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

[Strela]

End of German Turn 6: January 22 1600 - 1800 Dusk

At the end of Turn 5 the victory conditions have edged up with another location taken and heavy Soviet casualties relative to the Germans.



As a habit, I always watch the replay function to make certain that I don't miss anything. This can be onerous in a big campaign but is manageable in a scenario of this size. While watching, suddenly an armored recon unit appeared.



This was quickly followed by what was clearly the bulk of 83rd Cavalry Division.


But by the start of the German turn, the visibility dropped to 1, in the main due to it being dusk. If I hadn't watched the replay I would have missed the Soviet Cavalry momentarily appearing in my line of sight and then subsequently disappearing. If the Soviets had moved forward this turn with the lower visibility I would never have seen them. Here is what was visible in the same sector at the start of turn 6.



At the start of the German turn 6, only 216 Infanterie HQ was out of command, but a massive 10 artillery pieces were unavailable. This was less than ideal with it heading into the night and the position of the Cav now evident.



Over in 339 Infanterie sector both the objective in the town west of Khludnevo is taken and the Soviets definitively pushed back. The AT guns defending the objective are overrun and destroyed. It feels like we have countered the most dangerous thrusts and can be confident as night falls. Importantly, two corp units (military police company & bridge battalion) are heading towards 18th Panzer with the aim to either assist that unit or close the gap between 339 Infanterie and the Panzer formation.



208 Infanterie continues to push the Soviets away from Vertnore and attempts to engage them at every opportunity. While advancing in the clear the Germans are able to advance a hex and shoot creating casualties as high 20+. Once in the forest though, all movement points are used moving a single hex and the Soviets are able to retreat without fear of loss.



At Sukhinichi, the appearance of 83rd Cavalry Division has resulted in a flurry of activity. The reserve units (weak as they are) are moved to protect the Panzer Divisions HQ. A successful recon flight (the only German air available in the scenario) confirms that the Cavalry are where they were seen last turn. More importantly, two Panzer Grenadier battalions are pulled back from pushing the Soviets off the hill, but they are not very strong relative to the Soviet squadrons. Finally, one of the freed 216 Infanterie battalions along with the few tanks from 19th Panzer look to tie up any Russian units that could support the 83rd Cavalry. Panic and improvisation are very appropriate words at this time....!!



On the hill at Sukhinichi the remaining battalions continue to cause as many casualties as possible while keeping a wary eye behind them. The engineers are surprised to find the 328th Rifle Division HQ in the front line and try to shoot it up. The remaining two Panzer Grenadier battalions are in position to possibly even pocket a Soviet regiment unless they continue to retreat, but with the pull back of German forces any further advances are looking precarious. With the coming dark and the move by 83rd Cavalry, the 324th Rifle Division is committed to probe the Sukhinichi defenses - probably as a diversion for the stealthy move south of the town.



Wow - this game has become more exciting than the Germans would like. The revealing of the Cavalry has given the Germans a chance to deploy, but with forces so flimsy that the advantage has to be currently the Soviet way. With 6 x 300 man squadrons it is evident that the Cavalry could crush the weak German companies if they can just get adjacent, stay undisrupted and assault the enemy. From a German perspective, night should stop the Soviet move due to the disruption risk and hopefully the corp reserves already on the road can move quickly forward to assist the threadbare Panzer defenses.