15 - 18 November 1941 (Axis)

Guderian’s Blitzkrieg II (including Enemy at the Gates and Case Blue)

 

 

15^th to 18th November 1941

 

Weather dr = 6 so LIGHT FREEZE/MUD                  Air Conditions DR = 6,6 so NORMAL 

(Triple 6 in successive weather/air rolls!  Why are my combat rolls such crap?)

 

Initiative DR:      Axis 2,1                                                Soviet 6,5


Soviet passes the initiative to Axis

 
Replacement DR = 6,2 (-1) so  1 Ftr and 2 Pax

 
Build 900 “Lehr” (5 turns – 1^st December)*

*We have decided it is too easy to just rebuild high AR units: the Soviets their 4 level cavalry and armour, the Axis the AR 5 single step units.  So we have a new house rule that rebuilt units have a turn delay equal to the unit’s AR.

 
Supply DR = 5,1  so 22 (+1) = 23 SP

 
Toropets

 
The slow withdrawal to the east continued.  A battalion of French volunteered to form the rearguard, blocking access to the airfield at Staryy Tornopets.  25^th Cavalry was surrounded but the marshy terrain it occupied meant it was left to die from attrition.

 
Rzhev

 

Although a combined 7^th Panzer and infantry attack on 110^th Strelkovaya achieved surprise, the conduct of the attack was so poor that the Kradschützen Reg’t of the 7.PzD was lost for no return.

Sychevka held on even though the effects of artillery and ground attacks destroyed 18^th Strelkovaya.  An NKVD Border regiment was the sole survivor.


Spas Demyansk

 

The unexpected success of an artillery barrage south of Vyasma led to an improvised assault on the fort line.  Without preparation, the attack failed with minor losses on both sides.

 
Bryansk – L’Gov

An attempt to recapture the wagons lost at Sumy was a disaster.  Facing two full regiments of highly trained troops, the Russian motorcyclists were able to not only avoid destruction but to destroy 165^th Motorised Infantry Reg’t, 16.ID (mot).  When Sumy was taken, the wagons were a smouldering heap, surrounded by butchered horses.

 
Khar’kov

The Axis units were content to continue the withdrawal from the city.


Zaporezh’e

 

The Axis artillery maintained its accuracy, wiping out 18^th Army headquarters and demoralising the other headquarters and its protecting infantry.  Infantry crossed the Dneipr and attacked both the supply links.    “Nordland” regiment of SS “Wiking” Division was unable to destroy the last Soviet headquarters though it destroyed 218^th Strlekovaya.  The hedquarters fled south east.  111.ID did a better job, leaving no survivors from 63^rd Mountain Infantry Division.

 

 

Supply           Axis rec’d                  14 SP

                        Axis used                  10.3 SP

 

                        Soviet used              1.2 SP

 

 

Dead Units

 

Axis                 2 x 4(5)8                   7^th Kradschützen Reg’t, 7^th Panzer

                                                            165^th Kradschützen Reg’t, 16.ID (mot)

 

Soviet             10(0)1                       299^th Strelkovaya

                        10-0                           18^th Army HQ

                        12(2)2                       218^th Strelkovaya

                        10(3)3                       63^rd Mountain Div.                                   

 

 

12 14 November 1941 (Axis)

Guderian’s Blitzkrieg II (including Enemy at the Gates and Case Blue)

 

12^th to 14^th November1941

 

Turn 13 (Axis)

Reinforcement DR = 6,1 (-1) so one Pax

Supply DR = 4,1 so 11 (+1) SP

Toropets

 

With the loss of 10^th Armeekorps HQ, many of the units west of Toropets were out of supply range.  They all had to urgently pull back to Toropets itself or to the neighbouring Staryy Torpopets.  This was the limit of the control area of 41^st Panzerkorps.  To the west, there is nothing to prevent the Russians from advancing – nothing bar the Soviets own supply problems.

 

Rzhev

 

The Axis attempt to cut the Soviet supply line at Peno has failed.  The ability of the Russians to rail reinforcements to the area and the tenuous supply links of the German attackers combined to doom the mission.  The exhausted survivors made it back to Selizharvso, where an attack was mounted on the infantry unit in column outside the town.  To underline the Soviet success, the Ivans surprised the attackers and 26.ID was forced back having lost a regiment.

In front of the Rzhev, the threatening Soviet forces were forced back but at the cost of 36^th Kradschützen, 36.ID (mot) which was hit by defensive artillery.

The centre fort of the line in front of Seychevka was stormed, though some of the last Dornier bombers in the Luftwaffe were lost in a preliminary bombing attack.  402^nd Strelkovaya was obliterated.

 

Orel – Kursk

 

Strong Soviet forces prevent any action in the Orel area, while Kursk is surrounded.

Kharkov

 

Although no combat had taken place for some days, a slow advance by significant Soviet armour and infantry had cut off the lead units of 9^th Panzer.  With priority for supply being given to the north, the push for Khark’ov has been suspended and the troops ordered to pull back.  In a coordinated attack, the trapped units and the relief forces eliminated 3^rd Tank Brigade which blocked the way.  Low on supply, the tank units moved 8 kilometres closer to safety.

 

Denpropetrovesk – Zaporezh’e

 

East of the city, near Vasikovska, the Axis units pulled back, shocked by the destruction of the Czechs a few days earlier.  More importantly, all available troops are being diverted west to meet the threat from the Soviet Dneipr bridgehead.

Supply has also been sent west, and allowed several artillery barrages on the Russian headquarters on the south side of the river.  Both were hit, and though no losses were recorded, the temporary bridges that supplied the Soviets who had crossed the river were put out of use.

Supply                       Axis rec’d                  12 SP

                                    Axis used                  10 SP

 

                                    Soviet used              2.1 SP

 

Dead Units

Axis                             4(5)8                          36^th Kradschützen, 36^th Mot.Div

 

Soviet                         11(1)1                       402^nd Strelkovaya

                                    6(2)5                          3^rd Tank Brigade

 

 

 

 

 

12 - 14 November 1941 (Soviet)

Guderian’s Blitzkrieg II (including Enemy at the Gates and Case Blue)

12^th to 14th  November 1941

Weather dr = 6 so LIGHT FREEZE/MUD                  Air Conditions DR = 6,6 so NORMAL



Initiative DR:      Axis 5,2                                                 Soviet 6,5

Soviet elects to take the initiative


Replacement DR = 3,2 (-1) so 0 (+1)Pax


Supply DR = 5,1  so 22 (+1) = 23 SP

 
147^th Tank Brigade is converted to 1^st Guards Tank Brigade

 
179^th and 250^th Strelkovaya are consolidated.

 

Toropets – Rzhev

 

Near Ostakov, a large attack by the Soviets was a total failure.  Forward elements of 6^th Panzer Division turned the tables on the combined cavalry/infantry assault, and 42th Cavalry Division was destroyed and the infantry took losses.  Slightly to the east, 36.ID (mot) lost its Aufklärungs battalion when it was completely overwhelmed by a 12:1 overrun.   Exploiting the success, 1^st Guards tried to capture some supply vehicles, but the defending infantry regiment lived just long enough for the trucks and wagons to escape.

Much further east, at the small town of Zapadnaya Dvina, an unprotected headquarters was the target of 25^th Kaveleriy.  Taken by surprise, 10^th Armeekorps HQ was wiped out.

 
Vyazma – Sukhinichi

Some movement but no attacks.

 
Bryansk – L’Gov – Kursk

An overrun was attempted near Kursk, but strong resistance led to both the attacking 25^th Tank Brigade and the defending II/9 Panzer Reg’t being destroyed.  A follow-up attack had similar results, with 9^th Aufklärung Battalion exchanged for 132^nd Tank Brigade.

A wagon convey was captured at Sumy by a fast moving 11^th motorcycle battalion.

 
Poltava – Dnepropetrovsk – Zaporezh’e


No combat took place other than near Zaporezh’e.  East of the city 21 Rychla was lost, while to the west 2/2 Airborne was destroyed.

 


Supply           Soviet rec’d              23 SP

                        Soviet used              20 SP

 

                        Axis used                   3.0 SP

 

 

Dead Units

 

Soviet             7(3)4                          42 Cavalry Div

                        2 x 7(3)6                   25, 54 Tank Brigade

                        5(3)3                          2/2 Airborne Brigade

                        8(4)8                          132 Tank Brigade

                        6(2)5                          131 Tank Brigade

 

Axis                 2 x 3(5)8                   Auflklärungs Bns of 9PzD and 34^th Mot Div

                        7(4)3                          11^th Mot Reg’t, 9^th PzD

                        5(3)3                          21^st Inf Reg’t “Rychla” Div  (Czech)

                        10-0                           10^th HQ

 

 

                                   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8 - 11 November 1941 (Axis)

Apologies for the long delay between posts: RL intervenes every now and then (university exams etc).  As a result, not as much detail as usual (I can't remember who did what 3 months ago).  And so no notes to the photos.

 

But don't worry - the campaign continues.  A few abridged reports then back to normal.

Guderians’s Blitzkrieg II (including Enemy at the Gates and Case Blue)

 

8^th to 11^th November 1941

 

Turn 12 (Axis)

Reinforcement DR = 2,1 (-1) so lose truck

Supply DR = 5,2 so 13 (+1) SP

Lack of supply meant that Axis operations were limited.  The Luftwaffe was severely punished as it tried to substitute for artillery which was constrained by lack of ammunition.

 

Toropets – Rzhev

Every effort was made to free the units trapped near Toropets, but with no success.  (Some Stukas were shot down while trying to demoralise the Soviets.)  An attempt to break out destroyed a Soviet infantry brigade, but failed to open the trap.  Luckily no casualties were caused by attrition.

The Axis drive south from the Rzhev line met mounting resistance and was forced to eliminate a cavalry division that was blocking supply lines.  Closer to Rzhev, another Soviet attempt to block supply was removed, but at the cost of an Aufklärung battalion from the “Totenkopf” division.

 

Vyazma – Sukhinichi

 

German units were content to secure good defensive positions.

Bryansk – L’Gov – Kursk

 

Overall the position in the Kursk area was improved as 100^th Flammpanzer and II/18, 18^th Panzer Division overran 160^th Strelkovaya and 343^rd Strelkovaya was wiped out in the fighting.  Kursk is now under siege.

Khark’ov – Poltava

 

With a geschwader of Stukas lost near Khark’ov and two groups of Heinkels shot down east of Poltava, this was a disaster for the Luftwaffe.  As a result of the loss of the tactical bombers, all offensive action from Poltava was called off.  Three mobile divisions based on Sumy, however, kept moving.  9^th Panzer pushed south, and with the presence of infantry just west of Zyimev, the front line of the Khark’ov defenders was threatened.

Zaporezh’e

 

Having realised the threat that the units west of the city posed, what troops that were available attacked the Russians who had crossed the Dneipr.  The attacks were a huge success.  A tank brigade and infantry division were destroyed, and as a bonus, some I-16 fighters were shot down when they tried to intervene.

To the north of the city, an infantry division was destroyed as the push for Vasikovska continued.

Kherson

All quiet.

 

Supply

Axis rec’d:     14SP

Axis used:     16.2 SP

 

Soviet used  3.1 SP

Dead Units

Axis:               4(4)8                                      Aufklärungs BN, SS “Totenkopf” Division

 

Soviet            2 x 12(2)2                             150^th, 160^th  Strelkovaya

                        4(1)4                                      4^th Cavalry Division

                        3(2)2                                      930^th Infantry Brigade

                        2 x 11(1)1                             343^rd, Stalingrad Strelkovaya

                        6(2)5                                      13^th Tank Brigade

 

Aircraft losses

Luftwaffe        Heinkel 111 (2 steps)

                         Junkers 87D (1 Step)

 

 

8-11 November 1941 (Soviet)

Guderian’s Blitzkrieg II (including Enemy at the Gates and Case Blue)

8^th to 11^th November 1941

Weather dr = 5  so LIGHT FREEZE/MUD                  Air Conditions DR = 3,4 so LIMITED

Initiative DR:      Axis 5,2                                                 Soviet 5,5

Soviet elects to take the initiative (double turn)

Replacement DR = 6,1 (-1) so 2 (+1)Pax

Supply DR = 5,1  so 22 (+1) = 23 SP

Aerial reconnaissance was particularly bad over this period, leading to a marked lack of maps.  Those responsible have been chastised severely, despite pleas that they were more concerned with the Russian attacks than taking photos.

Valday

Soviet forces kept up their recapture of lost territory east of Valday by destroying what remained of 30.ID.  The last regiment of the German division had no hope against 6 regiments.  Further to the west, a cavalry unit from the Velikiye Luki area swept onto 600^th Assault Gun Bn as it crossed a swamp.  Despite the disadvantage the terrain had on the armoured vehicles, good luck allowed the Germans to eliminate the Russian division.

Toropets

252.ID lost half its strength to a Russian attack but stayed in place.  An attack on the town itself failed, with 50^th Cavalry Division destroyed in the attempt.

Rzhev

Soviet bombers and artillery hit the Germans hard, but with little impact.  Some Pe-2s were lost as were some SB-2s.  The Pe-2s did manage to affect an assault gun battalion.  Of course, several units were still not recovered from earlier barrages.  (Due to the Soviet double turn)

The Soviets seemed keen to cut off the push by 6^th PzD and launched a series of attacks, even after German artillery was able to break the morale of one group of units.  The first attack was beaten off with some difficulty, “Totenkopf” losing its artillery in exchange for a motorcycle battalion.  The next attack, however, was a complete failure, as a German divisional line merely pulled back after destroying two motorised infantry regiments.

Vyazma to Bryansk

No combat, though a string of forts were constructed to the south of Vyazma.  The last few units of the Bryansk Army staggered towards safety.   (Except for one division which was unable to march fast enough to keep up).

Orel

Ignoring the Aufklärungs unit directly west of Orel, the Soviets struck along the road to the south, destroying 394^th Infantry Motorised Reg’t.  There had been hopes of continuing across the river and threatening the rear of the force moving on Kursk, but the infantry unit slowed the Russians too much.

Kursk - Belgograd - Poltava

No real action

Zaporezh’e

West of the city a Wach Battalion was destroyed by Russian infantry and armour that had crossed the Dneipr, but once again it inflicted such a shock on the attackers they pulled back.

The city itself saw fierce fighting, but the Germans were lucky again.  The lone panzer unit holding the city centre not only beat off an attempt to overcome it with speed and power (eliminating a Soviet cavalry division and damaging an infantry division), but it also survived a more cautious assault.  In the second attack, the Germans were able to surprise the attackers which shifted the odds in favour of the panzertruppen.  345^th Strelkova and 2^nd Airborne Regiment did not escape the trap.

Kherson

All quiet.

Supply

Soviet rec’d:                         23 SP

Soviet used:                         31 SP

Axis used:                             3.1 SP

Dead Units

Axis:                                        20(4)3                   30.ID

                                                20(2-3)3               SS “Totenkopf” Artillery Group

                                                7(4)3                      394^th Mot. Inf. Reg’t, 3^rd PzD

                                                2(3)2                      542^nd Wach Bn

Soviet:                                    2(3)3                      297^th Motorcycle Bn

                                                8(4)5                      50^th Cavalry Division, Dovator Group

                                                2 x 3(2)3               2^nd and 3^rd Mot. Inf Reg’t

                                                6(2)4                      41^st Cavalry Division

                                                7(3)4                      68^th Cavalry Division

                                                5(3)3                      2^nd Airborne Division

                                                11(1)1                   345^th Infantry Division

Aircraft losses

German                                   Nil

Soviet                                      Bombers                 SB-2 Step (Flak)

                                                                                Pe-2 Step (Flak)               

5-7 November 1941 (Soviet)

Guderians’s Blitzkrieg II (including Enemy at the Gates and Case Blue)

5^th to 7^th November1941

Turn 11 (Soviet)

Reinforcement DR = 6,1 (-1) so 2 (+1) Pax

Rebuilds: 4^th Tank Brigade, 9^th Cavalry Division, 5^th NKVD Division

156^th Strelkovaya disbanded to reinforce other units.

Supply DR = 6,5  = 18 (+1) = 19 SP

Valday – Toropets – Rzhev

253.ID, weakened by combat and having sent off regiments for other duties, beyond the command and supply range of its Korps headquarters, was too tempting a target for the Red Army.  As the lead unit pushing east from Valday, it was hit by the VVS and then attacked from three sides.  It ceased to exist.

The Soviet forces in the Velikiye Luki area remained active.  Cavalry moved from that city to the north.  After an artillery barrage destroyed a divisional line to the north of Poropets, infantry poured through the gap to isolate two German units on the river line.

Rzhev has been flooded with reinforcements from the east and south, and a group pushed out to contact the German line.  An attack on a thin divisional line failed miserably (DR = 1,1) and a motorcycle battalion was lost as the Russians retreated.   Other Soviet units moved to cut off the German mobile units near Selizharsvo.

Vyazma – Yukhnov

Vyazma was quiet as many units had moved north towards Rhzev.  With Yukhnov once again secure, Soviet troops moved west to engage the Germans again, but there was no combat.

The garrison of the fortified area south of Vyazma, now cut off and unlikely to be relieved, successfully broke out and will return to action in 2 weeks or so.  The German security around trapped units is a laughing stock: at least 50% of trapped units should surrender but the current figure is more like 20%.

Bryansk – Orel – Kursk

The Bryansk garrison continued their struggle to reach safety, made more difficult with the destruction of the supply base.  A mass assault on a single German regiment forced the Germans back, but led to the loss of another unit: 20.R Infantry Reg’t. 

The defenders of Orel, seeing the Germans pulling south, went on the offensive.  Despite the failure of an artillery barrage on 201^st Assault Gun Bn (another DR = 1,1) they still attacked, and their persistence paid off.  201^st was eliminated without loss, though the Russians were forced to pull back.  Artillery did rattle 3^rd Kradschützen Bn, 3^rd PzD and it was wiped out by a combined arms attack (even though German artillery had badly disorganised the infantry component of the attack).  The only disappointing result was on 1^st Aufklärung Bn: its machine guns decimated the 5^th Cavalry before the German armoured cars retreated.

At Kursk, the defenders, cheered by the failure of the German assaults, also attacked, though with less success.  243^rd Assault Gun Bn was destroyed, but Comp. Infantry Reg’t and 29^th Sep. Cav Reg’t did not return from the battle.

Belgorod – Poltava

An Su-2 was lost to flak but otherwise the Russian attacks went exactly as planned.  755^th Bicycle Bn and 11^th SS Police Reg’t were blasted by artillery and overwhelmed, then 4^th Bicycle Reg’t was destroyed by a head on assault.  The direct road to Khar’kov was blocked again.

Zaporezh’e

The fighting near Zaporezh’e was just as successful.  The foolhardy lunge from the city led by the Italian tanks was mercilessly crushed.  Attacked from several directions at once, both the Italians and the Westland SS Regiment, “Wiking” Division, were destroyed.  Only the fact that the Soviet attack had no focal point saved the city itself from being attacked.

Kherson

All quiet on the Kherson front

Supply                    Russian rec’d:                    23 SP

                                Russian used                     33.2 SP

                                German used                    4.2 SP

Dead Units

Axis                        20(4)3                                     253.ID

                                4(5)8                                      3^rd Kradschützen Bn, 3^rd PzD

                                5(3)8                                      201^st Assault Gun Bn

                                5(5)8                                      243^rd Assault Gun Bn

                                3(3)3                                      11^th SS Police Regiment

                                4(3)4                                      4^th Bicycle Regiment

                                2(3)4                                      755^th Bicycle Bn

                                8(4)3                                      “Westland” SS Motorised Infantry Regiment

                                2(2)6                                      3^rd Light Armour Bn, D’Aosta Division

Soviet                   12(2)2                                     185^th Strelkovaya

                                4(3)6                                      46^th Motorcycle Reg’t

                                2 x 3(2)2                               20.R, Corp Infantry Regiments

                                8(4)5                                      5^th Cavalry Division

                                2(3)4                                      29^th Sep Cavalry Reg’t

Aircraft Losses

Axis                        Nil

Soviet                   Bomber                                                Su-2 step (flak)