41-45GC - A FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL - GLVACA (Sov) v SJ80 (Axis) - NO SJ80

[glvaca]

OOB

[glvaca]

Production

[glvaca]

Losses

[glvaca]

Units. We both disband a few things.

[glvaca]

TURN 26

Overview South.
Again he falls back a couple of hexes everywhere. I'm assuming he's trying to delay me by preventing to far an advance but at the same time allowing no, or few, deliberate attacks.

[glvaca]

North Overview:

[glvaca]

South, after Sov moves.
I manage to bridge the gap quite easily and also launch a deliberate and several hasties. It's quite clear already that if 12th Army would not have 4 Cav corps attached, he would have been able to disengage the tired and weak infantry North of Voroshilovgrad. This flank seems very weak.

I'm very close to his first real defensive belt just to the West of Stalino. This will be the first test of strength.

The first major city is liberated...

[glvaca]

On the Tula - Kaluga axis, I make progress, the Cav Corps get in a few hasties and Tula will fall shortly. Even so I need to go faster!

Overall, I zoc lock 3 infantry divs and a Rum Mountain Brig. As he writes me, that seems to unsettle Sebastian a lot.

[glvaca]

On my right flank is where most of the action is for the moment. NW Front's 32nd Army joins the attack (formed from the reserve East of Moscow), while the Cav Corps of 2S join the fray in Kalinin's Front area. Already though, Sebastian is reacting to the changing situation and units before Moscow are redeployed to face this new develloping threat. Still, his extended left flank seems pretty weak...

[randallw]

ORIGINAL: glvaca

Always aim high! You can always adjust downwards later and pretend it was the intention all along [:D]

That's the General Montgomery way to do it! [;)]

[glvaca]

ORIGINAL: randallw

ORIGINAL: glvaca

Always aim high! You can always adjust downwards later and pretend it was the intention all along [:D]

That's the General Montgomery way to do it! [;)]

I have to distance myself from this remark, I'm sure you understand [:'(]

[glvaca]

TURN 27

Before Sov moves, South, close up.
For the first time during blizzard I'm very close to his units at the start of the turn. As usual (although I haven't mentioned it before) he counter attacks wherever possible. In the red circle he routes the mountain division and 2 armoured brigades using serveral Pz, inf & moutain brig.
Further North, he routes a cav division. Both times this enables him to free a zoc locked unit. His extreme *right* flank doesn't look very strong...

[glvaca]

Voronezh axis, overview.
Again he falls back...

[glvaca]

Tula - Kaluga axis.
In the red circles he each time counter attacks a division and each time the result is a route.
Further North, 3 armoured brigades are pushed back, one routes but the other 2 are of high quality and manage to retreat over friendly units. It seems that units from 56 morale upwards can do this. Good to know.
Still, he seems intent on disputing every inch here, which is perfect, I need to get an oportunity to attack, get some guards, and start increasing the body count.

[glvaca]

North, close up.
Again he falls back on his left but stands futher East. Again he launches a massive counter attack and 2 divisions route.
Even in the harshest period of Blizzard he keeps on counter attacking whenever he can. I'm pondering whether this is to my or his advantage. Sure, he might get some morale (alhtough if I recall each attacks also costs him 1 point), but the net result is, I can just put new divs in the line but his divisions will get even more fatigued and disrupted making them easier targets for my attacks.

[glvaca]

Finally, Western Front, the strongest in the field, is ready for the attack!

[glvaca]

Soviet moves.
His first major defensive line is breached without problems and is irrevoquably lost. Unfortunately, I don't have the movement points to attack the third hex (red circle) or I might have been able to take his 2nd line by surprise. Further North, I launch deliberate attacks where I can. His losses are substantial as are, off course, mine.

[glvaca]

Voronezh axis.
Again he falls back out of reach in the center.
On the flanks I manage some hasties against breakdowns of the LAH and DAS SS divisions which gives a a great deal of satisfaction. [:'(]
In the red circle, a new "armoured" Corps is formed. Hopefully they can help to keep in contact and disrupt his retreat.

[glvaca]

Tula - Kaluga axis. Here things are happening. Western Front makes its presence felt with a vengeance. Although not is all rose and sunshine. In the red cicled combat, I lose 7.K versus 4k Germans. In the yellow circle, a hasty attack fails and I "exchange" a further 3K versus 111 axis soldiers. But overall, I'm happy with the results. 2 German divisions are zoc locked and will be lost unless he stays and fights, which would suite me nicely.

Further North, just South of Moscow, I occupy the terrain he gave up and launch one succesful attack using the 4A of WF (Western Front). Pressure is mounting all along the front and it's clear he is redeploying forces from the center to his flanks, in turn, making the center vulnerable to attack.

[glvaca]

Rzhev axis. A slow catch-up turn. Kalinin Fronts forces are already feeling the strain of constant movement and combat. Volkhov Front is not in a position to attack except with the Cav Corps. NW front, has some bad movement rolls and can't deliberately attack and I decide not to hasty. To risky and the cost of failure is too high.
Rzhev is tanalizingly close and seems empty and ripe for the taking. It almost seems to good to be true...

Red circle, 4S is formed from stavka reserves. Next turn, the RR to Kalinin should be repaired, so I'll wait and rail them straight into the fight next week.