26 - 28 November 1941 (Axis)

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

 

Turn 17: 26th to 28^th November 1941

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


Initiative DR:      Axis 6,1                                               Soviet 6,2

 Soviet selects Axis to go first

 
Replacement DR = 6,3 (-1) so  1 Ftr, 2 Pax, 1 Eq

Attrition DR = 6,1 (+1) so  - 2Pax and -1 Eq

Replace Messerschmitt Bf 109E

Losses are offset with replacements.

 
Supply DR = 5,1 so 13 + 1 = 14 SP

 

Zemtsy

Although the Axis troops launched no attacks, Russian artillery attempted to weaken the front line.  It had no effect, despite the use of an entire Katysusha regiment.


Rzhev – Sychevka

 

Reluctant to abandon the hard won gains near Sychevka, Axis units pull back slowly.  86.ID tried to stem the Soviet tide by counter-attacking, weakening a rifle division and forcing it and an accompanying tank brigade to retreat.   In a follow up attack it destroyed 32^nd Tank Brigade.  The elite 214^th Regiment, 4^th Airborne Division was also destroyed when attacked by 1.PzD and an infantry unit, but 4^th Aufklärung was lost in the attack.


Vyazma – Bryansk

Large numbers of German infantry are moving north

 
Orel – Kursk

To the south, rail conversion engineers have reached Solintsevo.  Kromy is occupied and troops move slowly towards Orel, wary of a counter-attack.  The town of Ponyri is now isolated.


Khar’kov

Some re-organising of Axis units, but effectively a stand-off

 
Zaporezh’e

 

2^nd Krasnodar Cavalry Militia did not have long to enjoy its victory over the Hungarian Security troops.  It in turn was hit by 14.PzD and was destroyed. 79^th Kavaleriy was also destroyed by 14.PzD after being disrupted by an air attack.

Despite their efforts, however, 14.PzD could not eliminate the bridgehead across the Dneipr: there were too many Russians to move.  Nor could it get close enough to have an effective spotter to call in artillery on the headquarters supplying the invaders.  Only a lucky air strike put the bridge out of action for a while.

To the north, the slow advance towards Vasikovka continues.

 

Supply                       Axis rec’d                  14 SP
                                    Axis used                  10.3 SP

                                    Soviet used               4.2 SP


Dead Units

Axis                             3(5)8                          4^th Aufklärung, 1.PzD


Soviet                         5(4)4                          214^th Reg't, 4^th Airborne Div
                                    7(3)6                          32^nd Tank Brigade
                                    8(4)4                          2^nd Krasnodar Cavalry Milita
                                    7(3)4                          79^th Kavaleriy

 

 

22 - 25 November 1941 (Soviet)

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

 

22^nd to 25^th November1941

 

Turn 16 (Soviet)

 

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

No fighters available for rebuild.  42^nd and 68^th Kavaleriy Div, 54^th Tank Brigade

Supply DR = 4,4 so 23 (+1) SP

 

Rzhev

After sending troops to make contact, Soviet artillery hit two German headquarters in the Rzhev - Vyazma area, greatly hindering movement across the rivers.  Ground assaults followed, and while one led to an exchange of casualties, in the other the crack 87^th Motorised Infantry Reg’t was caught by surprise and annihilated.   Russian tanks and cavalry broke through to cut off several units.  In continuing bad news for the Luftwaffe, a Messerschmitt unit was badly hurt while trying to halt Soviet bombing.

Vyazma – Bryansk

Nothing of note

 

Orel – Kursk

 

18^th Mountain Kaveleriy raced south as the main body of Russians pulled north towards Orel, evacuating Kromy.  It overran trucks of 17.PzD but they managed to escape.  Its ride came to an end when it tried to also overrun 27^th Artillery Reg’t, 17Pz.D.  Firing over open sights, the artillerymen destroyed the charging cavalry before retreating to safety.

 

Khar’kov

Sitzkrieg

Zaporezh’e

 

A fighter sweep over the airbase cost the Soviets a few I-16s, but they maintained pressure, again pouring across the Dniepr.  Another headquarters had set up temporary bridges, but this time no armour crossed. 

105^th Hungarian Security Division was overwhelmed when hit by cavalry, as was the unfortunate 4^th Artillery Reg’t, 14.PzD which could not dup0licate the feat of 27^th Art. Reg’t.  Wiped out in attacks were 64^th Kradschützen and a police battalion.

North of Zaporezh’e, things were more even, as an NKVD regiment was lost storming a divisional line near Vasikovka.

 

Supply                       Soviet rec’d              23 SP

                                    Soviet used              13.3 SP

                                    Axis used                   .3 SP

Dead Units

Soviet                         6(2)4                          18^th Mountain Cavalry Division

                                    8(3)3                          NKVD “Crimea” Regiment

Axis                             8(4)3                          87^th Mot.Inf. Reg’t, 16.ID (mot)

                                    20(3-3)3                   4^th Art. Reg’t, 14.PzD

                                    1(3)2                          581^st Police Bn

                                    4(0)2                          105^th Security Div (Hungarian) 

 

Aircraft Losses

Axis                             Fighter                       1 step Bf 109E

Soviet                          Fighter                       1 step I-16   

 

 

 

22 - 25 November 1941 (Axis)

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

 

Turn 16: 22^nd to 25th November 1941

  

Weather dr = 2 so LIGHT FREEZE/MUD             Air Conditions DR = 4,2 so LIMITED

 

Initiative DR:      Axis 3,2                                               Soviet 2,2

 
 Axis elects to go first

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

Replace Messerschmitt Bf 109E
 
Attrition DR = 6,3 (+1) so  - 2Pax and -1 Eq

Lose 600 Assault Gun Bn (5(5)8).  Pax losses are offset with replacements.


Supply DR = 4,4 so 13 + 1 = 14 SP

 
Zemtsy

Using fresh replacements which had previously been railed from Kherson, 256.ID was brought back to full strength.  Then, using its own stored supplies, it overran the 53^rd Kaveleriy which sat astride the single rail-line south.  It was not enough to force the Russians to retreat: they must be annihilated.  Even with the cavalry reduced to using their sabres, it was not an easy battle, but finally the supply lines were clear. 

The withdrawal continued, with a new defence line set up at Zapadnaya Dvina.

West of Nelidovo, a concerted effort was made to clear the area of Soviet cavalry.  In general, it failed due to poor performance.  Artillery support failed to support the first attack though the infantry managed to destroy 48^th Kavaleriy Division.  40^th Kavaleriy Divsion merely retreated, after inflicting so many casualties to 161.ID that it ceased to exist.  To the north-east, 125.ID was more fortunate, wiping out 75^th Kavaleriy for no loss.  Of the four units threatening the left flank, only two were destroyed: not a good result.


Rhzev

 
Most of the units that were involved in the attempt to cut Soviet supply have now pulled back, many being used to screen the exposed left flank from Soviet cavalry.

 
Bryansk

Axis units in the Bryansk area began to move, but the intention is not clear.

 
Orel – Kursk

 
An attack on Kromy failed, as did another on Soviet units on the road to Orel.  Luckily 3^rd Panzer rescued the operation from complete failure, destroying 112^th Strelkovaya in combat and then taking care of the fleeing 19^th Tank Brigade as the tanks exploited their victory.

South-east of Kursk, the railway town of Solintsevo was captured, the garrison dying at their posts.

 
Khar’kov

No action


Zaporezh’e

 

Axis units were content to wait and see whether the Soviets would dare to cross the Dneipr again.


Supply           Axis rec’d                  14 SP

                        Axis used                   13 SP

 

                        Soviet used              3 SP

 
Dead Units

Axis                 20(4)3                       161.ID

 
Soviet             8(4)5                          53^rd Kavaleriy Division, Dovator Group

                        7(3)4                          48^th Kavaleriy Division

                        4(2)4                          75^th Kavaleriy Division

                        10(0)1                       242^nd Strelkovaya

                        12(2)2                       112nd Strelkovaya

                        6(2)5                          19^th Tank Brigade

 

 

 

19 - 21 November 1941 (Soviet)

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

 

19^th to 21st November1941

 

Turn 15 (Soviet)

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

Rebuild Yak 1, 5th Cavalry Division, 132^nd Tank Brigade

Supply DR = 3,1 so 18 (+1) SP

 

Staryy Torpopets

 

Struggling to keep up with the retreating Germans (even in the moderate freeze) the Soviets were reluctant to use their faster units to attack.  Artillery may be the problem.  To slow the withdrawal, Russian bombers have interdicted the tracks relied upon by the Germans.

As predicted, the failure to eliminate 53^rd Kavaleriy has hurt the Axis.  The cavalry have survived being cut off from food and moved to block the vital railway line to Smolensk. 

The abandoned town of Staryy Torpopets and its now empty airbase are recaptured.

 

Rhzev

 

The Soviets were content to move up a few units and to threaten breakthroughs with their forward cavalry divisions.

Sychevka – Vyazma

 

With unerring accuracy Soviet artillery wiped out 184^th Assault Gun Bn.  With no armour support and already weakened by weeks of fighting, 162.ID fell to pieced when hit by a mixed artillery and cavalry force.  The efforts of the Luftwaffe were not only in vain but costly: both fighters and bombers were shot down over the area.

Orel – Kursk

 

Perhaps sensing that the troops freed by the surrender of Kursk would head north, the Soviets started pulling back towards Orel.  It was an orderly withdrawal however, and the Russians did not overlook the opportunity to inflict losses on the Axis armoured divisions as they moved out.  3^rd Panzer lost a motorised infantry regiment, while 17^th Panzer was unable to assist its Aufklärung Bn.  The only Soviet losses were in the air where a group of old I-16 fighters were destroyed.

Khar’kov

All is quiet on the Kha’kov Front

Zaporezh’e

Fresh units move up to the south bank of the Dneipr.  All that can be identified are infantry

Supply           Soviet rec’d              19 SP

                        Soviet used              18.3 SP

 

                        Axis used                   .3 SP

Dead Units

Axis                 5(5)8                          184^th Assault Gun Bn

                        20(4)3                       162.ID

                        7(4)3                          3^rd Motorised Infantry Reg’t, 3.PzD

                        3(5)8                          27^th Aufklärung Bn, 17.PzD

Air Losses

 

Luftwaffe      Fighters                     1 step Messerschmitt Bf 109E

                        Bombers                   1 step He 111

VVS                Fighter                       1 step I-16

 

 

 

 

19 - 21 November 1941 (Axis)

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

 

 

Turn 15: 19^th to 21st November 1941

Weather dr = 5 so MOD FREEZE/LIGHT FREEZE*             Air Conditions DR = 5,1 so LIMITED


*To simulate the effect of the first winter on the Axis (and to a lesser extent the Soviet) forces, we are using the following house rules.

      1. All Axis AR are reduced by 1 when attacking in Moderate or Deep Freeze.

      2. All units have AR reduced by 1 when attacked in non-combat mode unless in a town or city.

     3 . No Axis Armour advantage when Mod or Deep Freeze and No Air (Blizzard)


Initiative DR:      Axis 2,5                                                Soviet 6,3

Soviet passes the initiative to Axis

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

*Attrition DR = 6,3 (+1) so  - 2Pax and -1 Eq

Lose 670 Panzerjäger Bn (2(4)8).  Pax losses are offset with replacements.

 
*We have both always been unhappy with the huge and random one-off winter losses in the standard rules.  Not only could the random selection lead to a critical point being rendered defenceless, it strains credulity that scarce resources would have been spread evenly along the front.  Wouldn’t the Axis have given preference to key areas?  Not to mention that all losses take place over a few days rather than accumulating over the cold weather.

So we have decided to have a separate “Attrition DR” that the Axis player rolls from 19^th November (first possible moderated freeze) to 22^nd February (last possible moderate freeze).  The “Attrition DR” is the opposite of a Replacement DR, but with a +1modifier.   Units to be lost are selected by the Axis player, and replacements may be used to offset the losses.


Supply DR: 5, 5 so 15 (+1) = 16 SP


Toropets

 

Axis Command decided to completely abandon Toropets: the Soviets forces were simply too strong and numerous.  A new defence point was made around Staryy Torpopets.  Trying to remove the annoying threats to supply wagons, an attack was made on 53^rd Kaveleriy Division which resulted in the loss of 53^rd Kradschützen Regiment, 3^rd Motorised Division.  Now exhausted with no food or ammunition, the cavalry retreated.  The survival of this cavalry unit behind the lines could prove costly. 

 
Rzhev - Vyazma

The situation was stabilised

 
Spas Demynask

This has become the “Sleepy Hollow” of the Eastern Front

 
Orel – Kursk

The tank brigade that had pushed west of Kromy was easily overrun by 4^th Panzer, and but the emphasis was on Kursk.  Bombers eliminated the NKVD who had been holding the defender’s morale, and 3^rd Com. Militia Division was crushed in the ensuing attack.  Kursk has been captured at last.


Khar’kov

As fast as the Russians had pulled back towards Khar’kov, the Axis pulled back towards Poltava.

 
Zaporezh’e

Every effort was made to eliminate the Russian armour trapped behind the Dneipr before another bridge could be prepared.  Artillery destroyed the 6^th Tank brigade, while a mass attack (although badly performed) was enough to wipe out 14^th Tank Brigade.  22^nd Tank ceased to exist as it was forced to retreat into the impassable river.  The poor conduct of the attack led to the loss of 3^rd Bersaglieri, D’Aosta Motorised Division. 

(Axis rolled three 3s and one 4 on 2D6 attacks this turn!)

 

Supply           Axis rec’d                  16 SP

                        Axis used                  11.3 SP

 

                        Soviet used              1.1 SP

 
Units killed

 

Axis                 4(5)8                          53^rd Kradschützen Reg’t, 3^rd Mot Div

                        5(4)3                          3^rd Bersiglieri, D’Aosta Mot Div

 

Soviet             5(1)3                          33^rd Tank Brigade

                        11(1)1                       3^rd Com. Militia Div

                        2 x 6(2)5                   6^th, 22^nd Tank Brigade

                        7(3)6                          14^th Tank Brigade

                        (2)4-3                           88^th NKVD Border Reg’t

 

 

 

 

 

15 - 18 November (Soviet)

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

 

15th to 18th^th November1941

 

Turn 14 (Soviet)

Reinforcement DR = 3,1 (-1) so one Pax

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

 

Toropets

Although the Germans may have thought 25^th Kavaleriy would rot trapped in the swamps, its horsemen had other ideas.  They struck at the weakest link in the chain: 454^th Security Division.  Overrun by thousands of cavalry, the second line troops fled, leaving half their number dead.  It did not save them.  When they halted 18 kilometres north of Zemtsy, they were again hit by the cavalry and the unit ceased to exist.

2^nd Guards Corps was not as successful, as 20^th Kavaleriy died breaching a thin line of infantry north of Staryy Torpopets.  The loss and subsequent retreat by the supporting infantry meant that even though the way was clear, no advance was possible.

The cavalry was not finished, however.  Just as the Germans were relaxing, a last minute dash by 53^rd Kavaleriy, Dovator Group, saw the destruction of two wagon convoys on the track to Zemptsy.  200 tonnes of supplies were lost, but as 600 tones had just been unloaded and used, the Axis were not as concerned as might have been the case.

Vyazma

North of Vyazma 8^th Brigade, 4^th Airborne Division was at the forefront of a counter-attack.  When resistance was fiercer than expected, the brigade died to a man.  The opportunity for more attacks was reduced by effective bombing raids.  A few Yak 1 fighters were shot down by escorting Messerschmitts.

 

Spas Demyansk

Very little movement

Orel – Kursk

 

With Kursk surrounded, air transports landed at the city airfield carrying sufficient supplies to stave off starvation.  At the same time, at the other end of the Kursk – Orel Highway, the Soviets struck at weak points in the German lines.  75^th Artillery Regiment, caught alone on the round, was no challenge.  As it turned out, nor was 521^st Panzerjäger Bn which was assigned to hold Kromy.

Khar’kov

With the German threat fading away, Russian units were content to pull back towards the city.

 

Zaporezh’e

 

 

Emergency fuel was used by Russian armour north of the Dneipr in order to reach the river, but trucks were rushed to refill the divisional stores.  The infantry were able to cross the river, but the armour was still trapped.  Needless to say, there was no combat.

 

Supply           Soviet rec’d              23 SP

                        Soviet used              19 SP

 

                        Axis used                   2.3 SP

 

 

Dead Units

 

Soviet              7(3)4                          20^th Kavaleriy Div, 2^nd Gds Corps

                         5(4)4                          8^th Brigade, 4^th Airborne Division

 

Axis                 6(2)2                          454^th Security Division

                        18(3-3)2                   75^th Artillery, 3^rd Panzer Division

                        2(4)8                          521^st Panzerjäger Bn

 

Aircraft Losses

VVS                Fighter           Yak 1 (step)