Astrakhan

**Astrakhan** is a scenario in *Panzer Corps 2*.

## Briefings

Mein General, I am pleased to report we have reached our target ahead of schedule: Astrakhan is nearly within striking distance!

Although our intelligence is limited, we know enough to confirm we have caught the vast majority of the Caspian Flotilla sitting in their harbors.

While the chance to capture these ships might be tempting, we cannot risk any ships escaping from our surprise attack.

We do not need to control the Caspian Sea, but we must deny it to our enemies.

**Primary Objective: Sink 6 Caspian Flotilla Ships.**

**Bonus Objective: Capture all Volga Delta Secondary Hexes before sinking the 6th Caspian Flotilla Ship.**

Before we continue our advance, there are reports of a Soviet counterattack approaching our column.

We should organize a defensive vanguard to deal with this threat quickly.

Our next major obstacle will be to navigate through the swamps of the Volga River Delta.

It is highly likely any defending forces will attempt to ambush us here, so we should let our recon cars and aircraft fully scout this area first.

While the Astrakhan port facilities are extensive, there don't seem to be any permanent airfields in the region.

We only have a precious few mobile airbase detachments with us, but they will be important for allowing our aircraft to strike at the ships of the Caspian Flotilla, so deploy them wisely.

Remember, our goal here is the destruction of the Soviet flotilla, so we should deploy ample anti-ship weapons, especially strategic bombers.

To victory, for Germany!

### Debriefing

Reports for review, Mein General.

Our lightning advance through the Caucasus has been a total success.

Soviet defenses across the region were totally unprepared for our advance, and the destruction of the Caspian Fleet and its Headquarters at Astrakhan has almost entirely severed the Caucasus region off from the rest of Russia.

I say almost, because there is some bad news.

Army Group Center's assault on Moscow went far worse than expected, even as just a diversionary attack.

They've had to retreat backwards significantly. While Minsk, Kursk, and Kharkov remain under German control, the Soviets have managed to retake Smolensk, Orel, and worst for us, Voronezh.

This means the lynchpin to our holding on to the Caucasus, the Volga River and Stalingrad, will be much harder for us to properly secure now, as the Soviets have limited control of the Don River.

Field Marshal Manstein is on his way to meet with us, to plan our return to Stalingrad.

**In this alternate history, German forces re-occupy the Caucasus by the end of their autumn 1943 campaigning.**

**In skirting around Stalingrad, the Germans managed to catch the Soviet Caspian Flotilla completely by surprise, sinking 90% of its ships at their headquarters in Astrakhan.**

**While this blow cut off sea access to the Caucasus region, the lack of road and supply infrastructure across the barren southern Caucasus meant the German grip on the region was still tenuous at best.**

**And for that to be rectified, Germany would have to return to Stalingrad.**

## Walkthrough

*This article is a stub. You can help Panzer Corps Wiki by expanding it.*

## Locations

* To Astrakhan

* Ermeli

* Sarul

* Caspian Sea

* Volga River

* Astrakhan

* Astrakhan Docks

* Utta

* Barkhany

* Lineinoe

* Ikryanoe

* Oranzherei

* Adyk

* To Astrakhan

* Ermeli

* Sarul

* Caspian Sea

* Volga River

* Astrakhan

* Astrakhan Docks

* Utta

* Barkhany

* Lineinoe

* Ikryanoe

* Oranzherei

* Adyk

## Messages

* Mein General, excuse the interruption, but I have a report that I believe deserves your immediate attention. It has come to my attention that a prototype tank destroyer is being sent to the Eastern Front for trials, and our successes have put our corps into consideration to receieve (Sic) them! Apparently, this new tank destroyer is based on the Panther tank chassis, but upgunned with a larger 8.8cm cannon, and I therefore believe this new Jagdpanther has some incredible combat potential. It will be too late for them to assist in this current battle, but we will have them to trial in future actions.

You have %d Commendation Points.

Would you like to exchange 5 Commendation Points for a collection of Jagdpanther prototypes?

* You decide to use some of your influence and accept the offer. You now have %d Commendation Points.

* You choose to reject the offer. You still have %d Commendation Points

* Bonus Objective to Capture all Volga Delta Secondary Hexes before sinking the 6th Caspian Flotilla Ship completed.
Earned Commendation Points: 1.
Total Commendation Points: %d.

* Mein General, excuse the interruption, but I have a report that I believe deserves your immediate attention. It has come to my attention that a prototype tank destroyer is being sent to the Eastern Front for trials, and our successes have put our corps into consideration to receieve (Sic) them! Apparently, this new tank destroyer is based on the Panther tank chassis, but upgunned with a larger 8.8cm cannon, and I therefore believe this new Jagdpanther has some incredible combat potential. It will be too late for them to assist in this current battle, but we will have them to trial in future actions.

You have %d Commendation Points.

Would you like to exchange 5 Commendation Points for a collection of Jagdpanther prototypes?

* You decide to use some of your influence and accept the offer. You now have %d Commendation Points.

* You choose to reject the offer. You still have %d Commendation Points

* Bonus Objective to Capture all Volga Delta Secondary Hexes before sinking the 6th Caspian Flotilla Ship completed.
Earned Commendation Points: 1.
Total Commendation Points: %d.

## Notes

* Holding all 10 Secondary Hexes at any point will award 1 Commendation Point.
* If players have at least 5 Commendation Points after capturing all Volga Delta Secondary Hexes, they will be given the option to exchange 5 Commendation Points for 29 Strength points worth of Jagdpanther Anti-tanks on the following turn.
* Notable enemy units:
	+ 38th KV-85, which is Level 3 and has a hero with the Precision Weapon, Survivor, and Tank Killer traits.
	+ 74th SU-152, which is Level 3 and has a hero with the Counter Battery Fire and Double Support traits.
* Notable enemy formations:
	+ Caspian Flotilla Ship