22-25 October 1941 (Soviet)

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

22nd to 25th October 1941

Weather DR = 3 so LIGHT MUD/DRY                        Air Condition DR = 6,3 so NORMAL

Initiative DR        Axis  = 4,3            Soviet = 5,4

 Soviets decide to move first

Turn 7 (Soviet)

Replacement DR  = 7,1 (-1) = 6 so  2(+1) Pax. 

Rebuilds 25^th Cavalry Div

51^st Strelkovaya is a disbanded and its remaining troops used to reinforce another division.

Supply DR = 4,1 so 18 (+1) SP

Andreapol to Smolensk

More Russian divisions moved into the Andreapol area, but no attacks.  A HQ has been set up and the air base is now operational, so it cannot be long before action begins.  The Germans are vastly outnumbered.

North of Nelidovo the remnants of the occupying force limped away towards what German intelligence believes to be a new wagon supply depot.

The focus, however, was West of Sychevka.  Aware that preparations were being made, the Luftwaffe sent what planes it could to bomb the enemy, but with little effect.  Several Ju 88s were lost in the attempt.  As a sign of the seriousness with which the local commanders viewed the situation, some of their scarce supplies were used to fire artillery in defence.  A lucky shot must have hit an ammunition dump as 91 Strelkovaya was destroyed.

A large number of sorties were made by Soviet aircraft seeking to disrupt transport and communications, but only a couple of raids were effective. 

Then it was the Russian turn for artillery.   An enormous*barrage rocked the morale of 129.ID and its accompanying panzerjäger unit.   As the smoke cleared,  the equivalent of 14 infantry regiments was thrown at the disorganised Germans.  (3.2 SP!).  Needless to say the defences vaporised: there were no survivors.  The Russians were able to not only take the now vacant battlefield but to also recover a few other empty areas.

Yukhnov – Brysank

South west of Yukhnov, near the rail junction of Zhizda, a large group of Soviet units surrounded an infantry regiment of 5^th PzD that had pushed just a little too far.  Once again nobody escaped the attack, though the Russians were unable to exploit the attack and in fact were repulsed from the battlefield.

It was in the Spas Demyansk flak zone that the VVS suffered some of its worst results of the campaign to date.  Two of the attacks resulted in the loss of Sturmoviks and only one was successful.

The slow exodus from Bryansk continued, and now many of the retreating troops could draw supply from the wagon depot set up east of the city, far from the road and rail links controlled by the Germans.

Near Orel, the Germans were shown that a short retreat from contact was not enough to protect them from the Soviet gunners.  A worker brigade was marched out to near certain death to identify the locations of targets and tonnes of shells followed close behind them.  The recipient of this unwanted gift was 1/39 Panzer, 17^th PzD.  The accuracy of the barrage could not be surpassed (DR = 6,6,6) and the panzers were reduced to burning hulks.  To add to the problems, Russian aircraft have made movement difficult in the region.

The South

From Khark’ov to Zaporezh’e, Soviet divisions manoeuvred but kept away from combat.

46.ID, isolated due to its inability to pull back (its movement reduced by artillery barrages) was hit again by the Russian guns.  The inevitable mass attack saw the Germans wiped out, but not without inflicting some losses on the attacking infantry.

The Luftwaffe, by a combination of carefully selected targets and luck, was able to convince the Soviets that no other attacks were viable.

Supply

Soviet rec’d:       19 SP

Soviet used:       19.3 SP

Axis used:           1.3 SP

Dead units

Axis                        7(4)3                      13^th Motorised Infantry, 5^th Panzer Division

                                8(5)8                      I/39 Panzer Bn, 17^th PzD

                                3(3)6                      561^st Panzerjäger Bn

                                2 x 20(4)3             46, 129.ID

Soviet                   2 x 12(2)2             51^st, 91^st

Aircraft losses

Axis                        Bomber                                Ju 88 step (Flak)

Soviet                   Bomber                                2 x Il-2 steps (one flak, one intercept)

*Due to Komrade Rezinovaya Kuritsa’s amazing ability to roll “no results” on artillery barrages, no matter how large, we have adopted a house rule that allows a second attempt by an artillery unit.  It has been accepted by OKH that the amount of Soviet artillery available makes it unlikely that everyone would miss, and even less likely that having missed Stavka would simply shrug and send in the Ivans.  So immediately after a failed artillery shot the Soviet may have another shot.  This, however, must be paid for in the same way as internal supplies.  The artillery unit is marked as “low” and must pay double the cost in the next supply phase.  In this instance it will end up costing 3 SP for the barrage.  Not something we anticipate will be used often.

I had better mention that we also use a slightly modified barrage table that “smooths” and takes AR into account.  We both had issues with the “All or nothing” approach.  And it seems ridiculous that an elite unit reacts identically as a bunch of half-trained peasants.  Though we appreciate that the designers were after simplicity and speed, we don’t mind a bit of additional complexity.

So, when a barrage is announced, the defender selects a single unit as the “target”.  Base AR is taken to be “3”.  The target’s AR is used to determine a modifier to the result (from “-3” to “+3”).  The attacker rolls the normal three dice.  The appropriate column is determined normally (though we give a single column left shift for all weather other than “Clear” or “Snow”).  The two white dice and the DRM are used to determine the result.

Should it be a “DG”, the coloured die is used to check against AR.  Equal or higher AR units pass.  Lower are “DG”.  If the result is a “k”, then all units are auto “DG” and the “target” loses a step if 4-6 rolled (except armour in combat mode: needs 5 or 6 for elimination).  If the result is a “K”, auto step loss for target and auto DG for rest.

We have found it adds some interesting decision making (“Do I risk my losing my AR 5 battalion or tempt fate by relying on a step from an AR 2 division?) while also reflecting the lesser impact of artillery on trained troops.  But it is a little more work and we would not claim it doesn’t affect balance.

19-21 October 1941 (Axis)

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

19^th to 21^st October 1941

Turn 6 (Axis)

Reinforcement DR = 5,2 (-1) so 1 Pax

Rebuilds: Pax placed on map

Supply DR = 1,4 = 13(+1) = 14 SP

The mud has led to a very quiet period for the Axis: not because it affected the mobility of the combat units (though that was true to a slight extent) but more because it proved impossible to move sufficient supplies up the tracks and paths that served as roads.  While the rail engineers had performed wonders moving European gauge east, lack of locomotives and rolling stock mean that the railways could not substitute.

As a result, in many areas the front line stayed immobile.  OKH took the opportunity to release maps of the entire combat zone, in addition to the local maps issued to date.

The North

The South 

Star’aya Russka

Infantry moved east, while “Totenkopf” extracted itself from the front lines and moved west.

Andreapov was evacuated by the Wehrmacht.  As the German infantry set up a defence behind the Western Dvina River a Russian rifle division that had been in reserve also crossed the river and threatened the left flank of the new position.

Nelidovo – Sychevka – Vyazma

Waves of Dorniers and Heinkels struck around Nelidovo but with little success.  In fact, several of the “Flying Pencils” were lost to flak.  Nevertheless 161.ID overran 246^th Strelkovaya clearing the railway north of the town.   A little to the west, a Russian rifle division lost heavily as it withdrew with an accompanying artillery unit.  But the way is clear for the rail engineers to move forward.

In the Sychevka area, the Luftwaffe had more luck, Stukas wiping out 140 Strelkovaya.   There were no attacks as forward units slowly pulled back while a few units edged south.

Directly east of Smolensk, German infantry oozed around the first line of defences but here too no attacks were made.

Yukhnov – Bryansk

Another attack was made on Yukhnov but with only slightly better results than before.  8^th+ 9^th Motorcycle Battalion was destroyed but the other defenders remained.   Hopes of a quick breakthrough faded.

North of Bryansk the Germans finally acted to stop the flight of troops from the city.  The two infantry divisions blocking the route to Sukhinichi had to move to access supplies, but two attacks from the west eliminated 29^th Infantry Regiment.  Unfortunately it was not without cost, as the first attack (which failed) cost “Das Reich” the Langemarck Motorised Infantry Regiment.   167.ID was able to revenge the deaths of the SS troopers.

Orel – Kursk

Most of Guderian’s forces halted, and in fact some pulled back out of artillery range.  The only exception was around L’Gov.  The Luftwaffe again failed, but the infantry stormed the city regardless.  900 “Lehr” was knocked out of action for the second time, but the Russians were forced out of their redoubt.  They took losses, but as they were still in good order despite the bombing, 160 Strelkovaya survived.

Poltava

III/2 Panzer Bn, 16^th PzD, cut 255^th Strlekovaya to pieces on the open ground in front of Kirovgrad.  The town is now cut off.  Otherwise the Wehrmacht and the Italian and Czech allies moved cautiously towards Kharkov.

Dnepetropetrovsk – Zaporezh’e

South of Zaporezh’e a sharp counter-attack claimed 21^st Motorcycle Bn.  That was the only offensive move, however, as the mobile units backed away from the mass of Russian tanks and infantry moving north from Melitopol.

“The South”

After brief consideration, offensive action was discarded as an option.  After taking heavy losses, the Axis had barely enough men to hold a thin line against the Russian attacks.  With the last of the eastern Kampfgruppe nearing safety, Chaplinka and the Perekop Isthmus was left to the Soviets.

Supply:                   German rec’d :                    14 SP

                                German used:                     11.1 SP

                                Russian used:                     2.2 SP

Dead Units

German:                  8(4)3                                    “Langemarck” Mot Inf Reg’t, “Das Reich” SS Mot Div.

                                10(5)4                                   900 “Lehr” Brigade

Russian                   3(2)2                                      29^th Infantry Reg’t

                                11(1)1                                   255^th Strelkovaya

                                12(1)1                                   246^th Strelkovaya

                                10(0)1                                   140^th Strelkovaya

                                2 x 4(3)6                               8+9, 21^st Motorcycle Bns

Air losses

German               Bomber                                       Dornier 17 step (Flak)    

19-21 October 1941 (Soviet)

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

19^th to 21^th October 1941

Weather DR = 5 so LIGHT MUD/DRY                        Air Condition DR = 5,2 so NORMAL

Initiative DR        Axis  = 4,4            Soviet = 4,2

Axis decide Soviets to move first

Turn 6 (Soviet)

Replacement DR  = 6,6 (-1) so 2 FTR, 2 Other Air, 6 (+1) Pax, 2 Eq, 1 Truck, 1 Artillery, 2 Emergency

Rebuilds:   Rostov Militia Cavalry Division, Yaroslavl Militia Infantry Division, 53^rd Cavalry Division (Dovator Group), 38^th Cavalry Division, 3 x Tank Brigade: 148^th, 129^th, 24^th.

New truck taken.  Still no dead artillery so wasted.

Pe-2  bomber, I-16 fighter replaced

Emergency units released:  (TBA – Comrade Kuritsa forgot to take them until reminded by OKH).  Edit: 77th and 82nd Mountain Divisions

Supply DR = 3,4 so 22 (+1) SP

Star’ya Russka

The Soviet 11^th Corps HQ pulled out of Valday, though strong infantry forces remain to hold the rail supply node.

Nelifova – Sychevka – Vyazma

With at least eight units out of supply to the west of Rzhev, urgent action was required.  Cavalry units sped west while the trapped units marched east as fast as the mud would allow.  A fearless wagon supply unit left Rzhev and headed into the woods, loaded with food and ammunition.  It was able to get to within 10 miles of the hungry infantry: just close enough for replenishment.  Those units nor able to reach the wagons were able to get close enough to supplies flowing down the Peno railway.  As an indication that the Soviets have plans for this area, an airbase was constructed 15 miles directly east of Andreapol, protected by swamps on three sides.  Fighters were immediately rebased to the new airfields.

All this was promising for the Soviets, but on combat east of Nelidovo they were let down.  An attack on the lead SS Cavalry battalion drove the cavalry back, but at a cost in lives.  Another attack on a solitary infantry regiment had an even worse result.   The Germans stood their ground and wiped out the 25^th Cavalry Division and inflicted losses on a rifle division. 

The Luftwaffe had been moderately successful around Nelidovo, hitting a key unit that had blocked the retreat of the SS cavalry and shooting some of the newly arrived P.45s for the loss of an elderly Dornier 17E.  Near Sychevka they achieved partial success, knocking out a motorised guards unit and possibly halting an attack.  They could not prevent, however, Soviet infantry crushing elements of the 14^th Motorised Division, destroying the Aufklärung Bn and routing an infantry regiment.  However, the Russians missed their primary target: the irreplaceable fully loaded divisional supply vehicles. An attack on a regular infantry division, 129.ID, and an accompanying flak battalion was a failure.  Though the Russian artillery killed large numbers of the 129^th, the survivors stood firm, grimly taking further casualties rather than retreat.

Defensively, a thin line of infantry was thrown in to cover access to Vyzama.  The VVS ranged over a large area to interdict Axis movement.  Each of its four missions in the area was successful.

Vyazma – Yukhnov – Bryansk

Stavka left attacks in the Yukhnov area to the VVS: on the ground it was too weak to take on the Germans.  The bombers got through the desperate Messerschmitts, shooting some down.  (To the shame of the Luftwaffe, despite having technical superiority (Me 109s – v- I-15/I-16/Yak-1s) in nearly every air engagement, it has been unable to inflict even equal losses on the VVS.  Reichsmarchall Göring has no explanation).  Only the flak stood between 10^th PzD and the Il-2 Sturmoviks, and it did weaken the attack.  Still, only the lead armour units were strong enough to withstand the bombing.

In the muddy conditions, reinforcements were not able to reach Yukhnov, but they did try.  Substantial numbers reached within 10-15 miles of the defenders, who stubbornly refused to pull back in the face of overwhelming force.  The only other activity in the area was north east of Brysank.   A truck depot has been set up on the Bolva River and supplies are flowing to the otherwise cut off units around Bryansk.  In fact, after Russian cavalry units moved south, the two German divisions blocking the road/rail link are now themselves isolated.

Orel – L’Gov – Kursk

The time of swift movement in this region is over.  Very little movement at all occurred between the 19^th and 21^st.  The only action of note was the destruction of I/22 Kavallerie, 1^st Cavalry Division.  Their sacrifice in calling in the Luftwaffe to prevent the Russian armour striking deep into the flank of the German advance will not be forgotten.

Poltava – Dnepropetrovsk – Zaporezh’e

Another area of little direct combat.  Two Russian units found themselves out of supply west of Krasnograd and decided to risk all and break out.  47.R Regiment was able to do so and will be able to return to duty in about 3 weeks, but 270^th Strelkovaya was not so fortunate and ceased to exist.

The South

All attention was focussed on the Axis troops frantically trying to escape the pincers from the Arabatskaya and Perekop Isthmuses.  The German-Rumanian force which had pulled back from the earlier ill-fated drive for Melitopol was not yet able to assist and could only watch as huge Soviet forces tried to crush any resistance.

The VVS was not able to break the Germans, losing some Sturmoviks to flak, but the artillery was dependable as always (though once again the Katysushas missed their target completely).  610^th Flak Bn disappeared in the hail of shells, leaving 49^th Mountain Korps HQ defenceless.    The destruction of the HQ was achieved without loss by a straightforward cavalry charge.

Completely isolated, 170.ID and Schönberger Panzerjäger Bn, Liebstandarte Adolph Hitler SS Brigade, were next to be attacked.  The infantry did not survive, but when the fighting ceased, the SS unit remained in place.    They did not have time to celebrate as the reserve cavalry swept over them, leaving no-one alive.  

Elsewhere the Germans were more fortunate, or perhaps having an escape route allowed them more options.  A single infantry regiment successfully withdrew under fire from north of Armyansk, stopping the Soviets and inflicting casualties.  Even more amazing was the performance of 46.ID.  Nearly overrun by 25^th Tank Brigade, with half its men dead, it still held firm and made sure no Soviet tanks made it home.  It then withstood a planned assault, destroying another tank brigade, the 28^th. 

The Germans counted themselves lucky that further damage was not suffered.

Supply                  Soviet Rec’d:        23 SP

                                Soviet used:       28.2 SP

                                Axis used:           2.2 SP

Dead Units

Axis:                        3(4)6                     Schönberger Panzerjäger Bn, LAH SS Brigade

                                7(4)6                     610^th Flak Bn

                                8-0                         49^th Mountain Korps HQ

                                20(4)3                   170.ID

                                4(4)4                      I/22 Cav. Bn, 1^st Cav. Div

                                3(5)8                      14^th Aufklärung Bn, 14^th Mot. Div.

Soviet:                     11(1)1                   270^th Strelkovaya

                                2 x 7(3)6               25^th and 28^th Tank Brigades

                                7(3)4                      25^th Cavalry Div.

Aircraft Losses

Axis:                        Fighter                  Me 109E

                                Bomber                 Do 17

Soviet                       Fighter                  P.45

                                Bomber                 2 x Il-2 (both Flak)

15-18 October (Axis)

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

15^th to 18th October 1941

Turn 5 (Axis)

Reinforcement DR = 5,4 (-1) so 1 FTR,  2 Pax, 1 Eq

Rebuilds: Bf 109; 6^th Motorised Infantry Reg’t and III/25 Panzer Bn 7^th PzD

Supply DR = 4,3 so 13 (+1) SP

Star’aya Russka

Both sides have stabilised and the Germans have ignored the Russian HQ still occupying Valday.  The only point of interest is that the “Totenkopf” division has started to move west towards the rail terminus.

Nelidivo-Sychevka-Vyazma

Alarmed at Soviet troops moving to the forests on the left flank of the railway east to Nelidovo, authority was given for a large expenditure of supply to ensure that no forward supply base could be established.  Should the Russians set up a wagon supply depot, it would allow cavalry to raid the length of the railway line. 

Two full infantry divisions moved into the woods and when in contact called in waves of Stukas.  The air attacks did not end until all the Russians were completely disorganised.  In fact, one attack was so successful that 45^th Cavalry Division simply disintegrated.  (The Luftwaffe’s effort was not without cost: some Stukas did not return to base).  123.ID’s assault destroyed 262^nd Strelkovaya and drove the surviving cavalry north.  In terms of casualties, 110.ID’s attack was less effective, but it achieved its objective.  The Russian wagon supply base was dispersed and its protecting infantry was pushed back with losses.  Had the cavalry survived the bombing, things may have gone differently.

With his intended supply base destroyed, the Russian commander faced another challenge.  SS cavalry units moved 30 miles east of Nelidovo, occupying the track used to carry ammunition and food to the forward units. 

The Russians directly in front of Sychevka, as the Germans hit those closer to Vyazma.  1^st Motorised Infantry, 1^st Panzer, supported by flammpanzers, shattered the Yaroslavl militia and continued on to destroy 220^th Strlekovaya before both German units pulled back as they had outrun their supply lines.   To the west, German foot soldiers slowly moved along the left bank of the Dnepr.

Spas Demyansk – Yukhnov – Sukhinichi

German troops pulled back from the fortification line south of Vyazma, probably fearing artillery barrages.  To the east a river assault by 71.ID near Yukhnov succeeded, though casualties were taken in pushing back a fortified area brigade and a divisional line.  10^th Panzer Division, which had been held in reserve, dashed forward and threw its entire weight against the disorganised retreating defenders.  The attack, though perfectly planned, was executed poorly (1,1 rolled on attack after failing to get surprise) and the only result was the loss of 10^th Kradschützen Bn.

As elsewhere, valuable panzer and motorised units pulled away from the enemy near Sukhinichi.   The Red Army artillery has proved too effective to risk small units being overwhelmed by hordes of infantry after a barrage has disrupted them.

Bryansk – Orel – L’Gov

Infantry once again blocked the rail corridor north-east from Bryansk: this time in force and sitting astride the road and track that is the last source of supplies to the city.  Similarly, although pulling back out of range of the Orel based artillery, the panzers ensured the road west was securely held.

1/22 Bn of 1^st Kavellerie Division did its part, riding to the outskirts of Fatezh to call in a strike by Heinkels that demoralised some of the lead Soviet units.  It may not survive the Russian fury.

A probing attack on L’Gov by 900^th Motorised Brigade “Lehr” was thrown back, though both sides took losses: the Wehrmacht losing 5^th Machine Gun Bn which led the attack, while the Russians lost 9^th Cavalry Division.

East of L’Gov, German cavalry took a severe beating as they tried to infantry from the Kursk road.  Twice battalions of cavalry charged the Russians hoping to overrun them and twice the Russians somehow got foreknowledge of the attack and annihilated the horsemen.  If it had been pulled of the cavalry would have been congratulated, as it was it was seen to simply fool-hardy.

Poltava – Dnepropetrovsk

German infantry moved along both sides of the Kolomak River, and several Soviet divisions left to hinder the advance could be cut off from Kharkov.  The Italo-German force from Dnepropetrovsk was not as impetuous but still threatened to isolate a few Russian units.

Zaporezh’e

14^th PzD and “Wiking” retreated to the city outskirts.  The number of Russians on the road towards Melitpol made was too much for the two German divisions, both of which had taken casualties recently.

The South

Although the bulk of the Rumanian-German force was now safely within supply range of Novaya Khakova the situation to the south was grim.  The plan to stop the Russians in their tracks failed at nearly every stage.  The Luftwaffe for once was the first to fail.  An expendable Rumanian mountain cavalry battalion volunteered to ride forward and direct the bombers but its bravery was in vain.  Seven separate bombing missions involving every bomber from Poltava south achieved nothing.  Admittedly one group was forced to abort after it was intercepted by fighters from the Crimea, but otherwise it was simply unable to hit its targets.

The lead attack also failed, as 190^th Assault Gun Bn retreated from the airbase to Chaplinka when it hit resistance as it tried to overrun the nearby 48^th Cavalry Division despite the failure of the bombers to affect the horsemen.   As a result of its failure, there was little chance to co-ordinate a strong attack on the column advancing from Novoalekseyevka.  132.ID, one of the few Axis units moving west,  destroyed the Rostov Militia cavalry 10 miloes east of Chaplinka.  The Augklärungsabteilung from LAH SS Division was crushed by 48^th Cavalry division in an attempt to derail the Russian advance.  Even the Soviet 130^th Tank Brigade, on low ammunition and out of supply, was able to survive an attack by 50.ID by withdrawing slightly east.  A very poor performance by the Axis army in the south, and one that could be costly in the future.

Supply:                   Axis rec’d = 14SP

                               Axis used = 20 SP

                                Soviet used = 1.2 SP

Dead Units

Axis                         2(3)4                      Rumanian Mountain Cavalry Bn

                                3(5)8                      Aufklärung Bn, LAH SS Division

                                2 x 4(4)4               Cavalry Bn II/1 and II/2, 1^st Kavellerie Division

                                5(5)2                      5^th MG Bn

                                4(5)8                      10^th Kradschützen Bn, 10^th PzD

Soviet                     6(1)4                      45^th Cavalry Division

                                8(4)5                      Rostov Militia Cavalry Division

                                12(2)2                   220^th and 262^nd Strelkovaya

                                11(1)1                   Yaroslavl Militia Division

                                7(3)4                      9^th Cavalry Division

Aircraft Losses

Axis                        Bomber                                1 Stuka step (Flak)

Soviet                     Nil