Making History I & II: A 41-45 GC

[fiva55]

It seems like AARs are an excellent way to advertise for new opponents, since I got more offers that I can actually play. For now, Manstein63 will be my new opponent, mainly because he publicly promised not to resign [;)], but once I have time for another new game, I will pm back all those who were interested.

Anyway, I will continue the the AAR in this thread. It seems a waste of cyberspace to start a new thread [:D].

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MAKING HISTORY II

Axis: fiva55
Soviet: Manstein63

Settings: Full FOW, non random weather, started on v.1.04.16

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NOTE: I have skipped the turn 1 update, mainly because it differed little from my previous game.

TURN 2
6/26/1941

BEGIN OF TURN STATISTICS

AXIS OOB
Men: 3.326.949
Guns: 33.662
AFV: 3.422
Air: 3.077

SOVIET OOB
Men: 3.904.668
Guns: 42.733
AFV: 13.279
Air: 5.894

AXIS LOSSES
Men: 36.047
Guns: 276
AFV: 160
Air: 192

SOVIET LOSSES
Men: 330.798
Guns: 4.063
AFV: 3.222
Air: 5.967

BEGIN OF TURN 2 FRONTLINE OVERVIEW

Notable points
[*]The Soviets seem to favour a forward defence.

[*]South: the Lvov pocket has been broken.

[fiva55]

END OF TURN 2
DATE: 6/26/1941
ARMY GROUP NORTH

Soviet rearguards left behind in swamps and rough terrain forces 4th Panzer to waste time hunting them down. Still, the Pskov line is breached in force by 4 Pz divs.

[fiva55]

END OF TURN 2
DATE: 6/26/1941
ARMY GROUP CENTRAL

In the center, the Soviets have manned the forward river lines, but critically, didn't have the manpower to man the main Dnepr line. Taking advantage of this, 2nd Pz Group supports 3rd Pz Group in a drive straight towards the Dnepr, allowing 20th Mot Div to establish a bridgehead across the river.

[fiva55]

END OF TURN 2
DATE: 6/26/1941
ARMY GROUP SOUTH

Infantry lags behind, because the Lvov pocket had to be reclosed. To make up for this, part of 11th Army has been moved north to support the southern flank of 1st Pz Group.

[Fishbed]

Good Luck Manstein!

I definitely want to see Fiva face Tullius one day, that would be a hell of a show!

[fiva55]

Still on 1.04.16. For this game, Manstein has gracefully allowed me to play under the the old HQ build up rules, claiming that I will need the advantage [:D]

Meanwhile, my opponent continues using a forward checkerboard defence. I must say it is pretty effective, if only because it forces me to deploy more forces to secure the flanks of my advance.

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BEGIN OF FRONTLINES TURN 3 OVERVIEW
DATE: 7/3/1941

[fiva55]

END OF TURN 3
DATE: 7/3/1941
ARMY GROUP NORTH

Infantry has move up to secure the flanks of 4th Pz Group. T4 will see the dash towards the Luga.

[fiva55]

END OF TURN 3
DATE: 7/3/1941
ARMY GROUP CENTER

The brigdehead across the Dnepr is reinforced by 19th Pz div. Infantry has moved up the secure the flanks

[fiva55]

END OF TURN 3
DATE: 7/3/1941
ARMY GROUP SOUTH

The original plan was using 1st Pz Group to create a straight line towards Kiev, allowing the infantry to move up quickly next turn. However, it was feared that the large number of Soviets in this sector would soon cause the German advance to bog down. So instead, 1st Pz Group was used to encircle the Soviet forward defences.

[fiva55]

Have been neglecting this AAR, time for some updates.
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END OF TURN 4
DATE: 7/10/1941
ARMY GROUP NORTH

Determined Soviet resistance ensures that 4th Panzer army can only open a narrow corridor to Leningrad.

[fiva55]

END OF TURN 4
DATE: 7/10/1941
ARMY GROUP CENTRAL

Begin of turn 4, the Soviets pulled back the bulk of their forces defending the Dnepr, and formed 2 defensive lines along the rivers Oster and Desna. Both lines where breached by 3rd and 2nd Panzer groups by the end of the turn, although Smolensk proved to be too heavily defended and had to be isolated instead.

[fiva55]

END OF TURN 4
DATE: 7/10/1941
ARMY GROUP SOUTH

Counter attacks against several regiments caused heavy AFV losses, and temporarily relieved the pocket formed last week. This forced 1st Panzer Group to waste another week sealing the pocket, although this time there should be no way out for the Soviets.

[fiva55]

BEGIN OF TURN 5
DATE: 7/17/1941
UPDATED TO VERSION 1.04.24

Regiments prove to be too brittle at this stage of the game, as seen in the north. Several counter attack against regiments in this sector ensured that the leading spearheads of 4th Panzer Group are now isolated.

[fiva55]

END OF TURN 5
DATE: 7/17/1941
UPDATED TO VERSION 1.04.24
ARMY GROUP NORTH

Infantry moves up north through the corridor formed by 4th Pz Group last turn.

[fiva55]

END OF TURN 5
DATE: 7/17/1941
UPDATED TO VERSION 1.04.24
ARMY GROUP CENTRAL

After 2 intensive luftwaffe bombing raids, Vyazma is taken by 2 motorized division. Just 100 miles of clear and lightly forested terrain stand between the spearheads of 3rd Panzer groups and Moscow.

[fiva55]

END OF TURN 5
DATE: 7/17/1941
UPDATED TO VERSION 1.04.24
ARMY GROUP SOUTH

With most of the Soviet forces west of the Dnepr either pocketed or redeployed, 1st Panzer group has the choice to either head south towards D-town or to try cross the Dnepr. In the end, it was decided to use the bulk of 1st Pz group to force a crossing, with 1 PzCrps remaining west of the Dnepr to threaten the industry.

[Tarhunnas]

Looking good! That crossing of the Dnepr is solid and should give you som opportunities, and your advance towards Leningrad is impressive!

[Peltonx]

Nice job

[fiva55]

Still alive and gaming!

END OF TURN 6
DATE: 7/24/1941
UPDATED TO VERSION 1.04.36
ARMY GROUP NORTH

There goes the much vaunted fighting reputation of the Waffen SS. Totenkopf, ordered to prevent the Soviets from railing their AP out of Leningrad by blocking the rail lines south of city, was attacked last turn and overwhelmed, causing them to rout.

Recovering near Riga, they have now been redirect to strike north and capture Tallinn, with as goal to cut of the Soviets west of our advance from a supply source.

Meanwhile, Kannas Fin. Army is making good progress towards Leningrad, but Karelian Fin. Army is unfortunately held up by some stubborn Soviet security regiments.

[fiva55]

END OF TURN 6
DATE: 7/24/1941
UPDATED TO VERSION 1.04.36
ARMY GROUP CENTRAL

Lack of fuel and stretched flanks means limited progress for Army Group Central. The plan now is for 9th Army to strike north and try to link up with Army Group North.

3rd and 2nd Pz Group have been ordered to refit. They will need their strength if the multiple fort lines that are being formed in front of Moscow are any indication.