The Great Patriotic AAR (no BigAnorak please)

[Flaviusx]

Two guys want to play a historical wargame, go figure.

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 7. The north before Soviet moves. The attack continues towards Leningrad, but no encirclements. If the Germans want to bludgeon their way into the city, I am happy with that.

[Tarhunnas]

In the center about a dozen divisions are encircled at Smolensk, and no way to break the encirclement. Map before Soviet moves.

It appears that the majority of AGC armor plus some from AGS are now concentrated in the Smolensk area.

[Tarhunnas]

And the south. The Germans have hit back at our encircling forces as expected, and surrounded large parts of two armies. However, a valiant counterattack manages to get a corridor open to the encircled forces. This map is after Soviet moves.

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 8. Overview at the start of the Soviet turn. As the Soviets in 1941 you are always a bit apprehensive as you open the turn, fearing it might be one of those "Oh sh*t!" turns where you find half your army surrounded. Well, not so bad this turn. The surrounded guys west of Kiev are now firmly in the clutches of the enemy. I actually had a fair chance on an attack to free them, but it failed. Otherwise just some pressing forward by the Germans. There is an obvious Panzer concentration in the center, I guess he will go straight for Moscow, so evacuations are now concentrating on getting the stuff in Moscow out. I know from experience it takes about 5 turns to empty Moscow...

[Tarhunnas]

At the Leningrad front, the Insolent Fascist army has established a bridgehead across the Luga, but the valiant defenders of the cradle of the revolution throw themselves against the enemy in a heroic counterattack and push them back across the river!

[Tarhunnas]

Losses Turn 8 (halfway through the Soviet turn, I forgot to make a save at the end).

Edit: It seems to me when I do some comparisons that Soviet losses are a little on the high side, but so are those of the Axis, especially in tanks and artillery.

[Tarhunnas]

And OOB turn 8.

[Klydon]

Heh.. Axis are down to just over 1k operational tanks.

Interesting.

[randallw]

It does look very bad, but the Germans can still keep pushing.

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 9 after soviet moves.

No new encirclements. The German concentration at Smolensk appears to be turning south. I evacuate most of the ARM-factories in Tula, as that is more or less in their path. Tula has almost 10% of the ARM points in one spot, cannot afford to lose that, but I really don't like to put them offline by a move either.

In the South, the German panzer group has established a bridgehead across the Dnepr. True to our nature, counterattacks are mounted against both flanks, and we come within one hex and one final combat of cutting off the panzer spearhead. Well, at least the spearhead is now comprehensively tar-babied by a mobile red carpet. And some retreats against the panzers were achieved, which will lower their morale and raise ours, as well as wear them down.

I do feel starved when it comes to reinforcements, almost nothing arriving, and then only shells. I seem to recall there used to be more, but my last GC as the Sovs was under 1.05, so maybe that's changed.

BTW I deliberately let a few divisions be surrounded in Odessa. It will keep some German divisions occupied, and it feels historical.

Also note there is some sneak and peek activity going on in the Pripet marshes, that actually manages to threaten the German rail lines. The enemy has already been forced to assign some divisions to deal with that.

[bigbaba]

the moscow front looks very weak. a HQ buildup for PG 2 and 3 and your western front breaks.

the positive point is that his infantry isn't in the position to support the tanks in the center.

good luck with the defense of the motherland.

[Tarhunnas]

ORIGINAL: bigbaba

the moscow front looks very weak. a HQ buildup for PG 2 and 3 and your western front breaks.

Yes, that's true, but one cannot be strong everywhere. And it is not as bad as it looks on that shot, there are several layers of spaced checkerboard behind the front. I have prioritized the Leningrad front, which is showing, the enemy advance there has slowed down to a snails pace.

[/quote]

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 10. Map after Soviet moves.

The Germans made a lunge for Bryansk and took it, also Odessa fell sooner than expected. I had hoped to tie down a few Geran divisions for a couple of turns. Otherwise, no fresh disasters or encirclements.

The Workers and Pissants Red Army make a few counterattacks, and throw back panzers both at Leningrad and at Kiev. Also a cavalry division in the marshes manage to tear up some of the Germans newly converted railroad

And the best of all... see post below. All in all it feels like things are going rather well.

[Tarhunnas]

And the pièce de résistance this turn: The Fascist so called elite are sent home crying for mama! I bet they will have to spend some time sucking their thumbs and cuddling their furry fuhrer dolls before they go near the front again!

[Tarhunnas]

Losses after Soviet turn 10.

[Tarhunnas]

And the OOB Turn 10.

[janh]

ORIGINAL: Tarhunnas
Also note there is some sneak and peek activity going on in the Pripet marshes, that actually manages to threaten the German rail lines. The enemy has already been forced to assign some divisions to deal with that.

Nice work, I recall the Pripyet area was a nuissance to the Germans as well that cost the time and units detached to deal with that. I recall that it took the 3 weeks to hunt down one lone Soviet Cavalry divsion that broke through some south of the landbridge and caused concerns about the safety of rear areas and supply.

[Tarhunnas]

ORIGINAL: janh

ORIGINAL: Tarhunnas
Also note there is some sneak and peek activity going on in the Pripet marshes, that actually manages to threaten the German rail lines. The enemy has already been forced to assign some divisions to deal with that.

Nice work, I recall the Pripyet area was a nuissance to the Germans as well that cost the time and units detached to deal with that. I recall that it took the 3 weeks to hunt down one lone Soviet Cavalry divsion that broke through some south of the landbridge and caused concerns about the safety of rear areas and supply.

Thanks. Yes, if a Soviet division with CV 1 can tie up a German division with CV 7 for a couple of turns, it is well worth it, even if the Soviet division is eliminated in the end. Sloppy German flank security and leaky pockets will make the German infantry reach the front later, which will make all the difference. Panzers without infantry to make breaches for them is not nearly as dangerous as Panzers with plenty of infantry support nearby. And it will force the Panzers to fight more than they move, which will wear them down.

[Tarhunnas]

This is turn 12, before Soviet moves. Nothing really dramatic, the panzers of AGC are heading mainly southeast, but not threatening anything important really. AGN is still slugging their way towards Leningrad. I am not sure I can hold the place, but I will certainly try. In the south, AGS panzers have finally crossed the Dnepr in force.