Sixth Army Campaign AAR

[springer]

Case Blue: Post-mortem
It's fairly clear that the key to initial success is doing well in Kharkov II. If the Soviets are beaten there and the Germans keep up their strength, Case Blue is fairly easy. If the attrition of Kharkov II is too high for the Germans, then the broad front of advance that is necessary in Case Blue will further strain the German resources. My AAR doesn't show it, but the battle on the flanks of Case Blue can get tough.

It is also clear that focusing on making sure the German infantry is at level IV is really important.
In both Case Blue and Kharkov II, level IV infantry is a tough defensive unit, which has a high rate of survival in a combined arms attack. It's been said many times in this AAR, but it's worth saying again: The investment in levelling infantry has a huge payoff. Infantry live longer, gain more experience, and allow the support weapons (mortars and infantry guns) to do their work of smashing defending Soviet stacks, even when they are working at level I.

Also, there is the indirect effect of Infantry leveling on the support weapons: a regiment which maintains its covering force of infantry protects the artillery allowing it to gain precious experience too.

On the offensive, the mortars and infantry guns are essential. Because this is a campaign, these weapons have managed to accumulate decent XP (around 70). Throughout the game, I've tried to maintain a ratio of support weapons (mortars and infantry guns) that I think is "reasonable", in the sense that I want to avoid creating überstacks of support weapons. The game started with about 5 mortars per typical unit. Because infantry takes more losses than artillery, this ratio has risen somewhat (e.g., XI Corps has an average of 7 mortars per regiment).

Though support weapons are important, there's been little noticeable cost of not upgrading to level II: The high experience has more than made up for leveling. And, shown in the Sixth Army Training Center, the upgraded infantry helps the artillery to enhance its destructive power.

On the defensive, the level IV infantry and Flak 88 combination seems powerful (it might be worth doing some simulations on them). Throughout the '42 campaign a stack of two regiments of level IV infantry buttressed by Flak 88s can do a good job of scaring off Soviet tank brigades from an attack. Or, if they do attack, they pay a price.

Because of these choices (as well as playing this scenario once before), the Sixth Army is actually stronger after Case Blue than before. (The addition of the Axis Allies helps. The XI Corps is now known as the "Bolshevik Crusader Corps" since it has ten regiments of Rumanians, Hungarians, Italians, and assorted other European "allies". [The Slovaks were attached to the IV Corps]).

[springer]

Case Blue: Casualties

Because the Soviets never really organized a resistance, the infantry destruction ratio is good.

The bulk of German losses (about 66%) were suffered in the last 4 turns as the Soviets organized a resistance within the Don bend.

Here are the regimental losses (INF denotes both Rifle IV units and MGs). Percentages are losses since the '42 refit. Parenthetical percentages are losses since beginning of the campaign in '40:

IV Corps (12 infantry regiments): 352 INF at 71% (65%) strength; 80 XP
IX Corps (9 infantry regiments): 316 INF at 84% (79%) strength; 66 XP
XXVII Corps (10 infantry regiments): 290 INF at 69% (74%) strength; 81 XP
XI Corps (10 infantry regiments): 305 INF at 67% (75%) strength; 69 XP
Total: (41 infantry regiments) 1263 INF at 72% (73%) strength; 75 XP

There are about 29 rifles per regiment.

Air losses were surprisingly high (5 fighters and a dive bomber)

There are nine Panzer regiments: All corps still have two Panzer regiments, except for the IV Corps which now has three (one of the IV Corps's regiment is understrength, it has one medium tank and no light tanks.)
There are three Panzer Grenadier Regiments: Two in IV Corps and one in in XI Corps.

It's time to push into Stalingrad.

[springer]

Case Blue: Summary

[Jeffrey H.]

ORIGINAL: Josh

Drumroll please...

300.000 Germans and some more got pocketed, 100.000 went into POW camps, 5.000 or so came back to their Heimat... 10 years after the war.
So, take a screenshot of your shining armour, while it's still there.

I am very curious as to how the next one will play out, very curious. Thx for the AAR sofar [&o]

I've always felt that the 6th army could have broken out of the trap had Von P. decided to disobey Hitlers orders and head West full steam. Of course he would have been killed most likely for it but OTOH, he would have saved his army. Since this set of sceanrios dowsn't really make any sort of rules for insane Hitler directives, can the 6th army breakout to the West ?

[springer]

Jeffrey H.

The ultimate, Breakout scenario (which follows the Approach to Stalingrad) is really the final test of the entire campaign. Like the funnel of the Don Bend at the end of Case Blue, the German army's strategy and tactics are finally tested by the attempt to break out of operation Uranus and reestablish supply lines. It's really tough. The first time I made it to the campaign, the last German infantry disappeared around Turn 7 or so. There wasn't much left anyway.

This time, I feel more optimistic, but still unsure. But that is the fun. Can we players "do better" than the historical and ignore "stand fast" orders that only ...to quote Josh... create a situation in which "300.000 Germans and some more got pocketed, 100.000 went into POW camps, 5.000 or so came back to their Heimat..."

[springer]

Approach to Stalingrad: The Strategic Plan

This scenario continues the Sixth Army's drive to Stalingrad from the Don Bend. The scale of the game has changed as the battle has become more concentrated. To take Stalingrad, which is the objective, the Whole Sixth Army will continue to funnel into a small area on the edge of the Volga.

The Strategy in this Scenario is simple, take all the hexes of Stalingrad. Everything on the board is in ruins and there are no PP to be gained by occupation. Corps responsibilities are allocated to starting position on the map. There is really no time to move dispositions around.

As always, the faster this scenario can be one, the better it will be for the next scenario (i.e., less time for losses). This map will serve duty in both this scenario and the next.

[springer]

Approach to Stalingrad Turn 0: An Easy Victory?

The splash screens that start this scenario state that "The way is cleared for an easy victory" and "The Soviets are broken", and the way to victory "should not be too difficult". If this is true, why are the strongest Soviet infantry units ever encountered guarding every crossing? It looks like the Germans have been fed some bad intelligence.

[springer]

Approach to Stalingrad Turn 1: Battering Bridgeheads Across the Don

The "Broken Soviets" have caused more casualties in Turn 1 than were suffered in the entire Case Blue scenario! 170 Rifles were lost on the first turn (About 110 German Level IV Rifles and about 60 Level I axis minor allies). The Don has been bridged, but the cost was high. Even the Engineers, who hadn't suffered a casualty throughout '40, 41' and '42 took losses. 18 Engineers fell victim to Soviet artillery.

Though the bridgeheads have been created, they need to be opened up. The Soviets have sent in some armor to buttress their line. Is this the start of a greater Soviet commitment, or have the Soviets already spent their reserve?

[springer]

Advance on Stalingrad Turn 2: Expanding the Bridgeheads

The Sixth Army has been able to create a continuous battle line on the Eastern Bank of the Don.
There were about 30 German Rifles lost (about 30 German Level IV and 40 Axis Allied Level I).

Though Germans Rifle IVs continue to demonstrate their robustness against Soviets on the defense,
the Axis Allies are taking the beating in this scenario. They've already lost 30% of their rifles in two turns of fighting.

[springer]

Approach to Stalingrad Turn 3: Soviets Create Fortress Gumrak

Casualty rates continue to drop. This turn about 40 rifles were lost (about 20 German Level IV and 20 Axis Allied Level I).

The Sixth Army begins to consolidate its corps. XXVII Corps is almost unified and the IV corps has also come together. This means the Sixth Army is ready for a concerted push toward the wreckage of Stalingrad.

[springer]

Approach to Stalingrad Turn 4: Gumrak Besieged

The Sixth Army pushes forward

XI Corps is ready to strike into the northern suburbs of Stalingrad
XXVII Corps is ready to strike Gumrak in the center
IX Corps is ready to break out of the southern flank

IV Corps is scattered between the central and northern fronts, but has sufficient forces in both areas to support the XXVII Corps and the IX Corps

[springer]

Approach to Stalingrad Turn 5: Sixth Army enters the Northern Suburbs

The Soviets continue to fight for Gumrak, but both the northern and southern flanks begin to collapse as the XI and IX Corps breakthrough to Stalingrad.

[springer]

Approach to Stalingrad Turn 6: Gumrak Falls; Fighting Shifts to Central Stalingrad


The Soviet resistance at Stalingrad continues. Every turn takes its toll. Casualties are up to about 380 Rifles (About 250 German Rifle IVs and 130 Axis Minor Rifle Is)

The Soviets still hold the center, but XI Corps is driving in from the North, and elements of IV Corps is driving in from the south. XXVII Corps continues to pressure the middle.

[springer]

Approach to Stalingrad Turn 7: Stalingrad Falls: The Germans Own the Western Bank of the Volga

The last of Soviet resistance is eliminated on this turn. The Sixth Army gets its last moment of triumphant victory!

[springer]

The Approach to Stalingrad: Post-mortem

This final approach to Stalingrad is a grind that softens the German army for operation Uranus.
Ironically, the casualty count for this scenario was nearly double Case Blue, though Case Blue was five turns longer. The Soviet SMG squads at the beginning were amongst some of the most tenacious units that Germans had encountered. It was a good thing that there were none to be found in the factories of Stalingrad.

Looking through my archives, I found that in my first pass through this campaign, the victorious Germans ended the scenario with 88 German rifles and about 200 Axis Allied Rifles. Needless to say, this was not an army made for a breakout.

This second pass is quite different, there are still 1000 German rifles available and about 270 Axis Allied Rifles. This is a force that has a fighting chance to break out of the Soviet trap that is part of the last scenario.

[springer]

Approach to Stalingrad: Casualties

The attack on Stalingrad was relatively expensive. Before the attack, the number of rifles per German regiment was about 29. It has now been reduced to about 24. In addition, one regiment in the XI Corps has been disbanded. Also, XI Corps no longer has a functional Panzer Grenadier unit. (It had two at the beginning of '42) The entire 6th Army is operating at about 62% of the strength it started with in '42.

On the plus, the experience of the Sixth Army is very high. For example, the XXVII Corps as an XP of 93 and the average XP for the German Rifles is 81

Here are the regimental losses (INF denotes both Rifle IV units and MGs). Percentages are losses since the '42 refit. Parenthetical percentages are losses since beginning of the campaign in '40:

IV Corps (12 infantry regiments): 352 INF at 71% (65%) strength; 80 XP
IX Corps (9 infantry regiments): 237 INF at 77% (64%) strength; 77 XP
XXVII Corps (10 infantry regiments): 227 INF at 56% (60%) strength; 93 XP
XI Corps (9 infantry regiments): 236 INF at 52% (58%) strength; 77 XP
Total: (40 infantry regiments) 1050 INF at 62% (62%) strength; 81 XP

The army is actually stronger than this because each corp has Axis Minor units attached. (The Axis Minors were shuffled between corps during the campaign)
IV Corps has 3 Axis Minor Regiments
IX Corps has 1 Axis Minor Regiment
XXVII Corps has 2 Axis Minor Regiments
XI Corps has 7 Axis Minor Regiments

Germans have a good armored force, the Germans have 9 medium tanks and 16 light tanks divided into 9 tank regiments. IV Corps still has one functional Panzer Grenadier regiment. With reorganization, they may be able to get two.
Also, the Germans air power is still in good shape. They have 20 fighters and 28 divebombers.

If the Sixth Army is asked to advance to the Caspian Sea, they're ready to do it!

[springer]

Approach to Stalingrad: Summary

[Josh]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7GZqDydOtg

The famous speech from Hitler about the capture of Stalingrad.

[springer]

Josh,

That's a great video. The ultimate in propaganda: Everything looks calm, cool and collected even as the Nazis know that disaster is impending.

[springer]

Breakout from Stalingrad: Strategic Situation

Operation Uranus has cut off the Sixth Army. The snow has fallen, and the dreams of marching to the Caspian Sea have fallen to the wayside. The Sixth Army just wants to get back to the its starting position. Soviets have appeared once more on the West Bank of the Volga as well!

Fortunately, the Sixth Army is in good shape for the campaign. Troops strengths are high and the supply situation is good. To continue to get supplies, the Germans are going to have to hang on to the airsupply fields in Gumrak.

The Germans will have to fight their way out. Fortunately, the fist of the Sixth Army, the fourth corps is well placed to try and break open the Soviet line. But it looks tough, the Soviets are fresh and in force. This is one battle the Germans can't afford to lose.

Here's the deployments, which are based on starting position:
IV Corps is the schwerpunkt that will be driving toward Kalach and supplies.
XI Corps will hold the north. Their action is to tie up the Soviets so they don't move toward the schwerpunkt.
IX Corps will hold the south. The Soviets are massing their as well.
XXVII Corps will try to clean the Soviets out of the factories of Stalingrad. They will get help from elements of the IX Corps. If they finish their job quickly, they have orders to transfer west and support the IV Corps's drive to Kalach