DAR - The Cauldron Of Fire

[Cole]

Turn 31

A nice replay and more German super tanks are disabled by accurate Russian artillery fire. I just love seeing Ferdinands go up in smoke. Those tanks control all the landscape that they overlook so it is nice that they do have to pay a price.



West Sector - Seems that the Germans are happy to consolidate and the Russians hold the forest unmolested.

N. Ponyri - The German assault has pushed 250 meters beyond the VP hex taking all of the northern suburbs of Ponyri. The Russians have expected this and artillery is able to disrupt some of the German units. The Russian counter attack (after about 8 different close assaults) has cleared two of the hexes just south of the VP hex but one brave German platoon has held on to the last remaining hex south of the victory points, even disrupted they held off SMG platoons and T-34s. They will now call down some devastating German artillery on the Russian forces.

The Germans are also sending scouts south of the State Farm to call in artillery behind on the Russian mustering areas.



Hill 253.5 The German infantry and panzers had surrounded the bunker guarding the 500 VP hex. The Russian commander anticipated that his troops could not hold onto the bunkers and tree lines forward of the VP hex and fell back right before a devastating Russian artillery barrage was called in on the German troops rushing in. On group of German infantry was surrounded and overrun and the Germans occupying the bunkers just north of the VP hex were also overwhelmed. I don't think the Germans have enough infantry left in this sector to take the bunker. I'm still worried about the big assault guns but fortunately the Russians have stationed a 152mm battery in the bunker complex and that should be able to give any panzer commander a headache.



Unless I'm unlucky the battle will be a draw if I can recapture the N. Ponyri VP hex or a minor loss if I don't. If the Germans take Hill 253.5's VP hex then a major loss is a possibility.