1st Ukraine Front - Insiders look at a Play Test

[Strela]

Soviet Turn

As the sun comes up an ominous rumble is heard in the distance - aircraft...

An action packed turn follows....





Russian Sturmoviks streak low across the morning snow targeting a hapless Marder company and Infantry formation. The infantry surprised by the Soviet aircraft disrupt while Marders burn in the background.





27th Army infantry push forward and find the German rearguards digging in - the resupplied 233rd Tank Bde moves forward after a short rocket barrage and promptly overruns 3 German formations near Krasnogorodka. The disrupted Germans are quickly surrounded by the advancing infantry and the 612th Tank Bn. A further hex near Baran'ye Pole is cleared and the highway is definitely blocked.





40th Army picks up the tempo with the early dawn light. 22nd Guards Tank Bde manage to enter Repki and probe the defenses directly to the south. Infantry from 45th MB supported by 127th Tank Regt shoot up STuG Abt 239 and then promptly assaulting it out of its defensive positions. Pushing forward they surprise limbered artillery and destroy a number of tubes. A further assault by 2nd MB infantry widens Pavlovka gap and an advance by 127th Tank Regt , isolates further German infantry. A breakthrough is looking almost certain...



German Turn

The Germans have a huge issue with three forces cut off. In addition Pavlovka is close to being isolated and further Russian forces have been passing by the bunker line, heading generally south east. The clearing weather though allows air to be called in from the Uman airbase - barely 50 kilometres to the south. Pilots will be flying multiple sorties today.













The Luftwaffe have 6 carpet bombing raids - 3 scatter harmlessly, 2 find their mark and the last devastatingly scatters onto a large force of infantry forming up. The devastation of the final bombing raid emboldens the German defenders. If they can push the Russians back from the hex to the south the lines of communications will be cut to the 5th MC spearheads again. Maybe they can be delayed for another turn...?





II/GR107 is the freshest formation and promptly assaults the disordered Soviets. The assault is successful, but the fate of the 2nd Bn is probably sealed.





The successful assault from the Pavlovka defenses barely reduces the pressure. There are no forces to stop the Russian breakthrough this turn with STuG Abt 239 disrupted and trying to recover. On 34th Infantry's left flank, the isolated units are released but their flank is left wide open. Motylevka is finally abandoned and German units are retreating down the road to Vinograd. I/GR 308 is rescued from the Russian cordon and pulled back into the line. Repki is further reinforced and a second line is beginning to form in front of 5th GTC.





233rd Tank Bde's sudden appearance has overwhelmed and cut off the German defenders. The remaining Marders manage to free the isolated forces, but they are precariously exposed. 198th Infantry continue to fall back, while 88th Infantry artillery moves north east towards Boguslav. German forces will soon be fighting in he suburbs of Medvin.





Casualties ramp up reflecting the resumption of combat and the impact of air for the first time....


Turn 11 to follow...