This scenario was played over two sessions, one FtF one Skype, against Vince. The battle is over 4 maps laid in line. The Germans have to break out to the West and exit units for a major victory, the Soviets have to prevent the breakout and eliminate 18 steps. Initially Soviet forces are spread out over two separate boards with the units to the west not able to move until the Germans move onto the one of the westernmost boards. The Soviets also get reinforcements on GT7 arriving from the either the north or south depending in a dice roll. One thing to note that if the Soviet player does not get a marginal victory then the German player wins. This gives the German player an option ,does he advance units onto board one and then dig in trying to hang onto a thin line and hope that he does not lose 18 steps or get pushed out or does he go for the breakout and a major win. Whatever he does have to advance which makes this scenario very interesting. Vince went, rightly IMO, for the victory and launched a determined attack on the first Russian line. Soviet losses were heavy at first and the line was forced back, however the Soviet reserve could now move forward and the reinforcements had arrived. I now had to gain time to get these units together and launch my counter attack. To do this I threw my tank units into assaults on the leading German unit, the German AT guns had lagged behind and I supported the assault with as much artillery as I could muster, losses were heavy but now the German advance had been stalled and the Russian commander could bring his weight of numbers to bear. There now followed several turns of utter carnage as stacks blasted away at each other at very short range, it seemed every other shot was a X, slowly the Soviet juggernaut rolled forward and victory was in sight. Finally the German line bent and Soviet troops could infiltrate and assault the AT guns which had finally arrived in support. These were wiped out eventually and the German commander conceded. This was a battle of two halves, my initial Soviet set up was pretty poor and I paid the price in trying to adjust, however the use of tanks to hold up the German attack worked well and after a fighting line had been established it was only a matter of time before superior forces would grab the 18 step losses required. I think this one does favour the Red Army slightly but there is a chance for the German to win.It would be interesting to see if any German player who played to deny a Soviet win rather than trying to force a win could hold out for 28 turns. Possibly not

I'm getting things ready to go on holiday, but don't wish to lose the points for an AAR so will add a very short version here and then I will edit and go into detail on my return

This battle was played face to face and skyped against Wayne Baumber and I have to say how surprised I am nobody else has played this. The VC's are set up so that there is no point where both players can sit back and go for a draw. There will always be an assailant and it appears very well balanced

Long and short of this battle is that the Germans got off to a cracking start by ploughing through a first Soviet line of defence. However, they had to push onto the further western most boards. This, when done, activates Soviet forces there plus they get their reinforcemnts at some point from turn 7 onwards (of course, Wayneski got them right away)

Upon pushing forward, the Germans became far too cocky and complacent, pushing forward with infantry and yet leaving their AT capability trailing (in fear of Soviet OBA and 120mm mortars). The Soviets crashed their 10 platoons of T26's in concentrated 3 stacks, and the carnage began. Losses, for VC's do not matter for the Soviets, but the Germans do have a 'loss maximum'. This was exploited well by Wayne, and the resultant slog-fest could only suit his forces

In the end, this was a comfortable win for the USSR and a good battle fought by Wayne (if not his best when I've played him). The mistakes made by the Germans will NOT be repeated

Great scenario, well-balanced, and a must play from the original box-set

Losses : German 24 steps & 2 officers, Soviet 22 steps and 1 officer