Thunder in the East - GC41 NEE K62 (A) vs AtAtack (S)

[K62_]

The Soviets run a lot of interdiction, which is slightly annoying in combination with the light mud. They also retreat to the Luga river line and I follow suit, catching a couple of stragglers in the process. An attack on Staraya Russa fails.

map luga.JPG (187.32 KiB) Viewed 1523 times

[K62_]

There is more interdiction on the way to Moscow, but without the mud it doesn't seem to make a huge difference. The Soviets have strongly reinforced the area and are holding a lot of good defensive terrain. They have also broken one of the minor pockets. I will need to extend the flanks more widely to make more progress here.

The Soviet line has only one weak spot, held by a regiment. Model leads a successful attack on this vulnerable location.

battle moscow map.JPG (265.45 KiB) Viewed 1521 times

[K62_]

The flanks are extended successfully and a couple of small pockets formed. Rzhev is found undefended and Ryazan is ZOC locked.

map moscow.JPG (292.65 KiB) Viewed 1520 times

[K62_]

Further south the defenders of Kursk have refused the chance to evacuate and now find themselves deep behind German lines. The 2nd Army advances on Voronezh against light resistance.

map voronezh.JPG (92.46 KiB) Viewed 1519 times

[K62_]

At Kharkov the checkerboard defense has mostly stayed in place but the northern flank is in the air so the city is easily pocketed.

map kharkov.JPG (136.6 KiB) Viewed 1518 times

[K62_]

Kleist's PG1 finds some stubborn Soviet cavalry defending the direct approach to Rostov. They are outflanked by taking Voroshilovgrad and a motorized regiment makes it within 40 miles of "the gateway to the Caucasus".

map rostov.JPG (201.36 KiB) Viewed 1517 times

[K62_]

On the Crimean isthmuses I grind into the first line of Soviet defenses. The level 3 fort at Perekop is reduced by von Salmuth and I doubt the fortifications behind it are quite as good.

map perekop.JPG (93.68 KiB) Viewed 1515 times

battle perekop.JPG (123.01 KiB) Viewed 1515 times

[K62_]

oob.JPG (47.59 KiB) Viewed 1514 times

loss ground.JPG (34.4 KiB) Viewed 1514 times

loss destroyed.JPG (58.19 KiB) Viewed 1514 times

loss air.JPG (51.78 KiB) Viewed 1514 times

[K62_]

Better late than never.

events moscow evac.JPG (84.55 KiB) Viewed 1386 times

[K62_]

Looks like perfect weather this turn and next - time to do some damage.

weather current.JPG (84.86 KiB) Viewed 1385 times

weather estimated.JPG (84.41 KiB) Viewed 1385 times

[K62_]

Starting situation:

map begin rostov perekop.JPG (196.8 KiB) Viewed 1380 times

In the Crimea I finally make a clean break through the eastern entrance. Temporary motorization comes in handy to close the pocket around Perekop as the Romanians don't have enough MPs. I should have left a Panzer division with the 11th Army.

map crimea.JPG (119.15 KiB) Viewed 1380 times

At Rostov the DR/GD combo does an encore and seizes the city from Soviet cavalry. A bridgehead is secured across the Don.

battle rostov.JPG (169.28 KiB) Viewed 1380 times

map rostov.JPG (169.11 KiB) Viewed 1380 times

[K62_]

Von Schwedler captures Kharkov.

battle kharkov.JPG (138.46 KiB) Viewed 1377 times

[K62_]

A lonely German motorized regiment does a complete ride around Voronezh.

map voronezh.JPG (102.45 KiB) Viewed 1376 times

[K62_]

Soviet tank forces attempted to relieve Ryazan but von Vietinghoff held them off quite well:

battle soviet attack.JPG (128.23 KiB) Viewed 1374 times

He then proceeds to take the city and surround the counterattacking mechanized force.

battle ryazan.JPG (116.19 KiB) Viewed 1374 times

map tambov.JPG (126.03 KiB) Viewed 1374 times

[K62_]

Model takes a second hex in Moscow by assault and not much of the garrison escapes the battle:

battle w moscow.JPG (164.33 KiB) Viewed 1373 times

Hoth's PG3 finds the Soviet flank and starts rolling it in, while sending Rendulic's 2nd korps on a deeper drive beyond Kalinin.

map moscow.JPG (212.44 KiB) Viewed 1373 times

[K62_]

The AGN sector continues to be the underperforming area of the front. A three divisions deliberate attack on Novgorod is beaten back by Vatutin, as are a couple of other attacks on the Luga line. The meagre results here are two divisions pocketed and a 1-hex advance closer to Leningrad.

battle novgorod.JPG (181.34 KiB) Viewed 1372 times

map leningrad.JPG (189.42 KiB) Viewed 1372 times

[K62_]

oob.JPG (47.88 KiB) Viewed 1371 times

losses ground.JPG (34.18 KiB) Viewed 1371 times

loss destroyed.JPG (51.7 KiB) Viewed 1371 times

loss air.JPG (53.42 KiB) Viewed 1371 times

[K62_]

AGN and AGC are getting rainy weather next turn.

events.JPG (49.08 KiB) Viewed 1249 times

weather estimated.JPG (84.12 KiB) Viewed 1249 times

[K62_]

Another week, another hex closer to Leningrad. This time the Soviets gave ground voluntarily.

map leningrad end.JPG (231.3 KiB) Viewed 1248 times

[K62_]

Slowly encroaching into the Valdai area.

map valdai end.JPG (171.5 KiB) Viewed 1247 times