Drang Nach Osten - PBEM Russia 41 (German AAR)

[jjdenver]

I've started a Russia 41 game as Germany and this is the AAR. My opponent shall remain un-named. It's my 2nd time playing Germany, and I think his 2nd time playing Russia - it should be interesting!

Highlights of the first turn include:
- All reachable Soviet air killed on the ground
- Fortress hex north of Leningrad taken by Finns
- All available bridgeheads seized other than the one near Odessa
- Creation of new army group (Romanian) in the far south and renaming of Romanian to Army Group Southeast

Losses:

[jjdenver]

The Finns launched an assault on the fort northwest of Leningrad after air bombardment by the Finnish air force. The fort falls!

[jjdenver]

Army Group North bursts across the river - surrounding a Soviet tank group and pushing north toward the river crossings over the Dvina.

Army Group Center manages to pocket many Soviet corps...but unfortunately an airstrike on a strong Soviet tank formation accidentally destroys the main bridge that AGC will need.....

[jjdenver]

Army Group South pushes hard toward Kiev, leaving some pocketed troops to the south that will have to be cleaned up later. Some air assets assist AGC.

[jjdenver]

The bridgehead near Odessa holds despite a heavy panzer attack on the crossing. I should have sent some air support for this attack. However other spearheads push across bridgeheads successfully. A new army group (Army Group Romania) is formed and staffed. This results in a readiness loss but it's something that has to be done so I wanted to get it out of the way before heavy resistance is encountered.





NOTE: This is the end of Turn 1 posts.

[IRONCROM]

 Very nice...[:D]
I was actually thinking of doing this one next. Great choice!

[seille]

But you play a human or is this a russian AI ?

[Westheim]

I thought about playing this before, but seems way too overwhelming. Good luck! [;)]

[jjdenver]

ORIGINAL: seille

But you play a human or is this a russian AI ?

But you play a human or is this a russian AI ?

(in reply to IRONCROM)

Hi Seille,

It's a human - an opponent I found on this board. I don't play the AI anymore - too boring.

JJ

[jjdenver]

ORIGINAL: Westheim

I thought about playing this before, but seems way too overwhelming. Good luck! [;)]

Hi Westheim,

The first couple of turns as Russia take a long time. The first turn as Germany takes a long time. After that I think turns decrease in time pretty quickly. I'm in a PBEM game as Russia in 1942 and my turns take maybe 30 minutes to do.

It's a really fun scenario from either side for sure.

JJ

[Westheim]

I started with Turn 1 about 45 minutes ago and I'm through with my units now. But - are your screens above from Turn 1 or 2, because I fell short basically everywhere compared to your efforts. [X(]

[jjdenver]

Ah - they are from turn 1. I haven't posted turn 2 yet - waiting on my opponent to get the turn back to me.

I can mail you the file so you can open as Russian and watch what my moves were if you want me to? PM me w/ your email if you want me to mail you the file.

Best
JJ

[seille]

ORIGINAL: jjdenver
It's a human - an opponent I found on this board. I don't play the AI anymore - too boring.

That´s good since i don´t want to follow AI AAR´s - too boring [:D]

[jjdenver]

[TURN 2]
In there north there hordes of pocketed Soviets and a blown bridge to repair.

[jjdenver]

[TURN 2]
Most of the turn for AGN and AGC is spent eliminating Soviet pockets. I probably should have left some of them un-touched but I got caught up in the turn and didn't step back to consider it until too late. This means I'm not up to the Dvina crossings in force nor up to Minsk in force this turn.

[jjdenver]

[TURN 2]
The south is similar - lots of pocketed Soviets that I should probably leave alone for the most part.

[jjdenver]

[TURN 2]
But in the south as well I spend too much time eliminating pockets

[jjdenver]

[TURN 2]
My biggest mistake on turn 1 was not building enough trucks so now on turn 2 I still don't have the trucks necessary to motorize most of my units.

Here are kills for my turn 2.

[jjdenver]

[TURN 3]
The Soviets abandon Riga and fall back before AGN - thus there is no combat as AGN can only chase.

AGC seizes a bridge along the Moscow highway east of Minsk.

[jjdenver]

[TURN 3]
AGS sets up for an assault of Kiev next turn but is unable to do anything else this turn.

AG Southeast advances rapidly on Dnepropetrovsk hoping to seize the crossing before the Soviets can defend it strongly.

AG Romania successfully assaults Odessa despite a very strong Soviet defense. A bridge is also built to use next turn in the advance.

Many pockets Soviet troops are simply left behind. I haven't tried leaving this many before so I'm not sure if this is a good idea but I feel like I have to make up ground since I really messed up my truck builds on turn 1. I'm now behind schedule and trying to catch up. The Soviet factories are churning out units I know so the clock is ticking.