41-45GC - A FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL - GLVACA (Sov) v SJ80 (Axis) - NO SJ80

[glvaca]

In the Center he hurles the combined might of Panzer Group 2 & 3 at the Belyi corridor with the hopes of landing a knockout blow and succeeds in pushing back my defenses 2 by 2 hexes but fails to completely route the defenders who are battered and bruised but don't break. But it was a close call indeed.
In the red cicled combat my best division (45th inf., 58/58 morale/exp)) committed from reserve but was not able to tip the scales in my favor.

In a typical SJ80 maneuvre, he shifts direction from left to right with tremendous speed and energy, striking before the defenses can solidify but this time I succeed in halting him before he can reach the operational depths. A substantial victory, but at a price.

[glvaca]

In the South a veritable hasty attack slugfest!
In the end he takes the bait but I lose more than I bargained for. 3 good divisions who participated in last weeks attack on the 25th Mot. are herded into the pocket, together with the weak divisions I moved there. The cost for a small moment of happiness is steep!

However, the good news is I have managed to occupy the Poltava line in strength, although substantially reduced by the losses along the way and the cut of divisions. Relief of the pocket is impossible, but I have become used to that by now.

[glvaca]

Further South, 9th Army is putting up a brave fight and fulfulling its role admirably.
To the East, to my disbelief, Sebastian pushes South and bounces the Molochna river line at it's extreme Southern tip before it is good and well established. The LAH performs the attack while Wiking, only just relieved from pocket duty sprints accross and establishes the bridgehead! Guderian would have been proud!

[glvaca]

As usual, the Northern pocket can't be broken for lack of movement points and units in a possition to do so.
The only thing to do, is give up the Luga line and establish a North-South definsive line anchored on Leningrad in the North and Novgorod in the South. I manage to put up some decent defensive stacks but need to pillage 27th and 31st Armies defending against a right hook do do so even further. Many divisions are CV 1 now and are in need of some R&R but I can't spare them as they need to dig the next defeinsive line I am sure to need very soon.
In addition, the chronic lack of AP's prevents me from building FZ to help with the digging, at 8 AP's a pop, they are way too expensive in the early phase of the game to be used frequently.
It's not enough, but there just nothing more than I can do. To compound things even further, I must send units to guard against the Fins who will make their appearance soon. Sigh.

[glvaca]

Although I was able to halt his drive through Belyi, I'm not out of the woods yet. I redeploy units from the my center and left flank to shore up the Belyi corridor. I also give up VL and retreat further East but keep my lines on the Mezha. I really try to deploy in depth, with multiple lines and Zoc traps.
As you will see on the Overview screenshot shortly, a fair amount of what I assume is 4th Armee infantry is heading into the empty space towards Kursk/Orel. This is rather strange as I do not have the impression he has all that much infantry in the center. I know he sent VIII Corps to help in the North so I'm thinking happy hunting, and God speed, you'll find nothing but empty space! [:D]

Things are definitely coming to a head in the Center and it is do or die. If he breaks through and can establish a good sized pocket which can't be broken, next stop will be Moscow and there will be very little I will be able to do about it. I have no prepared defenses beyond Rzhev. In fact, appart from a frontline 2 deep, I have virtually nothing behind. Not a pleasant state of affairs!

I also notice 2 new Panzer Divisions in the Center, 9th and 16th, which both seem to have been transfered from the South.

[glvaca]

Overview North and Center:

[glvaca]

South Overview:

[glvaca]

In the South I spend the turn sorting out the C&C mess as best as I can and assign Zakharov as the commander of 16th Army, the strongest remaining army I have down South.
The Poltava line is occupied as strong as I possibly can and I resist the temptation to attack the 1st Cav. division who's pointing its finger in my direction. Grrr. [;)]

[glvaca]

Further South I try to block his brigdehead and shore up the defenses as best as I can. I do slip a Cav div around the LAH to keep him on his toes, he should not take me for granted, I want him to work for it [:D]

[glvaca]

OOB

Note that the Axis are down to 1146 operational runners!

[glvaca]

Ground losses:

I have no idea of these losses are average or else, anyone?

[glvaca]

Air losses
I have no idea of these losses are average or else, anyone?

[glvaca]

Units lost

[glvaca]

Finally, Production still have plenty of Arm's in the bank.

[randallw]

Those were very heavy one-turn losses for Axis tanks.

[glvaca]

ORIGINAL: randallw

Those were very heavy one-turn losses for Axis tanks.

AFV is not all tanks but definitely high losses.
Not sure about his infantry and Arty losses?

[glvaca]

TURN 8

An overview of the complete front.
As you can see, Leningrad and the approaches to Moscow are heavily defended. In the South only the strech between Sumy and D-town are moderately held. Further down, a flimsy line exists between Z-town and the Black Sea. However, to achieve this density, weak as it is, I'm forced to leave several gaps in which the enemy can exploit freely.

I'm sure that this is in part because of the spectacular advance Sebastian has made in so short of time. On the other hand I don't feel I have given away that much, only in the South I have volunteraly surrender ground West of the Dnepr. I'm really amazed, flabbergasted about the German mobility. No mean German player myself I cannot fathom how he succeeds in attacking turn after turn, taking heavy losses and still next turn he has 25+ movement points to spend.

I know he is using air re-supply alot and perhaps his secret is dropping at the HQ versus on the units themselves. Personally, I drop on the units, which seems to have been downgraded over time in effectiveness. I must try this dropping on HQ tactic, it seems to be more than worthwhile.

[glvaca]

Up North he launches a massive attack on the Rough hex which forms the cornerstone of my defense. No less than 3 Panzer and 6 Inf. Divs. with massive arty support take part in the assault, beating back the defenders, with heavy loss.
I'm starting to worry...

[glvaca]

In the Center he gives up his Belyi drive and focusses on the center of the line. 5 Motorized and 1 Panzer division throw the defenders of the swamp hex back in disarray. The rest of my positions on the West bank of the Dnepr receive simular threatment but again he fails to penetrate into the operational depths. Hard fought and paid in full, but I'll take it.
Question is, can I sustain such attritional warfare longer than he can?

[glvaca]

In the Kharov area Sebastian decides to battle his way accross the Vorskla where it flows into the Dnepr.
Again a massive assault forces the defenders back. 5 Pz., 2 Mot. Div. and a Mot. regiment take part in the assault.

All in all he gains little as I have an immediate backup river to the East behind the Orel river. I'm assuming his goal is to break through and establish a linkup with XIV Corps fighting in the South on the shores of the Black Sea. However, at this point in time, that seems overly ambitious.