Ancient Greek mythology gives us the choice between two deadly dangers. KSF #22 does the same. In this scenario the Germans are given four objectives; kill Soviets, take towns/hills, exit the board and keep from dying. Two of the objectives are virtual locks (killing Soviets and taking the towns and hills), as the Germans start with a tremendous superiority in weaponry and morale. The problem is the potential to lose too many steps in the process.

With any reasonable effort the Soviets will have the chance to put some significant losses on the Germans. In my play the Soviets on one of the hills were able to counterassault and cause some significant losses (and the SU-76s, et al were able to cause a few quick tank losses) putting the Germans on edge. At this point a lucky Soviet shot with OBA or their mortars could give the Soviets the victory. Therefore in order to ensure the victory the Germans needed to push for the exit.

After 3-4 turns moving north it became apparent that the Germans would lose too many steps but be able to exit the requisite number of steps to meet their requirement, thereby locking down the victory. Seems, however, that the Soviets didn't get the memo. In pushing forward the Germans had decided to overwhelm the Soviet's western flank. The Soviets decided to give in to the exiting Germans and instead marshalled their remaining forces to attack back towards the hills. Unfortunately for the Soviets, the Germans had parked their SPWs on the hill that was being attacked and shredded the advanced RKKA and Guards infantry. The armor was led by the single remaining tank leader and that unit was hit by a couple Pz IIIJs working in a cross fire setup.

A number of choices in this one with a good deal of options for each side to pursue victory. While I feel that the scenario favors the Germans the Soviets are not forced into a static defense and they certainly have a decent chance to push for victory themselves. I do not, however, see a major victory possibility for either side. Nevertheless, a great time was had and the scenario rates a solid "4".

My First real dig into Kursk Southern Flank, before I start I have to say how much Ilike the counters that come with the module, I hope Northern Flank are the same.

0630hrs Hq Kg Baum 5th SS PzGr Regiment Totenkopf. at the time ordered the Kg attack from out of our previous holding area north towards the villages of Glasnikovka and the futher stae farm in the area of Petrovsk, on the left the Kg lead with the Tiger gruppe (10 Tigers) and the main part of Pz Gruppe Totenkopf (15 Pz IVH & 15 Pz III M) this gruppe had 10th kompanie III Abtielung (Gepanzerte) attached as infanterie support. on the right the remainder of III Abtielung moved toward the small rise on our front right flank with a view to set up a fire posistion ready to leap frog the Panzer gruppe, they were supported by a Pz III M Kompanie and 2 Zugs of Pz IVE. the center Gruppe was the whole I Abtielung 5th SS PzGR Regt TK with various attachments from the Aufklarungs Abtielung and had the role of grabbing the high ground in the middle of the Kg's boundaries.

The attack started well for the left flank, we advanced fast and had by 0730hrs cleared the small hamlet of Glasnikovka of all enemy forces (roughly a weak infanrty company) and had pressed on to the high ground to our front left, this was held by a reinforced company of Infantry backed up with ATR platoons and a 7.62 MM Zis3 battery, this battery had caused us our first casualties of the day, we lost 5 Pz III M (2 armour steps) to the fire from this battery before the 2 Tiger Zugs could bring it under fire and eleminate it. A counter attack by roughly 20 Russian AFV (10 SU-76 & 10 Grants) was also destroyed here by the Tigers and supporting fire from the Pz IVH Kompanie. in the same time frame the center attack slowly gained the high ground and I Abtielung started to organise itself to push on North. O the Kg's right flank the lions share of III Abtielung had started to make good progress when a whole Bolshievik Tank Brigade attacked them from the North, this prompted frantic request for more Panzer support as by 0745 all the Panzers attached to the Abtielung had either been knocked out our had pulled back (total 12 steps, 10 eliminated and 2 fleed as Demorolised). By 0830 the Kg's right flank was in disaray, the panzer Gruppe left thier attached Gepanzerte Infanterie kompanie on the high ground to dig in whilst the Tigers and Pz IV's moved to our right flank to stop the rampaging enemy armour, by 1215 hours the front was again quiet, no Russian armour was left to halt us, but our losses have been high and it is Kg's view we are to weak to proceed and reach the days objective, we have lost roughly 3 whole Panzer kompanies and the best part of 2 kompanies of grenadiers along with Halftracks and support weapons (42 steps).

I recommend we are allowed the afternoon to reorganise and try to get back into operation as many of the knocked out Panzers as possible and try a late afternoon advance to at least achieve the days objective sent by Division.

StandarteFuhrer Baum

Really good scenario, lots going on and not as one sided as it may look, the Germans have lots of fire power, but if Ivan can mass properly (as he did here) he can make the Germans pay for every step of ground they make, I only just managed to stop the Tank brigades rampage on my right, but lost pretty much all my panzers except the Tigers and 2 Pz IIIM Platoons, Really enjoyable.

The special rules for this one did not help at all. No digging in. No more than one unit per hex. Blah blah blah.

My inability to conduct a fighting withdrawal also didn't help me much. I felt that I had no idea what I was doing the entire game. That's it.

Once the Russians broke, all they could do was run. They hardly ever recovered cohesion. This was a complete disaster.