Thrown back...

... the local assault by the Reds has been thrown back. But, without a shadow of a doubt, they will return.

It is many years since I played with the Lyall rules, and they are interesting in that they give real potency to anti-tank artillery (well, Pak42s, at least), and machine guns. In that, they are probably very accurate. However, it does mean that the type of across open fields assault that the Soviets put in was very costly.

Although two of the attacking T34s in the thrust down the road had been knocked out, the infantry pushed on, following up a single T34.

Red mortar fire pounded the German lines. Mortar, and artillery fire tended to be difficult to get on target, but, as above, when it did range in, was devastating.

 

Above is the famous Lyall machine gun grid in play - in this case an Eastern volunteers' LMG caught a half platoon in the open. End of the half platoon. Things were beginning to look difficult for the attackers, but, to be sure, Von Stahlein ordered up the:

Hetzers and their accompanying Eastern volunteers infantry.

A wise move too, as the German T34 was knocked out at close range by the remaining Soviet T34.

The Reds continued the infantry assault, although their mortar support had to cease as they closed on the enemy's lines, which:

were being reinforced by the Hetzers...

It was all too much, Soviet numbers dropped below morale levels, and a general withdrawal began.

The LFD and the Eastern volunteers still held the town. There were lessons to be learned here about the Lyall rules. Even though the Bolsheviks had an advantage in tanks, mortars and rocket launchers, it still wasn't enough to seriously incommode (shades of Moriarty's conversation with Holmes there) the defenders. What was needed was a longer opening bombardment, and/or more armour.

Meanwhile, that nice fellow the (privatised) postman has been, and look what he brought: