Boron vs Archduke GPWbyBoron

[TheArchduke]

Sorry for the fast pace of the AAR, but Boron and me were able to make more turns this week. I try to be more elaborate the next turn, but things are very crucial and even the slightest hints what happens in the Center is right now, risky.

[Barthheart]

I see from your last screen shot that you have 288 PP!?!

Is resreach not enabled? If it is, why haven't you used some of these to upgrade your troops? How did you get so many?[&:]

[TheArchduke]

Ehrm, each VP on the map produces one PP per turn.

There are 120 held by the Axis at the moment, and 90 by the Soviets.

To make up for that, costs have been increased.

Fighter IV for instance costs 500 PP.

[TheArchduke]

Sept 7th, 1941, Turn 12

Another important turn. Boron´s plan becomes clear now:

Northwest Front/HG Nord:

Attempt to crush the Finnish and do not waste time to defend anything south of Leningrad. Instead use reinforcements to build up the front before Moscow. Hope for the mud/snow to slow the Wehrmacht down.

Stavka/HG Zentrum:

Establish a mighty armored force to smash HG Zentrum and then support SW and NW Fronts.

SW Front/HG Süd:

Establish a mighty defense at Kiev and hold it against HG Süd. Try to drive the Romanians back to Bucharest.

So far it seems my success at Kiev has suprised Boron and he is scrambling to establish another defense. Where is unclear. Moscow is another story. Massive Tank and Aircraft formations will make this front nigh on impossible to break before the winter.

[xBoroNx]

Greetings. I took a rather long break from at (about 3 months) but now have enough time again for some pbem. Our match is starting to get very interesting, i just fear the russians might need a bit more of a boost eventually. 4 months ago i played almost the same scenario with Archduke, i was also Soviets that time. There Archduke won impressively in early October 41 iirc.

A few differences have been made though, the main one is slightly increased combat power for the soviets but also the axis minors. I have my doubts though if these 5% will help, the russians still fight at a disadvantage, 90% vs. 100% german combat efficiency.

From my viewpoint so far not much worked as i hoped. While i finally defeated the romanians near Odessa it was costly And the crucial Kiev defense unfortunately failed. Now there is heavy fighting especially in the center, i had some success last turn with my offensive there but Arch retreated the attacked forces then and tries to flank me with the majority of AG north's forces. My impression is that Panzergruppe Guderian headed south and Panzergruppe Hoepner also headed south to aid AG Centers advance to Moscow.

[TheArchduke]

HG Nord:

The situation at the start of my turn. Several Panzerdivisons have been smashed and one motorised and one engineer divison is encircled.

[TheArchduke]

So, the only option is retreat and bring in anti-tank reinforcements.

[TheArchduke]

The only success is against the soviet aircraft.

[TheArchduke]

HG Nord:

The situation looks favourable and I am puzzled on what Boron´s plan is for the city. Starving and Sieging the city will not be possible as Boron undoubtely brought in sufficient supplies.

[TheArchduke]

HG Süd:

Kharkow is an open city and conquered, Dnejprvostok and the vital Ukraine Food Supply (3000 Supply Production Center)

[TheArchduke]

And the situation near Odessa. I bring in forces from four directions, together with the Germans hoping to suceed where the Romanians didn´t.

[british exil]

Very interesting AAR.
Very fast game as it looks. Nice detail in the screenshots.
Appreciate the hard work involved in making such a read for us. Keep the "propaganda" rolling.

Mat

[TheArchduke]

September 14th, 1941, Turn 13

After building trucks for ten turns, I am finally able to send much needed supplies and reinforcement from the OKW at a satisfactory pace. Boron looses the intiative in the Southern Ukraine as parts of HG Süd make their appearance.

Here is the kill/loss ratio for this turn.

[TheArchduke]

HG Zentrum:

The next turns will be crucial. Coupled with reinforcements from the OKW and the slow infantry columns finally catching up, I have enough units to engage the overstrength Center Army of the Soviets.

Boron uses his infantry to cover his southern flank and pulls north, though disappointingly only finding only 3 infantry divisons and one heavily entrenched engineer divison.

The real highlight however is an air attack (screenie to follow) which smashes half of the soviet artillery in this sector and is sure to eliminate any Aircraft threats for the next 2 turns. I miss the HQ one Hex east though.

[TheArchduke]

Both HG Süd and HG Nord send fighter support and this turn the time to engage the soviet airforce is here. The attack is a big success.

[TheArchduke]

HG Süd:

After weeks of stalemate and outright retreat things are finally looking up for the HG Rumänien. This is only possible as parts of the armored troops of HG Süd are sent in to help. They stumble upon a heavy infantry corps and tear it apart as the anti-tank support is meagre.

[TheArchduke]

September 21th, 1941, Turn 14

I still have a lot of ground to cover and HG Nord´s Panzergruppe finds itself sandwiched north of Moscow.

[TheArchduke]

HG Zentrum:

Things are not going well. Although my aircraft inflicts high losses on the soviet tank divisons, another couple of my divisions have been wiped out. This is coming down to a slugfest, which is NOT good.

[TheArchduke]

I vigourously counter-attack with mixed successes.

[TheArchduke]

Though Boron still suffers still very high losses, thanks to the situation in the south.