Background
After liberating Kiev, the First Ukrainian Front (FUF) paused in November 1943 to rest and replenish itself. Taking advantage of this break in the rout west from the Dnepr, 4th Panzerarmee Oberkommando (4.PzAOK) stabilized its flimsy positions, holding key transport centres along a longitudinal axis from the south at Berdichev-Kazatin, through Zhitomir to Korosten' in the north. The appalling weather gave respite from the incessant Soviet air attacks, but also meant that the scarce reinforcements were slow to materialize at the front.
On 24 December 1943 the FUF mobilized, throwing several infantry and armour divisions at Berdichev-Kazatin and Zhitomir. The lightly defended garrison of Korosten' (LIX Armee Korps, LIX.AK) watched and waited nervously as its contacts with the supporting south flank (XIII Armee Korps) evaporated under massive Soviet assaults. LIX.AK tried its best to provide distraction by probing Soviet logistical areas at Yusefovka and Chepovichi, but a stalemate ensued.
Then, on the morning of 28 December 1943, with XIII.AK in headlong retreat south to Zhitomir, LIX.AK, alone and significantly understrength, awoke to a full scale assault by three Soviet divisions. The Soviet intentions were clear. LIX.AK asked 4.PzAOK for orders, and was told to hold Korosten' for as long as possible. If it was forced out of Korosten' by overwhelming force, it was ordered to make its way to Volodarsk-Volinskiy to join the garrison there and await relief.
German Objectives
* Hold Korosten Train Station with at least 8 platoons until noon on 28 December 1943
* Hold Volodarsk-Volinskiy with at least 8 platoons until 5 pm on 28 December 1943
* Maintain LIX.AK with at least 50% of its initial capital strength (measured in points) until 4 am 29 December 1943
* Keep at least 2/3 of German generals alive until 4 am 29 December 1943
Soviet Objectives
* Capture and hold Korosten' Train Station before noon on 28 December 1943
* Capture and hold Volodarsk-Volinskiy before 5 pm on 28 December 1943
* Reduce LIX.AK to less than 50% of its initial capital strength before 4 am on 29 December 1943, whilst maintaining 70% of initial FUF capital strength.
* Keep all Soviet generals alive until 4 am 29 December 1943
Victory Conditions
If we run 24 engrossing missions, display good cooperative behaviours, and have fun, then we all win.
Realization in SEOW
* This scenario will be operated using the Kiev_AP map, hosted in HSFX v6.0.17 or higher. Ground operations will be confined to the rectangle defined by the north-west corner of the map stretching south-east through Dabryn to AF-11.
* The scenario will last for 24 consecutive missions, starting at 0500 hours on 28 December and finishing after the 0400 hours mission on 29 December. Each mission will last for 60 minutes.
* German forces may withdraw at two ground resupply points on the western edge of the map at any time.
* German air forces will be based at Lipniki Field and at Vinnica North-West Airbase. A single off-map base west of Korosten' will be available for recon flights only.
* Soviet air forces will be based at Veprem and Gostomel.
* It is hoped we can represent all combat divisions and regiments at 1/3 historical strength, maybe more.
* There will be no reinforcements available for either side, and no industrial production of units or fuel.
Comments and suggestions are welcome!
Cheers,
4Shades
PS: Here is an FMB file with the front line for the evening of 27 December 1943 near Korosten'. I am proposing that we populate the front line from just north-west of Lipniki in AB-17 as far south-east as Dabryn in AD-13.
Code: Select all
[MAIN]
MAP AP_Ukraine/load_w.ini
TIME 4.0
CloudType 5
CloudHeight 600.0
army 1
playerNum 0
[SEASON]
Year 1943
Month 12
Day 28
[WEATHER]
WindDirection 67.0
WindSpeed 1.0
Gust 0
Turbulence 0
[NStationary]
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[Bridge]
[House]
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