1.05.18 beta Axis opening moves

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: hartwig.modrow
Just wanted to give some positive feedback on the way you present the maps. Excellent way of presentation, really nice to look at !
Hartwig

Well, thank you very much. I was thinking of maybe changing the way I move the units so the file size isn't so large because it's making the page load slowly. The more pictures there are the slower it loads. Just a thought.

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: Klydon
The other option is to use a division from further back that can't get very far to plug the hole there on the rail line.

Good catch. I'll see if I can't find somebody to sit on that rail hex so it doesn't get flipped back to Soviet control. I need that rail line to be fixed quickly because Leningrad is a major target and it's going to need supply badly.

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: OTZ
I know some consider it a no-no, but splitting your mobile forces on turn 1 is my strategy. I've been able to form quite a few pockets this way without sacrificing too much in terms of forward momentum. Russian losses are staggering, and their ability to form any cohesive defensive lines is reduced with those units wiped from teh field.

Do you mean splitting them so that one of them isn't in supply anymore after moving? I've tried that and found that it results in less MP's in the next turn. Sometimes that's okay and sometimes you really need the MP's to keep moving quickly forward. I can see doing it if need be but I'm thinking it might be better to let splitting the units be the exception rather than the rule. I've played both sides now ( Axis and Soviet ) and I've found that it's better that the Axis forces keep moving quickly so that the Soviet hasn't the time to form a functioning front line anywhere. All the opportunities for major pockets formed easily and quickly end shortly after the Soviet has time to form a checkerboard or carpet to slow your units down. Say turn 10 or so.

[parusski]

Fanfreakingtastic. I love the look and animation.

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: parusski
Fanfreakingtastic. I love the look and animation.

Thanks. Is there anything you would like me to change?

[larryfulkerson]

It's time to start making the pocket in AGN. Using the 6th Panzer Div I drive north and attack Riga and get rebuffed.

[timmyab]

If you clear the two mech divisions just East of Telsiai, 6th pz can get across the Daugava and attack Riga from the East.I think it will have enough MP left for three hasty attacks, I've never needed more than two.

[larryfulkerson]

And so now we take the 1st Panzer Div on a drive and attack Riga and again we're rebuffed.

[larryfulkerson]

Somebody posted something about protecting the rail hexes from Soviet incursion so I'm going to break down a division into parts and advance the parts into some rail hexes and more flank security hexes.

[cherryfunk]

ORIGINAL: larryfulkerson

And so now we take the 1st Panzer Div on a drive and attack Riga and again we're rebuffed.

You have to cross the river south of Riga and attack from the east -- attacking across the river cuts your CV too much.

[larryfulkerson]

The next thing I thought I'd do is run the SS Totenkopf out to Daugavpils and maybe try to get across the river with it. But the drive was
too long and I didn't get across the river.

[Q-Ball]

A few comments.

First, I love the way you do animation. Really nice. I wish I had those mad skills!

RE: Riga, you really need 6th Panzer AND 1st Panzer; they need to move in a stack, cross the Daugvina, and approach from the east. You will have enough MPs after that for 2 Hasty attacks; sometimes 1 works, but the 2nd always does for me.

I really do not like that pocket you formed in Lithuania. You really need to blow those units away. You have enough infantry to do so without using any Panzers. Those units rout very easily, so usually 1 or 2 hasty attacks is enough to send them flying.

You need to do that to clear a shorter path for the Panzers to the Daugvina, and to clear that rail line. It also gets your infantry to Pskov much quicker, if they don't have to liquidate those hexes and clear the area. Finally, the way that pocket is, it can be broken to the NE anyway, if he gets a couple good rally die rolls.

Even if you rout all those units, many of them end up west of Riga in Latvia for me, which is as good as dead if you clear Riga and all the ports.

[larryfulkerson]

I thought I'd best continue the blasting of a hole to drive through and park in a flank security spot.

[larryfulkerson]

More lane clearing and flank security stuff going on:

[larryfulkerson]

Q-ball suggested that I blow away that pocket in Lithuiana and so I'm moving the units already in the area to do that:

[larryfulkerson]

I thought maybe I should get the 8th Panzer Div across the river headed toward Pskov.

[larryfulkerson]

I found another motorized division I can send to Jakopils:

[larryfulkerson]

I gave the 290th Inf Div to X Corps and moved it out to do some lane clearing:

[larryfulkerson]

Next, I thought I'd take the 30th Inf Div on a lane clearing mission. I ran into a hard spot and thought I'd wait for backup.

[larryfulkerson]

Next, I thought I'd move the 128th Inf Div and ran into a spot that needs more umph so I'm going to wait for some backup there too.