Callistrid vs TDV

[Callistrid]

T05 Center

HI destroyed: 20 (5 locked)
Arm industry destroyed: 17


Last turn I used 3 HQBU, and on T05 I had 9 divisions with 50 MP. Other pz troops had 25-35 MP.

South from Mogilev, the soviets forgot to protect the riveside, so one sneaky SS division crossed the river, and blocked the was of Orsha-Mogilev troops retreat. After those units where neutralized by infantry divisions, my panzer troops crossed the Dnieper two times, first from Orosha, second, west from Smolensk. The way was badly defeated, all soviet troops faced west, and the 2nd Pz army captured the ground with minimal fight.

The 3rd Pz army, supported by numerous infantry divisions break the main soviet defense line around nevel. Two panzer division just moved into the non defended clear terrain, and not really care about ZOC penalty, and hit the second line soviet defense what was weak, and all hexes where protected by low CV troops. The second wawe 10+ infantry divisions just rout the 3 stack soviet divisions, because their retreat line where blocked. After the well organised attack the 3rd, and 4th panzer army spread around the badly defended terrain and encircle the entire western+ other fronts.

However, the northern flank attack was unsuccesfull, and the soviets can break the northern encirclements next turn. But isolating 49 divisions on T05, even, if some of them will be liberated for a turn, it's a huge victory.

Around Tallin, two german paner division wait the 16th army, and threat the estonian flank of Leningrad, force the soviets, to send troops there.

This turn I used 1 HQBU (one Pz coprs around Vitebsk), and next turn 4 divisions will have high number of MP. So I'm prepared for TDV-s moves...

[Callistrid]

T05 Pockets

[Callistrid]

T05 South

The german troops crossed the river line around Kiev. The 1st Pz army moved back and refit, waiting the next turn crossing attack, close to Kharkov-D-town.

[schascha]

Nice shot !!!!

[timmyab]

Ouch! That's got to sting a bit. It looks like he was relying on a too rigid stacked forward defense with insufficient depth. It's a risky approach to take so early in the game. Round one to you I think.
The pz corps in Estonia appears to be treading water. I'm not convinced of the merits of sending a pz corps through Estonia.

[Callistrid]

The capture of Tallin cost me 2 inactive pz division for T03-05.
I forget the 100 % port damage, so it was a huge error. Next turn they will move somewhere.

[Callistrid]

T06 Full front

HI destroyed: 23 (2 locked)
Arm industry destroyed: 17

TDV decide to stand, and fight with the Northwestern front, but his flank was weak, and my refited panzer troops just push the badly defended line, and encircle the Forthwestern Front, who's headed west. Right now 50+ soviet division had been encircled, with no, or minimal chance to being liberated.
They way to Leningrad is clear, and no troops could be found. TDV just defend the frontal way of Moscow, and Kharkov-D-town. All other areas are clear (I used more then 100+ recon action, to see the big picture)

The supply lines are close to the 2nd, 3rd and 4th panzer army, and on south I saved the fule for my panzer troops, so next turn they will have 30-45 MP. Infantry divisions deploying the next attack on south.

I have no idea what was TDV-s early defense plan, but staing close to germans supply line was a bold idea. He allowed me to eat his army piece by piece, and use my 3 northern panzer (panzer + mot) with 30-50 MP.

However, TDV successful evacuation most of his threaded industrial sites, but Leningrad and Kharkov is full, and could be reached the following turns. Since the Leningrad Front not exist, he must use numerous transport capacity, building frontline, and slow my attack against Leningrad.

2 panzer division around Tallin just rest, and enjoy the sunlight, they could be the most happiest dudes

[Callistrid]

T06 casualty list

Next turn more then 50+ division will be eliminated, so the soviet numbers (on T07) will be more then 2 000k. Not bad.

[loki100]

ORIGINAL: Callistrid


TDV decide to stand, and fight with the Northwestern front, but his flank was weak, and my refited panzer troops just push the badly defended line, and encircle the Forthwestern Front, who's headed west. Right now 50+ soviet division had been encircled, with no, or minimal chance to being liberated.
They way to Leningrad is clear, and no troops could be found. TDV just defend the frontal way of Moscow, and Kharkov-D-town. All other areas are clear (I used more then 100+ recon action, to see the big picture)

well done, that was devastating [8D], think he was too confident?

[BrianG]

Well done.

I say a seriously well executed attack.

[timmyab]

Yikes! It's hard to see him recovering from that, certainly not in the short term. He didn't seem to maneuver his armies away from South of Pskov at all. After the turn 5 disaster they should have been scurrying for the Luga. It's almost like the shock of turn 5 made him insensible of the grave danger to the flank of NW front.
If I was him I'd concentrate on defending Moscow now and just use delaying tactics everywhere else.

[chaos45]

Some very well executed pockets, was worried about you when I saw your move up to Tallin as i saw that as a pretty pointless move....but these pockets more than make up for it.

You are for sure in the game again after these last 2 turns devastating for the soviets in the near future.

[Callistrid]

T07 Leningrad

HI destroyed: 25 (5 locked)
Arm industry destroyed: 17

Two panzer army drive against leningrad, clear, and flip the hexes for infantry divisions. The 16th and 18th army will move against the city.
Next turn, I will cross the luga river, and held the northern part, with infantry divisions. The panzer groups will refit, and HQBU, preparing the T09 major attack. I hope on T10-11, the military situation allows to send all the panzer divisions against Moscow, and the infantry divisions will take the city on the rest turns.

[Callistrid]

T07 Center Front

Only the 2nd panzer army face against Moscow, supported by 4th and 9th german army. This front is relative weak, facing against the 60-70 % of the soviet forces, so they task will marginal, only to encircle soviet divisions, lower their manpower, and fighting capacity. When the 4th, and 3rd panzer army will arrive (probably around T12), the final attack against Moscow will be launched.

[Callistrid]

T07 South

The 1st panzer army encircled 11 soviet division, what could be the 50 % of the southern soviet defenses.
TDVs casualties are extremely high, so he abandon the defense of south, just try to slow me, and buy time evacuating the southern industrial areas.

[Callistrid]

T07 Opposing sides

TDV lost more then 2 million men. His current forces are weak, and several divisions has been encircles. TDV lost 111 infantry division, 35 armor and 23 motorized division. 10 mountain, and cavalry division still was eliminated, and right now another 14 division, was encircled.
I know they will return soo, but not on critical turns, on T08-T13, when the soviet gain limited reinforcements.
However, right now we have close to equal manpower, tank and artillery forces.

[Callistrid]

Yep, sending them against Tallin was a bold idea. I forgot, the ports dont works as supply sources after they been captured.

[timmyab]

Again he badly miscalculates in the South. He should have abandoned the Dnieper.
If this is a normal campaign he still has a chance of a draw but if it's a 260 campaign I fear it's as good as over for him already.

[Callistrid]

I belive our campaign is 260 or sudden death...

I played several times with soviets, and my consequences will be written soon. In our game TDV-s strategy was bad, because he allowed to me to fight close to my rail lines, what is devastating, even, if he try to use the wall of steel. That defense line slow the german advance, but sacrifice several division, hit the middle game effort. Now, I will pressure the soviet army, try to encircle, and destroy more troops, and the 41 winter will be quiet.

I allow the industrial evacuation, don't rush those areas, just eliminate more troops, and try to stay close to my suplly/rail lines. The combination of rail+air supply gives 30-40 MP every turn. If works, on T10+ my troops will be able to capture the manpower centers, like Voronezh, Rostov, etc...
The 41 summer goal will be to capture Leningrad and Moscow, and destroy the soviet army.

Around T14-15, after Leningrad, Stalino and Kharkov will fall, i will transfer all my panzer armies into Moscow front, and attack with all my motorized troops, force to give up Moscow, or encircle another full front. I want a peacefull winter, then on 1942, during the summer offense defeat the soviet army. This plan is similar with the original WW2 plan, but we shall see how will works.

My experience as soviet, the concentrated german panzer forces are unstoppable, and no chance to resist against them. Of course, they can only act in one major front, but they very effective.

[timmyab]

Yes it's looking like a late Summer 41 knock out at the moment.
To be honest I wouldn't even play the Soviet side as the game currently stands. Axis logistics and CVs are too powerful.
The last time I played the Soviets was in two solitaire games and both times they suffered unanticipated turn five disasters, although not as severe as in this game.