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

[Flaviusx]

Nicely done, that will buy you a turn.

[glvaca]

Finding the South too risky for my liking I retreat once again further East and start preparing a do or die defense of Rostov.

[glvaca]

OOB

[glvaca]

Ground losses

[glvaca]

Air Losses

[glvaca]

OOB

[glvaca]

Lost Units

[Flaviusx]

You should sack Shaposhnikov and put Zhukov in STAVKA, btw.

This makes a huge huge difference in getting reserve reactions. I literally doubled or tripled my reserve commitments just from that single change.

[glvaca]

TURN 14

Before Soviet moves, Center Overview.

[glvaca]

He goes head to head with my first fort line straight to Moscow and wins all three combats, but only just. Losses are about even, 3000 each per combat approx. these were level 3 forts. I just didn't have the units to put on reserve, a pitty as this might have tipped the scales.
Luckily, he doesn't seem to have the strenght just yet to push on the right flank which, I'm not at all sorry about.

[glvaca]

North and Center Overview.

[glvaca]

In the South he seems not interested in Rostov and heads North to pummel some units on the edge of his movement.
What is more interesting is that I spot (even before flying recon) several Mot. divisions on the hanging left flank of Bryansk Front. Hmmmm... that can't be good.

[glvaca]

After Sov moves.
After some recon (basically move a cav division next to them) I discover 5th Panzer division making it's appearence. I'm not in a position to contest a drive into my open flank so I have to retreat. I once again I try to shield Tula, which still has a lot of industry as I have been preoccupied with railing out stuff in Mosow, among others.

[glvaca]

Furhter North I once again shore up the lines. These aren't easy pickings!
2 high quality reinforcements arrive just in time to help, 2 Siberian 60 Morale divisions take place in the center of the line in front of Moscow.

[glvaca]

In the North I fall back further again to shorten the front and transfer troops to Moscow. Virtually nothing is on refit except in the Center, everything I can find is pushed into the line or is digging new defensive lines.

[glvaca]

Finally, I fall back to Voronezh and deny the flank for the Rostov defenders. 3 more turns before mud, but I'm pretty sure Sebastian is going to push till the last turn. Come Blizzard, he's not going to make a stand early on but just trade space for time and fall back.

[glvaca]

QUESTION to all: Who thinks Moscow will fall before mud?

[glvaca]

ORIGINAL: Flaviusx

3 panzer groups is just tough to stop, period. OTOH, I'd rather see them strike in the Rhzev-Kalinin area than east of Kaluga and cross the Oka.

Yup, me too.

[glvaca]

ORIGINAL: Flaviusx

You should sack Shaposhnikov and put Zhukov in STAVKA, btw.

This makes a huge huge difference in getting reserve reactions. I literally doubled or tripled my reserve commitments just from that single change.

Bwahpfm, I'm not convinced. He's commanding the strongest Front I have and I haven't seen those guys committed from reserve a lot, actually never. SJ80 has been uncanny successful in attacking where I have no reserves.

[Flaviusx]

ORIGINAL: glvaca

QUESTION to all: Who thinks Moscow will fall before mud?

Not before mud, imo. A single envelopment operation launched in a less than ideal direction isn't gonna do it, and relieving the pocket for one turn was huge.

He could close the deal during snow, though. He needs to put together a drive on the Oka.