Russia! Why not? (Morvael welcome)

[morvael]

Interesting information from my esteemed opponent - on turn 127 Fedor von Bock was arrested and executed. No doubt a scapegoat for I Corps disaster (he was commander of Army Group North).

Sometimes even random generator-driven AI does something clever [:D]

[morvael]

Turn 128

The bridgehead is expanded relentlessly, though four regular and two SS German Panzer Divisions launch a counter-attack and rout two rifle corps from Coastal Army. One is battered so much, that it will take two weeks to bring it back to shape.

[morvael]

Volkhow and 3rd Ukrainian fronts slowly head towards Kharkov and Belgorod.

[morvael]

To add injury to insult, Germans counter-attack the 12th Guards Tank Corps that was so meaninglessly spent in the previous week by Soviet command. The corps ends up at half of the strength it had just two weeks ago.

[morvael]

Smolensk with four infantry divisions and a security regiment is almost encircled. It was possible to surround the city, but this time Soviet HQ decided not to risk it's precious Tank Armies by stretching them too far. The Germans will have last final chance to leave the city.

[morvael]

German divisions on the flanks of Pskov valiantly defend their positions, although farther south of the city Axis positions do not hold.

[loki100]

ORIGINAL: morvael

Smolensk with four infantry divisions and a security regiment is almost encircled. It was possible to surround the city, but this time Soviet HQ decided not to risk it's precious Tank Armies by stretching them too far. The Germans will have last final chance to leave the city.

that is very generous of you ... [:)]

but looking at the post above, its seems sensible not to overextend the tank corps - that was a vicious counter-attack

[morvael]

To improve truck shortages, with great regrets, STAVKA ordered 70 motorcycle regiments to be disbanded. Also, because in December a new policy concerning air regiments will be put into effect, increasing maximum number of aircraft in fighter, fighter-bomber and tactical bomber regiments from 32 to 40 aircraft, one fighter/fighter-bomber regiment from each airbase was sent to the reserve. The default loadout is now two fighter/fighter-bomber, one tactical bomber (Il-2M3) and one level bomber (Pe-2) regiment per base.

Strength:
men: 9 704 684 vs 5 177 179
guns: 155 874 vs 53 312
AFVs: 18 241 vs 6 513
aircraft: 18 081 vs 3 318

Trucks:
in units: 273 174 / 303 994 (89.86%)
in the pool: 150 660 / 186 401 (80.83%)
in repair: 80 191

Casualties:
killed: 32 295 vs 22 907
prisoners: 883 vs 497
disabled: 32 096 vs 10 854
guns: 1 300 vs 1 187
AFVs: 570 vs 112
aircraft: 177 vs 44

Including:
in combat: 56 vs 35
from AA: 51 vs 2
on the ground: 0 vs 0
operational: 70 vs 7

[morvael]

ORIGINAL: loki100
that is very generous of you ... [:)]

but looking at the post above, its seems sensible not to overextend the tank corps - that was a vicious counter-attack

Overextension was a mistake made by the Soviet command on a regular basis once the German lines were broken and the penetration started I decided that risking entire tank army like this is a bad idea. German panzer units are very strong, because they sit in reserve, while it's the infantry that takes regular beating. Look at the Axis AFV numbers, they are on the rise since August!

[morvael]

Turn 129

Dnepropetrovsk is almost surrounded, all is set to attack the city next week. For the first time, the Red Army tries to resupply it's forces in the field using transport aircraft:

[morvael]

First assault on Kharkov ends with bloody failure. 3rd Ukrainian Front commander forgot to send orders to two guards rocket divisions and they remained idle, while infantry of three Soviet armies died under German and Rumanian machinegun fire:

[morvael]

Germans didn't evacuate the city of Smolensk completely, so they will pay the price in prisoners, as 6th Infantry Division and 3/403rd Security Division are surrounded in the doomed fortress:

[morvael]

Enemy forces south of Pskov are pushed back, and the city should fall next week. In the north more ground is gained west of Narva, and the very important rail line to Pskov is no longer blocked. 22nd Army attack towards Novoskolniki is one of greatest failures of the Red Army in 1943: 2013 men lost versus 64 of the Axis defenders:

[morvael]

Disbanded 1 tank brigade and 46 sapper battalions to save on trucks.

Strength:
men: 9 641 085 vs 5 176 442
guns: 154 916 vs 53 038
AFVs: 17 617 vs 6 733
aircraft: 19 566 vs 3 406

Trucks:
in units: 267 016 / 287 850 (92.76%)
in the pool: 158 905 / 184 582 (86.09%)
in repair: 82 250

Casualties:
killed: 32 352 vs 21 603
prisoners: 787 vs 403
disabled: 25 705 vs 11 147
guns: 1 048 vs 1 145
AFVs: 525 vs 89
aircraft: 138 vs 50

Including:
in combat: 48 vs 42
from AA: 33 vs 2
on the ground: 0 vs 0
operational: 57 vs 6

[morvael]

Turn 130

Dnepropetrovsk surrounded, but the prize will be minor: a single Rumanian infantry division. Bazavlik river crossed in force, Krivoi Rog is the next target:

[morvael]

In order not to loose troops in a city that was a good as lost, Germans flee Kharkov. North of the city a 120-mile front is manned mostly by Hungarians:

[morvael]

Smolensk, the gate to Russia, captured. 10 000 prisoners march east. Axis forces withdraw so fast, that slowed down by weather and truck problems, the Red Army fails to catch them and a no-man's land is estabilished between the two forces:

[morvael]

Pskov is also handed over to the Red Army, meanwhile heavy fighting is required to capture Novoskolniki. The rail junction is almost in Soviet hands now:

[morvael]

Worst leaders are replaced, this time 8th Air Army commander and 7th Independent Army commander. Germans will panic when they see those moustaches:

[morvael]

Disbanded 27 tank brigades and 5 sapper battalions.

Strength:
men: 9 655 913 vs 5 169 165
guns: 155 412 vs 52 585
AFVs: 17 465 vs 6 817
aircraft: 20 388 vs 3 365

Trucks:
in units: 260 881 / 287 085 (90.87%)
in the pool: 161 329 / 196 171 (82.24%)
in repair: 87 488

Casualties:
killed: 20 700 vs 16 910
prisoners: 419 vs 11 495
disabled: 17 983 vs 8 785
guns: 609 vs 1 065
AFVs: 373 vs 76
aircraft: 104 vs 17

Including:
in combat: 21 vs 10
from AA: 13 vs 1
on the ground: 0 vs 0
operational: 70 vs 6