They were joined by a RSO tank-hunters and the combined fire destroyed three teams. The StuG assault guns and Tiger platoon fired on the second Motostrelkovy Company holding the objective on the Soviet left. The withering machine-gun fire took out four infantry teams.

The other RSO tank-hunters and the Company Command Tiger shot at the second Gvardeyskiy Tankovy Company on the Soviet right. Three T-34/85 tanks were knocked out and a fourth was bailed out. The Wespe self-propelled guns repeated their bombardment on the first Motostrelkovy Company, pinned them down, but didn’t cause casualties. The shooting caused the first Motostrelkovy, which was under half strength, to take a Motivation test.

Being Fearless has its advantages and the Soviet motor infantry hold their morale. During the movement the Sperr Platoon had crept into the wood. The grenadiers assaulted the T-34/85 tanks. Fortunately for the Soviet tanks defensive fire cut down many of the assaulters and the Sperr Platoon was forced to retreat. The tanks were aided in the close environs of the wood and a SMG team was able to add its fire to the defence.

Ken used his Stormtrooper moved to good effect once again and the Tigers and StuGs crept a little bit closer to the objective on the Soviet left. Victory Points Soviet gain 3 points for holding three objectives. The Germans gain 2 points, as one objective is contested neither side gets a point. Germans 13, Soviet 15

Soviets The first Motostrelkovy Company moved to the flank of the Panzergrenadier Platoon in an attempt to reduce the amount of defensive fire aimed at them during the assault. I adjusted the second Gvardeyskiy Tankovy Company tank’s position to allow for shots at the Company Command Tiger tank. I also moved the second Motostrelkovy Company on the left into the wood to try and avoid being overwhelmed with Tiger and StuG machine-gun fire. The first Motostrelkovy Company fired on the Panzergrenadier Platoon and destroy another team. This forced the Germans below half-strength again. However, Ken makes their Motivation test and they fight on.

The repositioned T-34/85 tanks fired on the command Tiger and von Saucken’s half-track, but their fire proved generally ineffective. The tanks on the other flank, the few that were left, fired at Sperr Platoon. They were joined by a bombardment from the Katyusha’s and the combined fire destroyed two pioneer teams. During the Assault step the Scouts, having moved up to the wood, assault the RSO tank-hunters. With only two Spetsnaz teams left it was a risky move. The RSO tank-hunters destroyed both teams with defensive fire. On the flank the first Motostrelkovy Company assaulted the Panzergrenadiers again. Unfortunately the depleted infantry were pinned with fire hits from defensive fire. The resulting casualties pushed under half-strength and they are force to make a Motivation test. They pass, but only after a re-roll from the Battalion Command team.

Germans Shooting from the Motostrelkovy forced the Panzergrenadiers to take a Motivation test for half-strength. They failed the test even with the help of von Saucken. The remains of the platoon fled from the field. Things are looking a little grim for the Soviets and it was now time for Ken to push home his advantage. Today another word for advantage is Tiger! The Tiger and StuGs by the Soviet left flank stream advanced the Soviet Motostrelkovy Company and the objective.

The other Tiger platoon, still positioned on the road, advanced into the village threatening both the central Soviet objective and the Katyusha battalion. The mad scamper towards the wood by the Soviet second Motostrelkovy Company couldn’t save them and the StuGs and Tigers opened up again with machine-guns. The devastating fusillade of lead cut through the Soviet infantry and destroyed five teams.

Even General von Saucken go in on the act and had his batman blazing away with the half-track machine-gun cutting down men from the remnants of the Soviet first Motostrelkovy Company. Additional fire was laid in by the Sperr Platoon. Two more Soviet SMG teams were destroyed, including the unfortunate Battalion Command team. I couldn’t even pull off a Warrior save to keep him alive. The RSO tank-hunter, who were firmly in control of the central wood after eradicating it of Spetsnaz, returned to firing a more appropriate targets. They took aim at the Soviet second Gvardeyskiy Tankovy Company on the Soviet right. They were joined by the Company Command Tiger tank and the 7.5cm and 8.8cm guns cut a swath through the Soviet tanks. Four tanks were knocked out and another bailed out. The net result of all this fire was to force the second Motostrelkovy and secound Gvardeyskiy Tankovy companies to take Motivation test for being below half-strength. Both failed and the Soviet commander began to consider a new life in Siberia. Both the Motostrelkovy and Gvardeyskiy Tankovy Batalon were down to one Combat Company each. This forced each of them to take a Battalion Morale test at the beginning of the next Soviet turn. Victory Points The Soviets holds one objective, two are contested and one is held even though there are no troops on it. 1 point. The Germans gain 3 points as they hold all three objectives on their side of the table. Germans 16, Soviet 16

Soviets At the beginning of the turn I passed Battalion Morale for the Gvardeyskiy Tankovy Batalon, but not for the Motostrelkovy Batalon. This left the StuGs and Tigers on the left and centre to do as they like. My Heavy Mortar Company, which had done very little other than irritate the odd Tiger, attempted to range in on its selected target. They rocket launchers followed suit. Neither managed to range-in.

The Gvardeyskiy Tankovy Batalon HQ and the remnants of the first the Gvardeyskiy Tankovy Company fired on the Sperr Platoon before them. The machine-gun fire they poured into them had the desired effect, more teams were destroyed and the German platoon dropped below half-strength. Ken failed the Motivation test and the survivors quit the battlefield.

Germans Ken decided to relocate his RSO tank-hunters to the farm and moves them out of the wood. However, two became bogged down and only the third vehicle made it to the farm. On the Soviet left the StuGs moved around the objective to cover the rear of the remaining Soviet tanks. The Tiger platoon moved to the flank of the Soviet tanks in the wood ready to complete the destruction of the Soviet force. The Tiger platoon in the village fired on the Katyusha battalion, knocking out the rest of the rocket launchers.

The command Tiger moved towards the flank and fired on the Soviet anti-aircraft half-tracks and bailed out one vehicle. The StuGs fired on the Soviet battalion HQ tank and easily knocked out the T-34/85. The nearby Tigers fired on the remnants of the first Gvardeyskiy Tankovy Company. Brigada Komissar Dedov was bailed out and the company is forced once again to take a Motivation test to keep fighting. They pass again! Victory Points The Soviets holds one objective on their right. 1 points. The Germans gain 5 points as they hold all of the other five objectives. Germans 21, Soviet 17

At this point we decided to call it quits. I had very little left to fight with and Ken was well and truly in control of the battlefield. Next time more troops! Wayne