Wargaming | Crossfire | Scenarios
SU-76 "Colombina" in Action - A Crossfire Scenario

Posted 20 Aug 2005

A Crossfire scenario featuring a duel between a Russian SU-72 and a German armoured car.

Historical Situation

Setting: 100+ km west of Kiev, Ukraine, Russia; Early Dec 1943

Rem Ulanov was the driver in a SU-76 self-propelled gun (nicknamed "Colombina" by their crews). He was part of the 999th self-propelled artillery regiment formed in Aug 1943 at Mamonovka Station. In late Nov 1943 the regiment entrained at Mytischi and headed west. Crossing the Dnieper they passed Kiev and disembarked 100 km to the west at Irsha Station. From there they continued on by road, and at Chelovichi painted their vehicles white. That night the battery rolled into a village where the scenario starts:

At the dawn our infantry moved on to capture the village. Several times the Russian grey overcoats were standing up, but they could not take that village. There was an 8-wheeled German gun-armed armoured car at the outskirts of the village, pinning our infantry down by its fire. Lt. Karginov told me to turn the SP to the right and our second shot blew the turret off the German armoured car. This was our first, and, unfortunately, the last victory. Two days later a large German SP penetrated front armour of my "Colombina" by an armor-piercing round at some 1500 metres. Following recommendations of experienced drivers, I would leave the front gas tank full, and would use the rear gas tank. This is why we did not explode immediately after being hit.

I Remember: Rem Ulanov

The crew survived but Colombina was destroyed.

This scenario puts some flesh on these rather bare bones. It appealed to me because it involved both SU-76s and a 8-wheeled German armoured car - neither of which you often see on table.

Map/Terrain

Key features are:

• Ulanov's account suggests both protagonists were amongst buildings.
• There are three terrain objectives - marked X.
• The Germans deploy west of the line A-A.
• The Russians deploy east of the line B-B.

Pre-game preparation

• Germans deploy hidden west of the line A-A

German Player (Defending)

Objective

Defend the village.

Forces Available

Deployment

Deploys first with all stands hidden and west of line A-A. .

Reinforcements

The German reinforcements arrive at the start of the first German initiative on the morning of Day 4.

2 x StuG III Ausf G

Soviet Player (Attacking)

Begins scenario with initiative.

Objective

Take the village.

Forces Available

Deployment

Deploys second with all stands visible and east of the line A-A.

Reinforcements

The Russian reinforcements arrive at the start of the first Russian initiative on the morning of Day 2.

Victory Conditions

Terrain objectives.

There are three terrain objectives - marked X. The side with control of more terrain objectives at the end of day 4 is the winner. Control means the player has a stand in the terrain feature, or was the last to, and the feature is/was uncontested.

Scenario Special Rules

• HTD Special Rule 4. The Moving Clock is in use. The scenario lasts for 4 days, each with a morning and afternoon (i.e. 8 half days). The clock advances half a day on a 6 on one die rolled at the end of each German initiative. Fighting only takes place during the day.
• Snow??

Weapon stats

Type	When	ARM	ACC	PEN	MG	HE/EFF	Smoke	HD	Spd	CC	Comment
SdKfz 231 8-RAD	Any	1/1	0	-3	3	1/1	-	Y	3	+3	Recon
StuG III F-G	Mar42-EW	4/2	0	+1	4	4/2	-	N	2	+2
SU 76M	43-EW	2/1	0	0	3	4/2	-	N	2	+1

Notes

• The battle was fought in snow.
• The account doesn't mention infantry anti-tank weapons, so I've given them to neither side.
• The German armoured car is described having a gun in a turret and with 8-wheels. In 1943 the main such vehicle was the SdKfz 231 8-RAD.

References

Source I Remember: Rem Ulanov

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