Start prestige: 684. End prestige: 909.
New units purchased: Elite Panzer (deploy), bruckpioniere (T2), cavalry (T5), Ju87 (T6).
Units lost: Core -- one cavalry, two Ju87s, one Panzer; auxiliary -- practically all the units around Izyum, one Panzer, one infantry.
Medals: none. Heroes: none.
Not a terribly difficult scenario, although once again I think I was a little too aggressive for my own good. The Russians made hash of the auxiliary units around Izyum, then made an effort to cross the Donets. Using the Donets as a defensive line I was able to prevent the Russians from gaining any more ground. The AI had a bit of trouble trying to get across the river; it kept pushing units in the bridgeheads at 20,15; 14,17; and 16,21. I was easily able to defeat these attempts, especially since the AI seemed to push some odd units into these bottlenecks, such as the katayushas, which seemed to be a waste.
I was able to cross the Donets in the far north (and received another captured T-34, at Troits'ke) and in the south near Severodonetsk. From there it was a matter of rolling up the Russian flanks. I made the mistake of understimating the remaining Russian forces; it was here that I lost a Panzer while attempting to cross the Donets, and two (ugh) Ju-87s to a well-executed Red Air Force ambush south of Izyum. Duely chastened, I proceeded with much more caution, and thankfully lost no more units in the mission. I destroyed the last Russian defenders in Izyum on turn 9, and cleared my final objective (Severdonetsk) on turn 12.
Overall, a good battle. A debacle for the Russian AI, but then the historical event was also a debacle, so no surprise there. I am learning that the Russians are much tougher now, and that not properly ensuring good air cover (both for bombers and ground forces) is really costing me. Good to see the Russian AI is using its air forces so well. Perhaps it can brush up on its river-crossing skills.
Next up, Simferopol!
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