[BnW, 1942 UK vs Yugo] 2 - Operation Stranglehold

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SCENARIO 2 - OPERATION STRANGLEHOLD

Here we go, second battle. As predicted, the invasion of Krivo and Ostrvo Taige has triggered another full scale war. The hot front is the one in front of Kirkwall, where our strategy will be put to test. An initial feint at Westgate has triggered a big Yugoslavian counteroffensive: III Konjica Korpus has breached the riverline and established a bridgehead.

Kirkwall and Loxley are stationary, but further south our secret weapon awaits: the powerful V Assault Corps has cleared paths through the dense forests ahead of it, and it’s waiting to ford the river. The enemy has nothing here, so the crossing will be uncontested. They won’t stay undetected for long, but the assault troops are the ones tasked to win the battle and take the objective: severing the Sofia-Budapest lifeline.

The Lifeline is a well-maintained highway and railroad that links the two regional capitals, through which most of the military supplies flow. Cutting it would put enormous logistical strain on the concentration of Yugoslavian troops at Burgas and Budapest, possibly allowing for a frontwide push.






20/6/1942
The starting Yugoslavian assault is fierce, battering 100th and 102nd Infantry Divisions, but is rather unfocused and thus fails to break through our lines. A Regiment of 2nd Mehanizovane rushes forward but it’s swiftly encircled by 40th Armored Division and crushed by 15th Mechanized Division’s concerted effort.

100th and 102nd Infantry Division reorganize their formation to maximize AT coverage from two Support Regiments. 81st Infantry Division is detached from Kirkwall Corps to help.

The Kirkwall front is untouched. In front of Loxley, 41° Ironsides fords the swampy river and locates a minefield that will try to clear tomorrow. Two Heavy Artillery Regiments and an Artillery Regiment move in order to be able to support the advance. Two enemy CAS Wings are striking targets in this area; the local Support Regiments engage them until 81st, 82nd and 83rd Fighter Wings arrive. The British Fighters decimate the unescorted Yugoslavian planes.

9th, 10th and 11th Bomber Wings are sent north to maul a regiment of 3rd Mehanizovane Division and an armored one from 30th Tenkovske. The two regiments are fragmented from the bombings and are easy pickings for the following infantry counterattack.

In the south, V Assault Corps’ Ironsides Brigades lay field bridges over the river, allowing two full Mechanized Divisions ( and ) to cross it.


21/6/1942
If I wanted a stronger Yugoslavian push up north, I’ve got it: 100th Infantry Division is crushed in a series of fierce armored assaults and 9° Huszàr Brigade (rinomina in scen) pushes toward the massive military base behind Kirkwall. Fortunately, 81st Infantry Division is well positioned and stops their advance. 9th and 10th Bomber Wings strike the cavalry unit, which is then counterattacked by the infantry, but with little success.

An unknown Yugoslavian unit has severed the supply lines to 110th, 112th and 115th Infantry Divisions; 15th Mechanized is sent to re-open communications, and together with 40th Armored Division it annihilates another Regiment of the Yugoslavian 2nd Mehanizovane division. 101st Infantry Division is being pushed back by another Mehanizovane Regiment in the woods beside the river; the Yugoslavians are advancing in the gap between them and 102nd Infantry Division, heading straight for the Kirkwall Military Base. A regiment from 80th Infantry Division is sent to help defend it, just in case.

At Loxley, 41° Ironsides clear the minefield and advance further. Our heavy artillery shells a regiment of the enemy's 72nd Pesadija Division. 14th Mechanized Division starts fording the river as well. A massive furball births in the skies above the town, where three Interceptor Wings fight with two Fighter Wings. Our Fighters decimate an enemy formation, still equipped with older CAI-1 planes, but 82nd Fighter Wing has lost half its planes and redeploys north to escort our Bombers.

In the south, V Assault Corps keep advancing through the forest.

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VK-15

The high losses suffered in the 1940 war concerned the High Command despite the clear success enjoyed by the huszar brigades at large: after heated debates, the VK-10c cavalry tanks were deemed inadequate and due to be immediately replaced by a more modern design.

The Huszàrs’ high commanders fought tooth and nail with the War Committee to retain the key characteristics of the Legacy tanks: high mobility over rough terrain, ease of maintenance and large operational range. Several design bureaus submitted their projects, mostly designs already ready by 1940 but rejected in favor of the VK-10, and before the end of December 1940 consensus was reached over one of them: a Romanian design nicknamed Vulpea de Zăpadă (snow fox).

The actual production was divided among several industrial complexes, with the Sofia one being the biggest, to meet production quotas. Zastava’s industries were exempt due to their focus on medium tanks.

The new tank was a radical departure from the predecessor: sloped single plates, sloped turret sides, wide tracks, overall a much better tank. The armor was greatly improved in effectiveness without adding more weight, and the new engine kept a very good power-to-weight ratio. The original 40mm gun was kept. The Huszàrs approved the design and diverted the new tanks to first line's units. By 1942 the VK-15 was pretty widespread and was still a threat for enemy light and medium tanks, but higher production costs and time meant entire Brigades were still using the VK-10c variant.

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22/6/1942
I found out what unit managed to cut my northeastern forces off: it’s Yugoslavian 8th Huszàr Brigade. It’s alone, though, and far from its own supply routes, so I’ll try to crush it with the 15th Mechanized Division. Enemy forces keep pushing through the big gap between the decimated 101st Infantry Division and 40th Armored Division; 102nd Infantry Division has been eliminated in the morning assaults, with a single Regiment still able to fight. I’m moving 115th Infantry Division southward to flank the advancing enemy troops and engage their artillery regiments while 81st Infantry Division and a regiment from the 80th guard the Kirkwall military base. Enemy 9th Huszàr is overrun by the counterattacks and forced to surrender.

In the far north, a depleted enemy Regiment from 30th Tenkovske Division surrenders after several counterattacks by 110th and 112th Infantry Division, which also cut off a Mehanizovane regiment. Enemy 10th Pesadija Division is still pushing against Leyan.

In front of Loxley, heavy artillery bombardments shatter the Yugoslavian 72nd Infantry Division, allowing 41° Ironsides to push through their ranks, with 14th Mechanized Division following through.






23/6/1942
Enemy patrols spotted V Assault Corps swarming out of the southern forests.

8th Huszàr is encircled and surrenders after heavy fighting against 15th Mechanized Division. I launch a counterattack to encircle the Yugoslavian forces that are pushing against Kirkwall’s military base’s defensive perimeter; this could be the turning point of the entire northern battlefield. A Regiment of the Yugoslavian 30th Tenkovske Division is trying to cut off the remains of 101st Infantry Division, but a counterattack from 80th Infantry Division stalls them.

At Loxley, 14th Mechanized has dislodged most of enemy 72nd Pesadija Division from its starting positions; 41° Ironsides has pulled back to regroup and the heavy artillery regiments are repositioning to better support the offensive.




24/6/1942
Enemy’s 10th Pesadija Division keeps pushing in the far north, separating 110th and 112th Infantry Division; I’m forced to withdraw them a bit to reorganize. Worst scenario, I lost the area and VI Infantry Corps’ HQ, which would lower my supply levels in the scenario; it’s not the end of the world, though.

The enemy push toward Kirkwall has stalled due to high losses, and my encirclement has doomed their push. My troops are exhausted, so I decide to finish off some decimated Yugoslavian units and consolidate my positions. The 101st Infantry Division was cut off by enemy armor, but the 80th Infantry counterattacked and reopened communications. Enemy forces in the area are depleted but refuse to give up.

The offensive at Loxley is halted by minefields and an enemy’s Strongpoint just behind; 41° Ironsides is called back to the front to clear the mines while heavy artillery resume their shelling of enemy positions.

In the south, enemy forces counterattack the leading elements of V Assault Corps. 13° Huszàr Brigade strikes at 12th Mechanized Division, but fortunately it’s still equipped with older light tanks and doesn’t inflict too many losses. 38° Ironsides rushes forward to face the threat, while 12th and 13th Mechanized take defensive positions along the river. We’d better wait for the rest of the Ironside Brigades to come up before trying to push through; if the enemy tries to attack us through the river, so be it.





25/6/1942
I manage to evacuate the remains of 110th Infantry Division and VI Infantry Corps HQ from the northern pocket. The remaining Yugoslavian troops near Kirkwall either surrends or are encircled and without hope. The Yugoslavian air forces try to relieve the pressure with bombing runs with their CAS Wings, but AA fire and my own Fighters slaughter them, a full CAS Wing being destroyed in the furball.

The 14th Mechanized’s attack has stalled, but 41° Ironsides has cut a path through enemy minefields. Heavy artillery keep pounding at enemy positions.

V Assault Corps’ advance has stalled as well: the enemy didn’t attack through the river, rather deciding to wait for us to do it. 38° Ironsides pushes back an enemy Motostrelci Regiment with ease and 40th Ironsides follows through, occupying the village across the river. Assigned artillery and anti-tank regiments are still too far to support the attack, but the Corps’ HQ has arrived, providing c&c for my forces. I’ll try an all-out attack tomorrow.


26/6/1942
In the north, the Yugoslavian forces have collapsed; isolated pockets of resistance are being crushed one by one, and I’m already positioning my troops to retake Westgate. Enemy Interceptors jump on 11th Bomber Wing and despite suffering heavy losses from AA guns’ retailation, they manage to functionally destroy it.

At Loxley, 14th Mechanized and 41° Ironsides keep pushing against enemy troops, but progress is very slow.

In the south, however, the situation has shifted dramatically. Exploiting a gap in the enemy lines in front of the riverside village, my Ironsides Brigades have broken through enemy lines; 12th and 13th Mechanized Divisions have rushed through the gaps, further fragmenting enemy formations until a proper breakthrough has been achieved. The whole enemy V Rezerve Korpus is in disarray, with 13th Huszàr Brigade decimated in the fighting along with 4th Mehanizovane and 42nd Motostrelci. 9th and 10th Bomber Wings strike ground targets to hamper any immediate counterattack.

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27/6/1942
Westgate is on sight: Yugoslavian III Konjica Korpus HQ that occupied the town is pushed back by 15th Mechanized’s attack. Bombardment of the Yugoslavian Strongpoint behind the town commence.

The Yugoslavian Strongpoint in front of Loxley is destroyed by the concerted assault of 14th Mechanized and 41° Ironsides. Enemy’s 70th Pesadija Division is guarding the road ahead.

V Assault Corps further widens its bridgehead south, dispersing enemy’s V Rezerva Korpus.


28-29/6/1942
The assault on Westbridge has commenced: 15th Mechanized occupies the town proper and, with the support of two Artillery Regiments, engages the Strongpoint right outside it.

The advance from Loxley has failed: Yugoslavian reinforcements are pouring in, and both 14th Mechanized and 41° Ironsides are exhausted. To avoid overextension and preserve the river crossing, a general retreat is ordered.

In the south, V Assault Corps advances on Svishtov, leaving some Mechanized forces to deal with enemy stragglers. It’s imperative the Corps doesn’t waste too much time with them, so I’ll call the Bomber Wings to destroy them instead of wasting entire Regiments chasing them.




30/6/1942
With the retaking of Westgate, the Federal Command ponders whether it would be worth it to push for all the northern river’s crossings. It ultimately decides to leave the decision to us. The first crossing is at Kardzhali: if we take it, an additional Mechanized Division will be assigned to VI Infantry Corps (at a small cost) and the objective to take all the crossings will be added to the Operation. If we get the reinforcements but fail to take the crossings by the end of the battle, further resources will be deducted. I decide to try and take the prize. The first step is to clear the way: 15th Mechanized resumes the assaults against the enemy Strongpoint and destroys it; right behind them, a Pioneer Battalion takes position in the town, ready to build a temporary bridge to facilitate the crossing.

Enemy’s 20th Tenkovske Division shows up at Loxley as I retreat the last units from the western bank. The situation looks dire, but our own Strongpoint guards the crossing and another Support Regiment is just behind. 14th Mechanized receives some reinforcements to make up for the significant losses suffered in the previous battles.

V Assault Corps starts its attack against Svishtov, where several Pesadija Divisions have taken up defensive positions. The Ironsides Brigades lead the charge and break through the enemy lines thanks to their lack of dedicated anti-tank units. One regiment of 77th Pesadija Division is isolated by the Ironsides’ advance and almost annihilated by the following Mechanized forces. The last stragglers from V Rezerva Korpus are dealt with.






1/7/1942
VI Infantry Corps pours through the new bridge at Westgate, taking Silistra and moving on.

Loxley front is uncertain: 20th Tenkovske is rolling forward but my defensive positions look solid enough. 9th and 10th Bomber Wing attack the enemy armored formations.

The offensive at Svishtov isolates another enemy Pesadija Regiment, which is immediately crushed around noon. The Ironsides reach the town’s outskirts, where the V Rezerva Korpus’ HQ is located.




2-3/7/1942
Svishtov and Kardzhali fall. At Loxley, enemy 20th Tenkovske tries to cross the bridge, but the massive artillery concentration on our side of the river cripples them, then several counterattacks by 14th Mechanized Division crush every bridgehead they try to establish.

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Vauxhall Motors MK-7 “Demolisher”

The shortcomings of the “Duke” became apparent during the disastrous 1940 Winter Campaign against Yugoslavia, where the complicated design was stricken by dozens of reliability problems. The tank was quickly set up for replacement, and this time the War Cabinet wanted the new tank to be designed by a single manufacturer. Vickers folded: they were using the revenue from the “Dukes” to build new factories specifically to avoid needing a bigger partner to meet quotas, and were consequently unable to take part in the late 1940 competition.

Vauxhall, instead, was ready with another design, which was being developed before 1940. It lacked the numerous advanced solutions that the “Duke” originally boasted, in favor of a streamlined design built for raw power.

The MK41 had a boxy hull and a blocky turret, but the armor was thick enough to offset the lack of sloping. The big 6pdr gun had excellent anti-tank and high explosive performance, and the engine was adequate for the 40t vehicle. The tank had a very high profile and a questionable agility on rough terrain, but it was tough, reliable and hit hard. The War Cabinet was quick to approve the design for mass production.

As the surviving “Dukes” were moved to second-line troops and fronts, the “Demolisher” took their place. In 1942, it was starting to be overtaken by newer foreign designs, but it was still a brutally effective tank.

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4/7/1942
The conquest of Svishtov forces the enemy to retreat from the Kirkwall area in fear of an encirclement: the entire XX Pesadija Korpus starts pulling back. 80th Infantry Division immediately takes advantage of the situation and starts engaging the Yugoslavian Strongpoint in front of Kirkwall itself.

15th Mechanized Division is heading toward Tirgoviste, whose bridge has to be taken now that the Federal Command has given us control of 16th Mechanized Division to push forward. 40th Armored Division stays around Kardzhali and waits for the infantry to catch up.

The enemy retreat can put the V Assault Corps under threat of being cut off from supplies, so it has to split its forces: the Ironsides Brigades will keep advancing on the primary objective at Vidin supported by an Artillery Regiment and 13th Mechanized Division. 12th Mechanized will defend Svishtov, helped by a Support Regiment and an Artillery one. An enemy Engineer Battalion has already mined the Svishtov-Vidin road, forcing our troops to cross the country.

At Loxley, the enemy retreat favors yet another offensive by 41° Ironsides and 14th Mechanized; thanks to their repeated failed attempts at crossing the river, the Yugoslavian 20th Tenkovske Division is exhausted and decimated, making the first attack successful.




5/7/1942
I fear I’ve overextended my lines: enemy’s 40th Motostrelci and the remains of 40th Tenkovske are en route to cut off V Assault Corps’ supply lines, just as it’s starting its assault against Vidin. The objective itself is well fortified, with two entrenched Pesadija Divisions supported by a Podzdravaju Regiment and the Yugoslavian 5th Armija’s HQ. 38° and 32° Ironsides are ordered to press on the attack before the enemy cuts us off; the first assaults manage to drive off an enemy Regiment and cripple another.

15th Mechanized reach Tirgoviste, but there is a Strongpoint guarding the bridge, so it has to wait for the artillery. Enemy infantry around Kyustendil is moving west, with some units fighting a rearguard action to stop any kind of pursuit.

The planned offensive off Loxley promptly fails as we discover enemy 72nd Pesadija Division is still entrenched over the main road and supported by artillery.






6/7/1942
The assault on Vidin goes on, with some success but high losses. Fortunately, the enemy mobile forces have decided not to cut off Svishtov just yet, but instead rush the town. The defending 12th Mechanized Division counterattacks a Motostrelci Regiment and with the help of our Bombers it destroys it.

The assault on Tirgoviste starts with heavy shelling from our artillery regiment, then a full scale assault by 15th Mechanized Division. The town garrison is decimated, although our losses are considerable.

16th Mechanized is diverted to the Kyustendil area, where 80th Infantry Division was pushed back toward Kirkwall after its failed advance. The depleted 40th Armored Division is trying to link up with Svishtov.

14th Mechanized Division and 41° Ironsides retreat yet again behind Loxley.

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7/7/1942
Vidin falls to repeated assaults, securing the primary objective! 12th Mechanized is still holding Svishtov and 40th Armored managed to link up with it. Several Pesadija Divisions are heading toward the town, so the situation is still dangerous.

Our troops are near Kyustendil, but the town is defended by a Strongpoint and our units in the area are a bit too weak to mount an assault; thanks to 16th Mechanized, however, we managed to overrun the enemy artillery regiments, including the capture of many 200mm heavy guns.

In the north, 15th Mechanized conquered Tirgoviste and is now heading toward the final bridge.




8/7/1942
Enemy forces finally cut off Svishtov, but thanks to 40th Armored Division the city is supplied by the northern road. The 12th Mechanized Division is withstanding the enemy armored assaults on the town, awaiting help.

15th Mechanized rushes west, but it’s beaten to the third bridge by 32° Ironsides. Vidin is secured, with the scattered Yugoslavian defenders being eliminated piece by piece.

Kirkwall Corps swarms around Kyustendil, but the Yugoslavian forces refuse to be pinned down and keep moving west.




9/7/1942
With Vidin secured, 38° and 40° Ironsides are driving back to Svishtov, where the enemy assaults are wearing down the defenses. 15th Mechanized is heading toward the town, too, and 40th Armored is trying to slow down the enemy infantry moving west.


10/7/1942
VI and Kirkwall Corps are finally forced to fall back, unable to stop XX Pesadija Korpus from moving west. Around Svishtov, however, V Assault Corps and 15th Mechanized Division have formed a strong defensive perimeter against any assault. With supplies coming from the northern road, the town is unlikely to fall.


11-12/7/1942
Yugoslavian troops keep attacking the Svishtov defensive perimeter, with little success. With the arrival of several Ironsides Brigades, the V Assault Corps launches counterattacks on the northern side, turning the tide. Further east, the enemy positions near Loxley are finally broken, allowing the last (and finally successful) push from 14th Mechanized and 41° Ironsides out of the bridgehead.

The Yugoslavian collapse all around the battlefield allows for a last offense against Kazanlak, potentially securing another prize. 13th Mechanized Division sends two of its Regiments, and 30° Ironsides follows through. The city appears to be defended only by a single Support Regiment.




13-15/7/1942
Kazanlak is captured on 13th June. The last Yugoslavian forces in the area try to flee as the 10th army consolidates its position. The battle is won and every objective is taken: a veritable triumph!