End of AAR 76mm welcome

[Ketza]

The operation itself was not as costly as I thought it would have been. Still maintaining a good ratio of losses. These are the losses after the fighting in the area. He also lost quite a few planes.

[Ketza]

Going to finish the turn this afternoon I just wanted to take the time to put together a detailed battle report since I had been planning this offensive for so long. I am really glad it went off 5 turns early as this will give me more options in the summer and enable me to push up the Moscow operation quite a bit.

So thats the 3rd time Kharkov has changed hands. Its pop is down to 10. I am sure we will fight for it somemore!

[Ketza]

Rest of the front was rather quiet except for some minor probing by 1st Pz near Azov, Odessa falling to 2nd Hungarian army and more progress in the Crimea. Next turn Im expecting mud and more organizing now that the timetable has shifted in a rather dramatic way.

My army seems to be in good shape except for maybe 20 or so divisions in the 3-5 CV range. The Panzers are in top form. This turn the air war escalated for some reason (premptive strikes?) where he decided to attack my airfields and was handled rather roughly. I in turn launched my own air campaign and in the end the losses were 450 or so to 100 in my favor with around 40% of the losses being allied planes.

[Tarhunnas]

Neat operation around Kharkov!

What are your plans for the summer offensive?

[Ketza]

ORIGINAL: Tarhunnas

Neat operation around Kharkov!

What are your plans for the summer offensive?

Well I had plans but now they need to be changed reflecting this early success.

I am however sad about my opponents recent email. Seems my Kharkov offensve has impacted his desire to continue. He is thinking about quitting the game but has not decided yet.

[Q-Ball]

Quitting? It's not like he's losing.

[Ketza]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

Quitting? It's not like he's losing.

A few more emails back and forth looks like he may be playing still. I hope so Im down to just this game.

[Ketza]

April showers bring May decisions...

Well its spring and even with celebrating the Kharkov offensive the daunting task of cleaning Soviet carpets every turn loom ahead. To what end? He has already moved all of his factories within reach except Moscow so what really should be attempted at this juncture? What makes sense as far as kill ratios? Is it time for the strategic defensive which others have opted for in different AARS? Well there is few more clear/mud cycles to pass before a clear strategy is to be set.

After recon heres a a portion of the front. Its rather intimidating to see level 2-3 forts 5-8 hexes deep.

The pocket here was attacked and eliminated 4 infantry divisions and 2 Cav corps for a total of 60k prisoners. Things seemed weak towards Belgorod and over the river so the offensive resumed.

[Ketza]

The river was crossed and light Soviet units swept aside. Belgorod was Isolated and a trove of Soviet tank brigades was discovered in very light forts (level 2 haha)so they were pushed back. Upon doing this the makings of a pocket began to show itself. At this point 17th army advanced forward with the help of 2nd PZ and began whittling away at the northern Pincer.

Also most of 4th Pz is in a bridgehead with light forts facing its front.

[Ketza]

Closer to Stalino sector the 2nd Hungarian army arrives and 6th army launches an attack which isolates a division and knocks a line of forts down. Last turn for some reason he had abandoned several level 3 fort hexes so the front here has been inching forward with light casualties.

[Ketza]

Down in the Crimea a small pocket is created and things grind forward. Another Corp from Germany arrives to hasten things up a bit.

[Ketza]

A here is the overall southern picture. The once straight line is starting to bend here and there to open up some options in case its decided not to push for Moscow. This past turn he has taken 100k+ casualties to my 11k or so. He also lost 200 tanks to my 50. Lastly in the air war he has lost 360 planes this turn to my 70ish. These are good rates and If I can maintain them during the summer perhaps I can keep him at bay for the fall.

There are no pics of the north as nothing has really changed except moving around units for the upcoming potential Moscow offensive.

[Ketza]

Phase one of the offensive started in the early spring and involved a few goals:

Bust into the Crimea. This was done and with the first clear June turn is still a work in progress. This turn 11th army and its attached Pz Corp managde to pocket 10 or so rather weak units and cut Sevestapols ground links. Most likely this area will need another strong Corp shipped in from Germany to finish things off.

[Ketza]

Farther North 4th Pz and 1st Pz work in conjunction to form another Pocket of 20 or so higher quality units. The second main spring goal was make progress on his fort lines while keeping the Panzers intact. 3rd Pz and 2nd Pz pull off the line for the next Phase of the campaign. All 4 Panzer armies are in excellent shape with average CVs in the 11-12 range. 18th armies Iron divisions are in the 12 CV range now however. No more 15+ sledge hammers.

As you can see in the picture the Panzers have reached the River line and finally reached an area where his fort levels are level 1 or less.

[Ketza]

The northern front is quiet but a build up of reserves for the upcoming operation is underway with all the May/June new unit arrivals and some units pulled off the line in the Kharkov area.

[Ketza]

This turn kill results:

75k casualties to my 15k.
2 inf divisions and 1 tank brigade surrendered.
Some 30 units pocketed in very solid pockets.
Killed over 250 tanks and only lost 25 or so.

Close to 500 Soviet aircraft destroyed. His interdictions have picked up lately but his planes are getting mauled. I also overran several IL2 fields.

[Klydon]

Nice opening!

This is one of the few AAR's that has gotten to 1942 with what should feel like a "traditional" 1942 campaign for the Axis, so I will be interested to see how it all turns out.

[Ketza]

The campaign season begins with the destruction of two large Soviet pockets created earlier in June. 28 Soviet units are destroyed.

[Ketza]

Crimea pocket losses.

[Ketza]

The central pocket losses added in: