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Post subject: Defensive Blitzkrieg - First Battle of Târgu Frumos
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I haven't seen a scenario for this yet and would like to create one.
Background:
"The First Battle of Târgu Frumos was part of the First Jassy-Kishinev Offensive of World War II fought between Axis powers of World War II commanded by Otto Wöhler and Soviet forces led by Ivan Konev.
By early April 1944, Stavka (Main Command of the Soviet Armed Forces) ordered its two major units involved in operations in south-western Ukraine to mount a strategic offensive in north-western Romania. Konev's 2nd Ukrainian Front approached Târgu Frumos and Botoşani regions by 5 April and commenced its offensive towards Târgu Frumos on 8 April. The Romanian 4th Army, charged with the defense of the region, was being reinforced by German panzer elements of the 24th Panzer Division and was preparing to hold an initial Soviet advance. However, these defenses proved to be no match for the Soviet assault on the town and by the next day Târgu Frumos had been secured by two 27th Army rifle divisions. Meanwhile, the German Eighth Army command responded rapidly by ordering Hasso von Manteuffel's Grossdeutschland Panzergrenadier division to move towards Târgu Frumos and recapture the town. By the evening of 10 April, 48 hours after receiving the initial order, Grossdeutschland succeeded in retaking the town and establishing new defensive positions there."
Points of interest in this battle:
Massive Soviet armored force, but undertrained (as usual).
Reportedly first encounter beween Tiger I and IS-II tanks.
GD Division's first widespread use of Panzerfaust.
Hans Rudel, ' 'Eagle of the Eastern Front', piloted his Stuka here.
Romanians contribute heavily (although I don't see 1st Armored listed as fighting here).
So, to the scenario experts - General Hoth, Red Baron, and Bean965 - are you using a template for your scenario creations?
I want to be sure to cover terrain (a unique horseshoe shape to this battlefield with strategic high ground), counter-attack/reinforcement 'timing', correct percentages of forces on both sides, etc.
Any pointers you have is appreciated. |
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 Sat Nov 07, 2009 5:33 pm |
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"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak, Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen." - Churchill
Posts: 1961
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Seems like with the info you've got you have the makings of a great scenario. A few things to look at: How many points do you want?
What kind of special rules will there be?
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"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak, Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen." - Churchill
+45 on GTL
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| Sat Nov 07, 2009 6:12 pm |
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"My dear general, the war can now only be won by the politicians." Von Rundstedt to Kurt Meyer.
Posts: 1488
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Post subject: Re: Defensive Blitzkrieg - First Battle of Târgu Frumos
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| NoMoreHexes wrote: | I haven't seen a scenario for this yet and would like to create one.
Background:
"The First Battle of Târgu Frumos was part of the First Jassy-Kishinev Offensive of World War II fought between Axis powers of World War II commanded by Otto Wöhler and Soviet forces led by Ivan Konev.
By early April 1944, Stavka (Main Command of the Soviet Armed Forces) ordered its two major units involved in operations in south-western Ukraine to mount a strategic offensive in north-western Romania. Konev's 2nd Ukrainian Front approached Târgu Frumos and Botoşani regions by 5 April and commenced its offensive towards Târgu Frumos on 8 April. The Romanian 4th Army, charged with the defense of the region, was being reinforced by German panzer elements of the 24th Panzer Division and was preparing to hold an initial Soviet advance. However, these defenses proved to be no match for the Soviet assault on the town and by the next day Târgu Frumos had been secured by two 27th Army rifle divisions. Meanwhile, the German Eighth Army command responded rapidly by ordering Hasso von Manteuffel's Grossdeutschland Panzergrenadier division to move towards Târgu Frumos and recapture the town. By the evening of 10 April, 48 hours after receiving the initial order, Grossdeutschland succeeded in retaking the town and establishing new defensive positions there."
Points of interest in this battle:
Massive Soviet armored force, but undertrained (as usual).
Reportedly first encounter beween Tiger I and IS-II tanks.
GD Division's first widespread use of Panzerfaust.
Hans Rudel, ' 'Eagle of the Eastern Front', piloted his Stuka here.
Romanians contribute heavily (although I don't see 1st Armored listed as fighting here).
So, to the scenario experts - General Hoth, Red Baron, and Bean965 - are you using a template for your scenario creations?
I want to be sure to cover terrain (a unique horseshoe shape to this battlefield with strategic high ground), counter-attack/reinforcement 'timing', correct percentages of forces on both sides, etc.
Any pointers you have is appreciated. |
This looks great. 
For scenarios, i do not use points anymore. As i know the stats of each unit by heart, i try to balance the game by playtests and then "spice up" either with a "funky unit" (like my T35 recently) or by an unusual map arrangement or by victory conditions.
Reinforcements are always welcome as it gives a second part to the scenario. 
Hope it helps...
Bring it on!
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Scenarios?:
http://aaminis.myfastforum.org/forum3.php. |
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| Sun Nov 08, 2009 3:25 pm |
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Posts: 258
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It looks like you've got all the makings! My comments are:
Figure out where the key decision point ws that resulted in the battle and start the scenario out there. Some of myearly scenarios didn't work b/c I set them up so close to reality there wasn't any room for a surprising outcome.
Try to find a real map or historical diagram of the battlefield to use in arranging AAM maps. Becuase of the size limitations of the AAM maps, you may need to focus on a portion of the battle. Because history books don't tend to get down to the company level (unless they are memoirs, which tend to lack the larger perspective needed to use the info for scenario design) you may have to make some guesses about units and position.
It looks like you've got lots of material for special rules - poorly trained Soviet units and a Stuka ace.
I agree with the honorable General Hoth - it looks like you've got a good candidate for a smaller German force that has to hold off a larger Soviet force until reinforcements arrive.
Good luck - I look forward to seeing the end result!
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| Mon Nov 09, 2009 3:43 am |
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Posts: 97
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| Thanks for the input! Good points we are taking into account while re-working. We play-tested the initial design on Sunday and found some issues for both sides which will need to be re-thought and re-tested. |
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| Tue Nov 10, 2009 3:09 am |
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"My dear general, the war can now only be won by the politicians." Von Rundstedt to Kurt Meyer.
Posts: 1488
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I'll have to do a bit of digging here but i believe i read something about this battle a few monthes ago in a french military publication.
_________________
Scenarios?:
http://aaminis.myfastforum.org/forum3.php. |
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| Tue Nov 10, 2009 3:11 pm |
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Afrika Korps
Posts: 1390
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Post subject: Re: Defensive Blitzkrieg - First Battle of Târgu Frumos
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| NoMoreHexes wrote: | So, to the scenario experts - General Hoth, Red Baron, and Bean965 - are you using a template for your scenario creations?
Any pointers you have is appreciated. |
My scenarios are of two kinds:
1. Historical scenarios that try to recreate a certain battle or campaign (Op. Sunflower Scenario: DAK arrival in Africa until Op. Crusader) or (Op. White Storm "Blokada Leningrada": The siege of Leningrad).
2. Semi-fictional historic scenarios based on real events (Op. Trident - DDAY; Op. Adjacent - German invasion of France; Op. Silver Fox - part of Barbarossa).
If the scenario is Type 1, then I will study the event and decide how big the scenario will be (simple battle or campaign), depens a lot on the Map I make. Usually the Map comes first, and then I fit a scenario.
If the scenario is Type 2, then, again I study the events but I will imagine a sort of scenario that would fit the "big picture".
Regardless of what scenario I create, for me it's important to have the correct Army Builds and make the scenario dynamic (!!!). That means to create a scenario in which you are motivated to attack, afterward to defend and inflict a lot of casualties, then again attack... depends. I like a dynamic scenario in which I can decide to go after an objective that gives me reinforcements or risk and attack something else...
What I do not use in my scenarios are limited turns... that I just hate! You cannot play Op. Sunflower (includes Op. Compass, Battle Axe, Crusader) in 7 turns since those battles were fought in a time frame of months.
Instead I create conditions in order to avoid player "stalemates", like: in order to win you must conquer a certain hex in a town - while the defenders have the possibility to destroy your effort and not wait to be conquered.
Some of my scenarios take up to 3-3.5 hours to play (Op. Adjacent), some more, up to 5 hours (Op. Trident). The latter are usually played in different days, having a first phase played one day, and a second phase played at a later date. And that gives also an interesting touch...
All my scenarios are imagined for 4 players. Also the maps are big enough for this.
About testing: usually you need one test game, it's a must, at least for my scenarios. I test my scenarios with my playgroup, not by myself - that does not work. After that the players give me feedback for adjustments and we fine tune the scenario.
I like making scenarios, like my first, Op. Adjacent in which the Germans have Panzer II, Sdkfz 222, Panzer 38(t) or Light Mortar among others while the French deploy also the Lebel Grenadier or Renault R35... it's such fun actually being able to put to use such units that seem really weak.
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Custom AAM Maps & Counters here
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| Tue Nov 10, 2009 10:39 pm |
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