KB4R The Swamp – A Crossfire Battle Report

Jamie Wish and Chris Harrod played “The Swamp” (KB4R), the fourth game of Krasny Bor, featuring the Blue Division in an epic Crossfire campaign. The Spaniards were defending the second line – near the Leningrad-Moscow Railway line – against overwhelming odds.

Summary: I thought it would be over in 1 hour, but in an awesome David and Goliath contest Chris’s reinforced company of Spaniards held Jamie’s three battalions of Soviets for 2.5 hours of game time and 7.5 hours of real time. The Spanish defeated the first Soviet battalion but eventually the Soviets ground their way through the Blue Division lines. The time ratio, 2.5 hours of game time in 7.5 hours of real time, demonstrates how grindy it was – not for the faint hearted.


Set up

The Embankment was the front battle in Zone 4 and this one, The Swamp, is the rear table battle in Zone 4. My recommendation for two players is to play both games in each zone, thus giving a local result, before moving onto the next zone.

As usual with the my Krasny Bor games, the table is 6’x4′. This scenario is unusual because the battle is fought down the length of the table. So the Spanish have a narrow frontage to defend. That would be critical.

KB4R-005 Table
KB4R-005 Table

There were three objectives: Hill, Farm, Forward.

KB4R-006 Table from Soviet perspective
KB4R-006 Table from Soviet perspective

All of the objectives were in the Spanish deployment zone.

KB4R-009 Spanish deployment zone
KB4R-009 Spanish deployment zone

It was a typical Crossfire table with lots of terrain. The centre had a depression and this essentially left a big open patch in the middle and forced the Soviets to the flanks.

KB4R-007 Depresssion
KB4R-007 Depression

One of the objectives, the Hill, had long lines of sight over the depression and a large chunk of the Spanish deployment zone.

KB4R-008 Hill Objective
KB4R-008 Hill Objective

Chris put his “Stragglers and Survivors” on the hill near the Soviet deployment zone. I dubbed this “Straggler Hill”.

KB4R-004 Spanish stragglers and Survivors
KB4R-004 Spanish stragglers and Survivors

The orders of battle were based on pre-campaign decisions and the results of Phase 1.

Soviet forces

  • 4 x Pre-planned Bombardment
  • 3 x Battalion Waves (2, 3 and 4) from a Rifle Division (Morale = Green)
  • 1 x KV-1 E
  • Battalion Wave 3 has reserves from the Central Reserve
    • 1 x FO for off-table 76mm Infantry Gun (12 FM);
    • 1 x FO for off-table 120mm Mortar (12 FM);

Spanish forces

  • 1 x Leg Infantry Company
  • 1 x FO for off table 10.5 cm (Heavy) Artillery (4 FM)
  • 1 x Battalion HQ
    • 1 x BC(+2)
    • 1 x SMG Squad
  • Stragglers and Survivors from Phase 1
    • 1 x Rifle platoon: PC (1/0), 3 x Rifle, one with ATR;
    • 1 x HMG stand
  • 3 x Snipers

The orders of battle were very one sided. And the fact that 75% of the Spaniards started hidden made it look even worse. Only a single Spanish platoon – the “Stragglers and Survivors” from phase 1 – started visible. One on-table platoon to stop and entire on-table battalion. 10 to 1 odds.

KB4R-010 Soviet deployment
KB4R-010 Soviet deployment
KB4R-011 Soviet deployment
KB4R-011 Soviet deployment
KB4R-017 Soviet deployment
KB4R-017 Soviet deployment
KB4R-018 Soviet deployment
KB4R-018 Soviet deployment
KB4R-012 Spanish platoon faces Soviet Battalion
KB4R-012 Spanish platoon faces Soviet Battalion

The Game

This was a big game and required considerable thought by the players. Particularly Chris who had to stop a Soviet hordes with a handful of troops.

KB4R-002 Chris making plans
KB4R-002 Chris making plans

But Jamie had his challenges too. He had a whole battalion on table and two more behind it. For him the question was how to leverage his overwhelming numbers.

KB4R-003 Jamie making plans
KB4R-003 Jamie making plans

Preplanned Bombardment

Jamie had a small pre-planned bombard. He picked three features and the shells came roaring in. One SUPPRESS and two PINS, assuming anything was in those features to begin with.

KB4R-014 PPB on wood - PIN
KB4R-014 PPB on wood – SUPPRESS
KB4R-015 PPB on depression - PIN
KB4R-015 PPB on depression – PIN
KB4R-016 PPB on Hill Objective - PIN
KB4R-016 PPB on Hill Objective – PIN

0930 Hours

At 0930 hours the game kicked off with a firefight between the Soviets and the Spanish Stragglers and Survivors.

KB4R-019 Soviet advance guard fires on stragglers
KB4R-019 Soviet advance guard fires on stragglers

The Soviets came off worse.

KB4R-020 Stragglers shoot back
KB4R-020 Stragglers shoot back

0945 Hours

Jamie smoked off the Stragglers and Survivors.

KB4R-023 Smoking off the Stragglers and Survivors
KB4R-023 Smoking off the Stragglers and Survivors

Then the Soviets pushed up the right flank.

KB4R-024 Soviets edge forward on right
KB4R-024 Soviets edge forward on right

And also on the left flank.

KB4R-025 Soviets edge forward on left
KB4R-025 Soviets edge forward on left
KB4R-026 Soviets edge forward on left
KB4R-026 Soviets edge forward on left

Back in the centre the Spanish Stragglers and Survivors take a hammering from Soviet mortars

KB4R-028 Spanish Stragglers and Survivors still hanging in there
KB4R-028 Spanish Stragglers and Survivors still hanging in there

But the real pain came when the KV-1 got line of sight.

KB4R-029 KV-1 gets LOS and opens fire
KB4R-029 KV-1 gets LOS and opens fire

First one squad of stragglers got killed.

KB4R-030 Spanish Stragglers and Survivors take a hit
KB4R-030 Spanish Stragglers and Survivors take a hit

Then another.

KB4R-031 KV-1 fires again
KB4R-031 KV-1 fires again

The Spanish were definitely starting to look a bit more straggling than surviving.

KB4R-032 Hmm more straggling and less surviving
KB4R-032 Hmm more straggling and less surviving

So Chris pulled the surviving stragglers back to the Forward Objective.

KB4R-033 Spanish Stragglers and Survivors pull back
KB4R-033 Spanish Stragglers and Survivors pull back

That encouraged Jamie to advance but the Stragglers and Survivors still had some teeth in their firepower.

KB4R-034 And the Spanish keep fighting
KB4R-034 And the Spanish keep fighting

So Jamie smoked them off again.

KB4R-035 Soviets smoke off the Stragglers and Survivors
KB4R-035 Soviets smoke off the Stragglers and Survivors

The Soviets pushed a platoon up to Straggler Hill but didn’t take it.

KB4R-036 Soviets shuffle up to the Straggler hill
KB4R-036 Soviets shuffle up to the Straggler hill

On the right Jamie was moving troops around and this drew reactive fire from a new platoon of Spanish.

KB4R-038 More Spanish appear
KB4R-038 More Spanish appear

The Spaniards when NO FIRE and to my surprise Jamie didn’t charge in for the kill. Chris was lucky.

KB4R-040 Spanish NO FIRE on Soviet right
KB4R-040 Spanish NO FIRE on Soviet right

Jamie’s attention flicked to the left and he kept pushing forward.

KB4R-042 Soviets continue infiltration on left flank
KB4R-042 Soviets continue infiltration on left flank

Jamie also curved troops into towards the centre. He was heading for the crest lines and the depression.

KB4R-043 And then curve in towards the centre
KB4R-043 And then curve in towards the centre

But a scout from 2nd Company got stopped by Spanish fire. Chris had revealed a squad just forward of the Hill Objective.

KB4R-044 Spanish stop Soviet scout at crest line
KB4R-044 Spanish stop Soviet scout at crest line

Jamie tried again with another squad but got stopped even earlier.

KB4R-045 And the next one
KB4R-045 And the next one

So Jamie then started directing troops straight forward on the left.

KB4R-046 Soviets approach Spanish on left
KB4R-046 Soviets approach Spanish on left

The Soviet then took out the Spanish squad.

KB4R-048 And get a kill
KB4R-048 And get a kill

Chris then revealed the rests of the platoon the shot back.

KB4R-049 But more Spaniards appear and inflict losses
KB4R-049 But more Spaniards appear and inflict losses

The Soviets had advanced far enough in the centre to spot Spanish entrenchments on the far side of the depression. That was a bold move for Chris. These guys wouldn’t be able to withdraw without attracting fire. We’d see if that would be significant.

KB4R-052 Soviets diiscover Spanish entrenchments
KB4R-052 Soviets discover Spanish entrenchments

The following photo shows the extent of the Soviet advance. They had roughly reached the middle of the table. A bit further on the left. A bit less in the centre near Straggler Hill.

KB4R-054 Extent of Soviet advances so far
KB4R-054 Extent of Soviet advances so far

Jamie smoked off the Stragglers and Survivors again. Then he moved his KV-1 forward.

KB4R-055 Soviets advanced under cover of smoke
KB4R-055 Soviets advanced under cover of smoke

Soviet mortars finish off another straggler.

KB4R-056 Spanish Stragglers take another hit
KB4R-056 Spanish Stragglers take another hit

And then Jamie follows up with the KV-1. A kill

KB4R-057 KV-1 opens up again
KB4R-057 KV-1 opens up again – A kill

A kill followed by a kill. The Stragglers and Survivors were now reduced to the platoon commander.

KB4R-059 And a kill on the stragglers
KB4R-059 And another kill on the stragglers

In the right centre Jamie was pushing troops toward the depression. His forces were lined up on the crest lines.

KB4R-061 Waves of Soviets edging closer to the depression
KB4R-061 Waves of Soviets edging closer to the depression

Jamie still hadn’t taken Straggler Hill in the centre but both flanks were advancing.

KB4R-062 Extent of Soviet advance
KB4R-062 Extent of Soviet advance

Then the German Stuka finally arrived. And they flew right for the Soviets lined up on the crest nearest the depression. The targets already had a sprinkling of SUPPRESSes and I guess Chris was hoping to turn some of them to KILL.

KB4R-063 Spanish reinforcements - Stuka - Kills
KB4R-063 Spanish reinforcements – Stuka – Kills

Boom. A kill.

KB4R-064 and kills
KB4R-064 and kills

And then another kill.

KB4R-065 and kills
KB4R-065 and kills

1000 Hours

The moving clock advanced and Chris got a Pz IV. But the Soviets got their go first.

KB4R-067 Spanish Reinforcements - Pz IV
KB4R-067 Spanish Reinforcements – Pz IV

Jamie pushed a squad onto the Forward Objective.

KB4R-068 Soviets take Forward Objective
KB4R-068 Soviets take Forward Objective

Then he moved the rest of the platoon into the wood.

KB4R-069 and then reinforce the success
KB4R-069 and then reinforce the success

In the centre the Soviets tried to move forward of the crest line but got stopped by Spanish fire.

KB4R-070 Spanish fire stops Soviets on the crest
KB4R-070 Spanish fire stops Soviets on the crest

That gave the Pz IV an opportunity to advance.

KB4R-071 Pz IV advances
KB4R-071 Pz IV advances

And open fire.

KB4R-072 Pz IV kills
KB4R-072 Pz IV kills

1015 Hours

Jamie decided to use his KV-1 to neutralise the Pz IV so pushed it onto Straggler Hill. But the big tank face off never happened.

KB4R-074 KV-1 crawls over Straggler hill
KB4R-074 KV-1 crawls over Straggler hill

The Soviets eliminated a squad defending the depression.

KB4R-075 Soviet artillery clears Spanish trenches
KB4R-075 Soviet artillery clears Spanish trenches

Then Chris pulled his Pz IV back.

KB4R-076 Pz IV pulls back
KB4R-076 Pz IV pulls back

1030 Hours

Then the Spanish got lucky (again) and got another German Stuka over the table.

KB4R-079 Spanish Reinforcements - Stuka
KB4R-079 Spanish Reinforcements – Stuka

The Stuka made a bee line for the KV-1 and knocked it out. We were using the Hit the Dirt indirect fire on vehicles rule.

KB4R-080 Stuka knocks out the KV-1
KB4R-080 Stuka knocks out the KV-1

Jamie then tried a charge, but the Spanish fought it off.

KB4R-081 Soviet charges fails
KB4R-081 Soviet charges fails

None-the-less the Soviets were were pretty far advanced – about 2/3 of the table. They were at the depression in the centre and further forward on both flanks, particularly the right.

KB4R-083 Extent of Soviet advance
KB4R-083 Extent of Soviet advance

Jamie tried advancing a platoon across open ground.

KB4R-084 Soviet platoon caught in the open and suffer
KB4R-084 Soviet platoon caught in the open and suffer

The platoon was whittle down to a single stand.

KB4R-085 And suffer
KB4R-085 And suffer
KB4R-086 Only a squad left
KB4R-086 Only a squad left

But Chris also had troops in the open. In this case they were ground hugging but it didn’t save them.

KB4R-087 But Spanish also discover that the open is unhealthy
KB4R-087 But Spanish also discover that the open is unhealthy

We don’t see it often but even single rifle squads can get a KILL, particularly if the target is already SUPPRESSed.

KB4R-088 Every now and again a rifle squad gets a kill
KB4R-088 Every now and again a rifle squad gets a kill

In this case it was a Soviet rifle squad shooting at a HMG.

KB4R-089 The target was a Spanish HMG
KB4R-089 The target was a Spanish HMG

Then Chris charged. Or, more accurately, his Pz IV charged.

KB4R-090 Pz IV charges
KB4R-090 Pz IV charges

The Pz IV killed a squad.

KB4R-091 Gets a kill
KB4R-091 Gets a kill

Then another one.

KB4R-092 and another
KB4R-092 and another

Jamie tried to isolate the tank with smoke.

KB4R-093 Soviets try to isolate the Pz IV with smoke
KB4R-093 Soviets try to isolate the Pz IV with smoke

But the Pz IV still had visibility to the front and caused further aggravation.

KB4R-094 Pz iV reactive fire
KB4R-094 Pz iV reactive fire

Then the Pz IV started chewing up squads again.

KB4R-096 Another Soviet down
KB4R-096 Another Soviet down
KB4R-097 and another
KB4R-097 and another
KB4R-098 and another
KB4R-098 and another

Jamie tried to get on the tank’s flank, using smoke to block line of sight.

KB4R-099 Soviets sneak up on Pz IV
KB4R-099 Soviets sneak up on Pz IV

But the charge wasn’t successful.

KB4R-100 And then charge through the smoke - oops
KB4R-100 And then charge through the smoke – oops

And then Chris drove the Pz IV straight forward, further into the Soviet lines.

KB4R-101 Pz IV roars through smoke
KB4R-101 Pz IV roars through smoke

Another kill.

KB4R-102 and gets a kill
KB4R-102 and gets a kill

Jamie had another go at charging the tank but this was blocked by Spaniards on the Hill Objective.

KB4R-103 Spanish on the Hill Objective save the Pz IV
KB4R-103 Spanish on the Hill Objective save the Pz IV

But it did convince Chris to pull the tank back.

KB4R-104 and the Pz IV withdraws
KB4R-104 and the Pz IV withdraws

1045 Hours

Another Spanish platoon turned up at 1045 Hours.

KB4R-106 Spanish Reinforcements – Platoon

But then Jamie decide to do a Human Wave. This is a Hit the Dirt rule where an entire unit – in this case a battalion – is completely replaced.

KB4R-107 Human Wave
KB4R-107 Human Wave

The replacement cannot deploy into a feature that is visible to the enemy. So we placed dice into every feature the Spanish could see. These were no go zones for the on rushing human wave.

KB4R-108 Limit of Soviet human wave
KB4R-108 Limit of Soviet human wave

The then the Soviets flooded back. Jamie had a fresh battalion, but had lost a bit of ground in the exchange.

KB4R-109 Soviet Human wave
KB4R-109 Soviet Human wave

When a play declares a human wave, they only thing they can do in that initiative is bring on the human wave.

KB4R-112 Soviet human wave
KB4R-112 Soviet human wave

So just after a battalion of Soviets came on table, the Spanish reinforcement platoon also arrived. Kind of typical for this campaign …. Soviets get a battalion, and the Spanish get a platoon.

KB4R-113 Spanish reinforcement platoon arrives on table
KB4R-113 Spanish reinforcement platoon arrives on table

With the Soviets back a bit, and feeling giddy with his new found might, Chris retook the Forward Objective. With a squad.

KB4R-115 Spanish retake the Forward Objective
KB4R-115 Spanish retake the Forward Objective

But the Soviets destroy the squad immediately.

KB4R-116 The gallant Spanish don't last long in the face of Soviet firepower
KB4R-116 The gallant Spanish don’t last long in the face of Soviet firepower

So all that the Spanish had near the Forward Objective was a sole platoon commander.

KB4R-118 Leaving an isolated Spanish platoon commander outside the Forward Objective
KB4R-118 Leaving an isolated Spanish platoon commander outside the Forward Objective

That wasn’t so impressive so Chris set to with his Pz IV again.

KB4R-120 The Pz IV opens fire again
KB4R-120 The Pz IV opens fire again

And then he does it again.

KB4R-125 Pz IV picks off an overly reckless Soviet scout
KB4R-125 Pz IV picks off an overly reckless Soviet scout

1100 Hours

Chris was mighty pleased when the clock ticked over to 1100 Hours. He got a second Pz IV.

KB4R-127 Spanish Reinforcements - Pz IV
KB4R-127 Spanish Reinforcements – Pz IV

This Pz IV came onto the Soviet right flank.

KB4R-128 Second Pz IV comes on to face the Soviet right flank
KB4R-128 Second Pz IV comes on to face the Soviet right flank

1115 Hours

The original Pz IV scored another hit.

KB4R-130 Pz IV on left keep scoring
KB4R-130 Pz IV on left keep scoring

But the Soviets were attacking up the right.

KB4R-131 Smoke allows Soviets to advance on the right
KB4R-131 Smoke allows Soviets to advance on the right

Chris counter attacked with the second Pz IV.

KB4R-132 Pz IV on the Soviet right prevents a charge
KB4R-132 Pz IV on the Soviet right prevents a charge

But a Soviet flank attack knocked out that Pz IV. Chris was back to one tank.

KB4R-134 But a second charge destroys the Pz IV
KB4R-134 But a second charge destroys the Pz IV

1130 Hours

Time passed rapidly.

1145 Hours

Adam turned up around this time so my photographic focus was limited as we chatted. I just captured a few kills – all Spanish.

KB4R-138 Soviets on left inflict Spanish casualty
KB4R-138 Soviets on left inflict Spanish casualty
KB4R-139 Soviets on right inflict another casualty
KB4R-139 Soviets on right inflict another casualty
KB4R-140 and another
KB4R-140 and another
KB4R-141 Soviets clear farm
KB4R-141 Soviets clear farm

1200 Hours

At midday Chris pulled his spare platoon commanders back behind the Farm Objective.

KB4R-143 Two spare Spanish PCs indicate two platoons gone
KB4R-143 Two spare Spanish PCs indicate two platoons gone

The Soviets charged this objective, discovered the Spanish battalion commander, and died.

KB4R-145 Soviets charge Spanish battalion commander - and lose
KB4R-145 Soviets charge Spanish battalion commander – and lose

Then the Soviets lost another of stands.

KB4R-146 Soviet casualty
KB4R-146 Soviet casualty
KB4R-147 Pz IV inflicts casualty
KB4R-147 Pz IV inflicts casualty

Before a Stuka arrived. The third in the game.

KB4R-148 Spanish Reinforcement - Stuka
KB4R-148 Spanish Reinforcement – Stuka

The plane found another line of Soviets and caused mayhem.

KB4R-150 Stuka leaves a line of destruciotn behind
KB4R-150 Stuka leaves a line of destruciotn behind

But the Spanish were running out of infantry. Another squad lost near the Hill Objective.

KB4R-151 Spanish casualty near Hill Objective
KB4R-151 Spanish casualty near Hill Objective

And now the Soviets recaptured the Forward Objective, unopposed.

KB4R-152 Soviets take Forward Objective
KB4R-152 Soviets take Forward Objective

Jamie had another go at the Pz IV on the left, but failed again.

KB4R-153 Another failed Soviet charge - on the left hand Pz IV
KB4R-153 Another failed Soviet charge – on the left hand Pz IV

The Pz IV swung its turrent and killed another squad.

KB4R-154 Pz IV retaliates
KB4R-154 Pz IV retaliates

And another squad.

KB4R-155 And again
KB4R-155 And again

But that gave Jamie a chance to bring new stands into the Pz IVs flank, and knock it out.

KB4R-156 Soviets knock out distracted Pz IV
KB4R-156 Soviets knock out distracted Pz IV

Then Jamie charged and killed the Spanish battalion commander.

KB4R-157 Soviets charge and kill Spanish battalion commander
KB4R-157 Soviets charge and kill Spanish battalion commander

So Jamie now had two objectives.

KB4R-158 That gives the Soviets the Farm Objective (their second)
KB4R-158 That gives the Soviets the Farm Objective (their second)

Indirect fire took out the remaining Spanish squad on the Hill Objective.

KB4R-159 Remaining Spanish on the Hill Objective are killed
KB4R-159 Remaining Spanish on the Hill Objective are killed

The Spanish still inflicted another casualty, probably from indirect fire.

KB4R-160 But the Spanish still have some teeth
KB4R-160 But the Spanish still have some teeth

But they couldn’t stop the Soviets taking the final objective.

KB4R-161 But not enough to prevent the Soviets taking the Hill Objective
KB4R-161 But not enough to prevent the Soviets taking the Hill Objective

End game. Soviet victory.

KB4R-162 End game
KB4R-162 End game

Conclusions and Observations

Well, that was a surprise. I had predicted this game would be over in an hour. I figured the Soviets would just roll over the Spanish. I was so confident that I’d prepared the next game as that we’d get two done in a day. But three things prevented that: Jamie played cautiously, a large number of Spanish reinforcements, and Chris playing a brilliant defensive game. It ended up taking 7.5 hours of real time. Longer than any other Crossfire game I’ve been involved in.

Jamie played a solid game. He conserved his forces and made steady progress. But with three battalions to play with he could have taken a lot more risks. He won in the end but I do believe the game could have been quicker with more aggressive Soviet tactics.

Because the game lasted so long time, the Spanish benefited from a high number of reinforcements. Two platoons of infantry, two Pz IVs and three Stukas. Chris played a brilliant defensive game but if he’d only had his original force he would have lost much quicker. Chris’s panzer charge was a masterpiece of aggressive play. And the Stukas lent a realistic flavour to the conflict, “The Luftwaffe are here!”

A ratio of 2.5 hours of game time in 7.5 hours of real time is a pretty poor simulation in my books. But I figure this is okay as a one off. Normally Crossfire flips that ratio around.

As a simulation of a the David and Goliath conflict, with a tiny Spanish force facing a giant Soviet force, I think the game was a success. The Spanish managed to defeat the first Soviet battalion, tore it apart. But, of course, Jamie had another battalion behind t hat one and kept the pressure up. Eventually Chris just ran out of infantry.

The next game in the campaign will be El Bastion in Zone 2. That should be more of a challenge for the Soviets.

5 thoughts on “KB4R The Swamp – A Crossfire Battle Report”

  1. Great looking game. I have one question. As Crossfire doesn’t have regular movement phases a la most rules, what method did you use to determine game time? Cheers

    Reply
  2. 7.5 hours of real play time… yikes! I don’t think I would enjoy that, so this kind of battle is probably best appreciated by reading about it in your website 😉

    Reply
    • Well, I did predict the Soviets would roll over the Spanish and the game would take 1 hour to play. Okay, not one of my best predictions. With more aggressive Soviet tactics it would have been over much quicker.

      But all the Krasny Bor games are big. The campaign was designed to occupy 8 players (plus umpire) for 2 full days. So it fills the time. 🙂

      Reply

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