Dog Fight - Ostkreig Tournament Round 1

[von Nev]

German Turn 17.

Although nightfall is setting upon the battlefield the Germans are still pressing as there are precious few turns left and although progress was made last turn finally turning VP's positive for a change, I am still 100 points short of even a minor defeat.

Down south I moved a German panzer stack forward to follow the Russian battalions retreating out of the village. Both units were still disrupted. In moving a couple other stacks forward adjacent to the Russian held village just north of the above mentioned village I noticed that the flank of this village seems open. Hmmm. I quickly assaulted the units that retreated from the southern village to open up a path to potentially isolate the northern village. The southern assault succeeded and units where moved north to flank the Russian village. Unfortunately my opponent did keep a unit behind the northern village to prevent isolation but it is just a single unit. This is good news. I immediately pour arty fire on that unit and was able to disrupt them. I then assaulted that unit to isolate the 3 units in the northern village. This assault succeeded. I then proceeded to pummel the single undisrupted unit in the village to disrupt them. This succeeded because of massive German firepower. With all three units disrupted I assaulted the hex numerous times until it was eliminated. Over 1200 Russians were eliminated.

This series of attacks in order show how well planned assaults can yield good results. On the map the assaults are in order of 1, then 2, then 3.

Up north I am satisfied to advance a km a turn. I am now only 6 km's from the 300 VP hex. While doing so I am inflicting major casualties on any Russian unit that decides to stay in place to block my path. Also, assaults by massive German stacks have reduced my assault casaulties. I also turned the corner of the Dnepr bend and begin to clear the left flank of Russians. I will not advance north of the road so any Russian units that retreat further north out of my northeast attack axis will be a benefit to me.

Down south I decided to abandon my attempt to cross the river as for the second straight turn the bridging unit failed to build a bridge. Additionally the Russians have retreated their left flank to the point that waiting another turn (or more) will make the bridge at that crossing point irrelevant anyways. Das Reich's units that have been waiting quickly move north along the hard packed road to reinforce the battle.