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Southern Russia, Dec. 1942. While the battle at Stalingrad was in full swing, the Russians launched Operation “Little Saturn” with the objective of capturing Rostov on the Don River. If the Russians could get to Rostov then the whole German 4th Army and any forces trying to relieve the 6th Army at Stalingrad would be cut off and would lead to the total collapse of the southern front.
The first objective would be the town of Tatsinskaya and the German airstrip located there. The town was the centre of the Luftwaffe attempts to supply Stalingrad by air. With the capture of this town, the fate of the German 6th army would be assured. This would happen on Dec. 23Rd 1942.
This operation will start on Dec. 23Rd 1942 with the Germans in the process of fortifying the town. You have to take the town and the airstrip and prevent the Germans from using it. You will be facing units of the German 6th and 11th Pz Div.s, as well as misc. Units that the Germans are hurrying into position.
Good luck.
Initial Russian forces entering on the map consists of the following:



I will now need whoever the Commander is to take a screenshot of the map from the link below:

http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en-GB&t=h&...19727&z=12

And load it into Paint and place your units as you wish with the few limitaions listed in the picture above, in this post. Try to keep units together as much as possible in order to avoid loss in effectiveness, represented by quality loss. Also, I have planned for platoons to have their own HQs but if you break them up too much they will loose these HQs as well. Remember, this is just a general placement for now, no need to get too picky, yet.
Below is an example of an initial setup. All German units must start behind the RED line on the map below, and if you could indicate facing of the groups to help with the setup when we get into the initial battles.
Your Russians will be comming from the direction of the RED arrow.



Ground condition is light snow.
Dawn
Snowing
Strong wind W

Once we get this done I will give the next set of instructions.
So I will let you guys decide who wants to command the whole force, it does not really matter I just need only one person to be giving me orders. So run it by commitee or whatever I do not care, just let me know.

Prefer not to be commander.

Hi guys;

I'm relatively new to tourney play, so I'll be happy to follow orders if one of you want to be the commander.

Is it just me, or does the map link lead to downtown Winnipeg :happy:l!

No one has to be the commander, I just wanted one person to deal with me so that I don't have things comming from all over the place. Try it by committee or something, just as long as one person says what happens to me.
The Russians have it easy here, Just form some battle groups and tell me where you want them to enter. A couple arrows on a screen shot will work, just make sure that I know what arrow consists of what troops.
Once this is complete I will provide a Reinforcement selection that you will pick from to enter the map from somewhere of my choosing, probably the eastern edge all the time.
Each day is 4 parts, Dawn, Mid-day, Dusk, Night, same as CMBB. Movement will be a series of arrows showing me on the map what group is moving where, and how. If you have a battlegroup ready to attack and they move in LOS of a German Battlegroup doing the same then it will be a CMBB game as a Meeting engagement. If one side is on the defensive and the other move into LOS on attack then it will be a ATT/DEF battle.
No pressure, I am on the keep it simple plan.:)
And the link is fixed, my 13 year old son is chuckling to himself righht now as this is his doing.:rolleyes:

Okay, barring any other interested party, I will assume role as Russian Commander. I don't have time for the paint thing as am at work.

So, please form three more-or-less equally weighted Task Forces and divide the zone into three equal parts for line of advance.

Once the real map is seen and action begins I can adjust things and weight the effort using reinforcements.

Would like some 82mm mortars in each group for counter gun fire.

I am out part of the next weekend but otherwise will be around to play it.

If that is acceptable, make it so.

And thanks for setting it up.

Hi Rayzki;

Are the roads and buildings on the Google Earth map relevant? They may or may not have been there in 1942 of course, but do we go with what's there? I can try and do a map according to herreoberst's instructions if you like, unless Combat Wombat would like to.

Willow

OK, hope I'm not stepping on anyone's toes. The forces are divided equally, except for the 50mm mortars. 2 teams are in the centre forece, one each on the left and right. Ratzki, I'm not sure what the "INF MG42" platoons are - are they captured German HMGs? Just curious.

Herroberst, is this what you had in mind?

I know the map will not be accurate, but want it to have a good feel more then anything. About the only buildings that will be added are those that you can see the ruins of by the Airstrip.
As for you setup willow, that is exactly what I am looking for. You have commander written alll over you;)
Just to make things clear if I have not been. The use of the Google map will be for general tracking of units ect, and for giving me movement paths ect. for units. Once an encouter is made I will make up the map in CMBB to reflect the terrain on the Google map at a closer zoom level of course then the battles will be fought out. Any help with maps would be appreciated, but I do not think neccessary, I can churn these things out pretty quickly with the limited trees and such that will be in the area.
Now once you have finalized a setup, I will get on to the next phase which will be a reinforcement order. I have given the Germans till Friday to have their setup done so same will apply here as well. If it gets done earlier by both sides then we will move on as quick as am able.

Sorry, should be Maxim MGs, the clip and paste monster got me. And yes all what you see exists, I will be adding some buildings at the airstrip as you can see that they were once there, now they are in ruins.

Yes, Willow's set up is fine and met's intent.

Willow, if you want to command, be my guest, I stepped forward because it did not appear anyone else would - I'm a retired Army Colonel, I have no problem with command.

Ratzi, still would like to see some 82mm mortars in each task force please. Would be accurate given the size of the task forces.