The clear weather of July/August 1942 has seen some fierce air battles over the Eastern Mediterranean and Eastern Front. Losses have been heavy for the brave German and Italian aviators, less so for the Imperialists.
Are the Axis all washed up in the Mediterranean?
On the Eastern front the airwar was just as intense, but the losses more evenly distributed.
Army Group Baltic almost pulled off an encirclement of the Soviet forces at Vilnius. Striking from the north it was a 4.2 blitz which a good die roll turned into one loss for the Germans and a retreat for the Soviets. The southern pincer looked better at 7.1 but a mediocre die roll just produced one loss to the Soviets, but critically no retreat.
However the Soviets pulled back and a subsequent assault on the city at 11 received an excellent die roll and a top of the table result. Vilnius has been liberated! EDIT: Whoops, that is Kaunas that has been liberated (freeing Lithuania). Vilnius remains in communist hands.
Grateful Lithuanian women attempting to water the German mechanical horses
Army Group Ukraine commenced a major assault lead by General Manstein just south of the Pripet Marshes. It was an 8.2 and a decent die roll allowed the Soviets to be pushed back into the swamp.
Group hug or silent pray.
Whatever it was it worked.
A subsequent second attack further south at 7.5 had an excellent die roll and blitzed a hole in the Soviet lines. All that is required is for the fine weather campaigning season to continue and the Soviet's could be in real trouble.
However the Imperialists continued to show their dark side and invaded neutral Norway.
British troops caught looting Norwegian bed linen.
Their claims that it is Manchester will be tested in the International Criminal Court,
when it meets in Berlin.
Not satisfied with despoiling pristine Norway, the Imperialist also made landings on the Danish coast near Alborg. Armed with tour guides supplied by the Italians, they promptly got lost (or sat down to a hearty meal). A roll of 5 on two D10s will do that.
È facile, vai a nord
Considering the murky weather the Axis has had to endure for the last 2-3 years, such a turnaround begins to look as surprising as it is promising...
ReplyDeleteIf I'd had my last two combat die rolls at the beginning of the month (to take Greece and Kaunas - I realize my post has an error, the encirclement was aimed at Vilnius, but the liberated city was Kaunas) then things would have been much more promising. As it is, best that can be hoped for is stalling of any Soviet winter offensive. The Axis airforce is significantly depleted and has to try and offer some resistance to the Allied landing in Denmark and threat to the Baltic shipping. From here on in short turns and bad weather will favour the Axis.
DeleteGreat read thanks Mark - the dice Gods are cruel and conspire to scupper our best laid plans - agreed if you could have swapped those two sets of rolls - you would have pocketed a sizeable Russian Army, including the newly promoted GBA.
ReplyDeleteThanks. All I can say is that it is a real challenge finding "pleasant" images to use when searching for Eastern Front images to use in these alternative posts. I was very happy to find the Italian chef.
DeleteThe photo of the English troops with what might be snow camouflage material or parachute silk, was attributed to the Green Howards. My grandfather served in that regiment in the First World War.