Stalingrad Pocket II VASSAL AAR

[GroggyGrognard]

After a long break because of the necessities of life and a summer vacation, my opponent and I are back at it.

This is the situation at the end of the Axis turn 6. I finally managed to close the pocket with my Russians during my turn 6. And despite a couple of successful German counterattacks in the northeast part of the pocket--due to some good dice rolling--the pocket remains sealed. Also, the 24th Pz managed to kill a couple of my mechanized brigades near the Don and then withdraw successfully behind the Myshkova riverline. The Germans have quite a bit of supply within the pocket, so my Russians units that have formed the pocket will have to start being more aggressive in order for the Germans to start feeling a heavier squeeze. Meanwhile along the Chir and the Don, the Russians are preparing for another assault.
The last screenshot are the current casualties.

[GroggyGrognard]

Here is the situation at the end of the Axis turn 7. My Russians continue to slowly tighten the pocket as the trapped Germans retreat closer to the city itself. During the Russian turn, my 1st Guard Mech spearheaded an attack along the Don, capturing the village of Pervomaiskii. During his turn, the Germans counterattacked with the 24th Pz trying to recapture the village--but without success due to a 'snake eyes' dice roll and thus losing a panzer battalion in the process. Along the Chir, the Germans have reinforced some bridgeheads and even pushed across the river itself with a couple of alert battalions and an infantry regiment due to the "plus one hex" rule.

[GroggyGrognard]

Here is the situation at the end of the Axis Turn 8. My Russians successfully eliminated a German infantry regiment and a couple of alert battalions that had crossed the Chir last turn. However,  the mighty 11th Pz has arrived and made a successful counterattack across the Chir with support from infantry and elements of the 22nd and 14th Pz divisions. My 1st Gd Mech continues to slowly roll up the Don and repulsing the already chewed up 24th Pz to behind the Myshkova riverline. Meanwhile in the pocket, my Russian 4th Tk attacked Pitomnik and took the airfield. During his turn, the Germans tried a desperate counterattack to retake Pitomnik but without any success. The Germans still have plenty of supply points in the pocket. As it stands halfway through the game, my Russians for the rest of the game will have to be more aggressive about punching through to the city and trying to acquire the valuable Stalingrad city proper victory points.

[GroggyGrognard]

Here is the situation at the end of the Axis turn 9. During my turn 9, the Russians promptly chewed up the 11th Pz near the Don river. The division lost a panzer battalion, mech regiment, and a recon regiment. More reinforcements arrived to assist my already stretched forces around the Don. With a Russian attack and subsequent advance on the southeast side of the Stalingrad pocket, the Germans within the pocket lost several more units in the process. The pocket continues to shrink. The 1st Gd Mech has slowed its advance along the Don anticipating hit and run counterattacks from German forces and also the arrival of more panzer reinforcements. The last screenshot are the current casualties.