Moscow '42 AAR: Sukhinichi II : We Will Rescue You

[Strela]

End of German Turn 4: January 22 1200 - 1400


The obligatory victory conditions at the conclusion of turn three. Two more objectives taken.



The visibility stays low at two hexes, this is certainly hindering the Germans as they assault up the hill at Sukhinichi as it is difficult to determine how far the Soviet defenses stretch. With such a compact force driving up the hill it is conceivable that the Russians could sweep around the flank and push south towards a lot of undefended objectives. Fortunately all HQ's are in supply this turn and 'only' five artillery pieces are out of ammo. The perennially unavailable 88th Artillerie Regiment of 18th Panzer sits around waiting for someone to deliver the shells.



The battle is now breaking into three very separate struggles. 323rd Rifle is being pushed back forcibly to the west by 339th Infanterie and the objective west of Khludnevo is about to fall. The Korp Artillerie are really making their presence felt.



At Vertnore, the I battalion of 338 regiment is low on ammo and with help from II battalion shoot up the Soviets in the adjacent village hex. Soviet recon cav seem to be bugging out to the east. A further battalion is seen to the south of Vertnore, but the Soviets don't seem to be threatening Duminich at this point.



18th Panzer uses all its panzer grenadiers battalions as well as the motorcycle infantry (Kradschutzen) to continue to push up the hill towards Sukhinichi. The siege is almost broken with the Soviets having the most tenuous of ZOC's around the town. To the north of Sukhinichi, 324th Rifle seems to be doing little to assist the hard pressed 328th Rifle Division. With many of its rifle battalions disrupted, there is only a single battalion in a grove of trees, west of the town preventing 18th Panzer reaching 208th Infanterie Division.



Everything is almost going too well. Where is his bloody cavalry???