Fronte Russo Scenario 43
Voroshilova Struggle
By Ottavio Ricchi
with developer’s commentary by Doug McNair
December 2007

Ottavio Ricchi’s next bonus scenario for the Italian CSIR takes place at the “infamous” village of Voroshilova, a familiar spot to owners of our Fronte Russo supplement. Figuring prominently in Fronte Russo scenarios 18: “The Reserves Enter Action,” 19: “The Push on the Left” and 24: “The Last Battle for Hill 331.7,” Voroshilova was an important objective but a dubious defensive position. Surrounded by hills, it was vulnerable to bombardment fire and a nightmare for any troops trying to hold it. When the Italians captured the area at the end of December 1941, they set about fortifying nearby Hill 331.7 so they could use it as a strongpoint rather than the town. But army brass could be counted on to interfere, and when the Soviets took the town after the Italians finished fortifying the hill, German High Command demanded that it be taken back.

This scenario is an infantry dash through the snow followed by a quick and bloody town fight. Bersaglieri supported by a few Germans must reach the town and overwhelm the unlucky Soviet infantry company assigned to hold it, while Italian artillery and the Blackshirts west of Hill 331.7 must try to stop Soviet troops in the hills and fields to the west from getting into the town. The Italians have decent numbers and higher morale than the Soviets, so any Soviets that don’t make it to the town before the Italians get there will have a very hard time getting in. The Soviets have to hope that the infantry company in the town plus their substantial mortar and artillery support can slow the Italian advance long enough to let more Soviet than Italian infantry end up in town. After that the Soviets need to fight a delaying action, hoping the Italians exhaust themselves in house-to-house fighting and lose more steps than the Soviets do so the Soviets can keep control of more than half the town. That should get the Soviets enough VPs for at least a minor victory. But if the Italians can break Soviet lines in town or survive artillery fire long enough to move north of the town and hit the Soviets from behind, they’ll likely end up with control of most of the town and win a Major Victory.

Fronte Russo Scenario 43
Voroshilova Struggle
25 January 1942

After capturing the small village of Voroshilova, the Legione Tagliamento was posted to defend it so that Hill 331.7 – immediately south of the village – could be duly fortified. Living conditions deteriorated rapidly as Soviet forces in the surrounding hills rained indirect fire on the village and launched repeated assaults. On January 20th, XVIII Bergsalieri Battalion replaced the Blackshirts, but a Soviet attack on the 23rd forced them to withdraw from the village. Although Hill 331.7’s defenses were now complete, the exhausted Bersaglieri were asked to retake the infamous village with help from a company of the Blackshirt 79th Legion and a German paratrooper support weapon company.

Note: This scenario uses boards and pieces from Eastern Front, and pieces from Battle of the Bulge. The large hill south of the town on Board 2 is Hill 331.7.

Game Length: 16 turns
First Turn: 0630
Other: Treat all river hexes as gullies (see Fronte Russo special rules).

All Italian and German units set up first.

Italians
Celere Division, XVIII Battalion, 3rd Regiment
In any hexes of Hill 331.7. Place an entrenchment in each hex where at least one unit sets up:
5 x BERS
1 x BERS (reduced)
1 x HMG
1 x 47mm
1 x Wagon

Leaders: 1 x CAP, 2 x TEN, 1 x SGT

69th Battalion, Legione Tagliamento
Within one hex of hex 0516 on Board 2.
3 x Blackshirt
1 x Blackshirt HMG

Leaders: 1 x MAG, 1 x TEN

Within one hex of hex 1014 on Board 2.
1 x PARA HMG
1 x 81mm

Leader: 1 x LT

Morale: Germans 8/7, Italians 8/6
Initiative: 4
Off-Map Artillery: 4 x 8

All Soviet units set up second.

Leader: 1 x LT

In any field hexes north of the road on Board 5 (all may begin Dug In):
3 x INF 1 x HMG
2 x SMG

Leaders: 1 x CAP, 1 x SGT

In any hill hexes on Board 5 (all may begin Dug In):
2 x INF
1 x HMG
2 x 81mm

Leader: 1 x LT

Morale: 7/6
Initiative: 3
Off-Map Artillery: 3 x 10

Special Rules
1. Italian initiative decreases by one for every two steps eliminated.

2. Russian initiative decreases by one for every two steps eliminated.

3. Deep Snow. Reduce each unit’s movement allowance by one unless it moves entirely along a road during its activation.

Victory Conditions
Each player scores one victory point (VP) for each enemy step eliminated and one VP for each town hex on Board 2 that is under friendly control at the end of play. A player who scores three to six more VPs than his or her opponent scores a Minor Victory, and a player who scores at least seven more VPs than his or her opponent scores a Major Victory. Any other result is a draw.

Conclusion
The Bersaglieri failed to achieve surprise because heavy snow delayed their advance. The attack made some initial progress, but the Soviet defenders were determined and much stronger than the Italians had expected. After significant losses the Italians had to withdraw. No further attempts were ever made to take the village, and since the Soviets couldn’t use it either (due to its vulnerability to indirect fire) it became a no-man’s land.

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