Götterdämmerung - A PzC AAR

[Raptor1]

Not quite, though I'm fairly close.

I'm about 2 turns away from finishing the next day, don't have almost any time to play this right now so it's going very slow. Should update it by tomorrow or so, I think.

[Raptor1]

Most units spend the remainder of the night resting, except those units directly engaged in combat, such as the 5th SS Panzer Regiment at Zsambek and elements of the 3rd SS Panzer Division northeast of Kirva.

The offensive resumes at dawn. The 10th Panzer Regiment encounters tanks of the Soviet 7th Mechanized Corps southwest of Torbagy and hastily pulls back to defensive positions. SS Wiking, as expected, advances while encountering little resistance except for 46th Army tank destroyers. By 0800, the 86th Guards Rifle Division has been destroyed by SS Totenkopf. Meanwhile, contact with the majority of the 49th Guards Rifle Division's fighting strength is established as it attacks and sends the leading elements of the Szent László Infantry Division routing in disarray.



The 3rd SS Panzer Divisions begins its pre-planned flanking maneuver, and the 49th Guards Rifle Division realizes its weak position and begins to withdraw from its attack. However, the foot infantry is too slow and is caught and encircled over the next four hours. In the meantime, the 7th Mechanized Corps advances on the southern defensive line with a probing attack on the 10th Panzer Regiment and a large armoured offensive against positions held by the 6th Panzer Division and SS Regiment Ney near Bickse. SS Wiking begins to encounter large concentrations of artillery used against Budapest, including batteries of heavy howitzers, Katyushas and massive 203mm siege guns (Whoever played MoWAS is familiar those things).



The outflanking attack on Pilisvorosvar reaches its destination and finds only light resistance, with the defending troops of the 2nd Guards Mechanized Corps apparently having successfully retreated to the southwest. By 1600 the majority of the 49th Guards Rifle Division has been crushed, with only minor resistance remaining, and the remainder of the Szent László Infantry and 3rd SS Panzer Divisions turn to advance up the ridge separating them from Budapest. At the same time, a counterattack by the 6th Panzer Division, together with troops from the newly arrived 3rd Panzer Division and the 11th Panzer Regiment, manages to drive back the 7th Mechanized Corps' attack and encircle most of the attacking tanks.



With nightfall, most operations once again cease for troop resting. By 2200, Pilisvorosvar and the 7th Mechanized Corps' pocket near Bickse are cleared. Meanwhile, the 62nd Guards Rifle Division begins an attack of unknown strength on the 25th Hungarian Infantry Division's line north of Lake Balaton. Otherwise, nothing of note happens for the rest of the day.

End of Day 3



The destruction of the 7th Mechanized Corps' attack and the flanking and taking of Pilisvorosvar has been fairly large successes, except for the latter town's defenders managing to escape largely unharmed. SS Wiking's advance has been slightly less rapid than I would've liked, but still pretty good.

The 5th SS Panzer Division is now a mere 5 kilometers from troops inside the Budapest pocket.



Casualties and Losses

Axis -
Infantry: 5,753
Guns: 63
Vehicles: 194

Allied -
Infantry: 17,230
Guns: 353
Vehicles: 367

[eddie]

It looks like the northeast secter of Budapest doesn't have that many Russian units there, wonder if that's a weak point that might be exploited? Maybe a breakout attempt there, then moving north to the first crossing so they can head west towards the German lines.

[Raptor1]

Originally Posted by eddie

It looks like the northeast secter of Budapest doesn't have that many Russian units there, wonder if that's a weak point that might be exploited? Maybe a breakout attempt there, then moving north to the first crossing so they can head west towards the German lines.

It is true that the Russian attack is rather weak there (The area you speak of is right between what looks like the 30th Rifle Corps to the east and an NKVD Regiment to the north), and I am using it to march a Hungarian battalion that got cut off back to the line. However, a breakout from there can't achieve much. There aren't any intact bridges across that part of the Danube except those I hold in Budapest itself and a Soviet pontoon to the north near Vac (I've no idea what it's there for). I could rush some of my spare bridging units there, but getting there will take a day or so and setting the bridge up will probably take another day or more and I can't afford to take that long.

For now I consider most of the units in Pest expendable, along with that part of the city. If they hold on until I break the Soviet lines in Buda, I'll probably evacuate the units back across the Danube with the bridges in the city.

Oh, I edited the casualties into the last update, since I forgot about that.

[eddie]

Very acceptable losses, with almost 3-1 in men, 6-1 in guns, and amost 2-1 in vehicles, I'd say that's pretty darn good shooting!