Road to Moscow part 1 B/snafu vs LarryFulkerson

[Levelworm]

That does not matter too much, just keep the speed and (try to) keep the formations up.
Still could be a draw of you can only get as far as Minsk.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the Axis moves from turns 4 & 5:

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the minimap moves movie from turns 0 ( start ) thru turn 5:

[B/snafu]

Well, turn 6 and I am thinking I made another mistake in my overall movement goals. As you can see below---I seem to have a compulsion about not bypassing units. I got greedy and closed my southern pincer too short so I can surround larry's units at Baranovici. I should have drove my southern corps further to his rear before turning north as I show with the arrow. (although, the supply is even more horrendus through the pripet marshes road). Now, not only have I missed an opportuinity to probably capture some of the rear objective points uncontested---From looking at larry's previous posted movie--I forgot about the fortress units in front of Sluck. Have to contend with those now slowing me down instead of taking sluck from the rear.

Shot at 2007-07-23

Even if I wanted to bypass them--larry has a few units placed at choke points on the roads that are really slowing me down--my guys don't have the "punch" anymore that they started with.

[larryfulkerson]

I've noticed that at least one of my guys actually stood his ground instead of retreating before combat this turn. That's a good sign. Here's the Axis moves for turn 6:

[samba_liten]

A suggestion/question from one newish-be to another.

What about sbreaking a couple of units down to save units. What i mean is, use the broken down ones to surround and mop up, and let the others race on a fast as they can.

Hope no-one minds me butting in.

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: polarenper
A suggestion/question from one newish-be to another.

What about sbreaking a couple of units down to save units. What i mean is, use the broken down ones to surround and mop up, and let the others race on a fast as they can.

Hope no-one minds me butting in.

I don't mind if B/snafu doesn't. Keep up the good comments, I say.

[B/snafu]

ORIGINAL: polarenper

A suggestion/question from one newish-be to another.

What about sbreaking a couple of units down to save units. What i mean is, use the broken down ones to surround and mop up, and let the others race on a fast as they can.

Hope no-one minds me butting in.

Not mind at all-actually thank you[:)] To be honest that idea had never even entered into my head. That's what I enjoy about toaw--even in small scenarios--theres a lot to actually consider.

Implemeted it this turn with some units and it helped me get some units out of contact and moving toward my objectives. If I would of broke up a few of my foot infantry at the begining of the scenario to suround larry's overrun front line units (they were mostly red health)--my motorized corps would have probably been further along by now

[B/snafu]

ORIGINAL: larryfulkerson

I've noticed that at least one of my guys actually stood his ground instead of retreating before combat this turn. That's a good sign......

Even though they'r not standing their ground--they are wearing me down. My lead units are becoming low-supplied, red-health, fists of fury([:'(]) with no time to stop,rest, & reorganize. Even though larry has not been able to move a lot of units as he has said--the ones he has, have been placed in good choke points that have slowed me down considerably. Although, larry I think I might have seen a possible move mistake made (as opposed to my strategically movement genius[8|]). I wasn't able to make any screenies tonight but Larry was able to beat me to the punch and he moved a few "infantry divisions?" from the north through the crossroads at moldecno towards minsk (clearing my northern lead unit by one hex). With the success of his other chokepoints--might of been better to leave them at moldecno to slow me down more??

My worries with the forts at sluck were unfounded. one of them retreated & evaped immediatly and I took sluck with no probs. although, getting past his infantry units directly behind sluck on the road might be a different matter.

As far as air--even though it's recommended to avoid using your air in direct attacks--I tried to use two of my bomber units in direct attacks on some of larry's encircled units. the encircled units appeared so weak-figured it wouldn't matter. ........well, no real benefit seen from the combat and my bombers are reorganizing as I speak. Placed a few different ones on cas missions in my last round of combat to assist my weakening ground units. Had some good results with that & evaped some of larry's encircled armor. will find out if they are also reorganizing on turn 8.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the Soviet view of the minimap moves movie from turns 0 throu 7:

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the Axis moves in turn 8:

[larryfulkerson]

Here's some of the Soviet losses so far:

[B/snafu]

Well, with the end of turn 9--next turn should see the battle for minsk. didn't get a screenie--but believe my hrs losses were 1541--mostly everything else in only double digits. But it is time I need--this should end on turn 12. Even if minsk doesn't give me too much trouble---gonna need another turn or so that I don't think I'll have to get at least a marginal victory.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the ninth turn moves for both sides:

[B/snafu]

Turn 10 and suprised to see my whole 24th motor Korps on my southern prong is in reorganization. more time taken away that I need to advance. got news brief "July1st--soviets overcome initial shock"---could it be the reserve soviet units have come out of reorganization and Larry could actually get to make some moves in the scenario??

Only was able to make some limited attacks at minsk--losses mounting---still showing marginal defeat with two turns left to play out--might be able to grab a few more (hopefully undefended) objectives in the north & south of the map in next turn or so.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the Soviet view of the minimap moves movie from turns 0 thru 10. I launched a limited counterattack this turn and made two German units back up just north of Minsk. Felt good to actually fight back for once. Probably won't do much good to the final game result though.

[B/snafu]

Turn 11 wasn't too good for me.

Larry's airborne regiments in the south (now combat divided into bat's) are retreating but blocking my way in obtaining one of my needed objectives there.

As far as Minsk--I had set up some limited attacks to get later flanking bonus & put me in position to set up to take minsk on turn 12. Showed I was only using 30% of rounds--but turn ended unexpectedly after resolving those attacks and wasn't able to position like I wanted. (could of been from moving some air units up to closer airfields then using them as cas in attacks without factoring in their movement losses?) Unless Larry accidently didbands some of his units there or hightails them out of there for some unknown reason--with one turn left, doesn't look like I will be taking minsk in this game.

Larry had some rail movement up to Minsk last turn---in hindsight- should of kept a few air on interdiction--but due to his low movement in the past thought cas would better serve me.

[larryfulkerson]

So um......here's the moves in turn 11:

[B/snafu]

Did not get minsk---although sit briefing showed draw near end of my turn. Here's a look at minsk right before my final unsuccesful attacks there. (armor unit in top right hand corner is furthest I got up north-2 hexes away from what looked like an unoccupied minor victory hex):

Shot at 2007-08-02
As you can see--my guys were at their limit.

[B/snafu]

Here's a look at the southern end--Larry left it mostly uncontested but I was still unable to reach all of my objectives---although did get to the Dneiper:

Shot at 2007-08-02