Scenario: The Battle Of Sokolovo

[Tomas]

Now for something different and not so common, it's actually probably first scenario with playable Czechoslovakian unit.

Battle Of Sokolovo

Date: March 8, 1943

Battle Location: Sokolovo, Ukrainian SSR

Battle Type: Czechoslovakian defend vs German assault

Description:
1st Czechoslovak Independent Field Battalion arrived to freshly recaptured Kharkov at 1st March 1943 and was ordered to defend area southeast from Kharkov to prevent Axis from crossing the Mzha river.

Three companies deployed along the river which was frozen at the time. Decision was made to deploy 1st platoon on the southern bank of the Mzha river in Sokolovo village, while other two companies stayed on the northern bank of the river, trying to cover as much area as possible.

After fall of the 78th Guards Infantry Regiment at Taranovka, Germans advanced north and reached Sokolovo at 8th March. Two hours after brief probe, elements of 6th Panzer Division started to assault the village. Czechoslovakian troops, with only limited anti-tank weaponry were soon pushed out of their positions and established defensive perimeter around the church in the village.

Before loss of link to higher HQ, lt. Jaros was able to call for reinforcements, however only one infantry platoon was able to traverse the frozen river. Few tanks from 179th Tank Brigade were stopped, after first tank to cross the river broke through the ice.

At 1900, Czechoslovakian troops retreated towards the river and eventually crossed it. Second day, there were attempts by 2nd Platoon to retake Sokolovo, but were cancelled due to high losses. At 10th March it was quiet and at 12th March whole unit was ordered to retreat, as the Germans recaptured Kharkov and danger of encirclement was imminent.

Notes: If played against the AI the human player should take the Czechoslovakian side.

Source: Internet.

This is not very easy scenario, but i tried to keep things accurate as much as possible. Any comments or ideas are welcome.

EDIT: I've played through it twice, first time it was measly draw, second time i managed decisive victory. So, it might not be that hard afterall.

[SaS TrooP]

Gonna play that ASAP. Good you did CSLA, I also planned to handle battle of Wodzisław in which their brigade took part. My review should be done in few days.

[SaS TrooP]

Played it. Finished it on decisive victory.

Generally interesting scenario, but my first and foremost feedback would be for you to increase German attack power. Their forces are too weak to break though (I say even a player on PBEM would fail), mainly when comes to infantry. They do not have even a 2:1 ratio and should be even more for attacker to succeed in most handbooks. Also, they lack mortars for quick suppresion and smoke. Maxims are massacring their advance from the beginning. AT guns are effective at killing tanks if you do this wisely. PTRS also come in handy.

In short:
More infantry
More artillery, mainly mortars

That should make it quite spicy

[glaude1955]

Hello,
Testing the scenario with the German side, I realized that the German units could not enter on the map as they were disposed on gray hexagons.
These units are :
Ko on Hex 0.51
L3 on 0.59
H1 on 0.39
H4 on 0.40
F2 on 0.42
F1 on 0.43
and F3 on 0.44

It's been seven units less.
In addition, the ration attackers / defenders should be at least 3/1.

Regards
Yves

[DRG]

Good catch on the edge hex units!