Many changes were made in the Luftwaffe to try and impose control over the disasters occuring in the air. Only time will tell whether they help or not. The Smolensk bulge was slightly enlarged in blizzard weather, but other attacks across major river lines failed to gain any ground. Unless bridgeheads can be forces, the attack toward Moscow will be in trouble.
Axis/Soviet
564/1251 Squads
100/29 AFVs
186/401 Guns
79/0 Planes
Great patriotic war (real one)
The Red Air Force spent the week moving south again, with numerous La-5FNs deployed close to the front lines and longer range planes to the rear. Heavy dogfights broke out with the La-5FNs, causing heavy losses on both sides and leaving the long range Soviet planes intact, by design intelligence reports. 3 attempts were made in heavy blizzards to cross river lines but all failed, although casualties to the Soviet aggressors were much heavier than to our proud forces.
Axis/Soviet
650/1715 Squads
109/37 AFVs
184/461 Guns
641/784 Planes
Axis/Soviet
650/1715 Squads
109/37 AFVs
184/461 Guns
641/784 Planes
Rick Bancroft
Semper Fi
Semper Fi
1944. january 28.
Blizzard
The red air force struck an airfield in the rear, but just in range for the yak9's. 18th army airfield was the unlucky target this time. Weak fw190 units defended desperately but were pushed aside by our brutal numerical advantage. The La5FN's are doing a great job at conserving the long range fighter units strength. The weather turned milder and in the snow weather we are afraid of big catastrophes in the central area. We still not have enough troops to stabalize the broken line, and we fear the worst against the proud panzer korpses...
Losses this week:
Axis/Soviet
37/0
6/0
49/0
405/442
Stavka
Blizzard
The red air force struck an airfield in the rear, but just in range for the yak9's. 18th army airfield was the unlucky target this time. Weak fw190 units defended desperately but were pushed aside by our brutal numerical advantage. The La5FN's are doing a great job at conserving the long range fighter units strength. The weather turned milder and in the snow weather we are afraid of big catastrophes in the central area. We still not have enough troops to stabalize the broken line, and we fear the worst against the proud panzer korpses...
Losses this week:
Axis/Soviet
37/0
6/0
49/0
405/442
Stavka
With the improvement in the weather, combat escalated all along the front. The Red Air Force struck at a weak airfield designed to draw off their power while other air units prepared for heavier battle. This allowed a large bombing raid to get through to some of the rear airfields knocking out over 100 planes on the ground.
Also, numerous ground attacks were launched. Northeast of Smolensk, Vyazma was reached but no attacked and a tank army in the front lines was cutoff and destroyed. 1 panzer corps is at the tip of the new salient though, exposed to counterattacks from many directions. Also, river crossings were forced east of Kiev and just south of Smolensk, allowing the Wehrmacht to begin drives to the east on a broader front. The battles are showing a large dropoff in Soviet artillery capability, as prior bombing of artillery factories appears to be paying off, with large bombardment losses to the Soviets.
Axis/Soviet
1128/3297 Squads
262/846 AFVs
303/1148 Guns
406/409 Planes
Also, numerous ground attacks were launched. Northeast of Smolensk, Vyazma was reached but no attacked and a tank army in the front lines was cutoff and destroyed. 1 panzer corps is at the tip of the new salient though, exposed to counterattacks from many directions. Also, river crossings were forced east of Kiev and just south of Smolensk, allowing the Wehrmacht to begin drives to the east on a broader front. The battles are showing a large dropoff in Soviet artillery capability, as prior bombing of artillery factories appears to be paying off, with large bombardment losses to the Soviets.
Axis/Soviet
1128/3297 Squads
262/846 AFVs
303/1148 Guns
406/409 Planes
Rick Bancroft
Semper Fi
Semper Fi
1944. february 4.
Snow
The demoralized and beaten soviet troops in the central area saw a miracle which they waited for a very long time. The red air force openly challenged german fighter's and cleared the skies over the battlefield from the german killing machines. After that soviet bombers flew over the happy soviet troops in thousands and hit the victorious panzer korps in the open (with their pants down so to say). The air attacks destroyed hundred's of enemy panzers. After this came the next unexpected joy for the poor soviet infantrymen. Well camouflaged and strong tank armies went on and finished off the panzer korps adjecent Vyazma (surrender) and beat up the panzer korps which held the supply line. The soviet soliders began cheering laudly when all this victories were crowned by soviet heavy bombers bombing the airfield of the german air cover to dust. The morale of the rifleman went from demoralized to very high (they feel themselves in Berlin right now, the poor souls) in a week. Of course we know the Luftwaffe will be back to dominate, and the panzers will have their bloody revenge.
Losses this week:
Axis/Soviet
967/385
1124/176
1414/61
1079/833
Stavka
Snow
The demoralized and beaten soviet troops in the central area saw a miracle which they waited for a very long time. The red air force openly challenged german fighter's and cleared the skies over the battlefield from the german killing machines. After that soviet bombers flew over the happy soviet troops in thousands and hit the victorious panzer korps in the open (with their pants down so to say). The air attacks destroyed hundred's of enemy panzers. After this came the next unexpected joy for the poor soviet infantrymen. Well camouflaged and strong tank armies went on and finished off the panzer korps adjecent Vyazma (surrender) and beat up the panzer korps which held the supply line. The soviet soliders began cheering laudly when all this victories were crowned by soviet heavy bombers bombing the airfield of the german air cover to dust. The morale of the rifleman went from demoralized to very high (they feel themselves in Berlin right now, the poor souls) in a week. Of course we know the Luftwaffe will be back to dominate, and the panzers will have their bloody revenge.
Losses this week:
Axis/Soviet
967/385
1124/176
1414/61
1079/833
Stavka
The patriotic forces fighting agains the Soviet hordes in the east struck back after the disasters of the past few days, destroying an army and hitting planes sitting on their airfields. Although not enough damage to feel like revenge had been achieved, it was still enough to encourage our forces for the upcoming spring weather.
Axis/Soviet
960/2357 Squads
106/230 AFVs
259/640 Guns
246/222 Planes
Axis/Soviet
960/2357 Squads
106/230 AFVs
259/640 Guns
246/222 Planes
Rick Bancroft
Semper Fi
Semper Fi
44. february. 11.
Snow
A small IL2 unit made a recon misson over the central area trying to hit same panzers. The few survivors spoke about more then half thousand fw's and some hundred new maschines which fly at incredible speed and have even heavier weaponry. They were sent for some work to the east, but unluckily the information leaked out. All soviet air forces refused to fly missions in this area (all had motor failure all the sudden).
The tank armies were not such cowards as they continued the slaying of enemy panzer korpses. 4 tank armies attacked and as result 2 panzer korpses were destroyed (1 shatter, 1 surrender). In the south we managed to retake our river line when the infantry korps on the east side was thrown back.
Losses this week:
Axis/Soviet
1292/545
1131/332
1576/101
16/5
Stavka
Snow
A small IL2 unit made a recon misson over the central area trying to hit same panzers. The few survivors spoke about more then half thousand fw's and some hundred new maschines which fly at incredible speed and have even heavier weaponry. They were sent for some work to the east, but unluckily the information leaked out. All soviet air forces refused to fly missions in this area (all had motor failure all the sudden).
The tank armies were not such cowards as they continued the slaying of enemy panzer korpses. 4 tank armies attacked and as result 2 panzer korpses were destroyed (1 shatter, 1 surrender). In the south we managed to retake our river line when the infantry korps on the east side was thrown back.
Losses this week:
Axis/Soviet
1292/545
1131/332
1576/101
16/5
Stavka
Heavy combat continued all along the front, with gains made but at heavy cost. The heavy counterattacks by the Soviet tank armies near Smolensk have surprised our forces, as the units destroyed have been surprised by the onslaughts, it appears. Minor territorial gains were made, but nothing significant for long term purposes.
Axis/Soviet
810/2065 Squads
143/144 AFVs
325/984 Guns
576/787 Planes
Axis/Soviet
810/2065 Squads
143/144 AFVs
325/984 Guns
576/787 Planes
Rick Bancroft
Semper Fi
Semper Fi
44. february 18.
Snow
The morale of the soviet riflemen dropped to an all time low as they saw the red air force flying away to the east and the tank armies stopped their counterattacks and withdrew as well. They only can hope the tank armies are not far behind for a helping hand. Or they too went to the east for retooling? All minor counterattacks against german bridgeheads on our river defence lines failed this week. Is this the END? Moscow seems an easy pray for the victorious germans...
Losses this week:
Axis/Soviet
873/794
16/155
539/175
52/0
Stavka
Snow
The morale of the soviet riflemen dropped to an all time low as they saw the red air force flying away to the east and the tank armies stopped their counterattacks and withdrew as well. They only can hope the tank armies are not far behind for a helping hand. Or they too went to the east for retooling? All minor counterattacks against german bridgeheads on our river defence lines failed this week. Is this the END? Moscow seems an easy pray for the victorious germans...
Losses this week:
Axis/Soviet
873/794
16/155
539/175
52/0
Stavka
With the Red Air Force absent, factories in the southern USSR were bombed, damaging artillery factories. Also, the bridgeheads along the rivers that have been forced were enlarged in preparation for moving panzers into them and striking into the Soviet rear. The Smolensk area saw further combat also as the lines around it were struck and weakened. Preparations continue for a strike on Moscow after the weather clears up for the summer.
Axis/Soviet
582/1946 Squads
57/122 AFVs
118/727 Guns
96/0 Planes
Axis/Soviet
582/1946 Squads
57/122 AFVs
118/727 Guns
96/0 Planes
Rick Bancroft
Semper Fi
Semper Fi
Our brave patriots, fighting to rid the world of danger from Stalin's aggressive leadership, are getting very tired of the blizzards in March. The heavy, wet snow is halting nearly all operations as our vehicles sink into the deep drifts and melting snow floods the rivers. Limited operations continue, however.
Axis/Soviet
333/1458 Squads
9/108 AFVs
251/215 Guns
80/0 Planes
Axis/Soviet
333/1458 Squads
9/108 AFVs
251/215 Guns
80/0 Planes
Rick Bancroft
Semper Fi
Semper Fi
The blizzards turned to rain and mud this week, compounding the misery of the troops struggling to prepare for the final offensive in the east. Limited attacks were launed to weaken the enemy, but the troops tire of the attritional warfare they are carrying out. The hope is for clear weather to allow deep panzer moves.
Axis/Soviet
625/1657 Squads
45/141 AFVs
243/318 Guns
80/0 Planes
Axis/Soviet
625/1657 Squads
45/141 AFVs
243/318 Guns
80/0 Planes
Rick Bancroft
Semper Fi
Semper Fi
As rain continues to fall, the Wehrmacht prepares for the final battles in the east. The hope is that it isn't too optimistic, but the Soviet forces seem to be rallying and digging in for a final stand on the Moscow front. Most Soviet equipment is in plentiful supply, but there seems to be a growing shortage of guns, which is slightly encouraging. Meanwhile, hope for clear weather rises.
Also, Moscow was bombed for the first time in the war.
Axis/Soviet
154/1136 Squads
47/111 AFVs
287/236 Guns
114/77 Planes
Also, Moscow was bombed for the first time in the war.
Axis/Soviet
154/1136 Squads
47/111 AFVs
287/236 Guns
114/77 Planes
Rick Bancroft
Semper Fi
Semper Fi
44. april 08.
Rain
General rain stop's the germans for now, but the summer of the decision is near. The red army and airforce is a devastated and demoralized. The simple rifleman did not see a single soviet aircraft for months now. Seemingly nothing can stop the german offense for Moscow in the summer. The frightened citizens began to flee after recent bombings, which smashed the weak air defense of the capital. Stalin gave command again to defend until victory or death. Demoralized troops only call this orders "suicide orders".
No losses this week
Stavka
Rain
General rain stop's the germans for now, but the summer of the decision is near. The red army and airforce is a devastated and demoralized. The simple rifleman did not see a single soviet aircraft for months now. Seemingly nothing can stop the german offense for Moscow in the summer. The frightened citizens began to flee after recent bombings, which smashed the weak air defense of the capital. Stalin gave command again to defend until victory or death. Demoralized troops only call this orders "suicide orders".
No losses this week
Stavka