IdahoNYer
Posts: 2616
Joined: 9/6/2009 From: NYer living in Boise, ID Status: offline
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And the resulting carnage....... GD moves by rail to within 20m of the front, de-trains and joins the intact portion of XXXXVI PzKps (25th Pz, SS Mot) to act as the main effort in the attack. It's the best I can scrape up, while maintaining some semblence of frontage SE of Kharkov. LVI PzKps (2 SS and 1 Pz), holding the shoulder of the defensive line, open up with a spoiling attack against 2xTk Corps to batter them a bit and force them to retreat. About 120 tanks are destroyed in the limited attack. Both Pz Divs then pull out to follow XXXXVI PzKps attack and await the next Soviet thrust. XXXXVI PzKps, with almost 100 Tigers in support, rout one tank corps and then force two more to retreat - one deeper in the pocket, one to the east. At this point, they are played out. XXXXXVIII PzKps (13 Pz, 14 Pz, 16 PG) attack from the southeast, routing 2x Tk Corps and forcing another to withdraw east. Both PzKps link up some 30 miles to the east of the now isolated 2xTk Corps. Battered infantry formations form a cushion if the PzKps are forced to withdraw. Anything I can bring up, including Rumanians (yes, I'm getting THAT desperate!) form the inner cordon on the isolated Tank Corps. Lastly, I pull SS Wiking off the line at Belgorod, rail it south, and place it under LVI PzKps to assist in "holding the shoulder". At best, I can stave off the next round of Soviet attacks and destroy the isolated tank corps - and thereby maybe convincing Scar that I have unlimited resources and my fire brigades can patch up any penetration. The truth is not quite as optimistic. These last few weeks have ground down not only infantry, but the panzers are showing wear. They need a rest. The front from north Kharkov to Orel is about as ripe for attack as it can be - only 2xPzKpz remain in that vital stretch of frontage. Well, the front is plugged, patched and re-established. For now. How long will it last? Not long, I'm sure.....
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