All things considered, it turns out I have trashed my operational tempo by over-sizing my main effort.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJBu0kUBB6tD1WfSqzqtbqKsRrITFDyDoeTVBRMUvbZW8_EhOxQJtpilc8bxcxyjFcn3NQ5MwxWP6FBFBkdMapItZ5qgzNnpWeDs4R8NpUhd0YS9Bbakk0dSQOKEIbvQARAlt0rmT6APl/s640/OnTheirHeels.jpg) |
The Soviets are packing and fleeing up north! |
My command is battle-weary, understrength and behind schedule to secure the two remaining objectives.
There is also that sharp thorn at Kharkov, which hurts my pride more than my logistics.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvo5RTcbFsEepPj-W44l9aO2Dhoc8pGsUfjypafcEHn7H2xuS-r-NDVjjCRjkfAk-Tr8P18fotIRO4sl6yduFAQwP7mBybMwdAKwakQvK9pZdfC1IgfWB_6td-_gLvdUWwnS9jhWmIe8Ik/s640/FlankSweep.jpg) |
I never intended to have any of my divisions east of the Oskol river because of supply issues. But the Soviet's defeat and subsequent retreat from Izium has created a vacuum that sucks my troops in. In this screenshot, the 97th Light Division moves north, seeking for trouble. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSfbsIDMxsAhEWVgc17NIcV0Aj6OpnNg6f1SQxroL7tL7Uf3iE2nHCfiPGbjO7trdRUhaVtO1FTj2l552iJYtiK515-DVUkaFzZ0SG_y4tGTvYp2gyMZIfWEZ0QTq4Nb2R8kpBjdLoQzz/s640/TheLiberationOfKharkov.jpg) |
Re-capturing Kharkov was not difficult. In this screenshot, the Soviets pull out a corps from the 6th Army from the narrow salient east of Kharkov in order to reinforce a defensive position southwest of Kupyansk. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iha2utLrDmgnOXBXb_An3BXZUHfK6WW6nlRJF7-MPlyqT3aGUUcVOPgdJCF-s9TSkR5GaOF7IcrY5Vr7AxCoumhoEosBd6gCa_8zTmEP9OKJQr5jh-7_eDvcTckfWJFivUCXkUZovuz8/s640/PushingNorth.jpg) |
Speeding up the operations beyond my comfort level. The 60th Motorized Division and the 22nd Panzer Division making a desperate dash towards the north-most objective (Olkhovatka). The Soviet forces near Kharkov have been completely destroyed. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-S-4ZJv64yTYTlfujNlQSuBCN79up-DLXTuZJf8pWYMroCBfdoMJkZEbTqyfdNhajzedyfxAhcwXl-unWvz1-Trb-rZmSBqBB3Rrjk6dzSbmi_8dpEJsmgdGLJejjN5O7AMHy7sjTKawU/s640/Final.jpg) |
The final screen. Obliterated the Soviets and bought all the real state, but just too late ... |
This was a great scenario and it taught me that no matter how important the main effort and decisive operations are, it takes a good amount of supporting effort and shaping operations to achieve victory. One of my biggest failures was to not harass the Soviets with my left wing. Although the Soviets kept a sizeable amount of infantry corps opposing my left wing, they were totally free to move their other high mobility/shock troops wherever they wanted, including Izium, where I placed my bet for a quick victory. A limited push with my left wing would have spooked the Russians into diverting some of their best troops north, making my drive to Izium more quick.
Cheers,
No comments:
Post a Comment