RED BARRICADES
Location Names
To add a bit of flavour to the AARs we have given the following locations names. This is done to not only to avoid making the AARs unnecessarily difficult to read, but also to allow the game to take on a life of its own. The names are in most cases suggested either in the rules or in the attendant RB Scenarios.
Some name changes have been suggested thanks to Jörgen Holmquist’s reading of Jason D. Mark’s Island of Fire. (Leaping Horseman Press)
F5 Area – Shipping Docks
German Controlled as of 17 Oct
17 Oct: When some of the initial defenders here are unluckily killed by a combination of Sniper and AFV fire the Germans decide to follow through with their luck and attack in greater force than originally intended. The Russians are outnumbered (most of their units here were Dummies) and undone by the ferocity of the Assault which included AFV. Russian OBA continues to do damage to the attackers as they push through here as does a brave rogue 527 but it is firmly in German hands by the end of the day.
18 Oct:
The Battle has bypassed this location
F42 – Bread Factory #2
The Battle never reached this location, though the Germans were on the verge of capturing it on the 19 October when the Russians suddenly surrendered.
J13 – Northern Foundry Hall
Gutted as of 17 Oct
German Controlled Factory as of 17 Oct
17 Oct: By mid-way through the battle the Germans have somehow managed to make it close to this factory, but they suffered a setback when a HMG (K10(1)) and an AT Gun (J13) open up. A beautifully placed shell from one of the Panzers attacking here wipes out the HMG position and this, along with the withdrawal of the defenders in this area gives the appearance of an open door to move through into the Factory. The useful K10 building burns to the ground as the aggressors are able to enter the factory and claim all of it as time becomes another enemy the Russians must face.
18 Oct: Blazes fill this factory leaving the Germans with one one direction in which to move… forward against their foe! By the end of this date the factory is a gutted shell and the battle had bypassed this location.
K22 – The Plant
18 Oct: The Russians are forced to use this building as a base for their operations on this date due to the heavy German presence in the factories. Well-led MG groups forced the Russians to hide in the rear of this imposing building from where they sniped at the lone Panzer and the units attempting to cross the killing ground in front of this imposing structure. An 45LL AT Gun was lost here due to malfunction which is an expensive loss for the Soviets. By the end of the battle Nazi gains around the building have all but ensured that this location will be too dangerous to try to hold; recognising this the Russians attempted to kindle the building but failed.
19 Oct: This location was captured early in the battle due to it being totally undefended. It was used as a MG position for the MGs assisting on the attack down the Railway Embankment.
K27 – The Furnace
Gutted as of 19 Oct
German Controlled Factory as of 19 Oct
19 Oct: The Russians placed a number of defenders in this building and then kindled the Adjacent building… the fires spread to The Furnace and it thus became German controlled. It actually saw little battle though.
L15 – Southern Foundry Hall
German Controlled as of 18 Oct
17 Oct: The Germans are actually able to take some of the hexes in the top part of this building. This is a clear indication of how time and the ferocity of the assault had conspired to allow for a crushing Russian loss.
18 Oct: The Germans make a major push to capture this Factory and the Russians initially scramble to get defenders in here to even out their losses. However, the overwhelming FP of the Nazis is too much to stand up against as they used DC to blast through the thick internal walls and then followed up with massed MGs and CC attacks. The sole remaining Panzer also attacked into this building but suffered in the gloom and repeatedly Bogged; it was eventually Immobilised just outside in a Debris field.
19 Oct: The Battle has bypassed this location
M24 – Western Manufacturing Hall
Rubbled as of 19 Oct
German Controlled as of 19 Oct
18 Oct: Not involved in the actual battle except as a rout point for demoralised Soviet troops this building is Adjacent to the German lines and the battle promises to be fought hard in this area over the next days.
19 Oct: In a surprise move the Russians kindled this building immediately, thus giving the Germans control without a shot being fired. The skilful Russian use of concealment along with the threat of CC held the qualitatively superior Germans at bay, until the Blazes separated them for good, the Germans were free to attack into the Gun Hall while the Russians were pinned in place.
O10 – Gun Construction Building
German Controlled as of 18 Oct
17 Oct: As the battle draws to a close the Russian lines collapse allowing the Germans to sneak troops into this building and thence to setup a strong position. The battles continues for long enough to ensure that half this building falls to the Germans.
18 Oct: The Germans make a major push to capture this Factory and the Russians are forced to pull back or face devastating losses from the invader’s MG nests. The O18 Level 2 building also falls to the Germans and this is a great win; the Russians should have Kindled this building when they had the chance as it has good LOS over a reasonable part of the next game’s battlefield. A limited counter-attack into the South-east corner of this building pulled back as soon as the Germans covered its attack route – the Russians have decided to stop throwing men away for useless territory it seems…
19 Oct: This location was essentially bypassed by the battle with the exception of a Sewer-Movement threat that was not realised.
P6 – Northern Manufacturing Hall
German Controlled Factory as of 17 Oct
17 Oct: The Russians have a number of Defenders in this building and those defenders manage to Immobilise a Pz IIIH early on in the battle but the Germans have sent a lot of their reinforcements into the fight for this factory. Fighting is intense for the O6 location with each side taking losses as control swings back and forth but the Germans have the firepower and the numbers to ensure that they end up breaking through. From here the defence collapses quite fast. This was a costly fight for the attackers, the Russians fought well, but in the end their efforts were in vain.
18 Oct: The Battle has bypassed this location
P21 – The Gun Hall
Gutted as of 19 Oct
80% German Controlled Factory as of 19 Oct
18 Oct: Russian units use this building as a Rallying point for the men broken in the cauldron of the Factory battles on the other side of the central road. German firepower superiority means that the Communists are unable to mount any form of offensive or defensive position if it involves exposing their men; a few men tried but they all paid a price.
19 Oct: This location was Gutted at the end of the 19Oct battle thanks to Rocket OBA which hit adjacent buildings. Before being gutted it was the focal point of a major stand-off as a valiant Russian 10-3 held off a serious attack by German Strum troops. With the fall and eventual elimination of the 10-3 the door was opened for the Germans to continue their attack and at game end they were holding off behind the thick Interior Walls waiting to get enough men together to take on the Reserve units stationed and the extreme rear of this building.
Q34 – #2 Workshop
19 Oct: The Battle never reached this location though it’s roof was as used as a base for Lt. Mtrs.
R27 – Central Manufacturing Hall #3
19 Oct: The Battle never reached this location, though the Russians were forming a last-ditch defensive line here when they surrendered.
S18 – Gun Tube Hall
German Controlled as of 19 Oct
17 Oct: Used for an initial rooftop MTR position this building was untouched by the battle, but when the dust settles the Germans have managed to take locations Adjacent to it ensuring that it remains a valid target for the next assault.
18 Oct: This building is a start-off point for many Russian on this date, though they are quickly sent to cover either the Southern Foundry Hall or Gun Construction Building. With the rapid fall of the Gun Construction Building the Germans start to break into this location but suffer some initial setbacks thanks to a brave fight by the (mostly) Conscript defenders. However Reserves are activated by the Russian commander which seem certain to turn the tide of the battle in this impressive building but the Russians suddenly forget how to shoot straight and the Soviets are finally left with just a toe-hold here.
19 Oct: Taken early in the battle it became a flashpoint later in the day when some Russian units infiltrated the sewers to this point, they did some damage to the moderately strong but hard-pressed Germans around this area before being wiped out. Due to the confused nature of the Central Manufacturing Hall this was likely to be an focal point for any later battles.
S23 – Central Manufacturing Hall #2
Gutted as of 19 Oct
20% German Controlled Factory as of 19 Oct
19 Oct: Smashed about by a Nebelwerfer attack and then Gutted by the resultant fires this building was a no-go zone right from the start of the battle. With so few Factories left to the Russians it would have been a major battleground in the next game, but the Gutted nature of this building would have strongly aided the Germans.
T21 – Central Manufacturing Hall #1
Gutted and Partially Rubbled as of 19 Oct
20% German Controlled Factory as of 19 Oct
19 Oct: Smashed about and even Rubbled in areas by a Nebelwerfer attack and then Gutted by the resultant fires this building was a no-go zone right from the start of the battle. With so few Factories left to the Russians it would have been a major battleground in the next game, but the Gutted nature of this building would have strongly aided the Germans.
X9 – The Chemist Shop
German Controlled as of 17 Oct
17 Oct: The initial German plans to attack here were slowed down by a larger than expected enemy presence. It still saw the most vicious fighting of the early part of the day and claimed casualties on both sides. Eventually the building was claimed undamaged as the Russians collapsed with great loss to the defenders.
18 Oct: Used as a base for German reserves this building was bypassed by the battle.
X24 – Schoolhouse #2
The Battle never reached this location though this location was used as an ineffective HMG nest on the 19 Oct date.
AA25 – Kindergarten
19 Oct: This location was often used by the Russians as a home for their Artillery Spotters. It was also fortified for use by an AT gun on the 19th of October. While it was a strong position a powerful German MG nest in the Commissar’s house made short work of anyone who exposed themselves for too long. When the Russians made a minor counter-attack against the Commissar’s House with major loses then the Germans were free to exploit the holes in the line and this building would have at least partially fallen to the Germans if the Soviet Commander had not surrendered.
BB12 – Railway Offices
Rubbled and German Controlled as of 17 Oct
17 Oct: The Germans attack towards these Offices right from the start of the battle, in response the Russians desperately set them alight and start to reinforce the area but to no avail. The Building started to Collapse due to Gusting Winds and was then consumed by fire putting it firmly in German hands. The fighting around here was a Sitzkrieg with neither side being able to force the issue.
18 Oct: The Rubbled building has become a jump-off point for German attacks on the Garages but took no other part in the battle.
BB17 – Garages
German Controlled as of 18 Oct
17 Oct: Used to house a Russian MMG it never really came into any danger.
18 Oct: Initially slated to suffer a minor attack from the German’s reinforcing Rifle Company the Russians placed enough of a defence here to ensure that it soon turned into a pitched battle and a confused mess of Close Combat and Assault Moving units. Both sides tried to milk every last bit of cover as 2x half Companies from each side slugged it out. The Russians tactic of audaciously CC-ing at every opportunity initially worked well but then abysmally failed and gifted this location to the Germans! Few of the defenders made it out alive but when the victorious Germans tried to follow-up they blundered into the sights of a hidden AT Gun – this was enough to stop them cold right on the doorsteps of the next building (C23).
19 Oct: The battle has bypassed this location.
CC10 – Red House (Lyudnivo’s OP)
German Controlled as of 17 Oct
17 Oct: This building fell without a fight. The Russians had not enough men to hold all their locations once the Germans punched through their lines and this building was swallowed up in a massive pocket.
18 Oct: Used as a base for German reserves this building saw no action and the battle bypassed this location.
CC19 – The Commissar’s House
Rubbled and Ablaze as of 19 Oct
German Controlled as of 18 Oct
17 Oct: A 45LL Gun fortified at the top of this building claims early blood in today’s battle when it killed 2x PzKw IIIL from extreme range, it also managed to kill an Armour Leader (8-1). But a freak bomb from the lone Stuka circling over the battlefield took out the Gun and most of the top 2 floors of it’s location. By the end of the battle the Germans had managed to sneak a unit into the Fortified ground floor location of BB18 thus ensuring the Russian will have to think long and hard about their setup needs in this area.
18 Oct: The Germans pulled back without a fight from their toe-hold in this landmark allowing a Russian unit to reclaim this building. It looked empty… too empty and with few men in this area the Germans could not afford to attack it and risk facing HIP defenders. In the dying stages of the battle a Nazi Squad with a leader and a Hero decided to see if it was as empty as it looked… it was! We took this powerful building without a fight!
19 Oct: A jump-off point for a major but mostly unsuccessful attack early in the day it was then lashed with 80mm Artillery which eventually, and unluckily, caused a Blaze which would have left this building still burning on the 20th of October. Until then it was the home of a very successful MG nest which helped hold the Eastern part of the battlefield against some serious Russian attacks. The loss of this building to fire would have been a major blow to the attackers, but the almost certain capture of The Kindergarten made up for it in many ways.
EE44 – Russian HQ
The Battle never reached this location.
GG28 – Storage Tanks
The Battle never reached this location.
HH16 – Water Pump
German Controlled as of 19 Oct
17 Oct: A solitary HS is able to claim all the shore hexes and even a hex beyond that. In doing so he took this building for Folk and Fatherland.
18 Oct: With no ability to defend this building with Reserve units, and not willing to dilute the more important attacks for this minor sideshow, the Germans allow the Russians to easily reclaim this building… the questions is, will they consider it worth defending in the next game(s)?
19 Oct: The Germans easily recaptured this location but were unable to capitalise on it thanks to a nasty MMG position at the end of the shore area.