This scenario is part of a series that depicts different phases of the battle on Hill 239. The first scenario is the main relief attempt, SCHWERPUNKT!". The next depicts the final relief attempt that occurred later that day, "NIMM DAS JETZT!". The third scenario portrays the first elements of the organized breakout "THE RIDE OF THE WALKYRIE"; it ends with a last ditch effort by suvivors of the trapped corps, "FINAL DESPERATION". The last two scenarios are still under construction, so play at your own risk.

NIMM DAS JETZT!

"TAKE IT NOW!"

ASL SCENARIO JDS2. All rights reserved, (c) Jeff Shields, 1995.
Thanks to Franck Reinquin, there is now a postscript version available!
Warning -- While I've tinkered with the forces again, the scenario may favor the Russians.

HILL 239, East of LISSJANKA, 16 February 1944: After the failure of the 1st Panzer Division to take Hill 239, the III Panzer Corps made a last ditch effort to relieve the forces in the Cherkassy pocket. The 1st SS Panzer Division "LAH" was ordered to attack Hill 239 and effect the breakout of the two encirlced Army Corps. Meanwhile, the Russians had strengthened the forces holding the critical heights overlooking the steppe, and hastily dug in there troops.

AFTERMATH: The reinforced Panzer Grenadier Regiment of the "LAH" Division met a withering fire as it advanced against the hill. Burning tanks bore witness to the ferocity of the engagment as every inch of ground was contested. Yet, neither artillery support, nor Stukas could move the Russians from the hill. Hitler's best could not break through. While the attack failed, it had succeeded in giving the trapped army corps a chance to escape on their own. Later that day the doomed XI and XLII Army Corps were ordered to breakout from their cauldron of death.

HANDICAPS:
G3: Use G2, and the Germans receive no Air Support.
G2: Use G1, and in the Russian OB, replace the four SU-122 with four SU-85s.
G1: Add a 9-2 Armor Leader to the Russian OB.
R1: Remove the 152 ART Gun and its crew from the Russian OB.
R2: Use R1, and delete all Personnel and SW from the Russian reinforcements.
R3: Use R2, and in the Russian OB, replace the two SU-152s with two SU-85s.

VICTORY CONDITIONS:
The Germans win at game end if they Control all Level 2 hill hexes at game end. BOARD CONFIGURATION: 
N
/\		(Only hexrows Q-GG are playable)
+--------+--------+
|	 |	  |
|	 |	  |
|	 |	  |
|      14|      18|
+--------+--------+
TURN RECORD CHART
RUSSIAN Sets Up First
GERMAN Moves First
Game Length: 10 Turns

RUSSIAN OB:
Elements of a Motorized Infantry Regiment, 5th Guard Tank Corp set up on boards 10/18:[ELR: 4] {SAN: 3}

12x4-5-8, 3x2-2-8, 10-2, 9-1, 8-1, 8-0, HMG, 2xMMG, 3xLMG, 2x85L ART, 152 ART, 6x1S Foxhole

Enter on Turn 2 along the south or east edge of board 18:
4x6-2-8, LMG, 9-1, 2xDC, 4xSU-122, 4xSU-152, 9-1 A.L.

Enter on Turn 4 along the north edge of board 18:
4xKV-85

GERMAN OB:
Elements of SS-Panzer Grenadier Bataillon 5, SS-Panzer Division 1 "Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler" enter along the west edge of board 14 (see SSR 4): [ELR: 5] {SAN: 2}

12x6-5-8, 10-2, 9-2, 2x8-1, HMG, 2xMMG, 4xLMG, 3xPSK, 3xDC, FT, 3xStuPzIV, 3xPzVIE(L), 3xPzVG, SPW251/sMG, 6xSPW251/1, 9-2 A.L. 9-1 A.L.

SPECIAL RULES
1. Weather is Mud (E3.6; A24.6) [EXC: a vehicle's/platoon's Bog DR is not rolled until it enters the mapboard], with a Mild Breeze from the northwest. No Sunken Roads exist; instead they are treated as normal Level 0 roads.
2. Prior to setup, place six wrecks each in 14Y7 and 18Y4. For each wreck, a Random Location DR (C1.31) and subsequent dr are made to determine that wreck's final location and disposition; a "1" on the subsequent dr turns that wreck into a blazing wreck. Alternatively, use the wrecks generated from "Schwerpunkt!"
3. The three Russian Guns must set up on hill hexes.
4. All or part of the German force may enter on Turns 1 and 2; the remaining offboard force must enter on Turn 3.
5. During offboard setup, each halftrack may be covered by a 1/2" "?", with that vehicle's actual Passengers (if any, and including SW) placed out of the opponent's view in a Cloaking Box corresponding to that "?"'s ID. Such a "?" does not itself bestow concealed status on the vehicle or Passenger(s), but does prevent the opponent from inspecting that vehicle's contents, and is removed (and replaced by the vehicle's actual contents if any) as per the normal rules for "?" loss [EXC: not for being in enemy LOS unless within six hexes of a Good Order enemy unit, nor for movement of the _vehicle_]. Passengers are also revealed if they pass a Crew Survival DR (D6.9); if eliminated outright, they need not be revealed.
6. The Germans receive Random Air Support in the form of 1-3 Stukas with bombs.

Designer notes: Other sources place the 1st SS Division several miles northwest of Hill 239. They were certainly involved in the relief attempt, but it's not clear whether they took part in the action. In any case, Carell's historical accounts generally appear well grounded, and his description of the battle makes for an interesting scenario.

From: Carell, P. 1966. Scorched Earth. Ballantine Books, New York, NY, 652 pp. (Part 7: Cherkassy, pages 465-505). Other sources also have published accounts and figures.

Scenario design by Jeffrey Shields

Send playtest reports or comments to jeff@vims.edu