Month: December 2020 (Page 2 of 3)

Narrative: The Destruction of Army Group Centre.

This turn sees the culmination of the Soviet Summer Offensive albeit extended through the autumn to winter. Meteorologist and the bunions of local babushkas both confirm that the dampening atmosphere signals the start of the deep Soviet winter and snows are expected by the middle of the month. Accordingly directives are sent to Army and Corps commanders to maximise the remaining period of hard frost and dry ground. They do so by concentrating on weaker sections of the Axis line and maximising odds at these critical points. In this they are aided by the fact that many frontline units are cardred and supported by battalion and regimental sized units lacking the ability to influence action outside their immediate frontage. The Soviet assaults are successful with only a minor setback to the south of the sector just north of Bryansk where a retreating stug unit occupies a swamp hex. Accumulated movement costs prevent overrun and force a detour of exploiting units with some gaps between the encircling forces. Elsewhere however the encirclement is made up of a solid line of tank and mechanised corps. In total a 200 mile breach is ripped in the Axis line! While the total losses suffered by the Axis the entire turn is limited to 65 points a full 111 factors of AGC units are encircled and isolated within the resulting pockets. With winter snows rapidly approaching the Soviets are confident that the Axis will not have the strength or mobility to break significant numbers out of the encirclement. (Only their own stretched supply lines may cause them to fail). By the end of the month they anticipate Army Group Centre will be eliminated as an effective fighting force. In this they will have achieved their objectives set at the beginning of the summer. They now occupy the line from Riga, Vitebsk, Smolensk, Bryansk, Orel, Kursk (Excepting the Axis counter move at Dougavpils). While they have not created any great encirclement, they have in the final months of the year demonstrated their mastery of Blitzkrieg, Soviet style. It is no longer a question of if, but when, they clear the Holy Motherland of the German jackboot.

Turn Report

Partisans: Partisans are directed to concentrate on airfield attacks this turn where possible. Two airfields are hit together with two rail cuts.

Finnish Front/Norway: A single attack is launched against the units fleeing south towards Tana. A penal and ski battalion are eliminated.

Leningrad front: A rebuilt mech and tank corps together with mortar support rail south from the Leningrad factories and eliminate the German air bridge at Tartu.

To the south the German bridgehead over the Divina is engulfed by infantry and support troops moving West and those in the Riga entrapment holding firm but no attacks are made against the bridgehead.

In the Vitebsk Sector the Soviets conquer the city by direct assault against a Security division and anti-tank unit which remain as token resistance the main defenders having pulled back south. The bridgehead is enlarged to the west by direct assault over the river against an infantry division and anti-tank unit holding a forest hex. An exploitation move to overrun the resulting cadre is declined due to lack of second echelon forces to reinforce the bridgehead.

Further East the small isolated pocket of a Panzer cadre and mobile artillery is left in the besieged state and not assaulted; instead mobile forces concentrate on attacking south towards Smolensk. The outer fort held by a 5-6 infantry division is captured, the division retreats west to avoid encirclement and in doing so opens the city to overrun in exploitation when a Police unit is crushed. Only the lack of pontoon bridges prevents the Soviet Mech corps from moving south of the river. However recon report a junction with Moscow front tank units moving from the south completing the encirclement of enemy units to the East of Smolensk.

Moscow front: In a series of concentrated attacks against weak spots in the German line strung out between Smolensk and Bryansk the Soviets fragment the defenders into a number of sections. Exploitation units move behind the un-attacked sectors of the line ensuring their isolation. Meanwhile powerful forces moving from the Bryansk bridgehead drive west along rail line encountering only a few scattered security regiments en-route.

South of Bryansk an infantry division caught east of the river is carded.

Stalingrad front: Two attacks mounted immediately southwest of Kursk eliminate two more forts.

Further south the continuing mud and resulting supply difficulties make any form of offensive impossible with large sections of the Soviet front at U3.

To the south of the Don preparations are started for a combined air and naval operation against the Crimea. Capital ships, River Flotillas, Parachute troops and air transports are assembled. Mid-range Assault bombers fill newly constructed airfields to prepare to aid the assault and harass the defenders while long range bombers transfer to Stalingrad to initiate deep raids into the rear to disrupt rail nets.  On the Kuban peninsular ground troops are railed forward to follow up on the assault. 

Air combat: Only one of the Soviet attacks requires any air support and the Soviets provide more assault bombers than Axis interceptors in range so the Axis forces decide not to engage. There are the usual series of exchanges along the front but most result are Aborts and a number of aircraft on both sides return to base injured. Losses overall on light with two Soviets and one Ju88C eliminated. The Luftwaffe however suffer two further losses on the ground; a transport/glider combination eliminated at Tartu and an Aborted Me109G by a bombing raid in the Kursk sector.

Combat report

Attacks: Auto = 1 (Tartu), Diced = 14
Losses: Soviets = 11, Air =2
Axis: Forts= 13 (abandoned 9, captured 4), German: Isolated = 7, Un-isolated = 65, Pos AA = 4; Air = 3 (2 on ground)
Loss Ratio Axis/Soviet for Dec I ’43 = 72/80 = 0.9

Narrative

Alexi Boris Chernyshevsky or “Boors” to his mates glanced over to the barracks with longing and a certain degree of annoyance. Longing for the warm bed awaiting him at the end of his long nightshift and annoyance that his relief was already late. The sun was already rising into the watery winter sky casting long shadows from his observation post across the tarmac of the runway.

He noted the drone of aircraft from the south west and reached for his logbook to record the somewhat late return of a long-range bombing force returning to Leningrad. The aircraft were over the airfield by the time his sleep deprived brain realised two things; firstly, that the aircraft had three engines and secondly that white mushrooms were billowing out behind them. The first of German paratroops were already on the tarmac before he raised the alarm. 

Hans Kruger enjoyed the last few moments of eerie silence of the pre-landing of the Go 242A glider he occupied with his squad. The silence was shattered as the glider hit the ground and slid forward a few yards before the front dug into the earth and the whole craft lifted skyward from the tail, started to cartwheel and then slammed back down to the ground. Go go go! he cried pushing his stunned comrades through the open door onto the soft ground below. Someone, somewhere had made a major cock-up. The glider had landed not on the hard, tilled earth they had anticipated but on soft marshy ground close to the river. He glanced back noting that the front end of the craft was crushed together with the pilot and co-pilot who were still and lifeless. Fortunately, he and his men escaped with only a few cuts and bruises and perhaps a cracked rib or two. They quickly assembled and made their way towards the sporadic firing around the runway to the south.

They arrived to find their parachute born comrades pinned down on the perimeter of the airfield by two anti-aircraft guns; their barrels depressed as far as they would go sweeping across the open tarmac supported by rifle fire from the small security contingent. The arrival in their rear by Hans and his men quickly turned the tables. Caught in the crossfire the gunners soon gave up the fight. Ten minutes later the guns and the airfield were in the Fallschirmjäger’s hands. They lit flares and awaited transport born reinforcements. Tartu was German once again.

Turn Report

Weather:  No Change: A=Snow, B=Frost, C-D=Mud, G=Clear.

Army of Norway: The supplied highly mobile mountain and light troops from the Kirkenes pocket move Southwest at speed reaching the next phase line of resistance without interference from the Soviets.  Only a slower penal battalion and infantry regiment remain to face the pursuers.

AGN: Seemingly oblivious to the disaster befalling Army group Centre to the south the panzers and infantry of armour of Army Group North continue to pursue their aim of isolating the Riga besiegers and taking back parts of Estonia and Latvia.

Panzers break out and wheal West overrunning an airbase and isolating the single Tank Corps in the Soviet defensive line. This move places the entire Soviet front from Riga to Dougavpills out of supply. Other troops widening the breach and the Germans now control both sides of the Divina along a hundred miles of its course.

The Germans also undertake the first para-drop of the war and in textbook style the Fallschirmjäger capture Tartu airfield. The glider assisted drop first encounters AA fire from the positional AA units around the airfield, surviving unscathed they drop onto the AA with a modified -2 die roll. The six rolled guarantees their survival and they overrun the positional AA units. Follow-up forces in transports and gliders land an additional engineer regiment and a Luftwaffe infantry unit with four supply points being airdropped to avoid congestion on the ground. In order to help bolster the defences against any Soviet counterattack on the lightly armed occupiers, a DAS mission provides air support over the captured airfield.

AGC: The isolated and bypassed panzer and infantry stacks in the shattered front between Smolensk and Bryansk extricate themselves from the Soviet tankers attempting to close in behind them. They counter-attack a tank corps eliminating it entirely and severely punish a smaller stack comprising a mobile rocket unit motorised infantry with tank battalion reducing it to us a weak infantry cadre which pulls back east to the main Soviet front. An attack on a second tank corps is repulsed.

The German units to the north of this action pull back as fast as possible towards Smolensk and attempt to bolster the flanks around Vitebsk. As a consequence of the dangerous situation Leibstandarte and a 17-10 Panzer unit are intercepted en-route to Dougavpils and placed into reserve at Vitebsk.

To the south of the main Soviet thrust troops pull back to the woods and river line south of Bryansk and refuse their right-hand flank the south.

Two raids are made against weak Soviet stacks one of which is successful in inflicting some losses on the Soviets.

AGS: The northern end of the line pulls back around Kursk pulling back the left flank to try and main contact with Army Group Centre. They abando two forts to do so.

In the far south the Romanian army and its German allies pull back from the bend of the Donets and move 30 miles west in a controlled withdrawal.

A raid is made against an overzealous 5-6 Gd unit in the van of the Soviet march West which is cardered.

Air Combat:: The Airdrop at Tartu is the most interesting air activity this turn and is covered above. (2 gliders lost on landing). Before the airdrop the Luftwaffe moves to eliminate fighter opposition by launching a bombing raid on the fighter base at Parnu. A Ju87 escorted by two flights of 109Gs is intercepted by the target Soviet Mig13. It is aborted by the ME109s and Aborts to the only airbase in range Tartu!!. The bombs fall wide but the aim of removing the threat of interception of the transports is achieved.

The remaining German actions consists of some ground support around to Dougavpils and Defensive Air Support over the front to the south. Soviet interceptors cause some damage to the DAS but themselves suffer losses in equal proportion both sides inflicting a couple of eliminations and some aborts.

In one such encounter a lone P40C hunting a Ju88A is jumped by two FW190s and a Ju88C. Suffice to say it does not live to tell the tale.

In the south in a rare and unexpected development long-range aircraft make a night-time bombing raid against the Soviet factory at Stalingrad but the 18 points of combat and positional AA ensure that none of the raiders reach their target and the factory remains unscathed.

Combat Report

Auto Attacks = 2, Diced combats = 8
Losses: Axis =  2xAir, 2x Gliders expended./
Soviets = 69, 3xPos AA, 2Res pts, 2xAir on ground., 2 in flight.

Turn Report

Partisans:  News from the front and the approaching tide of their regular combat troops spurs the partisan bridges to new heights and 8 rail cuts are achieved this turn.

Finnish Front/Norway: A 4-6xx div turns the flank NE of Kautokeino and moves towards the coast with a view to stopping landward reinforcements from the troops evacuating the Kirkenes pocket. At the pocket an air assisted attack only results in a retreat against a German Mtn regiment. The Soviet attacker’s problem will soon be a paupercy of supplies as these need to be carted hundreds of miles across the tundra and there are few en-route.

Leningrad Front: Much to the Axis disappointment their foray north of the Dvina has been met with distain rather than alarm by STAVKA who only dispatches a single Tank Corps with Mot Rkt support to aid the defenders north of Dougavpils. The troops in situ are ordered to hold position to constrict the enemy advance with troops in transit and a few scattered reserves move in to surround the aggressors. Is this distain warranted or are the Soviets underestimating the Axis forces? With an airdrop planned and more panzer and panzer grenadier reinforcements in transit from Germany and elsewhere only time will tell.

Further east the slow, steady grind at Vitebsk continues with a bridgehead established over the Dvina west of the city.

Mixed forces continue to chew away at the Axis line north of Smolensk and a cadre stack including a 6-8 Pz is surrounded and isolated in exploitation.

Moscow Front: The hastily formed fortified line between Smolensk and Bryansk is mainly of earth and timber, there is little if any concrete in the construction and many sectors lack effective overhead cover. It is manned by cadres, regiments and only a few second-rate divisions, security units etc.  Despite a seasoning of Panzer brigades and Panzer cadres the belief of OKW that this can stem the Soviet advance is shown to be as flimsy as the earthernwork of which the line is constructed. A wave of tanks, rockets and large artillery pieces move to the line and crash over it washing away the earthworks and its occupants as easily as a spring tide might wash away a child’s castle of sand on a beach. The line is pierced in several places and in exploitation Guards and regular army tank and mech corps overrun a second line of engineers and emplacements. In addition, a tank corps hooks north and isolates two 16-10 Panzers. The only crumb of comfort is that a single stack of units comprising a 4-6-6 inf, 2-6 eng, 2-10 AA, 2-1-10 Stug and 4-2-10 pz II refuse to withdraw despite a full-strength panzer unit on their left flank falling back after losing almost half its strength.  These units form a breakwater splitting the Soviet tide and limiting its advance. Without this steadfast defence a 50-mile gap would have allowed the Soviets to advance well into the rear of the defenders and compromised the whole defensive line at this point.

The Soviet rip the Axis line apart – again

Even with this noble sacrifice (for it is difficult to see the infantry components of this stack surviving much longer) the position is grim for the Axis in this sector and the raison d’etre of the strongpoint at Smolensk is now in doubt.

In the south of the sector a set piece assault against Bryansk itself secures the city establishing a bridgehead over the river and splitting the Axis fortified line again. In exploitation a NKVD political unit moves into the city to ensure a no-retreat order is implemented.

Stalingrad Front: With the leading edge of the Soviet advance still out of supply in places and a large sector along the Donnets running short of ammunition and general goods the guns fall silent. Only a single ineffective attack south of the B/C weather-line is executed.

Air Combat: The Soviets easily replace the aircraft caught on the ground by the 563^rd from their vast reserves but are experiencing a relative shortage of mid-range assault bombers therefore attacks are limited to a few top-up GS missions. The Leningrad LRBF range over the German held Baltic states and former Polish territory to try to damage rail connections to Dougavpills. In the 6 raids two aircraft are eliminated, and two rail hits obtained. Lucky defensive fire by an IL-4 aborts a Fw190.

Combat Report

Attacks: Auto Kills = 3, Diced = 14.
Losses: Soviets = 3, Air = 6
Axis: Forts = 8, German = 39, Eastern = 1
Combat Ratio: November II 1943; Axis/Soviet = 39/49 = 0.8

Weather: A=Snow, B=Frost, C-D=Mud, G=Clear.

Slick trick, or daring exploit? I hesitated to resolve the opportunity offered the 563^rd AT battalion reported in the AGC section below. I am not a great fan of slick tricks which seek to exploit a rule or system weakness. After some internal debate though I decided to allow the 563^rd its moment of glory. The Soviets had consciously left the “hole” as the line was stretched between two slightly divergent thrusts. They had calculated that no unit could penetrate in the mud but had not considered the effects of a weather change. The Axis could have pushed more units through with a wide sweep of “ants” but I deliberately limited the move to one unit. I reasoned that the Soviets to some degree “deserved” this but also considered that although no one action like this was likely or possible it could be said to represent an amalgam of many such low-level raids which will have occurred over the last 2 ½ years. Anyway Kelly’s Heroes is a great film and while it is not reported whether or not the 563rd found any gold bullion or had a marching band in support their advance is equally both as heroic and improbable so they are in good company.

Turn Report

Army of Norway: The loss of the port of Kirkenes forces the survivors of the Petsamo sector to pull out along the road SW. Meanwhile in the wastes to the east of Kautokeino the line is stretched to stop the Soviet envelopment of the left flank which could, if unchecked, threaten the withdrawal of the troops along the coast.

AGN: The Frost-hardened ground allows the Panzers to roll again. The predominantly German forces of AGN decide to launch a mini offensive north out of the Dougavpills bridgehead; an enclave north of the Dvina which the Soviets were in the process of fortifying their line against.

The panzers and panzer-grenadiers concentrate and attack in strength catching the defenders completely by surprise. They eliminate one stack and breakout into the rear. Second wave units in the follow up advance and exploitation overrun engineers and Res Pt stockpiles. They aim to strike North to Pskov in an attempt to split off the western end of the Soviet line and release pressure from Riga which has been under bombardment for 6 weeks. To support these endeavours an airdrop is planned to take Tartu in December.

Action over the Dvina

Further East along the Moscow road an 11-8 Tank is cadred.

AGC:  Spoiling attacks continue along the line as opportunities present themselves but lacking anystrategic direction results are mixed with two retreats and one elimination resulting.

The March of the 563^rd: In one of the most dashing exploits of the war, penetrating a weakness at the junction between two army groups, a lone AT battalion finds itself behind the enemy lines just north of Kursk. Soviet over confidence in their advance and a scrabble for glory to maximise the front line force for attacks has led to a complete and negligent failure to provide any rear security.  The advance and exploitation catch the Soviets completely unaware. Many aircrew cheer the 563rd as it races onto the airstrips before overrunning AA batteries and aircraft. Few manage to scramble to safety so compete is the surprise. Not until a Guards infantry unit halts the German battalion is the carnage ended. In all 5 Airfields and 4 Res Pts are overrun and 3 Pos AA units, and 10 aircraft lie in ruins.

The March of the 563rd

AGS: NE of Kharkov a stack of overextended Soviet advance units at U2 is attacked and eliminated.

Air Combat: Limited encounters result in no air losses this turn except those caught on the ground.

Combat Report

Attacks: Auto kills = 2, Diced combats = 3. Overruns = 2 plus the 563^rd’s advance.
Losses:
Axis = 0
Soviets = 46, 3x pos AA, 6 Res pts, 1xAirfield eliminated, 10x Aircraft eliminated on the ground.

Narrative

Somewhere North of the Moscow Road, November 1943.

A huddle of grey-green coated figures cluster behind a Tatra truck wallowed up to its axles in thick cloying mud, moving agonisingly slowly across a bleak, rain soaked, landscape.

“Heave!”,

“Get your backs into it lads this truck isn’t going to move itself”

Schmitty added his shoulder to the tailgate and gave an almighty push along with others in his squad. They had been dragooned into helping a detachment of the 674th Combat Engineer Regiment shift their trucks and equipment onto the only metalled road in the area. Currently they were trying to persuade a heavily loaded “Prime Mover” to actually move at all down a muddy rut that passed for a side road in these parts.

As Schmitty strained, the driver gunned the accelerator. The birch log placed under the back wheels to give traction failed in its intended purpose and instead was propelled backwards cracking Schmitty on the shins and sending him facedown into the mud with a thud. “You green horn dummkopf” he yelled.

His painful cry was masked by a deafening roar screaming low over the rooftops of the village they’d vacated a half hour earlier and yet only some hundred yards behind them. The aircraft with its red stars clearly visible raked cannon fire over and through the squad and the road ahead. Two bombs detached and, as if in in slow motion, drifted earthwards. Before really taking in what was happening a deafening explosion impaled a searing chunk of white-hot metal into the tailgate above Schmitty exactly where his head would be had he not been knocked to the ground. That dummkopf had saved his life! Not so fortunate the engineer in charge of the operation who lay crooked and broken in the rain-soaked earth his blood and entrails oozing into the muddy rut caused by the truck’s passage.

As the aircraft’s roar turned into a distant drone coherent sound returned to Schmitty’s consciousness.  With a callousness born and nurtured by two and a half years of total war Schmittys’ sergeant, recovering first from the shock of the encounter, barked “Okay lads, shows over, back to work;

Heave!”

Turn Report

Finnish Front: The Soviets launch a low odds attack from the heights east of Kirkenes and capture the port in a HX result. German transports flee and all make it out to sea. The Axis in the area will now need to yomp West along the coast road to reach safety.

Leningrad Front: All quiet from the coast to Vitebsk but here the Soviets launch another massive assault and widen their bridgehead on the south side of the river east of the city.

From here west and then south the Soviets pursue the remnants of the collapsing Axis line harrying the fleeing troops by land and from the air. Numerous attacks are made although the total replacement point loss is low as most defenders are reduced to cadres and much of the attackers are at a U2 supply state and not able to directly assault larger units/stacks.

Moscow Front: In the north of this sector Soviet mobile forces continue to push west along the Moscow Highway and then hook north isolating a Pzg Cadre and Construction unit and threatening larger forces to the north with isolation. They are emboldened by the lack of an effective response capability of the German Panzer force and the massed ranks of comrades moving West behind them.

The Soviet Juggernaut rolls over the fleeing Axis North of the Moscow Highway

In the south the forces are forming up against the established Axis new MLR in front of Bryansk. A set piece attack brings the Soviets adjacent to the city but mech forces hold back to be in supply next turn. West of Kursk a set piece attack Exchanges against a mixed infantry/armour stack. Meanwhile here as elsewhere Rail Engineers frantically re-gauge lines to keep pace with the advance.

Stalingrad Front: With only a single rail engineer moving south along the Kursk/Stalino  rail     line the forces here must content themselves with rounding up a lone Rumanian division and Combat AA stack trapped at Valuyki.

Air Combat: Still little activity as Soviet engineers await supply to begin a new phase of airfield construction. Long range bombers based mainly around Leningrad decline missions to preserve their strength while the IL3ms at Moscow find themselves out of range of targets so some transfer south to the Stalingrad front to support any future move against Rostov. Medium range assault aircraft run Harassment over the Axis lines moving west north of the Moscow Highway. Here however successful interception by two flights of ME109Gs against a pure Guards mission bypass the Mig3 screen with ease and penetrate the assault bomber stream aborting both bombers.

Combat Report

Attacks. Auto = 5, Diced = 10
Losses: Soviets = 16
Axis: Forts=3, German = 48, Pos AA = 4, Eastern = 3, Rumanian = 5 (Isolated) Total = 56
Combat Ratio November 1943; Axis/Soviet = 56/45 = 1.24

Turn Report

The Axis are feeling more confident as they reach their fortified line and begin to form up their defences. This may well be a false sense of security because for the most part where the Soviets are in supplied contact they are not attacking (Riga and Rostov Sectors) and elsewhere they are still East of the line in pursuit of the diminishing number of Axis forces fleeing West. 

Whether or not this increased confidence is justified remains to be seen and there are still some forts currently out of reach of the Soviets which are thinly manned and which will require additional manpower to be combat ready in due course. The Axis hope these areas will be filled by reinforcements and replacements rather than by thinning of the established MLR. This in turn relies on them minimising losses in the units moving westwards. The pursuers of course have other ideas.

Weather – No change Mud everywhere except G.

Army of Norway: The decision is made to evacuate the Petsamo area and units start moving towards Kirkenes where Naval Transports await. Others begin the trek south down the Norwegian coast.

In the Kautokeino sector troops move to staunch the leaching of Soviet units around the exposed left flank by the lake.

AGN: The Axis would dearly love to eliminate the Soviet bridgehead south of the river adjacent to Vitebsk but the powerful Soviet Mech and Artillery forces are too strong for a direct counter-attack. Instead the Axis content themselves with forming a strong ring around the incursion.

Retreating units which are fleeing from the Valdai and Kalinin sectors take revenge on the 3rd Soviet Tank Corps who has dogged their progress for many months. In a rare show of bravado, the Corps has broken ranks with its infantry support and lunged south-westwards in an attempt to pin the retreating units. These units turn and attack reducing the U-2 Corps to a cardred rump.

AGC: Unfortunately, the Axis are not strong enough along the Moscow road to repeat the above feat against the advancing Soviets in this sector. The defenders here are mainly carded and ZOCs are insufficient to guarantee the Soviets will be held back. A number of Harassment missions are initiated to compensate for this.

The Axis have now amassed sufficient strength particularly with the arrival of the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler to mount a counterattack against the large infantry stack which has penetrated the main line of resistance west of Kursk. The attack is successful with only two Guards carders surviving the attack.

AGS: Little activity here as the Axis fall back on to the Donets and their fortified line.

Air combat: Little interception is possible by the Soviet’s until their airfields are constructed closer to the front line. They do however manage one interception against a stack of DAS bombers with escorts. The resulting conflict eliminates a MIG-3 who throws “snakes eyes” to bring down a Ju88A in turn. In the same battle a Lend-Lease Hurricane is Aborted.

Combat report:

Diced attacks = 2
Losses: Soviets = 29, Air = 1
Axis Air = 1.

Commentary

If the Axis thought that the Soviets would halt their offensive with the onset of the Autumn rains they are very much disheartened by the continued Soviet attacks. The offensive has for sure been slowed but the steamroller ploughs on. Emboldened by the lack of Axis mobility and the reduced number of forces in the field Soviet armoured units penetrate the fleeing Axis forces and drive West, in some cases overtaking the fleeing defenders who are divided and placed out of supply in a number of small pockets. It remains to be seen whether the Axis can recover sufficiently to repeat the response to such penetrations that they achieved earlier on in the offensive when such impudent advances by the Soviets were constantly nipped off and eliminated. In general, the best ally of the Axis is the fact that they are falling back onto their supply lines while the Soviets with relatively limited number of rail engineers are exceeding theirs allowing a small breathing space for some sectors of the line.

Turn Report

Partisans: 4 rail strikes and an airfield hit are recorded this turn from partisan activity.

Finnish Front: Soviet attacks continue, and two tactically important hexes are captured. First in the Petsamo sector the mountain hex which dominates the harbour falls to a low odds attack and secondly in the Kautokeino sector the Soviets manage to turn the Axis line which was anchored on the lakes system to the south east of the city. Although the Soviet penetration is limited with no follow-up forces it threatens to split the Axis front in two.

Leningrad Front: The last of the fortified ring hexes north of Divina is captured.

In the Vitebsk sector strong mechanised forces with artillery and rocket support breach the river line running around the city and eliminate a fort to the east of Vitebsk advancing south over the river. From here all the way around the great arc of the retreating front line to the Moscow Highway the Soviets attack targets of opportunity; where possible selecting the mech units wallowing in the mud and stripped of their AECD.

Moscow Front: In the area west of Moscow Soviet mech and tank corps break through the fracturing Axis line and drive parallel to and south of the Moscow highway. Bypassing infantry and tank formations they pocket small groups desperately trying to move West.

From Bryansk to south-west of Kursk advancing Soviet forces butt up against the Axis fortified line. Where the Soviets are themselves now out of supply, they can do little to penetrate the line but their rail engineers are not far behind and any pause will be momentary.

Soviet Mech forces advance west parallel to the Moscow Highway

Stalingrad front: The advance continues across the open plain between Voronezh and Kharkov. The majority of the advancing Soviets are now out of supply so can only concentrate and attack a reduced number of hexes. Nevertheless, there will be few of the original Axis units which started the withdrawal two months ago who will reach the Kharkov line intact.

Air Combat: In a rare show of force 5 Axis Interceptors bypass an equal number of Soviet fighters to engage a flight of Assault bombers on a Harassment mission NE of Bryansk. The skies are completely cleared of intruders but at the cost of one ME109G as well a FW190A downed by a lucky defensive shot.

This turn the Soviets succeed in the following missions 1xDAS 1x GS, 7x 1Hit Harassments and 3x 2 Hit Harassments. These latter target fleeing troops aiming to reduce their retreat to a single hex each.

Combat Report

Attacks; Auto = 1 Diced = 21

Losses: Soviets = 20, Air = 4.

Axis = Forts = 6, German = 75, (including 2x Pz cadred, 2x Pzg cadred and 2x 4-2-10 pz reg.) Pos AA = 5., Air = 3.  Rumanian = 10, Eastern = 3.

Total Axis Loses = 88

Loss Ratio; Oct II ’43  Axis/Soviet =  88/20 = 4.4

A rather uneventful turn as the Axis make no attacks simply feeding reinforcements into established defensive lines and pulling back toward prepared fortified positions
where troops are in retreat.

Turn Report

Weather – No Change

Army of Norway: Little activity in this sector.

AGN:From Riga to Vitebsk the line is stable. From Vitebsk around the arc of the former frontline to Rzev Axis are in full retreat struggling through the mud to reach the Vitebsk-Smolensk-Bryansk line.

AGC: The Axis attempt to hold the fortified line from Bryansk down to the rail junction south-west of Kursk.

The Soviets have penetrated this line at one point but reduced mobility does not allow the panzers to mass sufficiently to take on the incursion. Reinforcements are strategically railed to the sector in preparation for an attack next turn.

AGS: From the boundary with Army group Centre south to the Donets the Axis line moves west as fast as possible hampered by Soviet attacks/advances and the weather.

Air War: Due to the shrinking front the majority of DAS is out of range of Soviet fighters so there is little air to air combat this turn.

Combat Report

Attacks = 0. Loses = 0

Narrative

The rains which have now turned the dry earth to mud hamper the Soviet advance just as it was reaching a crescendo and the number of attacks fall dramatically this turn. Additionally, the value of the target hexes is lower. Still the steamroller continues to plough on into the Axis lines and though slowed shows little signs of stopping. The door swings both ways and the mud also affects the Axis ability to quickly retreat to their prepared defence lines. The Axis do have one advantage however which is that they are falling back towards their supply centres where the Soviets are beginning to outstrip the ability of their limited rail engineers to re-engage the rail lines and thus are in many places advancing to an out of supply position.

Turn Report

Partisans: Partisan activity only manages 2 rail breaks this turn.

Finnish Front. Soviet forces launch two attacks in the Arctic this turn; one in the Petsamo sector and one in the Kautokeino sector both resulting in the elimination of the defenders.

Leningrad Front: A third attack against the fortified ring to the north of Riga results in progress with an exchange eliminating the fort and advancing the Soviets to the city suburbs

The main action however is directed against Veliki Luki and adjacent forts. Mech and Artillery concentrates and eliminates the opposition allowing the Mech units to advance and exploit beyond. This move threatens to trap a number of Axis mobile units north west of the city which are now out of supply. Other elements exploit directly south towards the river adjacent to Vitebsk compromising the defence centred around the marshlands on their right.

Along the line here around the curve of the Axis front to Moscow various attacks continue, albeit diminished in size and number, further pressuring the defenders.

Moscow Front: With the risk of counter-attack diminished in the mud Soviet Mech/Artillery concentrations are emboldened to advance through breaches from Moscow to the Bryansk latitude as a number of punctures are made in the Axis lines.  Aircraft flying over the battlefield further hampering the retreat of the mud mired troops and hinder the Axis response to the penetrations.

Between Orel and Kursk area the better German armoured concentrations still prevent significant advances being made. By contrast those units south of Kursk are diminished and in full retreat.

Breakthough in the rain: 3rd Guards Tank Army drives its mechanized Brigades through the Axis defences

Stalingrad front: All across the Stalingrad front north of the Donets the line continues to lunge westward harassing and attacking the Axis line which consist primarily of Rumanian troops.

(Contrary to earlier reports Hungary still is supports a small field army this consisting of a small number of Security divisions in rear areas.)

Air combat: The usual small-scale engagements occur across the front most missions comprising ground support and harassment. The pace of the advance in the south has resulted in limited air cover. In one notable engagement in the Vitebsk region a flight of Fokker Wolf 190s returning from an interception of a rail bombing mission are jumped in the twilight by an elite night fighter squadron of Pe 3M’s and are eliminated.

Combat Report

Attacks Auto =  7, Diced =  16.

Losses: Soviet = 22, Air = 2

Axis: Forts = 3, German = 68, Pos AA= 4, Air = 2

Rumanian = 8.

Loss Ratio: Oct I 1943 Axis/Sov = 76/36 = 2.11

With the end of the summer campaigning season it is time to analyse the success or otherwise of the Soviet 1943 Summer Offensive.

This can be Judged against three criteria:

1. its own objectives.
2. Combat losses in particular the loss ratio.
3. Geographical gains.

Its own objectives: When judged against the objectives set the offensive has been a failure. The plan called for a southern pincer sweeping through Orel to Bryansk and onward to Smolensk. A secondary objective was the capture of Kursk to protect the left flank.

Simultaneously a northern pincer was to sweep through Veliki Luki, Vitebsk and then on to Smolensk. A secondary objective was the screening of Riga and the Dvina to protect the right flank.

Both the northern and southern pincers have proceeded at a similar pace. Both Secondary Objectives have been met and the flanks secured. In both cases however the pace of the main advance has fallen well short of the primary objectives.  The southern pincer is only now moving against Bryansk meanwhile the northern pincer is stalled at Vitebsk.

The attack has not maintained the pace of the Soviet planner’s expectations, so the Summer Offensive judged by this criterium has failed.

But why did the Soviets fail in their plan?  The objectives were optimistic and underestimated both the ability of the Axis to maintain a fortified line by feeding replacements into the line and more particularly the mobility of the German armoured force which was well deployed into kill squads behind the lines. On countless occasions these forces were able to concentrate and nip off the Soviet advances.

Throughout the crucial earlier period the Germans maintained their armoured forces and have rarely had a Panzer division completely eliminated and never, even now, had one in the replacement pool (although there are many cadres in play.) Only in the later turns when the infantry forces had been so stripped away that the Germans are forced to place their armour in the front lines on a semi-permanent basis has real progress been made. Only now in the twilight of the offensive have the Soviet forces been bold and strong enough to take on the mighty panzers on an equal footing.

Regarding the Russian tactics; In the north the generals kept the armour slaved to the large artillery formations and progress was slow but steady. The first breakout was possible due to a tactical error on the part of the Axis forces. A second small tactical advance was cut off. (But the rescue of the isolated pocket was successful, and a double stacked panzer force reduced to cadres in doing so). The third and final advance is now mired in the autumn mud.

Losses in the main armoured units has been very low as a consequence of this cautious approach. It could be argued that the Soviets missed an opportunity to cross the Dvina in force when the Axis troops were in retreat and vulnerable. But this opportunity came just after the southern forces had taken a similar opportunity and been soundly defeated in doing so and caution prevailed. (This was also against the plan and doctrine).

The Soviet plan in the south called for the annihilation of the German front line in the first couple of turns and exploitation beyond by the armoured forces. The Axis, however, were able to hold the Soviets at the original fortified river line for many turns by the aggressive use of Panzer Corps organized into kill so that the few advances the Soviets made were quickly rebuffed.

Only when the secondary flank of the defenders collapsed were the Soviets able to make any real progress where advanced elements exploited and eliminated the unguarded fortified line between Kursk and Orel. This operation however resulted in the encirclement and loss of some tank corps but did provide opportunities for the Soviets to secure the early first stage objectives.

It was this point that the Soviet plan for the South went awry. Desperate to repeat the earlier success they were tempted by the possibility of exploitation overruns away from their principal axis of attack and instead moved south of the B/C Weather Line west of Voronezh.  The prospect of some cheap overruns of secondary units blinding them to the strategic cul-de-sac they were moving towards.  This surrendered the pace of the attack and resulted in the armoured forces being out of position and subject to another strike by German armoured units. Whereas subsequently an equivalent number of German units were reduced this whole diversionary attack proved an unnecessary drain on the impetus of the main drive at a time when the Axis line was weakening. Only in the last couple of turns when the Soviet mech and armour corps returned to their principal axis of advance has the southern wing of the offensive regained its pace and allowed the Soviets to be approaching Bryansk. This sideways move cost the Soviets four turns and while it would be overly optimistic to say the objectives would otherwise have been met it is fairly certain they would have been more advanced possibly holding Bryansk.

Overall the northern forces cautious steady approach has achieved a similar pace to the southern wing which has been a more start/stop affair.

But reference to what may have been an overly ambitious plan is not necessarily the best way to judge the success of an operation.

2) Combat losses, in particular, the loss ratio.

Losses Inflicted: Since the start of the offensive the Axis forces have suffered 907 points worth of losses against the Soviet losses of 637 points a loss ratio of approximately 1.4:1. Most of these losses have been in infantry but the Soviets have latterly been able to take on the German armour in direct attack and as a result the Axis forces are in general retreat across the majority of the front.  I have no other game data to judge this result against but the equivalent periods of 1940 and 1941 give results of 103/1057 for a LR = 0.1, and 354/738 LR = 0.48 respectively.

By a Loss Ratio Criteria therefore it is clear that the offensive has brought great benefits in terms of the balance of power and has confirmed that the tide has well and truly turned in favour of the Soviet forces.

Geographical Changes: Moscow is now wholly owned by the Soviets together with Kalinin and Voronezh. In addition to the primary objective of Orel. Both secondary objectives securing the flanks have been achieved including the capture of Kursk.

The Soviet Offensive has recaptured a large swath of territory. In June 1943 the front line ran along the line Narva, Pscov. North of Veliki Luki following the E/W track through to the forested crossroads at the NE tip of the Valdai, then south through Kalinin, Moscow, to the river south to East of Orel. It then turned E/W to just north of Voronezh (newly captured by the Axis) and then followed the line of the Don to Rostov.

Now the line runs from Riga along the Dvina to Vitebsk then a rapidly contracting arch /bulge between here and Bryansk then south to the Kursk region. South of here again the Axis line is in full retreat where it is rapidly moving West to Kharkov and the Donets.

Judging by the forces moving into position it is apparent that the Axis are seeking to stabilise their retreat on the line Riga. Vitrebsk, Smolensk. Bryansk, Kharkov, River Donets, Rostov although the later section may need to fall back to the pre-prepared Stalino line dependent upon the force strength that finds sanctuary over the river.

This will effectively give the Soviets their objective line with the bonus of the Don bend but without the propaganda victory of a great encirclement or the ownership of Vitebsk, Bryansk or Smolensk.

By Geographical criteria therefore the operation can be deemed almost a complete success

The Future and 1944. What of winter, where in 1944?

Currently the Soviets plan to use the rest of the winter to eliminate as much of the retreating Axis forces as possible in the centre while they struggle to reach the safety of the new fortified line between Vitebsk/Smolensk and Bryansk and in the south while they struggle to reach “The Stalino/Kharkov Line”.

As we have seen, whilst not part of the plan the pushing back of the front to Kursk and general thinning of the Axis line has obliged the Axis to pull back AGS from the Don to the Donets and this will present opportunities for the Soviets in 1944 with a possible move on Kharkov or Rostov although planning for next year’s offensive is still a long way hence.

Currently Soviet plans for 1944 are not firm and will not be formulated until the spring of next year when the strategic situation will be clearer however given the pace of the advance in 1943 and the distance required to reach German homeland and that of her allies it is clear that the progress of the Soviet forces will need to be maintained throughout the winter months. The attacks will therefore be continued but on a broad front approach with the aim of eliminating units rather than specific geographical gains. The progress of these winter attacks will thus determine the offensive plan for the summer of 1944.  (One side operation being considered is an amphibious attack on the Crimea now that the Black Sea Fleet has been rebuilt.)

Whichever criteria however we decide to judge the Soviet Summer Offensive of 1943 the offensive has confirmed that the tide has well and truly turned in favour of the Soviet forces and that it is not a question of if, but when, they will enter Berlin.

The Soviet Summer Offensive Jun I 43 to Sept II 43

Map Key:
Red = Soviet approximate start line Jun I 43. Arrows are principle axis of advance.
Blue = Front line approximate position Sept II 43.  White dashes show prepared Axis fort line/hedgehogs.