From Dunaburg to Daugavpils - Speedy vs RCH (no RCH)

[Speedysteve]

Rom Front.

17th Army moves east and begins to threaten the Soviet flank.

[Speedysteve]

Turn 27 post moves.

AGN.

18th Army moves further into the Valdai.

16th Army attacked the Red stack nearest Leningrad and failed to dislodge them although we did wipe out a Rifle Division.

[Speedysteve]

AGC.

All on one post now as the front is shrinking.

This really is tense to play. Forces are ground down but I continue to press.

3rd Pz Gp (which is on a shoestring of supplies) smashed through 3 enemy divisions (destroying a Rifle Division) and advanced 90 Km's around the enemy flank.

2nd Pz Gp withstood an enemy counterattack and advanced 60km's on the northern bank of the Oka but failed to break the Ryazan/Moscow highway (16th Cavalry Division).

2nd and 4th Army trudge northwards. 4th Army surrounding and wiping out a garrison in Tula in the process.

[Speedysteve]

AGS.

6th Army continues to grind forward in tough battles:

[Speedysteve]

Rom Front.

The Reds resist stubbornly here forcing the Landsers to pay a heavy price for their advances. Gradually advance they do though.

The Soviet position is in real peril here though as 17th army continue east unopposed and 1st Pz Gp is active after a week long rest. Rather than sending them north (the die looks more cast there now compared to before and until Voronezh can be used as an FSB it's not workable to send them north anyhow) Kleist races east and will trap the Soviets in a massive pocket if they do not react swiftly and flee eastwards.

[Speedysteve]

For those interested here's my relationship status with the Cronies:

[KenchiSulla]

He is allowing you to envelop him.. Most of his strength is concentrated in the center of the lines, not enough on the flanks... This means victory for you, even with the coming mud....

[Speedysteve]

I can't speak for RCH but one thing to bare in mind is up until 8 days ago the whole of 2nd Pz Gp was in front of Moscow on the Vyazma highway. It would have been bad for him to have strong flanks at that point as the main threat was right in front of him at that point. I've also tried to keep enough infantry in stacks (where possible) to try and prevent too much movement from the centre. That's my 2p anyhow. Haven't played the Soviets yet so can't give a view from that side.

[wadortch]

Re your Relations with the Cronies post.

Very impressive! Amazed you have everybody in happy team player status! What strategy did you select at the start: Support Hitler or?

[Speedysteve]

ORIGINAL: wadortch

Re your Relations with the Cronies post.

Very impressive! Amazed you have everybody in happy team player status! What strategy did you select at the start: Support Hitler or?

Yes I've supported The Corporal throughout the campaign. He interferes from time to time but the extra PP's that grants are invaluable.

[Speedysteve]

Start of Turn 28.

The Bear fights back around Moscow.

An attack on 3rd Pz Gp's spearhead fails but agaisnt 2nd Pz Gp they force back 3 units, surround 10th Motoried and SS Das Reich and annihilate them [:(]

[Speedysteve]

AGN post moves.

With a re-org possible on more straightened lines up north it allows 16th Army to take over from 4th Pz Gp. 4th Pz Gp (reinforced with 2nd and 5th Pz Div) cross the river and head on the rail line SE from Leningrad. There's little else to do up here so I'll try and create as much havoc as possible and take the few Cities that remain.

18th Army stalls in the Valdai as the Conscripts fight hard in this turns attacks.

[Speedysteve]

AGC Post moves.

Sheeesh this is tense. I'm so near to victory but my strength is waning in AGC.

The destruction of 2 x Motorised Divs of 2nd Pz Gp is not good.

I only manage a successful local counter-attack by 2nd Pz GP to expand my presence on the northern side of the river.

3rd Pz Gp successfully smashed 2 x Cav and 1 x Rifle Div. 18th Motorised raced for Vldaimir as recon said it was empty....it wasn't and my attack failed. Grrr.

If I could just cut that rail line and take Ryazan......

As things stand 1st Pz Gp may be needed here but that depends how the next month goes and if I can get my FSB to Voronezh.

The weakest section of the Soviet lines is in the SE around Ryazan. Most of these units are in varying states and not in defensive posture. Most Red units SW, west and NW of Moscow are strong, in forts and in defensive posture.

[Speedysteve]

AGS.

6th Army continues the trudge forwards.

[Speedysteve]

Rom front.

Things are looking grim for the Soviets down here. I'd say its unlikely they'll escape quick enough now to prevent encirclement. Mud is there most likely chance now.....

I destroyed 2 x Div's and a HQ this turn.

[Speedysteve]

Turn 29.

Could this be it.....?

No counter-attacks by the Soviets.

AGN post moves.

4th Pz Gp races down the highway and destroys 3 enemy divisions in the process. As a minimum the Reds will need to pull back as I can encircle either north or south if I want.

The Conscripts in the Valdai have been changed to defensive posture and they held firm and decimated my attacks!

[Speedysteve]

AGC post moves.

This is Shoestring at its best. 3rd Pz Gp is getting virtually 0 supplies. Fuel is not a problem but getting trucks to deliver supplies is. The men must be half starved in quiet and eerie forests!

I've gone for broke here as 3rd Pz Gp HQ can't even move due to lack of supplies! 3 of my divisions will be out of command range and isolated but I wanted to create a loose cordon in conjunction with 2nd Army infantry to the south.

It's now over to the Soviets. If they can't break this in their tun then they're doomed IMO.

2nd Pz Gp make a further successful attack north of the River.

2nd and 4th Armies combine to take Ryazan.

[Speedysteve]

AGS.

6th army continue their lonely local war:

[Speedysteve]

Rom front post moves.

Shoestring down here as well. The sheer rail distance coupeld with heavy partisan activity means 0 trains get through to Kharkov!

I've used the last of my fuel to encircle Rostov......

Extreme measure to hopefully end the war.

[ChuckBerger]

Wow, heck of a turn Speedy. Congrats on those two enormous encirclements. I'd say you're safe and sound at Rostov, but I wouldn't want to be a German soldier in the 7th Panzer at Vladimir this turn. Out of supply, depleted, out of command range... good luck. You're forces have really taken a beating in AGC, well done to both players.