Road to Smolensk: Axis major win v. AI

[coralsaw]

Helo all,

Apparently this is one of the hardest scenarios to win as the Axis. Before playing it I searched the AAR forum for a good writeup on it but didn't find much, so I thought I'd share my effort with any fellow newbies that want to try this out too. It was a major learning lesson for me in Blitzkrieg and one that I recommend to all before trying on the GC. All settings normal.

I'll try to explain a few important points as we move forward.

Best regards.

EDIT: Apologies for posting in the wrong subforum, can a mod move this to AAR please?

[coralsaw]

Turn 1
Airports were bombed, PZ groups were stripped from the slow infantry divisions, and both FBDs were moved to work on the Minsk railroad line. Getting the railroad up as fast as possible is key to winning. For the Pz Corps it's all about avoiding enemy contact and having enough supplies and fuel. All Pz Corps were put in refit mode.

AGN units withdrawing in the first few turns were used to clean up the top of the map. Getting as many infantry Corps as possible to pack up and move, move, move forward is also crucial. Here's the situation in the north

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3rd Pz Group pushes forward
Unless an enemy unit occupies a crucial breakthrough hex, it's best to avoid contact of the Pz Corps with enemy and keep well within own or pending own territory when pushing forward, even at the expense of a couple more hexes.

It is relatively safe and absolutely important to stretch the flanks for this initial push, since a) the panzers pay half costs for fighting and ZoC traversing for this first round, and because average SU mobility is low (1-2 enemy hexes at most) for most units. There's not much cavalry available either, which is usually a problem for the Axis with its lower ZoC penalties.

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2nd Pz Group pushing from the south.

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The pocket in front of Minsk

Notice how the left part of the pocket is thinly held by 2 Corps and security forces. Without infantry following the panzers as fast as possible, the attack will bog down fast.

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Turn 2

The AI rightly decides to withdraw the Minsk defence, but is caught before it reaches the Dnepr line of defence. The initial pocket is cleared.

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The Vitebsk-Smolensk line
Nobody wants to assault across a major river, so the initial objective of the panzers is the Vitebsk-Smolensk line. All else is smaller fish, including Minsk.

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Turn 3
The Minsk defenders are annihilated, the infantry is catching up, and the Vitebsk-Smolensk gap is widened.

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The Pz Groups need their infantry too
Notice how it's best to wait for the supporting infantry instead of pushing again through, since the panzers have built some fatigue, and the new line won't have time to fortify. Also, once a gap is created, it's wise to pour all panzers through it.

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Turn 4

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The 2 FBDs working together produce 1-2 more hexes per turn

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Lots of fighting on the Dnepr line
Most of the battles are won by the infantry, then the panzers handle the weak withdrawn units and secondary defenders.

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Mogilev is captured, the Dnepr line can wait

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Turn 5
A turn of infantry advance and pocket forming.

The Luftwaffe has not been used on airfields past turn 1, and no fuel airlifts were yet needed by the panzers. Recon and ground support for important battles takes priority.

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9th Army gets aggressive
Velikie Luki is tough to capture from the west, lots of swamp territory.

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2nd Pz Group thanks the 3rd Pz Group for their hard work

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Turn 6
The SU line is getting to long to properly man, especially considering all the pocketed and destroyed units. Most Mogilev defenders didn't manage to get out of the pocket. The Pz Groups are now fatigued and short of resources, so from next turn fuel air supply and HQ buildups will start to happen.

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Smolensk is a tough nut to crack
So we'll bypass it from both sides.

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Turn 7
Smolensk and Velikie Luki are in danger, and the whole SU line starts to collapse.

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The Smolensk pocket is almost sealed
Notice how in this case I've actually sought contact between the Panzers and the enemy infantry despite the attrition, in order to increase their ZoC costs and avoid the pocketed units escape.

One Pz Corp in the south is building up to resume the attack next turn. To build up a Pz Corps with the minimum of advance disruption, one needs to a) prepare from the previous round so HQ ends up in a safe hex close to the front (since it won't be able to move while building), and b) use all of the subordinate Pz and Motorized divisions MPs (if not too fatigued) to hit/advance/explore and return within 5 hexes of the HQ that's building up. Then hit the 'Build up' link. Thus, not all the MPs of the Pz are lost for the current turn.

In terms of Support units, I forgot to mention that in the first turns all Pz Corp divisions have been given dedicated support units (Pioneers, Stugs/JagdPz) to strengthen them. Also, all HQ above Corps support levels were set up to 1 and Corps HQ support levels were set to as many as their subordinate divisions.