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Week 23 - 23 November 1941

Snow on the ground with blizzard conditions north of Velikye Luki. Regular snowfall south of there to just north of Rostov. Around Rostov there is just cold.


In the north, a single German attacks knocks the 253rd Rifle Division of 42nd Army out of Staraya Russa.




In the center, more German attacks. A slight pullback in along a small part of the front is initiated.




The cavalry divisions that will be forming the first eight corps are moving up. Each will be receiving two tank brigades and a naval infantry brigade where possible.




More Axis attacks in the south, although nothing in the direction of Rostov.




Since the half million men will be released next week, I have a number of field armies in the reserves with low TOE. Once they are filled, as best as can be managed during the offensive, these armies will be released to the map and replacing a fresh set of low TOE Army HQs. Hopefully as the months progress so long as losses are not too bad, I should be able to replace a lot of missing support squads from the headquarters with low TOE.

The half-million fresh troops are released from the reserves. A few Soviet attacks take place as the final movements are completed in preparation for taking the offensive.

Most of the effort for this winter will be to push the German troops back from the Tula-Orel-Kursk Region.

Three fronts, the Western, Bryansk and Central will be the major movers. Leonid Govorov's 40th Army of Southwestern Front will also be lending its weight to the area around Kursk.

If this new line can be established to the west, it will provide better defensive positions for the upcoming summer as well as prolong any late-Spring or early-Summer battles for Orel and Kursk. The final line does not include the city of Bryansk as it is expected that Spring will be right around the corner as this new line is reached an the city itself will almost certainly be well defended.

There is not expected to be much if any airpower used. If the Luftwaffe wants to fly in the foul weather and take the attrition losses for marginal gains, they are welcome to do so.


Weather is off for clarity. There is snow on the ground and snowfall in the air

I like your idea of an attack in that sector

He seems to have the majority of his already low AFV numbers here
Forcing them to stay invested in the upcoming heavy engagements is going to have some nice advantages on his 42 capabilities

There is a lot of nice terrain for hinges here though, so really looking forward to this one

Good luck to both of you

Western Front Organization

614,616 men
7,200 guns
635 AFVs
679 aircraft

Bryansk Front Organization

622,914 men
7,520 guns
2,206 AFVs
733 aircraft

Central Front Organization

334,184 men
3,773 guns
1,389 AFVs

very interesting game so far, its been a joy to follow. I suspect the Germans are in for a rather unpleasant winter.

out of curiosity, what mods are you using for the map and the counters?

ORIGINAL: Zombly

very interesting game so far, its been a joy to follow. I suspect the Germans are in for a rather unpleasant winter.

out of curiosity, what mods are you using for the map and the counters?

Thanks, glad to hear you are enjoying this.

Here is the thread to the counter mod:

https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.a ... age=1&key=


Here is the thread to the map mod:

https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.a ... age=1&key=

Week 25 - 7 December 1941

Blizzard conditions have broken out from the north down to the area near Bryansk. South of there, regular snowfall and lower snow levels on the ground predominate.

The initial attacks planned for are slow to materialize in this opening week. The German 31st Infantry Division in a level 2 fort holds off two attacks from Western Front's 4th and 20th Armies. What good news that can be taken from this is a level 2 fort was eliminated, and most other German frontline units are in level 1 forts where they will be more vulnerable to weather conditions.

Rokossovsky's 4th Army manages to drive back 1st Panzer Division that has only 48 tanks. The fact that the panzer divisions are already starting out in forward positions is seen as a very positive thing, especially with the lower fort levels. There are also very clearly localized Axis supply issues. The Red Army on the other hand is well supplied for the coming campaign.

Two attacks further south by Malinovsky's 29th Army (Bryansk Front) are successful. These are close to Orel and clearing the enemy from around the city as soon as possible is a priority.





OOB. With the manpower influx from last week, the reserves are well stocked.




Ground losses. With so few attacks this week, losses are low for both sides.

Week 26 - 14 December 1941

Blizzard conditions now extend as far south as Rostov.


Our attacks picked up this week across the Western and Bryansk Fronts, but pockets of resistance have been met.




Here 4th Army conducted a hasty attack to determine enemy strength. The main battle resulted in Rokossovsky's 4th Army being held at bay before a follow-on attack successfully broke the defense.




Here there was no hasty attack that also required two battles to push back the defenders.




Here, a hasty attack by Vatutin's 33rd Army is followed up with an attack from Konev's 34th. No success was achieved.




Another failed attack, this one by by Belov's cavalry corps. Our casualties were heavy here. The support units of one naval infantry brigade and two tank brigades is the standard here.




In cases where we are winning battles outright, many of these are incurring more losses to the Soviet attackers.




One positive note is some of the defenders are retreating into unfortified positions. Let winter do it's worst to them!

Two weeks into the winter offensive and some infantry are halfway to guards-eligible status.

Nice to see the offensive starting, but am a bit surprised that Dave has Panzer and Motorized formations on the front line. Those guard formations will be helpful once you get them.

PS: Play "Roads to Moscow" in the background as you do your attacks, it sets up a nice atmosphere!

Week 27 - 21 December 1941

Another week of attacking but the success rate has increased noticeably. I've managed to root a portion of the German front line out of any sort of fortified positions. Again, we'll just let the winter do it's thing to the Ostheer. The whole thing looks terribly unexciting, but the effects are there even without any sort of breakthrough at all.





Our tank and mechanized divisions continue to do their work and numerous divisions remain quite healthy in terms of fighting vehicles.





The cavalry corps are accruing some wins, some faster than others, but each win is a 3-fer. Two tank brigades and the cavalry corps itself all pick up wins on the road to guards status.





The artillery isn't idle either. The core to the artillery support with the Army Artillery Regiments and their ML-20 152mm gun-howitzers rack up their victories.





All of this does not come without cost. Our losses are over twice that of the Axis and over two thirds of theirs are disabled and eligible to return to action later. Still, this is the price of rebuilding the Red Army in terms of quality with every victory.

ORIGINAL: xhoel

Nice to see the offensive starting, but am a bit surprised that Dave has Panzer and Motorized formations on the front line. Those guard formations will be helpful once you get them.

PS: Play "Roads to Moscow" in the background as you do your attacks, it sets up a nice atmosphere!

Yes, I am counting on generating a goodly number of guards units of all types.

The Soviet POW count of 1.4 mil seems low for this time....I feel like Axis need to get 2 mil by winter

Week 28 - 28 December 1941

The blizzard continues, along with the same pattern of attacks. We have our first guards rifle division now along with the two corps.





We capture a depot that Dave had created.





And a few attacks in the south.





Ground Losses

Week 29 - 4 January 1942

A week similar to the one prior. The lack of defensive fortifications makes the task of taking ground that much easier. Orel is now clear of enemy units.




With the start of 1942, another six cavalry corps are formed.




OOB

Week 30 - 11 January 1942

The winter grind continues. Blizzard conditions have abated this week and we have regular snowfall.




Ground losses




Men on the map





New guards formations this week.

You're very strong at this point. It doesn't appear the Germans will be able to do much in the summer of '42.

Week 31 - 18 January 1942

Snowfall is across the front once again as blizzard conditions have relented. Ivan Konev has been promoted to General-Polkovnik.


Success in the north was a little more difficult to come by this week as the troops are needing some rest. The focus now shifts northwest of Kursk where more progress can be made.





OOB





Artillery numbers on map are improving.





We now have two guards cavalry corps.