WG158: "PONYRI HEIGHTS"; Scenario Design by Bill Thomson, 1996; SQL adaptation of COI Scenario B; Hill 253.5; Rev A

July 1943. 40 Miles North of Kursk ; Operations Citadel had begun, but instead of the desired lightning breakthrough, the fighting had taken on the characteristics of WWI trench warfare.In the attempt to unhinge the Russian defenses on the heights near the village of Ponyri. Following the capture of Hill 239.8, the German assault on Hill 253.5 was ordered.

VICTORY CONDITIONS: Germans win if at the end of the game they solely occupy, with unbroken squads or function AFV's, four of the level 3 hexes of Hill 621 ad there are no Russian unbroken squads or functioning AFV's on the remaining level 3 hexes. "Functioning" is defined as having an unbroken, unstunned crew and any working armament. Russians win by preventing the German victory conditions.

BOARD LAYOUT: Board 2, long dimension is North/South. ID# is in the SE corner/

  +---------------------------+   N 
  |            |              |   O    
  |            |              |   R  
  | 2          |              |   T
  +---------------------------+   H

SCENARIO SEQUENCE:
Eight full game turns; Russian sets up first; Germans move first.

RUSSIAN FORCES: Elements of the 307th Rifle Division set up south of road Q1-Y10

  • AT START : 1x92; 1xPLC (substitute with 8-1 if PLCs are not in play); 1x80; 6x447; 2x628; 4x237; 2xLMG; 2xMMG; 1x50 cal; 1xDC; 1xFT; 1xRadio; 40XMines; 8xConcealment; 8xEntrenchments; 2x57 ATG; 1x76 ATG; 6xWire
  • Mechanized Tank Brigade Elements: enter on turn 4 via south edge: 3x628; 1x91; 2xLMG; 2xT34C; 1xM5(MG)

    GERMAN FORCES: ELEMENTS OF THE 18TH PANZER DIVISION AND THE PANZERJAGER BATTALION 653 set up North of road Q1-Y10:

    PLC plus lowest bid

    SPECIAL SCENARIO RULES:
    SSR 1: Wire and mines may be placed in the hexes which contain road Q1-Y10. SSR 2: The German player may not inspect the contents of entrenchment counters prior to his initial setup.
    SSR 3: German engineer units may make unlimited smoke.
    SSR 4: BID REFERENCE: The COI version specified each side having a 80+ artillery modules and air support. The Russians had a 6-12 HMG instead of the 50cal and the Tanks were actually one KV1A and one KV1C; the guns were 1x45L ATG adn 2x76L ART. The German forces are as follows: 4x467, 4x838, 1x102, 1x92, 1x91, 1x80, 4xLMG, 2xDC, 2xFT, 2xPzKwVD, 1xElefant, 2xSPW251/1, 2xPZCK, 1xradio. Per the SLlist scenario record of 7/96; the Axis record was 3-2.