Alby Vs. Steve

[StephanFH]

The Situation on turn seven bottom section.

[StephanFH]

Detail: The 1176th Mounted Assault

[StephanFH]

0100Hrs. July 24, 1944. Somewhere West of Pervomaisk, Southern Russia (Ukraine)

Smoke prep begins and scouts move forward using following overwatch. We can hear small arms and receive a confused contact report from the scouts moving up the road past the second little bridge. I am not that surprised that the enemy has at least an outpost there. Tanks are moving from coil onto the road and preparing to advance.

I shall be advancing with the main effort. My deputy Major Lebedev will stay in Battalion HQ to keep the artillery coming and Brigade off my back. This not according to plan but with the attack moved up 5 hours everyone from my company commanders down are badly shaken. I must lead them or the attack will fail.

All for now.
Za Rodina!
Lisichkin

[StephanFH]

0135Hrs July 24, 1944. In the back of a truck, Southern Russia

Things have started badly. The scouts got less information then I could have desired, at the cost of their lives. All three scout platoons are shattered and the feint to the south has failed I think. See the operational graphics for details of what they learned. Worse, the Romanians know where we are. Heavy mortar fire is dropping on the vanguard, and I have 2 tanks out of the battle already. The Katyushas have yet to fire despite the accelerated jump-off. I knew I should have demanded my mortars. Major Lebedev says that Lt. Vorobiev says they will be firing now, so we shall launch our attack.

Lisichkin

[StephanFH]

0145Hrs July 24, 1944. In the back of a truck, Southern Russia

The tide has, for the moment, turned. My combined arms assault on the Romanians' center has succeded. We have taken the east side of the central hill, destroying an ATG section, a two light tanks and a pioneer platoon in the process. Unless they are also defending on the reverse slope as well (I would), I have overrun their center.

Virtually all of our casualties have been caused by artillery and heavy mortars. While I am not surprised at this, what has been hit are my most valuable units. In addition to the casualties among the Skauts, we have lost three squads of engineers, three halftracks, the motorcycle recon, a platoon of T-34/85s, and one squad of infantry. These are severe losses to mortars alone.

However, my artillery is finally barking, with the usual stunning effect of the Katyushas on the Romanians. I am attempting to counter-battery the Romanians' mortars, which were spotted by my northern scouts, with the 122mm FH battalion. They seem to have slipped away once, but we will keep trying.

I have one rifle platoon, a tank platoon, a MMG section and a 76.2mm IG on the hill.
I have ordered the attack North and South to commence. Attacking north are a platoon of tanks, an SU-152, and a rifle company.
Attacking south are a platoon of tanks, a rifle platoon, the NKVD detachment, an engineer section, a HMG section, and two SU-152s.

The rifle platoon at the bridge is demonstrating by fire to the northwest to prevent the Romanians in that area from counterattacking west. This seems to be working.

Za Rodina! Za Stalin!
Lisichkin

[StephanFH]

Situation, Turn 9. Combined Arms Assault succeding.

[StephanFH]

0155 Hrs July 24, 1944. On the battlefield, Southern Russia

My plan is definitely working! The defenses on the hill were smashed by my initial assault, all defenders were on the forward military crest. Foolish since they were shattered by my artillery before I even assaulted.

My Northern prong of assault has destroyed an infantry platoon, a tank section and an AT section. My attack from this direction caught them all on the move and is now engaging infantry in hasty defensive positions. Tactical surprise has been achieved. The attack North continues, and it looks as though I will soon capture my objectives and be able to go on the tactical defensive and regroup briefly.

The Northern subsidiary attack has pinned an infantry platoon and AT section in place by attacking the flank of the Romanians' MLR. This in fact will soon become a third axis of attack. My last Katyusha strikes are going in against them, followed by two HMG sections and an AA section forming a base of fire. This is to be followed by simultaneous attacks on their flank and rear by two infantry platoons. I expect to crush them.
My Southern prong of attack again encountered retreating infantry badly demoralized and attrited by the Katyushas. Stalin's Organs are indeed an effective and terrifying weapon. The attack has destroyed two infantry platoons and is now in the Romanians' rear areas and siezing it's objective. It has overrun a section of mortars and a forward observer. It also destroyed en passant a section of light tanks. The troops here will also go on the tactical defensive to reorganize.

All this success has not been without cost. Two platoons are now combat ineffective and two more have been significantly attritted. Most of these casualties are from the Romanian's mortars but many are from our own artillery. This is not unexpected but is also part of our scientifically derived doctrine developed from the pure logic of the Dialectic. Veteran troops also know that following the barrage closely is the best way to get in among the enemy when on the assault. Our brave Red Army men!

I hope I do not sound overconfident. The performance of the troops has been exemplary. They are vindicating the sometimes derided work of you, my Uncle and Father-in Law.

Having rapidly dictated this, I hastily return to my duties.
Lt.Col. Lisichkin

[StephanFH]

Turn 11: 0155Hrs. Attacks proceeding as planned. Tactical surprise achieved.

[StephanFH]

0210 Hrs. Game ends, Soviet Marginal Victory. Romanian Force morale broken.

[StephanFH]

0210 Hrs July 24, 1944. On the battlefield, Southern Russia

My third axis of attack has been a mistake. The troops have taken unnecessary casualties. We should have regrouped and made a deliberate attack. Wait one….

Major Lebedev is receiving reports from all units. The Romanians have started to surrender en masse. Captain Petrov reports that they are battered and in shock from the speed and violence of our assault. We have achieved all objectives and broken their backs. I shall leave the regrouping and prisoners to my company commanders.

I now return to my headquarters to put this report in a more formal form and report to Brigade. All credit for this victory belongs to the troops.

All Glory to the Magnificent Red Army!
Za Rodina!
Lt.Col. Lisichkin

[StephanFH]

*** Backchannel Personal, Eyes-Only, Most Secret ****
To: Academician Aleksey Morozov, The Union of Socialist Historians, Moscow
From: General Kiril Ivanov, RKKA, det. STAVKA
August 18, 1944

......so the Offensive will start in two days with the Second and Third Ukrainian Fronts assaulting the fascist Army Group South Ukraine. Most of the attack will fall on the Romanian Third and Fourth Armies, so we expect rapid progress.

Speaking of the Romanians I understand that Svetlana is still very upset over Fillyp. We all regret his death. The sudden appearance of a company of Romanian tanks in his rear area may have been a surprise, but he should have had more security in place. That’s what the NKVD platoon and heavy AA section were for, not to use in the assault.

See here, Aleksey, get that daughter of yours to show a little more backbone and devotion to the Party. You and I know this is best for her and she still has the girls, after all. You know it was only our influence that saved him in 1938 and he learned nothing from that. Fillyp was far too vocal about what he thought was right for the Red Army and had some very questionable friends. Who on earth would think of an NKVD officer as a friend, among others! On top of all of this it was his incompetence that resulted in the decimation and disbanding of the 1176th (provisional), which you and I worked damned hard to put together.

Better he died a hero. A suitable medal is being arranged. After the war we shall find Svetlana another, more promising Officer for a husband. One whose devotion to the Party and the State is more obvious. One who appreciates you and I a little better, as well.
One whose career is less likely to end with a posting COUNTING TREES ALONG THE LENA RIVER!
So. Enough then.

Tell Svetlana and my nieces that their Uncle Kiril will come to see them soon.
Za Rodina! Za Stalin!
Ivanov

[KG Erwin]

Quick question, Stephan. How are you creating those map overlays?

[StephanFH]

I'm simply editing the screen shot in paint. However I may create and post a set of Standard NATO style operational graphics in transparent GIF format for those who would like to use them in a more sophisticated graphics program in the future. That I'll do as time allows, however. [:)]

[StephanFH]

Game ends, Turn 13 of 24. Soviet Marginal Victory.Soviet casualties: 36%
Romanian casualties (on board): 95%
Off Board: One Company of light tanks (8) infiltrating.

As it turns out, by Depot Combat League Rules, Alby did give me a 33% handicap. Of course about 25% of his force never made it on board. Nevertheless this might more properly be termed a draw. In the end, though, the point was to have some fun, which I certainly did. Alby was a most gracious and sportsmanlike opponent.

Some lessons learned:
1) Win the reconnaissance battle. Slow down and find the enemy before attacking pell mell. I knew this in theory, now I need to do it in practice.
2) See number one above!
3) Counter battery. I actually did locate two sections of his mortars on turn eight, then failed to follow up with adequate counter battery. They survived the game and did a great deal of damage.
4) Move a little bit slower in the assault. The game ended at the mid point. I could have greatly reduced my casualties by slowing down a few turns. However I am still ambivalent about this as additional turns might have meant the arrival of Alby’s infiltrating company of tanks. Hindsight and second-guessing.
5) Exercise more caution in firing artillery danger close. I took significant casualties from this. There is again some ambivalence here as I still firmly believe some friendly fire casualties are necessary on the assault.
6) Purchase more on-board vs. off-board artillery. Lt.Col Lisichev’s laments about his mortars are accurate. The Katyushas did not fire even once until turn eight. One battery of 122mm FHs never fired at all. Another battery of heavy mortars would have been more cost-effective. However the battery of Katyushas were a very worthwhile investment. Alby called their effect “devastating”.

The bottom line here is that I had a real blast. Back to the books as an ACL student for me for now. Final screen shots and rosters follow for those interested.

[StephanFH]

Final Maps:
Southern Positions:

[StephanFH]

Final Maps:
Northern Positions:

[StephanFH]

Final Romanian Roster:

[StephanFH]

Final Roster, Romanian:

[StephanFH]

Final Roster, Romanian:

[StephanFH]

Final Roster, Soviet: