1st Ukraine Front - Insiders look at a Play Test

[Strela]

In turn 3, not one Russian unit rallies up. With the disruptions meted out last turn by the German artillery the 40th Army has come to a virtual standstill. To further exacerbate the situation the artillery supporting the army fails to disrupt any of the German defenders, so the infantry are bogged down in no man's land.

5th Mech Corp as well as 6th Guards Tank Army support units are released. The armor will be critical to help disrupt the German infantry in their bunkers by using their direct fire. The Sherman regiments should be particularly effective here.





The armor moves up along the Russian front line south of the Vinograd road in the general direction of Pavlovka. Hopefully they will assist with clearing the bunkers next turn.





In the 27th Army sector, a German infantry company is pummeled by rocket artillery in the open.







The results are devastating in 3 shots, 31 men are lost and the company disrupts.








An assault by the adjacent SU Regt pushes the company back and a bunker is isolated.





In the German Turn 3, it is all quiet in the 34th Infantry Division sector though the appearance of armor is disturbing.


In the 88th Infantry sector, the Russian artillery is again devastating and 3 units (2 Inf companies and an infantry gun battery) are disrupted.






5/II/GR 246 moves forward to extricate the isolated units, but the gun battery is left in place as it is too slow to leave its positions. This next turn it is necessary for 1/I/GR 248 to hold on as any step back would again allow the Russians  to move towards forming a gap in the lines. The price of this delaying action is expected to be heavy....






Turn 4 to follow.