loki100
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From: Utlima Thule
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T32 29 January – 5 February 1942: "Can you lift the hasps of steel?"
The end of January brought the inevitable German counterattacks on the Soviet spearheads, but this time Stavka had reserves and fresh formations to hand. North of Moscow, the offensive was widened in an attempt to dislodge the German forces holding the Klin-Povarovo line.
The sector held north of Torzhok, held by the Volkhov Front had lain quiet since the October battles. Taking advantage of lax German reconnaisance, Stavka had released 4 Shock and 33 Armies from reserve and allocated them to this sector.
Partisans hit the rail lines in the Valdai sector, briefly isolated the axis forces and the full weight of 4 SA struck towards Bologoe. The police formation, clearly not expected the ferocity of a full Soviet offensive, broke and ran.
(4 SA moving up to its attack positions)
Around Kalinin, 22 Army also went back on the offensive on a previously quiet sector. The German 6 ID was caught by surprise and fell back, giving the Red Army a valuable bridgehead over the Tveritsa and allowing them to push to the outskirts of Turginovo [1]
To the south, NW Front rested the bulk of 52 and 55 Armies but took advantage of the German decision to form strong points and infiltrate tank and ski units into the gap trying to cut their supply lines. For the first time, Stavka authorised the reserve formations of the Moscow District to go over to the offensive. Fresh units of 29 and 30 Armies took advantage of the earlier gains at Istra and.drove back the German 23 Infantry Corps. However, an attempt by 29 Army to exploit this victory was held in a desparate rearguard action by the Germans trapped against the reservoir and with the entire sector in danger of being encircled.
Reserve Front mostly went over to the defensive, content to re-organise and recover from its victories of the previous week. However, Western and Leningrad Fronts renewed their offensives north and south of Kaluga.
13 Army, supported by elements of 3 and 20 Armies struck to the north of Medyn. In the air, the VVS reported significant Luftwaffe interdicton, but was still able to provide support to the attack. Backed by almost 2,000 guns, in ferociously brutal fighting, the German 38 Infantry Corps was forced back. Even a counter-attack by 20 Panzer was not enough to hold off almost 140,000 Soviet riflemen. Instead, running into sustained Soviet resistance, the Panzer attack was driven back, leaving 23 tanks burning in the snow.
(fighting near Medyn)
At the same time as the Medyn battle was raging, the bulk of 3 Army struck towards Kaluga. Again the VVS reported fierce air battles, but Soviet bombers added to the damage done by 700 guns. Here, the rest of 38 Infantry Corps was driven back, again with heavy losses on both sides.
[2]
In the meantime, Leningrad Front attacked again around Belev. 2 Shock and 24 Army drove towards Bolkhov and opened up a gap between the German defenses at Orel and those on the Kozelsk-Peremyshl line. 1 Shock, moved into the gap and supported by over 100 tanks (mostly T-60s) tried to eliminate the German toehold over the Zhizdra at Koselsk. However, here the German commanders had anticipated the blow and Tolbukhin's elite units took heavy losses as they failed to breach the hasty German defenses [3].
Even so, Leningrad Front was able to exploit the victories at Bolkhov and commit armoured formations deep into the German rear.
Most of the rest of the front remained quiet. Elements of Bryansk Front probed the German defenses at Kursk. Around Rostov, the Germans established another small bridgehead on the south bank of the frozen Don. Taking advantage of the commitment of their reserves, 37 Army strcuk south of Sverdlovsk and routed a Rumanian division, disrupting the defenses of the German 34 Infantry Corps at the same time.
Losses matched the intensity of the combat. The axis forces lost 19,000 men, 66 tanks and 34 planes. Soviet losses were 27,000 men, 76 tanks (60 of which were T-60s) and 193 planes. Losses were not confined to front line troops, Maks Reiter and Sergei Denisov were killed. Despite his failure at Koselsk, Tolbukhin was promoted to General-Leytenant.
Overall, the Red Army grew by nearly 100,000 men, 2,000 guns and 150 tanks.
For all the intensity of the fighting, the front lines had scarcely shifted in January. For this stalemate, the Axis forces had taken 265,000 losses, 500 tanks and nearly 200 aircraft. Soviet losses were 150,000 men, 480 tanks and 900 aircraft.
(overview of the front and key production data for the end of Jan 1942)
[1] I know the combat system can be random, but this was actually almost embarrassing. This attack was to cause losses and increase the pressure on this sector – I never expected it to succeed.
[2] SigUp has moved from defending on a solid line to leaving gaps and making stacks. I think this is a risk as it means I can often attack from 3 sides and if I win, its starting to open up inviting gaps to slip a tank brigade into.
[3] Given the issue with the earlier attack, I fear this was karma. Pity, it would have given me a 3 hex wide breakthrough and with fresh tank brigades to exploit it.
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< Message edited by loki100 -- 6/19/2014 11:30:58 PM >
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RE: T31 (15 - 21 Jan 1942) - 
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