GC 41, Mehring (SOV) Kamil (GER)

[KamilS]

centre (3 move)

[KamilS]

south (3 move)

[KamilS]

Turn 4 - start

Another turn, another surprises.

North was quiet, mainly because my progress there was really feeble.

In centre, he made several intrusions from the south and routed my pz division spearheading my attack on Smolensk, what closed gap to north east. Meanwhile Belarus pocket was reduced to 3 divisions.

In south rings of encirclement over two main cauldrons were once again broken, and one of my mobile divisions beaten and routed.

[KamilS]

Centre (4 start)

[KamilS]

south (4 start)

[KamilS]

Turn 4 - my moves

Practically no progress in the north. His strong defences north of river Daugava forced me to rest my only pz corps. There was no point of attacking without support. I will try to do it next turn.

In the centre, I moved my infantry towards Mehring's defences, and used part of my mobile forces to enlarge my bridgehead and managed to strengthen my position north of the river as well. Most of my panzers were rested.

In the south I decided to postpone destruction of northern pocket. Swamps limited my movement and without reinforcements I was not able to seal it off.
I wasn't going to send any, because my attention was focused on his main forces in the south of that region. Thanks to additional 2 pz corpses and not using all of mobile divisions in previous turn I was able to close pocket from south. Infantry attack got me across river and well supplied panzers rolled into defensive positions.

[KamilS]

centre (4 move)

[KamilS]

south (4 move)

[KamilS]

Turn 5 - start

I expected surprises. I wasn't disappointed.


Biggest setback wasn't caused by my opponent. Unexpectedly, central Russian zone experienced week of intensive rain, which bogged my forces down and gave Mehring more time to strengthen his defences.

Front formations of AGC that crossed river Dnepr were pushed back, adding little bit more depth to Soviet defences and endangering my bridgehead. Poorly supplied forward divisions will be in big troubles.

Southern pocket was breached in two places. Nothing major, fate of surrounded division was sealed, his actions only postponed it by one turn, but that kind of details, move by move, turn by turn lead to defeat.


Quick reminder. Lvov pocket still numbers several divisions - around 7, Belarusian have been reduced to 1.

[KamilS]

centre 5 (start)

[KamilS]

south 5 (start)

[Mynok]

I still don't understand your insistence on stacks. They give the Soviets movement freedom they wouldn't have otherwise. Pin them.

[KamilS]

Mynok

I still don't understand your insistence on stacks. They give the Soviets movement freedom they wouldn't have otherwise. Pin them.

Stacks are in the centre, on the eastern side on river Dnerp, as a precaution.

In the far south, stacks are effect of attacking across river.

In the other places, near the front, these other units are HQ and air-groups.

[KamilS]

Turn 5 - move

Mud greatly limited my advance and gave Mehring vital time to strenghten his defences.

In the north I slowly marched my feeble troops towards Pskov and Vielki Luki. In the centre, preserving fuel reserves got priority, so only infantry divisions were moved forward. At last, Soviet forces in western and central Belarus were destroyed. Due to weather conditions divisions in Prypet marshlands weren't encircled.

Fortunately, sun was shinning for me in the steppes, so cauldron in south Ukraine was resealed. In the mean time, central pocket was greatly reduced by passing-by troops.

In Lvov region, I managed to destroy only 3 divisions, still at least 4 are left there.

Momentum of my advance was greatly reduced not only by weather, but mainly due to "attention" given to surrounded troops. I wasn't pleased with myself.

[KamilS]

centre 5 (move)

[KamilS]

south 5 (move)

[Mehring]

Mynok's right, you should have been breaking down divisions to surround the pockets and completely prevent their movement. This has cost you weeks and weeks of campaign season as I restore supply to my isolated units, defering their destruction to another turn.

Defending is generally best in depth, not in stacks that I can bypass or even surround and route. Remember, 1941 Russians can mount a very strong attack but it eats their MPs quickly and causes them massive losses and disorganisation making it very dificult to maintain an offensive. Your units, even regiment size, have high morale and are very unlikely to route if they have somewhere to retreat to. A line of regiments can be very elastic, giving ground but remaining intact under heavy attack, keeping isolated units in and unisolated units out. with more regiments behind the front line, you become stronger as the line falls back while the Russians become weaker.

[Aussiematto]

Hate to say it, but I think you are screwed. I'd be especially worried in the north. One possible operational move would be to abandon the attack on Leningrad right now, trusting that he might have overcommitted there, and swing all of 4th Pz down into the assault in the centre. The appearance of those divisions could restart your attack on Tula / Orel etc.

Thanks for sharing... it's really useful to see what others are doing, so please don't be offended.

[KamilS]

Mehring

Mynok's right, you should have been breaking down divisions to surround the pockets and completely prevent their movement. This has cost you weeks and weeks of campaign season as I restore supply to my isolated units, defering their destruction to another turn.

Good advice, thank you. But most of the times I am to scared to split into regiments.

[Mynok]

You don't necessarily have to split, though there are circumstances where that can be useful. But stacking combat units is utterly pointless unless you are planning a major attack and need lots of troops.