Capt. Mikhail Dyachkov and his Fifth Battalion of the 7th Marine Brigade had been dispatched to the Crimean capital of Simferopol, only to be told to retreat immediately back to Sevastopol. The Germans had already bypassed the city and cut the road to the great naval base. Dyachkov’s men found their route blocked by Germans, who turned out to be just as surprised to see them.

The Marines took up positions in and around the village of Priyatne Svidanya, where they fended off the initial German attack. Both Dyachkov and his executive officer were killed in the first minutes of the battle; the battalion political officer took charge and ordered the Marines to hold in place. According to Marine Mikhail Korneev, the battalion fought off eighteen German attacks throughout the day, including at least three hand-to-hand engagements, while suffering terrible losses from German mortar fire. When night fell the politruk ordered the last 50 men to slip away and head to Sevastopol; 37 of them made it safely to the naval base.

May use maps and counters from East Front Deluxe.