DAR - The Cauldron Of Fire

[Cole]

Turn 33 Russian last turn

Hill 253.5 Little do the combatants know but the German high command is close to calling off the advance on the north side of the Kursk bulge. If the Germans can hold on to the VP hexes this turn then they will fight on and probably take the town and hill demoralizing the Russians. Reinforcements badly needed to check the German advance in the south will now have to be sent to reinforce the Ponyri sector.

Col. Pushkarevich of the 886th Guards Rifle Regiment understands the gravity of the situation. His forces have been pushed out of all their defensive positions in the center of the hill and there is no where to retreat as the nearest possible defensive line and cover is almost 2 km to the south. There's nothing to it but to counterattack. Fortunately Divisional and Army Headquarters understood the gravity of the situation and Pushkarevich is granted the vast majority of artillery assets this turn. During the last turn Pushkarevich called in over 50 artillery strikes on his own positions as he knew his troops would not be able to hold on to the ground. His hope was that these strikes would prevent the advancing German troops from ever organizing against a counter attack.

All sorts of artillery batteries from 76 mm to 203 mm guns pounded the one hex. Most strikes just churned up earth that had already been churned up and only added to the smoke and noise but most importantly the German infantry was disrupted and 1 SP lost and there were even two disable results on the armor.



Col. Pushkarevich personally leads the assault and they retake the hex!

The Russian losses have been so bad that even if they retake the vp hex in North Ponyri they will still need about 9 points to avoid a minor loss. Maj. Afinogenov commands the 884th infantry and was responsible for the far right sector of the Russian line. Once Division HQ determined that the 884th would not try to retake the vp hex in the river valley to the north the 884th was ordered west to help the battle on the hill. Afinogenov volunteers to lead the remnants of his troops in a close assault to clear out the panzers just west of the recaptured vp hex.



The assault not only clears the hex but they overrun the German tanks. No problem now with a minor loss if the Russians retake the remaining vp hex. Problem now is taking that hex!