The Drive for Black Gold (no Marquo)

[Michael T]

Marquo and I have swaped sides for Game 2. Same House Rules as Game one.

German T2 (14th May 1942, Clear)

Stalino Front
14th Pz Corp (Wiking, LAH and 13th Pz) drives a wedge in to the Soviet line to isolate and destroy the Soviet 343rd ID. (Point 1 on map)

52nd Corp isolates and destroys 2 regiments of the Soviet 44th ID. (Point 2 on map)

4th Corp drives toward and cuts the vital rail line that supports the Soviet Kharkov offensive. 3rd Pz Corp (16th Pz, 14th Pz and 60th Mot) assemble behind the line ready to force a bridgehead across the Donetz if an opportunity presents itself. (Point 3 on map)

Kharkov Front
The Soviets attacked here and isolated a regiment of the 44th ID. 51st threw together a counter attack which results in the isolation and destruction of 2 tank regiments from 22nd Tank Corp, a Tank Brigade and 2 regiments of the Soviet 124th ID.

This success is reinforced with 24th Pz Corp (3rd Pz and 23rd Pz). (Point 4 on map)

Voronezh Front
We feign weakness here, remove 9th Pz to the rear for some training. Bring forward our artillery. If the Soviets attack we will be in position to deliver a counter stroke. If they do nothing 9th Pz is ready to be railed to the Kharkov Front. (Point 5 on map).

Losses-----------Axis-----Soviet

Total Troops----10K-------30K
AFV--------------25---------160
Fighters---------40---------110
Bombers--------40---------15
Guns-------------175-------440
Trucks------------0----------300

[Sensei.Tokugawa]

That's absolutely terrific that things have moved here a little for those great games, both DCII titles I amean, I am following the developments and should be joining the beginun as soon as the summer holidays this year. So far I am doing "The Disaster on the Donets" 2nd Battle of Kharkov '42 as Soviets against a human opponent, but have no time for any AARs. We're somewhere half the way there with double pincer move against Kharkov and German counterattacking in the south and SW of the totw itself.

[Michael T]

On T3 the weather was clear. 24th Pz Corp made further progress driving south east from Kharkov and 3rd Pz Corp crossed the Donetz and drove north west in an attempt to encircle Soviet 6th and 57th Armies. The Soviets began a mass exodus out of the potential trap.

The map shows the situation at the end of the German T4 (18th May 1942, Clear)

Stalino Front

14th Pz Corp (Wiking, LAH and 13th Pz) make a demonstration towards Stalino to tie down as many Soviets as possible. We find 24th Tank Corp here. This is good as this means it is not going to be able to help the cause of the Soviets around Kharkov.

Kharkov Front

24th Pz Corp (3rd, 23rd and 9th Pz ) push further south east. 3rd Pz Corp (6oth Mot, 14th and 16th Pz) continues its drive north west. The pincers are now only 10-20 km from linking up. But we expect serious counter attacks from Ivan this turn if his C&C allows it. Many Russians are escaping but if we can seal the pocket next turn it should still be a significant hit on the Soviets.

Voronezh Front

Quiet. All the action is around Kharkov.

Crimea

All quiet.

Losses-----------Axis-----Soviet

Total Troops----29000----69000
AFV---------------95---------360
Fighters---------90---------220
Bombers-------135--------125
Guns------------285--------925
Trucks----------100--------1450

[Michael T]

Turn 5 (2oth May 1942) I managed to close the pocket despite the rain and mud. Full report and map at end T6.

[Michael T]

End German T6 (22nd May 1942, Clear)

The Kharkov pocket is securely closed. Now they can rot while I consider the next step.
Trapped units include:

15 ID
2 Cav Corp
4 Art
4 Eng
5 Tk X
3 Armies 6th, 57th and 9th


There is just not enough fuel to keep hammering away every turn with the Panzers. So at this stage I think I will redeploy/rest-refit the units of 24th, 48th and 3rd Pz Corp. Not sure where to next yet. But fuel gets burned up very quickly. For sure most of my PP’s will be spent on oil.

The Soviet defences in front of Rostov look formidable. Too much for my meagre forces in the vicinity to overcome at this stage. So 14th Pz Corp, reinforced with the 22nd Pz XX will drive north east in an attempt to clear the way to Kamensk.

Losses German - Soviet

Total Troops 42000 – 98000
Bombers 170 – 135
Fighters 120 – 275
Guns 500 – 1260
Tanks 145 – 540
Trucks 100 – 2800

[Michael T]

End German Turn 8 (May 26th 1942 Mud)

Not a lot to report. Reduction of the pocket has begun. Redeployment of the 24th Pz Corp to the north of the front has begun. I have been trying to conserve fuel for the past few turns. I played a ‘more trains card’ as I need to shift a lot of Panzer Truppen around. 14th Panzer Corp is still driving toward Kamensk. But Ivan just keeps falling back in front of us here. A large number of Luftwaffe units have been transferred to the Crimea in a bid to finish of Sevastopol now that the battle for Kharkov is over. Current thinking is to place 3rd Pz Corp back in front of Rostov to assist 14th Pz Corp, or I might just leave them in the centre, we shall see.

Losses German - Soviet

Total Troops 46000 – 139000
Bombers 190 – 190
Fighters 135 – 355
Guns 540 – 1780
Tanks 165 – 665
Trucks 100 – 3700

[Sensei.Tokugawa]

Keep it coming mate, I am not following the developments in the field that closely - I am busy with my own combat operations - but it's great to see that something has started moving here for such great games. DCI receives virtually no movement here, but I am helping to playest Erik Nygaard's operation "Weserubung" 1940 as the Allies, a custom scenario fro DCI, so there is also something brewing. Maybe DCIII would receive its well deserved attention, but it's noy that much likely - Vic hoped that the advent of DCII would stir the things up for DCI a little which has never materialized to my best knowledge. Again it's a shame and a pity, but as long as guys think that "wargaming" on their mobiles is really the next step for the genre no wonder we're the tiny minority and I am only glad I have managed to acquire a nice bunch of opponents.

[Michael T]

DC2 is a very good game. Better than WITE IMO. Sure the scope is different but it plays so much better and the results are more consistant and indeed fathomable.

[Michael T]

End German Turn 10 (May 30th 1942 Clear)

In the North 24th Pz Corp launched a sudden strike aimed at Voronezh. However the Soviets simply fall back in front of us. 48th Pz Corp rails north to assist.

In the Centre the Kharkov pocket is finished off. Another couple of ID are cut off who straggled behind the fleeing host. 3rd Pz Corp is still here maintaining the momentum.

In the South the 14th Pz Corp drive towards Kamensk continues. But again Ivan refuses to stand and fight.

In the Crimea the Luftwaffe did their job. Cut off from supply the garrison collapsed when subjected to an assault. Sevastopol is captured and the remaining Soviets are encircled.


Losses German - Soviet

Total Troops 53000 – 246000
Bombers 215 – 55
Fighters 150 – 425
Guns 560 – 2835
Tanks 180 – 825
Trucks 100 – 6600

[Michael T]

End German Turn 12 (June 3rd 1942, Clear)

In the North 24th Pz Corp and 48th Pz Corp veer South East rather than take the direct line to Voronezh as Ivan is piling lots of troops in front of the city.

In the Centre the pursuit continues but 3rd Pz Corp moves back to a railhead for a transfer. Destination unknown.

In the South, Kamensk is taken and 2 PP are gained. 14th Pz Corp heads South to unhinge Ivans line north of Rostov and perhaps secure another 3 PP for Bagalevskaya.

Fresh from victory at Sevastopol the 54 th INF Corp begins railing out of the Crimea towards the Rostov Front.

I played an Oil card this turn.

Losses German - Soviet

Total Troops 59000 – 295000
Bombers 225 – 110
Fighters 165 – 480
Guns 600 – 3430
Tanks 220 – 940
Trucks 300 – 7150

[olivier34]

thanks for this AAR. Interesting to see that you have to keep an eye on your oil reserves and even stop some of your panzers to build it up. It seems that the new rule is working properly.

[Michael T]

IMO the game should not be payed without it (the oil rule). Its constantly in the back of my mind. It was a real constraint for the Germans, and so it should be in a game. Once I get the full complement of Panzers/Mot XX there is no way I will be able to keep them all mobile.

[Michael T]

End German Turn 14 (June 7th 1942, Clear)

Not a lot to report. Still driving hard for Voronezh and Bagalevskaya.

11th Pz arrives with 135 tanks. I shudder at the fuel it will consume. I will have to play another oil card soon.

Losses German - Soviet

Total Troops 69000 – 324000
Bombers 240 – 110
Fighters 185 – 490
Guns 680 – 3830
Tanks 295 – 1140
Trucks 700 – 7900

[Michael T]

End German Turn 18 (June 15th 1942, Clear)

48th and 24th Pz Corp cross the Don just to the North of Voronezh. Resistance is strong here. Voronezh will be tough to take.

In the centre the trend has been run run run by the Soviets.

In the South we cross the Don (east of Rostov) at Bagalevskaya and Konstaninskaya capturing and intact bridge. 3rd and 14th Pz Corp drive south and will attempt to cut in to the south of Rostov in an effort to force Ivan to retire or risk encirclement. An new Pz Corp is forming in this area (47th Pz Corp) that will lead 24th Pz, GD and 16th Mot when they arrive. I need more infantry here as well, it is slowly following up.

The Soviets have evacuated the Crimea bar a lone fortress division in Kerch. The evacuees have arrived on the scene to the south of Rostov.

Oil is a problem. I play my second Oil card.


Losses German - Soviet

Total Troops 79000 – 383000
Bombers 255 – 130
Fighters 250 – 610
Guns 735 – 4545
Tanks 350 – 1455
Trucks 750 – 9750

[Michael T]

End German Turn 20 (June 19th 1942, Clear)

Voronezh has proved too strong for us to take with the available forces. To take it out I would need at least another Corp of Infantry and perhaps another Pz/Mot Division. I have run out of time. 4th Pz Army begins its transfer to the Stalingrad Front.

In the centre an unexpected opportunity has opened the way for the encirclement of a large number of Soviet forces east of Voroshilovgrad. One door closes and another opens.

In the South things have stalled for the moment. I need more infantry. They are slow getting to the front. 47th Pz Corp is still on its way as well. We creep forward a few hexes. Ivan has abandoned his fortifications around Rostov, we move up to the line.

The Crimea campaign is over. The Romanians take Kerch.

The Luftwaffe receives a Dive Bomber and Level Bomber card this turn. The entire Luftwaffe is concentrated in the vicinity of Rostov.


Losses German - Soviet

Total Troops 84000 – 406000
Bombers 270 – 130
Fighters 260 – 630
Guns 750 – 4845
Tanks 370 – 1620
Trucks 750 – 10300

[Michael T]

End German Turn 24 (June 27th 1942, Clear)

The last of the Mech forces are railed away from the Voronezh front. Operations in this area are deemed defensive from this point on. The war will be won or lost in the Caucasus.

In the centre a large number of Soviet units were encircled and destroyed east of Voroshilovgrad. We begin our charge to Stalingrad with 17th Army with 4 Inf Corp (8th, 30th, 4th and 44th) supported by the 48th Panzer Corp on loan from 4th Panzer Army.

Finally the gateway to the Caucasus is in our hands (Rostov). The last 6 turns have gone the sequence clear, mud, clear, mud, clear, mud, clear. Enough to drive me crazy. This bout of poor weather has held me back for 2 weeks. But the effect of a Panzer Army on his flank forced Ivan to pull out of Rostov, even if we were bogged.

So the 1st and 4th Panzer Armies are moving in to the Caucasus with 4 Panzer Corp (47th, 3rd, 14th and 24th) and 4 Inf Corp (54th,52nd, 49th and 40th).

Two turns back there was a surprise appearance from the VVS and a Soviet fighter sweep resulted in the loss of 35 Luftwaffe Fighters (30 of them 109E’s) to 30 Soviet machines. Not a good sign. I play my third fighter card.


Losses German - Soviet

Total Troops 96000 – 489000
Bombers 285 – 130
Fighters 305 – 660
Guns 652 – 4520
Tanks 395 – 1725
Trucks 750 – 11900

There appears to be some corruption in the number of guns lost. Soviet guns lost went down from 4800 to 4500? And the Germans down from 750 to 652??

Marquo and I have a house rule that unless the Germans at some point capture or get adjacent to Stalingrad and Grozn they lose the game. This will be my focus from this point on. The Stalingrad venture should be attainable. Grozn I am not so sure. The weather being my greatest fear. There seems to be a bit too much mud for my liking.