1.04 The East is Red (no Senno)

[Tarhunnas]

AAR from the Soviet side. This is a server game, 1941 GC started with 1.04.10. Full FOW, non-random weather. Me as the Soviets and Senno playing the Axis.

Everything seems to work fine with 1.04, no problems whatsoever. No really obvious differences either so far, but that will show with time I am sure...

Overview of the front after turn 1. The Germans went for the usual opening in Byelorussia. No Riga gambit though, and in the south a sort of compromise between the large and small Lvov pocket.

[Tarhunnas]

The smaller pocket in Byelorussia proves to be breakable. As for the larger one, I was one hex from breaking it, both on the eastern side and to the south adjoining the marshes. Annoying [:@]. I checkerboard eastern Byelorussia madly. Shot of Minsk area after Soviet move.

As far as I can, i try to put routed units on strategic locations behind the front where I want a fortification. Routed units will still dig, so they might at least do something useful between counselling sessions (= encouraging talks with the commisar)!

[Tarhunnas]

In the south, it proves possible to mess things up for the Germans by moving in and cutting up the Panzer thrust in smaller packets. All the mobile divisions will start their next turn isolated. They will break out easily of course, but it will cost them time and they will start wih low MPs.

I used the plentiful Soviet rail capacity on turn one to move the strong rifle corps that start east of Rovno up to the Pskov area. I think Leningrad is more important than the south, and as no industry can be moved on turn one it is the one time the Soviets can really splurge in rail movement.

[Aussiematto]

Nice defence, though I think his northern opening was a little limp -- he missed Riga (I have a well known aversion to the Riga gambit caused probably by my view that bombing Kuessara with 250 Ju-88 and He-111 as a way of landing troops unopposed in Riga feels a little weird -- still, I have now used that gambit in my latest game and must confess, it's a good move); also missed that southern crossing of the Daugava where the paras are.

Remember that on Turn 2, his panzers will still be carrying supplies of fuel from Turn 1 and will have juicy movement values (not 50, but not 16 or something similar). Be interested to see how he deploys the new Pz and Mot divs from 1st Pz Army.

Good start -- glad I am not playing you

[hfarrish]

The movement of a group up to Leningrad is probably wise - possibly not necessary but if you look at his North grouping it looks like he might be readying for a major push north at the expense of AGC (regardless of whether the Riga trick was used...).

[Tarhunnas]

Senno and I agreed to end the game due to differing skill levels.