Nach Moskau und zurück - Gunnulf (A) AtAtack (S) GC-No early end

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Gunnulf
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RE: Nach Moskau und zurück - Gunnulf (A) AtAtack (S) GC-No early end

Post by Gunnulf »

T77 Tambov

Probing attack north of Tambov, seems like 1st Guard Corps relocated up here so perhaps a sign something serious developing. The line holds though and we counterattack successfully with 5 Pz Div from reserve, who returns back to depot afterwards. Feels like there is more, bigger to come and this feels like a diversion. Just because we are paranoid doesn't mean the Soviets aren't out to get us...

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RE: Nach Moskau und zurück - Gunnulf (A) AtAtack (S) GC-No early end

Post by Jango32 »

Be sure to check the damaged elements of the divisions.
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Gunnulf
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RE: Nach Moskau und zurück - Gunnulf (A) AtAtack (S) GC-No early end

Post by Gunnulf »

T78 Caucasus

As expected we are unable to reach the beleaguered LRSG before they are swallowed up and 17k Italians and Slovaks unfortunately head to the gulags. Thankfully that takes the total for the campaign to 25k, but of course they won't be the last. Their sacrifice will not be in vain.
Well, ok, probably it will be in the long run of course, but at least they delays the Reds long enough to return some semblance of strength to the northern flank of Army Group Don (maybe confusingly named right now, but should keep Bletchley park guessing a little at least!).

Otherwise pretty quiet across the rest of the line. Maybe a little too quiet... Overall campaign losses still at reasonable ratio and level too so far and no bigger disasters looming. The Soviets need to get started in earnest soon if they want to move Stalins drinks cabinet to Berlin.

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Gunnulf
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RE: Nach Moskau und zurück - Gunnulf (A) AtAtack (S) GC-No early end

Post by Gunnulf »

T80 Tambov

Danger develops on the north flank of the Tambov sector, and extra reserves both local and from OKH are on route to plug the gap

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RE: Nach Moskau und zurück - Gunnulf (A) AtAtack (S) GC-No early end

Post by Gunnulf »

T81 Tambov

2 Armee reserves start to arrive. Once again the Panzerwaffe establishes its dominance, with the PzIIL holding its own well, but also the Pak40 does solid work against the massed KV1s. The danger still not passed and extra units arrive next week. The longer we can hold this line before pulling back to the main line of resistance at Tula/Voronezh the better, and we are starting to think maybe we can hold this perimeter through summer which I didn't expect, but its still pretty early of course.

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RE: Nach Moskau und zurück - Gunnulf (A) AtAtack (S) GC-No early end

Post by Gunnulf »

T81 Caucasus

Supplies and replacements are starting to get through in sufficient quantities to rebuild unit losses and build defences to shore up the line here and its very unlikely to collapse just yet. The northern end is flapping in the wind a little but enough mobile units to head off any flankers I think who will be horribly supplied by the time they pose any danger.

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RE: Nach Moskau und zurück - Gunnulf (A) AtAtack (S) GC-No early end

Post by Gunnulf »

T82 Tambov north

While fresh soviet attacks are held the counterattack begins and we will soon be back to the original positions. Still the weakest defensive point, but the shortest gap between the better defensive terrain to focus firepower going forward. If we can tie this back up again this flank should hold now.

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RE: Nach Moskau und zurück - Gunnulf (A) AtAtack (S) GC-No early end

Post by Gunnulf »

T82 Tambov south

As one fire is extinguished another breaks out to the southern end of the 6 Armee line. Again the longer we can hold out here the better before falling back to the next prepared line. As Stalingrad is looking pretty secure at the moment (famous last words...) we pull together a corps here to bring round to constitute a fresh reserve, but also 3 new infantry divsions arrived from France are on route to this potential new hot spot.

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RE: Nach Moskau und zurück - Gunnulf (A) AtAtack (S) GC-No early end

Post by Gunnulf »

T92 Jan 1943 overview

Start of a brand new year, full of fresh hope and optimism of course! This is the state of the nation. The Soviets have a substantial force on map, and with very healthy reserves. However the Axis numbers are not bad either I think, nearly 4 million German troops in the field mean we are not suffering terrible fear of being outnumbered everywhere just yet, and with Army Group North locked down tight this free's up our ability to deploy infantry and armoured reserves to hot-spots.
The supply network for the most part is getting supplies and replacements where they are needed, with troops in the pool to provide this. Any infantry unit in the rear depots of Stalingrad or the Caucasus put on refit is immediately at full strength and cycled back into the line and the process of refiting all of them is close to complete while unit supplies build up ok, and defences are built.
No units in Assault stance. Its still winter, the Soviet morale and troop quality will ramp up, there is still plenty of time for a winter disaster to unfold but I think we can cope (probably), and come spring we have some decisions to make as to whether to dig in and try to create a strategic stalemate or a last chance at mischief before the strategic initiative flips. Currently sitting at 788VP, but their aren't too many easy targets to bump that above 800 really.

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RE: Nach Moskau und zurück - Gunnulf (A) AtAtack (S) GC-No early end

Post by Gunnulf »

T83 Tambov south

With the new year comes a bit more pressure from this angle to the point where urgent re-inforcements are going to be needed and probably a tactical withdrawal in the not too distant future. In the meantime we will trade time and attempt delays. While we hold the depot here its going to be logistically more difficult to flank the whole line but once its gone then the branch line opens up more attacking options for the Soviets.

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RE: Nach Moskau und zurück - Gunnulf (A) AtAtack (S) GC-No early end

Post by Gunnulf »

T85 Tambov South

A slow begrudging withdrawal to roll back the line towards Tambov as slowly as possible, while the prepared reserve line is starting to be fully occupied. As above once he has a depot at Talovaya and the branch line this gives options to put pressure on the 2 Hungarian Army sector as well, which is backed up by German regiments but obviously is not the strongest point, until the river unfreezes at least... the more time we can eat the better.


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RE: Nach Moskau und zurück - Gunnulf (A) AtAtack (S) GC-No early end

Post by Gunnulf »

T86 Tambov South

The cavalry arrives as Army Detachment Kempf is buffed up with SS Panzer Korps* The temporary screen will keep pulling back towards the frozen river in the hope of making a proper stand here. While its disapointing to pull back even 40/50 miles this was always expected to be a screen for the main position.


*may contain traces of Wermacht

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RE: Nach Moskau und zurück - Gunnulf (A) AtAtack (S) GC-No early end

Post by Gunnulf »

T86 Ryazan

Another fire breaks out west of Ryazan prompting Guderian to deploy his reserves to beat back another attack. Both Tanks corps are very light on actual tanks though, something weird going on there. Basically shells to hold Ski Brigades it seems, I guess some logic there but they don't hold up well to actual tanks.


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RE: Nach Moskau und zurück - Gunnulf (A) AtAtack (S) GC-No early end

Post by Gunnulf »

T87 Tambov South

6 Armee disengages and pulls back to form a more sustainable position. Possibly we could have held the Depot#7 salient for a bit longer, maybe through winter, but the risk of getting divisions cut off was starting to weigh on us and ultimately the territory has lost much of its value with the rest of the riverline rolled back. In retrospect we could have prepared this dogleg of the line in advance but honestly we were'nt expecting to have the prospect of still holding Tambov itself at this point.


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RE: Nach Moskau und zurück - Gunnulf (A) AtAtack (S) GC-No early end

Post by Gunnulf »

T88 Caucasus

Army Group Don has reverted back to being Army Group South, and aside from brief skirmishes as the Soviets test weak spots in the line its become quite quiet. Good news is that supplies are reaching the super-depot now with 14K received last week here alone, or 24% utilisation of the railyard. Between this and the other level 1 railyards the sector is well dug in and seems pretty secure, although of course the Reds might be plotting something bigger soon, Without decent air recon its quite difficult to focus the AI to try to find out more... but overall the gamble to advance late-season and secure this level 2 railyard for now seems to have paid off so far.


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RE: Nach Moskau und zurück - Gunnulf (A) AtAtack (S) GC-No early end

Post by Gunnulf »

T90 Ryazan

The pressure of continued assaults starts to show, gaps are starting to appear and 52nd Division is cut off necessitation the mobile reserve from the neighbouring corps to deploy to save the day. Probably getting a bit tenuous in this sector but we will keep trying to plug the gaps so long as it makes sense to buy time. We've still not lost a German division but I'm sure its a matter of time before we try our luck too hard.

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RE: Nach Moskau und zurück - Gunnulf (A) AtAtack (S) GC-No early end

Post by Gunnulf »

T90 Berlin

In the good news column we sent 4 relatively battered Panzer divisions to France a few weeks ago and got back 3 nice new fresh ones in return, each 231 AFV strong including plenty of nice shiny PzIVG's. Along with two recently returned SS PzGn divisions its a nice injection into our panzerwaffe strength for sure. Decision is whether to deploy them directly to Ryazan or keep them fresh in strategic reserve or start plotting a new offensive...

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RE: Nach Moskau und zurück - Gunnulf (A) AtAtack (S) GC-No early end

Post by loki100 »

ORIGINAL: Gunnulf

T90 Berlin

.... Decision is whether to deploy them directly to Ryazan or keep them fresh in strategic reserve or start plotting a new offensive...

...

I do so admire optimism [;)]
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Gunnulf
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RE: Nach Moskau und zurück - Gunnulf (A) AtAtack (S) GC-No early end

Post by Gunnulf »

"I was planning on playing the mindless optimism card very strongly" Lt. The Hon. George Colthurst St Barleigh
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Gunnulf
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RE: Nach Moskau und zurück - Gunnulf (A) AtAtack (S) GC-No early end

Post by Gunnulf »

Spoiler alert as the game is usually 2/3 turns ahead of AAR for OPSEC but as AtAtack has just found out the offensive has already started...
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