Smolensk - Barbarossa Derailed

Smolensk is an Operational Combat Series game covering the decisive campaign along the Moscow highway in the summer off 1941. Some historians now feel these hard-fought battles doomed the Axis to failure in Russia.

The game begins on 8 July with the blitzkrieg still in high gear. In August the advance stalls and Hitler diverts most of the panzers from the map (towards Leningrad and Kiev). Soviet counteroffensives will then push the Germans close to the breaking point by game’s end on 8 September.

The asymmetry of the two armies will be familiar to veterans of past campaigns in the series, especially Guderian’s Blitzkrieg II. There is the expected qualitative difference in typical Action Rating, and we have stark contrasts in logistics and replacements. There are also some unique twists in the situation. For example…

• Three of the panzer divisions were still getting their first tastes of combat, so their Action Ratings are reduced.
  
• The rivalry between Guderian and Hoth made it hard for these generals to coordinate their panzer armies.
  
• Soviet tank divisions are shown for the first time. They pack a wallop, but their quality leaves a lot to be desired.
  
• The Soviet 1st Motorized Division is presented as a somewhat elite multi-unit formation that includes heavy KV-1s and T-34s.
  
• The contributions of small militia, tank, and anti-tank units are reflected by a Soviet Alarm Pool.
  
• Other chrome accounts for foraging by cut-off units, stocks of artillery shells to help pay barrage costs, and planes diverted to terror bomb Moscow.

Smolensk is a small, fairly simple entry in the series with special rules kept to a minimum and both sides must attack and defend. Players will learn three things about this campaign: the Soviets are more than just punching bags, the Germans are challenged to hold their early gains, and the road toward Moscow will be paved in blood.

Seven scenarios are provided (all one-map):

• Intro Scenario: Vitebsk, ½ turn and uses about 1/4 of the map.
  
• Smolensk Campaign, 8 July to 8 September (19 turns).
  
• Late July Start, 22 July to 8 September (15 turns).
  
• 1st Counteroffensive, 22 July to 1 August (4 turns).
  
• Early August Start, 8 August to 8 September (10 turns).
  
• 2nd Counteroffensive, 8 August to 22 August (5 turns).
  
• 3rd Counteroffensive, 26 August to 8 September (5 turns).

Components:

• One 22x34-inch map
  
• Four countersheets
  
• Game-specific rulebook
  
• Latest OCS series rulebook
  
• Two sets of OCS charts & tables
  
• Four Play Aid Cards