Towards the edge of destruction with hooooper and Blubel

[hooooper_slith]

I mean, I don't have the turn, so I can't look.

[sillyflower]

Sorry - I did wonder

[hooooper_slith]

Turn 12

The Germans have returned from their Xmas skiing holiday, and it seems to have refreshed them, because they are making impressive progress on all fronts.

Beginning in the north, they have squeezed Leningrad's defenders into a long, thin indefensible salient. The fate of the city looks to be sealed.

[hooooper_slith]

On the important Valdai sector, the fighting seems to have died down. Suits me.

[hooooper_slith]

Before Moscow, we have a double envelopment. Once Rzhev falls, the drive on Moscow is definitely on, and it will be tough to stop before the mud.

[hooooper_slith]

In the south ... well of course we stayed a turn too long, and this is what happens when you stay a turn too long:

[hooooper_slith]

In the south, there's nothing to report. It seems the Donbas and the Crimea will be safe until next year.

[hooooper_slith]

Soviet responses.

In Leningrad, the only thing to do is to rush for the city. This brings our defences up to three units a hex, and 27th Army ships over a brigade from Novaya Lagoda.

[hooooper_slith]

Moscow, it is essential to break the German hold on Rokossovsky: this is where the battle for Moscow will be, if not won, then probably lost. Fortunately, there are a few relatively weak divisions in the German line, and it proves possible to create a counter encirclement before Borodino, with the help of a cavalry division. A strong attack from north east of Rzhev relieves the elements of 22 Army holding that vital city.

[hooooper_slith]

In the south, my broken legions trudge east, leaving behind a litter of bodies and wrecked equipment

[hooooper_slith]

So, the game remains extraordinarily well balanced. The situation at Leningrad has deteriorated fairly spectacularly, and the Volkhov line is looking very frail. But often the city has a surprising depth of defensive resources, and there is a slim chance that the Germans will choose to move their armour south to bolster the drive on Moscow. The success of our counter attacks there has, or may have, improved out chances of holding the capital, so my adversary may choose to reinforce. Moscow is a much bigger prize than Leningrad, especially as I haven't been able to relocated most of its industry as yet. In the south, it's a disaster, and in idle moments I'm flicking through a list of generals to arrest. The only consolation is that my decision to fight forward means that the enemy is still a long way from Kharkov and Kursk, and, furthermore, is faced with a difficult decision as to which direction to go in.

The Red Army's biggest weakness is its lack of men and equipment: the cupboard is frighteningly bare:

[hooooper_slith]

In conclusion, here is the big picture in the north. Wouldn't it be nice if the Germans were to advance towards Vyshny Volochek?

[hooooper_slith]

Centre. The big pull back to the Orel line is partly a response the disaster in the south, and partly because I need to concentrate all my resources on Moscow, and I don't want the defence to be overloaded. Excessively cautious?

[hooooper_slith]

And south. A drive through Kharkov and down to Stalino would be most unpleasant, so that's where most of the reserves have been lined up.

[hooooper_slith]

Turn 13

Folllowing their successful turn 12, the Axis spend a week setting about the housewifely tasks of closing pockets and mopping up. Here the divisions of the Leningrad defences who didn't make it into the city limits are rounded up the the SS, while the infantry of AGN draws up to the weak Volkhov defences. Blubel has done a good job up here.

[hooooper_slith]

A quiet turn at the Valdai, the vital link in the defence of Leningrad and Moscow.

[hooooper_slith]

Moscow, the pockets are closed again, but another turn goes by. I think the Germans are too late to take the city with a simply frontal attack.Indeed, the main German thrust seems to be sliding around the northern flank, which is fine by me. It's tough going up there.

[hooooper_slith]

In the centre we are just waiting for the barbarians. This is the picture after Soviet moves. The panzer forces seem to be moving north, possibly to supply the southern prong for an attack on Tula/Moscow.

[hooooper_slith]

Soviet moves

On the Leningrad front, we have no choice but to give ground as slowly as possible.

[hooooper_slith]

On the Moscow axis, the defence assumes its final form: not a step back.