Axis Panzer/infantry combined operational doctrine. Advice needed

[coolts]

Theatre: AGN sector, south of Moscow.

Situation: April ’42 mud. Preparing for clear weather operations.

Strategic plan: to break enemy lines, push panzers through and encircle 16+ enemy divisions to clear southern Moscow area for a larger encirclement

Proviso: its mud, ignore those defence values, they are a lot higher than that!

Query: its 1942 now, the Russian army is more organised, defences are tougher and in more depth.

[coolts]

My idea to allow enough infantry ‘OOMPH’ for the upcoming offensive is to break divisions in to regiments and allow two (of three) regiments to stay behind in hexes opposed to enemy units, and move the freed divisions to the ’puncture points’ to support the attack.

If I had 2 divisions in a line Facing 2 enemy units I could break them down and have 2 regiments in each opposing hex, freeing 1 whole division each side. That would leave me weaker defensively in the centre, but only for the time needed to support the breach attempt.

This is all to gain a 2-3 hex wide breach for the panzers on each flank.



Waddaya think?

[molchomor]

If this is against the AI you seriously need more mech. units (basically all you have) ready to jump off and into the gaps from railheads as you will be swamped with Soviet units the turn after the breakthrough.

[coolts]

Tell me about it. I tried that near moscow and am now 5 deep in russian rifle brigades!