41-45GC Smokindave (Sov) vs. Zonso (Axis)

[smokindave34]

After a number of campaigns I thought I'd try my first AAR, so here goes.....Feel free to give me any tips on my strategy!

Priorities for STAVKA for summer campaign:

1) Avoid large encirclements. I'd like to keep losses to less than 3 million if possible
2) Defend Moscow to the bitter end. Based on my experience it is unlikely that I'll be able to hold Leningrad if Zonso makes it an Axis priority so I've chosen to make the defense of Moscow my priority. Additionally the manpower in Moscow is too important for the Soviets to lose
3) Rail out AP's in an efficient manner. I'll be willing to give up smaller factories close to the front while I rail out the big AP farms further East.
4) To the best extent possible I'd like to keep my cavalry out of the front line and have them at peak performance for the blizzard. Never to soon to be thinking about getting ready to roll over to the offensive.

You'll notice I forgot to get screenshots of turn 1 (can you tell I'm new at this?). However here is my status at the end of turn 2 in the North:

27th army has formed up on the Pskov line with some screening forces in front. 4th Panzer hasn't made it to my lines yet by the end of turn 2 however I'm sure I'll be pushed back from behind the river when I open up turn 3. Reinforcements are forming up a 2nd defensive line with an anchor at Novgorod.

End of Soviet T2

[smokindave34]

Western front:

3rd Panzer is heading north of the Dvina and I expect that Zonso will have them turn south to try and outflank the land bridge. I've thrown most of my reserves into this area in an attempt to slow down AGC and make Zonso wait for his infantry to force me out of the land bridge.

4th Army is digging in along the Dnepr near Mogilev and this should prevent any easy crossings of the Dnepr by 2nd panzer. I'm hoping to hold out here until turn 4 or 5. We'll see how that turns out.......

I've put some of my "unready" units on refit back near Vyazma to start digging out next defensive belt.

End of Soviet T2

[smokindave34]

SW front:

I'm trying something new here based on recent AAR's I've read. I've set up screening forces in front of the panzers with my most mobile units and moved everyone else back to the Dnepr. The goal here is to put speed bumps in front of the panzers while I dig in behind the river. Hopefully by using the mobile units I will be able to keep some of them from getting encircled.

Yes they are being sacrificed for the motherland but they don't know that yet.......

I was able to break almost all of the Lvov pockets on turns 1 and 2 however I think Zonso will make sure the pockets hold on turn 3. If nothing else that should slow him down a bit.

Not sure how this defense will turn out, I really don't like giving up all that ground in front of the river.

End of Soviet T2

[smokindave34]

Finally - southern front. Same strategy here as SW front. I'll keep forces in Odessa to try and force Zonso to commit German forces to capturing it. I'm hoping to make it to difficult for the Romanians alone to take it and it will be a thorn in his side if he bypasses it.

End of Soviet T2

[smokindave34]

Turn 3 STAVKA report

Leningrad and NW front

The Pskov defensive line has been breached by the facists. The 27th army is charged with slowing down 4th panzer group while the 28th army digs in behind the Luga line. I've also transferred some STAVKA reserves and placed them on refit to start building forts closer to Leningrad.

I've also built a fortification just South of Osinovets to help protect this key supply port to Leningrad. I generally don't build fortifications because I like to use the AP's for organizing the Red Army but this seems like a worthwile use of my AP's.

[smokindave34]

A Red Army Victory

Members of the heroic 51st Rifle Corps have surrounded a large portion of XXXIX Pz Corps near Velikie Luki! This should put a real damper on Zonso's drive on Moscow as he will need to divert attention from the land bridge attack to break them free......Heroes of the Soviet Union for sure!

[smokindave34]

Western Front:

Pretty quiet here. I have 20th and 13th Armies digging in behind the Dnepr and in the land bridge getting ready for the inevitable axis assault. I put the 7th mechanized corps on reserve to try and help support this defense. This is the only strong armored formation I have left. I dont remember all the factors that go into whether or not they support a defense while in reserve but hopefully they will join in any defense in this key area.

Further back at Moscow I have the newly formed 31st army refitting prior to being railed into stop/slow down the next axis breakthrough

[smokindave34]

Soutwestern Front:

Zonso's panzers continue to roam free in the south and he has finally sealed the Lvov pocket for good. I'm still hoping that by breaking the pocket the first 2 turns I have slowed his infantry enough to prevent any imminent crossing of the Dnepr. I have tried to line up my defenses to encourage him to push his panzers south as there is a lot more terrain to flip over there prior to getting to the river. In anticipation of this I have railed out all the AP's from D-town.

This is the first time I used this strategy (running to the Dnepr) and it stills feels uncomfortable to give up all this ground.....

[smokindave34]

Southern Front:

Digging in at Fortress Odessa continues in an effort to force Zonso to divert German troops to take it.

Other STAVKA priorities:

1) Transferring support units (arty, sappers) from corps to STAVKA so that I can prioritize which armies receive these support units later in the game
2) Transferred a lot of the Red air force to the reserve to refit and gain experience. Also filled out VVS with what transport I have to start supplying partisans
3) Set interdiction to 30% in an effort to get more interdiction attacks and slow down some panzers (I didn't get any last turn....)

[Peltonx]

Nice to see new poeple doing AAR's.

I only play German side, but if I were you I would hold Leningrad as long as possible. Watch out for the right hook. If you can tie down the infantry assaulting Leningrad long enough Moscow should hold.

If you could post losses tables screen shot starting turn 10 would be nice.

Pelton

[smokindave34]

Pelton,

Thanks for the advice. I agree I'm vulnerable south of Lake Ilmen right now but wanted to build up my defenses on the most direct route to Leningrad first. Next wave of reinforcements will be heading to the Leningrad/NW front's.

I'll post the losses screen also. Thanks.

[smokindave34]

Turn 4 STAVKA report

Northern and NW fronts

4th panzers pace has slowed considerably while the infantry and rail lines catch up. The Pskov defense line is a thing of the past now and 27th army has fallen back to the Lovat river to guard agains a potential "right hook". 11th army provides a screen in front of the Luga line as Northern fronts orders are to dig! dig! dig!

Not sure if Zonso will go for the "right hook", I've never had success with it. Emir Agic used it against me with mixed results - he eventually captured Leningrad but most of AGN (including 4th panzer) spent the blizzard out in the wilderness. My opinion is the direct assault is much better, 16th and 18th armies can just pound the Red army into dust until Leningrad is captured.

Leningrad was the focus of my rail evacuation this turn. I moved out all the KV-1 factories, aircraft factories and most of the armaments points.

[smokindave34]

Western Front:

I'm pleased with the results so far in the center. I think I have a pretty stout defense here and the land bridge defense held up pretty well last turn. I'm sure that next turn Zonso will make deliberate attacks to form a bridgehead across the Dnepr and his infantry will be far enough along to start pushing me back in the land bridge. He probably won't have a major breakthough here until turn 6 or 7 and I'll take that as a small victory if I can hold him off that long.

The Reserve front arrived this turn however I used all my admin points to transfer artillery and sapper support units from corps/front HQ's to Army HQ's and STAVKA. I'm not sure if these support units get transferred automatically to STAVKA when the corps HQ disbands but I like having control of the support units and being able to funnel them to critical areas.

[smokindave34]

XXXIX panzer corps cut off again. A determined Red Army counterattack agains the Lehr motorized brigade has cut off XXXIX panzer corps for the 2nd turn in a row! Yeah I know I beat up on a lowly motorized brigade but hey I'll take any victory I can get right now......I can almost hear the screaming and cursing coming from 3rd Panzer group HQ[:D]

[smokindave34]

Last turn I had my best armor units in reserve behind the Dnepr however I've now had a change of heart. Zonso has 2nd panzer poised to form a bridgehead over the river south of Mogilev and I can't take a chance that the armor won't provide support for this defense. I moved 1st motorized and 14/18 tank division to the front lines to provide direct support in this critical area.

I'm starting to suspect that Zonso may be going for a Kiev pocket once 2nd panzer is over the river - will need to watch closely his moves next turn.

[smokindave34]

SW front:

I was able to break into the Zhitomir pocket and re-supply my trapped divisions. The plan here is to continue to slow down the panzers while I dig in behind the river. Recon shows that the panzers are getting low on fuel so hopefully the pace of advance will slow down here. Zonso had lots of panzer brigades at the tip of his assault and I considered attacks on these units but decided to pull my best armor back behind the river to support the inevitable attack in this area. I may have missed an opporunity to give him a bloody nose........

[smokindave34]

Southern Front:

If you are in my Red army this is the front you want assigned to! Pretty quite down here as the Rumanians and 11th army move east slowly......

[smokindave34]

Losses through turn 4

[sillyflower]

ORIGINAL: smokindave34

SW front:

Zonso had lots of panzer brigades at the tip of his assault and I considered attacks on these units but decided to pull my best armor back behind the river to support the inevitable attack in this area. I may have missed an opporunity to give him a bloody nose........

you did.

Bashing a regiment is easy and satisfying. Knocking 1 brigade back will reduce its MPs for next turn. That messes up the whole division as it will then have fewer MPs when it reforms nxt turn. If it doesn't reform, it either goes nowhere or the regiments pay massive movement penalties.

[smokindave34]

Sillyflower,

Thanks for pointing this out. I didn't consider the effect on MP's. Since my goal is to slow him down it looks like I missed an opportunity - another lesson learned.......