[Ts4EVER]

Hi,
back again with more scenarios. In the last months (basically since late last year) I have been working on a new large scale scenario project, similar to my Rhineland scenario series.
Sadly I wasn't able to get the first part finished in time for the patch, but at least there will be a lot of time to test them, I guess...
Anyway, the series is about the 2nd battle of Kharkov in May 1942, the Russian attempt to regain the city after its loss in 1941. This time I was able to use the advanced editor as well as the venhola site, allowing me to make really realistic and good looking maps.
Each scenario is designed to be played from one side and in fact some might not work with the AI at all, since I made an effort to include unusual scnearios or win conditions. Many of the scenarios will be linked, so if you play them in order you might end up playing against the same force you commanded in the last battle...
The first part of the series covers the first two days of the Russian offensive in 8 scenarios.
Anyway, these are the scenarios:

This intro is in each scenario but I will only write it down once here:

Background 2nd Battle of Kharkov: Following the successful winter offensives in 1941, Stalin was keen to keep the pressure on the enemy, hoping to preempt another assault on Moscow with his own offensive. He was especially in favor of going on the offensive in the Kharkov sector, the city having fallen to the enemy in the summer of 1941. The attack was to be undertaken by the South-West-Front in a pincer movement, from the Barvenkovo salient and the Stariy Saltov bridgehead. Once massed artillery had broken through the German line, mobile group would be fed into the breaches to encircle AOK6 and reconquer Kharkov. However, due to supply issues, especially with artillery ammunition, as well as the undetected presence of German mobile reserves, the plan soon proved ill-advised...

Tank Panic at Fedorovka

Soviet Union
vs.
Germany

Date: 12th of May, 1942
0645 Hours
Location: North-East of Kharkov

Briefing: You are in command of a battalion of the 226th Rifle Division, supported by engineers and tanks from the 36th tank brigade. The tanks are foreign models with very good armor, but they don't have HE ammunition, making the destruction of antitank guns problematic. Your task on this first day of the offensive:
Cross the Babka river in a fast and decisive movement with your infantry and tanks. Then seize Hill 199 from the German forces occupying it and advance in the direction of Nepokrytaya. Clear mines along the river before advancing your tanks. Our artillery support is limited and we have no heavy guns on call, but the long stalemate allowed us to map out German defenses and prepare target reference points.

Your enemy is infantry in depleted battalion strength. They are part of "Gruppe Winkler", an improvised unit of the 294. Infanterie-Division. The enemy is positioned in trenches and had time to erect barbed wire obstacles and plant mines. We believe that they have antitank guns in support, but the armor of our English tanks should withstand most models.

Historical Scenario, designed to be played as the Russians.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS

Historical outcome: The Russian attack in this sector was swift and well-prepared. General-Major Aleksandr Gorbatov's 226th Rifle-Division managed to cross the Babka river with a rifle battalion and 14 Matilda and Valentine tanks. Gruppe Winkler was dug-in, but after their only 5cm anti-tank piece was knocked out, the infantry panicked, much like the French and Russians had in 1940 and 1941. They abandoned their positions and retreated towards Nepokrytaya in an unorganized rout, the Russian tanks in Hot Pursuit, thus exposing the flank of Gruppe Reck in Peschanoye to the south.

Desperate Stand

Soviet Union
vs.
Germany

Date: 12th of May, 1942
1000 Hours
Location: North-East of Kharkov

Briefing: You are in the unenviable shoes of the commander of Gruppe Winkler. While reports are confused, it is clear that the bulk of your infantry has just fled before a strong Soviet offensive and are streaming towards your regimental command post in the rown of Nepokrytaya in a confused and unorganized manner. The retention of this important road hub is of the utmost importance, so a defense must be organized immediately.
Under your immediate command you have: 2 artillery batteries (10.5cm), a group of artillerymen hastily outfitted with infantry weapons, some flak and your regimental staff. Remnants of the infantry are fleeing towards Nepokrytaya and will come under your command in a piecemeal fashion. The guns have been supporting the infantry throughout the morning and are all but out of HE ammunition, however, in light of the heavy Russian tanks they all have some emergency tank defeating ammunition on hand that might prove useful, provided the guns are brought into good ambush positions.

The exact makeup of the enemy force is unknown, but stragglers report heavy tanks, as well as infantry.

Historical Scenario, designed to be played as the Germans. In fact, the German ai will not cope with this scenario well.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS

Historical outcome: Overconfident from their remarkable success earlier in the morning, Russian tanks of the 36th tank brigade raced ahead of their infantry into the town of Nepokrytaya. In a desperate move, 2 German artillery batteries engaged the armor in close combat, knocking out 6 Matilda tanks and beating back the attack. The town had to be abandoned in the evening, after the guns had expended all ammunition. The lack of effective antitank guns meant that the Germans were forced to use their divisional artillery in this role throughout the campaign, leading to the loss of not fewer than 16 batteries throughout AOK 6.

Falling Back

Soviet Union
vs.
Germany

Date: 12th of May, 1942
1220 Hours
Location: North-East of Kharkov

Briefing: You are in command of Gruppe Reck, a task force of the 294. Infanterie-Division. You were originally tasked with holding the strongpoint in the village of Peschanoye, but the disorderly retreat of Gruppe Winkler from Hill 199 has made this task impossible. Soviet units have infiltrated the terrain in your flanks and are preparing to envelop your unit. Because of the serious situation, you have prepared an orderly retreat into fallback positions to your south-west.
Gruppe Winkler consists of two infantry companies and your regimental staff, as well as heavy support weapons. These weapons have already fallen back towards the new positions and are set up to provide covering fire. Your unit is one of the first to have received the new MG42, which should prove useful in this scenario. Pull back your battered forces from Peschanoye immediately and set up a series of delaying positions in front of your new front line. Note that the victory hexes in Peschanoye are of low value, since you have decided to give up your position. However, your infantry units and especially your staff will give the enemy additional points when defeated, so pull them out of the village to preserve them for future battles.

The enemy consists of the 124th Rifle Division, supported by the 13th tank brigade. They have all but enveloped your initial position and will attack you from three sides, if given the chance. Assume that you are heavily outnumbered.

Historical Scenario, designed to be played as the Germans. In fact, the German ai will not cope with this scenario well.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS

Historical outcome: In contrast to the rout of Gruppe Winkler, Gruppe Reck managed to stage an orderly retreat out of their untenable positions in Peschanoye, inflicting serious casualties on the pursuing Soviets by utilising their new machine guns.

Overmatched at Grushino

Soviet Union
vs.
Germany

Date: 12th of May, 1942
0630 Hours
Location: South of Kharkov

Briefing: You have been assigned to command a rifle battalion of the 393rd Rifle Division, part of Army Group Bobkin. Your task is to mount a fixing attack against German elements in front of the village of Grushino, in support of our main effort to the north. The artillery preparation will begin at 0630 against identified German trenches. In addition to your battalion support weapons, a few tanks from the 7th tank brigade have been assigned to your force. Due to a clerical error, air support is not available.
Your task is as follows: Attack immediately after the artillery preparation. Seize the enemy positions and drive them out of the village of Grushina. Then feed your divisional cavalry scouts into the penetration and scout in a south-western direction to investigate the possibility of a deep penetration towards Krasnograd.

The Germans holding this sector belong to the 454. Sicherungs-Division. This is a rear-area unit that is mostly equipped with obsolete and captured weapons. We do not expect heavy antitank weapons or armor, but there will be obstacles and mines in front of their positions.

Historical Scenario, designed to be played as the Russians.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS

Historical outcome: The 454. Sicherungs-Division was completely overwhelmed by the initial attack. Their elderly and looted weapons proved no match for the heavy Russian armor and they had only been issued with exactly ten of the new Stielgranate 41 ammunition, which had been designed to make the old Pak35 gun viable again. By 1000 they had retreated up to 6km. Bobkin realised a golden opportunity lay before him: He brought up his 6th Cavalry Corps and committed it into the breakthrough by the evening, hoping to exploit quickly towards Krasnograd.

Bloody Dawn

Soviet Union
vs.
Germany

Date: 13th of May, 1942
0730 Hours
Location: North-East of Kharkov

Briefing: The second day of the Soviet offensive has just dawned. You are in command of a rifle battalion of the 175th. Rifle Division. Yesterday evening your forces managed to encircle the German Stuetzpunkt at Varvarovka, which is held by a small force of about 200 Germans from the 79. Infanterie-Division. A strong German counterattack prevented further progress, but today your units are ready for the final assault on Varvarovka.
Clear the strongpoint of German troops by launching a concentric attack against the dug-in German. You have additional machine-guns, artillery and air support available. Tanks from the 84th tank brigade are in the process of moving westwards and some might support your attack later. After taking Varvarovka, our forces will envelop the village of Ternovaya to the east, which is believed to be held by Germans in regimental strength.

The force holding the village consists of about 200 Germans. They might have some mortars and guns in support. If we push them hard, they could very well attempt to break out of our encirclement by attacking towards the west.

Historical Scenario, designed to be played as the Russians.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS

Historical outcome: The village of Varvarovka was overrun by Soviet forces early on the 13th of March. The Russians advanced west next, in an effort to also encircle the more substantial strongpoint at Ternovaya, which was held by Kampfgruppe Grüner. A skillful delaying action kept the Russians from enveloping the village and the Soviets decided to bypass it instead, leaving it as a thorn in their rear in the days to come.

Schmidt-Ott attacks

Soviet Union
vs.
Germany

Date: 13th of May, 1942
1300 Hours
Location: North-East of Kharkov

Briefing: By the middle of the second day, things were looking grim in the north-eastern sector of the offensive. The front of the 294. Infanterie-Division had been shattered, with Russian troops from the 226th Rifle Division a mere 18 km away from Kharkov. It was now that the Germans launched the first of their counter offensives, much quicker than the Russian high command had anticipated.
You are playing as Oberstltn. Schmidt-Ott, commander of the Kampfgruppe named after him. It consists of the 3rd Battalion, Panzer-Regiment 6 and 1st Battalion, Schuetzen-Regiment 3, both part of the 3rd Panzer-Division. In this battle you will directly command the spearhead of this Kampfgruppe, consisting of one company from each of the regiments. A towed artillery battery will also arrive on the battlefield shortly. Having finished their mission over the Crimea, the Stukas of STG77 have been assigned to this sector and stand by to give your force close air support. You have just started your assault against the 124th Rifle Division, aiming in the direction of Nepokrytaya, which was lost to the enemy yesterday evening. You have already broken through several Russian regiments, which were unsupported and routed by the suddenly appearing Panzers.

The Russian division has been shattered and is completely disorganized. Push them out of your way and seize the approach to Nepokrytaya.

Historical Scenario, designed to be played as the Germans.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS

Historical outcome: In a reverse of the situation of the previous day, the Russians were forced to turn their divisional artillery against the marauding Panzers, however, they only managed to knock out 3 of them before they were forced to retreat towards Nepokrytaya. Their flank in danger, the 226th Rifle Division was also forced to pull back from their spearhead positions near Kharkov. In a puzzling move, the Soviets had combined the 13th, 36th and 133rd into the ad hoc 22nd tank corps and pulled them from the line, exposing their infantry. Faced with the sudden German attack, parts of the corps were committed to stabilize the situation, but accomplished little for the cost of ten tanks.

To the green fields beyond

Soviet Union
vs.
Germany


Date: 13th of May, 1942
1130 Hours
Location: South of Kharkov

Briefing: On the 9th October 1760, Frederick the Great's Berlin surrendered to a force of Austrian light cavalry and cossacks that had penetrated far behind Prussian lines on one of their feared raiding missions. As the commander of a task force belonging to the 137th Cavalry regiment, you find yourself part of that proud tradition. Yesterday Russian forces penetrated the enemy lines near Grushino with surprising ease, allowing deep exploitation towards Krasnograd. Under your command are two cavalry companies, a battery of light artillery and a platoon of BT fast tanks from 7th tank brigade. These light tanks are obsolete, but the only models quick enough to keep up with a cavalry advance.
Your task is to reach and secure the bridge over the Orel river and move on in the direction of Krasnograd. On the way you are to annihilate the rest of the shattered enemy security forces, which are strung out along the road in panicked retreat. The destruction of enemy ammunition carriers and transport will net you additional victory points.

Your enemy is the ill-fated 454. Sicherungs-Division. Ill equipped and ejected from their dugouts, they should be able to offer only little resistance, but they might have been able to tow away some of their light antitank guns.

Historical Scenario, designed to be played as the Russians.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS

Historical outcome: A lightning advance allowed the Soviets to cross the Orel river, advancing towards Krasnograd, which at this point was virtually undefended.

Into the gap

Soviet Union
vs.
Germany

Date: 13th of May, 1942
1200 Hours
Location: South of Kharkov

Briefing: When the Russians started their offensive for Kharkov, they had not anticipated how close some German reserve units were stationed to the breakthrough sectors. You are in command of a battalion of one such unit, the 113. Infanterie-Division. In addition to your organic heavy support weapons, you have elements of the 244. Stug-Abteilung in support. While their vehicles are not equipped with the new long 75mm gun, they have a few HEAT rounds that can defeat Russian tanks. Most of you organic antitank weapons consist of the outdated Pak 36, but some have been issued with the new Stielgranate 41 round. Note that these are only effective over very short distances though. Your force is in the process of arriving on the Kharkov battlefield and will enter combat piecemeal. You will have to decide which part of your line needs reinforcements most.
Yesterday the 454. Sicherungs-Division routed in the face of a strong enemy attack. Your task is to plug the resulting gap in the German line by creating a new defensive line along the Orel river at Efremovka. To achieve this, you need to seize key terrain on your side of the river before the Russians arrive, hold it and then, if at all possible, launch a counter stroke to push the Soviets back from the river. After the battlefield is under our control, we can start to consolidate our positions and dig in.

Intelligence is confused, but it appears you are facing elements of the 266th Rifle Division and the 38th tank brigade. The Russians have ample air support as well.

Historical Scenario, designed to be played as the Germans.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS

The 113. Infanterie-Division reached Efremovka in the nick of time and managed to establish a new defensive line. A five battalion counter attack in the evening threw the Soviets back across the river and stabilized the situation. However, Russian cavalry was still streaming through the Grushino corridor in the direction of Krasnograd.

PLEASE NOTE: With the release of winSPWW2V12 these scenarios have been added to the patch as 766-773 and the earlier ones in this thread had been added previously