1st Ukraine Front - Insiders look at a Play Test

[Strela]

Soviet Turn

The weather is nice and clear and air is available for both sides.






In the north, 27th Army is beaten back bloodily at Baran'ye Pole despite heavy artillery support. Krasnogorodka is successfully captured and a number of 198th Infantry units are isolated.

233rd Tank Bde makes headway assaulting towards Dolgaya Greblya. It loks like the Tank Bde may be clear of the German defenses and could go in a number of directions. A push towards Povadovka could cut off the 326th Regt / 198th Infantry north of the Gniloy Tikich. Alternatively a concerted push towards Lisyanka could unhinge the whole German defenses.






5th GTC is followed by the 359th Rifle Division through the breach in the German lines. 21st Gds Tank Bde pushes to the Gniloy Tikich and leaves the 198th Infantry division no choice but to cross at Povadovka or Redkodub.

5th MC moves south of Vinograd and meets the spearheads from 5th GTC. 3 German Infantry Regts are now cut off in the Vinograd area.

Assaults destroy the German remnants at Pavlovka and clear the remaining bunkers near Motylevka. The fight for Pavlovka and Motylevka have been violent, but finally it is over. 58th & 133rd Rifle Divisions move up in readiness to reduce the Vinograd pocket...




German Turn 12

German forces are now separated along the divisional boundaries. 88th Infantry has lost contact with 198th Infantry and its own 246th GR. Russian tanks have been sighted where the friendly grenadiers should have been. 198th Infantry is split in two by the Gniloy Tikich and trying to get as much of its strength out of the 'loop' formed by the river. Its contact with 34th Infantry was severed when Repki fell and Soviet forces can now be seen heading further to the east.







The engineers in Baran'ye pole pull back to the north to avoid encirclement after a heavy assault by Russian infantry. Medvin is now very lightly held and the only forces linking to the 198th is a battered Feld Ersatz company that has withstood two overwhelming attacks by Soviet armor.

198th Infantry is desperately trying to pull back to Povadovka but the pursuing Russians are maintaining contact. Keeping this division intact is critical.






The jaws snap shut. All the forces around Vinograd are isolated. Most of the infantry are at the wrong end of the pocket to help a breakout. Only a few 88's and engineers are available to stop the T34's squeezing the encircled troops.

Air strikes are called in on a Sherman unit to assist with the breakout, but they harmlessly scatter away from their target.

It is dubious whether their is enough strength available to rescue the trapped troops of the 34th Infantry.

South of the 5th MC penetration the remnants of 34th Infantry are trying to form a line as well as reestablish its artillery.







Overall a German disaster is coalescing. The bulk of 34th Infantry could (will?) be lost and 198th Infantry is in danger of being trapped against the Gniloy Tikich...







Turn 13 to follow....