43_1103_01: Kiev November Operations - PzC 25 Kiev '43
2 - 0 - 1
| Rating: | 8.4 (5) |
| Games Played: | 3 |
| SM: | 9 |
| Turns: | 234 |
| Type: | Stock |
| First Side: | Soviet |
| Second Side: | Germany |
Date: November 3, 1943 - Size: Campaign - Location: Kiev, North-Central Ukraine
Intended for Head to Head play
Scenario Briefing: The Russian high command, STAVKA, had secretly shifted the bulk of their mobile reserves from the Bukrin bridgehead, south of Kiev, to the Liutezh bridgehead, north of Kiev, by late October and by early November were ready to launch their massive assault to liberate Kiev.
The assault on the German lines by the 38th Army and later the 3rd Guards Tank Army was met with the Wehrmacht mobile reserve 7th Panzer and the 20th Panzer-Grenadier divisions. The fighting was stiff but gradually the Russians were able to breakthrough and capture Kiev by the 6th.
The 60th Army had attacked from the northeast and by the 12th the Russians had captured Zhitomir to the west and Fastov to the south. They had won a great victory and had penetrated the vaunted "Panther Line." Can you, as the Russian player, do the same?
The German player will be hard-pressed to hold a line and instead must contest the major roads to the west and south as much as possible. Initially reinforcements arrive but they mainly will be used to reinforce the decimated forces retreating from the Ukrainian capital. By the 13th, the Germans will have built up their reinforcements into a force that will be able to launch von Manstein's famous counterattack that threatened (but fell short) to retake the capital.
Intended for Head to Head play
Scenario Briefing: The Russian high command, STAVKA, had secretly shifted the bulk of their mobile reserves from the Bukrin bridgehead, south of Kiev, to the Liutezh bridgehead, north of Kiev, by late October and by early November were ready to launch their massive assault to liberate Kiev.
The assault on the German lines by the 38th Army and later the 3rd Guards Tank Army was met with the Wehrmacht mobile reserve 7th Panzer and the 20th Panzer-Grenadier divisions. The fighting was stiff but gradually the Russians were able to breakthrough and capture Kiev by the 6th.
The 60th Army had attacked from the northeast and by the 12th the Russians had captured Zhitomir to the west and Fastov to the south. They had won a great victory and had penetrated the vaunted "Panther Line." Can you, as the Russian player, do the same?
The German player will be hard-pressed to hold a line and instead must contest the major roads to the west and south as much as possible. Initially reinforcements arrive but they mainly will be used to reinforce the decimated forces retreating from the Ukrainian capital. By the 13th, the Germans will have built up their reinforcements into a force that will be able to launch von Manstein's famous counterattack that threatened (but fell short) to retake the capital.
| Player Voting Stats | ||
|---|---|---|
| Member | Balance | Enjoyment |
 Ricky B |
Well Balanced | 7 |
 TET2 |
Well Balanced | 8 |
 zorak |
Slightly Pro Soviet | 8 |
| Ricky B |
Well Balanced | 9 |
 Nicholas Bell |
Moderately Pro Soviet | 8 |
| Gaming Records | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Side Player | 2nd Side Player | Result | Score | ||||||
|
 |
Ricky B | vs. | TET2 |  |
|
Germany Major Victory | 162 | 18 |
|
 |
zorak | vs. | Nicholas Bell |  |
|
Germany Major Loss | 18 | 162 |
|
|
Ricky B | vs. | TET2 | |
|
Soviet Major Victory | 162 | 18 |
Ground conditions were poor throughout, maybe boosting the chance of good conditions for some days and eliminating it others with a small chance would allow some days of faster attacking. Also, the German hordes of Panther and Tiger tanks could be overwhelming if matched with adequate infantry support, not lost early on. The Soviet artillery chews up infantry if there is a chance to deploy.
As Ricky B noted, I wanted to see how long I could hold Kiev much to the dismay of my Landser's in spite of the enormous losses of men and material. If I were to replay this scenario the German word of the day is "Mobil" defense! Rick ground out a well deserved victory.
Soviet artillery is king, as their tanks and infantry are useless unless the German units are disrupted by the artillery. Direct fire by infantry is useless, so assaulting is the only option. Soviet tanks and assault guns cannot stand toe to toe with the panzers, so they must move to stay away from them and concentrate on direct fire against German infantry at long range (German infantry as 1 hex AT capability!). Soviet ATG are also useless against panzers, so group them together and bombard German infantry (as was done historically). The German player should be aware that Soviet reinforcements arrive behind his line on the north edge of the map. My opponent was unaware and that seemed unfair as it enabled me to encircle some of his forces in the north. The German Panther units are unrealistically invincible and can form "Death Star" stacks which can destroy everything. The best option for the German player is not to stand and fight, but retreat and counterattack when the Soviets are (slowly) moving their massive artillery assets forward. We were both frustrated at times, so maybe that means it is a good contest.
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