Turn 8 July 6-7 Dry weather persists
Germans receive 10 supply tokens. Reinforcements taken for Group 2 mean the Germans lose 4VP, that we neglected to deduct.
In the South 17th Pzr looks to establish a bridge head South of Boboryusk. 10th Motorised and 3rd Panzer envelope the town.
Several foot divisions approach as well to counter the threat from Kalinikovichi. Attacks develop along the Svisloch river with SS:R and 7th Pzr.
Fighting around Minsk continues to clear reluctant pockets.
In the Center the forces attempt to erase the isolated units and 1 XX who just wont die.
For the most part in the North forces invest in screening and flanking the Center’s maneuvers.
During the combat phase an HQ is eliminated and 1 armour unit also. The route along the southern edge of the road is now clear and Minsk roads are 805 clear also.
Back in the south the objective hex for a bridge is 22.42.
The bulk of the forward units are of course out of general supply as they lead the rail conversion and road reach by several hexes.
The Soviets push forward screens and road bumps and build up a small armoured QRF. They begin to fortify and reinforce the Dnepr river line.
Turn 9 July 8-9 Surprise this turn is dry, but storms ground all aircraft.
The 17th diverts to thwart a growing threat from Southern edge reinforcements from 16th & 19th Armies seeking to flank the Germans and cut their fastest advancing supply route. This delays the bridge placement and as we will see places the entire advance on a knifes edge.
The German forces not screening in the Sth plan to assault Bobruysk. Lehr, 3rd Pzr and 10th Mot. Take on this task.
Bobryusk falls
Slightly further North the SS:R advance along the rail line to Mogilev!
This NE move surprises even the Germans. It is the least line of resistance despite supply challenges expected next turn. Now everything East of the Ptych River is OOS for Germany. In the back field lots of units StratMo.
To the North 12 & 20 Pzr. Move North to Vitebsk road and engage motorized infantry which end up being rugged NKVD forces near Zembin.
South of here in the center of the maps 12th and 6th Infantry flank Novyy Boriov, while 10th Pzr. Attacks isolated unites supported by infantry and others near Minsk. The sooner the Germans sweep this clear the faster the rail line extensions can go, which will aid all OOS units in the center.
The combat phase smashes the Soviets. With DE’s, in and around Minsk, UR battalions fall and Bobruysk is also captured. The turn will see bonus VP’s due to the mandated attack not executed.
The Soviets roll a 5 for replacements. 4I’s. and some garbage. They elect to reinforce the eastern side of Bobruysk and run a line from Rogachev to Vietebsk as best they can.
Turn 10 July 10-11 Dry…again.
The 4th and 10th attack across the Berenzina and west of Klevka, spending SP [MSU] to be placed in supply for this key attack.
20th Mot + Lehr advance to Brodets with elements of 7th Pzr.
The SS:R continue towards Mogilev and fight it out at Drut against roadbump NKVD. 25th Regiment of the 7th Pzr assists, but the NKVD hold the line in a tough 3:1 attack.
The Bobruysk crossing is assaulted with arty and 2 infantry units supported by engineers. At Glusk the Soviet armor receives a surprise….ouch.
Six attacks go in all told with much lower odds than usual as a result of no arty being available and limited air from last turns groundings. Some losses for the Germans are taken, and the Soviets have a good turn, almost losing less than they kill on the defense. Their resolve is perhaps stiffening? As Klevka holds, and they punish 3rd Pzr. They do however yield at Bobruysk crossing.
During the mech phase the Germans shuffle forces to reconsolidate formations for the next big push.
The Soviets in Turn 10, roll a 7 for replacements and also receive a large wave of units. Some reinforce the ‘Rogachev’ Front while others move towards Smolensk.
Net VP’s is 34.