VAE VICTIS # 166: La Bataille de Velikie Louki 1942-1943 (Wargame)

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Articles Include:

NEWS
Enemy Action Karkov, Battles for the Shenandoah...

BOARDGAMES
Nach Paris (Vuca Simulations)
Equatorial Clash (Snafu Design)
Race to Bastogne (MMP)
Ultima Ratio Regis (Ignacio Torres Siles)
Downfall of Empires (Shakos)

HOBBY
Les Jeux de guerre a l'honneur au sein des armees
Que Choisir: les kamikases dans les jeux
Des Etudiants s'invitent au combat
Les Nouveautes Warlord

FIGURINES
Art de la Guerre: la Cavalerie a travers les ages 2e partie
Operation Dragoon: La Bataille pour Toulon, 1944
Kings of War Historical (Mantic Games)
Triumph! (Washington Grand Company)
Saga Alexandre (Studio Tomahawk)
Scenarios Austerlitz

SCENARIOS
Russie 1942 pour ASL
Sicile 1943 pour M44

NEWS RULES
Fighting the Dragon
Armoured Storm
Battlegroup Westwall
Team Yankee Red Dawn
Leipzig

ART OF WAR
La Bataille de Velikie Louki 1942-1943
1859, l'autre campagne d'Italie
Guerre en Ukraine (1re partie

WARGAME (with die-cut counters; rules in English)
Velikye Luki:
Anticipating a Soviet operation against the Rhezv Salient and the German 9th Army, the OKH sent Von Manstein to Vitebsk in early November to prepare for Operation Taubenschlag to seize Toropets (65 km northeast of Velikiye Luki) and halt the probable Soviet counter-offensive. Gruppe Chevalerie which was in charge of the sector therefore passes under the command of the 11. Army, to its 83.ID are added the 291.ID, 12. Pz Division and 3. Gebirgs Division as well as werfer units. The 8.Pz Division will attack from Kolm to support the upcoming operation.

Unfortunately for the Germans, Operation Uranus launches on November 19 and within 24 hours the situation of the 6th Army in Stalingrad become critical. Von Manstein is sent south to address the situation, the units of the 11th Army began their transfer on the 21st, and the 89th Division found itself alone in defending the sector of Velikie Luki.

On November 24, the 3rd Shock Army - 5th Guards Rifle Corps and 2nd Mechanized Corps - goes on the offensive with the objective of retaking the city. On the 27th, Velikye Louki is surrounded and declared a fortress by Hitler. The Germans are doing their utmost to rectify the situation, rounding up the few troops available in the sector. For almost two months, heavy fighting will then take place in order to save the garrison and prevent the Soviet offensive from developing towards the west.

Scale
One turn : 5 days
Units : battalions, regiments, brigade, divisions
Map : one hex = 2.5 km
Complexity: 5/10
Solo play : 7/10
Duration of a game: about 3 hours