Grand Campaign Haudrauf (Axis) vs. Miller41 (no Miller41 please)

[MrLongleg]

I took the plunge and decided to try the GC in a PBEM. I am still a terrible noob - I only played a couple of scenarios and have been able to finish Road to Smolensk with a minor victory as Axis player. As you can see I also decided to write an AAR - I enjoy reading the other AAR's so much, that I wanted to share my experience with the community. This is going to be a long endeavor - I expect at least a year to finish the game - unless Miller41 kicks my butt so badly that the game will end earlier - we shall see.

Turn 1 went basically according to plan - the Russian air force was destroyed on the ground - more than 5 K planes gone. HG Nord sent PzGroup 4 up to the outskirts of Riga. In HG Mitte PzGroup 3 is just bypassing Minsk in the North while also closing a nice pocket west of Minsk by establishing contact with PzGroup 2 about 50 miles west of Minsk. The job of the infantry aries was to breach the Russian defense so that the Panzers had a free ride.

In the South PzGroup1 reached its objective Tarnopol - but was facing stiff resistance on the way. The units in the south were fighting much harder than the units north of the marshes.

Regarding screenshots - how do I put many screenshots in one posting? Until I figure that out I will create several posts per move.

Comments and help from other armchair generals is more than welcome.

Here is the situation in the North:

[MrLongleg]

Here is the situation in the center. I spent most admin points to rid my PzCorps of infantry divisions, so that the cohesion of the corps can be maintained even with deep mobile penetrations.

[MrLongleg]

And here comes the South - Lets see if Miller tries to cut of my spear head...

[MrLongleg]

Turn 2 brought some heavy fighting in the South. Of course my opponent cut off my Panzers there and I had to re-establish contact. Wasn't a big deal though - and now we have been able to create a giant pocket in the South - all the defenders of Lvow are trapped. Therefor I will start with a screen shot of the situation down there after turn 2:

[MrLongleg]

In the center both Panzer groups advanced - now being close to Mogilev. Another ocket arround Misnk was formed. Most infantry armies marched East - so only 3 corps are left to reduce the pocket created on turn 1 - but it is almost done.

[MrLongleg]

In te North Riga has fallen as well as all the ports West of Riga. Pz Group 4 is heading toward Pskov - while trying to maintain a reasonable flank security. Against a human player you have to be even more careful with your spear heads.

[MrLongleg]

Turn 3: PzGroup 4 tries to surround Pskov in the South:

[MrLongleg]

Turn 3 Middle: 3rd Pz Div crossed the Dnepr south of Mogilev, #rd Pz Group drives East bypassing Vitebsk in the south. Taking it will be the job of the infantry.

[MrLongleg]

And in the south we managed to create a new pocket while keeping the big one around Lwov closed:

[MrLongleg]

Turn 4: in the south things are most dynamic - PzGroup 1 threatens to create a new pocket which should create hectic retreat activity on the Russian side.

[MrLongleg]

Turn 4 Middle: PzGroup 2 now has almost all units over the Dnepr, PzGroup 3 moves East and stops 20 miles west of Smolensk. Mogilev and Vitebsk are falling. Pockets are cleaned and infantry marches east as fast as possible. I must admit that Miller41 is skillfully avoiding fights to save as many troops as possible to fight another day. That begins to worry me a bit now.

[MrLongleg]

Progress in the North becomes slower. Problems are created by those pesky I.D. digged in into swamps. No way to get them out of there with tanks.

[MrLongleg]

This turn PzGroup 2 - 4 was basically resting to restock supplies and reduce fatigue. PzGroup 1 in the south made an impressive push threatening a huge pocket around Zhitomir. Kiev is only 20 miles from the front line. Will I be able to close this pocket? I will have to break the two rail lines going into the marshes. The Northern one will be a turn 6 objective for 4th army, the Southern one is already in reach of 1st PzGroup. Lets keep our fingers crossed that it will work.

[MrLongleg]

in the middle PzGroup 2 is now completely over he Dnepr - most of the units were resting. 4th and 9th army are appearing on the scene. 4th Army will have Gomel as its objective for turn 6, while 9th Army with support of PzGroup 3 has to encircle Smolensk so that the city can be taken on turn 7.

[MrLongleg]

Not much action in the North. The Fins started attacking and Miller41 is pulling back. 16th Army marching North to reach Tallin in turn 6.

[MrLongleg]

In turn 6 I was able to pull a nice rabbit out of the hat by sending PzGroup 4 South vs. Velikie Luki. I was able to bag 10+ divisions that way. I am thinking about keeping PzGroup 4 more in the center, because the terrain the in the north is not helpful for Panzer operations anyway. AGN will receive infantry reinforcements from Germany soon so that we can put some pressure on Leningrad. I fully expect Miller41 to have strong defenses up there, so getting Leningrad this year might be very difficult anyway.

The defenders of Smolensk are almost surrounded, so either they retreat or die. Miller41 is still skillfully avoiding every fight which creates some headaches on my side. Of course the almost pocket around Zhitomir was basically evaded - troops retreat through the swamps. At least all units further west in the swamps are now completely cut of from the rail network.

As you might have noticed PzGroup2 turned south to threaten the back of the defenders of Kiev - a pretty historical move. I think I have to do that because otherwise it will be very difficult for me to cross the massive Dnepr defense line in the South.

In the South PzGroup1 tries to find a good spot to cross the Dnepr and my opponent seems not inclined to let that happen anytime soon.

[MrLongleg]

Turn 7: July 31st 41

In the North 2 corps of 18th army are pushing East towards the Narva river while a strong corps lead by Model is fighting its way through the woods north of Pskov. Miller41 is now using checkerboard defense everywhere, so my progress is slowed down significantly. 16th army was busy reducing the pocket west of Velikie Luki and only three units are left to be killed. The pocket contained 10+ divisions, so I am happy with that. 4th PzGroup is now trying to break through south of Velikie Luki. The town should fall on turn 8. I don't see how the tanks could really help me in the heavily defended terrain south west of Leningrad. What are the more experienced axis players have to say about that?

3rd PzGroup is pushing south east from Smolensk in the general direction of Bryansk. Let's see if that will force him to retreat his line south of Smolensk.

Further south 4th army and 2nd Panzer reached the outskirts of Chernigov. Next turn 2nd Panzer is supposed to establish a bridgehead on the other side of the river.

6 army reached the outskirts of Kiev and will engage in attacks next turn. I also expect to establish contact between 6th and 4th army in the swamps west of Chernigov.

1st Pz is trying to find a place to cross the Dnepr south of Cherkassy - that will be a challenge as Miller is building heavy defenses everywhere along the river line.

Overall I am not happy with the amount of enemy units destroyed. Marshal Miller was able to save a big part of the red army and this will create huge problems for me in the coming winter. So my last hope for some decent destruction of Russian forces is to pocket the defenders of Kiev and the Dnepr line with the pincer movement drawn on the map. Any comments or suggestions would be welcome.

[CharonJr]

Have yo deliberatly decided against leaving some armor in the north to link up with the Finns and cut off Leningrad this way?

I am still thinking about this move for my AAR vs the AI, but am not sure if it is a good move.

CharonJr

[MrLongleg]

Yes - Marshall Miller has strong defenses up there and I am pretty sure he won't let me do that. Moreover the terrain is not tank friendly, so it is nit possible to advance with the needed velocity to achieve that goal. I can use the Panzers more effectively further south.

[MrLongleg]

Turn 8:

18th Army is progressing slowly to the Narva line, while Model's corps is pushing North from Pskov. Heavy fighting is going on, but up to now the army was able to break through the defenses every time.

16th army took Velikie Luki and 4th Panzer was able to isolate a couple of swamp dwellers north of Velikie Luki. This pocket is not really sealed yet, but it will be next turn.

Recon flighs showed that there are hardly any defenses east of Lake Ilmen, so I am considering sending 4th Panzer straight north (Plan A.) to cut of Novgorod and Leningrad from the east. The terrain here is a little more tank friendly compared to the other swampy side of the lake.

2nd army appears on the front south of Velikie Luki. I will attach a second infantry corps from 3rd Panzer to 2nd Army next turn. 9 Reinforcement divisions and brigades were railed in from Germany - 6 go to AGN and 3 to AGC.

The push of 3rd Panzer south east of Smolensk should unhinge his defenses east of Mogilev. I expect Marshall Miller to pull back his units there next turn.

2nd Panzer established a solid bridgehead ver the river south of Chernigov, which has been taken by 4th army. Marshall MIller has obviously psychic abilities because he has put a solid roadblock of three fresh tank divisions in the way of 2nd PzGroup. I will try to isolate this roadblock next turn instead of attacking it outright. For his units west of the Dnepr time is running out. I don't think all of them will be able to escape. Moreover the marshes are cut off, so anybody left there is doomed as well. The bridgehead is a big threat for all defenders on the southern Dnepr. First objective for 2nd Panzer is the railhead south east of Chernigov (marked).

6th army shoved away defenders of 4 hexes west of Kiev and the city itself should fall soon. The longer he defends the more doomed his defenders are.

1st Panzer tried to establish a bridgehead shouth of Cherkassy, but failed this time. But the fort level of the defending division was greatly reduced, so we should be able to cross the mighty rover in turn 9. First objective for 1st Panzer on the other side if the other railhead marked with a red circle.

As always comments, suggestions and critical remarks are welcome.