Unentscheiden - PBEM Russia 41 (Russian AAR)

[jjdenver]

I've started a second PBEM game as Russia. My opponent shall remain unidentified - I don't like to name an opponent in an AAR since they may not be comfortable having their mistakes displayed for the world to see. I however know that I have a lot to learn so don't mind it.

The general Soviet strategy will be to extricate as many forces as possible from the initial encirclement, build defensive positions to the rear, and run for those defensive positions as fast as possible. There will also be some temporary blocking positions set up to slow the Germans and attempts to blow various bridges by the Soviet forces.

I think it's also critical to contest the air by late 1941 so I'll build a combination of Flak and Fighters to prevent the Luftwaffe from having free reign to pulverize my main defenses.

On turn 1 I also build some trucks and a lot of engineers. The trucks will be used to ship demoralized troops away from the rampaging German spearheads, and the engineers will be used to blow bridges and start building fortifications.

Here are my turn 1 losses seen when I open the first turn:

[jjdenver]

The Finns push into the fortifications north of Leningrad but Soviet forces resolve to quickly muster and toss them back out!

[jjdenver]

The main assault is preceded by bombardment from the Soviet navy, artillery, and planes. When the assault goes in even the staff of the Leningrad front is sent forward in the assault...but despite the preceding bombardment heavy losses are taken.

[jjdenver]

Despite the heavy losses I'm satisified since Soviet reinforcements stream into the line to hold it against the Finns.

[jjdenver]

In the center some of the major bridgeheads are not seized but there are no engineers available to blow them and the west side is held so not many of the pocketed troops can escape anyway.

[jjdenver]

Here's the center after I run away on turn 1.

Note that 1 bridge near Riga is blown and the other is held by an armored corp. The bridgehead to the south also has an engineer unit ready to blow it next turn.

[jjdenver]

In the south the Germans form some big pockets.

[jjdenver]

....but 3 key things happen:
1) Some significant forces slip out of the pocket around Lvov.
2) A strong infantry corp closes down the west side of a German bridgehead - which will cause the Germans some problems.
3) The bridge blowing attempt near Odessa succeeds.

[jjdenver]

Here is Soviet production at the end of Turn 1. Note the early focus on engineers and trucks as mentioned in my planning notes above.



NOTE: This is the end of Turn 1 posts.

[seille]

Much more engineers than i built in the start, but overall you did the same so far.
Looking forward to this AAR. Interesting to see how others play (and how their german counterpart perform)

[jjdenver]

[TURN 2]

Here are my turn 2 losses. They are heavy but that's to be expected since the German has a lot of pocketed out of supply troops to kill off.

[jjdenver]

[TURN 2]
The Germans launched fierce attacks against the intact bridge southeast of Riga but the tank corp there managed to hold on in a heroic defense. The Luftwaffe first launched an air strike with all of AGN's air, then 2 panzer corps attempted to cross.

[jjdenver]

[TURN 2]
The Germans also launched attacks on the the town of Dvinsk which guards the next bridge south along the Dvina river from Riga but were unable to destroy the Dvinsk's defenders. The infantry screen in front of Minsk also holds back the advancing Panzers temporarily. Things don't look too bad in the center.

[jjdenver]

[TURN 2]
I blow the next 2 bridges south of Riga and evacuate the newly named Valdai Front forces toward Novgorod, leaving a few divisions to defend Riga against the expected German assault. The Kriegsmarine has been shelling Riga steadily.

A few divisions are left in Minsk but the majority of the Central Front and Moskva front retreat toward Orel and Orsha respectively. Engineering groups move toward bridges to blow them hopefully on turn 3.

Here's a pic at the end of my turn 2 in the center:

[jjdenver]

[TURN 2]
The Russian divisions that cut off the German spearhead across the bridge south of Ternopol comes under heavy attack from no less than 4 German corps but holds on valiantly until the final assault retakes the bridge. The Germans get their first taste of the fierce resistance that Mother Russia will offer!

[jjdenver]

[TURN 2]
Here is the situation at the start of my turn 2 in the south. The Germans brushed aside the forces guarding the road to Kiev but were unable to pocket them. Panzer also crossed near Odessa but German engineers were not able to rebuild the bridge yet which hinders their advance and Odessa is not taken.

[jjdenver]

[TURN 2]
This is the situation at the end of my turn 2.

The Voronezh Front has blown one of the bridges east of Kiev and set up defensive positions in the city and behind the river.

In the center of the picture near the Uman river crossings I was unable to retreat all forces so a couple of tank and infantry brigades hope to delay the Germans at the main crossing while the Don Front HQ retreats north (was not well positioned to go east which I would have preferred) toward Kiev.

In the south the Maikop and Crimean Fronts set up a strong defensive position at the next main highway bridge and hope to delay the Germans so that more bridges can be blown in front of them by newly formed engineering brigades.

[jjdenver]

[TURN 2]
North of Leningrad the Finns can't seem to decide whether to assault the Soviet fortifications or retreat to build their own defensive line - which leaves them dangerously exposed. I decide to take advantage of this indecision and order the Leningrad Front to launch an offensive against Finland. The guns of the Soviet Navy launch a huge bombardment along with 5 artillery brigades. This is further supported by many airstrikes then a combined arms assault consisting of armor, motorized infantry, and infantry smashes through the Finnish line and advances up the highway toward Helsinki.

[Ande]

dont forget to put 100% retreat on your encircled units, you don't want them to surrender

[seille]

Turn 2 and no Dnjepr defense buildup ???