Idaho defends the Motherland

[IdahoNYer]

In the center we attempt to establish a line along the Dniepr and establish positions in the Land Bridge. 22nd Army beings to form up behind the Dvina to defend Vitebsk, but is spread thin and the area will remain weak until 24th Army can move up. Tolbulkin takes command of the 20th Army which establishes a defensive line in the Land Bridge. With 7th Mech Corps and 7xRifle Divsions, it "should" be able to give the unsupported panzers a challenge. All three of these armies will form the core of the future Reserve Front when formed next month (in theory at least).

Western Front remnants pull back from the Berezina River and establish a weak screen west of the Dniepr as forces assemble on the east bank. These forces include frest STAVKA troops and remnants from the frontier that have made it east. It will take a few weeks to properly reorganize the Western Front. I'm not sure I have that kind of time.

Orel MD with 21st Army moves up to the Dneipr in the Gomel area. Its better than nothing, and the Germans are still about two weeks away here. There is some time.

Overall, the situation in the center is bleak. Distance, fatigue, and supply issues will likely slow the panzers here before an active defense will.

[IdahoNYer]

Against AGS, we again have some success - at least I like to think it is success.

Remnants of the Kovel Pocket gain contact with friendly forces in the Pripet and will survive another week. I think this will be the last time we can manage that for these trapped men.

The real surprise is again against the panzerwaffe holding the ring to the Lvov Pocket. Instead of pulling east, Southwest Front attacks! After four attacks, and at a cost of over 200 tanks, a regiment of Das Reich is retreated completing the isolation of the lead panzer forces again.

While this not only isolates the German spearhead, it opens up the supply corridor to the Lvov Pocket. This "should" force the Germans to again focus their attention on re-establishing the Pocket at the expense of attacking east. However, each attack which opens up a corridor, commits more troops to further encirclement. Southwestern Front has little left that is NOT committed to either relieving the pocket or maintaining a close hold on the German Panzer divisions.

At best these attacks will delay the German advance - but not relieve the Pocket. I don't see Scar pulling back to consolidate. At any rate, I'd rather see the Germans (and Rumanians) attacking in a north-south direction to re-establish a pocket, than driving hard toward Kiev and the Dniepr!

[Fishbed]

Great show in the south! You've stalled him greatly. Every sacrifice there did help to put the clock on your side.

About Digging up in Leningrad, remember that you benefit from the city bonus (how do they call that? Civilian workers or something). Put awful units there if needed, but it's still better than not building forts at all.

[IdahoNYer]

Turn 3; Jul 3, 1941.....Clear

OK, beginning of July and things are pretty bleak for the Soviet Cause. Germans continue to attack across the entire front, and begin to reduce pockets.

At the beginning of each month, I'm going to try and depict the overview information screens - production, losses, etc.

So, starting with production, here are the industry figures, with the change from the previous month (in this case, at start, noted). Industry moved this turn as follows: Len: 7xArm, Kiev 3xArm, Kirovograd 3xArm, and Nikolaev 3xArm.

[IdahoNYer]

Forces available screen - note the changes since the start. German tank losses are more than I thought, but the Germans actually gained in troop strength

[IdahoNYer]

Losses....and of course these don't reflect the forces trapped in the Lvov Pocket...

[IdahoNYer]

Destroyed units, again not reflecting anything trapped in the Lvov Pocket....

[IdahoNYer]

Overview of the northern area. Germans maintain more of a slow, steady advance toward Leningrad rather than a rapid panzer thrust. The Baltic Pocket is mostly reduced, with one or two units routing clear as the Germans seem to get impatient with isolating them. Riga falls of course.

NW Front attempts to build a line at Pskov with basically the 27th and 11th Armies - at about half capacity. It is thin, but it is behind a river and forts are now at level 2. 31st Army is moved up in the rear, with 4 brand new divisions to begin digging in south of Lake Illmen.

Northern Front will begin construction of the Luga River Line next turn...

[hfarrish]

When was your last game against the Germans? Not sure how much Scar knows about playing as them, but a forward defense like the one you are setting up would be pocket cannon fodder against a German who knows what he is doing...just saying. Attempting to hold the Dnepr line in the center is a suicide mission these days (again, depending on strength of opponent).

[IdahoNYer]

In the center, I expected the Germans to test the thin defensive line I've thrown up along the Dniepr and the land bridge, but instead the panzers just isolate my screen forward.

[IdahoNYer]

In the south, I'm forced to disengage and pull east. I figured Scar would use his panzers to tighten the grip on the elusive Lvov Pocket, but unfortunately he did well by tightening the grip by attacking east - isolating more of the "relieving" troops.

While I've managed to gain a corridor to the eastern most elements of the pocket, a lone Rumanian Cav Bde holds off attacks and keeps the majority of the pocket in isolation.

While I've held AGS to marginal gains in the Ukraine, the price has been much too high. Southwestern Front has little left to it as it begins to pull back to the Dniepr where reinforcements are busily digging in.

Southern Front leaves a robust garrison of Odessa to wait for the Rumanians - many of which appear to have been used to attack north, into the Lvov Pocket rather than eastward.

[IdahoNYer]

Turn 4; Jul 10, 1941........Clear

A very surprisingly quiet turn. I had figured the Panzers would be on the march easterward in all three army groups, but apparently Scar has focused on resting his panzers, bringing up infantry and mopping up pockets.

For industry, I focus on Leningrad, moving 20xBA10, 4xYak6, 6xArms, and 6xVeh factories east. With remaining rail, I moved 4xArm from Bryansk and 1xArm from the Moscow area. As you can see, I haven't moved a single Heavy Industry eastwards. Keeping my fingers crossed that this would effect anything......

Northern Front: Finland attacks, and its 7th Independent Army will fight forward on the eastern side of Lake Lagoda. Its 23rd Army, once released, along with the newly arrived 28th Army HQs, will establish a Front on the Luga River, from the Baltic to Novgorod.

Northwest Front: Currently holding a weak line from Pskov south, will hold the line from Lake Ilmen to Velikie Luki. Currently the Front is still reforming, with the 27th Army (in and around Pskov) being anywhere near combat effective. Its 11th Army, south of 27th Army is below 50%, and its 8th Army with just the HQs. 31st Army, currently in STAVKA will augment the Front in the coming weeks.

Reserve Front was formed from the 22nd, 24th and 20th Armies holding the critical areas of the Land Bridge northwards. 20th Army in the Land Bridge is the best equipped on the entire front, in level 2 fortifications, backed by three well equipped armored divisions in reserve. With luck it can at least cause the Germans some heavy losses - I have no illusions that the Germans will strike here with a full panzer gruppe in the coming weeks. Both 22nd and 24th Armies are at about 50% and rely on the river and rough terrain to assist in a defense. They will not fair well....

Western Front is still regrouping. Only 3rd Army holding from Mogilev northward is combat effective. Perhaps with the Dneipr, it can delay until fresh troops can arrive in numbers.

The Orel MD's 21st Army defends the Gomel area of the Dniepr. Its not much, but again, it does have the river to assist in the defense.

The Southwestern and Southern Fronts are ciphers after the Lvov pocket debacle. They pull back, hopefully far enough to avoid a mass penetration. Their frontline is more of a robust screen than any defensive front. I'm hold the vast majority of incoming troops on the eastern side of the Dniepr where they are digging in. I have no hope of contesting the western bank. Only buying a little time - as the vast amount of German (and Rumanian) infantry is busy digesting the Lvov Pocket.

Odessa is declared a fortified port city and three rifle divisions and three security regiments remain behind to defend to the bitter end. My goal here is to force the Germans to commit some of there advancing infantry here as the defenses should be prohibitive to the Rumanians. And German infantry in the advance is in short supply forward.

I've also begun establishing the Moscow defensive belt system. Incoming raw Soviet Rifle divisions occupy positions here to fortify and gain experience rather then sending them forward. But of course, the needs maintaining " a frontline" will pull divisions forward - but not until they have achieved an experience level of about 35 and are close to full strength. That way, they'll have at least a chance!

Right now, what I could really use is that random appearance of General Mud in the Central Soviet Zone. I can dream, right????

Lastly, I'm still concerned that the Corps HQs are not disbanding. I still have 87 rifle and mech corps HQs on the map which are draining manpower and just getting in the way. The one less from last turn? I spent an AP to disband it!

[IdahoNYer]

Turn 5; July 17, 1941.........Clear and Mud!!!

The Communist prayers are answered with MUD in the Central Soviet Zone!!! This is the absolute best news I could get. It looked as though Scar was resting his panzers and bringing up infantry just in time for mud to hit. I'm sure the blow will now fall during turn 6, but another week is another week!

For industry, I move the 32xKV factory out of Leningrad, 3xArm from Krivoi Rog and 2xArm from Kremunchug. None of these cities is immediately threatened, but the KVs are just too valuable to toy around with, and the Ukraine is still very, very thinly held.

The other big news besides the mud was the AI finally deciding to disband some corps HQs - about 64 of them in the one turn! Also great news, cleaning up the lines of command and releasing thousands of troops to the pool.

With the now about three turns of reduced tempo operations from the German side, I've been able to get a good jump on reorganizing the Red Army.

Screen shot below of the Finnish Front which activated last turn. 7th Independent Army is reinforced to hold the Finns as far north as possible. I hope to give the Finns a bloody nose here. With the terrain (river, woods) and narrow frontage, its going to be a tough nut to crack.

23rd Army falls back toward Leningrad, performing a delaying action up to the no-attack line is crossed.

Fortifications are also started to defend Leningrad proper, and south of the screen shot, the Luga River Line begins to take shape.

[IdahoNYer]

NW Front awaits the blow about to fall on it - most likely around Pskov.

27th Army is in fairly good shape, with some powerful (for Soviet 1941 standards) units in Reserve and a fortified line with rifle divisions at close to full strength. I have little confidence it will hold of course, but it could delay the German advance a bit.

11th Army is noticeably weaker, but benifits from better terrain. It will give way rapidly if pressed.

31st Army is just forming with brand new units, most still well under 50% strength.

[IdahoNYer]

West of Moscow, the Reserve and Western Fronts prepare as best as possible.

The Reserve front's 22nd Army (full strength), backed by the 24th Army (weak) to its rear, awaits the blow that is expected north of Vitebsk. Recon aircraft fail to identify the buildup, but I figure a Panzer Gruppe has to be west or north west of Vitebsk....

The 20th Army masses in the Land Bridge - narrow frontage, fair terrain and in good forts (yes, I consider a level 2 fort "good forts"). Backed by powerful armored reserves. It has a chance to cost the Germans a few casualties before it gives way. I have no illusions it will hold the mass of panzers to its west. Perhaps the mud, which shows this German concentration as "isolated", might lower the effectiveness somewhat to prevent a mass encirclement.

Yeah, I know, I'd probably be better off doing something that looks more like a carpet, but I'm trying to stay with something that the Russians might have tried to do.....yeah, I'll pay for it....

The Western Front is still very weak, with only 3rd Army are realitively good strength defending the east bank of the Dniepr. I expect the river to limit any mass penetration, but reserve armor is weak here. I'm holding reinforcements to the east to await the Germans....

The 21st Army, under STAVKA control, completes the line to the Pripet. I don't expect this army to be attacked in force at this time.

The blow will come aimed directly at the 20th Army with attacks to the north and south in support.

[M60A3TTS]

ORIGINAL: IdahoNYer
For industry, I focus on Leningrad, moving 20xBA10, 4xYak6, 6xArms, and 6xVeh factories east. With remaining rail, I moved 4xArm from Bryansk and 1xArm from the Moscow area.

BA-10 factories stop producing after September so moving them is something of a waste of railcap.

In terms of moving arms, you may want to look at my recent AAR notes on the subject of the arms multipler. Basically it's not good to move a factory size 4 or larger in increments of 3 or less. They will never benefit from the arms multiplier that comes in 1942-45.

[Walloc]

ORIGINAL: M60A3TTS

ORIGINAL: IdahoNYer
For industry, I focus on Leningrad, moving 20xBA10, 4xYak6, 6xArms, and 6xVeh factories east. With remaining rail, I moved 4xArm from Bryansk and 1xArm from the Moscow area.

BA-10 factories stop producing after September so moving them is something of a waste of railcap.

In terms of moving arms, you may want to look at my recent AAR notes on the subject of the arms multipler. Basically it's not good to move a factory size 4 or larger in increments of 3 or less. They will never benefit from the arms multiplier that comes in 1942-45.

Stop! Backing M60 up! .
Note to self: rail guide now Rasmus!, never ever do small aka under 4 movements of arms, there are also some sweet spots when u get higher up. Concentrate on getting out in bunches if at all possible. There are other facs to use spare RR cap on.

Kind regards,

Rasmus

[IdahoNYer]

Didn't realize it was "bad" to break down the total number of arms factorys (taking 1 from a total of 8 for instance) and railing them separately. I knew it was a bad idea with tanks.....

thanks!

[IdahoNYer]

The remainder of the front with the Southwestern and Southern Fronts. Both Fronts pull back as far as mud will allow to stay out of "encirclement range" if at all possible.

Southwestern Front is still overloaded despite the majority of the Lvov Pocket having been digested by the Germans. Still a few hold outs, but until that is complete and a few more corps HQs go away, Southwestern front C2 is still in pretty poor shape, with few, if any effective armies. As you can see in the screen shot, reinforcments await on the Dniepr as the forces west of the river pull back, trying to stay one step ahead of the advancing Germans.

Southern Front is in a little better shape, with 9th and 38th Armies actually in fair shape. Coastal Army is forming. Southern Front also continues its retrograd movement east, into the Dniepr Bend where reinforcements also await on the river.

These forces along the river vary in composition. Some are realatively full strength formations, others, mere shells just starting to form up.

Odessa continues to await the advancing Rumanians - I say Rumanians as it is taking a very long time for the Axis controlled zone to approach the city.

Lastly, in the Pripet, two formally isolated divisions rejoin the Soviet controlled portion in the far western portion, and I put some newly formed Cavalry in the Pripet to keep things honest and screen the area. There are five divisions that still have a "chance" to make it out, but are moving very slowly east.

Overall, the goal in the Ukraine is to reform the Southwestern Front on the east bank of the Dniepr and defend there until it is breached. The Southern Front will continue to fall back into the Dneipr Bend, then cross the river and hold as long as possible.

I expect the Germans to cross south of Kiev, and then head towards Kharkov of course.....

[IdahoNYer]

Turn 6; July 24, 1941.........Clear

The long awaited German onslaught resumed - and with a bang! But first, industry...

With the German adances deep in the rear, armaments again have to be moved rapidly. 8xArms are move out of Dnepropetrovsk, 4xArm in Kalinin, and lastly 2xYak7B from Moscow. Rail priority this turn wasn't industry, it was moving troops....

The effectiveness of the German attacks surprised me - I'm still surprised (even after playing the Germans) just how far they can penetrate into rear areas if well supplied.

In the North, PzGrp 4 breaches through the boundary of the 27th and 11th Armies and turns north to flank the Pskov position.

In the Center, apparently both PzGrps 2 and 3 combine thier efforts and drive hard east-northeast toward the prize of Moscow - right over 20th Army in the Land Bridge.

In the South, PzGrp 1 punches through the 38th Army and looks to conduct a raid on industry sites in the Ukraine - which had already been evacuated.

While all three attacks are hugely successful in penetrating the front and exploiting deep into the rear, I am very surprised that each attack is apparently a single, stand alone thrust - none appear synchronized with another, nor are any pockets formed (at least initially). For instance, had the PzGrp 4 attack wheeled southeast instead of northwards, three Soviet armies would have been bagged!!

Not that I'm out of the woods here, this attack is very effective and costly as is, we'll see what we can do about it!

I'll show more detailed screen shot of each German penetration, both before and after Soviet Moves...