Tackling the Russian bear (No Tarhunnas pls)

[glvaca]

deleted

[glvaca]

CENTER
After moves.
PzG4's XXXXI PzC leads the attack and pushes clean through the weak defenders which are routed to a unit and displaced multiple times while the penetration is exploited. The red circle is where they end up.
PzG3 carries the penetration far and wide behind the Moscow flank and the trap is spun, although it is unlikely it will hold.
PzG2 manages to beat back the screen and cross the Oka but only just. All RR's into Moscow are cut-off and an estimated 500K Russian soldiers find themselves isolated.

A Pz Div overruns Kalinin while another moves into the rear of the of the tenacious Rhzev defenders hoping this will convince Tarhunnas to retreat.
Further West, the fight for the VL-Rhzev RR reaches new intensity as multiple cav divs try to penetrate my lines. The situation becomes so critical that even Sec. regiments are pushed into the line.

[glvaca]

CENTER ZOOM

[timmyab]

Yes, cavalry on the flanks is good practice for Soviet players.You have to plant a seed of doubt in the mind of the Axis player to prevent him thinning out his flanks too much even if it means losing the odd cavalry division now and again.As you say more often than not the division will be routed out anyway because it's just too time consuming for the Axis player to kill it.And there's always the chance that it'll hit the jackpot, like a stack or three of poorly placed air bases.

[glvaca]

NORTH
Here as well, multiple Cav divs try to infiltrate the flank but are beaten back, even if barely.
The link-up with the Fins is established and 3 Finish units move in to occupy the remaining port. Leningrad is now doomed but I intend to wait with the assault till Snow.

[glvaca]

ORIGINAL: timmyab

Yes, cavalry on the flanks is good practice for Soviet players.You have to plant a seed of doubt in the mind of the Axis player to prevent him thinning out his flanks too much even if it means losing the odd cavalry division now and again.As you say more often than not the division will be routed out anyway because it's just too time consuming for the Axis player to kill it.And there's always the chance that it'll hit the jackpot, like a stack or three of poorly placed air bases.

True, true, his constant efforts to cut my supplies has been a major concern throughout the campaign. However, at times I wonder whether some of these units would not have been better employed to defend Moscow itself...

[glvaca]

State of the Panzers end of turn.

[glvaca]

Losses

[glvaca]

OOB

[glvaca]

SOUTH END

[timmyab]

ORIGINAL: glvaca

ORIGINAL: timmyab

Yes, cavalry on the flanks is good practice for Soviet players.You have to plant a seed of doubt in the mind of the Axis player to prevent him thinning out his flanks too much even if it means losing the odd cavalry division now and again.As you say more often than not the division will be routed out anyway because it's just too time consuming for the Axis player to kill it.And there's always the chance that it'll hit the jackpot, like a stack or three of poorly placed air bases.

True, true, his constant efforts to cut my supplies has been a major concern throughout the campaign. However, at times I wonder whether some of these units would not have been better employed to defend Moscow itself...

Yes, I think he overdoes it.

ORIGINAL: glvaca
Leningrad is now doomed but I intend to wait with the assault till Snow.

So the defenders don't get rebuilt?Smart.

[glvaca]

TURN 15
CENTER
I think this screenshot illustrates my point very well and is also at the basis why forward defends can work even with weak units.
Most, if not all, of the units which are used to cut-off units, re-open the Moscow pocket and push in the flanks are units which have been routed the turn before. Regardless of whether this is balanced or not, this certainly screams unrealistic to me.

Anyhow, the pocket is broken and he does not retreat in Rhzev BUT, the most important part of the ring holds. As does 2PzG flank (next shot) and so does the VL RR. In addition, Mansteins PzC arrives as do the 2nd and 5th Pz Divs.
Now, I must focus on making the ring unbreakable. If I fail, and he manages to break the pokcet again, I will not have enough time to clear it before mud which in turn will put me in a very bad supply situation. The stakes are high.

[glvaca]

ORIGINAL: timmyab

ORIGINAL: glvaca

ORIGINAL: timmyab

Yes, cavalry on the flanks is good practice for Soviet players.You have to plant a seed of doubt in the mind of the Axis player to prevent him thinning out his flanks too much even if it means losing the odd cavalry division now and again.As you say more often than not the division will be routed out anyway because it's just too time consuming for the Axis player to kill it.And there's always the chance that it'll hit the jackpot, like a stack or three of poorly placed air bases.

True, true, his constant efforts to cut my supplies has been a major concern throughout the campaign. However, at times I wonder whether some of these units would not have been better employed to defend Moscow itself...

Yes, I think he overdoes it.

ORIGINAL: glvaca
Leningrad is now doomed but I intend to wait with the assault till Snow.

So the defenders don't get rebuilt?Smart.

That's a nice bonus but wasn't my intention from the start. I had first planned to eliminate the pocket after the linkup with the Fins, but that proved much harder than I thought possible. So now, with only 3 turns before mud, and still alot of terrain to capture to have a good defensive line, it's basically the best option I have available. The assaulting Corps will be some of my best infantry (I & II Corps) and will need to go into Winter camp after that anyway. They'll do in on their way out, so to speak.

[glvaca]

CENTER RIGHT FLANK
The fight for the flank is in full swing and he makes several penetrations the most dangerous certainly in the vicinity of Tula. But overall, the flank holds, if only barely.

[glvaca]

SOUTH
As expected, an assortiment of units cut's of the spearhead occupying Stalino.
However, this presents another pocket opportunity...

[glvaca]

NORTH
Once again he occupies previously cleared terrain which I was unable to occupy because of a lack of movement and units all together.
Once again, he tries to penetrate the flanks.
Once again, I'm fighting the same units routed last turn.

[glvaca]

CENTER LEFT FLANK
The pocket is re-established but only after hard fighting and I feel none to strong in the black circled area. Let's hope lady Fortuna is with me!

Red circles, routed units this turn...

[glvaca]

CENTER RIGHT FLANK
Some hard fighting here to re-establish the flank and prevent further breakthroughs.
Next turn will be critical. If he can break my flank I might well be in trouble.

[glvaca]

CENTER OVERVIEW

[glvaca]

SOUTH
XIV PzC is brought back in supply and I have the means to occupy both ports against the Azov Sea. Yet another pocket in the making. IT'll be broken, but with some luck, not much is getting out.