The opening battle in the Stalingrad Campaign is the Last Bridge Over the River Don. The main objective is for the Soviets to hold the bridge while their force retreats and then blow the bridge. Game is on a 6×4 table with a river running north to south. In the middle of the river is a small bridge. Eastern side of the bridge has a small village. Western side has a few hills and balkas.
Soviets can attempt to blow the bridge. The objectives give 2 pts for each soviet unit to cross the bridge, and the Germans get 1 pt for each destroyed unit and 5 if the bridge is intact.
For terrain, I intend to use my Kallistra grass hexes as a base with assorted hills. I have a river from Tabletop World. It should sit nicely down between hexes. The river is 6″ wide, however, and if that doesn’t work, I have a neoprene river set and a few bridges that should work nicely. I need about 10 small buildings for the town where Dwarven Forge City Builder should also fit in nicely. I have 3 or 4 buildings for variety that are a high quality cardboard including a church that will make good variety.
Here is the Soviet T34 on the bridge. This will work well.
The army lists are below. Both lists are 1167. I don’t have a good reason for picking this number.
| Germans | 1167 | Gates of Stalingrad | ||
| Leutnant | 50 | Regular | ||
| Here infantry | 90 | 5 Rifles 1 LMG 1 Loader | Regular | |
| Panzgrenadier | 97 | 5 Rifles 1 LMG 1 Loader | Regular | |
| medic | 30 | Veteran | ||
| artillery forward observer | 100 | 1 AR | Regular | |
| Heer infantry | 110 | 7 Rifles 1 LMG 1 Loader | Regular | |
| heer pioneer | 77 | 1 Rifle 4 SMGS | Veteran | |
| mmg | 50 | Regular | ||
| medium mortar | 60 | add spotter | Regular | |
| flammenwerfer | 50 | Regular | ||
| sniper team | 50 | Regular | ||
| Anti-tank rifle team (removed) | Regular | |||
| 50mm pak 38 | 75 | Regular | ||
| Sdkfz231 | 100 | Regular | ||
| Panzer iii Ausf E,F | 140 | 2nd MMG | Regular | |
| Sdkfz 7 halftrack | 44 | Regular | ||
| Sdkfz 7 halftrack | 44 | Regular |
Soviets Don Volga
| Rifle Squad | 0 | 12 Rifles | Inexpierenced | |
| 2nd Lieutenant | 50 | SMG | Regular | |
| Veteran squad | 85 | 3 Rifle 1 LMG 1 Loader | Veteran | |
| Rifle squad | 56 | 8 Rifles | Inexpierenced | |
| commissar | 15 | SMG | Inexpierenced | |
| assault engineer squad | 80 | 5 SMGs | Veteran | |
| rifle squad | 81 | 7 Rifles 1 Flag | Inexpierenced | |
| rifle squad | 49 | 7 Rifles | Inexpierenced | |
| veteran squad | 103 | 4 Rifles 1 LMG 1 Panzerfust | Veteran | |
| Mmg | 35 | Inexpierenced | ||
| Dshk heavy machine gun team | 49 | Inexpierenced | ||
| Sniper team | 50 | Regular | ||
| Dog mines | 26 | Inexpierenced | ||
| Tank hunters | 20 | Inexpierenced | ||
| Medium mortar | 35 | Inexpierenced | ||
| Light mortar | 24 | Inexpierenced | ||
| 45mm antitank | 46 | Inexpierenced | ||
| Ba20 Armoured Car | 52 | Inexpierenced | ||
| T-34 | 156 | Inexpierenced | ||
| Truck | 31 | Inexpierenced | ||
| Truck | 31 | Inexpierenced | ||
| Truck | 31 | Inexpierenced | ||
| Truck | 31 | Inexpierenced | ||
| Truck | 31 | Inexpierenced |
Initial Impressions
Reading over the rules, it seems like the Soviets have a real challenge. You have to get as many units over the bridge as possible and still blow the bridge. The initial turn the fuse is lit you have a 1/3 chance of blowing the bridge. The next turn its 50/50 and 2/3 the following turn. You don’t want to blow it early because it costs you points, but you can’t wait till the last turn either. Although the game does continue until the bridge blows or the charges are defused. The way the reinforcements work for the Germans I want the bridge blowing turn 6.
Also I wouldn’t consider this a good introductory scenario for those new to Bolt Action. It is a pretty complicated fight with many rules and deployments.
Hobby Items
First and foremost getting the two forces fully painted. I have about 3 weeks from now util the floors are completed and I have a game room back. That easily should be enough time for 50 odd infantry and a couple vehicles. Right……. right. My Germans are largely complete already. Maybe 10 models. The Soviets need around 40.
I need to paint the river. It shouldn’t take too long. It is nicely textured. I have 10 pieces that are 9″ long and 5″ wide, 8 curves, a large stone bridge that is just wide enough for a t-34. There is also a mill somewhere which would be cool to do eventually. I think there are 4 river battles and it is a terrain feature in 3 more. I may also try the resin thing where I fill the river with resin to create a water effect.
Other hobby items. I will most likely 3d print a building or two. They will need painted. I also need to paint a few hedges that I have 3d printed.
Next time should be some painted models progress, after the weekend.
stonewalljackman 