Stalingrad'42 via Vassal - Turns 19 to 21

The weather remained clear for the rest of the early autumn (Turns 19 and 20).

While the Axis only make one attack in the south, 

they have surrounded three locations and threatening Krasnodar with the same fate.

Stalingrad is attacked again as replacements are shipped in to make up for losses.

The Soviets now have three isolated locations, but time is running out if the Axis want those VPs!

Perhaps also of concern is the gathering Soviet force in the eastern Caucasus.

The Soviets reinforce their Stalingrad forces as well.

A city battle is now taking place in Stalingrad.

The one to one attack again ended in miserable failure.

Turn 20 (19th to 24th of September) - I've just realised that the turns are getting longer, or is that shorter?, as they now represent more days, six currently compared to three at the start of the campaign.  Clever technique

Rumanian 3rd Army attacks and ultimately takes Armavir which is worth 1 VP.

17th Army is trying to surround Krasnodar (they don't quiet make it).

The fighting for Stalingrad continues.

Despite now being a city battle,

the Axis fail to make progress.

The presence of that Soviet leader allows rerolls of Desperate Defence rolls.

The northern front hasn't changed.  

However the Axis have most of their best units tied down 

in the eastern sector.

Apart from the slog at Stalingrad,

in the centre there is the bicycle race going on in the Kalmyk Steppe.

Where are the Axis going to find the troops to cover this area?

Down in the south, 

what looked very promising for the Axis

 just doesn't seem to be eventuating.

Krasnodar still has a supply line.  

The other isolated cities are hanging on in there 

and didn't suffer any loss due to isolation attrition. 

There is now a strong Soviet build-up in the south east.

But Italian Alpini are heading to Mt Elbrus.

By Turn 21 the Axis need to have taken at least Maykop or Voroshilovsk to avoid automatic victory by the Soviets.  Turn 21 is also the start of Rasputitsa and a bad roll on the weather chart will make things difficult for the Axis.

The all important weather roll for Turn 21 is... clear.

The attack on Maykpo at 5 to 1 had to succeed to avoid Soviet automatic victory.

It did.

The attacks around Krasnodar have now sealed off that key city

The Rumanian attack on Voroshilovsk failed,

but in the Soviet turn the isolated defenders succumbed to Axis propaganda.

The attack on Stalingrad just produced more casualties for both sides.

The Axis have gone to the expedient of shortening their line,

so as to maintain pressure on Stalingrad.

The Soviets try another attack on 4th Panzer Army...

and fail.

The end of Turn big picture.

The Axis are out of danger of an automatic Soviet victory.

But will either side be able to make much progress?

At this stage the "secret" Soviet build-up starts.  A bit tricky to do solitaire.

There is also winter coming...