Towards the edge of destruction with hooooper and Blubel

[hooooper_slith]

Finally, the OOB. I don't recall having so few troops at this stage since I was a neophyte. A tribute to Blubel's skill and an indictment of my failed strategy in the south.

[hooooper_slith]

Turn 14

There's a bit of a lull in the fighting this turn, no doubt signifying that the German are gathering themselves to spring next go.

On the Leningrad front my defence of the Lagoda ports holds (this hex is often the key to the whole Leningrad campaign in my experience, and should be fortified as soon as possible). However this may not save me because the Germans are over the Volkhov in force and could pull off a small right hook.

[hooooper_slith]

At Valdai, the Germans grind forward another couple of hexes. On the Kalinin axis, however, they seem to be pushing ever further north, which is good news for Moscow.

[hooooper_slith]

In the centre, the enemy seems to have disappeared. A frontal assault on Moscow seems to be off the agenda.

[hooooper_slith]

In the south, it's quiet.
Too quiet.

[hooooper_slith]

Turn 15
The fighting builds to a climax, but the Soviets just about hold the equilibrium.

In Leningrad, AGN leaps over the Neva and wipes out the Red Army west of the Volkhov.

[hooooper_slith]

At Kalanin, AGC pushes into the wasteland in the direction of VV. This is fine by me.

[hooooper_slith]

The next breakthrough is in the direction of Tula. It cracks the line, but as there is no other pincer in sight, I'm not too concerned about this.

[hooooper_slith]

On the Kursk-Kharkov sector, the pressure is becoming uncomfortable.

[hooooper_slith]

As it is on the lower Dneiper. I have a bad feeling about all of this. This screen shot shows the position after the Soviet moves. The 6 Army, which was refitting in Stalino, is rushed to shore up the crumbling front line.

[hooooper_slith]

Soviet moves

In Leningrad I'm most concerned by a link up with the pincer pushing north of Kalinin, so its the northern edge of the German salient that receives the most reinforcement. The southern edge has the marshes for a second echelon.

[hooooper_slith]

On the northern flank of Moscow, the Germans have to go round the reservoir, and the city of Kalinin is the essential to that move. Two of my better divisions are moved in to bar the door.

[hooooper_slith]

At Tula, Bryansk front finally sees some action. Efremov's 21st Army, newly fitted out with more 85mm anti-tank guns than you can shake a stick at, surrounds the breakthrough and braces itself for a week of bloody fighting.

[hooooper_slith]

On the Kursk-Kharkov line, I reinforce and hope for the best. I could retreat, I suppose, but I'm influenced by my game with Bomazz, now in the spring mud of 1942. In that, I lost both cities and spent three agonising months trying to retake them. It strikes me that this experience could be avoided by not losing them in the first place.

[hooooper_slith]

Kharkov:

[hooooper_slith]

Here's the big picture in the north

[hooooper_slith]

And the centre

[hooooper_slith]

And south

[hooooper_slith]

Two turns until the mud, and the Germans are ready for a big push. [8|]

[Mike29]

Could you please specify what turn is going on at least on each page?