1st Ukraine Front - Insiders look at a Play Test

[Strela]

Soviet Turn

Trying to remember what I had written before and will use the 'Save as Draft' function more often!

The 12am to 4am turn sees both sides regroup after an exhaustive day of heavy combat - what will day 2 of the offensive bring?

The supply state across the map has changed and there have been reports of improving weather - maybe air will be available when the sun comes up?





The 233rd Tank Bde is transferred from 6th GTA to 27th Army to allow it to utilise local artillery resources. 233rd will pause this turn to hopefully refit and prepare for the decisive push.

Many of 27th Army's spearheads are low on fuel or ammo. Artillery manages to disrupt German units defending the south of Baran'ye Pole and a hasty assault pushes the German's back.





40th Army is still focused on expanding the gap in the German lines forced by 5th MC. This will allow Pavlovka to be bypassed and compromised. Artillery fire manages to disrupt the Feld Ersatz Bn holding the southern flank and a violent assault by 2nd MB pushes the Germans back.

5th GTC follow up a heavy artillery barrage and eject the Germans from the southern most hex of Motylevka. The town is becoming more untenable. With entrenchments in front, the German bunker line is looking like an island in an increasing red sea.

Other than these two assaults the remainder of 40th Army and 6th GTA rest and refit. The new day will bring more opportunity.




German Turn

German forces desperately need a break. A full day of Soviet offensive have worn down the defenders. Though no formation has been lost, casualties have been heavy and material (mainly AT and artillery) abandoned or overrun.





The sector has died down. Russian forces failed to materialise in 198th Infantry sector. South of Baran'ye Pole a violent assault ejects I/GR 248 out of their entrenchments.

Most German forces decide to hold in place, with the exception of the artillery which continued to head towards G'niloy Tikich crossings. All in all, the retrograde movement has been steady, but organized. The link between 88th & 198th Infantry Divisions have been maintained and casualties acceptable. This is all the more impressive considering the speed that the initial bunker line was broken.





34th Infantry Division is in a quandary. When to run? 5th MC has managed to open the breach south of Pavlovka and are now free to  push further troops through. Pulling back, will allow the Russians to mass and more importantly abandon the remaining bunkers. The forces on either flank of the breach are too weak to close it and desperately in need of a break anyway. I/FE 34 is a great example of the intensity of the fighting having lost 40% of its strength in two engagements.

5th GTC has taken another hex of Motylevka and the German hold on town will soon be tenuous. Units from 198th Infantry Division are moving across to Repki with an intention of holding in or near the town.

Otherwise, all positions are held. No bunkers are abandoned as the exhausted troops need a break. Dawn will probably be the time to redeploy…






Casualties have slown – probably reflective of the lower number of engagements – a lull before the storm?