Campaign Flow – ‘Ladder’ Progression
ORANGE Phase 1
The first four scenario games represent the overstretched Russian forces racing forward to cut off and trap the retreating Germans. For their part the German forces are trying to fall back in good order maintaining a cohesive front and buying time for their forces to get across the river.
These games will be each played once in succession regardless of the win/lose outcome of the one preceding it. The Russians will be the Attacker in each.
The manpower for both sides is stretched thin for this phase due to the speed of advance and retreat. Losses are tracked as per the standard Campaign matrix.
The Russians have the support of a Heavy Tank Platoon for these initial games before they are moved on for needs elsewhere. These are four JSII’s, and once KO’d (must be tracked) they are lost as a support option.
Other armour in the shape of T34/85’s is more readily available but due to the speed of the Russian advance, there is also a maximum of 15 (must be tracked) of these available for the ENTIRE Campaign.
Whilst the Russians are well supported by Air and Artillery, these options are not available in the first phase as they struggle to keep up with the rapidly advancing ‘front line’.
The Germans pick up ad-hoc support from retreating armoured formations but have no Air or Artillery support to call on
GREEN Phase 2
The second phase uses three scenario games to represent a desperate German counter-attack against the overstretched Russians.
The original German Infantry Platoon is replaced in this second phase with Panzergrenadier elements ‘cobbled’ together. However, this makeshift Platoon has very few of the Panzerschreck/Panzerfaust weapons and must try to ‘scrounge them from other retreating formations (buy off the List).
The ATTACKER in the fifth game is the Germans and they can choose any of the three Green Phase 2 scenarios
The attacker in subsequent games is determined by the winner of the previous game. No scenario can be played twice in succession…each game played must be different to the previous one!
For this phase the Russians get a limited manpower replacement but must continue to resist the German counter-attack to the end of the Campaign with the same core Platoon. They do however have support options in the form of ad-hoc infantry squads that have moved up and can be utilised.
Any Russian Heavy Tanks that have survived CANNOT be used in this second Green phase. They are being used elsewhere.