Thriumph or Tragedy? (D21)

[Jukipo]

I'm going to start new AAR about Directive 21. I'm going to follow three divisions through the war. Divisions are: 8th Panzer Division (AGN), 10th Motorized Division (AGC) and 16th Motorized Division (AGS). I'm now playing turn 18.

[Jukipo]

Turn 1, 6/22/41 AGN

Panzer drive

The first major objectives of the AGN are the bridges of Dvina river. 8th Panzer Division moves towards Daugavpils. By the end of turn it captures town of Panevezys.

16th Armee manages to capture Kaunas bridge intact.

[Jukipo]

Turn 1, 6/22/41 AGC

On the Minsk Road

2nd Panzer Armee advances rapidly along Minsk highway. Forward elements drive 180 km in three days, they capture Slonim and meet 3rd Panzer Armee spearheads near Volkovysk. The enemy divisions around Bialystok are doomed.

10th Motorized Division drives with the main force 100 km behind spearheads.

[Jukipo]

Turn 1, 6/22/41 AGS

Dubno

16th Motorized Division advances east on the left flank of 1st Panzer Armee. By the end of turn they reach the outskirts of Dubno.

1st Panzer Armee captures Lvov and continues to the SE.

[Jukipo]

Turn 2, 6/25/41 AGN

Tank battles

8th Panzer meets Soviet mechanized units near Panevezys airfield. After a fierce battle the Soviet units retreat to east. The division splits in three kampfgruppes. Recon battalion and one KG continue advance towards Daugavpils. By the end of turn elements of division reach outskirts of Daugavpils, but the bridge is destroyed.

Meanwhile 41st Pz Korps manages to capture Riga and secure Dvina river bridges intact. The first objective of AGN achieved!

[Jukipo]

Turn 2, 6/25/41 AGC

Full speed forward!

2nd Panzer Armee captures important railroad junction Baranavichy. All goes as planned and by the end of turn forward elements reach Stolbtsy, 80 km from Minsk. 10th Motorized division is moving east towards Slutsk. This is Blitzkrieg!

[Jukipo]

Turn 2, 6/25/41 AGS

Rovno

There is a major battle north of Dubno. Three Soviet divisions are defeated and surrounded. 16th Motorized Division captures Rovno. Next objective Novograd-Volynsky bridge.

Meanwhile 1st Panzer Armee captures Tarnopol

[larryfulkerson]

subscribed.

Fogger suggested the following schedule:

ORIGINAL: fogger
Larry do not forget to capture as much rail line as possible for the first 4 turns
and do not forget the objectives as per the rules

The shock values are determined by historical advance:
Turn 6 these 3 cities must be in Axis control:
Riga (184,266), Vilnius (194,309). Lvov (174,397)
Turn 12 these 3 cities must be in Axis control:
Pskov (228,253), Mogilev (248,325), Zhitomir (229,392)
Turn 18 these 3 cities must be in Axis control:
Tallinn (194,221)
Smolensk (267,308)
Kherson (278,457)
Turn 24 these 3 cities must be in Axis control:
Luga (243,236)
Roslav (277,323)
Kiev (252,388)

[Jukipo]

Turn 3, 6/29/41 AGS

16th Motorized Division is moving east towards Novograd-Volynsky. Recon indicates there is fortified line ahead. 6th Armee follows behind.

Meanwhile 1st Panzer Armee makes a breakthrough in area south of Proskurov.

[Jukipo]

Turns 3 and 4, 6/29/41 – 7/6/41 AGN

Crossing Dvina

8th Panzer Division captures Daugavpils but is unable to advance further because soviet tank division threats its flank. 16th Armee is unable to advance fast enough and there are not enough troops nearby.

Fortunately, other Dvina crossings go smoothly. 4th Panzer Armee continues towards Leningrad. Next major objectives are the bridges at Ostrov and Pskov.

[Zort]

Thanks for the AAR. Are you going to show these units losses throughout the campaign?

[Jukipo]

Turns 3 and 4, 6/29/41 – 7/6/41 AGC

Berezina River

10th Motorized Division continues full speed to the East. By the end of turn 4 it crosses Berezina River. The first major objective of the campaign, Dnepr River is not far.

Meanwhile panzers reach Minsk. There are several enemy divisions in the city, so it’s not possible to capture it by surprise.

[Jukipo]

Turn 4, 7/2/41 AGS

16th Motorized Division assaults fortified line near Novograd-Volynsky. After a hard fight enemy is overwhelmed. 6th Armee divisions arrive and take positions around Novograd-Volynsky.

1st Panzer Armee captures Medzhybizh and Zhmerynka. Divisions continue towards Kiev. 17th Armee follows behind.

[Jukipo]

Here are the unit reports in the beginning of turn 5.

8th Panzer has lost about 25% of its rifle squads, tank losses are light.
10th Motorzed is full stregth. No battles so far, the unit is still untried.
16th Mororized has lost about 20% of its rifle squads. 16th has 95% proficiency, elite unit!

[Jukipo]

Turn 5, 7/6/41 AGN

On the right flank

8th Panzer Division operates on the right flank of AGN. Its objective is to advance along railroad from Rezekne to Novosolniki. There may be more room to maneuver if Pskov and Ostrov regions are heavily defended. Near Sebezh division stumbles fortified positions.

4th Panzer Armee continues toward Ostrov and Pzkov. 18th and 16th Armees follow behind. Railhead is 80 km NE from Riga. Supply situation is adequate.

[Jukipo]

Turn 5, 7/6/41 AGS

Resting

16th Motorized division was resting and refitting this turn after heavy battles near Novograd-Volynsky. Infantry divisions take the town and the bridge. Next objective Zhitomir.

Meanwhile 14th Panzer Korps is driving straight to Kiev. Spearhead has reached Fastov. Raihead is near Iziaslav and the supply situation is good.

[Jukipo]

Turns 5 and 6, 7/6/41 - 7/13/41 AGC

Mogilev

2nd Panzer Armee crosses Dnepr almost unopposed. 10th Motorized Division captures Mogilev. The bridge is destroyed, but engineers repair it quickly. Minsk is captured. Next objective Smolensk.

[Jukipo]

Turn 6, 7/9/41 AGN

Assault

8th Panzer Division assaults fortified positions with the help of 16th Army elements. Russian unit surrender and the road is clear again.

Meanwhile 56th Panzer Korps captures Ostrov. 18th Armee enters Estonia unopposed capturing Parnu and Tartu. AGC left flank captures Nevel.

[Jukipo]

Turn 6, 7/9/41 AGS

Zhitomir

16th Motorized division attacked to the flank of enemy line capturing Zhitomir. Two Soviet Tank divisions were surrounded in the process.

Vinnitsa was captured. Railhead is east of Polonne.

[Jukipo]

Turn 7, 7/13/41 AGN

Novosolniki

8th Panzer Division reaches Novosolniki. Panzers are almost out of fuel and the men are exhausted. New orders from the 56th Panzer Korps: The next objective is Staraya Russa south of Lake Ilmen. Division advances along railroad through Loknya.

Meanwhile AGN captures Pskov. Next objective Luga river. The enemy counter attacks near Tartu and the forward elements of 18th Armee elements must withdraw.