While history may have recorded this 23 August 1914 attack as an Austrian victory, on my game table it was a disaster for the Austrians.

Russian 7-4 MGs plus two 5-2 infantry companies and an 1-2 leader in the stack that is dug in is just about impossible to knock out. Even with Cold Steel attacks, the attacker will have to weather first fire on the 30+ table. Deadly in the extreme.

In any case, the Russians had no major trouble holding off repeated Austrian assaults, at little cost to themselves.

I just have to practice my attacks more to try this again. Also, with only 24 turns, the Austrians just have to get very lucky to eek out a minor victory.

This felt like WWI; heavy losses to the attacker, lots of leaders lost, and not much moved on the defender side.

It’s just a puzzle I’ll have to try out again.