Slitherine

England:
Von Rundstedt is happy that the StuG IIIG arrived as well. However, the OKW also asked about his strategy or at least his plan for England as he keeps asking for more units but London still hasn’t fallen…

Turn 44 – 29 March 1943
Weather: clear and dry

Ostfront:
The sun is back… and we survived the second winter without a major Soviet winter offensive! However, the regular fights continue around Moscow.
In the Caucasus, the Russian tank army is moving towards Voroshilovsk and von Manstein ordered his troops to evacuate the city. Maybe some tanks can finally be trapped in the city and forests around it?
Grozny and the oil field remain under Axis control.

North Africa:
Rommel sent the Luftwaffe towards Mersa Matruh to scout for more British tanks. In the meantime a British battleship, the HMS Valiant, appeared close to the coast. She must have come from Alexandria, Rommel is wondering what she is looking for?
First Americans arrived in the area around Tunis, however a bit half-heartedly… and the German Tigers arrived as well, out of fuel as usual of course, even when coming by boat over the sea…
Meanwhile, some Italian destroyers are under repair in Genoa and Nizza (Nice).

Western Europe:
Another target for Dönitz’s submarines arrived, the battleship USS Massachusetts, also known as "Big Mamie"…
More bombers over German cities, it looks like the Luftwaffe is starting to lose control over the airspace in the West. OKW is wondering what they should invest in, tanks/ATs or planes?
England:
It’s a tough fight down in the South of England, the Brits are actively defending every inch of this beautiful island. And of course, our recon unit was lost immediately…

Turn 45 – 13 April 1943
Weather: clear and dry

Ostfront:
Archangelsk has been seized and the majority of the troops is already back on its way to support the attack on Vologda. However, due to its remote location, OKW considers to leave an infantry unit behind as garrison troops.
Due to the long winter and the lack of heavy armor, the attack on Vologda took much longer than planned. Rybinsk and Yaroslavl further South will need to be cleared as well, preferably this summer. This is important in preparation of a later advance towards Gorky East of Moscow.
However until then, Guderian remains busy defending the line between Bryansk and Kaluga. It is surprising to see that the Soviets even attack entrenched infantry units backed up by artillery. Maybe they didn’t notice the artillery though.

Konotop was occupied by a Russian recon tank and von Kleist positioned a StuG behind the bridge across the Desna River on the way to Gomel.
Von Manstein’s plan might work, heavy Russian tanks recaptured Voroshilovsk and went into the forests around it as well. Timing will be of essence now. If possible, their way out towards the North-West should be cut off by Axis troops as well.
North Africa:
Rommel’s tanks took some beating again but the “foxtrot” around Tobruk continues as usual.

Tunis remains quiet except for some British bombers along the coast.
England:
Dönitz is really impressed by the size and strength of the British home fleet but he is also wondering why they don’t try to break through the Strait of Dover to interrupt von Rundstedt’s supply lines. He now orders a preemptive submarine attack just in case.
Norway:
A British commando operation seized the undefended Oslo port and airport but the Italians came down from Trondheim to put things back in order.

Turn 46 – 28 April 1943
Weather: clear and dry

Ostfront:
Von Kleist ordered recon planes to scout the area near Kharkov and a massive Russian tank army has been spotted North of Kharkov towards Kursk. Von Kleist reckons this might just be the tip of the iceberg so he informed Guderian as well. They plan to meet soon to discuss any potential steps as there seems to be a real threat for the front line in the center now. However, von Kleist’s new Army Group Center isn’t equipped yet to take any preemptive actions and Guderian still has enough on its plate in the North as well.
The Russian tanks around Voroshilovsk noticed the trap but von Manstein is trying to cut off their way out in the North.
Further South, Paulus captured Yerevan at the Turkish border to secure his flanks before moving further East towards Baku.

North Africa:
First American tanks reached the Italian positions West of Tunis/South of Annaba and US infantry units occupied Kasserine Pass.
Two strong British battleships, HMS Nelson and HMS Rodney, along with Allied planes appeared at the Balearic Islands hunting down the remainder of the Regia Marina. When Rommel heard this he got really concerned as their naval gunfire can become a real issue for the Italian troops around Tunis. Something needs to happen quickly to prevent this! Unfortunately, he can’t send the two Italian battleships around Tobruk as he is still short on fuel. What is the Luftwaffe up to the next few weeks by the way, anyone around to take this on?
Norway:
The British commando unit has been found in Oslo.

Turn 47 – 13 May 1943
Weather: clear and dry

Ostfront:
The Spanish División Azul captured Vologda airport.
Unfortunately, von Manstein wasn’t able to close the pocket of Voroshilovsk so some Russian tanks escaped North but the Russians lost at least the heavy KVs in the city/forests.
Balkans:
Continued partisan activities around Pristina were reported.

North Africa:
Rommel in the direct face off with Sherman III tanks East of Halfaya Pass.
The Italians are pushing the US troops back into the mountains while Rommel warns not to over-stretch the defense ring around Tunis though. More US reserves might be on their way.
England:
Von Rundstedt is repelling tank attack after tank attack. He wasn’t able to go onto the offensive towards London yet. Heavy artillery is on its way and should help make a difference soon.

Turn 48 – 28 May 1943
Weather: clear and dry

Ostfront:
Again more tanks around Vologda, maybe Guderian should send some armor to eventually clear the situation?
New Russian tank attack on Moscow as well.
Same thing around Bryansk!

Slowly von Manstein seems to be getting the upper hand in the Northern Caucasus now.
Paulus reached the West coast of the Caspian Sea and started the attack on Makhachkala.
At the same time his Southern pincer is advancing towards Baku.

North Africa:
As predicted, the British battleships headed to the coast of Tunis. At the same time heavy US infantry appears along a line from Annaba to the Kasserine Pass. Further behind a US tank can be seen crossing Kasserine Pass as well.
England:
Von Rundstedt decided to clear Sussex and Kent first and then attack London from the South-West. Gatwick airport has been seized already. OKW feels relieved to finally see some progress on the British Isles. The Luftwaffe believes that the RAF needs to be stripped of its airfields as soon as possible as the Luftwaffe has finally lost the initiative in the West.

Turn 49 – 12 June 1943
Weather: rain and dry

Ostfront:
Russian recon tanks are crossing the Kuma River from the North. No additional operations or activities to be reported along the entire Ostfront.
North Africa:
The situation around Halfaya Pass seems under control so far.
Italian units are retreating back towards Tunis due to the bad weather while US troops continue their attack. Surprisingly, the two British battleships disappeared again?

Turn 50 – 27 June 1943
Weather: clear and dry

Overall situation:
The OKW is worried as only limited progress has been made since the last assessment of the overall situation. After having completed 50 turns, overall timing might become an issue now as well. In addition, prestige and fuel remain low while three core slots are open.
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Furthermore, the Luftwaffe lost control over the airspace in the West, both in the European and in the Mediterranean/North African theaters. Potential consequences for Operation Sea Lion are unclear. Nonetheless, the OKW sees no change in the short to mid-term objectives.
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Ostfront:
The Finns spotted a Russian recon tank on the East banks of the Northern Dvina River. Is it on its way to Archangelsk?
Vologda is still under attack by infantry units only.
Overall, Army Group North is facing two full scale Russian tank offensives, one directed at Moscow and one further South directed at the line Bryansk-Kaluga.

The situation in the area of Army Group Center is still under control. However, von Kleist urges to receive new and stronger AT equipment as he is expecting another Russian offensive similar to the one that Guderian is already facing. OKW only sent him some Ferdinands for now…
For a change, von Manstein seems doing OK in the Northern Caucasus.
Paulus’ infantry instead is facing additional tanks on its way to Baku… in an entirely flat area! Paulus hopes to be able to track the tanks into the woods and hills.

Northern Africa:
Rommel is still facing heavy British tanks East of Halfaya Pass.
The US attacks on the area West of Tunis continue as well.

Balkans:
In the Balkans, Axis occupation forces lost control over an area from Belgrade to Spilt and Dubrovnik at the Adriatic Sea.
England:
Von Rundstedt is making some progress in the South of London. However, OKW is very worried about the limited air defense capabilities along the entire Western front.
Norway:
And if all this wasn’t enough yet… alarm in Norway! West of Trondheim, a British amphibious landing is under way. A German destroyer had guarded the coast of Norway and sent a warning to the troops in Norway.