Speedy vs Saper 222 (no Saper 222)

[Speedysteve]

South:

Saper is very skillful at creating his pockets. This is fun.

He created another extension to the Lvov Pockets by trapping another 11 Div's of SW/Southern Front.

This is certainly serious as there's not enough force to defend in the south right now.

On the plus side I managed to break the pocket and free up Lvov as a whole.

I conducted 7 attacks within the pocket, 4 of which were successful against Rgt's.

The pocket is doomed though so I cut my losses and retreat eastwards.

[Speedysteve]

South overview:

I pulled back everywhere to prevent mass pocketing next turn. I brought up what I could to the Dnepr as well.

Usual fare - SEC Rgt's out front and I put 3 Div's into Odessa. Need some Hardcore Nazi's to get rid of these (Defensive CV of 63).

[Speedysteve]

Losses:

[Speedysteve]

OOB:

[Speedysteve]

Thoughts/Admin:

I moved the ARM facs out of Mogilev this week.

The Red Airforce was back in play this week. A lot of Re-org. I'm quite harsh with my culling of dross. 16 x Airbases were disbanded. There's just too many to go around. Most of the SAD's were disbanded as were a couple of PVO's and a few Air HQ's. The airbases have either a mixture of LB's and FB's or just Fighters. The VVS are set up as they should be with Night Time Bombers and Transports with a few fighters.

I don't conduct any GS missions in 41. All the effort is on Interdiction and CAP.

Saper is a very talented player. I'm going to enjoy this game. It's pointless fighting too far forward against him so the plan is to keep at arms length UNTIL defensive terrain is present or we're near a key objective. If I keep either LG or Moscow and don't lose too many men I'll be happy with 41. I aim to keep as many Cav Div's as a I can as they form the first decent offenisively mobile units - Cav Corps in October.

I aim to hit back at Axis units where I can. Interesitingly Saper micro-manages his units a lot and very well BUT he does like to divide Div's into Rgt's which makes pockets more secure BUT does mean some counter-attacks can succeed against weaker Rgt's. I'll take this.

I won't start any C&C re-org until the Corps HQ's disband in a few weeks time.

Any questions or thoughts post away!

[Klydon]

Interesting so far. I think he made a mistake not pressing closer to Pskov to clear a path for his infantry. I would doubt he is going to just screen the Leningrad area as it leaves too much committed for just a screening operation. Even if he goes for the big central thrust, he needs time to advance the railheads.

The other thing I agree with you on is he seems to be a bit too regiment happy, which is presenting you with opportunities to weaken his moral with successful counter attacks.

[Speedysteve]

Turn 3.

End of SU turn.

North. Saper closed on Pskov this turn. I re-orged and threw SEC Rgt's as a screen and formed the first line of defence in front of LG at the Luga line.

A few units are scraped together for the Lovat line south of Lake Ilmen as well

[Speedysteve]

Center:

The Landbridge is partially breached so I withdraw with a Checkerboard. Additional defensive lines are started west of Vyazma.

[Speedysteve]

South.

The Panzers advance rapidly and surround 2 x Tk and 1 x Mtr Division around Zhitomir. I open the pocket briefly for a week.

Other than that I pulled back the Southern Front units a bit just to bide time.

Rain in South Soviet Zone halts a lot down there.

[Speedysteve]

Losses:

[Speedysteve]

OOB.

Moved ARM from the remaining Southern Cities west of the Dnepr, a couple of HI Facs from Mogilev and the Yak-6 and T-50 Fac's from LG.

Saper is doing a very good job on my AF's bnut conducted a few bombing raids and mass fighter sweeps taking down 250-300 SU fighters for 25ish Axis. Ok with this for now though as mine are trash planes. However, the downside to these raids is that I have a low readiness rate on my units overall on my AF's.

[Speedysteve]

Turn 4.

End of SU Turn.

North:

The 3 units around Pskov were surrounded with no hope of rescue. I managed to counter-attack the 3rd Motorised Division forcing it to retreat.

I brought up reinforcements to the Luga Line and by the River Pola.

Frustrating at how slow the forts are building (or not). LG is still very weak and that's mainly to how much the South was decimated meaning reinforcements had to be sent south and that has a follow on effect meaning the north is weak and the centre is just about ok at present.

[Speedysteve]

Center:

Not a lot here.

Saper pushed further into the Land Bridge so I pulled back from the Dnepr and brought up further resrves to start to form a 3rd defensive line from Rzhev south.

[Speedysteve]

South:

Saper pushed SE from Zhitomir towards Cherkassy.

As such I fall back to Kirovograd east.

Further reserves are brought upto the Dnepr. They're weak though.

[Speedysteve]

South big view:

[Speedysteve]

Losses:

[Speedysteve]

OOB:

Moved ARM and HI from Kremenchug, HI from Kirovograd, ARM from Gomel and some KV-1 Facs from LG.

Looking forward to the Corps HQ's disbanding and I can straighten out some C&C, assign decent leaders and sort SU's etc.

Some battle Stats. Saper made 83 attacks: 5 holds, 6 routs, 24 surrender and 48 retreats.

[Speedysteve]

Turn 5.

End of SU turn.

Finland:

Usual fare up here. Lost 2 x Rifle Div's but formed a line in the far north and hope to hold this.

[Speedysteve]

North:

The Luga line is reached.

I have no hope of holding LG now.

Just not been able to devote enough troops up here and not had enough tiem to dig in.

I'll do what I can to delay.

The 1 attack I launched pushed back a Rgt of the Totenkopf Fascists.

[Speedysteve]

Quiet in the VL region: