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

[Strela]

End of German Turn 21; January 24 1400 - 1600 Visibility 5 KM (Day)

The victory points move by only 2 to 393. With no further objectives changing hands, the change in score is driven by losses; 100 men KIA for the German's and 240 for the Soviets. With only 13 points above a draw, the capture of a 10 point VP hex would turn the game.



The hapless 18th Panzer is out of command again. Consistent with the morning, both the 208th Infanterie and 18th Panzer's Artillery regiments are unavailable due to supply issues.



339th Infanterie continues to push forces northwards. The recon bicycle company moves up to ensure the highway is garrisoned. The Soviets are serious and have four Rifle Battalions converging on the German centre.



208th Infanterie sector is now looking more like a 'corral & mop up' operation. The Soviet forces are all disrupted and running out of room to retreat. The effort to take Proloskoye is abandoned and the appearance of Soviet recon cavalry prompts the Germans to redeploy to prevent isolation.



It's obvious that the Soviet pullback was just the lull before the storm. The advancing Russian cavalry squadrons are facing off against the battered Panzer Divisions units. The graphic below shows how threadbare the Panzer formations are. To the west, the Soviet recon cavalry are probing the defences while another wave of Rifle Infantry is approaching Sukhinichi from the north east. All units facing the Soviet cavalry are ordered to pull back a hex as there is little reason to defend forward and risk being charged by the cavalry.



This is the last thing the Germans needed; a full assault against the Panzer Division. The only saving grace is that there is little of value in the area and a general retreat will hopefully minimise casualties.