Graviteam Tactics: Mius-Front News

At September 14, 1941 German troops captured Lokhvitsa and Lubny. 9TD (1TA) approached to Lokhvitsa from the southeast, and 3TD (2TA) approached from the north. On September 15, the encirclement around the 5, 21, 26 and 37 Soviet armies of the SWF closed. The HQ of the SWF was also encircled. On the night of September 18, the Stavka allowed the 37A troops to leave Kiev. The order to encircled armies of the SWF to break through to the east, was given on the evening of September 17. 38 and 40As, which were outside the encirclement, were supposed to support the exit of the encircled troops of the SWF by attacking Romny and Lubny.
In the defense zone of the SWF, from the Southern Front, 2CC (5, 9CDs) was transferred, on the basis of which the Cavalry Mechanized Group (CMG) of General Belov was formed: 2CC, 1, 129TBdes and 100RD. The CMG units of Belov were tasked with delivering a strike in the direction of Romny, to assist the encircled troops of the SWF. To the south of CMG Belov, a group of 5CC and 110TBde operated, deployed from the 38A sector.
On September 19, 9CD (2CC) received an order to attack in the direction of Romny and capture the bridges across the Sula River. 129TBde was transferred to the front line immediately after its formation, so the personnel recruited from different units were not well-coordinated together. The brigade consisted of three tank and one motorized rifle battalions.
In order to prevent the encirclement from breaking through, its outer perimeter is reinforced by elements of German motorized divisions: 10MID and MID SS "Das Reich". 41MIR (10MID) moved behind 3TD, occupied a bridgehead on the Sula River east of Romny. The main forces of the 10MID are advancing on the crossings on the northern bank of the Sula River near Korovnitsy. MID SS "Das Reich", by forced march was transferred through Priluki to the area west of Romny. 41MIR passes into its subordination. The engineering battalion SS "Das Reich" ensures the division's crossings across the Sula River. The division was ordered to advance in the general direction towards Korovnitsy with the support of 3 battalions from AR SS.

• Operation in September 1941 (10 turns).
  
• Precisely recreated area of over 40 sq. km: plains with groves and ravines, mountain with oil derricks and small settlements.
  
• Historical organizational structure of units at the time of the operation.
  

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2476130/Graviteam_Tactics_The_Far_Escape/

The game is moving to an updated operational phase system. 1x1 km cells will become a thing of the past, the seizure of territory will proceed node by node, with all the ensuing changes in the operational and tactical phases of the game. Such a significant change will result in the disappearance of signs of entrenchment, and other less significant changes in active operations.

The principle of troop deployment before battle will also change; the areas in which deployment is available will be reduced and tied to the location of the battle group on the operational map.

The algorithm for accounting for the level of fire has also been adjusted, various small changes have been made to various aspects of the game and the display of special effects.

We are pleased to announce the release of a companion book for the latest DLC “Stalemate on Donets”:



The 190-page book contains translated operational documents (war diaries, orders, combat reports, and other primary sources) from the Red Army’s Izyum-Barvenkovo offensive operation, which had the goal to pin down and ultimately destroy the German Donbas grouping in the summer of 1943. These materials are complemented by translations of documents from the German formations and units opposing the Soviet offensive.

The book concentrates on the fighting that took place in the area southwest of Izyum at Semenovka village and westwards, in the 4th Guards Rifle Corps’ zone of advance: The introduction sets the stage for the operation from the perspective of the Soviet forces, followed by two chapters of translated Red Army documents dedicated to the units of the 4th Guards Rifle Corps and the 23rd Tank Corps (which was committed in the same sector later).

The German documents, presented in the second part of the book, include the AAR from the defending 40th Panzer Corps and a compilation of extracts from a series of documents that specifically covers the action at Semenovka in the sector of the Corps’ 257th Infantry Division. As the battle unfolded, the 17th Panzer Division and SS Panzer Grenadier Division “Wiking” were brought in as reinforcements, leading to the first combat deployment of the Estonian “Bataillon Narwa” in the vicinity of Semenovka village.

The translations are accompanied by several dozens of original maps and aerial photographs from the battle, adding a visual component to the experience.

We can confidently say that the book is the most comprehensive work on the subject to date. The Izyum-Barvenkovo operation is relatively unknown compared to its famous northern “neighbor” to begin with, and a deep dive into a sector barely 10 km wide makes the book even more special. As a reader, you have a front row seat as the events unfold from the perspective of each participating unit: preparation, action, reaction, and the aftermath. Reading through each side’s assessments of the engagement provides a unique insight into what separates success from failure in a complex offensive operation aiming to break through a well-prepared defense.

Preview:


The book can be accessed from within the game or via the "View the manual" link on the right sidebar of the Steam store page.

Public beta with updated operational phase is available (public-beta-na).
There is no need to switch to it if you are not ready for difficulties. To use this version, it is strongly recommended to create a new profile, since changes, including in operations, will be irreversible.

In this version, territory capture and initial deployment are based not on squares, but on grid nodes of the operational phase.

1) Added 76.2mm F-32 cannon.
2) Added the KV-1 tank M41 with the F-32 cannon.
3) The movement of signalmen during cable laying is carried out without a covert movement modifier.
4) The algorithm for moving AI BGs along the borders of the battlefield in the operational phase has been changed. They don't go to the battlefield area.
5) The algorithm for connecting the command hierarchy in tactical combat has been changed for operations using BGs. The hierarchy is built taking into account the actual membership in the BG, without taking into account the general OOB (a capable BG commander is the commander of all platoons included in this BG). The only exceptions are battalion commanders, who can head the command hierarchy for coy BGs in the same unit (battalion).