An AAR between myself (Soviets) and @Nathangun (Germans). Game length is a short at only three turns.
Here we are playing the 'Case Blue – Phase I' scenario, which is after the Kharkov battle we played previously and starts on the 28th June 1942. Each turn is one week and each hex is 10 miles. The first battle has no bearing on the second.
Ok, I have control over two fronts (Bryansk and Southwestern) with a total of five active armies. Three more armies are currently inactive and under the command of STAVKA.
STAVKA wants me to hold Voronezh and Boguchar (marked in yellow) both on the Don River. They would also like me to take Kursk, Belgorod and Kharkov (marked in red). The goal of the Germans is to take Voronezh and Boguchar. Points are also awarded for casualties (land and air).
We are outnumbered in men and armour. We have more guns. Air assets are about the same. Force comparison:
The Germans kick it off with their attack. Weather looks clear.
Turn 1 - 28 June 1942 (weather clear)
North of Kursk the Wehrmacht 2nd Army and elements of the 4th Panzer Army hurl back the defensive lines of the 13th Army but do not advance beyond these lines.
East of Kursk forces of the 4th Panzer Army smashes through the defensive lines of the 13th Army and 40th Army of the Bryansk Front. By the end of the week they had advanced about 60 miles. Perhaps they are forming a northern pincer or is this a direct attack towards Voronezh? The minor rail centre of Kastornoe falls to the enemy.
South of Kursk, in the centre, the Romanian 2nd Army and elements of the Wehrmacht 6th Army push back parts of the 40th and 21st Armies from their defensive line. As was the case north of Kursk, the Axis forces do not venture beyond the original defensive lines.
East of Kharkov the XXXX Panzer Corp of the 6th Army led by the 3rd Panzer Division penetrates the defensive lines between the Southwestern Fronts 28th and 38th Armies pushing over the Oskol river through to Valuyki, a minor rail junction. Perhaps forming the southern arm of a pincer movement with the 4th Panzer Army. This penetration is also about 60 miles deep and completely cuts off the Kastornoe-Valuyki rail line (marked in red).
The Luftwaffe undertake a series of ground attacks on my various Army Headquarters attempting to “cut the head of the snake”.
Assessment and Action
None of my forces have been pocketed which is good but I have taken significant casualties in all of the battles pushing the victory points in favour of Nathangun. I could either counterattack or go on the defensive. Based on the information I can see on the screen my corps, divisions and brigades are far too weak to contemplate a counterattack. [Most of my units have a combat value (CV) of 1 with a few units with 2. Nathangun’s units have a significant estimated value, the figure to the right of the = sign on his counters. Even the Romanians are too strong.]
East of Kharkov the XXXX Panzer Corp that Nathangun attacked with was pushed forward without much infantry support. There is a limited opportunity to cut if off from its lines and temporarily affect its supplies. In the long term this might interfere with its further advance either northeast to Voronezh or east of Boguchar. I encircle it with my armour brigades and then pull most of them out just leaving one behind to annoy him.
We launch air attacks against his panzer and mortised divisions noting that the Luftwaffe interdiction of our attacks is weak.
Behind my first line of defence I have a line of fortifications (the little round red numbers at the top left of counters with the number 2) on which I can build a new defensive line. I use this defensive line. The Kastornoe-Valuyki rail line has been cut off which means I can’t rail any of my troops out of the centre. Despite this, I can force march most of them out and this is what I do. The new line of defence is put in place. Voronezh and surrounds are fortified. Will it hold back the fascist tide?
Here we are playing the 'Case Blue – Phase I' scenario, which is after the Kharkov battle we played previously and starts on the 28th June 1942. Each turn is one week and each hex is 10 miles. The first battle has no bearing on the second.
* * * * *
Ok, I have control over two fronts (Bryansk and Southwestern) with a total of five active armies. Three more armies are currently inactive and under the command of STAVKA.
STAVKA wants me to hold Voronezh and Boguchar (marked in yellow) both on the Don River. They would also like me to take Kursk, Belgorod and Kharkov (marked in red). The goal of the Germans is to take Voronezh and Boguchar. Points are also awarded for casualties (land and air).
We are outnumbered in men and armour. We have more guns. Air assets are about the same. Force comparison:
The Germans kick it off with their attack. Weather looks clear.
Turn 1 - 28 June 1942 (weather clear)
North of Kursk the Wehrmacht 2nd Army and elements of the 4th Panzer Army hurl back the defensive lines of the 13th Army but do not advance beyond these lines.
East of Kursk forces of the 4th Panzer Army smashes through the defensive lines of the 13th Army and 40th Army of the Bryansk Front. By the end of the week they had advanced about 60 miles. Perhaps they are forming a northern pincer or is this a direct attack towards Voronezh? The minor rail centre of Kastornoe falls to the enemy.
South of Kursk, in the centre, the Romanian 2nd Army and elements of the Wehrmacht 6th Army push back parts of the 40th and 21st Armies from their defensive line. As was the case north of Kursk, the Axis forces do not venture beyond the original defensive lines.
East of Kharkov the XXXX Panzer Corp of the 6th Army led by the 3rd Panzer Division penetrates the defensive lines between the Southwestern Fronts 28th and 38th Armies pushing over the Oskol river through to Valuyki, a minor rail junction. Perhaps forming the southern arm of a pincer movement with the 4th Panzer Army. This penetration is also about 60 miles deep and completely cuts off the Kastornoe-Valuyki rail line (marked in red).
The Luftwaffe undertake a series of ground attacks on my various Army Headquarters attempting to “cut the head of the snake”.
Assessment and Action
None of my forces have been pocketed which is good but I have taken significant casualties in all of the battles pushing the victory points in favour of Nathangun. I could either counterattack or go on the defensive. Based on the information I can see on the screen my corps, divisions and brigades are far too weak to contemplate a counterattack. [Most of my units have a combat value (CV) of 1 with a few units with 2. Nathangun’s units have a significant estimated value, the figure to the right of the = sign on his counters. Even the Romanians are too strong.]
East of Kharkov the XXXX Panzer Corp that Nathangun attacked with was pushed forward without much infantry support. There is a limited opportunity to cut if off from its lines and temporarily affect its supplies. In the long term this might interfere with its further advance either northeast to Voronezh or east of Boguchar. I encircle it with my armour brigades and then pull most of them out just leaving one behind to annoy him.
We launch air attacks against his panzer and mortised divisions noting that the Luftwaffe interdiction of our attacks is weak.
Behind my first line of defence I have a line of fortifications (the little round red numbers at the top left of counters with the number 2) on which I can build a new defensive line. I use this defensive line. The Kastornoe-Valuyki rail line has been cut off which means I can’t rail any of my troops out of the centre. Despite this, I can force march most of them out and this is what I do. The new line of defence is put in place. Voronezh and surrounds are fortified. Will it hold back the fascist tide?
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