From the Front - Bunker Assault!

[Dog Soldier]

Turn Three
After the Russian turn two, the two northern bunkers were reinforced with a single rifle unit each. The disrupted rifle unit in the 25 point victory location rallied. All other units status are the same as at the end of the last German turn from the German player’s point of view. The air strikes and German defensive fire caused some casualties and fatigue but no new unit disruptions.
The Soviets placed smoke in the two hexes shown to cover the rifle unit which moved to reinforce the bunker behind the smoke screen. This smoke screen will not aid any other bunkers. Nor will it prevent the Axis StuG units from firing on the bunkers adjacent to the assault guns.

figure 15

During the Axis turn three, three of the Soviet bunkers were captured. The fourth is now isolated. The tigers were brought up to point blank range to assist the Marders in disrupting the occupants of the 25 point victory hex location bunker. Anti-tank guns south of the anti-tank ditch assisted the Marders and StuGs in disrupting the last good order rifle unit in the Soviet bunker on the left next to the anti-tank ditch. The bunker on the main road contained an already disrupted Soviet rifle unit. It was easily cleared by assault from the German infantry. Engineers are now clearing the last set of obstacles on the main road. Other engineers contributed to the infantry assaults or moved forward to keep up with the panzer grenadiers.
The Soviet line is now breached. Soviet units in the bunker locations were destroyed after they retreated by artillery and direct fire from the Axis units south of the anti-tank ditch supporting the attack.
Axis StuGs and flak units moved forward to the north while a panzer grenadier platoon moved into the field to the northeast to expand the breach. This move begins the process of closing with the Russians on the hill to east. Air strikes are called on the next Soviet bunkers to soften up the defenders as the Germans will seek to secure the breach in the fortified line next turn by widening it to those locations.

In the image below the highlighted Soviet units are all disrupted this turn. In the isolated bunker only the Soviet 45mm ATG unit remains in good order. The main road is now clear as are three of the four breaches in the anti-tank ditch. Axis vehicles can now move north and fan out east and west to roll up the Soviet positions still within LOS of the main road. Note the large stacks of German units in each bunker hex. Only units that are either clearing mines/obstacles or denying ground to the Soviets are out of the fortifications.

figure 16

Axis losses are tolerable for creating the breach. Hard fighting remains for the SS troopers of the LAH division. The SS panzer grenadiers and support units will be able to widen the breach to where no Soviet units can have LOS on the main road area. For now the worst is over for the Axis troops. The issue is no longer in doubt. The Soviets defenders had done all they could.

figure 17

Finally...Conclusions...next post!

Dog Soldier