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

[Strela]

End of German Turn 10; January 23 0800 - 1000


The scorecard shows the Soviets losing men at a rate of 3 to 1 (230 Soviets to 78 Germans). The game score at 325 is about to cross over into draw territory. Only 5 more points required to move a victory level.



Someone forgot to order any artillery shells with ten artillery units unavailable. This is surprising as all HQ's are back in command and the impact is not as severe across the ground troops - though thirteen are low on fuel and supplies, the same as last turn.



Combat operations slowdown in the 339th Infanterie sector. All the Soviet attacks have been beaten back and their forces sit disrupted on the margins of the forest. Having the inner lines is a definite advantage for the Germans and the lack of a series threat to their right flank has meant all their combat power is centred along the highway.



208th Infanterie faces of against the Soviet Infantry Regiment near Duminich. A combination of artillery and direct fire disrupts two of the three battalions. Soviet light tanks, presumably from 83rd Cavalry Division run headlong into the motorised reconnaissance company. Both stumble onto each other. The sweep through the forest east of Duminich continues with the bulk of the Soviet forces disrupted and retreating. In the heavy ground conditions all either side can do is fall back and stumble forward.



Up at Sukhinichi, 83rd Cavalry Division is plagued by bad luck and poor coordination. Each time it comes forward, artillery fire easily disrupts its squadrons. Though faced by a threadbare defense, it can't even threaten the German's considering its current state. The push to take the 10 VP hex south of Sukhinichi is beginning to stall as further Russian battalions move in to support the defense. This is starting to look like a hard nut to crack and with little artillery available, possibly impossible. The Panzer Grenadiers continue to fall back. The Soviets tentatively follow, but are given a drubbing northwest of Sukhinichi when they try to storm one defensive position. Soviet AA guns are starting to use their two hex range and causing casualties. There is little than can hit back at them currently.


The last two hours have been relatively quiet. The initial foray by the Soviet Cavalry has been halted and combat operations elsewhere routine.