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tweber,

Because Sixth Army HQ can store supply. I've diverted about 80% of town production to supply in anticipation of Stalingrad. Looking at your comments, this may be more of a bug than an intended strategic choice for the player. (I hope this isn't another spoiler.)

Kharkov II Turn 4 (Strategic Overview)

This map gives a sense of how spread out and isolated the various combat areas are.
Mutual support across all corps is impossible. However, XXVII can work with elements of the XI, and IV and work with elements of the IX.

However, the western elements of the IX Corps and the northern elements of the XI Corps in the north are on their own.

ORIGINAL: springer

Jeffrey H.

I appreciate the picking at nits. (I went back and fixed them [&o] ). But you are right, though I never thought about it before. [:(] Each '42 infantry lost is a significantly greater loss than a '40 or '41 infantry since it's effectiveness is amplified by both experience and level. The good thing is that the increase in infantry level increases their durability and slows their loss rate [:)].

And it has me thinking that the only path the Germans can take is quality over quantity but the inevitable calculus if attrition, Soviet style, dooms them.

I'm kind of a pessimist though.....

Kharkov II Turn 4 (IV and IX Corps): The Eastern Bank of the Donets is Broken Open

The IV Corp and elements of the IX Corp have broken into the open toward Izyum. The Soviet resistance around the Donets has been reduced to a handful of units that can be reduced by the rearguard infantry.

The engineers have repaired the advance airfield so that air elements can provide more sorties to support the IV Corps in their drive to Izyum.

All remains quiet on the IX Corps western front off map. Some of the infantry regiments that have been supporting the IV Corps will probably be shifted back to make sure all stays quiet. The IX Corps armor elements will probably stay on to add extra mobility to the IV Corp advance.

Jeffrey H.

I totally agree. I think that is what dooms the Germans. The kill ratios can be totally outrageous and yet in the end, the Germans will be ground to dust in Stalingrad. My strategy here is to focus even more intensely on one kind of quality (Infantry) and use the rest of the PP to acquire enough mass in the refit to finish the campaign with something left. Or failing that, to go down in a blaze of "glory".

(Of course, if it possible to get out of Stalingrad, and tweber assures me that survival is theoretically possible, the Sixth Army will just be doomed later somewhere in the Ukraine or ground up in some operation like Bagration.)

Kharkov Turn 4 (XXVII and XI Corps): First Veseloe, now Tenorvai

The XXVII Corps has broken up the 38th Army. Or, at least the elements around Veseloe. The corps will now be heading to the airfield north of Veseloe. Looking at the stack at the airfield, looks like the airfield is a major assembly point for reinforcements. (i.e., they are either created there or programmed to defend the place). Either way, if the XXVII corp can take that position, it should break the final Soviet strong point west of the Donets in the Veseloe-Tenorvai area.

The IX Corps has it's hands full. The Soviets around Tenorvai are still in good shape and the battle looks more like an even match. However, that should change in a turn or two as the XXVII Corp can now throw their weight into the battle from the south.

Kharkov II Turn 4 (XI Corps): XI Corps takes the Bait and Soviets Spring Trap- Boriskova falls.

I decided to keep the 3rd Panzer and 2nd Panzer Grenadier regiments in the forward positions and they shattered two Soviet tank brigades from the 21st Army. However, the unshattered brigade struck the 2nd regiment of the 2nd PzG and smashed it in return. It is now under half strength.

Worse yet, the soviet armor then flanked the IX Corps units and took Boriskova. The very place XI corps was ordered to defend is lost, and the IX corp armor is now isolated. Worse yet, more Soviet armor brigades and infantry divisions are showing up, and they're tying up the infantry relief forces. This battle has become the most desperate of the scenario.

Kharkov Turn 5: Censored by the Soviets

Turn 5 was so traumatic for the Soviets that it has been edit out of existence, like Nikolai Yezhov in the picture with Stalin. The Vozhd' could not accept that the Foot Panzer regiment has slipped out of his grasp: He had a new GUlag at Vorkuta built just for the POWs he expected from that one unit.

Actually, I just goofed. The file I labeled as turn 5 was actually turn 6. I guess I got caught up in the action with the IX Corps and failed to save or accidentally overwrote the file.

Most of the action is pretty clear from the turn 6 file, so I'll report it there.

Here's the summary of turn 5, most of which can be foreseen from turn 4:
IV Corps mopped up the resistance and the armor took the intersection that have roads running from Chuguev, Izyum, Balakleya, and Volchansk to the north. Soviet forces are on the run in the south. IX Corps armor rolled down the Balakleya-Izyum road to intersect with the IV Corps armor.

XXVII Corps took the airfield north of Veseloe and the supporting XI Corps continued their fighting around Tenorvai. The Soviet resistance is rapidly collapsing in the east.

The northern elements of the XI corp did a tactical retrograde movement to Boriskova, re-opened their lines of communication, and started working at digging out the powerful Soviet tank brigade that had settled in there via concentric attacks. However, there are plenty of Soviet forces to be reckoned with in the Borisklava-Belgorod area

IX Corps has dealt with some Soviet reconnaissance in force, but the Germans keep them on their side of the river with artillery and concentric attacks. The Soviets have begun to threaten Kolomak, but the Germans will let it fall, if need be. There are probably too many dangerous Soviet units down in the Southwest for the IX Corps to take on without their armor units.

"and tweber assures me that survival is theoretically possible"

Now, that's an reinsurance! [8|]
Theoretically possible... [:D]

But it sure does make the AAR even better, knowing what lies ahead.

And don't forget... it's tweber's sense of "possible" [:'(].. That's truly worrying!

Kharkov II Turn 6 (IV and IX Corps): Pushing toward Izyum

The good news is that the roads connecting Izyum to the north have been severed.
The Soviets have gallantly attempted to repeat another encirclement of armored elements, trying to repeat their shaming of the IX Corps. Unfortunately, the Soviet line looks thin and the IV Corps infantry is within supporting distance. This will not be another Boriskova.

Four of the Sixth Army's air squadrons have moved to the captured airfield to provide air support to the advance.

The IX Corps continues to guard the Southern flank, even as it extends. Off the viewable map, the Soviet forces have been continuing their demonstrations around Marfeta, but they are half-hearted and easily repulsed. It seems the main Soviet objective in the far western front is to ensure that the majority of IX Corps stays pinned in place and unable to directly support the advance on Izyum.

That engineer on the western part of the map is going to repair the bridge to Balakleya so that supplies to the IX Corps element can flow smoothly. (Actually, the move is not really needed, the supply lines through Chuguev is good enough.)

Kharkov II Turn 6 (XXVII and XI Corps): The Cleansing of the Donets

XXVII Corps launches a massive attack on the Soviet airfield and takes it. It is now under repair by the engineers. XXVII Corp elements are split off the main body to watch the Donets crossing. The armor elements begin supporting the XI Corps' infantry as they begin a drive toward Belgorod in the north.

XXVII Corps is weighing the value of taking the battle to eastern banks of the Donets. The advantages of the move is that every Soviet destroyed is one less Soviet in the next scenario (the Soviets carry over!) and its more XP for the Germans. The disadvantage is more German losses (and as Jeffrey H. points out, each loss is more costly than with new recruits.)

The results of the Belgian campaign suggest it is better to destroy the enemy while they're disorganized (i.e., in this scenario) than when they've a chance to form part of a coherent defense (i.e., in the next scenario).

Kharkov II Turn 6 (IX Corps): The Borisovka Seesaw Continues

XI Corp armor elements besiege Borisovka and annihilate the tank brigade guarding the position.
The relief division of the XI Corps is making itself directly felt. It has drawn off Soviet forces that could've relieved the siege of Borisovka. Though it's not obvious from the picture, the infantry division has chewed up a lot of Soviet forces through concentric attacks.

(Actually the XI corps division is composed of elements of three divisions, but the three units are functioning as a single Kampfgruppe [in the good sense of the term. The poor 2nd regiment of the 2nd Panzer Grenadiers that can be seen just behind Borislava, which is now a hobbling foot unit at 1/3 strength is a Kampfgruppe in the bad sense of the word])

Kharkov II Turn 7 (IV and IX Corps): Driving into the Izyum Bottleneck

The movement of the IV Corps is starting to take on the sense of inevitability.
The armor elements keep moving forward and the Soviets have only weak forces to throw against them.

The main Soviet advantage is that the move south begins to form a funnel between the Donets and the board edge. This may allow the Soviets to defend a constricted position.

The Sixth Army is confident that they will break what is left of the Soviets (unless a tank army or two suddenly appears.) How many turns will the Soviets hold out?

Kharkov II Turn 7 (XXVII and XI Corps): The Donets is Cleared: Mission Completed

The campaign with the XXVII Corps is finished. The AAR for this part of the battle will end here. The XXVII Corps does not stop fighting. Rather, it moves to take Vorchansk and aims for the airfield in the far north. But the operations are more on the level of a mop of up disorganized Soviet troops.

The XI Corp elements that supported the XXVII Corps are heading north to link up with other XI Corp elements. XXVII Armor may work along side of the XI Corp to add some mobility to the XI Corps eastern flank.

Kharkov II Turn 7 (XI Corps): The Drive to Belgorod

The XI Corps have broken up the remainder of the Soviet forces around Borisovka. They should rest on their laurels and hold the line, attacking only when threatened by any any additional Soviet moves.

However, the armor elements and relief infantry want revenge for their losses, so the XI Corps continues the drive to Belgorod.

Thus, begins a race with the IV Corps: Which will fall first Izyum or Belgorod?

It may be Izyum, because the way this campaign goes, major cities are usually defended with unbelievable amounts of men and material. If that's, Belgorod and the suburbs may be too fortified to make the cost worthwhile. However, Izyum must be stormed to end the carnage of this scenario.

Kharkov II Turn 8 (IV and IX Corps): The Last Few Kilometers to Izyum

The IV Corps and IX Corps armored elements continue to push toward Izyum. The suburbs are now in sight.
Soviet resistance is now disorganized.

The most intensive fighting is off-map in the West. The Soviet 6th Army continues its demonstrations around Marefa (in fact, the Germans abandoned Marefa). However, the IX Corp defensive line holds with no major problems.

Kharkov II Turn 8 (XI Corps): The Envelopment of Belgorod

XI Corp begins to move in from the south and sweep around Belgorod from the west.
The Soviet defenders of Belgorod appear to be few. Maybe the Soviets have used up their last reinforcements in the north?

XI Corps is beginning to function as an integrated entity for the first time in this game.

Kharkov II Turn 9 (Strategic View): The Soviets Tamed

This is a grand view of the campaign as it moves into its last stage. Here are the corp dispositions:

IV Corps has besieged Izyum
IX Corps holds the south and western fronts stable against the Sixth Army
XI Corps has surrounded Belgorod on three sides
XXVII Corps has taken Volchansk (on the off-hand chance it is another Soviet assembly point)

The Sixth Army Air Squadrons are all poised for one final raid on Izyum.

The scenario is coming to an end.

Kharkov II Turn 9 (North and South): The Tale of Two Cities

Here's the situation before the XI Corps assault on Belgorod and IV Corps assault on Izyum.

Unless a miracle happens both cities are doomed. Though they are heavily defended with infantry units equipped with MG IIs, lots of Katyushas, and flak. (Izyum has a stack of 14 such infantry units defending it, plus one air unit consisting of two fighters and two bombers. ). (Belgorod has 15 such infantry units, plus one HQ)