2023 SQLA Block Busting In Bokruisk
TOURNAMENT WINNERS
Congratulations to Shaughn (Allied) and Bill T (Axis) for their employment of sound tactics, inspiring leadership and good luck!
PLAYER OPINIONS OF THE SCENARIO
"Loved the scenario, and if my opponent had not had those lucky shots it may have ended quite differently."
"The scenario is heavily favored for the defending Axis player."
"The Germans were able to hold off the Russian onslaught long enough to get a win this time."
"I think it's challenging for either side to pull out a victory given average luck. A few tactical missteps by the Allies, as well as solid play by the Axis tipped the game in the Axis favor."
"The AFV's include a number of interesting vehicles not commonly encountered on the Cross of Iron battlefield: JS1 tanks and SU 85 TD's, plus a hulking JSU 152 assault gun for the Russians - a ubiquitous STG and a rather curious open topped armored car which packs a legitimate tank-killing cannon for the Germans."
"I would certainly play again."
HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
The city of Bobruisk sits on the Berzina River, the crossing point of the southern road to Minsk. A few days prior, Rokossovskii started his advance toward the city, capturing the bridges along the Berzina and trapping several doomed infantry divisions on the east side who “held fast”. By the morning of June 27, Bobruisk was encircled by a pincer movement from the north and south. They began the liquidation that day.
The Germans had stayed too long. They attempted a breakout, leaving behind one division to hold the Fester Platz. The Soviets extracted a heavy toll on the retreating Germans, but eventually 15,000 escaped. Bobruisk finally fell on June 29th after two days of intense fighting. In less than a week, 50,000 German troops were killed and 20,000 captured. Then the Russians moved onto Minsk.
A few days later, a small garrison at Letornovski would meet a similar fate.
RESOURCES
After Action Report sheet.
Victory Points sheet.
"Block Busting In Bokruisk." CROSS OF IRON. Baltimore, MD: The Avalon Hill Game Company, 1979.
https://storage.googleapis.com/archivesqlt/BAF00108A.pdf
Mishcon, Jon. "East Front Asides." The Avalon Hill General Magazine, Nov. 1979.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxBhV3GHa1N8STVXUlhPeW1ETVU/view?resourcekey=0-2NUiKZRFcYbjy8MT-QdH0w
Boldyrev, P. “The Bobruisk Operation.” Military Review, Mar. 1945, pp. 105–108.
http://cdm16040.contentdm.oclc.org/utils/getfile/collection/p124201coll1/id/950/filename/951.pdf#page=109
Connor, William M, Lieut Colonel. "Analysis of Deep Attack Operations, Operation Bagration, Belorussia 22 June - 29 August 1944." Combat Studies Institute. March 1987. Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a483385.pdf
“Bobruysk Offensive.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 4 Feb. 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobruysk_offensive.
Q&A SECOND EDITION
The updated Q&A document redline is here, with the following changes:
Added new Q&A below.
Separated SQL 63 ON BOARD ARTILLERY and COI 63 NEW ARTILLERY CHARACTERISTICS.
Appended answers with errata and clarifications, marked with {SB}, so the responsible person is identified.
Added the COD second edition changes from 17.2-29, since no second edition ever published.
Add key SQLA conventions.
Moved superseded Q&A to end of compilation.
Comments have reason/rule/justification for changes.
The tournament will use the updated Q&A in draft. Please feel free to provide any comments on the changes.
Single Round Split Competition
This is a dual competition for the best allied player and the best axis player. This provides a level playing field between opponents and reduces the effect of an unbalanced scenario.
Pace
The tournament is paced for PBEM of a seven turn scenario. Players have fourteen weeks to complete the match or one player turn a week for a seven turn scenario. Scenarios of greater length have the same fourteen weeks and pace must be managed by players. Matches that fall behind should meet face-to-face on VSQL to ensure timely completion.
Rules and Conventions
Generally, all rules are in play unless mutually agreed upon in advance. The Tactical Training Series explicitly state rules in effect. The twelve original scenarios use the rules through those introduced.
The Squad Leader Academy Conventions are in effect, they answer rule questions from prior SQLA tournaments and provide guidance to the Administrators in rule disputes. Players are advised to read them beforehand.
Significant conventions
31B requires passengers to 'bail-out' when an AFV fires or is hit to prevent the 'panzergrenadier' hack. They may not move to an adjacent hex nor fire that player turn.
36B crews may not attempt AFV immobilization.
48B an ATG crew is only effected by a hit on the gun. This is a departure from the example but agrees with the rule.
57A Units may not advance 'up-and-over'. This prevents a unit entering close combat from outside the defender's LOS during the dfph.
The Supplemental Rules of Combat compile rules by firing unit type and target types. Use this to find the related rules in one paragraph and to resolve uncommon situations
Rule disagreements should be resolved in the following steps:
Players should discuss between themselves.
Roll the dice by mutual agreement.
Ask the Administrator, he resolves the dispute to continue play. Please post questions to BGG - Squad Leader forums for quickest response.
Medium
The official medium is VASSAL's SQUAD LEADER module. Players may use another medium upon mutual agreement.
VASSAL version 3.2.17
VSQL version 4.2.2
Boards version 5 SK
ACTS is the official dice roller, it verifies rolls and it facilitates play-by-email. You can create an account and log in here.
You should use the Squad Leader Series Module in ACTS, a template for our games.
Quick and easy ACTS
Place fire and target counters on VSQL board and type Firepower, modifiers and terrain.
Copy and paste this into ACTS Dice Roll comments and roll dice.
Copy and paste dice roll results into VSQL and resolve shots.
Players not desiring the additional record keeping may use VASSAL's internal dice roller, subject to agreement of both players.