Nemo vs CyberGeneral [Archive]

nemo

24 Mar 04, 08:57

INITIAL MOVES
PanzerzÃ¼ge are used to trap enemy aircraft on interdiction mission by moving them along the railways in the immediate vicinity of German fighter bases (all fighters on AS, ignore losses). All three trains are subject to air attacks but apparent kill ratio jumps at 11:102 before the first combat round is resolved.
On the northern sector of the front, all Italian units dug in on hexes with less than 100% entrenchment are put in mobile status before digging in again to increase the defensive value of the terrain. Same procedures applies for all units due to posterior activation.

PLANNING
LVII. PzK is to punch through the Soviet 4CC and 51A units facing it and progress through Shestakov, Abganerovo to link up with 6. Armee troops in the region of Tinguta. 17. PzD will be alloted to the operation.
XLVIII. PzK will support the relief opeartion by attacking through Bolshin and Ostrov in the direction of Kalach.
6. Armee will move the most part of its artillery between Pitomnik, Stalingrad and Yelchi in order to support operations in the southern area of the pocket and prepare the planned breakthrough between Gavrilovska and Beketovka. All overstacked hexes in the Soviet line are to be subjected to drain supply attacks and bled white before the enemy launches his own attacks on the Stalingrad pocket. The density of troops in the Stalingrad hex, way too high, has to be lowered to acceptable levels (yellow counter at least). 304. ID and 306. ID will be sent north to prepare defensive positions on key terrain features along the probable Soviet avenue of approach after little Saturn is launched.
The Rumanian 6 Corps is sent towards Nitzsky Chirskaya to reinforce the bridgehead over the Don and prevent 51A RC from moving freely against the southern flank of XLVIII. PzK.

RESULTS
Liberal use of supply drain attacks was made against Soviet troops surrounding Stalingrad. 6 combat rounds were expended with some measure of progress made towards assigned objectives. So far, several soviet units have evaporated, unfortunately not surrounded (their remaining equipment will thus go to the soviet replacement pool) :
- 115 RB
- 235 TB
- 160 RB
- 138 RD
- 64 RD
- 343 RD
- 149 RB
- 95 RD

LVII. PzK has reached the Aksay river and is poised to storm Shestakov on next turn. The cavalry corps opposing it has been dealt enough blows to render it useless in combat. But a mechanized corps lies in the way between Abganerovo and Kangata. XLVIII. PzK on the northern bank of the river is making slow progress towards Ostrov while driving a wedge at the junction of 5TA and 51A. 17. PzD has crossed the Don at Krasnoarsky and supports the northern flank of LVII. PzK drive.
The air report states a final 21 to 224 aircraft shot down
Enemy Held Objectives : 0
Enemy Loss Penalty : 6
Friendly Held Objectives : 150
Friendly Loss Penalty : 1
Victory Level : 155 (OV)

nemo

24 Mar 04, 08:59

In the attached image, the situation of XLVIII. PzK at the end of turn 2.

nemo

24 Mar 04, 09:01

Attached screenshot showing tactical situation of the LVII. PzK at the end of turn 2.

nemo

24 Mar 04, 09:05

Last screenshot, showing the general situation in the southern and central sections of the front, at the end of turn 2.

nemo

27 Mar 04, 09:19

ENEMY DISPOSITIONS
The enemy has conducted heavy supply drain / overkill attacks on the Stalingrad pocket without breaching the line and at the cost of several broken up units evaporations. 51A troops have been spotted moving north and 13MC west, in an attempt to block LVII. PzK progression towards 6. Armee. In the northern part of the front, 1GA, 3GA and 2GA have made contact with German, Italian or Rumanian troops and have in some places registered some successes. 5TA has moved to block XLVIII. PzK drive towards Kalach and protect Ostrov.

TROOPS
385. ID has been released for active duty at the western edge of the map.

OPERATIONS
LVII. and XLVIII. PzK will continue pushing east towards Abganerovo and Kalach respectively. 6. PzD and 23. PzD will smash through 13MC while 15. LFD will continue pressuring 51A Rifle Corps troops and the remnants of 4CC opposing it. In the meantime17. PzD will try to attain the defenders northern flank. In the XLVIII. PzK area of responsability, 11. PzD and 336. ID will push east through 5SA and 1TC units and reach Kalach, thus forming the northern extremity of the corridor to be opened to Stalingrad. The intermediate aim is to bag as many soviet units as posssible between both advancing Panzerkorps to eliminate them permanently in the shortest order.
304. and 306. ID are to be railed north to strengthen the Italian sector and its impending collapse.
All corps and above headquarters within the Stalingrad pocket are to be regrouped in the centre of it, out of reach of Soviet artillery and ready to exit through the safe corridor to be opened by LVII. and XLVIII. PzK. Around the pocket, the enemy has corrected the overstacked initial deployment but many of his units are showing red. The main effort will be made towards the south, in the Gavrilovka area and up north in the direction of Kalach and its bridge over the Don.
All available combat engineer units in both Panzerkorps are to be brought to the front to repair bridges or at least provide bridging capacity to the advancing troops.
In the northern sector, the enemy has left several units on super river hexes - defending units will conduct limited attacks where possible to repulse these forces and prevent the enemy from too easily gaining a bridgehead over the Don.
385. ID will be railed south of Chertkovo, in a central/northern position to be alloted to a sector next turn according to the operational situation.

RESULTS
Two tactical rounds only were conducted with a somewhat premature end of turn leaving most of the advancing units with sometimes half their movement allowance and on mobile status.
Operations against soviet units left over river hexes met some success :
- east of Georgievski (54,27) a soviet cavalry brigade positioned on the river hex is forced into retreat before combat by Rumanian 5 Corps, which returns to dig in behind the river afterwards.
- 38RD from 2GA was repulsed from its positions in Chern (49,18)
- 346RD from 5TA was thrown out of hex 53,22
- 1RD from 6GRC knew the same fate at hex 35,7
All other soviet units, sometimes a single cavalry brigade, remained impervious to all attacks launched at them.
XLVIII. PzK made very smell progress towards Ostrov, heavily defended by 1TC. Bridges over the Don were successfully reconstructed at Bolshin and engineer units positioned at 66,29 to ensure a safe crossing for the armoured troops.
In the LVII. PzK sector, Shestakov fell to 503. Sch. Pzr Abteilung and a reconnaissance spearhead is closing on Abganerovo.
6. Armee has conducted costly attacks in the Gavrilovka and Kalach areas but to no significant avail.
Air operations were disappointing when compared with the results of turn 2, with a mere 11:22 ratio in favour of the Luftwaffe. German air superiority is nonetheless uncontested for the time being.

Enemy held objectives : 0
Enemy loss penalty : 4
Friendly held objectives : 150
Friendly loss penalty : 3
Victory level : 151 (OV)

CONCLUSIONS
I am not exactly jumping with joy about this turn as progress is slow to say the least. No conclusive result has been attained as of now but on the other hand I remain confident that the objectives for both Panzerkorps can be attained within a few turns.

In the attached images, end of turn situation for XLVIII. and LVII. PzK and overview of the central part of the front.

RavenStrike

27 Mar 04, 10:50

How do you and others get these snapshots of portions of the battlefield. Do you do it from the game menu or another tool. When I try in the game I can only get the entire scenario map.

Thanx.

Furocity

27 Mar 04, 11:30

From the game you create the entire image.

Then I open it with microsoft Photo, save it as a JPEG.
Then open with Paint Shop Pro or another program. Cut out what you want, then add whatever and save it :)

nemo

29 Mar 04, 02:30

I use Paint Shop Pro and its 'capture' feature. It allows me to select and capture only the desired area within the TOAW window, thus saving me the hassle of managing huge TGA files ;). I only use the dump map image when I need the entire map as an image - and then proceed as Furocity explains.

Hope it helps

viridomaros

30 Mar 04, 04:29

well just hit the print screen key ( up insert, home and so on) then open an image editor ( paint, photoshop, paintshopro) and hit shift+insert then you will have the image, last step is to save it under jpeg format not bmp one ( you have to select it as bmp is the default one)

RavenStrike

30 Mar 04, 15:11

Thanx for all the help.

nemo

31 Mar 04, 08:21

ENEMY DISPOSITIONS
The enemy has continued his heavy supply drain / overkill attacks on the Stalingrad pocket, managing several evaporations, most notably among 14. PzK units. In the northern sector, IT II Corps has been pushed back from its positions by troops of the 4GRC and 1GA. In the southern sector, units of 13MC have gathered around the reconnaissance spearhead of 6. PzD but without being able to repulse it. 3GA has taken action against XVII. Korps sector and pushed back some units of the 62. ID but without endangering the integrity of the front there.

TROOPS
27. PzD has arrived at the western edge of the map, ready to be engaged.

OPERATIONS
Troop density is to remain within reasonable limits, i.e. not beyond the yellow level as the enemy has shown his willingness to resort to supply drain / artillery attacks if dense targets are offered him.

Central sector

LVII. PzK will continue its push towards Abganerovo and beyond through troops of 13MC and 51A. 6. PzD and 23. PzD will take the lead while 17. PzD and 15. LFD will secure the northern flank of the progression by seizing the Myshkova river line.
XLVIII. PzK will seize Ostrov and fight its way to Kalach against 1TC. The bridgehead over the Don in this sector has to be secured to ensure the relief of 6. Armee.
Rumanian 6th Corps will continue to pin down as many forces of the 51A Rifle Corps as possible, thus relieving the pressure on the northern flank of LVII. PzK.
6. Armee will press on its attacks on Gavrilovka and Beketovka while continuing to bring forward as much firepower as possible in the southern part of the pocket. Two soviet stacks glowing in orange will be subjected to artillery overkill attacks (73,29 and 81,22).
Northern Sector

385. ID will be detrained and deployed north of Chertkovo to meet the threat posed by 4GRC and backup IT II Corps. Any opportunity of surrounding enemy units taking part in a breakthrough during next turns will be seized. 304. ID will also march north from their actual deployment around Degetevo along with 306. ID to provide support and thwart the soviet effort in this sector. (387. ID will be available from turn 7 onwards to provide additional firepower if needed).
27. PzD will be railed to Morozovsk and detrain there during next turn to be employed by XLVIII. PzK in its drive east. Two rail engineer regiments will be alloted to LVII. PzK to reestablish rail service through Shestakov. Another rail unit will be assigned to XLVIII. PzK. Probes will be made by 8. and 15. LFD towards Oblivskaya and Suronivko to secure the railroad beyond the river and threaten 5TA southern flank.
Southern sector

Rumanian 7th Corps cavalry divisions will continue digging in while Corps troops will continue preparing fall back positions behind the line.
RESULTS
8 combat rounds were expended during the turn, with rather good progress registered for all sectors.
Abganerovo fell to LVII. PzK after bloody battles against 13MC. The armoured corps spearheads are now 4 hexes away from the Stalingrad pocket were troops of 6. Armee have managed a tenuous hold of Beketovka and Gavrilovka.
XLVIII. PzK has had a more difficult going as it faces a more numerous enemy on a narrower and congested front. Ostrov nevertheless fell to 11. PzD and the Korps is four hexes away also from the pocket. But 6. Armee failed to make any progress towards Kalach and the difficult terrain is swarming with enemy armoured and mechanized units. On the northern flank of the corps, combined efforts by 7. and 8. LFD brought to the conquest of Oblivskaya and a bridgehead over the river against fierce defence by 5TA.
Italians of IT II Corps have managed to push back the 41GD that had driven a wedge in their position at 30,6 and reestablished a coherent defence in the sector. KG Stumpfeld freed Georgievski (53,27) of soviet presence, as did 22. PzD at hex 51,20.

German air superiority is maintained and the final kill ratio establishes itself at 12:52.

Enemy held objectives : 0
Enemy loss penalty : 6
Friendly held objectives : 150
Friendly loss penalty : 6
Victory level : 150 (OV)

All in all, a not so bad turn with some progress registered towards objectives. The losses though begin to mount for both armoured corps.
The attached images show the situation in both armoured corps sectors of operations and give an overview of the central area of the front at the conclusion of the turn.

viridomaros

31 Mar 04, 08:41

nemo

31 Mar 04, 10:04

here is a piece of advice, watch your flank east chestakov (in the south east) because the soviet have some units there that can cut your supply line, try to find some units to protect your rear, don't thrust the roumanian in the south because once some units of the soviet player will be activated they will be outnumbered and easily overwhelmed. good luck nemo :cheeky:Thanks Viridomaros, it is indeed a point I did not comment in the ongoing AAR. After much thoughts, I left the southern flank of LVII. PzK pretty much in the open on purpose, trying to keep as much momentum as possible upfront towards 6. Armee.

What lies south east of 23. PzD is the Rifle Corps of 51A and remnants of 51A itself and 13MC, all beaten and broken up, showing red and hopefully partly in reorganization. Further south, 28A will activate this turn but its rifle units have a movement allowance of 6 only, so it will not be able to threaten this flank before two or three turns. And if it does, it will have to deal with the Rumanian 7th Corps in its own right flank.
With an opponent such as mine, I have nonetheless to plan for the worst case. If needed, I think I will be able to dispatch two of three armoured / mechanized units to deal with any threat forming out of this sector - but this will slow my advance towards 6. Armee and lend the initiative to CyberGeneral, which could prove costly. If at all possible, I want to keep him busy trying to stop my advance towards Stalingrad instead of threatening my flanks... :cheeky:

And as the one in my avatar used to have for motto : Klotzen, nicht kleckern (smash, do not spatter :devil: )

Best of luck to you too - how is it going with plutonico? I did not see any update for a couple of weeks.

Nemo

viridomaros

31 Mar 04, 17:12

nemo

01 Apr 04, 02:44

we are on turn 7, but i lost the initiative now in he has some major succes in the south, i had early turn ending for two turns which really annoyed me, i think i can link up with 6 army next turn if i'm a bit luckyKeep up the good work. I had an early turn end too on turn 2 (2 combat rounds only) and I think I found the reason why : some units (Panzerjaeger or Sturmgeschutz if I remember correctly) have a movement allowance of 1. If you have them take part in an attack, even if they did not move at all before, you will find yourself with 70% or 80% of your turn eaten up :dead:.
Hope this helps!

viridomaros

01 Apr 04, 02:46

no, i didn't attack with units that don't have a movement at least 10 mp otherwise you risk losing rounds, but even with this, i had two early turn ending :hmmm:

Panzerpelle

01 Apr 04, 04:51

Keep up the good work. I had an early turn end too on turn 2 (2 combat rounds only) and I think I found the reason why : some units (Panzerjaeger or Sturmgeschutz if I remember correctly) have a movement allowance of 1. If you have them take part in an attack, even if they did not move at all before, you will find yourself with 70% or 80% of your turn eaten up :dead:.
Hope this helps!
Could you tell me wich unit..Its not my intension to have a unit like that...

nemo

01 Apr 04, 05:28

Hello Pelle! Great fun we are having with your scenario, whatever the outcome.
The unit in question is the 14. Panzerjaeger Abteilung from 14. PzD and it is not designed with a 1 movement allowance. I mistakenly spoke of turn 2 (meaning second turn of combat, i.e. turn 3 :o ). By that time, artillery and friction had taken their toll on the limited transport assets (5 trucks out of 22, 0 tracked tractor out of 18) of the unit and reduced it to a 1 movement allowance because of its organic 75mm AT guns which require transport. It is not a problem related to scenario design but rather to (more) careful planning on my side ;).
The attached screenshots show the unit report on turn 1 and turn 4.

Panzerpelle

01 Apr 04, 06:45

Furocity

01 Apr 04, 11:06

nemo

02 Apr 04, 02:00

That was a relife...And thanks for the kind words on the scenario...It has been three or four years since I started working on it...This Tourney is alomost as getting a baby born...one hope its OK and and with all fingers attached...It is a damn good scenario and there is quite a lot of work in it. I do have somewhere on one of my hard drives a TOAW I (?) early version of it : it barely resembles the one we are playing (except for the beginning of the briefing)...
Hope this massive simultaneous playtesting, apart from providing fun for the players, ends up with some useful output for you ;).

Nemo

nemo

02 Apr 04, 02:10

Interesting, this is good information, I have never looked in depth at the losses within a unit and what kind of impact it might have in regards to movement and combat rounds.

I had 2 turns that ended up with 2 combat rounds, and I could not figure out why either, I just assumed that that the axis allies messed up their orders and the High Command had to send them again :)Gee! what a relief to know I am not the only one to have turns end early on me :D...
I now double check things before launching turn resolution : movement allowances, attack planner dialog, proficiency of units involved in crucial attacks, stack density, terrain modifiers, safety belt, life jacket, is the front door locked, where did I put my car keys, did I unplugged the phone... :nuts:
Looks like it works : I scrapped 8 combat rounds from turn 4, though I fear this will not last past turn 5 and the end of positive Axis shock :dead:

Panzerpelle

02 Apr 04, 03:07

It is a damn good scenario and there is quite a lot of work in it. I do have somewhere on one of my hard drives a TOAW I (?) early version of it : it barely resembles the one we are playing (except for the beginning of the briefing)...
Hope this massive simultaneous playtesting, apart from providing fun for the players, ends up with some useful output for you ;).

Nemo
Yes this is very good for the scenario balance and to get a feeling of the tweaks it needs eventually....But I hope you all feels that it is playable in the present state...

viridomaros

02 Apr 04, 08:12

thanks for your scenario mr pelle, it is one of the best i have ever played, i really like the fact you have some theater options, it adds something to the game, i also like the fact that your scenario respect history as well as being balanced ( at least it seems to be, if i loose the game i might change my mind :rolleyes: )
now look at mikej's game it seems he has found a really good strategy for this scenario

Panzerpelle

02 Apr 04, 08:46

Furocity

02 Apr 04, 09:53

I agree that MikeJ found a pretty good strategy, however, it takes two to tango.

From Mikej's comments thus far, it sounds like his opponent did not adapt to the threat.

If history has taunt us one thing, it is to learn to adapt. For instance, WWII, why were the French using WWI tactics during the initial onslaught? A simple answer is: their leadership were a bunch of old Generals who were set in their ways and failed to adapt to new tactics and failed to assess the threat and react.

Mikej launched a bold attack with high risks, it paid off. Sometimes the most audacious plan is the most successfull. There are many cases of this throughout history.

At the very minimum, Mikej's opponent should of tried to contain the situation, but he didn't. Then he might have a chance, but he didn't.

I will admit one artificiality of the game is when units are activated. If I was a Army commander, and 5-10 kilometers away, I saw Axis forces manuevering to my left and right, I think I would react. However the game does not allow this, therefore units can get encircled and destroyed.

This is almost like having perfect intelligence: "Sir, we were told that 4th Tank Army commander will not do anything for 4 days, hence Sir, I recommend that we encircle them and destroy them... "

Prior to playing the game, I am sure everyone did the hotseat option, and got that perfect intel, Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield. I can see the analysis of the terrain and some analysis of units, BUT to know when a unit will activate or not might be unrealistic. Unless the units were disorganized and disrupted, in chaos, retreating...

IPB deals with knowing the enemy (order of battle, and their commanders), knowing the terrain (key terrain like bridges, rail heads for example), knowing the weather (is the weather good for the operation I have planned in order for me to shape the battlefield?), and knowing your own capabilities.

Panzerpelle

02 Apr 04, 11:19

Furocity

02 Apr 04, 11:28

I am all for it, activation radius makes sense.

viridomaros

02 Apr 04, 11:43

not sure mikej will be happy to see this :rolleyes:
but it will make the game more fair i think

MikeJ

02 Apr 04, 16:55

From Mikej's comments thus far, it sounds like his opponent did not adapt to the threat.

I thought he wanted to force me to stop my attack by crushing the Italians.. everything indicated to me that this was the case.. but he's not attacking them very hard so I don't know. I'm usually fairly good at anticipating what is going to happen, but I'm lost with respect to my current opponent. He attacked a little more aggressively at first but he pushed guards divisions through my lines (seems a lot of people do this rather than widening the breach) which were encircled and destroyed (mostly anyways, I failed to destroy a couple of divisions that were cut off and he was able to re-establish contact).

At the very minimum, Mikej's opponent should of tried to contain the situation, but he didn't. Then he might have a chance, but he didn't.

I agree, but to be fair he did not have too many options. For certain though, he should have stripped at *least* 2nd Guards Army from it's northern deployment and moved them south. It would have saved 3rd Guards Army, though 5 Tank Army was probably a lost cause. He could have bought time with them though (instead he moved it to their movement limit without digging them in, which made destroying them very easy). Maybe even counter-attackd my southern wing (which was relatively weak) from both sides of the Don.

One thing to keep in mind about this scenario scale, though... the Soviet players get the short end of the stick.

Flank assaults hardly affect the Axis player. Those big Rumanian divisions and corps are in the same boat as the Russians, but everything else is regimental or battalion and flank assaults don't do much at that scale. On the flip side, the Soviet divisions are stuffed full of passive equipment (because of the scale) which makes flank assaults extremely effective against them.

In addition to that, the scale also means that unit density is a major issue for the Soviet player. Retreat a Soviet divison into another (and let's say the other is fortified and at full strength) and you can easily crush both with a strong flank assault on the stack. You don't even need to dig the unit out, the enormous losses you will inflict on a red-orange stack will usually force them to retreat immediately.

I will admit one artificiality of the game is when units are activated. If I was a Army commander, and 5-10 kilometers away, I saw Axis forces manuevering to my left and right, I think I would react. However the game does not allow this, therefore units can get encircled and destroyed.

This is true, although I will point out that 3rd Guards army faces the strongest part of the German line. It opposes a solid line of healthy German infantry divisions with some (relatively capable) Rumanian divisions sprinkled in. With early game Axis shock, the Soviet player can only shift so much of 3rd Guards army, but it would beat not being able to shift anything (unless the German player accidentally moves next to one of the units, triggering it's activation prematurely).

MikeJ

02 Apr 04, 16:58

Good comments...what about placing some trigger hexes with an radius in the rear areas of the Soviet forces...when activated they triggers a fomation orders change for the 1 gds and 2 gds armies...? And one can think of doing the same in the Italian sector...if the Soviets attack early and succeds in penetrating the Italian front it will trigger an early activation of the Italian Army with Attached German infantry divs...? Just an idea to solve the problem...if it is a problem at all....

It's a good idea, you just need to be careful about where you place the trigger hexes and make sure the players know precisely where they are. Given my experiences with EA, the latter half of that isn't going to be easy if you just list them in the briefing. Better to mark such zones on the map, provided it doesn't look too ugly.

nemo

06 Apr 04, 04:46

All right gentlemen, let us get this thread back on tracks!:D

TURN 5 (December 15th, 1942)

ENEMY DISPOSITIONS
The enemy has continued his offensives moves all along the front. Part of IT II Corps units are surrounded west of Boguchan by soviet troops pouring out of their foothold on the southern bank of the Don. Further south, Rumanian 1 Corps 11th and 7th Divisions are trapped very much in the same manner.
2GA has come into action south of Chern, in between the 3GA units, pushing back 22. PzD units. 5TA has pushed weak cavalry brigades in a surrounding hook behind KG Spang and KG Stumpfled and a motorized probe sneaking just east of Oblivskaya.
In the central part of the front, Ostrov has been retaken from XLVIII. PzK while 51A, 4MC and 13MC are still in the way of LVII. PzK.
In the southern part, 28A has closed on Rumanian 7 Corps but without attacking yet (maybe awaiting the shock bonus from Little Saturn).
Attacks on 6. Armee were murderous and the northern sector is beginning to show signs of wear as Kotlubak is now in soviet hands. Don Front units were spotted during the replay thickening the circle around Stalingrad in its southern part, without getting out of their marked positions on the map, probably in order to make the link up ever more difficult for the advancing armoured corps. South east of Shestakov, broken up units of 51A and 13MC are slowly advancing towards LVII. PzK open flank.

TROOPS
No reinforcements this turn. The whole of KG Spang is in reorganization, thus available only for defensive operations, as is 16. PzD within the Stalingrad pocket.

OPERATIONS

Central sector
LVII. PzK will continue its advance until it reached a Gavrilovga-Tinguta line and links up with 6. Armee. 6. PzD and 23. PzD will bear the brunt of the fighting forward but for RV von Pannawitz (23. PzD) and 57. Pioniere (6. PzD) which will be sent south to beat back the would-be raiders of 51A. 15. LFD and 17. PzD will clear their area of operations up to a line running from Shir Sta to Verkhny Kumsky.
XLVIII. PzK will seize Ostrov again and get beyond to provide a starting base for further operations against Kalach. 11. PzD and 336. ID are in the lead while 7. LFD will reestablish the situation around Oblivskaya by destroying the soviet wedge in its lines. 27. PzD will detrain at its current position and join the attack on the northern bank of the river.

Northern sector
A mass of maneuvre will be formed by 385. ID, 306. ID, and 304. ID to try to encircle and destroy any soviet spearhead. 298. ID will be extricated from its overexposed positions and fall back on hopefully safer positions. Further south, 22. PzD, 62. ID and 294. ID will have to play a similar role by providing strong shoulders funneling soviet advances.
When in contact, Italian troops will fight in place, counterattacking soviet units when found in mobile status, digging in and praying if the odds are too unbalanced.
KG Stumpfeld and a mixed bag of infantry units from Armeeabteilung Hollidt will deal with the cavalry units wandering in the rear of KG Spang.

Southern sector
Rumanian 7 Corps will dig in when and where possible against the advancing 28A.

RESULTS
3 combat rounds were alloted this turn. I took the risk of heavy attacks when 40% of turn were left only after combat round 2 so all the attacking units from round 2 are pretty much in the open, i.e. on mobile status. The good point is that the enemy may be low also on movement after being pushed back.
LVII. PzK and the recon battalion from 24. PzD have established contact soutwest of Gavrilovka. The link up is not properly establish and the link will probably be severed again next turn as two hexes are empty of troops behind the advancing recon unit. LVII. PzK nevertheless accomplished much of its objectives even if a relatively strong enemy presence remains in its operational rear betweeen Chir Sta and Verkhny Kumsky; 17. PzD and 15. LFD were not enough of a force to deal with this task during this turn. The southern flank of the advance has been secured so far as the northernmost units of Rumanian 7 Corps and RV von Pannawitz were sufficient to keep the threat in check.
XLVIII. PzK had a pretty much tougher going as it is still inching forward near Ostrov. Only a recon battalion holds the town against the expected heavy enemy counterattack. Its northern flank has seen the commitment of 27. PzD which helped the Luftwaffe field divisions deal with the onslaught of 5TA and check it for the time being.

Northern sector
Italian units were sent back to digging in duties after the first combat round as their losses were simply not in keeping with those inflicted on the enemy (typically 20% or higher to 0%). German infantry divisions are regrouped behind the front for a later commitment.
The cavalry corps of 5TA lurking behind KG Stamp is beginning to be dealt with. 5TA resources are not infinite and attacking westwards and southwards at the same time could prove too much for this army. Opportunities for German breakthrough in the sector could arise during next turns.

Air losses were of 6 aircraft for 140 claimed victories over soviet airmen.
Enemy held objectives : 2
Enemy loss penalty : 8
Friendly held objectives : 148
Friendly loss penalty : 6
Victory level : 148 (OV)
All values from last .SAV file as I forgot to record them at the end of the turn...

The usual attached images, showing detailed end of turn situation for LVII. PzK and XLVIII. PzK and general overviews for the central and northern part of the front.

nemo

06 Apr 04, 04:56

Temporary conclusions at turn 5 (before Little Saturn)

I am ready to give ground in the north in order to keep the initiative in the south. Objectives for turns 5 to 10 are :

reestablish operational contact and normal supply conditions for 6. Armee
begin destruction of soviet left wing, inclusive 5TA if possible with 6. Armee and 4. Pz Armee
contain soviet right wing advance mainly with Italian troops and German infantry (two more divisions will be available by turn 7)
I expect CyberGeneral to unleash part of Don Front units to block the advance of LVII. Panzerkorps as I deliberately entered the "*" marked area. I want 6. Armee back in the line as soon as possible and I had rather engage (and defeat :D) Don Front troops with relatively strong armoured and mechanized formations than have a go at them with my depleted troops in the Stalingrad pocket.

All this may prove wildly optimistic but I will just not wait for CyberGeneral to eat me up in some sort of soviet meatgrinder ;)...

nemo

08 Apr 04, 03:28

TURN 6 (December 16th, 1942)

ENEMY DISPOSITIONS
The enemy has, as planned, pushed back with heavy losses the XIV. PzK recon spearhead that had established contact with the advancing LVII. PzK. The soviet Don Front, seconded by South Front troops, has reconstituted a makeshift three hex wide defensive line in the sector. Remnants of 51A are also being pushed in the armoured corps' southern flank, in a slow and unconvincing progression towards Abganerovo or Shestakov.
Against XLVIII. PzK, further penetrations were made by 5TA in the northern flank of the advance, threatening to cut altogether the armoured corps supply line at Lissinki. Soviet units however are considerably weakened and failed to dislodge 27. PzD which in turn threatens their open flank.
5TA western offensive has continued against KG Spang und KG Stumpfeld, with numerous units pouring in through the single hex wide opening at 52,25.
The northern part of the Stalingrad pocket is collapsing as the enemy has pushed a tank brigade all the way to the Gumrak airfield, now directly threatened.
28A in the south has taken the offensive against Rumanian 7 Corps and its two cavalry divisions but it does not seem strong enough to wage a battle of encirclement and annihilation.
In the northern sector, operation Little Saturn was launched with telling effects on the brittle Italian units. After several retreats before combats, the Soviets have managed several penetrations against IT II Corps in the direction of Rossoh and IT XXIX Corps. Further south, 3GA and elements of 2GA are on the offensive against Rumanian 2 Corps, with the obvious intent of cutting through the weaker part of the line to trap strong German units and destroy them piecemeal.

TROOPS
No reinforcements during this turn (the two infantry divisions released next turn will come handy to be sure). In the bad news section, 23. PzD from LVII. PzK and 336. ID from XLVIII. PzK are both reorganizing, which means that the advancing edges of both armoured corps have their offensive firepower halved for all practical purposes. IT XXXV Corps is also unavailable for offensive duties, due also to reorganization.

OPERATIONS
Long range artillery attacks (with battalions that have their full movement allowance) will be directed at hexes entrenched or fortified, to put as many soviet units as possible in mobile status before launching the main assault.

Central sector
LVII. PzK will resume its offensive in a northeastern direction to establish a corridor to the Stalingrad pocket, wide enough to be immune to enemy reaction in the sector. 23. PzD will dig in and leave 6. PzD the task of cutting through enemy lines. 17. PzD and 15. LFD will continue their clearing of the Verkhny Kumsky area to provide support and flank security to the corps. Corps 294. Pionier Abteilung and 15. LFD Pioniere Abteilung will move towards Kargata to keep the advancing soviet units in check and if possible throw them back - no other unit can be diverted from the front immediatly to encircle and destroy the threat.
XLVIII. PzK task is twofold. The corps' top priority is to reestablish flank and communications security along the Kalinovski-Surovinko line. 27. PzD will attack north and south of the river and clear the area with the aid of 7. LFD. 11. PzD will lend support to the operation by holding Bolshin and trying to eliminate enemy presence in its immediate vicinity. A penetration due north from the Oblivskaya area could even be tempted if tactical results allow for it, as it would cut 5TA in two and thwart at least its western offensive between Georgievski and Petrovka.
6. Armee must break free this turn or face dismembering at the hands of 24A and 65A attacking from the north. What is left of 14. PzK north of Stalingrad will attack the armoured dash the enemy has made against Gumrak. An infantry regiment will be diverted from frontline defence to man the supply point and all other units will leave the village (to comply with house rules). Main attack will take place between Beketovka and Gavrilovka, due south, to establish a firm linkup with the rescuers. Secondary attacks will be launched from the Martinovka stronghold towards Kalach and its vital bridge.

Northern sector
306. ID will move towards 28,7 to form a southern shoulder to the soviet advance there and if possible cut the soviet bulge at its base. 385. ID and 298. ID to the south will stem 1GA advance out of Boguchan. As for the threat to Rossoh in the northernmost part of the theatre, the Italian Alpine Corps will have to make do with what it has under hand. 304. ID will attack an try to entrap the 6GRC units that have ripped apart IT XXIX Corps.
5TA western offensive will be dealt with with troops readily available. Their advance will be delayed by an ad hoc infantry force from Armeeabteilung Hollidt and scratch force from 22. PzD attacking from the north. The base of the penetration will be attacked to sever the line of communications and supply of the advancing units. Given the paucity of strong German units in the sector, success is not guaranteed.

Southern sector
Rumanian 7 Corps troops will reinforce its most endangered sectors of the front (around Kiselevka) and prepare to fall back as slowly as possible.

RESULTS
3 combat rounds were expended during the turn. During first combat round, the heavy artillery attacks proved unsuccesful as they did not suppress the fortification level of many entrenched enemy units if any.
Central sector
6. PzD had a field day at the expense of enemy forces opposing it as it cut through several hexes of enemy defence to reestablish contact with 6. Armee outposts south of Gavrilovka. Enemy reaction will probably severe the link again but more firepower has been brought forward and several soviet units seem to have taken a significant beating in the process. It is expected that a stable linkup can be established with the Stalingrad pocket by the end of next turn, provided the availability of the whole armoured corps. In the corps' rear, the Myshkova northern banks have been secured and the enemy repulsed from Verkhny Kumsky with great losses. The weak probes against the southern flank have been dealt with accordingly and the enemy is in full retreat all along the sector.
6. Armee rushed and entrenched a motorized infantry regiment in Gumrak but the threat to the supply point could not be removed for want of mobile enough units nearby. Attacks along the southern edge of the pocket were met with mixed successes and great losses but managed nevertheless to sloghtly expand the pocket towards south.
XLVIII. PzK continued its advance east of Ostrov but failed to take Surovinko. The threat to Bolshin is not neutralized yet. Its western wing fared much better as it crossed the river in strength, tearing the centre of 5TA apart and threatening its rear. It is hoped that this will help release the pressure on Bolshin and Georgievski, at both extremities of 5TA's front.

Northern sector
The cavalry brigades sent in Armeeabteilugn Hollidt's rear have been cut off but the enemy bulge remains pretty much intact, as well as the gaping hole in the line of KG Stumpfeld.
In the northernmost sector, German infantry units are barring the way to the soviet advance where breakthroughs have been achieved by the enemy, before beign able to cut off the salients and destroy them in detail. However, the Italian line remains brittle at best and other soviet penetrations are to be expected in the near future.

Southern sector
The Rumanian troops achieved altogether good results, notably 7 Corps which achieved the destruction of 248RD, one of the most powerful units of 28A. All that is left in contact are brigade strength formations that the cavalry corps should be able to deal with.

Enemy held objectives : 4
Enemy loss penalty : 11
Friendly held objectives : 146
Friendly loss penalty : 8
Victory level : 145 (OV)
Air tally : 15 to 45

ATTACHED IMAGES
Tactical situation after completion of turn for both armoured corps and overviews of the ongoing 'western' offensive by 5TA, the central part of the front and the northern sector of it.

nemo

08 Apr 04, 03:36

On a side note, I remain (happily) surprised at the fragility of some Soviet rifle divisions. 248RD from 28A was in the 15 attack / 20 defence range. I surrounded it with what I had at hand, namely Rumanian engineer and cavalry parties with low offensive value and attacked it twice with what I thought were weak probes, designed to wear it down. And it simply evaporated, leaving 28A with the single 34GRD and a few rifle brigades... Probably its 48% proficiency level at the opening of the game did not bring it any good when in combat.

nemo

14 Apr 04, 11:46

A quick note (I am on leave until monday and literaly hijacking my nephew's computer and his 56K connection :dead: ). Been through turns 7 and 8 with CyberGeneral tearing my Ialians to shreds but the linkup is made between LVII. PzK and 6. Armee (a five-hex wide boulevard :) through which Paulus and other Corps headquarters are escaping). Bad news is that the northern end of the <late> pocket has collapsed. Counterattacks are in the making but Gumrak is prone to fall in very short order.
Detailed AARs for both turns are ready along with screenshots but I will not be able to post them before monday.
I sense that next turns can make or break the game but morale remains high :cool:...

nemo

19 Apr 04, 04:25

TURN 7 (December 17th, 1942)

ENEMY DISPOSITIONS
The italian sector was the scene of numerous retreats before combat, also involving parts of 298. ID. 6A and 1GA have torn the Italian frontline to shreds and have pushed rather large amounts of infantry, armour and recon units in the immediate rear. Penetrations around Kantirmirovka and north of Bokovskaya look the more worrying. A combined effort by 3GA, elements of 2GA and 5TA are has disrupted Armeeabteilung Hollidt's defensive system between Chern and Georgievski but units sent in the army detachment's rear are mainly weakened cavalry brigades. Against 7. LFD, 5TA eastern wing has encountered more success as it cut the division by the middle and threatens the whole XLVIII. PzK line of communication. The central part of 5TA failed in turn to counter the armoured thrust of 27. PzD.
65A and 24A are making short work of the northern sector of 6. Armee, considerably thinned out to be true to give the southern wing more offensive punch. If both soviet armies failed to seize Gumrak, they have nonetheless reached positions threatening Stalingrad itself from the rear.
In the southern part of the pocket, the soviets did cut the corridor leading to LVII. PzK but were unable to establish themselves in strength between the assieged and their rescuers. Depleted armour and infantry subunits ontly are barring the way to the armoured spearhead.
51A elements southeast Abganerovo failed to make any significant progress and lie deeply entangled in hostile territory, liable to be heavily counterattacked.
28A has renewed its offensive against Rumanian 7 Corps, surrounding its southernmost elements without destroying them though.

TROOPS
387. ID has been released from OKH reserve at 0,8 and 3. GebD has entered the theatre of operations at 1,37. No other reinforcement or reconsituted unit is expected before turn 18.
IT XXIX Corps is in reorganization, with only a fraction of its elements able to dig in. In the XLVIII. PzK sector, 11. PzD is reorganizing and so is 15. LFD for the LVII. PzK. The Rumanian 6 Corps defending the bridgehead on the Don at Nitzsky Chirskaya is also unable to take part in offensive actions.

OPERATIONS

Central sector
LVII. PzK will establish a wide corridor to the Stalingrad pocket, pushing from hex 75,32 to hex 79,34. The objective is not to push forward a couple of units through a one-hex wide passage but to favout the creation of a stable link-up on a wide a frontage as possible, even at the expense of its realisation this very turn. 6. PzD and 23. PzD will provide the bulk of the firepower, while 17. PzD and 15. LFD will ensure that the corps' northern flank remains stable.
XLVIII. PzK with 7. LFD and 336. ID will seize Surovinko and isolate the enemy penetration in the corps flank. 11. PzD will assume strictly defensive duties while 27. PzD will continue its progression due north and threaten with envelopment the right wing of 5TA.
6. Armee will continue attacking along its southern edge to help LVII. PzK in its efforts forward. Gumrak has to be considered a lost cause but will be defended to the last to keep the enemy occupied with it. All enemy overstacked hexes are to be subjected to artillery overkill attacks whenever possible.

Northern sector
Where available, German infantry divisions will counterattack at the base of the soviet penetrations, thus depriving the enemy spearheads of resupply. 3. GebD will be railed to Milerovo and 387. ID will march towards Novopskov (15,12). The latter will be used against the enemy operations in the Rossoh area and the former against the enemy penetration north of Bokovskaya. All Italian troops are to dig in where they are and fight to the best of their abilty. Rumanian units will be used in a limited offensive role when conditions allow for it.

Southern sector
Rumanian 7 Corps will use most of its availabale firepower to reestablish the tactical situation of its southernmost division. The backbone of 28A, 34GRD is in this sector and its progression has to be checked.

RESULTS
3 combat rounds were conducted this turn. LVII. PzK has managed to create a three to four hex wide corridor to 6. Armee with strong units of 6. PzD and 23. PzD in defensive positions on both sides of the relief cordon. It is expected that it will fend off any enemy reaction during the opposite turn. The valuable Paulus and corps headquarters will begin their evacuation next turn. 17. PzD on its own had a hard time dislodging the soviet force in the northern flank of the corps but few units in that battered force retain any significant offensive potential. 6. Armee counterattacked the enemy's penetration of its northern perimetre but to no avail. In the southern part of the pocket, several successes were registered and 14. PzK were instrumental in widening the opening towards freedom. Supply situation within the (ex)pocket should improve and hopefully transform 6. Armee into an offensive tool again. Stalingrad itself should hold for a turn more, maybe enough to save it altogether as 6. Armee brings the fight back to Don Front.
XLVIII. PzK pretty much isolated the units 5TA launched towards Verchne Solonov and in turn hammered the tank army's centre, ripping due north through the lines of 26TC. The enemy will have to react to this threat or risk losing 5TA as a usable means.
Italian corps were useless on the offensive and had to content themselves with digging in. The northernmost soviet penetration near Rossoh was left to itself and will be dealt with by 387. ID within the next turns. Along the rest of the line, German-led counterattacks met mixed successes, the brightest one being the destruction of a soviet rifle division near Kantirmirovka and the blunting of the combined offensive efforts of 6A and 1GA in the sector. Tactical successes were registered elsewhere with soviet divisions being simply pushed back with few losses. The cavalry corps of 5TA launched west in the rear of Armeeabteilung Hollidt is meeting its fate as it is torn to shreds by the mixed force gathered to counter it. Overall, the most serious threat remains the armoured raid in the IT XXIX Corps sector by units of 2GA with great movement allowances and few German units to contest their mobility. 3. GebD, railed to Millerovo, should be in position to strike at the raiding force within two turns.
The Rumanian sector in the south remains problematic with Rumanian units being surrounded and the rest of the corps being unable to reach them. The disappearance for all practical purposes of the threat to the southern flank of LVII. PzK should allow the mounting in the shortest order of a strike force designed at hitting 28A rear, thus depriving it of its offensive momentum.

Enemy held objectives : 4
Enemy loss penalty : 14
Friendly held objectives : 146
Friendly loss penalty : 10
Victory level : 146 (OV)

Air situation : 13:195

Attached image files :

LVII. PzK linkup with 6. Armee
XLVIII. PzK detailed situation at the end of turn
306. ID detailed situation at the end of turn
overview of the central part of the front at the end of turn

nemo

19 Apr 04, 04:27

Follow-on screenshots to previous post :

overview of northern part of the front at the end of turn (2 parts)
overview of southern part of the front at the end of turn

nemo

19 Apr 04, 04:40

TURN 8 (December 18th, 1942)

ENEMY DISPOSITIONS
All Italian formations have lost any tactical value and only stand as casualties on the frontline - and a liability. All sectors nominaly held by Italian Corps have become soviet offensive avenues through which CyberGeneral pours floods of units. 6A in the north is besieging Rossoh (only held by a Panzerzug) and has its recon spearheads roaming around Novopskov. 1GA and 2GA have ripped apart IT XXXV and IT XXIX Corps and are heading in the general direction of Millerovo. 3GA has pushed back Armeeabteilung Hollidt but without breaking free through Rumanian and German formations. The western offensive of 5TA has momentarily stalled and only cavalry parties are leading doomed raids as far as Morozovsk - psychological demonstrations rather than full-hearted and tactically worthy offensives. The centre of 5TA is yelding and 3GA elements have been dispatched to shore up soviet defences in the sector. The northern group of Don Front (65A, 66A and 24A) is making good progress against the thinly defended 6. Armee centre. Armoured units have surrounded Gumrak and reconnaissance parties have made contact with the artillery massed in the southern part of the pocket to support the linkup with LVII. PzK. The vast majority of these units has been left in mobile status, thus likely to be affected by determined counterattacks. The balance of Don Front has been unable to reduce the corridor established between the advancing Panzerkorps and the entrapped 6. Armee.
Remnants of 51A have surrounded two battalions from 17. PzD but have failed to signiifcantly alter the situation regarding the northern flank of LVII. PzK.
28A has renewed its offensive against Rumanian 7 Corps and has managed to overwhelm part of the defence and break free to the west along the southern edge of the theatre.

TROOPS
No reinforcements this turn. Unfortunately, 6. PzD, backbone of LVII. PzK offensive operations, is reorganizing. 23. PzD, further to the southeast, will have to attack on the move to assume its sister unit's tasks. The Italian Alpine Corps is the only other formation affected by reorganization. 387. ID and 3. GebD are detrained at their starting locations, namely Starobelsk and Millerovo.
6. Armee Headquarters and Corps Headquarters are under direct threat from the forward elements attacking through the Stalingrad pocket. Redeployment further south seems imperative.

OPERATIONS

Northern sector
387. ID will deploy and take the offensive against the enemy spearheads operating in the Novopskov area to later turn to the northeast in the direction of Rossoh. 306. ID and 385. ID will try to bag advancing soviet units to destroy them. 62. ID will regroup around Bokovskaya, leaving the defence of its overexposed salient to the IT XXIX Corps. In all other sections of the front down to Georgievski inclusive, German units will counterattack when in favourable conditions or fall back on better defensive positions.

Southern sector
The enemy penetrating across the Rumanian 7 Corps southernmost positions will be attacked from its northern flank. Rumanian units holding the Kiselevka area will fight in place while Rumanian 5 Cavalry Division will counterattack 51A elements facing it. An ad hoc force, organized around the 128. IR (mot.) from 23. PzD will strike from the Kargata region towards Sovetskoye and the supply source of 28A.

Central sector
LVII. PzK and 6. Armee will go on the offensive against Don Front formations attacking towards Yelchi. LVII. PzK primary task will be to further enlarge the corridor and if possible lend some measure of support to the counterattack inside the pocket, though the absence of 6. PzD will certainly have severe detrimental effects.
XLVIII. PzK will continue its offensive moves against the centre of 5TA, mainly with 27. PzD and 8. LFD. 336. ID and 11. PzD will attack with the minimal necessary force 5TA's spearhead threatening Lissinki while gathering most of their offenive potential to the east, to progress towards Kalatch and entrap the elements of 51A operating south of Chir Sta.

RESULTS
3 combat rounds during the turn. All along the northern portions of the front, some tactical victories were recorded with soviet units pushed back in their lines or altogether destroyed but lines remain brittle at best. 387. ID and 3. GebD are committed and fighting back the enemy's raiding parties near Novopskov and Degetevo respectively. The 803. Brandenburg unit was dropped on Morozovsk to protect the vital airfield from a wandering soviet cavalry brigade.
LVII. PzK has succeeded in expanding the point of contact with 6. Armee and von Paulus and all corps headquarters are falling back to safety through a five-hex wide corridor. Supply situation within the operational zone of 6. Armee should improve in the near future, even if Gumrak falls. The Chir Sta group of forces has been dealt heavy blows and is shrinking rapidly, leaving the corps northern flank safe. Good progress has been registered on the right wing of the corps, with armoured and mechanized units pushing east towards the supply point at 83,32.
XLVIII. PzK has expanded the safe area around Bolshin and pushed the enemy away from Lissinki. The centre of 5TA is a gaping hole and even the upcoming 3GA units were unable to stop 27. PzD. The push to the west of 5TA is now over, with Georgievski in the hands of Rumanian 5 Corps.
Enemy spearheads within the former Stalingrad pocket were beaten back and contained, even if forces at hand were too few to reach Gumrak.
In the south, Rumanian 7 Corps has thrown every available unit in the way of 28A and a lone motorized cavalry regiment lies now two hexes away from the enemy supply source near Sovetskoye. It will very probably be surrounded and destroyed, but the enemy will have to divert valuable forces and combat rounds to do so from its intended drive to the west. Further more, the ad hoc group formed to fall in 28A northern flank has reached its starting line and begun operations with mixed success against the screen of soviet units barring the way to Sovetskoye.

Enemy held objectives : 6
Enemy loss penalty : 18
Friendly held objectives : 144
Friendly loss penalty : 12
Victory level : 144 (OV)

Air ratio : 14 to 105

Attached screenshots :

detailed situation of LVII. PzK at the end of the turn
detailed situation of XLVIII. PzK at the end of the turn
overview of northern sector at the end of turn (2 parts)
overview of southern sector at the end of turn

nemo

21 Apr 04, 04:00

ENEMY DISPOSITIONS
From Georgievski to Rovenki, the northern sector of the front is in shambles, with no linear defence still able to block the enemy and very few formations capable of fighting it out in the open (namely the German divisions yet not embroiled among swarms of soviet sub-units pouring through the gaps). 6A, 1GA, 2GA have managed several breakthroughs in the Italian held sectors, being halted only when faced with German entrenched infantry regiments. Cavalry raiding parties are pushed forward to create havoc in the lines of communications - the railroad is thus cut south of Morozovsk by a roaming cavalry brigade 30 miles ahead of the main soviet body.
Southwest Front troops (212RD and 226RD) have made their apperance in the central sector and are helping out 5TA from its endangered situation but apart from pushing back recon elements of 27. PzD, they until now failed to significantly reinforce the sector. Further east, elements of 5TA and 5SA managed to cut two subunits of XLVIII. PzK between Ostrov and Kalach.
Gumrak and Stalingrad still hold but the Don Front is building up pressure on 6. Armee, threatening to cut it to pieces and destroy it piecemeal. 64A is pushing from the swampy area in the southeast to join hands with 24A heading due south after having bypassed Gumrak. These forces though are in a general poor shape, fact that materialized in their inability to take Yelchi and Beketovka, the two hinges for any German maneuvre in the area. 28A has resumed its offensive move to the west while dealing heavy blows to the now shattered Rumanian 7 Corps. But it has had to divert some of its manpower to deal with pockets of Rumanian troops which hold their ground a lot better than their Italian counterparts up north. Engineer and rifle units of 51A are regrouping against the northern wing of the Rumanian cavalry coprs and are currently threatening Hill 169.

TROOPS
No reinforcements this turn. 385. ID is reorganizing and thus will have to fight in place against 6A and 1GA. 6. Armee troops are also in reorganization but still able to dig in.

OPERATIONS

Northern sector
387. ID and 3. GebD will engage enemy spearheads with which they are in contact without pushing too much forward and risk being pocketed by more numerous soviet forces. 306. ID, 298. ID, 304. ID and 62. ID will try to extricate themselves from the frontline and regroup further south. The idea is to have the enemy come at prepared positions, always further from his supply source rather than running head-on into him and becoming entangled and eventually surrounded.
What is left of Italian forces will fight in place where possible.
Cavalry brigades of 8CC currently located at 42,24 and 48,33 will be attacked with available forces (Aufklärung Abteilung from 3. GebD and 803. Brandenburg) to pin them down and reduce their mobility before being able to destroy them. The portion of the front from Sovetskaya to Georgievski through which 3GA is pouring down will have to hold with 22. PzD and both KG Spang and KG Stumpfeld as no other force is readily available to support them.

Southern sector
Encircled Rumanian forces will try to break free from their besiegers and try to reestablish a cohesive defensive line, thus cutting the spearhead of 28A holding Pimeno. Rumanian 5th Cavalry Division will attack 51A troops to the northeast to relieve the enemy's mounting pressure on Hill 169 and the operational rear of LVII. PzK. Some elements of the ad hoc strike force aiming to Sovetskoye may be diverted to help accomplish this mission.

Central sector
Headquarters from 6. Armee (with the sole exception of Paulus in reorganization) will continue their movement south to the Abganerovo area. Offensive action will be taken against all enemy weak spots and spearheads within the ex-pocket perimetre to regain contact with Gumrak and its supply source.
LVII. PzK will resume its offensive operations against the enemy grouping south of Beketovka towards the soviet supply point at 83,32 with 23. PzD and 6. PzD in the lead. 17. PzD and 15. LFD will continue to pressure 51A troops trapped in the Chir Sta region to throw them into the Don.
XLVIII. PzK will continue its attacks against 5TA's centre to disrupt the soviet dispositions in the sector and force the enemy to distract a greater portion of 3GA's forces to deal with this threat. 336. ID and 11. PzD will dislodge troops from 3GCC and 5SA isolating a panzergrenadier regiment and a Panzerjaeger battalion east of Ostrov. The railroad at Surovinko remains a secondary objective if circumstances allow for its assault.

RESULTS
3 combat rounds during this turn (the usual 70%, 30% and end turn breakdown scheme). All enemy armoured / reconnaissance / cavalry raiding parties were checked or even pushed back by German formations. 3. GebD and 387. ID did engage and at least partially defeat enemy formation heading for the VP rich zones in the German rear but did not advance too much afterwards - hot pursuit is not the order of the day in the northern sector. All other formations were restricted to digging in after costly probes during the first combat round.
Rumanian units opposing 28A in the south did not fare well in their temptative breakouts and failed to significantly alter enemy positions in the sector. Further north, Rumanian 5th Cavalry division and the ad hoc strike force were luckier in their dealing with 51A units heading for Hill 169 as enemy progression is checked everywhere with the enemy spearhead facing encirclement in short order.
Central sector saw major action as combined efforts by a slightly revigorated 6. Armee and LVII. PzK led to a broadening of the offensive front , the elimination of several enemy pockets (unforunately, I would not take the chance to let the turn pass without destroying them, so their surviving equipment will go to the soviet replacement pool) and a steady advance towards objectives : the supply point at 83,32 lies one hex away from 6. Armee units and the Chir Sta grouping is dismembered and seemingly earmarked for destruction during next turn. Some share of 6. Armee offensive power has been brought within striking distance of Gumrak, so that the relief of the location can be envisioned at least as within the realms of possibility.
XLVIII. PzK broke through 5TA positions until it reached 3GA supporting units behind the soviet tank army's shattered lines. The entrapped units east of Ostrov have been reached and the Chir Sta village taken in a pincer movement by the recon battalion of 336. ID. The armoured corps could even afford to take Surovinko and entrench there a panzer battalion from 11. PzD.

Enemy held objectives : 6
Enemy loss penalty : 22
Friendly held objectives : 144
Friendly loss penalty : 13
Victory level : 147 (OV)

Air tally : 10:56

ATTACHED SCREENSHOTS (END OF TURN)

tactical situation of LVII. PzK and 6. Armee
tactical situation around Hill 169
tactical situation around Morozovsk

nemo

27 Apr 04, 06:28

Looks like the 10th turn AAR got lost during the server crash. Guess I will have to post again - and you will have to read it again :D...
Report for turn 11 will be posted in the same time.

viridomaros

27 Apr 04, 06:30

a pity it was lost
more work for you then, i'm looking forward to reading next post of your aar

nemo

27 Apr 04, 07:52

So, here we are again...

ENEMY DISPOSITIONS
The northern portion of the front has collapsed altogether, with 6A, 1GA, 2GA and 3GA expanding their breakthroughs towards Starobelsk and Voroshilovgrad. Several encirclements have been realized and of all German formations in the sector only 387. ID and 3. GebD remain unscathed. 6A and 1GA have almost trapped 306. ID, 385. ID and 298. ID and encircled 304. ID around hex 37,11.
Italian troops are continuously pushed out of their positions before any combat resolution and only contribute to speed the enemy's advance. Against Armeeabteilung Hollidt, 5TA has resumed with renewed violence and support from neighbouring 3GA units its attack westward, managing a 15 km wide penetration in German lines.
226RD from Southwest Front has managed a penetration towards Oblivskaya through 7. LFD positions but failed to gather enough support and it lies now prone to being cut-off.
The confused melee around Stalingrad has led to 21A and 57A cutting 6. Armee's troops in Martinovka from supply. Elsewhere in the operations zone of 6. Armee, positions gained during last turn generally held, even if Gumrak was subjected to very heavy attacks leading to the destruction of two field artillery units defending the location.
28A has continued its offensive against Rumanian 7 Corps, eliminating part of the entrapped units but failing to destroy the southernmost cavalry regiment, still able to fight. Progression of 51A towards Hill 169 has stopped.
On other sectors of the front, enemy activity was low.

TROOPS
7. LFD from XLVIII. PzK is reorganizing but luckily enough most of its components are able to dig in and assume defensive duties and so is 385. ID.

OPERATIONS
The general course of action for the incoming turns will be to have LVII. PzK and 6. Armee defeat and destroy the soviet left wing while the German left wing will as slowly as possible give ground and lead a fighting retreat towards the Donetz. Soviet attacking formations will be drawn away from their supply sources and lose some of their strength before being counterattacked. Victorious troops on the right will then turn northwest to cut into the soviet left wing's rear. XLVIII. PzK will be the hinge around which the whole operation will be mounted.
With this in mind, operations will be led as follows :

Northern sector : German infantry divisions engulfed in the soviet assault will try to fall back on safe positions further south to avoid complete encirclement and short-term destruction. From this point of view, 304. ID is a lost cause as it should not have been deployed so near to the front and lies now completely surrounded by powerful soviet units and out of supply. Italian troops will follow suit to the best of their possibilities. This movement will affect all the northern sector down to Georgievski not inclusive. KG Stumpfeld will hold the location and try to plug the gaping hole eventually made by combined efforts of 5TA and 3GA between Sovetskaya and Petrovka. 387. ID and 3. GebD will attack soviet units in contact without advancing and if free to move unhindered, establish themsleves on good defensive positions further south.
Central sector : XLVIII. PzK will surround and eventually destroy 226RD before it reaches Oblivskaya, with whatever troops 8. LFD and 27. PzD can afford to distract from their offensive against 5TA. These two divisions will attack due north to clear the area from enemy troops and create a starting base for an later offensive against Petrovka and the supply dump fueling 3GA and 5TA offensive moves to the west. 11. PzD and 336. ID will enlarge their operational area around Ostrov and if possible gain make contact with enemy defences of Kalach. LVII. PzK will destroy enemy forces entrapped in the region of Chir Sta with 15. LFD and supporting units from both 6. PzD and 23. PzD before getting to the southern approaches to Kalach. The balance of the armoured corps will advance along the rail line in the direction of the supply point at 83,32. 6. Armee will reestablish contact with the Martinovka garrison and repulse the enemy from the Gumrak area while maintaining a strong defence in Stalingrad itself.
Southern sector : What remains of the Rumanian cavalry corps will try to delay for as long as possible the advancing 28A and the elements of 51A still threatening Hill 169. Elements of LVII. PzK detached to strike towards the supply point near Sovetskoye will first deal once and for all with enemy presence in this sector before resuming their advance south.
RESULTS
Extricating the infantry divisions nearly surrounded by the soviet assault in the north proves difficult and very few backward progress is made in the sector. Short-lived tactical successes do not improve much the situation but may have some small moral effect. Enemy raiding parties are being dealt with but lack of forces impede the proper destruction of the threat to Morosovsk and Belovodsk.
XLVIII. PzK reached all of its assigned objectives, destroying 226RD in its rear, striking back at the centre of 5TA and repulsing the enemy further away from Ostrov. The armoured corps also provided the northern portion of the encirclement of the Chir Sta group of forces, now depleted and out of supply.
LVII. PzK has left a minimal force to encircle this grouping from the south and has transferred the bulk of its firepower to the north, towards Gumrak and Stalingrad. 6. PzD and 23. PzD elements are in position to bring the battle to 24A and 65A next turn. The supply point at hex 83,32 is within reach (one hex away) as soviet formations defending the area have been beaten and pushed all the way back in this sector. Another portion of the corps is advancing in the direction of Kalach to lend support to the assaults of 6. Armee.
The defenders of Stalingrad are slowly recovering supply and strength. The assault on Kalach saw the soviets fall back but entangled German troops unable to enter and fortify the location. With the help of the relatively fresh armoured and mechanized units of LVII. PzK, 6. Armee has gained some defensive positions along a concav line running from Stalingrad to south of Pitomnik, allowing hopefully to resume the offensive next turn under favourable conditions.
The soviet rifle brigade threatening the positions of Rumanian 5 Cavalry Division south of Hill 169 has been surrounded and destroyed and the independant cavalry regiment from 28A headed to Dubovskoye rejoined and successfully attacked by Rumanian 4th Army headquarters. The southern flank of LVII. PzK is now more or less secure, even if 34GRD remains unaccounted for (it could be somewhere between Somin-Ekin and Pimeno).

Enemy held objectives : 8
Enemy loss penalty : 25
Friendly held objectives : 142
Friendly loss penalty : 14
Victory level : 145 (OV)

Air tally : 4 to 112

ATTACHED SCREENSHOTS (END OF TURN)

Tactical view of the central sector (LVII. PzK and 6. Armee)
Tactical view of XLVIII. PzK's positions
Tactical situation for the 304. ID

nemo

27 Apr 04, 08:05

ENEMY DISPOSITIONS
From Morozovsk to the northern edge of the theatre of operations, the soviet right wing has destroyed the Axis defensive system and is free to maneuvre around the few German formations still in shape to offer some resistance. 6A, 1GA, 2GA, 3GA and the westernmost part of 5TA are heading to Lisichansk, Voroshilovgrad, Millerovo and Morozovsk, i.e. the key to the Donetz and a serious threat to German right wing operating further east. Retreats before combat remain numerous and a large grouping of Axis forces (containing the bulk of 305. ID, 385. ID and 298. ID along with some italian troops) is surrounded north of Chertkovo. Elements of 1GA are still in the 40,10 area, dealing with what is left of 304. ID.
East of Geogievski, 5TA repulsed XLVIII. PzK's spearhead from 65,26 and isolated elements of the Panzerkorps north of Kalinovski but the surrounding units are particularly weak and should not be able to hold their ground against heavy counterattacks. Soviet forces trapped near Chir Sta did not move and Don Front units did not advance at all against 6. Armee or LVII. PzK.
28A has resumed its move west even if the stubborn cavalry regiment at 79,54 still holds against an improvised force of headquarters, engineers, rocket artillery and construction troops.

TROOPS
No reinforcement this turn. It is noted that units having been destroyed in combat and eligible for reconstitution will be made available again from turn 15 on. Luckily enough, no major formation is reorganizing but KG Spang.

OPERATIONS

Northern sector : all formations that still can freely move will if possible break contact with the enemy and regroup further south. 387. ID will try to regroup in the Starobelsk region and establish a defensive position there to counter 6A moves. 305. ID, 385. ID and 298. ID will attempt to break free from the soviet ring towards south and head for Voroshilovgrad. However, given tactical conditions and the speed of soviet armoured units, these already weakened units will probably have to fight all the way and risk destruction in very short order. 3. GebD will break contact with the enemy and establish itself defensively around Millerovo to protect the railroad hub and the important airfield there. 62. ID and 294. ID will continue withdrawing from their overexposed salient, leaving Italian troops as rearguard. The immediate threat to Morozovsk is the more worrying as no intact German formation is at hand to shore up the defences in the area. The odd collection of security and headquarters troops defending the sector will have to be enough for the duration. The lone units of 1GMC and 8CC west of the city can probably be dealt hard enough blows to render them unusable but the Petrovka gap remains unadequately defended.
Central sector : XLVIII. PzK will restore communications with the units isolated north of Oblivskaya and continue to push through 5TA and supporting units in the direction of Petrovka with the goal of surrounding and putting out of combat the enemy forces attacking Georgievski form the east. The eastern part of the Korps will attack towards Kalach and link up with 6. Armee formations there to surround enemy units still fighting south of the location.
6. Armee will reestablish contact with the Gumrak garrison and attack Don Front formations in the direction of Baburkin and Kotlubak. LVII. PzK will clear the Chir Sta area from enemy presence, press its attacks against the supply point at 83,32 and support 6. Armee in its offensive towards Gumrak.
Southern sector : the strike force in conjunction with the northern wing of Rumanian 7 Corps still relatively intact will destroy or repulse enemy units north of Sovetskoye. Minimal forces will be used to make contact with the advancing wing of 28A, waiting for the strike force to threaten the soviet supply point at 81,52.

RESULTS
The frontline tends to flatten as the German left wing is collapsing and the Don Front is being gradually repulsed on the right.
Operations against soviet penetrations in the operational rear were met with various degrees of success. If some raiding parties were eliminated, near Millerovo for instance, others remain at large (north of Voroshilovgrad) or still represent a threat (the Petrovka gap). Trying to have german infantry divisions fall back from close contact with the enemy proves deadly as several infantry regiments are retreated, thus liable to be overrun by the next soviet push. The salient of Bokovskaya is nonetheless gradually evacuated from valuable german regiments. The question is whether CyberGeneral will give me the time to orderly complete the evacuation (the most probable answer is no).
In the southern sector, Rumanian 5 Cavalry Division keeps 28A units in check and even realizes small gains in the sector. The wandering cavalry regiment headed for Dubovskoye is being dealt with and the strike force (a modest one : a mot. infantry regiment and three engineer battalions) has begun its offensive move towards the supply point at 81,52 and is within range to get there next turn if unopposed.
XLVIII. PzK has linked up with its isolated units north of Kalinovski and resumed beating 5TA to death. If efforts towards Kalach were unfortunately not crowned with success for the armoured corps, good progress were made north of Ostrov.
6. Armee and LVII. PzK, now intermingled, have secured a tenuous link to Gumrak and its isolated garrison. Don Front units are defeated all along the line of contact and the supply point at 83,32 has been liberated from its soviet occupants but 23. PzD failed to enter the location. The Chir Sta grouping is no more and Kalach has fallen to the StuG Abteilung from 3. Mot. ID, 14. PzK.

End results have been asked to CyberGeneral as I forgot to retrieve them at the end of turn.

ATTACHED SCREENSHOTS (END OF TURN)

Tactical situation of LVII. PzK and 6. Armee
Tactical situation of XLVIII. PzK
Encircled forces near Chertkovo
The minimap, showing the general frontline

nemo

28 Apr 04, 05:14

ENEMY DISPOSITIONS

As could be expected, the enemy's right wing was the most active as the consumed collapse of Axis defence leaves ample room to out-maneuvre the isolated German formations still kampfvertig and push forward before combat the hapless Italian units in the way. Forward units from 6A have reached Starobelsk from which they have expelled several air units stationed there, as well as Belovodsk. A lone reconnaissance battalion has reached the Donetz, 15 km away from Voroshilovgrad.

1GA, while still using a good share of its strength destroying the encircled divisions north of Chertkovo, has managed to take hold of Millerovo and its adjacent airfield. A division-sized group is dealing with the remnants of 304. ID still clunging to the soviet supply source at 42,9.

2GA is partially unaccounted for and seems to be scattered over a large portion of the front, lending support to nearby armies. The bulk of its visible units is facing 62. ID and its Italian auxiliaries as they try to get out of the Bokovskaya salient.

3GA is attacking from the Petrovka area and in combination with the western wing of 5TA, is threatening Morozovsk.

5TA is deployed from west to east and still contains XLVIII. PzK's attacks while contributing to the Petrovka offensive. Its activity level however remained low during previous turn.

Don Front units also spent the turn improving their defensive positions without indulging into offensive moves. It garrisoned with a fresh engineer brigade the supply point at 83,32.

51A is out of combat for the moment while 28A finally got rid of the cavalry regiment disturbing its free movement along the southern edge of the map but had to divert some units to meet the threat posed to its supply source near Sovetskoye. It has also sent additional units to support the weakening cavalry unit supposed to cut the Dubovskoye-Kotelnikovo railroad, among which a tank brigade and an engineer battalion.

TROOPS

No formation is reorganizing. The first reconstituted infantry regiment should be made available within three turns.

OPERATIONS

Left wing (from western edge to Georgiveski inclusive) : withdrawal is to continue where possible without excessive disengagement risks. 387. ID is to fight its retreat towards Starobelsk and 3. GebD will retake Millerovo and if possible destroy the reconnaissance brigade of 25TC wreaking its rear. The Bokovskaya salient will be evacuated by 62. ID and 294. ID at all costs, as it is prone to lay completely encircled in very short order. Italian units will remain as rearguard and speed bumpers when the soviet resume their march forward. The Chertkovo pockets (in fact, there are four separate pockets) will defend in place and try to keep as many enemy units as possible tied down in their sector. The situation near Morozovsk continues to deteriorate as a growing number of soviet units are breaking free from contact and less Axis units are available to deal with them. A collection of security infantry and Flak formations from XLVIII. PzK is enroute to Morozovsk but might only marginally help. What is left of KG Spang, KG Stumpfled and 22. PzD will not be enough to stop the soviet advance, let alone close the gap in the lines. Some share of firepower will probably have to be distracted very soon from the right wing to keep the situation under control.
Right wing (from Georgievski exclusive to the southern approaches to Stalingrad) : XLVIII. PzK will resume its offensive against 5TA in two directions. It will first attack towards Kalach with the objective of linking up with 6. Armee and establish a cohesive frontline, thus enabling the sparing of some units to create a mobile reserve. It will also attack the large group of 5TA units northwest of Surovinko to gain a good starting base for further operations against Petrovka. LVII. PzK and 6. Armee will support XLVIII. PzK in its advance to Kalach but will be mainly concerned with breaking through Don Front formations still threatening Stalingrad and Gumrak. Although the tactical situation does not favour this form of operation, encirclements of enemy units should be attempted on all occasions. 23. PzD will seize the supply point at 83,32 and achieve the disruption of the large but severely weakened force facing it.
Southern sector (from Shestakov inclusive to Sovetskoye) : the strike force will defeat the tank unit the soviet player has put in its way and seize the supply source at 81,52 to deprive 28A and the remnants of 51A of much of their supply. Rumanian 5 Cavalry Division will engage the forces opposing it and if possible repulse them to the south. A collection of spare units from Rumanian 6 Corps has been assembled near Shestakov to protect the railway from Zimovinki and will join the threatened area south of Kotelnikovo during this turn.
RESULTS

If Millerovo and Starobelsk were retaken from enemy hands and a couple of soviet units evaporated, overall results on the left wing were generally poor. The vast majority of retrograde movements initiated by German regiments led to retreats which in turn will ease the enemy's task. 387. ID failed to break contact and lies now scattered over 100 km of steppe. Units trapped north of Chertkovo are doomed and will not hinder enemy's advance for much longer. 62. ID has managed somehow to escape from the Bokovskaya salient and regroup south of it pretty much unscathed. Between Morozovsk and Petrovka, the situation did not improve much. The city itself is now garrisoned with a battalion of 213. Sichercheit Regiment and the soviet recon unit that cut the railroad was surrounded and destroyed. The northern shoulder of the soviet penetration saw some minor successes of KG Stumpfeld and the westernmost units of XLVIII. PzK helped out to maintain the situation around Georgievski. Two regiments and a battalion from 17. PzD are regrouped west of Nitzski Chirskaya as a mobile reserve earmarked for the sector.

XLVIII. PzK both extremities enjoyed greater success than its center : the link up with Kalach is assured and the relief of Georgievski is well underway but Surovinko remains under enemy direct threat. 5TA units in sector appear to be weakening by the turn and it should come as no surprise to see more of 3GA formations enter the line to support the staggering Tank Army.

In the Stalingrad sector, attacks were resumed against the supply point at 83,32, expelling again the enemy occupants to see 23. PzD fail to seize it. The Sarpinski Island is now in friendly hands and Pitomnik west of Gumrak is besieged from four sides. Perspectives for progress look good in this sector : Don Front has been unable to mount any significant offensive during the last turns and is beginning to yeld under the constant offensive pressure from combined strengths of LVII. PzK and 6. Armee. The possibility exists for putting this front out of action altogether within a few turns.

28A is also giving ground : against superior odds, the collection of Rumanian and German support units are pushing back the soviet advance. Things might accelerate in this portion of the front as the Pionier Abteilung of 15. LFD has seized and put into a state of defence the supply source for 28A at 81,52 and as the balance of the strike group is fanning out in a roughly north to south alignment to completely cut 28A's lines of communications.

Enemy held objectives : 10
Enemy loss penalty : 30
Friendly held objectives : 140
Friendly loss penalty : 16
Victory level : 144 (OV)

Air kill ratio : 10 to 76

ATTACHED SCREENSHOTS (END OF TURN)

Tactical view of the Stalingrad area
Tactical view of XLVIII. PzK's positions
Overview of the left wing (scary, is it not?)

nemo

28 Apr 04, 12:39

...and I have met him at 0,8 where at the beginning of turn 13 forward elements of 19. PzD made their appereance on the map, ready to flank 6A's right! Its release is apparently event-triggered but I do not have the time right now to search through the scenario editor which precise hex-occupation pulls the trigger.

:banana: :banana: :banana: :coolban: :coolban: :banana:

<sorry for the bananas but what a lovely surprise to me!>

viridomaros

28 Apr 04, 12:51

same happens to me, problem is i received the whole division on two turns so i wasn't able to counter attack with it as panzer grenadier were missing to the call. did you receive all the 19th panzer on this turn? or only part of it?

nemo

28 Apr 04, 13:06

Part of it only, the rest of the division will be released pending "event ?"
Few, but at the right place :)
On les aura!

Panzerpelle

29 Apr 04, 04:23

Part of it only, the rest of the division will be released pending "event ?"
Few, but at the right place :)
On les aura!
You´ll get them next turn....

nemo

29 Apr 04, 08:17

Good news for my western wing...

nemo

29 Apr 04, 11:04

ENEMY DISPOSITIONS

[A wrong maneuvre (trying to resize the TOAW window while having the replay beginning to run) cost me the benefit of the details within the replay. Assessments in this section are thus solely based on the situation at the opening of the turn in comparison with the end situation of Axis turn 12]

The Axis left wing west of Bokovskaya has diluted among the soviet onslaught, with few German divisions acting more or less like breakwaters. Any idea of linear and cohesive defence has to be put aside in this sector. 6A has fanned out from the Svatova region (6,13) to the approaches of Voroshilovgrad (21,27) through Starobelsk, which makes for a wide (too wide?) deployment far away from its primary supply point at 26,3.

Elements of 1GA are engaged from Chertkovo where they besiege the battered remnants of several of three German infantry divisions to Millerovo where reconnaissance parties have reached the outskirts of the location. Part of 2GA is busy dealing with the Bokovskaya salient, which now has gained the pocket status as unidentified enemy units have reached as far as Krivorozhye and establish a continuous ring of enemy-held hexes around the group of Italian, Hungarian and German forces still clunging to their positions there. It is hoped however that the enemy ring to the south may be weak enough to allow for a relatively safe withdrawal from the pocket towards Shetlerov. Intermingled forces of 3GA and 5TA are continuing to push west against what remains of Armeeabteilung Hillidt and have managed to get a hold on Georgievski. 5TA engaged XLVIII. PzK's positions around Surovino again with less success than on previous occasions as it failed to encircle again the forward elements of 336. ID. Don Front forces are more or less on their previous positions with several hexes glowing red with overstacks - an invitation for an artilleryman's field day. The supply point a hex 83,32 is still empty, which may be the sign of a seriously worn out force in this sector.

28A is trying to break free from the net of Axis units falling on it from all parts but its temptative breakthroughs will probably be shortlived amidst a growing number of German and Rumanian units and after the loss of its supply source. A rocket artillery brigade has shown up against the Pionier unit defending the location but without dislodging it.

TROOPS

Santa Klaus does exist, I have met him. Exactly at 0,8 where elements of 19. PzD made a spectacular and unexpected appearance. All other formations are ready to take orders.

OPERATIONS

It is my intention to have my right wing continue to swing (albeit slowly) north against Don Front, using XLVIII. PzK's positions as the hinge to the maneuvre. The less possible forces will be devoted to the elimination of the threat to the advancing wing's right flank. The left wing will delay for as long as possible the advancing soviet armies while falling back on the Donetz. I will stick to this course of action until the overall situation remains more or less under control.

Left wing : 19. PzD (for now reduced to its Headquarters, Pionier Abteilung and Panzerjaeger Abteilung), will advance towards the northern approaches to Svatovo, in order to cut 6A's spearhead from its bases during next turns and eventually destroy it with whatever help 387. ID can lend. The latter division will continue its retrograde movement to Starobelsk. The Chertkovo pocket will continue its defence on the spot. 3. GebD will try to regroup around Millerovo to then as slowly as possible fall back on the Donetz. Last units of 62. ID still entangled in the Bokovskaya pocket will attempt a breakout while the balance of the division will reach the Shetlerov area further south. Remnants of Armeeabteilung Hollidt and survivors of 294. ID will also try to rejoin that same region to regroup and find better defensive positions.
Right wing : XLVIII. PzK's left, augmented by the reserved regiments of LVII. PzK and troops of Rumanian 6 Corps will take the offensive against 5TA north of Morozovsk until a line from Morozovsk to Georgievski is secured. Further enemy penetrations accross this line are to be prevented at all costs as they could put to risk the link between the two Axis wings and the whole operation going on further to the east. XLVIII. PzK's front offers the opportunity to bag some share of 5TA to the north of Surovinko - all efforts should lead to that result. The armoured corps right wing, which runs to Kalach exclusive, should attack 5TA troops opposing it until Bolshe Nabatov is reached, no less. Objectives for LVII. PzK and 6. Armee are Pitomnik, Baburkin and Kotlubak to the north. Rail engineer battalions will be used as bridging units (17% of major ferry capacity) to overcome the super-river hexes to the east of Stalingrad and at long last get to the supply point at 83,32. Dislocation of all enemy forces south of the super-river hexes is the objective, to have the area sealed from enemy interference.
Southern wing : by the same token, the offensive will be resumed against 28A with the aim of pocketing it, depriving it of supply and eventually battering it to destruction in the shortest possible order. Under no circumstances should the railroad from Zimovinki be severed by enemy action, as it conveys much of the badly needed supply for LVII. PzK and 6. Armee.
The Luftwaffe will divert I/KG1, I/KG3 and III/KG3, actually on interdiction missions, to attack the bridge at 53,24 leading to the Petrovka soviet supply dump, in an attempt to hinder 3GA's advance.
RESULTS

Two tactical rounds only this turn as some planning failure burnt up the 60% remaining after the first round. Many units are thus inadequatly deployed and will not benefit from any defensive bonus when attacked. Luftwaffe bridge attacks were ineffective at best (just hoping they did not blow up the second and last tactical round).

Withdrawal operations went awry almost everywhere on the left wing and most attempts ended in retreated or at best mobile units in the open. 19. PzD has assumed defensive positions west of Svatovo, along the railroad to protect the supply point.

XLVIII. PzK has begun to repulse the soviets from the Morozovsk-Georgievski region and has only surrounded a single rifle regiment from 5TA without being able to destroy it. Small tactical gains were recorded west of Kalach.

LVII. PzK and 6. Armee seized Pitomnik and the supply point at 83,32. They even progressed beyond. The main road from 83,30 at 86,28 allowing for a dry passage over the Volga marshes is being cleared by the Tiger battalion attached to 23. PzD with support from neighbouring units. Further south, Raygorod and Solodinki are the following objectives for the armoured corps as enemy formations immediatly south of the Volga seem on the verge of collapse.

34RGD of 28A has finally been located, probably at 70,49 facing a depleted Rumanian cavalry squadron. 4th Rumanian Army Headquarters unfortunately evaporated while attacking an engineer battalion from South Front but the situation in the sector remains favourable to the Axis with all other soviet units being defeated or kept at bay. It is probable though that another attempt at cutting the Zimovinki railroad will be pressed home by the enemy.

Enemy held objectives : 8
Enemy loss penalty : 29
Friendly held objectives : 142
Friendly loss penalty : 17
Victory level : 146 (OV)
Air kills : 7 to 50 (4 to 1 air superiority)

ATTACHED SCREENSHOTS (END OF TURN)

Tactical view of the situation in the Stalingrad area
Tactical view of XLVIII. PzK's positions
Overview of Armeeabteilung Hollidt's positions

nemo

03 May 04, 08:28

ENEMY DISPOSITIONS

Christmas Eve did not bring any more good news from the soviet turn report than the other days and the situation looks grim. CyberGeneral's marching wing (6A, 1GA, 2GA, 3GA and part of 5TA) is making a vast sweep to the Donetz from Svatovo to Morozovsk around which the enemy maneuvre seems to hinge. The latter city, Vorshilovgrad, and Starobelsk are under immediate threat. Portions of the enmy strength are still delayed by pockets of German resistance but they should not last more than a couple of turns at best. 6A is still busy mopping up around Rossoh, south of Rovenki and between Kantimirovka and Novopskov. 1GA has trapped what is left of 306. ID and 385. ID near Chertkovo while at the same time besieging Millerovo and scattering 3. GebD all over the area. 3GA is repulsing with heavy losses Armeeabteilung Hollidt ever further from its original position. Basically, the soviets' right wing has vanquished the Axis' left one and with the sole exception (and for how long?) of 19. PzD, enemy formations have packed enough punch to destroy any form of organized resistance west of Georgievski. In this sector the defensive battle is over and lost. The soviets have a boulevard open before them to the Donetz and possibly all the way to Rostov.

The rifle regiment of 5TA XLVIII. PzK had surrounded has broken the ring and made a dash between Ostrov and Boslhin. The rest of the Tank Army, as well as Don Front did not modify their positions during the turn.

28A has managed to cut the Zimovinki railroad west of Kotelnikovo with a tank brigade. 76GMB also expelled 15. LFD's Pionier Abteilung from 81,52 and thus reestablished the enemy supply point there.

TROOPS

More elements of 19. PzD (headquarters, the recon battalion and a Panzergrenadier regiment) have made a timely appearance at 0,8. Loss of forward airfields throws the Luftwaffe in negative shock (95%).

OPERATIONS

Left wing : whatever remains of forces in the sector will try to reach the Donetz and blow every bridge over the river. 19. PzD will wait for the arrival of its last components before escaping along the western edge of the theatre towards Lisichansk. 387. ID and 3. GebD will break contact with the enemy if at all possible and fall back on Voroshilovgrad and Kikhovskoye respectively. 62. ID will march towards defensive positions around Belaya Kalitva. All other elements will hold their ground and hope for the best.
Right wing : XLVIII. PzK will renew its offensive in the general direction of Petrovka with 8. LFD and 27. PzD in the lead, while diverting the minimum possible force to deal with the rifle regiment wandering in its rear. 336. ID and 11. PzD will provide flank support for the offensive by attacking due north and tying up as many soviet units as possible.Baburkin and Kotlubak remain the objectives for the better part of LVII. PzK and 6. Armee on the northern edge of their front. The marshy area southeast of Stalingrad will be sealed off by 23. PzD before it veers south to destroy any enemy unit south of the river with the aid of supporting units from 6. Armee.
South wing : the revigorated offensive moves of 28A have to be dealt with and stopped short in their tracks. The rocket artillery brigade (76GMB) will be attacked and the tank brigade roaming past Kotelnikovo pinned by adjacent headquarters and support units before combat units can deal with it next turn.
RESULTS

Two combat rounds only were used during the turn (possibly due to the attacking of two 6. Armee's infantry regiments with 4 out of 5 movement allowance left).

All units still able to move west of Georgievski have retreated towards the Donetz but 387. ID (scattered over hundreds of square miles) and 3. GebD are nearly destroyed and useless. 19. PzD has initiated its movement south unscathed for the moment (and hopefully unnoticed). 62. ID and various element of XVII. Korps and Armeeabteilung Hollidt are slowly moving towards Belaya Kalitva and Tatsynskaya, already occupied by 1GMB from 3GA.

17. PzD and 8. LFD have registered good progression against 5TA towards Georgievski and Petrovka with pockets of enemy units formed north of Surovinko and Ostrov. Unfortunately, the premature end of turn did not allow for proper defensive settings and the entrapped units may easily break free or be resuced during the soviet turn.

LVII. PzK and 6. Armee have taken several enemy positions during their northern offensive but without being able to breakthrough at any point. Progression towards Solodinki is good as only Headquarters and support units are in the way of 23. PzD elements leading the attack.

Further south, 28A's supply point has been retaken after a fierce counterattack by engineers of 15. LFD and enemy units have been thrown out of their positions in several points along the line of contact. 6GTB, engaged in a rail-wrecking party near Kotelnikovo has been rejoined by the Rumanian 18th Infantry and its ZOC reduced by another unit in contact.

Enemy held objectives : 17
Enemy loss penalty : 30
Friendly held objectives : 133
Friendly loss penalty : 18
Victory level : 128 (OV)

Air kill ratio : 10 to 50
Air superiority : 4 to 2

ATTACHED SCREENSHOTS (END OF TURN)

Tactical view of the Stalingrad area
Tactical view of XLVIII. PzK's positions
Extreme zoom-out view of the whole front

nemo

03 May 04, 08:58

I have to admit that clicking my way through the replay, apart from being a torture for my right forearm, makes my heart bleed ever since turn 5 ;). As I am nearing Christmas - in game terms - here is my wish list for Santapelle :

Five extra Panzerdivisionen complete with several attached Tiger battalions each;
Two full-strength Geschwaders of Me-262 for air superiority duties (who cares about chronology anyway);
Twenty additional permanent supply points;
Ten Bodenstandig divisions entrenched at 100% behind the Donetz (just in case);
Three Fallschirmjaeger divisions with appropriate airlfit (because I have been a good boy during the year);
Instant reconstitution at establishment strength of all German, Italian and Rumanian units (Lazarus, come forth!);
A 900% shock bonus, enough for 250+ combat rounds, allowing me to bag and finish off 95% of soviet units on the board;
Warm coffee;
Plenty of OVs for the team (for me, to begin with :p)

Panzerpelle

03 May 04, 13:57

I have to admit that clicking my way through the replay, apart from being a torture for my right forearm, makes my heart bleed ever since turn 5 ;). As I am nearing Christmas - in game terms - here is my wish list for Santapelle :

Five extra Panzerdivisionen complete with several attached Tiger battalions each;
Two full-strength Geschwaders of Me-262 for air superiority duties (who cares about chronology anyway);
Twenty additional permanent supply points;
Ten Bodenstandig divisions entrenched at 100% behind the Donetz (just in case);
Three Fallschirmjaeger divisions with appropriate airlfit (because I have been a good boy during the year);
Instant reconstitution at establihsment strength of all German, Italian and Rumanian units (Lazarus, come forth!);
A 900% shock bonus, enough for 250+ combat rounds, allowing me to bag and finish off 95% of soviet units on the board;
Warm coffee;
Plenty of OVs for the team (for me, to begin with :p)

This will be implemented in my next version due to be out in X-mas of 2004...ROTFL...wintergewitter 42-X-mas hypotetical

MikeJ

03 May 04, 15:41

All I want for Christmas are some extra rifle squads.

:)

viridomaros

03 May 04, 16:05

i have already passed xmas in my game and guess what???
santapelle bring me nothing :mad:
that's really unfair, are you sure you have ntohing left for me santa? :cry:

nemo

06 May 04, 03:56

ENEMY DISPOSITIONS
The enemy is rushing the bulk of his marching wing to the Donetz, leaving token forces to mop up the last and battered pockets of German presence. The fates of 387. ID, 306. ID, 385. ID, 3. GebD, Armeeabteilung Hollidt and 294. ID are sealed as they lack strength, supply and speed to break free from the ring of soviet units around each of them. The enemy advance has reached a line running through Svatovo, Novayadar, Millerovo (surrounded) and Morozovsk with spearheads on the outskirst of Voroshilovgrad.
Further east, 5TA has renewed its offensive stance against XLVIII. PzK's left wing and managed to bypass and almost surround Morozovsk, albeit with relatively weak units. Other attacks of 5TA registered some success in the direction of Oblivskaya and Surovinko.

Don Front has also taken the offensive against 6. Armee and succeeded in taking Stalingrad.

Of even more importance, engineer units of 28A (from replay intelligence) have seized Zimovinki, left without garrison. It looks as if I should not have to worry anymore about the supply point disappearing on turn 30. Enemy activity in 28A's sector appears to be too important for the forces actually dealing with it to control it. Soviets have decisively changed the face of battle by seizing Zimovinki. They put the two armoured corps and 6. Armee out of supply for all practical purposes and place a direct threat to Rostov while the bulk of German firepower is engaged a hundred miles to the east. A showcase of disruption.

TROOPS
The first reconstituted unit (IR 526 from the late 298. ID) has appeared southeast of Vorshilovgrad, simultaneoulsly to the balance of 19. PzD near 1,9. Rumanian 6 Corps is in reorganization, which could harm operations against 28A's penetrations in the southern sector.

OPERATIONS
Christmas did not bring about any rest in enemy activity all along the line of contact, on the contrary. It appears now rather starkly that I am not fighting this battle on my own terms : the enemy has seized the initiative and his recents moves place Axis forces in a positions where maintaining their current dispositions and goals means short term defeat.
It is my intention to take XLVIII. PzK, LVII. PzK and 6. Armee back behind the Donetz to protect Rostov, Voroshilovgrad, the supply point at 0,30 and Samodurowka. Unternehmen ANABASIS takes effect immediatly.

Don sector : IR 526 will entrench at Vorshilovgrad. 19. PzD will rejoin 0,30 to protect the supply point and its surroundings. What remains of 62. ID and Armeeabteilung Hollidt will continue its move towards Belaya Kalitva and if possible entrench behind the river line.
Eastern sector : each armoured corps will follow its own escape route. XLVIII. PzK will fall back on Kalinovski, Verchne Solonov, Tormosin, Krasnorasky before veering west towards Tskymyansk and Marinsksys. 7. and 8. LFD will provide rearguard security and destruction parties to slow down the enemy advance and prevent him from interfering with the movement of 27. PzD, 11. PzD and 336. ID. LVII. PzK will first regroup around Yelchi before falling back on the Zimovinki railroad. From Kotelinikovo, it will march through Malorvchaka and Rorgonavskaya before crossing the Donetz north of Rostov. It is expected that 28A will in some mesure interfere with the planned movement through its area of operations. 6. Armee will act as a delaying force protecting the armoured corps' retreat.
RESULTS
Two tactical rounds during the turn. LVII. PzK has begun disengaging from the frontline without great difficulties and is beginning to regroup south of Beketovka. 6. Armee has assumed almost the whole frontage and switched to a strict defensive for the time being. It is not expected however that the current line will be held for long as major rivers have frozen and do not represent a near impassable obstacle anymore.
The better part of 27. PzD and forward elements of 11. PzD are regrouping between Verchne Solonov and Tomosin. 336. ID and the balance of the corps have managed to blunt the enemy's advance towards Surovinko and Ostrov but remained up north holding the line.

Apart from 19. PzD which continued south to deploy around Lisichansk and elements of 62. ID still prgressing, units are generally unable to move and have to fight it out in place.

Air units have all been regrouped either Rostov or Tangarog to avoid being overrun by soviet progression on (now) forward airfields.

Operations against 28A experienced some tactical successes but failed to make marked progression towards Zimovinki.

Enemy held objectives : 32
Enemy loss penalty : 28
Friendly held objectives : 118
Friendly loss penalty : 18
Victory level : 96 (OV)

Air kill ratio : 4 to 21
Air superiority : 5 to 1

ATTACHED SCREENSHOT (END OF TURN)

General situation