Moscow '42 AAR: Sukhinichi II : We Will Rescue You

[Strela]

End of German Turn 9; January 23 0600 - 0800 Dawn

Commensurate with both sides actually trying to rest overnight, casualties were light for the last turn. The victory point score edged up a further 2. Visibility also improved and is now 2, unusual for this time of day.


Overall the supply state has improved slightly from last turn. All HQ's are in supply and some units with low ammo or fuel have recovered. 18 Panzer Division though has twelve units still stranded in the snow, low on fuel. Someone forgot to order the heavy shells for the Korp artillery as they are unavailable this turn and this may influence operations, particularly in 208 Infanterie's sector.


339 Infanterie has the Soviets again pressing from the west and use artillery to break up their attacks. Rarely can the Russians get into contact and that is spoiling their ability to assault the spread out Axis forces. The Bicycle recon company moves west towards Khludnevo to back up the battalions already in place.


In 208 Infanterie's area of responsibility, the German forces at Vertnore begin to push south, hoping to beat back and maybe trap the Soviets in the forest. This has the additional advantage of pushing the Soviets further away from the objective hexes. A Soviet Rifle Regiment appears south east of Duminich, but there should be more than enough in the village to handle this threat. The two battalions there have rested and are now over 600 men each. Further to the west, the other victory point hex is protected by engineers. if the Soviets continue to push towards Duminich then they may be caught with Axis forces behind them in the forest. The lack of Korp artillery leaves the Soviet Regiment unscathed for this turn.


Around Sukhinichi the amount of movement is best shown with a before and after shot. At the start of the turn these were the German positions. The disrupted state of the Soviets in the north allows the Panzer Grenadiers to disengage and start a general withdrawal southwards.



In the end of German turn shot the Axis forces have pulled back slightly, but also assaulted the Soviet Rifle forces directly south of Sukhinichi. This has the dual purpose of both tying up the Soviet forces that could assist the 83rd Cavalry while threatening another victory point hex. Clearing this area is also important for keeping the supply routes to the town open, particularly as the units to the north retreat. A recon flight (the only air the Germans possess) confirms all 6 squadrons from the Cavalry Division are present and this will simplify the German defense and response. The actual forces that face the Cavalry are little changed as they wait for both the Panzer Grenadiers and Korp assets to arrive.


It appears that the Soviet Cavalry will not be in a position to attack during the next two hours as they have to move to contact. Hopefully this will allow the German redeployment to be completed while attempting to keep the other Russian forces around Sukhinichi occupied and hopefully disrupted.