Panzer Grenadier Headquarters - Library: Bron Pancerna #4

Panzer Grenadier Battles on April 27th:
Arctic Front Deluxe #40 - Children's Crusade	Broken Axis #14 - Târgu Frumos: The Second Battle Scenario 3: Sledge Hammer of the Proletariat
Army Group South Ukraine #6 - Consternation	Road to Berlin #73 - She-Wolves of the SS

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Bitwa Pancerna Bron Pancerna #4
(Attacker) Poland	vs	Germany (Attacker)

Formations Involved

	Total
Side 1	1
Draw	0
Side 2	0

	Total
Side 1	0
Draw	0
Side 2	0

Overall Rating, 1 vote
5 4 3 2 1 2
Scenario Rank: --- of 913

Parent Game	Bron Pancerna
Historicity	Alt-History
Date	1940-09-04
Start Time	08:00
Turn Count	36
Visibility	Day
Counters	200
Net Morale	0
Net Initiative	1
Maps	6: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8
Layout Dimensions	86 x 84 cm 34 x 33 in
Play Bounty	240
AAR Bounty	171
Total Plays	1
Total AARs	1

Battle Types
Inflict Enemy Casualties

Conditions
Off-board Artillery

Scenario Requirements & Playability
Bron Pancerna	Base Game
Deluge	Counters
Fall of France 1	Counters
Fire in the Steppe	Maps + Counters

Introduction
The best German tank of late 1940 was the Panzer III with a 37mm gun; the first models with a 50mm gun would not be delivered until later in the year but could have been rushed forward. The Poles of September 1940 would have met them much larger tanks carrying a 75mm high-velocity gun. It almost doesn’t seem fair. Almost.

Conclusion
The 25TP had its flaws, such as its small turret, but would have been a generation ahead of its time - in the rapid development timeframe of the Second World War, that would have translated to perhaps two years. The Poles likely could not have deployed more than a half-dozen battalions of the 25TP, which probably would not have been enough to change the final result of a war between Poland and Germany.

Conclusion

The 25TP had its flaws, such as its small turret, but would have been a generation ahead of its time - in the rapid development timeframe of the Second World War, that would have translated to perhaps two years. The Poles likely could not have deployed more than a half-dozen battalions of the 25TP, which probably would not have been enough to change the final result of a war between Poland and Germany.

Additional Notes
Full strength Polish INF units have a direct fire value of 6-3. Piechoty (infantry) counters have been created for those players who are willing to make their own counters to reflect this counter variant. Counters from White Eagles and Eastern Front Deluxe may be used in place of those from The Deluge and Fire in the Steppe.

Additional Notes

Full strength Polish INF units have a direct fire value of 6-3. Piechoty (infantry) counters have been created for those players who are willing to make their own counters to reflect this counter variant.

Counters from White Eagles and Eastern Front Deluxe may be used in place of those from The Deluge and Fire in the Steppe.

Display Relevant AFV Rules

AFV Rules Pertaining to this Scenario's Order of Battle
Vulnerable to results on the Assault Combat Chart (7.25, 7.63, ACC), and may be attacked by Anti-Tank fire (11.2, DFT). Anti-Tank fire only affects the individual unit fired upon (7.62, 11.0). AFV's are activated by tank leaders (3.2, 3.3, 5.42, 6.8). They may also be activated as part of an initial activating stack, but if activated in this way would need a tank leader in order to carry out combat movement. AFV's do not block Direct Fire (10.1). Full-strength AFV's with "armor efficiency" may make two anti-tank (AT) fire attacks per turn (either in their action segment or during opportunity fire) if they have AT fire values of 0 or more (11.2). Each unit with an AT fire value of 2 or more may fire at targets at a distance of between 100% and 150% of its printed AT range. It does so at half its AT fire value. (11.3) Efficient and non-efficient AFV's may conduct two opportunity fires per turn if using direct fire (7.44, 7.64). Units with both Direct and AT Fire values may use either type of fire in the same turn as their opportunity fire, but not both (7.22, 13.0). Units which can take opportunity fire twice per turn do not have to target the same unit both times (13.0). Demoralized AFV's are not required to flee from units that do not have AT fire values (14.3). Place a Wreck marker when an AFV is eliminated in a bridge or town hex (16.3). AFV's do not benefit from Entrenchments (16.42). AFV's may Dig In (16.2). Open-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables, but DO take step losses from X and #X results (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT). If a "2X" or "3X" result is rolled, at least one of the step losses must be taken by an open-top AFV if present. Closed-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables. Do not take step losses from Direct or Bombardment Fire. If X or #X result on Fire Table, make M morale check instead (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT). Closed-top AFV's: Provide the +1 modifier on the Assault Table when combined with infantry. (Modifier only applies to Germans in all scenarios; Soviet Guards in scenarios taking place after 1942; Polish, US and Commonwealth in scenarios taking place after 1943.) (ACC) Tank: all are closed-top and provide the +1 Assault bonus, when applicable Tank Destroyer: do not provide the +1 Assault bonus, even if closed-top (SB) APC – Armored Personnel Carrier: These are Combat Units, but stack like Transports. They can transport personnel units or towed units. They are not counted as combat units for the +1 stacking modifier on the Direct Fire and Bombardment Tables (4.4). They may be activated by regular leaders and tank leaders (1.2, 3.34, 4.3, 5.43). They do not provide the +1 Assault bonus (ACC).

AFV Rules Pertaining to this Scenario's Order of Battle

Vulnerable to results on the Assault Combat Chart (7.25, 7.63, ACC), and may be attacked by Anti-Tank fire (11.2, DFT). Anti-Tank fire only affects the individual unit fired upon (7.62, 11.0).
AFV's are activated by tank leaders (3.2, 3.3, 5.42, 6.8). They may also be activated as part of an initial activating stack, but if activated in this way would need a tank leader in order to carry out combat movement.
AFV's do not block Direct Fire (10.1).
Full-strength AFV's with "armor efficiency" may make two anti-tank (AT) fire attacks per turn (either in their action segment or during opportunity fire) if they have AT fire values of 0 or more (11.2).
Each unit with an AT fire value of 2 or more may fire at targets at a distance of between 100% and 150% of its printed AT range. It does so at half its AT fire value. (11.3)
Efficient and non-efficient AFV's may conduct two opportunity fires per turn if using direct fire (7.44, 7.64). Units with both Direct and AT Fire values may use either type of fire in the same turn as their opportunity fire, but not both (7.22, 13.0). Units which can take opportunity fire twice per turn do not have to target the same unit both times (13.0).
Demoralized AFV's are not required to flee from units that do not have AT fire values (14.3).
Place a Wreck marker when an AFV is eliminated in a bridge or town hex (16.3).
AFV's do not benefit from Entrenchments (16.42).
AFV's may Dig In (16.2).
Open-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables, but DO take step losses from X and #X results (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT). If a "2X" or "3X" result is rolled, at least one of the step losses must be taken by an open-top AFV if present.
Closed-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables. Do not take step losses from Direct or Bombardment Fire. If X or #X result on Fire Table, make M morale check instead (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT).
Closed-top AFV's: Provide the +1 modifier on the Assault Table when combined with infantry. (Modifier only applies to Germans in all scenarios; Soviet Guards in scenarios taking place after 1942; Polish, US and Commonwealth in scenarios taking place after 1943.) (ACC)
Tank: all are closed-top and provide the +1 Assault bonus, when applicable
Tank Destroyer: do not provide the +1 Assault bonus, even if closed-top (SB)
APC – Armored Personnel Carrier: These are Combat Units, but stack like Transports. They can transport personnel units or towed units. They are not counted as combat units for the +1 stacking modifier on the Direct Fire and Bombardment Tables (4.4). They may be activated by regular leaders and tank leaders (1.2, 3.34, 4.3, 5.43). They do not provide the +1 Assault bonus (ACC).

Display Order of Battle

Germany Order of Battle

Heer
Foot Leader Mechanized Motorized Towed

Heer

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Motorized

Towed

Poland Order of Battle

Wojska Lądowe
Foot Leader Mechanized Motorized Towed

Wojska Lądowe

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Motorized

Towed

Display Errata (4)

4 Errata Items
	The reduced direct fire value of the Heer HMG became 5-5 starting with Fall of France. (plloyd1010 on 2015 Jul 31)
	Two German PzJr. 1 counters have their full strengths printed on the back, and reduced strengths on the front. (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)
	The morale and combat modifiers of German Sergeant #1614 should be "0", not "8". (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)
	All SPW 251s have an armor value of 0. (Shad on 2010 Dec 15)

Display AARs (1)

Bitwa Pancerna

Author	Juiceman
Method	Solo
Victor	Poland
Play Date	2021-05-14
Language	English
Scenario	34BP004

Scenario 4 introduces the 25TP to the Polish forces which has an armor rating of 4 with an AT rating of 5-8 clearly outclassing the main German tanks for this scenario, the PzIIIF and the two companies of PzIIIG’s with the short 50/L42 tank gun. The German OOB does include a Panzerjager company of PzJg-I’s but these might not last long due to their thin armor & open top. The infantry forces are pretty much equal in terms of infantry platoons and support weapons, although the Germans have the better leadership and more numerous OBA.

Victory conditions are eliminating enemy steps, but other than that there are no other victory conditions or objectives for the two sides to fight over, no VP for exiting steps off the east or west map edge, no towns to control, there was “no nectar to draw the bees to.”

When the opposing armored forces finally got done jockeying for position, the tank battle began with the Polish armor dominating this scenario, especially the 25TP with flank support from the 14TP and S35 which kept the Germans from setting up the cross fire bonus. As predicted the PzJg-I’s did not survive long once they fired and were spotted, they did inflict a step on a 14TP but they died quickly and a couple at long range. Was expecting more from the PzIIIG’s but they struggled to get kills even against the 10TP with armor of 2 (more to my poor dice rolling). It did not help that the Pols concentrated on them since they were the best German tank on the battlefield. Once they were gone the PzIIIF’s really did not stand a chance.

The infantry forces of both sides sat on the sidelines for most of the game waiting on the outcome of the main event, the armor clash, so did not play much of a part in this scenario, besides by the time the armor battle was over the victory conditions were heavily in the Polish favor.

This was the final scenario of Golden Journal #34 Bron Pancerna, overall the booklet was an interesting read and the scenarios were fun to play (except #4). Would like to have seen a scenario or two with the Soviets against the new Polish armor and infantry.

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