A Test of Wills -----Dave (Axis) vs. Brian G (Soviets)

[smokindave34]

Turn 3

Army Group Center

Much to my surprise Brian pulls back his forces in the center as well. Very light defenses west of Smolensk. In addition my recon is not picking up any defenses along the upper Dnepr. I take the same approach I did in the north....one panzer corps moves east and one stays put to rest and refit.



In the 4th Army area of operations the 18th panzer division crosses the Berezina river. I wanted to get a friendly hex on the eastern side of the river for my infantry next turn. I diverted the 17th infantry division to the swamps to cut the rail line of the Southwest Front troops. I don't want to get caught in a battle in the swamps but this seemed like a worthy move to cut the rail line to these troops



Russian prisoners captured during Army Group Centers opening thrust into the Soviet Union

[smokindave34]

Turn 3

Army Group South

I don't like the way this is developing. I have 2 Armies worth of Soviet forces in my grasp but can't close the deal. Cutting the rail lines has helped but my panzers are getting drawn into fighting in poor terrain when they should be heading east. I'm expecting that in the end I'll capture these units but it could slow me down. I need to work on my extended Lvov opening.



Brian decides to hold the Rumanians at the Denstr River in the south.



Army Group South units begin to break into the open terrain.

[tyronec]

I infantry corps on the march to Pskov and on to Leningrad.....

I seem to remember they didn't quite make it last time...

Looks good for AGS, presume your rail line is from NE Romania so scrapping West of Kiev will not slow things up, though would have blocked that 2=12 infantry stack as they they are going to reduce supplies to your panzers.

[HardLuckYetAgain]

ORIGINAL: tyronec

I infantry corps on the march to Pskov and on to Leningrad.....

Looks good for AGS, presume your rail line is from NE Romania so scrapping West of Kiev will not slow things up, though would have blocked that 2=12 infantry stack as they they are going to reduce supplies to your panzers.

Yup yup yup. Don't know about other people but flank security >>> PZ thrust for me. But yeah Brian staying close in the South is a godsend

[smokindave34]

ORIGINAL: tyronec

I infantry corps on the march to Pskov and on to Leningrad.....

I seem to remember they didn't quite make it last time...

Looks good for AGS, presume your rail line is from NE Romania so scrapping West of Kiev will not slow things up, though would have blocked that 2=12 infantry stack as they they are going to reduce supplies to your panzers.

You are correct sir - those units gave me trouble the very next turn.

[smokindave34]

ORIGINAL: HardLuckYetAgain

ORIGINAL: tyronec

I infantry corps on the march to Pskov and on to Leningrad.....

Looks good for AGS, presume your rail line is from NE Romania so scrapping West of Kiev will not slow things up, though would have blocked that 2=12 infantry stack as they they are going to reduce supplies to your panzers.

Yup yup yup. Don't know about other people but flank security >>> PZ thrust for me. But yeah Brian staying close in the South is a godsend

I haven't figured Brian out yet. He is holding close in the south and running hard to the east in all areas north of the marshes. Not what I was expecting. I'm not pocketing many units but I'm farther east than I would have predicted for our current turn.

[SparkleyTits]

Yeah I am with you Dave not seeing Brians overall plan yet

Good job on the landbridge I always fall flat early there!

[smokindave34]

Turn 4

Army Group North

A fairly quiet turn across all fronts. Brian has pulled back across the entire front. I continue my strategy of resting one panzer corps in each army group while another panzer corps of each army moves east to flip hexes in an effort to get the infantry to the fighting quicker.

In the north 4th panzer army reaches the Luga line. The first serious resistance is met on the Luga and I see multiple units dug in. The infantry should be here next turn to start dislodging these defenders.



Mobile units of 4th Panzer Group moving north towards Leningrad.



Army Group Center

More of the same here. Very little resistance is met and XXIX Panzer corps starts to clear the area east of Smolensk. My goal here is to clear the Dnepr river line and the way to Vyazma.



9th army infantry marching to the sound of the guns......



In the south I cut more rail lines in an attempt to trap SW front forces in the marshes. This is going on much longer than I wanted



Army Group South

Now that the rail lines to the swamps are cut I can finally get my panzers out of this poor terrain and on to their next objective of crossing the Dnepr.





Final remnants of Soviet units in the Lvov pocket

[SparkleyTits]

I'd take a guess at this point Brian is hoarding strength until the reinforcements start to pour in then he might try his more usual style of brawling

[HardLuckYetAgain]

ORIGINAL: smokindave34



In the north 4th panzer army reaches the Luga line. The first serious resistance is met on the Luga and I see multiple units dug in. The infantry should be here next turn to start dislodging these defenders.

Better flank Security Dave but playing Brian I would make sure I had no gaps. .

[HardLuckYetAgain]

ORIGINAL: SparkleyTits

I'd take a guess at this point Brian is hoarding strength until the reinforcements start to pour in then he might try his more usual style of brawling

He is forcing a battle in the center where Germans most of the time dont have the supply network to support fully in the early game. By keeping units there Dave is having to deal with that and try to push with less Infantry. This could end either Good or bad for Brian. But if Dave does a few things he can bag a lot of units

[SparkleyTits]

I generally end up straddling supply for the early game in AGC there because I am awful so somebody doing good work there puts me in a kurfuffle [:D]

Won't be long at all until the 4th is able to coordinate with AGC though at this rate and that's the glorious mayhem I am looking forward to!

[smokindave34]

ORIGINAL: SparkleyTits

I generally end up straddling supply for the early game in AGC there because I am awful so somebody doing good work there puts me in a kurfuffle [:D]

Won't be long at all until the 4th is able to coordinate with AGC though at this rate and that's the glorious mayhem I am looking forward to!

Nothing quite like a good "Kurfuffle"!

[HardLuckYetAgain]

ORIGINAL: smokindave34

ORIGINAL: SparkleyTits

I generally end up straddling supply for the early game in AGC there because I am awful so somebody doing good work there puts me in a kurfuffle [:D]

Won't be long at all until the 4th is able to coordinate with AGC though at this rate and that's the glorious mayhem I am looking forward to!

Nothing quite like a good "Kurfuffle"!

I like mine "over-easy" please ;-P. [X(]

[smokindave34]

Turn 5

Army Group North

The Finns attack and attempt to ZOC lock as many units of 7th independent army as possible



Finnish troops on the march!



4th panzer group breaks through the Luga line and captures the key rough terrain on the outskirts of Leningrad. I'm feeling really good about my position here and Leningrad will surely fall (and much sooner than I had hoped). This should allow me to free up 4th Panzer Groups mobile units soon for a push on Moscow.



LVI Panzer Corps armor on the approach to Leningrad



Army Group Center

Still very light resistance on the way to Moscow. I was expecting a stiffer resistance around Vyazma. Seems as though Brian has chosen to make his stand closer to Moscow. One HQ buildup is performed....I'm hoping now that the infantry is on the frontline they can open a hole and the panzers can push through.



More battles for rail lines in the swamps



The last of 9th Armies infantry marches east towards Vyazma



Army Group South

Pretty quiet in the south. Infantry is almost at the river. From recon it seems as though Brian will make me fight for a beachhead over the river.



III Panzer Corps moving east......

[smokindave34]

Turn 6

Army Group North

My plans of having the Finns capture large numbers of Soviet infantry did not develop as planned. I'll bag a few but not as many as hoped.



Leningrad was more weakly defended than I had imagined. The panzers have paved the way and now I and II corps (Model and Hollidt) march forward to seal off the city. Much faster progress than I had hoped and I'm going to be pulling back the panzers now. This battle is an infantry battle from now on.



II Corps infantry clearing out stubborn Soviet defenders.



Army Group Center

LVII Panzer Corps did a HQBU last turn and breaks through the Soviet defenses north east of Smolensk. I didn't close the pocket but cut all the rail lines and these Soviet troops will be captured although it will be a few turns. This also opens the way to Rzhev which has only one Soviet unit defending it.





Mobile units of LVII panzer corps drive north through the Western Front lines and cut the rail lines to the east of Velikie Luki



Army Group South

In the south III Panzer Corps crosses the Dnepr. I seem to be a hex or two away from encirclements in this game....hopefully it won't hurt me too bad. I'm across the river but most of these units will probably escape (certainly the Cavalry due to their high MP).



Infantry support the panzers as they move forward and cross the Dnepr - on to Kharkov!

[EwaldvonKleist]

Has the AAR been ended?