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

[Strela]

End of German Turn 14; January 23 1600 - 1800 Visibility 2 KM (Dusk)

With the coming of dusk, visibility drops to 2 hexes. Casualty rates are not improving with 232 Soviets lost to 122 Germans. Victory points improve by 5 and move the Axis into draw again.



The supply situation has improved again despite XXIV Panzer Korp being out of command. Less units are out of ammo and the bulk of the Korp artillery is available. With the dropping light there are less targets to fire upon.



The fighting dies down in the 339th Infanterie sector. A German battalion pulls back to straighten the line while the Soviets melt back into the woods. The only visible Soviet unit (recon company) receives an unfair share of the local artillery assets. This sector looks like it will be quiet overnight with the objectives around Khludnevo secured. There is now potential to push up the highway towards Verk' Syaglova tomorrow.



A similar stalemate is beginning in the south with 208th Infanterie. The Soviets have given up their push towards Duminich and are retreating back through the forest. The pursuing Germans do not have sufficient movement to both move and fire and can only tramp behind the withdrawing Russians.



18th Panzer sees the pressure recede slightly with the Soviet Cavalry pulling back to the east. It's assumed this is to give them a chance to recover overnight out of range of harassing fire. The Soviets slow their push from the hill to the west of Sukhinichi, though they move more anti-air units forward. Their two hex range and high soft values (17) are causing continuous casualties to the opposite Axis units and there is just not sufficient artillery to counter them. The disparity in the Soviet 37mm cannon vs. the German 20mm is very obvious when used in a ground role. The German attack on the 10 victory point objective south of Sukhinichi is called off with the two German battalions bloodied and tired. Their opposing Soviet battalions have effectively rallied in hex and are now a threat on this flank. Unfortunately the German Infanterie battalion that had been pushed out of the 5 victory point hex still doesn't rally up, despite having no good order opposition.



With the daylight waning there is little to be achieved than to try and keep the opposing Soviets disrupted and off balance. The Soviet Cavalry have been bloodied during the day and if the Axis are lucky they may play little part in the next half day or so. With the scores still a long way off a victory, the German's need a quiet period overnight while strength is recovered and fatigue is reduced.