A Dot in Russia – A Megablitz Scenario

The Megablitz rule book includes a 1940 scenario called Dot Sur La Mappe. It is a fictional scenario and, as the name suggests, is a bit tongue in cheek. I understand the orders of battle just reflect the forces available to Tim Gow (the author) at the time.

My own forces are Eastern Front so I’ve tried to transfer the scenario to 1941 and Operation Barbarossa. I believe the scenario name, Dot Sur La Mappe, becomes Mnogotochiye na Kartye (Многоточие на карте) in Russian but that is a bit of a mouthful so I didn’t use it to describe the scenario.


Situation

Setting: South-western USSR; Jun 1941

It is June 1941, Operation Barbarossa has just begun, and the Germans are cutting their way through the Soviet armies. Lieutenant-General M.P. Kirponos, commander of the South-Western Front, recognises the danger of a deep penetration and orders all available armoured formations – 8th, 9th, 15th 19th and 22nd Mechanised Corps – to attack the flanks of von Kleist’s Panzer Group 1. Elements of the Front reserve – including 36th Rifle Corps – are also committed. Violent armoured clashes occur over several days as the Soviet units come up.

It is now 27 Jun 1941 and veteran 16th Panzer Division is fast approaching the town of Mnogotochiye na Kartye (Dot on the Map). The town is the local transport hub with North-South and East-West roads and a railway terminus on the northeast side of town. The railway leads to/from Moscow. The western road passes through the smaller town of Myen’shyeye mnogotochiye na kartye (Меньшее многоточие на карте; Small Dot on the Map).

Elements of the Soviet 36th Rifle Corps are already engaged with trail blazing Panzer Grenadiers in Myen’shyeye mnogotochiye na kartye. 16th Panzer is approaching from the west and will arrive on the scene shortly. The Soviet counter-attack force is Feklenko’s well equipped 19th Mechanised Corps. This formation is unusual in that it has a complement of new T-34 and KV tanks. On the down side they have to make a 50 km road march overnight to reach the conflict zone. They will arrive in a haphazard fashion due to vehicle breakdown and the attentions of the Luftwaffe. The 19th is approaching Mnogotochiye na Kartye from the north-east.


Map/Terrain

When adapting the original map from Dot Sur La Mappe scenario I flipped the map over so:

  • the German arrive from the west, not the east.
  • the Soviet counter-attack comes from the north-east not the south.

Each square on a map is 1 foot on the table.

Dot in Russia - 6x3 Table - 60x30 km - 1-33333 ground scale
Dot in Russia – 6×3 Table – 60×30 km – 1-33333 ground scale

Key features are:

  • There are three built up areas:
    • Town of Mnogotochiye na Kartye (“Dot”, if you prefer)
    • Town of Myen’shyeye mnogotochiye na kartye (“Small Dot”, if you prefer)
    • Unnamed village
  • Farms and fields dominate the western part of the map near Myen’shyeye mnogotochiye na kartye.
  • Forests dominate the eastern part of the map.
  • Blank terrain on the map is actually rolling countryside.
  • The railway line from the east terminates on the outskirts of Mnogotochiye na Kartye.
  • The road crosses the railway line via a bridge.
  • The Germans deploy to the west of the line A-A and the Soviets to the east.
  • B and a pre-determined point on the line C-C are Soviet entry points.
  • D is a German entry point.
  • Towns and woods are difficult going. Every thing else is good going.

Pre-game preparation

  1. The Soviet secretly selects a entry point between on the line C-C.
  2. The German writes the order of march of 16th Panzer Division.

Russian Player (Counter-attacking)

You are Major-General N.V. Feklenko commanding the 19th Mechanised Corps. Your lead unit, the 43rd Tank Division, has just completed a 50 km road march to enable you to counter-attack an enemy tank formation known to be advancing to the east. In the absence of other units from your Corps you have been assigned elements of the Soviet 36th Rifle Corps from Front reserve – they are already engaged at Myen’shyeye mnogotochiye na kartye. Your mission is the grind the fascists into the dirt.

Objective

Inflict serious casualties on the Germans.

Forces On-table

Elements of the Soviet 36th Rifle Corps. Not all of the Corps is present, partly because they have to cover a wide front and partly because the component units have suffered under Luftwaffe attacks.

36th Rifle Corps
Trained 2 LOG / Day
Unit Name Type Strength Movement Notes
Corps HQ Command 1 SP [ ] Wheels
Signal Battalion Command 1 SP [ ] Wheels
Corps Transport Truck
or Wagon
2 LOG [ ][ ] Wheels
or Wagon

102nd Rifle Division
16th Rifle Regiment Infantry 2 SP [ ][ ] Leg
30th Rifle Regiment Infantry 2 SP [ ][ ] Leg
40th Rifle Regiment Infantry 1 SP [ ][ ] Leg
Reconnaissance Battalion Armoured Car
or Light Tank
or Motorised Infantry in Truck
R1 [ ] or r Light Recce
or Tracks
or Wheels
Armoured Car
or Light Tank
or Motorised Infantry in Truck
R1 [ ] or r Light Recce
or Tracks
or Wheels

106th Rifle Division
43rd Rifle Regiment Infantry 2 SP [ ][ ] Leg
188th Rifle Regiment Infantry 2 SP [ ][ ] Leg
236th Rifle Regiment Infantry 1 SP [ ] Leg
Artillery Regiment 76mm Gun 3 SP [ ][ ][ ] As tow 5km range
Horse Limber
or Tractor
or Truck
2 LOG [ ][ ] Wagon
or Track
or Wheels
Artillery spotter on horse back
or in Truck
r Horse
or Wheels
Observation stand

140th Rifle Division
96th Rifle Regiment Infantry 2 SP [ ][ ] Leg
258th Rifle Regiment Infantry 2 SP [ ][ ] Leg
283rd Rifle Regiment Infantry 1 SP [ ] Leg
Pioneer Battalion Engineers + Truck 1 SP [ ] 2EP Wheels

Deployment

36th Rifle Corps can deploy anywhere east of the north-south line (A-A) running through Myen’shyeye mnogotochiye na kartye. They deploy first.

Air Support

The Soviet Air force can provide the following air support units:

Unit Name Type Strength Mission Altitude Order Airfield Turnaround time Day/Night Notes
Pe-2 Light Bomber 2 SP
[ ][ ]
Close Support Low A Close 2 Day Only enough fuel for two sorties

Reinforcements: Infantry Support (Tank) Brigade

The Infantry Support (Tank) Brigade starts off table to the south. Roll 2d6 at the start of every turn after the Germans move west of line (A-A). The Infantry Support (Tank) Brigade arrives on the turn that two sixes are rolled. (You can stop rolling then.) The Infantry Support (Tank) Brigade moves to the north on the road towards Mnogotochiye na Kartye (from entry point B) and places itself under 36th Rifle Corps command.

Unit Name Type Strength Movement Notes
Infantry Support (Tank) Brigade T-26 2 SP [ ][ ] Tracks Rating = Trained

Reinforcements: 19th Mechanised Corps

19th Mechanised Corps starts off table to the northeast. Each turn roll 1d6 for each unit (units have names in the table below; most have one stand and some have two). On a roll of six the unit appears at the pre-selected entry point on the line C-C. The stand may move as if under ‘T’ or ‘M’ orders. The corps is unusual for the period as it had complement of new T-34 and KV tanks

19th Mechanised Corps is under strength partly because they have to cover a wide front and partly because the component units have suffered under Luftwaffe attacks.

19th Mechanised Corps
Trained 2 LOG + 1 POL / Day
Unit Name Type Strength Movement Notes
HQ Staff Car 2 Wheels
Corps Transport Truck 2 LOG [ ][ ] Wheels
Truck 2 POL [ ][ ] Wheels

43rd Tank Division
Reconnaissance Battalion Armoured Car
or Light Tank
or Motorcycles
R1 [ ] or r1 Light Recce
or Tracks
or Wheels
Tank Regiment T34 2 SP [ ][ ] Tracks
Tank Regiment T34 3 SP [ ][ ][ ] Tracks
Motorised Regiment Infantry + Truck 3 SP [ ][ ][ ] Wheels

Tank Division
Tank Regiment KV1 2 SP [ ][ ] Tracks
Tank Regiment T34 3 SP [ ][ ] Tracks
Pioneer Battalion Engineers + Truck 1 SP [ ] 2EP Wheels
Artillery Regiment 152mm Gun 2 SP [ ][ ] As tow 12km range
Limber
or Tractor
or Truck
2 LOG [ ][ ] Wagon
or Tracks
or Wheels
Artillery spotter and car r Wheels Observation stand


German Player (Attacking)

You are the commander of the 16th Panzer Division. You must keep heading destroying any enemy in your way but not slowing down unduly. You have been told there are no significant enemy formations ahead of you although Panzer Grenadiers from another division are pushing some enemy stragglers out of a town – Myen’shyeye mnogotochiye na kartye – immediately ahead of your column.

Objective

Exit 16th Panzer Division off the eastern table edge.

Forces On-table

A depleted Panzer Grenadier Regiment, with supporting armour, is engaged with the Russians at Myen’shyeye mnogotochiye na kartye. This unit has been depleted by earlier combat. It is not part of 16th Panzer Division

Panzer Grenadier Regiment
Regular 1 LOG / Day
Unit Name Type Strength Movement Notes
Panzer Grenadier Regiment
Panzer Grenadier Battalion Infantry & Truck 1 SP [ ] Wheels
Panzer Grenadier Battalion Infantry & Truck 2 SP [ ][ ] Wheels
Panzer Grenadier Battalion Infantry & Truck 2 SP [ ][ ] Wheels

Assault gun StuG III C and D short-barreled 7.5cm StuK 37 L/24 1 SP [ ] Tracks
Transport Truck 1 LOG [ ] Wheels

Deployment

The depleted Panzer Grenadier Regiment begin the game deployed west of the north-south line (A-A) running through Myen’shyeye mnogotochiye na kartye. They deploy second and must be at least 1 km from any Soviet stands.

Air Support

The Luftwaffe can provide the following air support units with plenty of fuel and ammunition:

Unit Name Type Strength Mission Altitude Order Airfield Turnaround time Day/Night Notes
Bf 109 Fighter 3 SP
[ ][ ][ ]
Counter Air Low or High M Distant 2 Day
Ju 87 “Stuka” Dive Bomber 3 SP
[ ][ ][ ]
Close Support Low A Distant 4 Day
Ju 87 “Stuka” Dive Bomber 3 SP
[ ][ ][ ]
Close Support Low A Distant 4 Day

Reinforcements: 16th Panzer Division

16th Panzer Division begins off table. They arrive on the road from the west, at entry point D, in a order of march pre-determined by the German player. Only as much of the division can arrive in one turn as can fit on the road. The first German unit on table in a turn has its full movement allowance, the second has a 1km movement penalty (because it start further away from the entry point), the third has a 2km movement penalty, etc.

16th Panzer Division
Veteran 2 LOG + 1 POL / Day
Unit Name Type Strength Movement Notes
HQ Kubelwagen
or Pz Befwg I
2 SP [ ][ ] Wheels
or Tracks
Forward HQ
Staff/Signals Bus 1 SP [ ] Wheels Rear HQ / Staff
Feld Gendarme Battalion Military Police + Car 1 SP [ ] Wheels Traffic Police
16th Divisional Transport Column Truck 3 LOG [ ][ ][ ] Wheels
Truck 3 POL Wheels

2nd Panzer Regiment
I/2nd Panzer Battalion PzKpfw III 6 SP [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ] Tracks
II/2nd Panzer Battalion PzKpfw II
or PzKpfw IV Ausf E
5 SP [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ] Tracks

64th Panzer Grenadier Regiment
I/64th Panzer Grenadier Battalion Infantry & SdKfz 251 5 SP [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ] Tracks
II/64th Panzer Grenadier Battalion Infantry & Truck 4 SP [ ][ ][ ][ ] Wheels

79th Panzer Grenadier Regiment
I/79th Panzer Grenadier Battalion Infantry & Truck 4 SP [ ][ ][ ][ ] Wheels
II/79th Panzer Grenadier Battalion Infantry & Truck 4 SP [ ][ ][ ][ ] Wheels

16th Panzer Artillery Regiment 105mm leFH 18 4 SP [ ][ ][ ][ ] Wheels 10km range
Truck 2 LOG [ ][ ] Wheels
16th Panzerjäger Battalion Panzerjager I 3 SP [ ][ ][ ] Tracks
274th Flak Battalion SdKfz 7/1 + 20mm Flak Gun 2 SP [ ][ ] 3AA Tracks
16th Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion SdKfz 222 R1 [ ] Wheels
Sdkfz 231 (8 rad) R1 [ ] Wheels
Sdkfz 232 (8 rad) R1 [ ] Wheels
M/C combination r Wheels
16th Panzer Pioneer Battalion Engineers & Truck 4 SP [ ][ ][ ][ ] 3EP Wheels

Victory Conditions

The German is trying to exit 16th Panzer Division off the eastern table edge. The Russian is trying to inflict serious casualties on the Germans. The game ends when any of these events occur:

  • all German stands are off table or
  • 6+ Germans stands have been killed or
  • two game days have elapsed
Victory Conditions 16th Panzer Division stands
exited from the eastern end of the table
0-12 13+
German stands killed 0-2 Draw German Victory
3-5 Soviet Victory Draw
6+ Soviet Victory Soviet Victory

Note: the Panzer Grenadiers on table at the beginning of the game are a special case. They are not part of 16th Panzer Division so earn the German player no credit if they exit the eastern table edge. But they do earn the Soviet player credit if he manages to kill them.


Scenario Special Rules

  • A day comprises five day-light turns and an overnight turn.

Notes

This scenario is based on a 1940 scenario called Dot Sur La Mappe in the Megablitz rule book.

Real history

19th Mechanised Corps and 36th Rifle Corps really did counter attack Panzer Group 1 in late June 1941 but I don’t have any other details except that they fought it out near Dubno. See my notes of Erickson for more context.

Alternative Maps

I have drawn four versions of the map. This is because the map in the original scenario was for an area 60 x 30 km which corresponds to a 8′ x 4′ table at 1:25,000.

Dot in Russia - 8x4 Table - 60x30 km - 1-25000 ground scale
Dot in Russia – 8×4 Table – 60×30 km – 1-25000 ground scale

The trouble is I’ve only a 6′ x 4′ table and at 1:25,000 this is 45 x 30 km.

Dot in Russia - 6x4 Table - 45x30 km - 1-25000 ground scale
Dot in Russia – 6×4 Table – 45×30 km – 1-25000 ground scale

And even worse my WW2 armies are based for Crossfire, so are 3cm x 3cm not 4cm x 4cm. At that scale, and following, Martin Rapier’s suggestion, I settled on a 6′ x 3′ table at 1:33,333 ground scale or approximate 1 foot = 10 km.

Dot in Russia - 6x3 Table - 60x30 km - 1-33333 ground scale
Dot in Russia – 6×3 Table – 60×30 km – 1-33333 ground scale

I thought I’d try the 1:50,000 scale which is a 4′ x 2′ table but my 15mm figures would probably be too crowded.

Dot in Russia - 4x2 Table - 60x30 km - 1-50000 ground scale
Dot in Russia – 4×2 Table – 60×30 km – 1-50000 ground scale

References

Erickson, J. (1993). The Road to Stalingrad: Stalin’s war with Germany: Volume One. London: Weidenfeld.

Gow, T. (n.d.). Megablitz: Rules for fighting large actions of the Second World War. Strategem.

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