Monday 11 June 2012

Krisis at Kharkov - part 2 - Soviet forces

The Red Army of Workers and Peasants fielded a large force for the Kharkov operation.  13 Rifle divisions were joined by 3 cavalry divisions and two of the new (in 1942) tank corps, supported by over 20 artillery regiments and brigades. 
Senior officers of the Southwestern Front discuss Comrade Wallmanski's plan. 
Figures by Britannia.  Photo by Tom Mouat.
                South-Western Front          
                           
                21 Army               
               127 Light (Naval) Rifle Corps           3 divs
                Wellingrad Militia Rifle Corps           3 divs
6              Light Art Regts (76mm)      
1              Guards-Mortar Rgt (Katyusha)       
1              Gun Art Bde (122mm)      
1              Howitzer Artillery Bde (122mm)     
1              Medium AA Rgt 
4              Tank Bdes             
Elements of 127 Light (Naval) Rifle Corps surge forward.  Each Soviet infantry stand represents a regiment, so three make up a division.  Photo by Tom Mouat.

                28 Army               
                41 Rifle Corps      4 divs
                8 Guards Rifle Corps          3 divs
6              Light Art Rgts (76mm)        
1              Guards-Mortar Rgt (Katyusha)       
1              Gun Art Bde (122mm)      
1              Howitzer Artillery Bde (122mm)     
1              Medium AA Rgt 
4              Tank Bdes             
28 Army conducts it's initial assault.  Note the brigade of lend-lease Matildas.  Photo by Tom Mouat.

38 Army also included this Armoured Train.  Photo by Tom Mouat.

                38 Army               
                21 Tank Corps    
                23 Tank Corps    
                11 Cavalry Corps               
3              Light Artillery Regts (76mm)             
1              Howitzer Artillery Regiment (152mm)           
1              Light AA Rgt       
NKVD troops were in evidence behind the front.  This Blocking Detachment used it's machine guns to 'encourage' the advance of Soviet infantry.  Figures are WW1 Russians by Tumbling Dice.   Photo by Tom Mouat.
The Soviet air effort was hampered by equipment failures.  My Il-4 was (as far as I can tell) the only breakage of the game.  Photo by Tom Mouat.
Coming next - the Hitlerite hordes!

13 comments:

Milgeek said...

This is terrific fun to read. I'm following along avidly...Come on Comrades! :)

Tim Gow said...

Stephen Beat
Nice to see youre taking a balanced view of things...

Don M said...

you've out done yourself Tim...I really enjoying this one!

Tim Gow said...

Don M
This was certainly the second biggest MB game in terms of player numbers, if not quite in toy numbers (getting on for 1000...).

Milgeek said...

What can I say...I look good in big furry hats! :D

Pete. said...

These big Megablitz games don't fail to disappoint in terms of scale and amount of kit on display. Liked the Naval Infantry too.

Cheers,

Pete.

west1871 said...

Great job and I like the naval bods!

Tim Gow said...

Pete
So be there for the next one! The Naval Infantry are old FAA figures.

Tim Gow said...

west1871
It was good to see the Naval Infantry in use again - their last outing was some years ago!

Al said...

That is an especially cool mix of kit Tim, great post

Pete. said...

I'll look into transport options down to Shrivenham for the next one.

Cheers,

Pete.

Paul said...

A mans life is not complete without a armoured train of some sort.

To the research mobile!!!

Tim Gow said...

Paul
An armoured train is an essential acqusition! More on mine in this previous post: http://megablitzandmore.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/battle-of-mokra-1939-part-2.html