FIRESTORM PONYRI STATION: TURN 4 CAMPAIGN *UPDATED*

The campaign grinds on!  The Germans, desperate to seize the operational initiative, threw their major resources from XXXXI Corps into an attack against both Soviet supply sources in an effort to throw Ivan off balance.  While this was unexpected, the Soviets threw their resources into slicing into and expanding the penetration made by Jack last week into the Kastenwald objective, currently held by the Soviets.

Germans attempting to regain the operational initiative, forcing the Soviets to take back their supply sources.  Soviets attempting to expand the penetration into the Kastenwald by attacking Hill 242.2 and Shirokoye.

Le Duc de Gobin, AKA "The Hero of Shirokoye Bulotev," is fought another desperate action although this time further north as he defended with a scratch kampfgruppe against a major Soviet push with heavy armor to break out their comrades isolated on Hill 253.1.  His returns will likely be in today or tomorrow so expect another post as we close out turn 4.  The Duc successfully defended Hill 242.2 against what I can only describe as an onslaught of infantry and armor!  He earns Oak Leaves for his Knights Cross following this successful defense!

I do have the returns from yesterday's battles - another disaster at Shirokoye as the Germans lose their besieged grip on the collective province while the Soviet steamroller charges in.  Although our Rapid Fire battle ended in a "draw" we diced for the outcome after the battle and the Soviets took Shirokoye.

Returns from 8-9 July

We further diced for the Karpunevka and Berezovotskoye battles as well, with the Germans winning both, however losing the Gepanzerte PanzerGrenadiers in the process!

This brings the German firestorm resource casualties up to:

Mixed Panzer III/IV platoon
Tiger I platoon
Armored PanzerGrenadier Platoon

So while the Soviets have opened up the key terrain at Shirokoye, the Germans have also over-extended themselves and it's safe to say almost all of the Soviet and German forces below Ochki are"out of supply" and fight at reduced effectiveness.  More on that later.  I'm expecting both sides to fight viciously to open up their supply sources for the coming battles in Turn 5.

Looking forward to having Jack back next week and some of the commanders will not be available for battles so I anticipate turn 5 will likely last up to 2 weeks.

Remember - Campaign is 7 turns long.  Germans now have 2 attack arrows and so do the Soviets.  Both may commit up to 2 FS resources per engagement.