#0130_01 Operation Gallop - Preamble - PzC 19 Kharkov 43
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| Rating: | 7.05 (11) |
| Games Played: | 14 |
| SM: | 4 |
| Turns: | 49 |
| Type: | Stock |
| First Side: | Russia |
| Second Side: | Axis |
Operation Gallop Preamble - Jan 30th to Feb 3rd, 1943.
Vatutin's South Western Front was ordered by Stavka to attack from the march as soon as possible. Vatutin planned to cross the Sevrenyy Donets as quickly as possible with 1st Guards Army breaching the heavy forests and reaching the steppe beyond. Once across the water barrier, Popov's Mobile Group could thrust south for the Sea of Azov and pocket the German 1st & 4th Panzer Armies. This scenario covers the initial moves as Soviet 6th Army thrusts west for Izyum and 1st Guards Army and Popov push south beyond Slavyansk.
(Size, Large)
This is an interesting HTH scenario. It is possible to play either side against the AI but it will be a challenging defense and withdrawal for the German player. The Soviet player needs to get across the Zherebets River as quickly as possible while aggressively pushing 320th Infantry & 382nd Feldaus Divisions back in the north.
| Player Voting Stats | ||
|---|---|---|
| Member | Balance | Enjoyment |
 keif149 |
Moderately Pro Russia | 7 |
 burroughs |
Slightly Pro Russia | 10 |
 Sgt Jasper |
Slightly Pro Axis | 7 |
| burroughs |
Well Balanced | 10 |
 fastphil |
Slightly Pro Axis | 7 |
| Gaming Records | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Side Player | 2nd Side Player | Result | Score | ||||||
|
 |
akilpio | vs. | mersh |  |
|
Russia Major Victory | 72 | 8 |
|
 |
LEGXXIIPRPF | vs. | LordDeadwood |  |
|
Axis Major Victory | 72 | 8 |
|
 |
MikeC | vs. | KG_RangerBooBoo |  |
|
Russia Minor Victory | 56 | 24 |
|
 |
larsonney | vs. | steve |  |
|
Russia Major Victory | 72 | 8 |
|
 |
Oldman | vs. | crazyivan |  |
|
Russia Major Loss | 8 | 72 |
A very nice way to get a feeling for what is not going to happen in the grand campaign - the last chance for a big operational victory before the last defeat in Russia.
There was a mistaken assumption in assigning the AOs so the Soviet manoeuvre element were amassed in the wrong places awaiting breakthroughs that have never happened so they could not be properly exploited. Once they were made somewhere else large masses of snow and the lack of proper MSRs prevented successful redeployment of the forces and reorganization of the effort.
If the scenario had lasted longer, the Germans would have been in big trouble.
Russians need to exploit the road network if possible and gain a bridgehead on the Severnyy Donets as quickly as possible. If the Axis can block them and make them plod through the snow cross-country, they will win.
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