From Dunaburg to Daugavpils - Speedy vs RCH (no RCH)

[Speedysteve]

Start of Turn 30 and more lovely replacements are being dished out.

The Reds desperately counter attacked at both Vladimir and also NW off Kalinin. Both attacks gloriously failed[8D]

Can anyone confirm if Moscow is a supply source or if it will now begin to starve as it's had a turn out of supply when the Reds next move?

[Speedysteve]

AGN post moves.

The Reds desperately use Northern Front to try and reach Moscow.

4th Pz Gp advances down the main highway destroying 2 enemy divisions in the process.

[Michael T]

According to the manual, only Gorki, Leningrad and Stalingrad are supply sources.

[Speedysteve]

AGC post moves.

9th Army and 3rd Pz infantry combine to push back the 2 Tank Divs from Northern Front. Other than that 3rd Pz Gp just moves some infantry further east to plug the gap in my lines.

2nd and 4th Army destroy 3 enemy divisions and advance further north.

[Speedysteve]

ORIGINAL: Michael T

According to the manual, only Gorki, Leningrad and Stalingrad are supply sources.

Yes! Thanks Michael. Fingers crossed my flimsy cordon holds!

[Speedysteve]

AGS post moves.

The pocket shrinks slightly as 11th Army advances east. 4 enemy divisions are wiped out.

17th Army and 1st Pz Gp infantry move south to reinforce my armour.

[Speedysteve]

Turn 31.

2 more desperate counter attacks by the Reds around Moscow fail.

Supply is very low amongst most units in the Moscow and Rostov pocket.

AGN post moves.

Just the usual flaying forward and destruction of 3 enemy divisions:

[Speedysteve]

AGC.

With the Reds so weak I advance on most sides of the pocket. Moscow is almost within reach now.

The only hope for Moscow is with Zhukov who is rumoured to be with 5th Army which is on the way from Gorki. If they do not reach and breakthrough my cordon this turn then I see no chance for the Russians. They are so weak without supply.

[Speedysteve]

AGS.

The conscripts are even more helpless without supply. Approximately 15 divisions were wiped out this turn around Rostov.

[Michael T]

I think you will be popping the champagne corks soon.

[Speedysteve]

I hope so Michael!

Turn 32 post moves. I really commend RCH for carrying this on. I would have likely thrown in the towel about now.

Pasputitsa has arrived across parts of the front.

I've moved the FSB forward to Leningrad as the Mud prevents most armoured movement.

Supply is also an issue. No moves or attacks.

[Speedysteve]

AGC.

5th Army is beginning to arrive but I feel it's too little too late as even if they break through the Reds are beginning to take a real mauling without supply.

Kalinin falls and advances are made in the north, west and SW. 4 enemy divisions are destroyed and 15 mauled.

[Speedysteve]

AGS.

Rostov is no more. With no supply the Soviets crumble. 25 enemy divisions and HQ's are toast. Game over in AGS.

[KenchiSulla]

A job well done!

[Speedysteve]

Turn 33 post moves.

Soviet 5th Army smashes 7th Pz Div and re-takes Vladimir. Both my encircled Pz Divs are doomed which is unfortunate but I really don't see this changing the course of the game.....

A further 12 enemy divisions were destroyed around Moscow today and we're at the gates. Siege artillery will be on hand on 4 days.

350K enemy troops were wiped out last turn. I predict a further 200K this turn.

A lot of credit goes to RCH for carrying this on.

I won't show AGN or AGS anymore as they're sideshows. AGN will just be mopping up and AGS has fragments to deal with. As long as RCH continues, 6th Army will move on Saratov, 17th Army on Stalingrad and 11th Army into the Caucasus.

[Speedysteve]

Turn 34 post moves.

Sovs destroyed my 2 Armoured units and pushed back another Pz Div. 3rd Pz Gp has pulled back a bit to re-group. Not a problem as their job is done.

Routed another 6 enemy units. Apparently 10 more Red units surrendered of their own accord in my reports[&:] Nice.

Moscow will likely fall next turn as the Siege guns are on site now.

Snow and windchill is having some effect. I've made decent winter prep though and the first clothing will be distributed to AGC next turn.

Red troop levels down to about 1M now.

[Speedysteve]

Turn 35 and the end is in sight.

Moscow falls. A further 8-12 enemy divisions are toast. The Sovs are almost down to £900K troops now.

[Speedysteve]

Hi All,

After the capture of Moscow the Soviets surrendered.

All in all a fun game and my thanks to RCH for being a dogged, determined and tough opponent. My view is also this version is too easy for the Axis and tough for the Soviets. I feel the balance should be between 1.01 and 1.02. My 2p.

Siege guns are death stars which need to be somehow be toned down.

[battlevonwar]

Speedy, I think erasing the entire Russian Army in the south with such ease gave you a huge boost. I watched your PPs as the game progressed and it seemed as though you never wanted for much in that department. The siege artillery is powerful but if you had to contend with major garrisons on Riga/Minsk/Smolensk/Kiev/Odessa/etc... a lot of what you accomplished would have taken another 8 weeks and many more losses. I think that the major garrisons on certain locations are overpowered. These garrison cards maybe would be better if they came into play later in the game.

Great job... my last game as the Germans, I got caught up Smolensk but I gave myself Moscow First as my primary goal. You ran your Panzers and your opponent seemed to lose too many units to hold his lines.

[Speedysteve]

Thanks bvw!