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Black sea - black death (Version 2021) - The Matrix Games version of East Front II

Black sea - black death  (Version 2021) Image
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Black sea - black death (Version 2021)

By Ragnar
Russia 0 - 1 - 0 Axis
Rating: 9.4 (1)
Games Played: 1
SM: 10
Turns: 94
Type: Custom
First Side: Russia
Second Side: Axis
Downloads: 288
New version with little updates
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Novorossiysk, Taman peninsula on the Black Sea: [Best played against human opponent. Team game also possible due to the large battlefield]
Important special rule: Axis forces are not allowed to use air strikes until turn 10
I recommend reading the additional readme-file which provides information about the scenario as well as some historical background.
Extreme assault is not recommended as the terrain is rough and already favors the defender
. In late January 1943, the frontline near the city Novorossiysk on the Black Sea had been static for more than three months, as both sides lacked the manpower and armor for an offensive due to the costly struggles at Stalingrad and the Don basin.

In addition, the retreat of the German 1st Panzerarmy had left the 17th Army isolated and alone deep in the Caucasus. Despite setbacks and retreats on the entire southern flank, Hitlers plan was to concentrate the 17th Army (400.000 men including several Rumanian forces) in a large bridgehead on the Taman peninsula with the mission to strike again in the summer 1943 against Baku and the Caspian Sea.With the certain Soviet victory at Stalingrad and the Germans retreating in the Don basin, the still exposed presence of the 17th army gave Stalin one more chance to destroy this formation. Since the Axis defensive lines across the peninsula proved to be cohesive enough to resists all attempts to break through, STAVKA came up with the Operation Gory/Morsky:

The Soviet plan called for an amphibious landing supported by airborne troops in the Ozereyka bay area just 10 km southwest of the important city and naval base of Novorossiysk. Simultaneously, a diversionary landing at Stanitcka was planned to distract the Axis defenders. The landing troops were to link up with Soviet forces coming in from the east and northeast of Novorossijsk, who began their assault a day before the landing. The first operational target was to capture the city and then roll up the coast to cut off the 17th German army.

To accomplish the operation, STAVKA built up two task forces for the sub-operation code-named Morsky (Sea):

83rd Naval brigade, 563rd tank battalion and 373th Machinegun-battalion supported by previous airdrops from the 90th paratrooper regiment
255th Naval brigade, 323rd Naval battalion and 29th Anti-tank regiment

On the land front, troops (sub-operation Gory = Mountain) from the 318th Mountain Rifle Division and the adjacent 9th and 60th Rifle brigades, along with some smaller formations including tanks units, were brought into position for the attack. The gap they created was to be exploited by motorized elements.

The hard-pressed Axis on the other hand had flooded the line with units ranging from the battle-hardened grenadiers of the 173rd Infantry to rear units from the Corps and harbor command, penal units, Cossacks and Rumanian troops. With these forces grouped together into the V. Corps, the Axis had built up a strongly fortified line to resist any Soviet attempts to break through.

As the battle progressed, the Germans were able to send in reinforcements from other parts of the Kuban front, including kampfgruppen from the 125th Infantry, the experienced 101stJaeger, and crack panzer assets from the 13rd Panzer Division along with smaller formations on hand.
Player Voting Stats
Member Balance Enjoyment
Panzerjaeger's ProfilePanzerjaeger Well Balanced 8
Gaming Records
1st Side Player 2nd Side Player Result Score
Axis Panzerjaeger's Profile Panzerjaeger vs. Ragnar Ragnar's Profile Russia Draw 60 60