Here are the Russian starting forces and as it turned out their only forces. This faced off against 4 German Stug’s that were hidden on the table.
The Russian commanders (Doug and Jim) scoff at their limited forces as they view the map and their objective, the bridge. Somewhere out there are hidden the enemy.
Another view of the table before the action starts
Here we have fast forwarded a few moves and the action has heated up. As the Russians made their was through the top most field Brads hidden Stug pops out to say hello. Out numbered it is quickly silenced, or was it? The bottom most Stug had fired at the approaching Greyhound (lend lease program from the Americans) and had backed away from several Shermans covering the bridge. An additional Stug, off camera to the south, fired at the T-34 smoking on the corner giving the Germans first blood.
A shot of Brads Stug as it becomes surrounded.
The view of the Stug covering the bridge and the T-34 who had the mis fortune of peeking out too far.
Pay Back! Dougs force of T-34s burst through the woods and fired on the flank of this Stug. The first round of fire bounced off and the Stug managed to track one of the enemy. The second rounds of fire had a more devastating result.
Two Stug’s down and the other two in dire straits the Russians cross the bridge able to harass the Germans in the flank and rear. This looks all but over for the Germans or were they playing possum? This Stug was silenced for 3 turns and was about to wake up.
Additional Russians are now over the bridge. The Germans choosing glory over retreat put a shot into the KV-1 and turned it into a burning hulk. The Sherman on the right puts another round into the Stug but it survives again.
Surprise! German Pz IVHs appear on the Russian right flank in a surprise move that would turn the odds. Initial successes as they push the Russians in their flank and rear.
Close to the end now and fully across the bridge and defending their prize as they turn to face the newly arrived Germans.
The last shot of the game that I took shows additional Pz IIIs coming around the woods. The game ended a turn later with no real chance for the Germans to reclaim the bridge. A Russian victory.
A glaring omission is the lack of a foot element in this game which all players agreed would have made things a little more interesting. Still a fun game and that’s the bottom line. Next week a what-if scenario, more later…
libertywargamer 
Good report Joe. You are absolutely correct that infantry would have made things more interesting and the Russians were expecting it all along. Infantry however would have slowed the game down and are more complex to resolve. I was hoping to get everyone familiar with and comfortable with the rules for armor before we start stirring infantry and artillery into the pot.
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