Senno v Oleg; Starring in "Proof Beyond a Reasonable Doubt?" No Oleg

[Senno]

Thanks TD. It's my first PBEM.

I intend to begin repositioning for defense more once the mud hits, I think.

[Aussiematto]

Good work -- there's so many complexities to Leningrad battles, finding the weak point and then exploiting it; good use of armour there.

I remain amazed at how much easier it is vs a human than the AI. The AI even on normal setting seems to be able to generate massive defensive stacks east of the Volkhov which simply cannot be budged unless you get across the river at Novgorod AND massive fortified hexes in Leningrad.  Of course, most everything else is a lot harder LOL.

[Senno]

Thanks Majeloz.

I have learned alot this game, and will make many changes, next game. So many crucial mistakes, starting on turn 3.

Oh well, I'm getting better I hope. Still have to tie all the front together and advance well everywhere, just not on one front...

So still a long way to go, I think. Both for me at getting better, and the end of the game, VP wise. The Soviets time is coming, haha.

Thanks to everyone who stops in with some advice. Appreciate it greatly. And it has helped me improve quite a bit I think. I am trying to execute the advice, and my results may vary, haha.

[mmarquo]

Senno,
 
Do not forget to bring up all your heavy artillery SU pieces like Thor, etc. Overload the sector with pioneers, siege guns, etc.
 
Marquo [:)]

[Senno]

Oy, thanks Marquo.

It's at 18th army now. Going to shift it to the lead corps next turn.

I've been grinding away at the Soviets towards Leningrad forever. Thank goodness he dropped back to the Luga from the back of Pskov. Gave me some free land, and that much closer, to get the big guns firing on Leningrad.

Senno

[Mynok]

His back door looks wide open if you can clear the way to get 18th army there in force. That's the route I'd take. Probably can get it next turn with your panzers if you bring the load.

[Senno]

Turn 13

AGC:

After playing hide the Panzers for two turns, the MP's were pretty well in the 40's in Second and Third Panzer. Elements of Fourth and Ninth Armies opened a hole. Second and Third Panzers streamed through, seizing Vyazma and fanning out. A small leaky pocket was formed.

At this point in time, continuing into the Soviet forces in the northeast of the landbridge seemed futile. They are well fortified, and it's 1 hex at a time. So I went around them. I didn't get that far, overall. But it doesn't look like much is between lead elements of Third Panzer and Moscow, at this point. That will change, haha.

Fourth Army moves northeast towards Bryansk in heavy fighting, crossing the Sudost River above the Nerussa.

The area around VL remains stable.

PS: That HQ by it's lonesome was fueled, then tucked back in.

Winter preparations continue back on the west bank of the Dnepr.

He will probably pull back north/northeast towards Moscow. The jiu jitsu will continue.

[Senno]

Mynok,

I will give it a shot if the situation looks good next turn.

Thanks,

Senno

[Senno]

Turn 13

AGS/Prip Marshes Pocket:

3 units surrendered this turn. An airborne brigade retreated rather than surrender to a hasty attack by 34th ID. I didn't have mp's for a full assault after crossing the river. Italian Cav lacked mp's for an attack. Italian cav are basically useless anyway, folding if the Soviets stare at them.

Not sure if that's the last unit in there. But it probably is. So, 2 turns on beachhead status, and 4 or 5 isolated, and it's still holding out.

Coming up on 2 months pocketed, basically.

There's still a unit hanging out south of Gomel that's pocketed, but that was created 3-4 turns later.

I didn't really notice if I caught any hq's, and if Soviets air supplied these pocketed units. And don't know how that would change the end results really. I did attack the pocketed units consistently, if they didn't surrender during friendly supply phase.

They seem to have held out well enough to me, and are a pain in my backside for another turn. For game conditions in '41, I think that is ok. A Soviet player may have another point of view.[;)]

[Senno]

Turn 13

AGS

Sixth Army continues to attack east by Southeast on the east side of the Dnepr. Seventeenth Army same on the west bank. A couple extremely small pockets are formed between Seventeenth and First Panzer, and a leaky pocket started between the two Infantry armies on the east side of the bank.

First Panzer continues to roll southeast down the west bank of the Dnepr out in front of Seventeenth and 11th Armies now.

11th Army attacks east by northeast and is close to a link up with First Panzer on the looparound.

Several attacks failed, that might have been successful with an average SU allocation, I think There is a true choice to be made in how you support the attacks, front to front. My "supermen" in the north, are average Germans down here. Still strong, of course. But the relative difference shows. The difference being the SU's I sent to AGN.

That, and I have a good opponent in front of me. He is hanging tough here, knowing that he's almost run the clock out for mud.

I can't really slow down, need more land and pockets. I'd like him cleared from the west of the Dnepr in AGS. It might not be possible, as Oleg is making me earn it. But I'm going to try.

I've got some digging going on in the rear of AGS now, for winter positions.

I am finally encountering some of the mobile reserves, down here in AGS. And smacked them as I saw them. This is good, as I'd like to keep him as slow as possible during the blizzard. That's probably a drop in the bucket, but I feel better having attacked them, haha.

I'm not happy with the small advance in AGS overall. Need more land.







General:

At the end of all attacks, 20 infantry divisions are down to between 60 and 70 TOE. They are placed on refit, for the coming turn. Thankfully they are only 10 in AGN, the others are split between AGC and AGS. So, I think I will still have sufficient combat power in AGN without a wholesale switchout of units this coming turn.

XXXX Panzer heads to the front now, as well.

I continue to "hit 'em where they ain't" along the fronts with my Panzers. I go where they aren't, or at least are weakest. Panzers TOE's remain excellent for the most part, the 2 on the end of the string being good and very good, subjectively, haha.

I still have choice where to send XXXX, where it goes depends on the recon.

[Senno]

And, back to the historical rate of advance.



Hmm, ahead in AGN & AGC. Behind in AGS, but not all that bad, compared to historical anyways,

[Senno]

New day and no turn. It is unusual for Oleg to hold a turn this long. Maybe he does sleep, afterall.[:)]

I'm getting better at punching holes to move through. This one was 2 wide south of Smlensk. Getting enough infantry to the point of attack is where it's at. And I didn't have enough to drive 2 openings, I tried though and failed. That's war. I will be happy with what I have gained, and shrug off the areas of operational failure.

The enemy zoc's limited how far the Panzers could drive, but having 2 panzer armies staring at the road to Moscow should have some impact on loosening up defenses elsewhere.

And I am staring at Leningrad. His choice as to what he defends heavily.

I hope to acheive the '41 line in the South, as well.

Can't wait to see what he does.[:)]

[Senno]

I followed Jomni's link to the Random Wargame Name Generator, and it came up with "Ace of the Motherland" for me.[:'(] I think that might be more appropriate for my opponent than me, but I will take it.[:D]

I used to play tennis competitively, so it's on the right track, oddly enough.

Cool site Jomni, thanks.

In other news, I see Oleg is updating. I hope that means a turn is on the way.[:)]

[Senno]

Turn 14

OOB:

Holding steady here.

[Senno]

Turn 14

Losses:

Mine remain low. Soviets havne't impacted this by launching counter-attacks very much, at all. And although I've been grinding the last few turns in AGN, since Oleg handed me the Luga line, I've protected the infantry elsewhere.

I've got a pretty big Army, and am padded somewhat for the 1 million or so blizzard losses that I anticipate. It won't be fun, but I won't be surprised by it, at least.

Soviets climb over 2 million. I've captured over half that total. I guess I created a few more pockets than I give myself credit for. It's not great, but I don't feel devastated by the low numbers. I try to remain positive, here. haha.

[Senno]

Turn 14

Destroyed Units:

186 total now. Low. Oleg has been hard to pocket, and I enhance my own difficulties with bad decisions while learning to play.

[Sabre21]

That breakout in the center looks to be the decisive moment on this front. Get your air recon out enmasse and check to see where he may be forming another line at. I would widen that breach and secure the rail line thru there to Vyzama, air refuel your panzers at the start of the turn with every bomber and transport available and get them to 125% and push east hard. You may very well get lucky and take Moscow. If for anything to knock out the manpower factors. You do want a wide axis of advance if you plan on holding this though..I'm talking 15 to 20 hexes wide otherwise come blizzard he may pinch it off.

[Senno]

Turn 14:

Counterattacks:

2 this turn.

He drives the 256th ID back with moderate losses (1200). TOE is down to 74%, Fortunately, it was set on refit after last turns attacks, so it could have been in a worse state. It's weakish now, 5 = 16 so will be tucked under another unit, I can't spare to move it out of the line completely at this point.

The counter-attack on 8th and 5th Romanian Cav fails, This highlights the improvement in my Romanians, I believe. They have been in training in their slow advance. And morale climbs every so slowly. And it pays off a bit here. Their TOE's remain at 80% or so after the attack.

[Senno]

Turn 14

AGN (pre-movement, post some recon)

Soviets have fallen back to the Volkhov River down to Novgorod. A screen remains on the west bank of the river.

At Schisselburgh, the fortress remains size 1. 3 units are there, detecting at level 10 3=17. He remains in force in front of Leningrad otherwise. The low fortress levels make the fall inevitable, I believe. It's just what turn it will fall.

The forces in the area will be reduced manually, unless I score a surprising breakthrough and manage to isolate Leningrad, linking with the Finns.

I doubt that will happen, as I don't have extra forces in the area to try to head so far east, as I move northeast to the Leningrad metro area.

He has pushed back from VL north slightly, as well. I will seize the land as a convenient widening of my buffer.

[Senno]

OK, Sabre, will give it a shot. Infantry will be poured in. Bulk of both AGC infantry armies are relatively close by.

Continuing to fly recon.

FBD is at Smolensk now.

This is CNN type AAR, real-time, haha.