Towards the edge of destruction with hooooper and Blubel

[hooooper_slith]

Soviet responses:
At Leningrad there is minimal reoarganisation. The aim to conduct an orderly withdrawal towards the Volkhov, leaving a supplied fortress at Leningrad.

[hooooper_slith]

On the Moscow front,the German's push to the north has made Rhzev the key to the battle. A fairly weak carpet is laid in front of the city to slow down the panzer group. The defences east of the city seem fairly strong now.

[hooooper_slith]

Kursk. The war has yet to arrive at this sector,

[hooooper_slith]

Kiev. I eventually decide on a compromise: a slight withdrawal to more defensible positions. This is a risky move - we are within encircling range of the panzers - but I'm still hoping to hold the Germans for another turn, which may have big benefits down in the line in terms of limiting the ground lost before the mud. Which will now be along in only seven turns.

[hooooper_slith]

Finally, here is the big picture in the north ...

[hooooper_slith]

... and the south

[hooooper_slith]

Generally, I think the game is even. The Germans have divided their forces pretty equally between the three army groups, so they have to make progress on every front to keep the initiative. If one drive stalls, I can immediately reinforce the other two sectors. They might find Moscow to be the most difficult area - my defences in the centre are becoming stronger, and the river lines to the immediate north and south are too strong to be breached before the mud. The drive to the north contains powerful forces, but it has to go a long way over difficult terrain to become truly dangerous.

On the whole I'm expected Blubel to keep the initiative - on the evidence so far he's as good as any German player I've ever played. We shall see.

[HITMAN202]

The Soviets have a huge edge IMO. Looking a the end of the Soviet 10 th turn (???), the Axis are 3 hexes away from the Neva with zippo Soviets in danger of being trapped, AGC ... the Axis are about 16 hexes away from Moscow with a huge Soviet fort network awaiting the attack , and AGS the Axis are only 5 hexes east of the Dnepr and 2 turns away from even becoming close to threatening D and Z town.

I agree with vandex, four O's hooper (!!!), that your're playing with fire in AGS. But also you've figured (probably correctly) that your opponent hasn't learn how to fan the flames with his PZ.

The Soviets have a huge adavantage. But it's only the 10 th turn ....

[hooooper_slith]

I'd agree with you, except that the Germans have very good bases from which to launch attacks in all three areas. As Vandex said, the infantry is up in strength, the rail lines are built, with a few HQ build ups it's possible for the Germans to make substantial progress in the north and south and north of Moscow. They might struggle if they take the direct route to Moscow, and they seem to have ignored the Moscow Tula sector, which means no giant encirclement of Moscow. The other thing is my OOB is lower than a snake's sock suspenders. I have about 4.1 million men under arms, which is as low as I've ever been in 20-plus games as the Soviets.

[HITMAN202]

What are the losses and # of Soviet divisions destroyed ??? By the way 20 games as Soviets ???? Unbelieveable !!!!

[hooooper_slith]

Here you go

[hooooper_slith]

Losses

[hooooper_slith]

I don't have the number of divs destroyed, but it's a lot, obviously. There have been quite a few pockets - that's why my OOB is so low and Blubel still has so much ground to cover. I'll get them back, though, which is good for AP expenditure.

[HITMAN202]

Yea the 2.2 mil is impressive. You did fight forward. Pelton and I separately played a dude Cyclops, who fought forward and lost quickly. (pelton has an AAR) He played well in holding me back in my eastward push, but loss ++ 4 mil lost by the 12=13 th turn !!!!. This was prior to the Soviets learning to use RESERVE MODE in D. I'm sure he is a dangerous Soviet opponenet now. But the game in '41 is so different than 6 months ago.

You are playing with fire !!!

My assessment still is your ad. But 2.2 mill ??? At least 4-500,000 more than it shoud be looking at other (and my) active server games.

But his ++ 314,000 losses are also a lot.

[hooooper_slith]

Yes, it's in the balance. I'm hoping that if I can hold on to a good number of manpower I can recruit men fairly quickly.

[hugh04]

I checked my progress on turn 10 in an AAR I previously posted (Sledgehammer). I had inflicted 1.9 mill casualties on the soviet. You have sufferred 2.2 million but are in a geograpically superior position. However, you are weak enough that if your opponent can grind you down bad things can happen. Be careful my friend.

If you are opening turns and seeing 30+ routed soviets, I would consider retreating faster.

Vandev

[hooooper_slith]

I agree, but I think the thing about fighting forward is that it is risky, and you will certainly suffer more casualties, but it does make for a better game, which is not a minor consideration given the length of time it takes to play. But the real point is that those 300,000 digital soldiers you sacrifice in the fighting are, or may prove to be, an investment that will be repaid later from the cities you didn't lose. At least, that is the principle I'm working to.

[Manstein63]

I have a game running against Blubel as well (just coming into the Mud turns) so I would be interested to know what turn you are on to compare. I also was fighting forward but I overstayed & ended up losing 90 units in one turn which is making the defense of Moscow a tad uncomfortable
Manstein63

[hooooper_slith]

Ninety [X(] Can you survive that? This is only at turn 10, but I do have some more to post when I get round to it.

[Manstein63]

You get them all back though they have to be filled out & I think some may have been SU's & HQ's but it meant that I only have a  thin screen in the south while everything else has been sent to the Moscow & Lenningrad Area's. As I said we are just starting the Mud Turns Lenningrad has all but fallen although I am supplying by air and he is sitting next to Moscow it will be an interesting few turns.