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

[karonagames]

Same advice as I gave on other thread - double check that units will be in supply range when the mud hits - anything with 25+ mps to supply source will be isolated in mud, as mud adds 4mps to every hex's movement cost.

[MrLongleg]

Turn 19 (end):This is the second mud turn and I am trying to bring more infantry divs into attack positions on the eastern side of the Volhov river while getting the Panzers bak for refit. Some of the Panzer divs only have 40+ AFV left.

Not much going on elsewhere - the mud brings everything to a full stop. Even pocket reduction is hard in the mud - some isolated Russians refuse to die after several attacks.

I also decided to transfer 2 mountain divs and one infantry div together with a corps HQ from AGS to AGN. Currently I don't have any sue for mountain divs in the south - the Caucasus is still far away and I guess the worst winter action will happen in the north.

The Fins were able to sneak in and take one of the three ports on Ladoga lake. Hopefully this will become important in the future.

For the snow turns I am thinking about Operation "Nikolaus", creating a big pocket in the Tula area. I have two Panzergroups there and can't bring them elsewhere fast enough.

[Klydon]

Well, with that Finn sneaking in to grab that northern port city, it now makes it tougher on you to decide to launch a frosts offensive in this area to try to grab the other two ports and attempt to knock Leningrad out. In order to have a shot at it, I think you can consolidate along both sides of the Volkov and get the rail line in your control. (Blow out that infantry division on the river sitting next to your panzer division would help). The nice thing is you can set up for it and if he over-commits to try to defend, then you can call it off. If he leaves the back door open, thinking you won't do it, then you can give it a shot and see what happens. If nothing else, it should put a good scare into him.

Nice job along the rest of the front I think as you are giving him plenty to be worried about.  

[jjdenver]

Ugh 6:1 loss ratio going into mud I think is rough for Germans. I'm enjoying the AAR but I fear that the losses incurred are not in Germany's favor... still I'm hoping for an entertaining 42 and I am interested to see how you handle blizzard.

[MrLongleg]

ORIGINAL: jjdenver

Ugh 6:1 loss ratio going into mud I think is rough for Germans. I'm enjoying the AAR but I fear that the losses incurred are not in Germany's favor... still I'm hoping for an entertaining 42 and I am interested to see how you handle blizzard.

I am not happy about that either. Marshall M. was very skillful in retreating his troops fast enough so that I could not inflict as much damage as I would have liked.But it's only over when it's over ! I am still hoping to have another chance in 42 - although the going then will be much tougher.

[MrLongleg]

ORIGINAL: Klydon

Well, with that Finn sneaking in to grab that northern port city, it now makes it tougher on you to decide to launch a frosts offensive in this area to try to grab the other two ports and attempt to knock Leningrad out. In order to have a shot at it, I think you can consolidate along both sides of the Volkov and get the rail line in your control. (Blow out that infantry division on the river sitting next to your panzer division would help). The nice thing is you can set up for it and if he over-commits to try to defend, then you can call it off. If he leaves the back door open, thinking you won't do it, then you can give it a shot and see what happens. If nothing else, it should put a good scare into him.

Nice job along the rest of the front I think as you are giving him plenty to be worried about.  

I am considering that too, but of course I assume he will anticipate that move and will be prepared. But you never know...

[ComradeP]

Haudrauf, don't ignore that swamp hex that forms the third entry point to the Crimea. You need to get good forts up in the entry/exit hexes unless you want to face an ugly winter offensive from that area.

[Mynok]

That's quite huge getting the Finns into that northern port. That cuts off the hardest supply line to cut. He's got major defensive forces in the swamps around the river down there though, and you'll be hard pressed to make headway.

[MrLongleg]

ORIGINAL: ComradeP

Haudrauf, don't ignore that swamp hex that forms the third entry point to the Crimea. You need to get good forts up in the entry/exit hexes unless you want to face an ugly winter offensive from that area.

Thanks, just saw that and fixed it...

[MrLongleg]

Turn 22 - first snow turn sees major offensive operations.

In the north 16th, 18th Armies and 4th Panzer go into offensive and win some very important hexes. 4th Panzer cuts the last rail lien going into Leningrad and is ten miles from the shore of Lake Ladoga. Unfortunately I have to assume that Marshall M. will put lots of divisions into my way so that we still need to hope for a miracle.

In the Tula sector operation Nikolaus executed by 2nd and 3rd Panzer supported by elements of 4th and 9th Army made a 90 miles thrust around the north eastern corner of Tula and threatens to close a huge pocket next turn. Unfortunately there is a major weak spot that might as well spell disaster for my spear heads. Again I have to hope for a miracle - maybe St. Nikolaus will help to put all these nasty Russians into his big bag for the bad boys.

[Mynok]

I assume you are going to fill that gaping hole in 4th army soon?

[MrLongleg]

ORIGINAL: Mynok


I assume you are going to fill that gaping hole in 4th army soon?

Of course - the units to fill that gap are on flank protection duty for Operation Nikolaus and will retreat very soon.

[MrLongleg]

Only one snow turn left.

In the north under heavy fighting we widen the gap and are one river and two hexes away from Leningrad port. Probably too late, but we have no choice but pushing hard. Losses on both sides were quite high.

In the south the bulk of both Panzergroups executing operation Nikolaus were cut off, as predicted, although the cut took place at a different position. Luckily contact could be re-established easily and then we were able to fill St. Nikolaus' bag with 18 units.

16th army got an extra corps, with two mountain divs and one infantry div from the AGS. One mountain div is still riding the train.

[ComradeP]

The "small solution" to the Leningrad problem looks good, but with only one snow turn left it's really risky. There's a chance the Finns will have to reestablish supply to your spearhead should the forces south of the Neva be overrun on the first blizzard turn. Low ice levels also increase the cost for crossing the river.

[Klydon]

Going to be tough to hold in the Leningrad area, but man what a fight there. Going to be extremely difficult to pull it off, but I think you are going to force him to pull back in the western edge of the pocket. Perhaps can grind a stack or two down in your last snow turn, which means far fewer Russians to kill your guys during the blizzard. If nothing else, you have him really pushed against the wall here.

Lot of units in the bag as well and losing them will hurt his counter offensive. You should be able to wack them and then probably look at retiring back unless you try to kill off the stack of 3 to the north too.

[Mynok]

Have you considered doing the unusual and using your panzers to clean up St. Nicks bag of toys? You need to move them back anyway. Why not grind some Soviets down on the way?

Additional benefit is allowing your infantry to redeploy into defensive spots without having to spend movement on pocket attacks.

[MrLongleg]

ORIGINAL: Mynok


Have you considered doing the unusual and using your panzers to clean up St. Nicks bag of toys? You need to move them back anyway. Why not grind some Soviets down on the way?

Additional benefit is allowing your infantry to redeploy into defensive spots without having to spend movement on pocket attacks.

Since there is exactly one turn to clean up the pocket the Panzers will need to help with it...

[MrLongleg]

Turn 24 - last snow turn

Holy cow - I was shocked when I opened the turn. Marshall M. broke the pocket and now the situation turned around completely. Surrounded by huge hordes of Russians the bulk of Panzer Groups 2 and 3 was in danger to end up in St. Nik's bag. So instead of reducing the pocket and then escape to prepared positions I had to fight a bloody retreat battle to ensure that my units can escape to safety. The next turn will show if that was successful. But as you can see the second map looks a lot better then the initial situation.

In Leningrad I had to throw in the towel. No way to cross the river against those defenses. Even if I had made it I would have been cut off soon. And the city hex was too strong t be attacked by Panzer divisions. Had no time to and not enough movement t bring significant infantry forces into position.

Overall - I think from now on it will be a battle of survival. My most important goal is to preserver enough forces to make a comeback in the Spring. But as ut looks like now I was not able to inflict enough damage o the Russian forces. I guess it will be fun time for Marshall M. for the next 12 turns.

[Klydon]

Wow, not a good development in the center, but have to tip the hat to the Russian for giving that a shot to try to reopen the lines. I don't know what his fortification levels were in St Nick's bag, but a consideration would have been to reduce the pocket anyway to at least cause those troops to be trashed for awhile in case you can't reduce the pocket next turn. He has a lot of guys there. Going to be ugly for you for now and he will probably push you hard back.

Leningrad is also unfortunate, but cleaning those two stacks out will give you some breathing room. I don't see you holding the bulge there and bet he makes that a priority to push you back from Leningrad. If he doesn't, it will be ugly in the spring. I would think you should be able to hold the troops from the east on the Volkov and even try to keep some bridgeheads on the east side to set the threat of a drive from there in the spring as well. Getting a mountain unit up there should also help quite a bit as well I would think. I will be interested to see how it works out as a cornerstone defensive piece there.

What is the situation in the south?

[MrLongleg]

ORIGINAL: Klydon

Wow, not a good development in the center, but have to tip the hat to the Russian for giving that a shot to try to reopen the lines. I don't know what his fortification levels were in St Nick's bag, but a consideration would have been to reduce the pocket anyway to at least cause those troops to be trashed for awhile in case you can't reduce the pocket next turn. He has a lot of guys there. Going to be ugly for you for now and he will probably push you hard back.

I kicked some of those guys around and also routed a few. But priority is to evacuate the salient to save manpower and my precious mobile formations from destruction.

Leningrad is also unfortunate, but cleaning those two stacks out will give you some breathing room. I don't see you holding the bulge there and bet he makes that a priority to push you back from Leningrad. If he doesn't, it will be ugly in the spring. I would think you should be able to hold the troops from the east on the Volkov and even try to keep some bridgeheads on the east side to set the threat of a drive from there in the spring as well. Getting a mountain unit up there should also help quite a bit as well I would think. I will be interested to see how it works out as a cornerstone defensive piece there.

I will have to get a feeling about Blizzard turns. Never played one before - so it will be a brand new and probably uncomfortable experience. But that is the reason that I moved the two German mountain divisions up there.

What is the situation in the south?

No movement - digging in. In most areas we don't even have contact with the Russians yet.