OCS Case Blue - scenario 7.8

The 3^rd Fallshirmjäger regiment of the 7^th Div has been successfully dropped on the south oild field of Maïkop, quickly joined by the tanks of the 5^th SS Panzer Regiment of the SS Viking. The 3^rd Mot Div is not far, coming from Krasnodar through the woods to cut the 58^th Army in Labinskaya.

The Kerch straits Soviet defenders are now cut from ground supply, only linked by the port of Tammam', but the assault guns of the 245^th batallion are in light of sight, followed by the paratroopers. The hope to get the Maikop oil fields before the coming mud start to slowly come back...

The Kerch straits garrison are regrouping in Tamman.

The defences are reorganizing around Maikop.

Maikop is taken by the elite troops of the 7^th FJ Div.

Stavropol' is surrounded.

The paras are progressing to the Kerch straits.

Evacuation of the Maikop area.

Maybe the last sunny days of the summer, it's time to prepare for the Soviet massive counter-attack, probably after the mud and probably just after...

Continuation of the evacuation of the Maikop area. The reinforcement are taking position slowly before the winter offensive. Finally, Stalingrad has been safe all the the summer long

Time to break the Damocles sword of the Soviet double move to come: the Soviet plays first.

The relief are coming to help Maikop garrison to resist and even to rescue Stavropol'.

There is a very big hole between the north and South German armies, just in front of Rostov. It will be a pain to defend... and a pain to retreat quickly all the south troops in case of Russian attack there... and Russian troops are just coming.

The Kerch straits is now German from both side... at the very moment where the German thinks to evacuate the South to avoid to be cut in front of Rostov...

The reinforcements are reinforcing the defence in the area of Maikop. The Germans are still unable to get the floof od oil form the oil fields.

The troops are gathering in front of Rostov menacing in three direction: the road to Maikop, the road to Milerovo, the main road to Tsimlanskaya.

Novorossirsk finally taken, where the German find a lot of supplies...

Around Maikop, the Russia are still there and reinforcement are coming.

Facing Rostov, a first curtain of troops build a thin defence line. It looks like retreating from the South – Maikop, Krasnodar and Novorossirks is a serious option. Sad...

Furious counter-attack from the 4^th Motorized Corps and the 58^th Army East of Maikop.

In the same time, the Manych is easily crossed by the 51^st Army, sending the 16^th Tank Corps toward Mechetinskaya. The road to Sal'sk will be cut soon and the Panzer there will have to go back quickly, as all the troops south of Don!

I do not think the German can win, from now.

Alarm! The 16^th z and 29^th Mot Div comes back fron around Sal'sk and try to close the door through the Manych, in vain.

On this other side of the Don Steppes, the 22^nd Pz goes south to cut the rail from Stalingrad, and even destroy an infantry division in strategic mode and capture a depot. The roads to Stalingrad and Elitsa are cut.

The 13^th Panzer failed to repulse an incursion near Mechetinskaya.

Unfortunately, Maikop is finally evacuated, at the very moment when the oil engineers were able to begin to pump the precious resource... A counter attack is launched by the 16^th Mot and the SS Viking Div on the rear of the Soviet tanks.

More reinforcements are crossing the Kerch straits to establish a solid beach head and keep Novorossirsk, Tuapse and Krasnodar.

The whole strategic situation is openly changed: the roles are reversed. The coming mud can bring some other changes.

The coming month is very important, before the arrival of new Panzer divisions around the November, 22^th. Will hte German be able to resist?

Fortunately, the weather is dry and the Soviet have the initiative, avoiding a double German move who potentially could have stopped the coming assault on the Manych and the road to Rostov.

The Manych door stays open. The 4^th Mot Div continues his advance northward. Everything is ok.

The retreat from Maikop continues, with some less disorder.

The fight in front of Rostov, to block the Manych crossing, continues too. On the other side, the 22^th Pz retreated, unable to cut safely the rail from Stalingrad, retreat to cover the rest of the army.

First mud! Pretty late but it announces the coming autumn and winter.

Crossing of the Manych temporary stopped by the mud (and the Germans).

The 4^th Mot Div continues slowly its advance.

The door is almost closed on the Manych.

The 16^th Pz finish the job to close the Manych crossing. The 79^th Mot Inf Rgmt cross itself the river to detroy the Russian artillery deployed behind and to cut the supply.

The mud gave some rest to the German and permit them to face the future with more confidence.

The Stalingrad airport received the visit of He 111 and Stukas that almost annhilited it and destroyed all the long-range bombers there. Only the transport aircraft has been saved from the fire.

The progression on the Armavir-Rostov road continues slowly.

The battle for the Manych crossing seems to end with a draw as a result, taht means a little strategic victory for the German as their are not more menaed by an encirclement of the South.

New bombing of Stalingrad. The planes are safe but the newly hastly built facilities were not solid enough.