Russian Turn Four
12:00 22 January 1942 Visibility 2km
The 18th panzer continues to relentlessly push my under strength Russians away from Sukhinichi. This is good and bad. Good that the 18th is exposed for my cavalry. It is bad that I cannot contain the Sukhinichi garrison. On the plus side the cavalry has arrived near their jump off point. They have left their artillery train which is struggling to keep up across the snowy countryside. Now it will get dicey as I try to get the cavalry into the 18th panzer division’s rear without being detected.
Vertone is still being pressed. The 10 VP location there is reinforced as I move out of the village to prevent the German recon elements from cutting off my 322nd rifle division to the east. The western half of the 322nd is moving to concentrate for an assault on Duminich on day two. My probe in the NW towards the German village meets a full German infantry battalion instead of a company. They take heavy losses from direct fire. I will have to abandon my idea to turn his flank here.
Dog Soldier
Sukhinichi from the Russian POV. The commander of the 328th RD keeps the attention of the 18th PD by letting them shoot his division to pieces.
The 323rd is hard pressed by the Germans. The village on the main highway is well protected.
Four Russian battalions of the 322nd RD creep towards Duminich. I extend the Russian right flank for Vertnore to prevent the defenders from becoming surrounded.
Fast is fine, but accuracy is everything.
- Wyatt Earp