Smolensk '41

As dawn breaks, the Soviet 129th Rifle Division finds itself in positions outside the historic Smolensk after a rough night march.  New to the front, a certain uneasiness prevails through  the ranks, but the word from the Front HQ is that they'll remain in reserve and won't see action for at least a few more days.   

As the sun rises above the horizon into a clear blue sky, the weary men remain completely unaware of the storm of German armor rapidly bearing down on them, confident they are safe behind the Red Army front line.  Unfortunately for them, the master of the approaching storm is none other than the German panzer leader Heinz Guderian, and the defensive front on which they are depending has already been shattered.   

The beautiful summer day which is beginning so peacefully is about to turn into a day of death and desperation...

Smolensk '41 features 1 km hexes, 2 hour turns, with a map measuring over 300 hexes by 200 hexes.  Over 1500 battalion sized units represent PanzerGruppes Guderian and Hoth, the supporting Infantry Divisions of Army Group Center, and the massive forces of the Soviet Western Front.  *Nineteen scenarios* are included and the editor allows for creation of countless scenarios.

Supports single person play against the computer, two-person hot-seat, two-person Play-By-E-Mail, and multiplayer network play over LANs and the Internet.

Complete on-line Help documentation plus on-line printable documentation in Microsoft Word format. All documentation is on the CD. No printed manual is included.

When asked, veteran playtester and computer gamer John Kincaid, said what he liked best about playing Smolensk `41:

"Talk about having fun! For me, there's nothing like a good Email game with realistic "fog of war", and Smolensk delivers that in spades. I have to admit, that as the German player, I began the game with quite a feeling of power. But, as I found out to my cost, in battles like this power can be fleeting - so you need use it well."

"The following few pictures from our game conclusively demonstrate how what you don't know can absolutely hurt you. To set up the situation, Smolensk is the objective and I've given the 17th Panzer Division the task of heading east towards it. The division's advance is in a sector with a good road, and which does not require bridging a major water obstacle. The Dnepr River, which flows east and south through Orsha, will provide some degree of protection on the right flank. However, Orsha itself is a major crossing point, and the advance remains at risk until it can be taken. Even so, I decide nothing must slow down the attack against the disintegrating Soviet forces. So the town will have to wait for the infantry. The 17th Panzer Division will press on. "

1) Recon units lead the 17th Panzer as it travels east along the road.

2) As I anticipated, the Russians are dug in along the east side of a fordable stream. They should be little trouble for the 17th Panzer Division with some Artillery assets thrown in from the parent 47th Corps.

 

 

 

 

3) The combined artillery fire and assault of the Panzers have cleared the Russians from their improved positions.
Two Russian units have broken and headed east. As a precaution, I've sent a recon unit skirting around the woods to the south.

4) But things are not always as they seem. As night falls two turns later, the Russian 5th Mech Corps (comprised of
the 13th and 17th Tank Divisions) slams into the southern flank of the Panzer Division. Where is that infantry?!

Players control tank, reconnaissance, artillery, infantry, engineer, antitank, flak, rocket, headquarters, and a wide variety of other specialized units.

Scenarios range from a series of 10 short starter scenarios, through intermediate historical scenarios, up to the full 170 turn campaign game. Also included is an optional "what-if" parachute drop scenario with the 7th Flieger Division. *Read about the 19 Scenarios included.*

 

2D or 3D mode -need larger images here. Same with scen and OOB editors.

 

Experience authentic WW2 operational-level combat in the vast White Russian steppes and forests.

 

Minimum Requirements

- 1 GHz Pentium CPU

- 512 MB RAM

- 300 MB Hard Drive

- Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7 (Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft))

Panzer Campaigns Series Summary

Smolensk '41 Soviet Strategy Guide