River Of Heroes Sandomierz Scenario

Bagration: Soviet

Sandomierz

By Ken Camel

In the small town of Sandomierz near the Vistula River, 170 kilometres south of Warsaw, the Soviet Army first met the Königstiger in battle. The Soviet 6th Guards Tank Corps anticipated a German counterattack against their newly won bridgehead over the Vistula River.

Though the Soviets initially thought they were first facing Panthers, they set up an ambush to deal with the expected German attack. Their concentrated fire destroyed the first two Königstiger tanks they saw on the road from Sandomierz. A third Königstiger tank was left in tact and abandoned in the village and the German counterattack was stopped cold.

Ill-advised tactics and soft, sandy terrain prevented the Königstiger from achieving success. Additionally, only half of the original twenty Königstiger deployed were able to reach the battlefield due to serious mechanical failures. Can you use your Königstiger tanks better than the Germans and push the Soviet 6th Guards Tank Corps back across the Vistula?

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Sandomierz Scenario

The 6th Guards Tank Corps of the 3rd Guards Tank Army has set up defensive positions across the Vistula near the town of Sandomierz. The sandy soil surrounding the west bank of the river has prevented the tanks from digging in, but many have hidden amongst the hay stacks prevalent east of the town.

Information from captured German troops has revealed the arrival of a new panzer battalion. Originally identified as twenty Panzer IV and twenty Panther tanks, rumour has spread of a new German super-tank. Last night the sound of many tank engines was heard, but our scouts could not sight them due to darkness and fog.

Expect the Germans to attack this morning.

Your Orders

Soviet
As commander of the 6th Guards Tank Corps, you have been assigned to hold the bridgehead over the Vistula at all costs. A newly arrived German Tank Battalion has been reported arriving in your area. Do not let it retake the river crossings.

German
Oberstleutnant von Legat, you have been given command of Germany’s newest secret weapon. Use these powerful new tanks to eliminate the Soviet bridgehead at Sandomierz. Force them back across the river and hold the bridges for our counterattack.

Setting Up

1. Set up terrain using the map as your guide.
2. Place two Objectives as identified on the map. Both objectives are on the bridges.

Deployment

3. Deploy the 6th Guards Tank Corps in the Soviet Deployment Area. The Soviet Deployment Area is 12”/30cm from the centre line towards the German Deployment Area and the Soviet half of the table.
    a. The 51ya Gvardeyskaya Tankovy Brigada Formation has one company in Ambush and one company in Reserves.

Sandomierz Scenario Map

    b. The 71ya Gvardeyskaya Tyazhelyy Tankovy Polk 1ya Vzod must set up on the Soviet rear table edge side on the river.
    c. The 52ya Gvardeyskaya Tankovy Brigada can set up anywhere in the Soviet deployment area.

4. The 1. Zug, 501. Schwere Panzerabteilung sets up in the German deployment area. The German Deployment Area is 12”/30cm back from the centre line.

5. Soviet Reserves can enter the board from the road on either long side of the table. Points A and B.

6. German Reserves enter from the short side in the German Deployment Area.

7. The German Player has the first turn.

Winning the Game

The German player wins if they end their turn on or after the sixth turn Holding an Objective.

The Soviet player wins if they end their turn on or after the sixth turn with not Attacking German Tank, Infantry, or Gun teams withing 8”/20cm of an Objective.

Special Rules

Ambush - The 52nd Guards Tank Brigade may use the Ambush rules on page 103 of the rulebook.

Sand and Soft Terrain - Extremely soft and sandy terrain dominated the area around Sandomierz. All normal Cross-country terrain other than roads is Terrain Dash for Dash movement, but does not require a Cross Test.

Optional Rules

Historical Scenario - You can add the optional reserves to the scenario to play with the historical units that actually took part in the Battle of Sandomierz. Extend the Map size 24”/60cm on both long sides to increase the manoeuvre areas.

Soviet Forces
6th Guard Tank Corps,
3rd Guard Tank Army

6th Guards tank Corps
See pages 17 & 54 of Bagration: Soviet

51ya Gvardeyskaya Tankovy Brigada

T-34 Tank Battalion HQ (LS180)
1x T-34 (76mm)

1ya Polk

2ya Polk

T-34 Tank Company (LS122)
9x T-34 (76mm)

T-34 Tank Company (LS122)
5x T-34 (85mm)

52ya Gvardeyskaya Tankovy Brigada


1ya Polk

T-34 Tank Battalion HQ (LS180)
1x T-34 (76mm)

T-34 Tank Company (LS122)
8x T-34 (76mm)

71ya Gvardeyskaya Tyazhelyy Tankovy Polk

1ya Vzod

IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Regiment HQ (LS152)
1x IS-2 (122mm)

IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (LS153)
5x IS-2 (122mm)

Air Support IL-2 Shturmovik Assault Company (LS151)
Reserves Delayed Reserves: (Optional)

53ya Gvardeyskaya Tankovy Brigada

1ya Polk

(Under the command of the
52ya Gvardeyskaya Tankovy Brigada Formation)

T-34 Tank Company (LS122)
9x T-34 (76mm)

2ya Polk

T-34 (85mm) Tank Company (LS179)
9x T-34 (76mm)

71ya Gvardeyskaya Tyazhelyy Tankovy Polk
2ya Vzod

IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (LS153)
5x IS-2 (122mm)

German Forces
501. Schwere Panzerabteilung mit 6.Kompanie , II/2. Panzerregiment, 16. Panzerdivision

501st Heavy Tank Battalion

See Bulge: German pages 56 to 57

Oberstleutnant von Legat
Headquarters 501. Schwere Panzerabteilung

Tiger II Tank Company HQ (LG351)
2x Tiger II (8.8cm)

1. Zug

Tiger II Tank Platoon (LG352)
4x Tiger II (8.8cm)

Panzerpionier Platoon

Armoured Panzergrenadier Platoon (LG253)
7x MG42 with Panzerfaust,
4x Sd Kfz 251 (MG) half-tracks

Armoured Scout Platoon

Armoured Panzergrenadier Platoon (LG253)
5x MG42 with Panzerfaust,
3x Sd Kfz 251 (MG) half-tracks

Armoured Artillery Battery

Hummel Artillery Battery (LG135)
3x Hummel (15cm)

Artillery Forward Observer 

Sd Kfz 250 OP Observation Post (LG261)
1x Sd Kfz 250 OP (MG) half-track

Air Support Stuka Ju 87 (3.7cm) Tank-hunter Flight (LG146)
Reserves Delayed Reserves: (Optional)
6. Kompanie, II/2. Panzerregiment,
16. Panzerdivision

Panzer IV Tank Platoon (LG146)
4x Panzer IV (7.5cm)

2. Zug , 501. Schwere Panzerabteilung

Tiger II Tank Platoon (LG352)
4x Tiger II (8.8cm)


Last Updated On Thursday, December 23, 2021 by Wayne at Battlefront