Stalingrad 42 Breakout Group Zhuravlev

[Plain Ian]

Turn 18 Russian



Operation Exodus fizzles and splutters. The 303rd Sappers easily push back the disrupted Germans south of them although casualties were matched. The 303rd slips to moderate (yellow) fatigue.

The 644th Sep tank Bn contemplated which direction to go. South west to chase after and possibly assault the disrupted Germans again? Or south east into the inviting gap? South east it is comrade! make it so No 1. Out of the dark 5 StuG's loom. No match for 19 T-34's! The tankers press on, no time to fire, assault! However these are not ordinary StuG's they are long barreled with excellent high velocity cannons superior to the T-34 76c. After a few minutes confused fighting the Russians are brought to a halt demoralised! (No casualties just a straight Disuption on first fire, they are Fatigue 130 No Morale)

Further east the 1/40th tankers were trying to implement the second part of the attack by targeting and disrupting the StuG's facing them. They huff and puff but Low Ammo means they only manage 3 fatigue hits. 

With no success the 40th Gds Sappers have no choice but to assault with reduced or slim chances of success. It must have been close as the Sappers did not disrupt and casualties were again quite even. In fact they managed to kill a StuG. However they failed to take the hex. I reckon there is only 1 StuG left and that kept the Germans in the hex?

And that folks was possibly the end of Operation Exodus. The 614th AT Rgt limbered up and pulled out to follow the 644th. The 2/84th and 3/753rd were also pushed south.

Supply from Svechinkovskiy is still hanging by a thread thanks to the corridor formed by the 2/262nd and the 1586th Sappers (supported by two T-70's of the 2/40th).

Meanwhile left behind n the north is a wall of disrupted units trying to slow down the assaults from this direction.

I reckon Mike will do the decent thing next turn and cut off Svechinkovskiy from the rest of the pocket. Surely it can't be that hard?

Off to walk the dog. Rest of the map in a few hours time. Some ground has been made......