Barbarossa: Moscati v. Hopcroft

[MPHopcroft1]

The scenario: Barbarossa 1941
OKW: Michael Moscati
Stavka; Michael Hopcroft

My perspective: The Axis Turn 1 was exactly the hammer blow I have come to mexpect in any wargame playing out this scenario. The Societs are unlikely to get any real success uin the early turns in any event.

although I didn't end up using my entire turn, and probably didn't get the chance to move all the units i could, I did shore up some basic lines well behind the front for my next stand.

No screenshots from me, because none of them looked particularly interesting.

I am hoping to play a somewhat more intelligent game than a "throw everything at the front, and then send everything else". But then again I'm not a paranoiac with delusions of godhood either.

[MPHopcroft1]

Turn 2 now complete.

Even though I know I can't hold the Baltics, I am surprised that thre Axis advance has slowed somewhat. The finns have been quiet too -- Foo must know something about them I don't.

The Soviets have two advantages in this scenario: Land and Time. The Axis needs to go a very long way to a short time to win.

[Dr. Foo]

ORIGINAL: MPHopcroft

Turn 2 now complete.
The finns have been quiet too -- Foo must know something about them I don't.

Turn Three:

Yes, the Finns and the South were static until turn 3.

Army Group North moving along smoothly with the Finns now in the war Leningrad is threatened.

Army Group Center is pressing toward Minsk

Army Group South has broke through the main lines and is pushing toward Odessa.

[MPHopcroft1]

Turn Four completed.
 
Riga has fallen, but I didn't expect to hold it. It's getting kind of hard for me to tell whether the line I set up in Latvia has really slowed dr. foo down at all. The Finns have been murder as well, and I haven't been able yet to reinforce Leningrad. That worries me.
 
I also think I made a crucial mistake in the center by not froming my line east of the marshes rather than west of them. A good chunk of Army Group Center is about to emerge from that damn swamp and I don't have nearly enough to place in their path.

[MPHopcroft1]

Turn Five done.
 
The northern frnt has taken a heck of a pounding, but the germans haven't gotten very much farther in terms of territory. it's the center that worries me; as i was watching the playback of Foo's turn I found myself asking "Where the bloody heck did all those Germans come from?" (The obvious and snarky answer: Germany.) Of course, I knew a lot of troops had disappeared into thre Pripiat marshes where I couldn't see them, but still they hit the center hard.
 
Odessa was finally taken by the Germans. The worrisome thing about the southern front is that my reinforcements will have to get all the way there from Moscow -- which is the same problem i have reinforcing the north, only much, much worse.
 
All the while Dr. Foo assures me I'm doing fine, and that I might actually be winning. And the Germans have such touch victory conditions that he may be right -- that simply slowing down and stopping the assault is enough for a Soviet win in this scenario.

[larryfulkerson]

How about a picture of the front lines every once in a while?

[Dr. Foo]

ORIGINAL: larryfulkerson

How about a picture of the front lines every once in a while?

I will try on the next turn but I have not had any luck in the past so I cannot promise anything.

Anyway, the Finns have annihilated the Soviets along the border and have advanced as far as the game will allow. As there is a Finnish Stop Line I must honor that line, if not, I would walk into Leningrad!

Army Group North is meeting unorganized resistance but is slowed by effective delaying actions. This has not pleased Der Fuhrer and he had arrested several battalion commanders and had them shot!

Army Group Center has taken Kiev and is regrouping for a push into the heart of Russia.

Army Group South has taken Odessa and has the situation stabilized. Mop up operations will ensue as the lead elements push forward.