Lipovec, 1941 at NBHW

I took my Slovaks and Russians up to NBHW this week, and put on a version of the Rapid Fire Lipovec scenario.

Historically, this was the first proper action by the Slovak Rapid Brigade on the Eastern Front in July 1941. The Slovak tanks and A/Cs, supported by infantry, managed to fight their way into the town, only for a strong Russian counter attack to cut them off and destroy their artillery. They then staged a fighting withdrawal back to their lines pursued by the Russians, before they managed to hold the line with the help of their German allies.

In our battle, the Slovaks consisted of a Recce battalion (bicycle company, motorised infantry company, OaVz30 Armoured Car and a 75mm infantry gun company), 2 companies of tanks (1 of Lt.35s and 1 of Lt.38s), a motorised infantry battalion and a battery of 105mm artillery. They entered the game across three turns. They also had an Avia B534 fighter/bomber for some extra support.

Facing them, split across a rearguard group and the Lipovec garrison was a Russian infantry battalion, with 3 x 122mm artillery pieces (direct fire only), A/T company, infantry gun and Quad Maxim AA truck. A second infantry battalion was also in line to provide the counter attack.

The table was set up and the motley crew took their positions:

The lead Slovak units, the A/C and bicycle company, moved up the road towards Lipovec but soon came under fire from a reinforced infantry company dug in on the hill to the north, and another just off the road, ahead of them to the east, as well as a 122mm battery over the river.

A hidden A/T rifle unit in the maize field also got off a couple of shots, to no effect, before being killed by the remainder of the bicycle company.

Turn 3 saw the bulk of the Slovak forces on the table. The brave Armoured Car was taken out by reserved A/T fire from Lipovec just before the bridge. The reinforced infantry company on the hill to the east was attacked with HE fire from two of the Lz35 tanks, to little effect, while one of the tanks received some light damage from the artillery in the woods.

The air support soon arrived, dropping its two bombs on an artillery battery on the hill, destroying the gun and killing some crew.

Meanwhile, on the northern flank, a Slovakian infantry company from the motorised battalion joined the motorised recce company and prepared to attack the wooded hill. They were supported by the battalion A/T company, firing HE, as well as the recce infantry gun and 105mm artillery battery.

On the southern flank, the rest of motorised battalion moved up towards the high ground in their Praga trucks, with the BHQ in its Tatra car following.

In the centre, more anti tank fire from Lipovec damaged an Lz35.

This spurred on the Russian defenders, whose RHQ ordered the defending infantry and A/T gun across the bridge to take on the Slovakian tanks. This was too late for the 122mm battery in the woods, whose crew was killed by HE fire from the armoured unit. The crew from the other, destroyed, gun mounted their limbers and headed across to man the still functional gun.

The B534 returned to strafe the infantry company on the eastern hill.

The attack on the northern, wooded, hill was having little effect despite a huge amount of ordnance dropping on it, while on the southern flank the MG company truck was destroyed by artillery fire from the final 122mm gun, albeit not before the MG had debussed and deployed.

The infantry from Lipovec passed a Heroic action test and assaulted the Lz35 tank with molotov cocktails, causing the crew to bail and the rest of the company to fall back in good order, firing on the northern hill as they did so. The B534 attempted to strafe the same company on the eastern hill but was driven off, while on the northern flank the infantry moved across the open ground to attack the wooded hill under MG fire from the unit deployed there. The barrage of HE fire started to eat into the defenders.

The A/T gun deployed on the bridge but could not damage the Lt38s crossing the river.

The infantry, however, continued to assault the empty Lz35, destroying it and causing the remainder of the Lz35 tank company to rout off the table. Things went better on the northern flank, as the mixed assault under heavy artillery support wiped out the final resistance on the wooded hill, including the battalion HQ. Nevertheless, the rest of the rearguard and the garrison held strong. To the south, the infantry companies debussed and moved across the river under fire from the 122mm, 76mm and Quad Maxim from Lipovec and from the reinforced company on the hill. The B534 attempted to strafe that company again, but was driven off for a second time and forced to return to base for lack of fuel.

As the evening drew to a close, the Lz38s moved into Lipovec itself, with the northern flank beginning to get themselves back into their trucks, and the southern flank finally wiping out the crew of the 122mm, while to the north the 'other' 122mm crew had reached the 'other' 122mm gun. Fire from the company on the hill destroyed the Slovak BHQ to the south.

We ran out of time to bring on the Russian reinforcements, but as we reflected we felt that with the new Russian battalion about to come on and overrun the trucks to the south, and with a tank company gone, the Slovaks would probably be forced to withdraw, especially as the Lipovec defenders still had 2 infantry companies, a 122mm, the 76mm infantry gun, A/T gun and quad maxim available on top of the reinforcements.

As such, the battle played out much as it had done historically. Well played to all and thanks to the guys at NBHW for a good game! Thanks also to Ryan and Andy for some of these photos.

Slovak Mobile Division

I've finally completed my Slovak Mobile Division forces. Initially for Rostov, as often happens wargaming projects can take somewhat a life of their own! In this case, as I read and researched the Slovaks I discovered that for most of 1942 their armour was in Slovakia being 'refitted' or perhaps kept off of the front line? Nevertheless, I would also like to use the Slovaks for other battles, so I decided to supplement them with some armour and air support.

As such they are a bit of an almagam between the 1941 Pilfousek Brigade and the 1942 Mobile Division; and the battle of Lipovec may be on the horizon!

Headquarters

Here we have the Division/Brigade commander, with a radio operator (both customised Germans from Brittania miniatures) and an RH models Slovak. The light mortar crew are Early War Miniatures Polish which have been adapted, as is the anti tank rifle. Actually since painting the AT rifle I found out that the Slovaks didn't use them, but will still keep it for a bit more AT capability. Might change it for an AT gun in the future! The staff car is a Tatra T97 by Attack models.

Attached to the HQ unit is the artillery OP team (RH models) with a Tatra T57 Kubelwagen (Attack models) and an Oerlikon 20mm AA gun, which is an Early War Miniatures Dutch model which has been customised. They are towed by a Ready to Roll Praga truck.

Recce

The Recce elements are the biggest mix of 1941 & 1942. A motorised infantry company, another on bicycles and an Oa.Vz.30 Armoured Car.

The motorised infantry company is composed of RH models infantry and a Ready to Roll Praga truck.

The cyclists are from Raventhorpe, both the mounted and dismounted versions are shown here.

The Oa.Vz.30 is from Kora models. It was a resin kit which required an awful lot of work. This A/C was only used in 1941 as was soon found to be obsolete. Nevertheless it will provide some machine gun support for the infantry elements above.

Motorised Infantry Battalion

The motorised infantry battalion has 3 infantry companies, all are RH models and Ready to Roll Praga trucks. The Slovaks painted a light blue band around the rim of their helmets so they weren't mistaken for Russians.

Support Weapons

The motorised battalion is supported by an Anti Tank company, 80mm mortar and machine gun team.

Again, the figures are RH models and Ready to Roll trucks. The 37mm Anti tank gun is a Raventhorpe model after the first attempt - a converted EWM Bofors - went in the bin!

Artillery

I have 2 batteries: one of Skoda 75mm mountain guns and another of German LeFH18 105mm guns. The latter were procured in time for Rostov but in 1941 the Slovaks used their own 100mm guns. These will have to be off table or the 105s will have to 'step in' for them! 

The Skoda 75mm guns are from RH models as are the gun crews, while the horse limbers are actually Brittania miniatures German WW1 limbers but look similar (ish) to the Slovak limbers. 

The LeFH18 guns are some Fortress Models kits I picked up in a bargain bin at Salute this year. RH model crews and limbers as above.

Somehow I ended up with a spare Skoda gun so only one of the guns above are glued down the other comes off so they both can be limbered. I also have some LeFH18s for limbering with my Germans which I will use with the Slovaks too.

Armoured units

The Slovaks used LT vz. 35, LT vz. 38 and LT vz. 40 tanks. The latter two types were broadly similar. These were also used by the Germans as the Pz 35(t) and Pz 38(t). Some tanks, mainly the 35s, were inherited from the Czechoslovakian army and were painted in the three-tone camouflage, but later tanks were painted in an Olive drab. When the main delivery of LT vz. 38 tanks were taken, the first 5 it was noted were in 3 tone camo, the rest in drab. All the tanks were used in 1941, withdrawn shortly after and then sent back to the Division in October 1942 so were not used at Rostov. The tanks here will therefore be used to support the infantry units above for example at Lipovec.

Two LT vz. 38 tanks from Frontline (Pz 38t), painted drab.

A company of LT vz. 35s, in the Czech camo. These are the old Esci Pz 35(t) kits.

Air Support

Air Support for the Fast Division comes in the form of an Avia B-534. This was actually a very good fighter plane at the start of the war and in 1937 was second only to the Me109. However, once the British brought out the Hurricane and Spitfire and other countries similarly improved their air forces, the  Avia B-534 was soon outclassed. The B-534k could also carry some small bombs for a close support role. The model here is a KP model plane with RS model decals.

I hope you've enjoyed looking at my Slovaks. I'm no expert painter but I'm pretty pleased with how they've turned out. Next up for me is the final 5 French ships for Aboukir Bay, but to leave you here are a couple more photos - one of some Lancer miniature Russian casualty markers painted up as Slovaks, and finally a pic of the Avia B-534 on the stand I made for it flying in support of the LT vz.38s with a Praga following up.