Progress Report 2/9/13 The Red Barricades Project

We had four members and a new player in attendance for the February meeting of The Red Barricades Project on Saturday in Anaheim.

We resumed the action on turn 5 of the October 24th (Day CG Date, with Dan Plachta and John Lehman commanding the Germans again me and Jim Cotugno as the Russians.

Casualties had already been very heavy for both sides, and the bloodshed continued. On the west side, Dan continued his powerful attack across the rail lines and into the factory and debris field beyond. In the factory, I was down to one 447 with a HMG, an 8-1, a commissar and two and half conscript squads facing two well-armed platoons of Germans. It was time to go. I left the two conscript squads to fight to the death, and managed to pull out the 1st line squad, HMG, leader and commissar while under fire, though the squad was halved and 8-1 ELR’s to an 8-0. In the meantime, my Russians in the Bread Factory continued to get some licks in, and a hidden 9-2 led HMG position (next to the one that KIA’d the 10-3 and two 548’s last turn) cut down another 548 and 9-1 KIA (same shot as before, 6 down 4, rolled a 4.) By turn 6 the Germans held the rail line, and the last of the western factories, but at a heinous price in manpower.

On the east side, Jim continued his Russian counter-attack out of the Commissar’s House and on turn 6 the German position in this sector collapsed. Although it cost the Russians all three of their tanks, they killed a PzIII, captured a 150mm Gun, a 75mm Infantry Gun, and all ground between the river and work halls back nearly to Chemist Shop. The CG date ended on turn 6.

Casualties were staggering, even by the standards of the barricades. The Russians lost 33 squads, a 9-0, 9-1 and two 8-0’s (as well as the 3 tanks.) But the Germans had paid dearly for their west edge gains: 28.5 squads, 10-3, 10-2, five 9-1’s, three 8-1’s, two 8-0’s and a 7-0. Also two 9-2’s wounded. Total casualties of both sides combined exceeded 150 CVP. The front line now runs almost diagonally through the map, from just south of the Chemist Shop at the northeast to just west of the Bread Factory on the southwest corner.

We had a great time, as usual, and had a visit from Matt Blackman, a new player getting back into the game after a long absence. We had our usual ‘gamer’s lunch’ prepared by one of the St Crispins player groups, and adjourned just after 6:00 PM.

Action will resume next month with turn 1 of the October 25th (Day 9) CG date. Stay tuned!