Nordlicht 1942 AAR Snefens vs. Telumar

[Curtis Lemay]

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EDIT: I am thinking when I load a save in the Beta I can use 'manpower estimate' for this and compare it to the fresh unit and/or formation in sce turn 1 or editor if not deployed on turn 1. This will give a precise result. Mail or PM me if you are interested I could do this for you too (or do you have access to dev forum yourself?)
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I was going to suggest that! But I'm not sure if I've posted the latest fix to that estimate.

[Telumar]

_______________________________________________________
EDIT: I am thinking when I load a save in the Beta I can use 'manpower estimate' for this and compare it to the fresh unit and/or formation in sce turn 1 or editor if not deployed on turn 1. This will give a precise result. Mail or PM me if you are interested I could do this for you too (or do you have access to dev forum yourself?)
_______________________________________________________

I was going to suggest that! But I'm not sure if I've posted the latest fix to that estimate.

If you mean an updated exe on the ftp server, no.

Apart from that, it would be nice to also have a percentage of current manpower compared to full strength displayed next to manpower estimate in the formation and unit reports. Something like this: Manpower Estimate: 825 (79%). Just saying.

[LLv34_Snefens]

Turn 26
September 21st

The Germans eliminate the last defenders near Sepelevo. Now only remnants of 13th Rifle Brigade and other smaller units hold out between Bol.Izhora and Oranienbaum (not shown)

The reinforcements brought in to the Chudovo attack shows good results. The Germans had retaken Radishchevo, but this day we take it back as well as push up on either side of the village. Also the more western axis pierces through the enemy defensive lines, but this direction is less important as the rear holds no real vital objectives.
Our attack against the eastern enemy bulge is unfortunately still unsuccessful.
North of all of this most of the planned artillery have come into place in the Pogost'ye salient. 259th RD of 4th Gd RC has railed to the area, but it is still weak from the offensive by Luzhno (<50% strength), and will instead take over the defense of the stronger 177th RD's lines (>85% strength) that has so far been defending the base of the Pogost'ye salient. This will then move south to be part of the follow up forces.

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South of Ramushevo enemy attacks once again cross the Volkhov by Cherenchitsy. Part of our lines we are able to reoccupy, but the enemy is too strong for us to push him back completely. We begin to pull out 45th Rifle Brigade that has so far been in 2nd Shock Army's sector and get it back to reinforce 1st Shock Army.
2nd Shock Army are unable to make any gains this day in a handful of attacks, but 11th Army starting it's offensive on the northern shoulder of the Ramushevo corridor this day advance 5km on either side of the Pola, although the town of Vasil'yevshchina withstand the initial attempt to take it on the move.
Supporting attacks west of this is somewhat successful, but at heavy losses. A bit of terrain is taken, including getting visuals on the main road from Ramushevo to Demyansk.

Turn26Ramu.jpg (602.86 KiB) Viewed 405 times

[Telumar]

Turn 26, Sept. 21st - Crisis at the Pola river

Note: Screenshots show stack strengths

While 2nd Shock Army's offensive had stalled, on this day the Soviet 11th Army launched an offensive against the northern corridor front much earlier than expected. The first strikes of the offensive made some deep inroads north of the Pola river while in the central and western part of the Corridor the enemy advanced only 2.5 km in some places, but managed to cross the Pola next to Vasil'yeshchina. We have the advantage of interior lines here and by further shuffling forces from the "Winkelried" area of operations, from Zasovo opposite 2nd Shock Army and from the Demyansk sector we somehow manage to restore a coherent front line again (I marked these movements with the dashed lines on the map).
However I suffer an early end after the first combat round and the counterattack against 422nd Rifle Regt. that had crossed the Pola does not materialize. Worse, the section immediately south and southwest of that Rifle Regt is only screened by company sized units as I was expecting the attack to succeed and had used them to screen possible enemy retreat paths. A bigger disaster might loom here on the next turn....

Situation at the end of the turn (combat markers without arrows pointing into or at the hex were mere bombardments):

Ramush eot 26.jpg (1.85 MiB) Viewed 373 times

At Chudovo the enemy offensive saw further successes and he was able to retake Radishchevo and to advance on both flanks of the town. Our attack against the western flank of Radishchevo fails. We also now retreated the exposed infantry battalion at the small salient at the Volkhov, luckily without any interference from the enemy. Our flank west of Radishchevo does look pretty weak now, but advancing into this area does not hold any rewards for the enemy, so we concentrate our defense in the area immediately south of Chudovo. This is the situation at the end of the turn:

chudovo eot 26.jpg (1.38 MiB) Viewed 375 times

EDIT: Updated the Ramushevo corridor map (some Soviet attacks were missing)

[LLv34_Snefens]

Turn 27
September 22nd

Only very limited enemy attacks since yesterday and we don't lose any terrain.
He pulls back from his exposed position along the Volkhov and we occupy this, but are unable to push him back further.
We are able to push the front further away from Radishchevo to give ourselves a bit of a buffer. Reaching Chudovo is unlikely, but we have observed several battalions of 217.ID have been sent here to defend, so the depth of the enemy lines will hopefully be limited when we start our offensive out of the Pogost'ye pocket tomorrow.

Turn27Chud.jpg (462.03 KiB) Viewed 340 times

The unexpected passive response by the enemy allows us to continue our offensive along the Pola. Vasil'yevshchina is heavily defended by three infantry battalions and a Pz.Jg.Abt, but we throw in 6 regiments and 2 tank battalions into the attack and after heavy casualties on both sides we enter the village and even managed to push 2km further SW of it.
Along the Pola River we are however unable to dislodge the enemy still holding a small bridgehead on the eastern side of the river, that prevents a quick deployment of units into the gap opened up yesterday. Also 201st RD had gone into reorganizing, which further limited this.
By 2nd Shock Army we shift our entire focus towards the attack east of Zasovo. Unlike the last couple of days futile attacks, a breach is finally made in the enemy line reaching the road and the southern bank of the Pola River.
No enemy units are left between the two armies here, now only 5km from each other. The flow of supplies into Demyansk now completely relies on being brought in by air. If the similar gap of 5km SW of Vasil'yevshchina can be closed, we would have encircled the better part of four German divisions. A great victory is within reach.

Turn27Ramu.jpg (920.48 KiB) Viewed 340 times

[Curtis Lemay]

Apart from that, it would be nice to also have a percentage of current manpower compared to full strength displayed next to manpower estimate in the formation and unit reports. Something like this: Manpower Estimate: 825 (79%). Just saying.

I've now effected this suggestion.

[LLv34_Snefens]

Turn 28
September 23rd

Our last defenders west of Oranienbaum surrenders. 5 German divisions had taken part in the assault and they will now be available to be committed elsewhere, although some of them have undoubtedly already been pulled out several days ago for rest and refitting.

We begin our attack out of the Pogost'ye salient this day. Our force is smaller than initially planned because of the recent German attack at the Leningrad Corridor, but our initial objective is to hit 217.ID full on, take and hold the auxiliary rail line supplying the Kirishi salient and a "stretch goal" of the town of Lyuban' or at least cutting the main Leningrad-Moscow Rail line.
We will again utilize infiltrating troops through the swamps and dropping units further behind enemy lines, but the plan is to link up with these forces on the first day.

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Our infiltrating units reported no sighting of enemies on the rail line running through the swamps and we order the airdrop of 8th Guards Miner Bn. 1/3 of our transport planes are shot down en route, but a good portion of the battalion reaches the DZ.
Our main attack have trouble breaking the initial line though. Only on our 3rd assault do we gain any ground and we are unable to advance to our troops covering the rail line on the first day.
We gain a bit of ground on the right flank of our attack, but overall disappointing results for the first day.

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By Chudovo, counter-attacks push us a bit back towards Radishchevo, while the enemy continues their withdrawal of the small bulge by the Volkhov.
A lot of our units are in reorganizing, so we only make limited attacks, although it results in the evaporation of a decimated german battalion on the left flank.

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South of Ramushevo enemy attacks cut off the protruding bulge along the Lovat River, with approx two divisions inside. Connection is re-established through counter-attacks, but only by using the regiments on the northern edge of the bulge, so this area is now only defended by a couple of battalions.
Enemy is also successful in pushing us back from our positions on the south bank of the Pola, although we gain a bit of the terrain back later in the day, but not reaching the river again.
A large portion of 11th Army is reorganizing, so we only make limited gains, but at least manage to clear the enemy bridgehead on the eastern bank of the Pola, allowing easier flow of units into this sector.
By Vasil'yevshchina enemy attacks are repulsed, but our units are unable to organize for renewed attacks this day.
This means that by the end of the day we still have two areas where we are only 5km from linking up, but especially 1st and 2nd Shock Army are running on fumes.

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[LLv34_Snefens]

Turn 29
September 24th

With our failure to reach our paratroopers it's not unsurprising that they were forced to surrender. Renewed attack on the main axis still have no success in advancing towards Chuskoy Bor.
There are however developments north of this as we make two penetrations, spearheaded by 124th Tank Bde. With apparently few reserves to stop them, lead elements of the brigade reach the edge of the Lyuban'-Mga road bypassing an enemy battalion.
In order to be able to continue to feed this offensive, we shift units from the base of the Pogost'ye salient to the attack sector.

Turn29Pogo.jpg (695.4 KiB) Viewed 254 times

By Chudovo there are limited enemy attacks, but they take no ground. We also only perform limited actions, only taking a single hex vacated on the western front (not shown)

South of Ramushevo we are once again cut off and this time the enemy is also able to begin assaulting the isolated troops. Reorganizing formations, means that any possibility to come to the rescue of the remaining troops (majority of 7th Gds RD) is negligible.
There is also heavy attacks on the western part of the Vasil'yevshchina sector where we are forced back. There are still opportunities however. Attacks SE along the road following the Pola river, combined with a uncontested crossing of the river by our eastern forces manage to advance 5km and cut off a couple of battalions. Lead elements of our forces even manage to make contact with rear area units and staff of a couple of divisions surprised by our pace.

Turn29Ramu.jpg (918.58 KiB) Viewed 254 times

By Kholm we are in the process of building up for our assault on the town. So far 3 divisions and a tank brigade has been sent to the area, but they still need to get into position, as well as only limited artillery have arrived. (not shown)

[Telumar]

Turns 27 - 28, Sept. 22nd - 23rd - Wider Ramushevo sector


Disclaimer: Due to family obligations over the next few days I might not be able to post regularly or in the detail you might have get used to, but I will try to keep up.

All screenshots show stack values

The situation in the Zasovo - Pola river sector on Sept. 22nd has become grave. Soviet pressure continued and 2nd Shock Army spearheads had reached the Pola river from the south and made further inroads south of Vasilyevshchina. It looked like the enemy could be able to cut the bottleneck and even encircle the bulk of Korpsgruppe Knobelsdorf. However we still had reserves east of the bottleneck and west of Ramushevo we still had not committed 24. Inf.Div. and also 250. Inf.Div. was beginning to arrive in the area. We had planned to sent these forces here anyway in support of Winkelried as well as for the buildup for Operation Schlingpflanze north of the corridor, so the Soviet offensive did not really mess with our time schedule except that we would have to commit these forces premature in the sense that they were not yet fully rested. This was the Soviet maximum advance on that day:

ramushevo start t 27.jpg (2.03 MiB) Viewed 253 times

With our counterattack on that day we were able to avert the worst and even managed to finally cut off 1st Shock Army's salient at Ramushevo although a Soviet attack might very well establish a connection with the cut off units again. Even if so his position there will have become weakened significantly and we expect the enemy to begin to retreat from the fingertip of the salient:

ramushevo eot 27.jpg (2.07 MiB) Viewed 253 times

On the 23rd, the enemy was indeed able to reestablish lines of communications with his cut off units. He also continued attacking towards the Pola river with 2nd Shock Army but could not repeat yesterday's successes. Only one attack by 11th Army at the Pola river. Was he already running out of steam?

ramushevo start t 28.jpg (1002.4 KiB) Viewed 253 times

We were able to again cut off 1st Shock Army's salient and even continued a little bit more towards the south while at the same time we ordered first attacks against the small Kessel along the railroad. The railroad connection into the Demyansk pocket is about to be opened up now and we will have to recall the railroad engineers that were still employed in I Korps sector SW of Chudovo! This will also ease pressure at Zasovo and along the Pola river. Around Vasilyevshchina attacks by 5. Jäger Division supported by II./Panzer Rgt. 203 were successful in widening the corridor a little bit again. It seemed that we had averted the crisis that the enemy offensive had created over the last few days. This was the situation at the end of turn 28:

ramushewvo eot 28.jpg (1.35 MiB) Viewed 253 times

[Telumar]

Turn 28: Lyuban - Chudovo sector

Although the first enemy attacks out of the Pogostye salient were not very promising for the Soviets as Snefens stated, it was clear that this was a major effort and not just another diversionary attack. We send in all immediately available reinforcements from the Oranienbaum area to strengthen 217. Inf.Div.'s thinned out defense (mainly from 28. Jäger Div., the rest of 28. Jäger will follow in the coming days). At the same time we form a small reserve with units from XXVIII Korps at Chudovo ready to move back towards the north. These forces had only previously arrived in the area to participate in a planned local counteroffensive to regain Radishschevo (this probably will not materialize now). Situation at the end of German turn 28:

[Telumar]

Apart from that, it would be nice to also have a percentage of current manpower compared to full strength displayed next to manpower estimate in the formation and unit reports. Something like this: Manpower Estimate: 825 (79%). Just saying.

I've now effected this suggestion.

Very nice !

[LLv34_Snefens]

Turn 30
September 25th

The Germans react quickly to our penetration North of Lyuban', pushing our weak reconnaissance forces back and reestablish contact with the cut off battalion.
We renew our attacks and this day surround the battalion completely and force its surrender. We use the majority of our forces to ensure this and our attacks further south makes no gains.

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South of Ramushevo the enemy completes the elimination of our surrounded division and also continues his grind south on the east side of the Lovat River, with some limited gains.
He once again push back 2nd Shock Army, but 11th Army stops him in the assault on Vasil'yevshchina and he is unable to breakt trough to the surrounded battalions by the Pola River.
Our main focuse this day is the elimination of these battalions, which succeed in first try. This gives us manouver room to allows us to bring in more forces over the river to strengthen the line just north of Zasovo, which were too weak to continue any attacks this day.

Turn30Ramu.jpg (837.41 KiB) Viewed 174 times

[LLv34_Snefens]

Turn 31
September 26th

The enemy remains passive in the Pogosty'e sector other than the usual harassment fire by artillery. We focus on the attacks in a western direction where the enemy is in the least fortified deployments. We see modest gains a couple of places, but no real breakthroughs.

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At Chudovo the enemy press further towards Radishchevo again. We remain on the defensive, only recomitting the 44th RD that had been resting a couple of days in 2nd line. Otherwise we fully shift out all heavy Front artillery ready to transfer to Kholm for the upcoming offensive here. A bit of 8th Army's artillery and 59th Armys own artillery are moved in to be able to support better.

Turn31Chud.jpg (549.54 KiB) Viewed 150 times

Attacks in the Ramushevo corridor is also limited by both sides. We are pushed back SE of Vasil'yevshchina and our counter-attack is unsuccessful, so the corridor is now again >7km wide on the most narrow point.
SE of Cherenchitsy we also lose a bit of terrain, but don't counter-attack.

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[LLv34_Snefens]

Turn 32
September 27th

Our assaulting 198th RD goes into reorg at Pogost'ye, so we hold back on any attacks in this sector this day, just bring up the short range Katyusha for increased support tomorrow.

The enemy is also fairly quiet this day. Lots of artillery bombardments, but only a couple of attacks. By Chudovo he advances NE of Radishchevo but we commit 29th TB that has been re-supplying by the rail-line and push him back again.

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Also only a single enemy attack by the Ramushevo corridor, where he takes a hex west of Zaluch'ye. We remain passive here. Our losses are typically about double the German's in these attrition battle, which is acceptable to us. We go over to the defensive here and will begin to slowly to build up our forces both North and South of the corridor to eventually be able to make a new effort to cut it.

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At Kholm most of the infantry and armour is in position for the upcoming attack, but we still need to bring in extra artillery for the assault. This will have arrived in 2-3 days, but we will likely wait until our build-up is revealed until we launch the attack, in order to stockpile supply as close to 150% for all units. (Not shown)

[Telumar]

German side of things - Turn 31, Sept. 26th

All sceeenshots show stack strength

Lyuban Sector

While the Soviets were pressing further west towards the Lyuban - Mga road we were preparing a counterstrike and have been assembling parts of 12. Panzer Division and three battalions from 121. ID in the rear behind 28. Jäger Division along the road itself and a bit further north of it. The idea was to lurk the Soviets out a bit while offering enough resistance with 28. Jäger Div to not arise suspicion and then, if/when the situation presented itself, to cut off and destroy their spearhead. I had also left parts of 12. Panzer in the frontline at Mga to not let the enemy wonder about the whereabouts of the division.

31 c.jpg (1.03 MiB) Viewed 119 times

Ramushevo Corridor

With the destruction of 1st Shock Army's salient, the influx of major reserves and recent counterattacks the situation has stabilized for now somehow. Our railroad engineers had pushed the railhead across the Lovat river and reached the small river that runs north to south through Zaluchye. However it is estimated that rail repairs will take at least another week until they will have reached Tsemeno on the eastern exit of the bottleneck. From there it will be another 25 kilometers to Demyansk. High command is thus planning to cease air supply not before the next ten days. All this provided the enemy will not be able to reach the rail line again. To prevent this we naturally would have to widen the corridor in the Pola river sector. More intense combat will be ahead along the entire northern and southern corridor front. This is the situation at the end of German turn 31:

31 ramushevo.jpg (1.48 MiB) Viewed 116 times

[Telumar]

Turn 32 - Sept. 27th


This was a quiet turn as Snefens already stated. In the Ramushevo corridor we push back the Soviets directly southwest of Zasovo where they still occupied territory adjacent to the rail line. The rest of 250. Inf.Div. has finally arrived by rail and we generally plan to shift Corps boundaries further east. XXX Corps (light grey) will take over part of SS Totenkopf's sector (white arrow) while they themselves will shift their sector further east (grey arrow).

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At Leningrad 58. and 225. Inf.Divs. that had been participating in the battle for the Oranienbaum bridgehead are in the process of taking over parts of LIV Korps sector (grey-blue icon colour). We are planning to free up more units of 121. Inf.Div. for use elsewhere in cooperation with 12. Panzer-Division and the bulk of the Korps artillery. This is the Korps that 12. Pz.Div. is also part of plus it has the strongest Korps artillery asssets.

le32.jpg (965.33 KiB) Viewed 112 times

[LLv34_Snefens]

Turn 33
September 28th

Once our units were ready again, we renewed the attacks out of the the Pogost'ye Pocket, both west and south.
To the south we managed a small straitening of the line, while to the west we pushed deeper and reached and occupied the Lyuban'-Mga road. Once we had reached this we encountered strong forces in the 2nd line of defense. To the north parts of 12.PzD, while 121.ID is observed to the south.
It will be difficult to advance much further.

Turn33Pogo.jpg (615.97 KiB) Viewed 68 times

Besides this attack we also perform other local attacks. By the tip of the Kirishi Salient 285th and 311th Rifle Div of 54th Army, reinforced with 39th Eng Bde start a small offensive in order to clear the Kirishi-Pogost'ye rail line. Over the next 4 days the rail is captured, but the attack fail to fully move the front-line far enough to not have the line be under enemy observation. In any case the rail line is over a week away from being operational.
Also a local attack by 52nd Army at the south edge of the Volkhov Bridgehead. It's successful and the attack reveals only local divisional artillery is in position for the defenders. This makes us go ahead with the planning for an offensive in this area. Previous it was mentioned the Coastal Op.Group were beginning to take over part of the 52nd Army's line. We will continue this over the coming week and shift 52nd Army's forces into position for an attack out of the Volkhov Bridgehead.

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South of Zasovo limited enemy activity. They continues the slow widening of the corridor.

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[LLv34_Snefens]

Turn 34
September 29th

In the Pogost'ye salient we take heavy losses in the enemy counterattacks. Even though we are not technically surrounded, our units loses cohesion in the chaos and 2 rifle regiments and an armoured car battalion need to be reformed in our rear. We order further attacks in this sector to be stopped.
The limited attacks east by Kirishi continues this day, but no results so far. (Not shown)

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Again a single attack by the enemy on southern edge of the Ramushevo corridor by the Volkhov River. We retake the lost terrain in counterattacks and also move engineer units out onto the Volkhov itself. 45th Rifle Bde has arrived and begin digging in. 24th Guards Rifle Div arrives on the rail-line 30km to the south, and will move up by road in the coming days.

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