Reducing Leningrad

[Yorick359]

Look for a little advice on how to reduce the Leningrad pocket. I can get to the short of Ladoga on turn 10 and will take Pushkin, Shisselburg, and Kobona on 11. Problem is, those takes don't really seem to hurt the supply of the defenders in the pocket. Are there some key objectives that need to be grabbed in order to make the reduction of the city easier?

[wktr8222]

osinovets. or all 3: kabona, novaya ladoga and swiritsa.

[TheOne]

Basicly you set up an Army with 3 Corp with 12 divisions total, you can drop 2 infantry
divisions for 2 MoT but with the reserve reaction nerf in 1.09.01 there really is no need.
You need 18-24 poineers,at least 6 200mm + artillery SUs per Corp, 12 Stug SUs and your 4
best infantry commanders. Supporting this will be 1st Fliegerkorps commanded by Richthofen loaded with Fighters and Stukas.
The turn before the attack begins do atleast 1 HQBU. Then next turn Bomb the 2x hex and turn ground support up to 300.
The fort will be dropped from 3 to 0 in most cases, if your not attacking across a river you will get 2 attacks per turn.
If you do 3 HQBU's you can get in 2 attacks across the major river hex by rotating your divisions and the 2 MoT divisions can cross and take the hex.

You can send some of your panzers south at this point and simply let the infantry storm Leningrad.

This is a standard set-up for storming Leningrad, those high CV stacks will drop NP even when storming the hex across the river.

[M60A3TTS]

This is a good enough reason to patch the map and put a level 5 fort at X83 Y16.

[Pionpion]

indeed, in every AAR I read the fall of Leningrad looks easy

[HardLuckYetAgain]

ORIGINAL: M60A3TTS

This is a good enough reason to patch the map and put a level 5 fort at X83 Y16.

Did the Soviets have a Level 5 Fort in X83 Y16 in real life during the war leading up to the siege of Leningrad?

[HardLuckYetAgain]

ORIGINAL: Pionpion

indeed, in every AAR I read the fall of Leningrad looks easy

Most of the time I see this as less than stellar performance by the Soviets in defending Leningrad. The Soviets can tenaciously defend this if they so desire. You just have to know how to do it is all. Unlike Pelton.... Errrr TheOne for the Germans, I'm not going to straight up and tell you how, it means more when you figure it out on your own but I will point you in the direction you need to work toward.

Look at GeneralFeldmarschallWalterModel (I suspect is Pelton too ) AAR where he is using my tactic I used against Pelton with the Mobile Armor/Mech Army(I'm sure someone else has used it before). You can easily have a few 60 - 80+ defense hexes. Plus Air drop supplies to them & do a HQ build up. This helps in defense believe it or not. You should be able to take the rest from there.

Second I have yet to meet any Soviet player that saves his Armor or Mech units (I have over 40 games as a German and I always whistle to the bank as I surround these beauties). I "always" find them on the front line easy pickings and wasted by the Soviet player. Please to high heaven stop that nonsense. Put something else there, these are your future trucks & great defense units.

[M60A3TTS]

Careful you don't get accuse of trolling. [:D]

No, the Soviets didn't have a level 5 fort there. The Germans also didn't isolate the city and capture it at a cost of 1,000-2,000 men either. [;)]

[HardLuckYetAgain]

ORIGINAL: M60A3TTS

Careful you don't get accuse of trolling. [:D]

No, the Soviets didn't have a level 5 fort there. The Germans also didn't isolate the city and capture it at a cost of 1,000-2,000 men either. [;)]

Too many coincidences for the finger pointing to self for it to be trolling. It is obvious to see if the eyes are open. Hey, he has great insight but bad previous etiquette on the forums. It is just my hunch if it is or not and that is it. I enjoy the input to be candid about it from the different proxies ;-}

Ya, optimized German infantry is difficult to deal with. It is best to start a defense as far forward but a great pearl if your are going to defend Leningrad at all cost. I have done it in my games as Soviet and I have a great deal less hair because of it.

[SheperdN7]

Take those ports on Lake Lagoda, otherwise you'll be bashing your head against a wall for awhile

[Icier]

ORIGINAL: HardLuckYetAgain

Unlike Pelton.... Errrr TheOne for the Germans, I'm not going to straight up and
Look at GeneralFeldmarschallWalterModel (I suspect is Pelton too )

Watch Out!....Look under your beds...There could be a Pelton hiding under it!

[wktr8222]

ORIGINAL: SheperdN7

Take those ports on Lake Lagoda, otherwise you'll be bashing your head against a wall for awhile

You mean "right hook"? any tips about it? Seems that my oponent dont have anything beetwen lake ilmen and vielikye luki so i think about it, but its turn 4 and rail line is in riga so it might be difficult because of supplies.

[Yorick359]

Thanks for all the advice. Concentrating infantry leaders, artillery and engineering units around the forcing of the west edge of Lake Ladoga did the trick. The following turn Leningrad was cut off (SP -1) after which carefully planned fort reductions were not needed. Nice decisive victory. Thanks again.