Playtest AAR - Operation Neva - Snefens vs. Teufel

[LLv34_Snefens]

[font="Times New Roman"][center]Operation Neva - Leningrad 1944

'The Leningrad-Novgorod Offensive'

Version 0.50

OKH player: Kristian O. Kristensen ('Teufel')

STAVKA Player & AAR: Stefan O. Kristensen ('Snefens')[/center]

CAMPAIGN OBJECTIVES:

The encirclement and destruction of German 18th Army and break through the Panther Line at the Estonian and Latvian border before the spring thaw.

THOUGHTS AND PLANS:

The plan incoporates coordinated offensives from several armies. The overall idea will be as follows:

First phase: (Solid lines)
-2nd Shock Army will attack SE out of the Oranienbaum Bridgehead and link up with 42nd Army attacking SW out of Leningrad, encircling part of III.SS-Pz.Korps and L.Korps.
-59th Army will attack out of the Volkhov Bridgehead N of Novgorod and envelop the town from the N, while a smaller South Op.Group will cross the ice of Lake Ilmen and envelop the town from the South.
-54th Army will perform limited offensive to prevent large shifting of enemy reserves.

Second phase: (Dotted lines)
-2nd Shock and 42nd Army will focus their forces on an advance S towards Luga, with a secondary thrust SW towards Narva.
-59th Army will advance W to Luga with secondary thrust SW into flank of German 16.Army.
-1st Shock Army will start offensive to tie down reserves and eventually link up with 59th Army.
-67th, 8th and 54th Army will help destroy the encircled forces NE of Luga and afterwards help on the advance to the Panther Line.

[LLv34_Snefens]

[font="Times New Roman"][center]

Oranienbaum Area[/center]

FORCES:
2nd Shock Army: Initial assault will be conducted by 48th and 90th Rifle Divisions from 43rd Rifle Corps and 131st Rifle Division from 122nd Rifle Corps. Second wave will be made by 98th, 43rd and 11th Rifle Division. Once a breakthrough is created, 108th Rifle Corps and 152nd Tank Brigade will exploit into this. Should the attack bog down early, 152nd Tank Brigade will be sent to reinforce the attack. Extra artillery support will be provided by the Red Banner Baltic Fleet and coastal batteries.

42nd Army: Assault will start one day later than 2nd Shock Army's attack, to get the Germans to commit their reserves at Oranienbaum. Initial assault will be made by 30th Guards Rifle Corps' 45th, 63rd and 64th Guards Rifle Divisions, 109th Rifle Corps' 109th and 125th Rifle Division and 110th Rifle Corps' 56th and 86th Rifle Division. 72nd and 85th Rifle Division will be second echelon. 1st Leningrad and 220th Tank Brigade will be committed later in the attack and 117th and 123th Rifle Corps will exploit the expected breakthrough. 3rd Artillery Corps, 18th and 23rd Artillery Division and 1st Guards Mortar Division will provide support.

ENEMY FORCES:
2nd Shock Army will strike at the seam between two Feld-Divisions. Enemy will most likely attempt to reinforces these by units from the neighbouring SS-Nordland Division as well as 61.Inf-Div known to be kept in reserve at Krasnogvardeisk.
42nd Army will mainly attack 170.Inf-Div and at the seams to the neighbouring 126. and 215.Inf-Div. First reinforcements will probably come from 11.Inf division east of 215.Inf-Div.
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[LLv34_Snefens]

[font="Times New Roman"][center]

Novgorod Area[/center]

FORCES:
59th Army: Initial assault will be conducted by 239th and 310th Rifle Division of the 6th Rifle Corps and 191st and 378th Rifle Division of the 14th Rifle Corps attacking out of the Volkhov Bridgehead north of Novgorod. They are supported by the 2nd Mortar Division. 65th Rifle Division and 16th Tank Brigade will be second echelon. 112th Rifle Corps will reinforce the attack later.
The South Operational Group consisting of 58th Rifle Brigade and the 225 Rifle Regiment will attack across the northern part of Lake Ilmen and sever the Novgorod-Staraya Russa rail line. They will later be reinforced by 122nd Tank Brigade.

ENEMY FORCES:
The northern Group will initial attack 58.Jäger-Div, to the north flanked by 2nd Latvian SS.Inf-Brigade. 1st Feld-Division is defending Novgorod itself, while minor security forces defend the shore south of the town.
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[LLv34_Snefens]

[font="Times New Roman"]TURN 2 (MORNING, JANUARY 14TH, 1944)

SITUATION REPORT:
No enemy activity observed.

FORCES:
2nd Shock Army:
48th, 90th and 131st Rifle Division as well as 204th and 222nd Tank Regiments are ready to start offensive.
59th Army:
58th Rifle Brigade, 191st, 225th, 239th, 310th and 371st Rifle Division as well as 32nd and 50th Guards Tank Regiment, 1433rd SU Regiment and 500th, 502nd and 503rd Tank Battalions are ready to start offensive.
Air Force:
13th and 14th Air Armies and the Red Banner Baltic Fleet Air Force are ready to support the attack.
Baltic Fleet:
Fleet and coastal batteries ready to support the attack
Partisans:
All 13 partisan brigades ready to coordinate their activity with the offensive.

PLANNED OPERATIONS:
2nd Shock Army:
131st Rifle Division's objective will be to take the strong point at the border between the two German divisions and if possible continue SE. 48th and 90th Rifle Divisions will attempt to reach the Gostilitsy and if possible capture this.
59th Army:
Southern Operational Group will cross the ice and reach as far inland on the western shore as possible. North of Novgorod 310th Rifle Division will assault the Liubtsy strong point with heavy artillery support, while 239th, 191st and 378th Rifle Division will try to envelope the strongpoint at the shoulder of the Volkhov bridgehead. 45th AAA Divsion will move to east of Novgorod.
Partisans:
Partisan in enemy rear will try to reach rail lines or roads in order to disrupt the flow of supplies and reinforcements to the enemy front line units.

OUTCOME:
2nd Shock Army:
The strong point was captured by 131st Rifle Division after heavy bombardment by the navy. The attack is continued SE and at days end the division's 743rd Rifle Regiment stand 5km from the original front line. 48th and 90th Rifle Divisions meet initial heavy resistance, but manage to advance a few km into enemy positions. It isn't possible to perform an assault on Gostilitsy before the end of the day. SW of the town difficult terrain slows advance significantly.
59th Army:
Southern Operational Group crosses the ice and encounters a few estonian security companies. Direct attacks on these don't bring any results, but aerosled recon units bypass the enemy and reach the target rail line, before encountering a new security battalion. The first assault on Liubtsy is succesful, and also 191st Rifle Division's attack across the Volkhov throw the enemy back. 239th and 378th Rifle Division encounter stiff resistance and are unable to advance. A new assault on the actual strong point itself instead gives better result, but the enemy avoids enveloping.
Partisans:
8th Partisan brigade east of Ostrov intersects and blows up the secondary Pskov-Puskhinskyie Gory rail line.
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[LLv34_Snefens]

[font="Times New Roman"]TURN 3 (EVENING, JANUARY 14TH, 1944)

SITUATION REPORT:
2nd Shock Army:
61.ID is observed at Kipen going NW from Krasnogvardeisk towards 2nd Shock Army's attack sector.
Counter-attacks against the penetrations at either side of Gostilitsy are repulsed.
59th Army:
Elements of 290.ID are observed on a train transport halfway between Novgorod and Shimsk.
Enemy attacks the exposed recon units south of Novgorod, destroying the 34th Aerosled Bn.
Counter-attacks north of Liubtsy are repulsed.
Partisans:
German security forces make contact with some partisans along the Luga-Pskov road and rail-line.
Air:
11 fighters and 7 bombers are lost during the last 12 hours. 5 enemies shot down.

FORCES:
2nd Shock Army:
98th Rifle Division joins the offensive. 90th Ski Bn are reorganizing after heavy casualties.
59th Army:
65th Rifle Division is ready to be committed to the offensive.
Air Force:
3rd Guards Fighter Air Regiment (IAP) reports unable to fly missions for now.

PLANNED OPERATIONS:
2nd Shock Army:
48th Rifle Division will try to expand the penetration southwards, while 90th Rifle division begin the assault on Gostilitsy. 131st Rifle Division will try to clear the road NE of the town so 98th Rifle Division can be committed to an attack SE from there.
59th Army:
Southern Operational Group will attempt to expand it's bridgehead on the western shore of Lake Ilmen.
310th Rifle Division will attack SW along the road from Liubtsy, with 65th Rifle Division taking up 310th's current positions. Remaing divisions attack west to reach the road at Podberez'e. cross the ice and reach as far inland on the western shore as possible. North of Novgorod 310th Rifle Division will assault the Liubtsy strong point with heavy artillery support, while 239th, 191st and 378th Rifle Division will try to envelope the strongpoint at the shoulder of the Volkhov bridgehead. 45th AAA Divsion will move to east of Novgorod.
Partisans:
Partisans will continue to try to severe rail lines, but will pull back if encountering security units.

OUTCOME:
2nd Shock Army:
48th Rifle Division was unable to break the German line on the Gostilitsy-Lopuchinka road and only expanded the penetration marginal. 90th Rifle Division cleared the area north of Gostilitsy, but was too exhausted to attempt an attack on the town itself. 131st Rifle Division also ran into trouble trying to continue it's advance and didn't make much progress. 447th Engineer Battalion took heavy losses in these assaults and have been withdrawn to be reformed.
59th Army:
310th Rifle Division cleared the area NW of Liubtsy, but failed to advance along the highway to Novgorod. South of Liubtsy the enemy was pushed back to Podberez'e.
Partisans:
Additional sections of the Pskov-Pushkinskyie Gory rail line were destroyed.
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[LLv34_Snefens]

[font="Times New Roman"]TURN 4 (MORNING, JANUARY 15TH, 1944)

SITUATION REPORT:
Baltic Fleet:
Part of the fleet at Kronstadt harbour is subject to heavy artillery bombardment.
2nd Shock Army:
On western part of the Oranienbaum bridgehead the Germans intensifies their attacks on 48th and 71st Naval Rifle Brigade's positions. East of Kernovo SS-Brigade "Nederland" make some progress and threatens to cut off the village.
At 43rd Rifle Corps a reserve of Panther tanks counterattacks against the 222nd Tank Regiment, forcing it to pull back from the positions captured the night before.
61st Inf.Div is seen taking up positions at Glyadino halfway between the front and Rophsa.
59th Army:
Counterattacks against the 6th Rifle Corps are repulsed.
Southern Operational Group observes heavy enemy reinforcements arriving in the form of the 290.Inf.Div and Kav.Rgt.Nord. Counter-attacks forces the leading elements of the group back.
Partisans:
German security forces engage 4th Partisan brigde south of Ostrov and 5th Partisan Brigade south of Luga
Air:
21 fighters and 12 bombers are lost. 4 enemies shot down.

FORCES:
2nd Shock Army:
222nd Tank Regiment are reorganizing after it's withdrawal and 90th Ski Bn are still resting. 11th Rifle Division prepares to move to the front together with 152nd Tank Brigade.
42nd Army:
The army is ready to start it's attack SW of Leningrad.
54th Army:
The army is also going over to the offensive. The 2nd Assault Engineer Brigade will be shifted over to 59th Army.
59th Army:
16th Tank Brigade is ready to be committed.
Air Force:
The intense air combat has made 7 fighter regiments and 2 bomber regiments unable to participate in the offensive for now

PLANNED OPERATIONS:
2nd Shock Army:
The penetration at Kernovo will attempt to be thrown back in counter-attacks by local assets, but 152nd Mot. Rifle Battalion and 760th AT Rgt will be sent to reinforce the area as well. 122nd Rifle Corps will continue it's attempt the clear the road east of Gostilitsy, while 43rd Rifle Corps will assault the town itself as well as the area SW of it.
42nd Army:
The offensive will be launched this morning with the main attack lying at 30th Guards Rifle Corps NW of Pushkin. The attack will be supported by very heavy artillery forces, but only an advance of 2-3km over a 10-15km front is expected due to defenders being in good defensive positions.
54th Army:
The attack from this army will begin at Smerdynia in the direction of Liuban, but smaller attacks north of Chudovo to attempt to sever the supply lines here will also be attempted. These offensives are mainly diversionary, especially since the Army have lost the 2nd Assault Eng. Brigade.
59th Army:
Southern Operational Group will be reinforced with 8th Guards Miner Battalion and 59th Army's Penal Battalion. Despite the heavy enemy presence building up, an expansion of the bridgehead will be attempted. 2nd Assault Engineer Brigade will be railed to area east of Novgorod, for later reinforcement of the bridgehead.
Further north 310th Rifle Division will attempt to continue it's advance along the Chudovo-Novgorod highway. Podberez'e will be captured and 191st Rifle Division will attempt to reach the village from the south cutting off the enemy armored battalion in position east of there.
Partisans:
Partisans will continue to try to severe rail lines, but will pull back if encountering security units.

OUTCOME:
2nd Shock Army:
43rd Rifle Corps struggles heavily to make only little progress west of Gostilitsy. East of the village 122nd Corps also only make very limited gains. At Kernovo the enemy penetration is eliminated and original frontline re-established.
42nd Army:
Here the new offensive opens with good momentum and already in the opening hours the villages of Vittolovo and Aleksandrovska on the Oranienbaum-Pushkin highway are cleared of enemy defenders by 30th Gds Rifle Corps. Also 109th Rifle Corps advances according to the time-table and cuts the road. 110th Rifle Corps on NE of Pushkin encounters stiffer defense and are unable to advance initially. Later the defense finally cracks and the outskirts of Pushkin is reached. All in all the army has seen an advance of 2-3 km over a front of 15km and heavy enemy losses. The second enemy defense line is still intact though.
54th Army:
The offensive develops slowly here. A few cracks in the enemy defense north of Gruzino is detected, as well as some success at Smerdynia that is captured, but nothing decisive.
59th Army:
Both north and south of Podberez'e the enemy gives ground, but an attack on the village itself is stopped and the enemy east of it manages to pull back into the village. Renewed assaults on the village doesn't dislodge all defenders.
The southern bridgehead is able to be widened both north towards Novgorod and south along the coast, but heavy enemy counter-attacks are expected in the evening.
Partisans:
Great results in disrupting enemy supply lines. 1st and 3rd Partisan Brigade reaches the Pskov-Dno main rail line. 2nd Brigade reaches the Pskov-Gdov line. 4th Brigade destroys a bridge on the highway SE of Ostrov. 5th Brigade reaches the Pskov-Luga rail line, blows up a bridge on the Pskov-Luga highway as well as reaches the Dno-Batetskaya rail line. 11th Brigade destroys section of the Oredezh-Vyriza rail line. All this means that supply only reaches the front through the vital line at Narva.
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[I'll get screenshot uploaded tomorrow]

[LLv34_Snefens]

[font="Times New Roman"]TURN 5 (EVENING, JANUARY 15TH, 1944)

SITUATION REPORT:
Baltic Fleet:
Nothing to report.
2nd Shock Army:
East of Kernovo SS-Brigade "Nederland" continues the attempt to cut off the village, once again breaking into the line. 152nd Mot.Rfl.Bn arrives just in time to prevent the envelope. North of Globitsy SS-Div Nordland launches a more serious offensive at the seam between 48th and 71st Naval Rifle Brigades. No real reservers are present here, but fortunately the terrain behind the front is a roadless marshy forrest that in itself will slow the enemy significantly down.
East of Gostilitsy the enemy 61.Inf.Div takes over this section of the front and launches multiple heavy counterattacks. Just barely are the positions captured earlier that day able to be held. 10.Feld-Div is for the most part pulled out of the front line and forms a secondary defensive line.
42nd Army:
Counterattacks against our spearheads at Vittolovo and Aleksandrovska are repulsed after commitment of armored support.
59th Army:
North of Smerdynia enemy attacks and straightens out a small bulge in the front. North of Gruzino counterattacks threaten the newly gained ground.
59th Army:
Only limited counterattacks against the 6th Rifle Corps.
Southern Operational Group are forced back and now only occupies a 3km deep foothold on 12km of the western bank.
Partisans:
Enemy seems very slow to react to the threat from our partisans. No major fighting takes place this evening.
Air:
11 aircrafts lost for one enemy shot down.

FORCES:
2nd Shock Army:
The heavy counterattacks have made Col. Liaschenko unable to effectively give out orders to the forward elements of his 90th Rifle Div. At the western end of the bridgehead, the German counterattacks have thrown the army's penal battalion, and two naval battalions into reorganization.
42nd Army:
86th Rifle Division is ready to be committed in the offensive.
54th Army:
502nd Rifle Regiment is recovering from the retreat north of Smerdynia. 574th Eng Bn is in need of rest north of Gruzino.
59th Army:
504rd Tank Bn is resting after the assaults on Podberez'e. Elements of 9th Assault Eng. Brigade has arrived near Novgorod
Air Force:
6 fighter regiments and a single bomber regiments are in need of rest.

PLANNED OPERATIONS:
2nd Shock Army:
In order to avoid encirclement 71st Naval Rifle Brigade will withdrawn from Kernovo and establish a new defensive line established behind the river. 50th Rifle Brigade will begin to move along the coast from east to west to reinforce the defense.
With the 90th Rifle Division unable to obey orders only limited gain will be attempted made west of Gostilitsy and into the village itself. 122nd Rifle Corps will continue it's attempt to advance east of the village.
42nd Army:
The offensive will continue along the highways to Krasnogvardeisk and Krasnoe Selo. Goal for the day is to have advanced at least 5km since the start earlier in the day.
54th Army:
The attack at Smerdynia will be continued with less force and instead will the attack axis switch south to the seam between 121.Inf.Div and 12.Feld-Div. North of Gruzino our lines will be attempted retaken, and a new attack will be made south of the town.
59th Army:
Southern Operational Group will be reinforced with parts of the 9th Assault Engineer Brigade. The bridgehead will be attempted expanded again.
At Podberez'e attacks will be made to capture the town as well as continuing down the highway.
Partisans:
Partisans will continue to try to severe rail lines, but will pull back if encountering security units.

OUTCOME:
2nd Shock Army:
Lack of communication means that some battalions of 71st NRB don't manage to withdraw. New line only partly occupied. A single battalion of 50th RB arrive at Ustje. 43rd Rifle Corps make limited progress on it's western flank. 152nd Tank Brigade pierces the enemy line just east of Gostilitsy, but ends the night in an exposed position.
42nd Army:
Results are fairly dissappointing as only a few dents are made in the enemy line. Worse still, our forces are caught out of proper defensive positions and vulnerable to counterattacks.
54th Army:
North of Smerdynia the frontline is restored, with even additional gains. Some gains east of Dubovik and enemy is thrown back north of Gruzino
59th Army:
Good progress as Podberez'e is taken with ease and the attack can continue along the highway. Defenders manage to set up positions in the village of Vitka and stop our advance for the moment.
The southern bridgehead retakes some of the lost ground, but exhaustion is increasing dramtically.
Partisans:
The enemy situation in the rear continues to worsen. All traffic on rail lines to the 18th Army, except the Narva-Krasnogvardeisk rail line, are now blocked. If enemy doesn't react fast, he will be in great supply problems in a few days.
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[LLv34_Snefens]

I'll be posting reports every other turn from now on (1 day in game time), but until then, here is a overview of the supply situation at the end of my turn 6. Note red units near the Narva-Krasnogvardeisk line, as well as a broken line at Novgorod, obstructed by an axis unit.

[LLv34_Snefens]

[font="Times New Roman"]TURN 6+7 (JANUARY 16TH, 1944)

SITUATION REPORT:
Baltic Fleet:
Nothing to report.
2nd Shock Army:
Western part of 71st Naval Rifle Bigade defends it's positions, while the eastern one is forced back. An enemy armored recon battalion is advancing in the gap between 71st and 48th NRB in the early morning. In the heavy fighting 71st SMG Bn takes so heavy losses it ceases to exist as an independent unit. In the afternoon a shift in enemy forces is observed as SS-Brigade "Nederland" starts to hand over it's positions to SS-Div "Nordland". who's attack stops in the afternoon.
The poor positions 43rd and 122nd Rifle Corps spend the night in were pounded relentless, but only limited ground had to be given up
42nd Army:
Counterattacks hit our spearheads SW of Vittolovo hard and forces it back into the town. At least a company of Tiger tanks are taking part in the attack. The enemy begins withdrawing his group of "Schwerstes Flachfeuer" Artillery that have been pounding Leningrad for almost 900 days. 24.Inf.Div at Krasnyi Bor extends it's sector furtehr west so 11.Inf.Div can move to counter our attack west of Pushkin
54th Army:
South of Smerdynia enemy attacks almost manage to cut of 153rd Rifle Rgt, but ground communication is just barely kept. Limited counterattacks at Gruzino. 21.Inf.Div is extending it's front line to also cover Kampfgruppe SS-Polizei's former sector on the Volkhov. The KGr. begins movement west.
59th Army:
Limited counterattacks against the 6th Rifle Corps cause some disruption, but no ground have to be given up. Elements of the 1.Feld-Div is seen taken out of their positions east of Novgorod and move north to stop the RC's advance.
Southern Operational Group under very heavy pressure and now forced into a 3x5km bridgehead. The SMG Battalion of 58th Rifle Brigade is destroyed.
Partisans:
Enemy engaged 4th Partisan Battalion south of Ostrov that had taken up positions at a river crossing on the highway. The battalion is forced to pull back.
Air:
23 aircrafts lost for 7 enemies shot down this day.
Other:
Intelligence suggest that enemy is starting stockpiling supply at Luga.

FORCES:
2nd Shock Army:
803rd AAA Rgt and 3rd Bn of 48th NRB as well of two rifle bns of 71st NRB are in need of rest. 48th Rifle Div's 268th and 48th Ski Bn are reorganizing. 122nd Rifle Corps' 43rd Rifle Division is ready to be committed to the offensive. 131st Rifle Div partly unavailable for orders.
42nd Army:
85th and 72nd Rifle Divisions are ready to be committed in the offensive.
54th Army:
285th Rifle division is reorganizing.
59th Army:
503rd Tank Bn is still reorganizing. At the S.Op.Group three rifle battalions and an AT bn are unable to take orders.
112th Rifle Corps and 122 Tank Brigade is released from the reserve and ready to move to the front.
Air Force:
5 fighter regiments and a single bomber regiments are in need of rest.

PLANNED OPERATIONS:
2nd Shock Army:
71st Naval Rifle Brigade will for the most part try to hold positions, with the exception of an attempt to pull back it's easterh flank slightly. Majority of 50th Rifle Brigade will be sent to the area this day to close the gap and reinforce the line. 43rd Rifle Corps will only attempt to solidify it's positions this day, while 122nd Rifle Corps keeps up the attack east of Gostilitsy.
Considerations about whether 108th Rifle Corps should be released from reserve to assist.
42nd Army:
The initiative will be attempted to be regained by renewing the attacks along the highways to Krasnogvardeisk and Krasnoe Selo.
54th Army:
The situation south of Smerdynia should be taken care of by recapturing the old positions. Other offensive operations will be limited until 285th RD is ready to be committed again.
59th Army:
Southern Operational Group will be reinforced by 16th Tank Brigade but will otherwise try to hold last part of bridgehead, as a complete withdrawal from this would free the enemy 290.Inf.Div to help north of Novgorod. 112th Rifle Corps and 122nd Tank Brigade will be moved directly east of Novgorod and start an attack on the city from there. This should be ready to be commenced in no more than 2 days.
Partisans:
12th Partisan Brigade will try to reach the Narva-Krasnogvardeisk rail line this day. Rest of the partisans will continue their havoc against rail and roads in their area.

OUTCOME:
2nd Shock Army:
With the apparent halt in the enemy offensive operation on the western section of the bridgehead and the arrival of 50th Rifle Brigade to the area the situation seem to have stabilized.
At our main attack axis, the offensive gain momentum again, as first the section east of Gostilitsy is captured and being able to attack the town from 3 directions, it finally is captured. Before days end the attack is continue past the town and east of it, 11th and 43rd RD reach Glyadino, but are unable to capture this town before nightfall.
42nd Army:
Also here good progress are reported along most sections of the front. Along the main highways to Krasnogvardeisk and Krasnoe Selo the army advance 5-8km against a weaking enemy. Also south of Uritsk a penetration is made, and the rail line from this town and to Krasnogvardeisk are cut. Unfortunately heavy rail traffic were reported in the hours prior to reaching the line, so the amount of enemy heavy siege artillery caught north is probably minimal. Also slight gains east of Pushkin by 110th RC.
54th Army:
The situation south of Smerdynia is handled swiftly and the offensive is continued again with good results. At the seam between the two enemy divisions our forces advance 5km and cut a small supply rail line.
At Gruzino a small penetration is developing north of the town, threating to cut of the enemy forces inside.
59th Army:
The attack along the highway to Novgorod keeps up it's momentum and this day the road between Vitka and Trubichino including both towns are captured. A total of 10km advance. Also the flank is moved a bit away from the highway with smaller attacks. The success is not without cost as the 546th Rifle Regiment is reduced to a handful of men and forced to be reformed behind the front.
With the arriving reinforcements the southern bridgehead are able to gain new strength and defend the bridgehead with a few succesful counterattacks, where especially the 16th Tank Brigade proved useful.
Partisans:
For a while the supply along the Narva-Krasnogvardeisk rail line were blocked, but enemy forces arrived just in time to prevent our partisans from blowing the line.
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[LLv34_Snefens]

[font="Times New Roman"]TURN 8+9 (JANUARY 17TH, 1944)

SITUATION REPORT:
Baltic Fleet:
The fleet in Kronstadt suffered minor artillery bombardments.
2nd Shock Army:
SS-Div "Nordland" completes it's redeployment where it takes over SS-Brigade "Nederlands" former position at the coast, while also shortening it's own front by pulling back it's line slightly at the lake sector. The SS-brigade is observed heading SE towards 43rd Rifle Corps' sector. 9.Feld-Div begins a withdrawal of it's right flank, but at the same time make a limited attack into the flank of 122nd Rifle Corps, but without known reserves to reinforce the attack with, it shouldn't pose a serious problem. Limited counterattacks elsewhere against the army is repulsed.
42nd Army:
Enemy attempts to cut off the exposed leading elements of 125th Rifle Division west of Konstantinovka , but while being pushed back from the most western positions, the town itself is held to allow a safe pull-back. Because of the risk of being cut off, the enemy 126.Inf.Div prepares for a withdrawal from the coast line, as rear-guard units begins to occupy the line.
Limited counterattack elsewhere. 24.Inf.Div completes it's overtaking of 11.Inf.Div's old position. This divison have taken up positions between our forces and Krasnogvardeisk.
54th Army:
Enemy is only just able to fill the gap developing south of Smerdynia. Because of the risk of being surrounded, enemy abandons Gruzino without having blown up the large bridge crossing the Volkhov River.
59th Army:
As the enemy have securly contained the Southern Operational Groups attempt to advance south of Novgorod, the start moving forces to the north of the town where the situation for the enemy is more critical. Kav.Rgt.Nord moves north while 290.Inf.Div stay in position.
Movement of enemy forces from X.Korps area at Staraya Russa north along Lake Ilmen's coast towards Novgorod is observed.
Partisans:
Our forces at the Narva-Krasnogvardeisk rail line are forced back under increasing enemy presence. Also around Ostrov the enemy is deploying more forces to combat our partisans.
Air:
15 aircrafts lost for 9 enemies shot down this day.

FORCES:
2nd Shock Army:
204th Tank Regiment is not ready to be committed from the start of the day.
42nd Army:
1st Leningrad Tank Brigade joins the offensive from the morning and later in the day 220th Tank Brigade is also committed. During the day 3rd Artillery Corps and subordinate Art. Divs runs short on ammo and will be rested for a while.
54th Army:
Nothing special to report.
59th Army:
Nothing special to report.
Air Force:
8 fighter regiments and 2 attack regiments are in need of rest. Newer fighter types are slowly reaching our front lines units. 14 fighters of the new types are currently ready to fight the enemy.

PLANNED OPERATIONS:
2nd Shock Army:
Western rifle brigades will close the gap in the line, but otherwise not go on the offensive. At Peterhof pressure should be kept up on enemy if he tries to pull back. 43rd Rifle Corps will renew it's attack this day with the target being the fortified town of Diatlitsy. 122nd Rifle Corps will seal off enemy pincers in it's flank, while at the same time continue the offensive in SE direction. Targets by days end are Glyadino and if possible Ropsha 7km away. 108th Rifle Corps will be held back for now.
42nd Army:
109th Corps should take advantage of the weakend enemy line and advance along the coast towards Strelna. 30th Gds Corps reinfored by 220th and 1st Len Tank Brigade will continue attack along the highway to Krasnogvardeisk and the target for the day is the bridges across the Izhora River. 110th Corps will move in to cover the easter flank of this attack. 79th Fort Region will take over 110th Corps old section of the front.
54th Army:
Momentum in the attack should be kept up to not allow enemy to stabilize situation south of Smerdynia. In the difficult terrain an advance of 5km would be acceptable by days end.
59th Army:
Southern Operational Group will hold last part of bridgehead. 112th Rifle Corps and 122nd Tank Brigade will start attack in the afternoon, when most of their forces are in position, while 6th and 14th Rifle Corps will keep up their attack along the hightway to Novgorod
Partisans:
A new attempt to cut the Narva-Krasnogvardeisk rail line should be attempted. Rest of the partisans will continue their havoc against rail and roads in their area.

OUTCOME:
2nd Shock Army:
50th Rifle Brigade take over the abandoned enemy positions at the lake sector at the gap between 48th and 71st Naval Rifle Brigades, thereby once again forming a continous line. At Peterhof 16th Fort Region can advance along the coast against dwindeling resistance from 9.Feld-Div. 43rd Rifle Corps are engaged in heavy fighting both east and especially west of Diatlitsy. The defenders in the fortified village avoids encircling, but by days end have to give it up and pull back. 122nd Rifle Corps on the other hand are succesful in their pincer attack around Glyadino, where a couple of worn down battalions from enemy 61.Inf.Div are forced to surrender, but the attack comes to a halt still 5km from Ropsha.
42nd Army:
109th Rifle Corps make good progress against the withdrawing 126.Inf.Div and manage to capture the town of Strelna on the coast. The gap between the 2nd Shock and 42nd Army are now less than 10km. Succesful is also the attack along the highway north of Krasnoe Selo, where the first prepared line is penetrated by 749th Rifle Rgt, which end the day on the outskirts of the town. 30th Gds Rifle Corps struggle a bit more SE of the town as forces in need of redeploying use up time before the attack against Krasnogvardeisk and Krasnoe Selo can be renewed. At days end Krasnoe Selo is 3km closer, but the attack have to be halted at the norhtern shore of the Izhora River, before the bridges held by 11.Inf.Div can be seized. Redeploying of 110th RC still underway, but some slight gains against the western flank of Pushkin are made.
54th Army:
115th Rifle Corps offensive is able to keep going and advance another 5km to the south and south-east. 111th RC on the east of the Tigoda Bulge also make progress, both expanding the bridgehead at Gruzino, but also south of Kusino. All this treatens to envelope 12.Feld.Div in the Tigoda Bulge.
59th Army:
6th Rifle Corps makes some redeployments to let the exhausted 310th RD take over guarding the NW flank, while the more fresh 65th RD will move in to lead the new attack on northern part of Novgorod. This situation together with enemy counter-attacks delay the advance along the highway, and only 2km road were captured this day. NE of the city 14th RC keeps the attack going and flank the enemy fortified village of Khutyn. As leading elements of 112th RC and 29th Tank Brigade reach their jump-off positions south of the village and soon start their attack as well, Khutyn is encircled. An early storm of the village is repulsed however. The attack of the 112th RC is also directed west towards Novgorod though, and the first defensive lines are taken over late in the day. Our forces now stand only 5km for the city center.
Partisans:
All over the enemy rear our partisans continue to free the area of the enemy. Several notable towns are now in the hands of our freedom fighters. This includes the towns of Osmino, Novoselye, Pliussa, Strugi Krasnye, Oredezh and Dedovichi.
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[LLv34_Snefens]

Situation at Novgorod.

[LLv34_Snefens]

[font="Times New Roman"]TURN 10+11 (JANUARY 18TH, 1944)

SITUATION REPORT:
Baltic Fleet:
No enemy activity against our naval forces.
2nd Shock Army:
Heavy counter-attacks by assault guns and Panther tanks against 43rd Rifle Corps who is forced back towards Gostilitsy. Also attacks against the positions around and in Diatlitsy, but our forces repel the attack on the village.
42nd Army:
Enemy counter-attacks against our spearheads on the highway to Krasnogvardeisk by 11.Inf.Div, but they are for the most part stopped. On the army's eastern flank. 24th and 225.Inf.Div are extending their lines westward to take over the sector of 215.Inf.Div, which seems to be moving out of the line, almost abandoning Pushkin. Remnants of 170.Inf.Div is spotted south of Krasnoe Selo, with 126.Inf.Div in Krasnoe Selo itself.
54th Army:
Enemy still have trouble damming up the holes created by our advances at the Tigoda Bulge. Still no sign of any attempt to extract 12.Feld.Div. 21.Inf.Div counter-attacks south of Gruzino and succeeds in isolating a battalion from 2nd Fortified Region.
59th Army:
Enemy attack by the Latvian SS-Brigade against the weak forces of 310th RD. Enemy punches a 5km wide hole in the divisions line. Also counter-attack against 6th Rifle Corps leading elements north of Novgorod which forces the corps back a few kilometers.
Continued movement of enemy forces from X.Korps area at Staraya Russa towards north. Seems most of 30.Inf.Div is moving north with 8.Jg.Div taking over the positions.
Partisans:
At the Narva-Krasnogvardeisk rail line our partisans encounter increasingly heavy opposition and are taking significant casualties.
Air:
23 aircrafts lost for 19 enemies shot down this day.

FORCES:
2nd Shock Army:
222nd Tank Regiment and 708th Rifle Regiments are partly unavailable for orders after having withdrawn from enemy attacks.
42nd Army:
No changes in available forces.
54th Army:
Nothing special to report.
59th Army:
1256th Rifle Regiment and a battalion from 310th Rifle Division are unavailable for orders.
Air Force:
8 fighter regiments and 2 attack regiments are in need of rest. Newer fighter types are slowly reaching our front lines units. 14 fighters of the new types are currently ready to fight the enemy.

PLANNED OPERATIONS:
2nd Shock Army:
122nd Rifle Corps and 16th Fortified Region will link up with 42nd Army east of Peterhof, but at the same time also capture Ropsha and coninue attack to Kipen. 43rd Rifle Corps will stabilize it's positions of it's west flank and press on to the Leningrad-Narva highway south of Diatlitsy.
42nd Army:
109th Corps will advance west to Strelna and link up with 2nd Shock Army, but also press on the attack on the northern part of the Duderhof heights. 30th Gds Corps attack the heights from the east and will also capture the bridges across the Izhora River. The weakend line at Pushkin should be taken advantage of by the 110th Corps, who will capture the town and press on SE towards Slutsk
54th Army:
The grip on the Tigoda Bulge should be tightend this day and the distance between our two pincers should be brought down to less than 10km. Our enveloped 206th MG-Art Battalion should be relieved by counter-attacks.
59th Army:
The enemy attack against 310th Rifle Division should be stopped by re-directing a few forces from the 65th Rifle Division to the area. The enemy trapped in Khutyn will be destroyed and attack against Novgorod itself will continue, by breaking within the city limits and if possible capture the Kremlin of the city by days end. The attack will mainly be carried out by the still fresh 112th Rifle Corps from the east.
Partisans:
West of Porkhov an enemy garrison in the town of Dubsko will be tried to encirlced by forces from our 3rd Partisan Brigade and destroyed.

OUTCOME:
2nd Shock Army:
Shortly after noon elements of 11th Rifle Division overrun an enemy artillery position and reaches the leading elements of 109th Rifle Division from 42nd Army west of Strelna. The Oranienbaum bridgehead has thus been reunited with the main land. This advance together with 122nd Rifle Corps attacks North of Ropsha are cutting off majority of what remains of 9.Feld-Div. Ropsha itself is put under attack, but our forces are unable to make the last leap into town. The attack south of Diatlitsy is only able to be carried out with limited forces, because of severe exhaustion in our forces there after their own advance and enemy counter-attacks and the Leningrad-Narva highway remains out of reach this day.
42nd Army:
109th Rifle Corps link up with 2nd Shock Army, but also capture the fortified town of Krasnoe Selo by the end of the day. The defending 126.Inf.Div is beginning to fall apart. 30th Gds Rifle Corps advance to the outskirts of Duderhof and the Corps' attack toward Krasnogvardeisk this day brings us the possession of 3 bridges across the Izhora River. 110th Rifle Corps is able to put more strength into the attacks by Pushkin. This town is captured and the attack proceeds over a broad front south.
54th Army:
Despite only being able to attack With limited forces, the ring around 12.Feld-Div is closing fast. This day the eastern pincer also gains momentum and the gap at days end is now only 5km.
59th Army:
Situation at 310th Rifle Division is stabilized with little difficulty. The southern part of 6th Rifle Corps makes some limited progress in an western direction north of Novgorod. With the fresh 112th Rifle Corps attacking the city from the east, the city center is captured in heavy combat by afternoon. Also the village of Khutyn falls into our hands. All in all the day has been costly in loss of men and equipment. 24 T-34 tanks have been destroyed this day alone.
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[Olorin]

Good AAR, nicely presented. I 'm following.

[LLv34_Snefens]

Glad you enjoy it. If there are anything you'd like to get better view of, or more information about, let me know.

[BigDuke66]

Do you think about a house rule what can be moved of the frozen lakes?
I don't think TOAW has anything in be simulate the dangers of such an operation so the movements should maybe be limited to infantry units and at best light tanks.

[Shazman]

In Canada we take 60 ton loads across frozen lakes if it goes about 30kph. Too fast and it makes a big wave of the ice and it breaks. Maybe a T34 can make it in Russia?

[BigDuke66]

I read about T-34 over ice at Leningrad but that's not the point, the point is out on the ice you would be a sitting duck for artillery fire or aircraft.
When I look at my terrain chart there is nothing to simulate this, no extra movement and no weaker defense value, even cropland is worse as it gives you an additional +1 for every hex on movement cost.

[samba_liten]

In my hot-seat experiment with this scenario, i even caught myself having units dig in on the ice. Slightly preposterous.

[Telumar]

Maybe this should be on the wishlist: No digging in on ice and a weight limit relative to scenario scale.

And a house rule for the scenario: No digging in on ice.

[Oberst_Klink]

ORIGINAL: Telumar

Maybe this should be on the wishlist: No digging in on ice and a weight limit relative to scenario scale.

And a house rule for the scenario: No digging in on ice.

A good example about it is... you guessed it; my 48.PzK scenario... modify the entrechment rate... it's overrated anyway; as I have experienced 1st hand at the 1st two scenarios of Rob's RTM series; and glad the Meister is back!

Klink, Oberst