Breakthrough at Selivanov
28/7/42
When the right wing of the Soviet 62nd Army was surrounded by the Germans on the 25th of July 1942 its was dubbed Operational Group Zuhravlev after the senior commander in the pocket. The Soviets immediately set about the relief of the pocket and on the 28th of July the 13th tank Corps broke into the pocket, but the Germans sealed the breach behind the Soviet attack.
To keep the Germans from re-distributing forces against the break-in the Soviets were active in the pocket. On the 28th the 676th Regiments of the 192nd Rifle Division attack attacked to north wall of the pocket. The defenders were the 369 (Kroatische) Infanterie Regiment who were attached to the 100 Jäger Division.
The scenario depicts the supporting attack by the 676th Rifle Regiment
German Deployment
All German forces are deployed in the zone delineated by the pink hashed line around Selivanov. All German personal and AT guns are in foxholes (-2)
Soviet Deployment
All Soviets stands are deployed within the pink dashed line at the bottom of the map
Terrain
The map is 6ftx 4ft if playing at 1" = 50m.
The green area represents scrub and widely spaced trees. This area dos not effect movement or cover but is open blocking terrain. Max visibility in to or through the area is 6"
The grey areas consist of 4"x4" BUA's. These are wooden (-2 cover).
The red lines are roads. Where they are not tree lined there will be intermittent scrub along the edges (4" per 12" max) which breaks LOS and gives -1 cover.
The blue line is a stream. All stands require a BMA to cross it, except where there are brown dotted lines where it is impassable to vehicles and man-handled guns and infantry require 2xBMA to cross. The banks of the river provide -2 cover against non H class weapons to personnel stands (not towed guns). There is intermittent scrub along the edges (4" per 12" max) which breaks LOS and gives -1 cover.
The sandy coloured line is a ravine. All stands require a BMA to enter it and a BMA to leave. The banks of the ravine provide -2 cover against non H class weapons to personnel stands (not towed guns) touching the edge. Stands not touching the edge can only see and be seen by stands within 1" of the edge if LOS crosses the edge of the ravine. LOS up the length of the ravine is a max of 6"
Green dotted lines are tree lines. These break LOS and give -1 cover.
The tan lines are crest lines. Crest lines break LOS and give hull down positions to AFV's touching them (-2 cover)
Special Rules
The game starts at 0500 and lasts until the 0900 turn - 8 turns
The first turn is dawn and max visibility is 12", all spotting distances are halved. Visibility thereafter is normal
Victory Conditions
The Germans automatically loose if they do not have a stand in good morale in 5 or more of the large BUAs. If this is achieved the winner is determined by counting VP's
The Soviets get 1VP for each stand in good morale they have touching the board edge ZA at the end of the game. The Germans get 1VP (2VP for the StuG) for each stand that exits the board between points AB on turns 6-8
Good morale is not shaken and not demoralised
Historical Outcome
The Croatians repulsed the Soviet attack though casualties were heavy on both sides. The 13th Tank Corps broke in to the pocket, and a couple of days later on the 30th lead the attack that broke out of the pocket back to Soviet lines to the east
References
The scenario is mostly taken from this thread on the Axis History forum: http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=79&t=144081