Road to Moscow part 2 B/snafu vs Larry Fulkerson

[larryfulkerson]

This is the second in the Series of Road To Moscow scenarios. I'm the Axis this time and B/snafu ( Brian ) is the Soviets. Right off the bat I made a mistake in going after the ( immovable ) forts in the northern part of my drive instead of the movable Soviet land units. That's going to cost me in the long run.

I estimate it's going to take about 30 turns to get to Smolensk at the rate I'm advancing. Doh! And I'm already beginning to wonder if my broad-front strategy isn't going to get me the result I'm looking for. Here's the expected reinforcements for the Axis side:

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the air missions for all 5 rounds that occured in turn 1 for the Axis:

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the air missions that I left the airplanes on at the end of turn 1:

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the moves made by the German units in turn 1:

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the Axis losses so far:

[B/snafu]

Actually had a lot more movenent options on turn 1 to organize then I believe Larry had in the whole first installment. Had some of my units start a bridge blowing campaign in front of larry's advancing units to help slow down his movement rate.

Larry wasn't able to evap my airforce on turn 1 but their now reorganizing and should be gone shortly---I was able to pull one bomber out--try to hide him in the netherland of the rear map. Here's my air and losses for turn one:

Shot at 2007-08-03

[B/snafu]

Here's some of the upcoming soviet reinforcements:

Shot at 2007-08-03

[B/snafu]

Only beginning of scenario & Stalin's feeling yellow already[:D]

Shot at 2007-08-03

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the Axis moves in turn 2: ( note the lack of progress )

[B/snafu]

Not much action yet--roadblocks giving me time to set up a proper screen at the dnieper & dogpile at Smolensk. Air still holding out (although reorganizing) losses not as bad as I expected.

Shot at 2007-08-03

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the Axis losses so far:

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the Axis moves in turn 3 ( note the almost total lack of progress) :

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the moves in Axis turn 4. The Soviet dude ( Brian ) is defending forward and putting up lots of effective roadblocks and blowing bridges left and right and all of that makes progress difficult. Plus the fact that the Axis attacks have been uncoordinated. The end result is probably going to be a Soviet victory. We'll see.

[B/snafu]

I don't know about the victory part--but a few local counter attacks have hopefully slowed him down a bit more. I tried to take out one of Larry's bridge engineer's that was out front to add to the bridge blowing campaign. The bugger kept retreating from me but I hope it set him back some. I got a few divided units still merrily blowing bridges in the deserted northen area in case Larry tries for the historic encirclement of Smolensk and demolishing them along the roads as I retreat.

The biggest suprise is the air situation--I don't know enough of the actual smolensk campaign--but were the soviets able to field a viable air defense at this point in the war??
My air guys are still kicking--last two turns on my end actually showed more axis air losses to soviets. Last turn showed 28 axis to 18 if I recall correctly.

But, other then vistabek(sp)--the river line should fall next turn and Smolensk is not far back. Even my rear guys doing nothing are not getting over orange after 4 turns. Good news is reserves should begin arriving next turn[:)]

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the Axis moves for turn 5: I got an early turn ending this time and hadn't had a chance to set anybody on interdiction so the Soviet dude will get a 'free' move this turn. I did manage to evaporate some Soviet dudes though....that'll come in handy when I try to surround Smolensk.

[B/snafu]

The Line is crumbling--and I'm suffering heavy losses. Been able to fall back a few units to act as more roadblocks along the way to Smolensk (& blow more bridges). Think I made a noob mistake by trying to pull back some that wern't in good positions to do so---had some bad disengagement losses & wound up having them in routed or retreated status. Think I would of been better served to have left them in their fortified deployment even though they were getting ready to be encircled.

At least from my end I still seem to be causing more axis air losses then my own.

[larryfulkerson]

So um......here's the next installment of the Axis movement(s): The Soviet dude snuck a unit past my lines to the south there so I have to waste some time and space to bring back a few units to round him up. He'll probably win because of this.

[B/snafu]

I was hope'ng Larry wouldn't have caught my southern raider until I made a coup de grace by nabbing a few of his unprotected planes. At end of last turn I really thought I might of had a chance, but this turn he found me:

Shot at 2007-08-09

I'll just have to settle for the diversion it caused & the blowing of some bridges behind his lines.

Other then a little strongpoint in the south, the river line is basically gone for all intensive purposes & Larry's evaping the ones forced out of fortifications.

Blown bridges in the north & a dogpile at smolensk is waiting.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the Axis turn 7 moves:

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the minimap moves movie from turns 1 thru 8: