Defense of the Soviet Union begins ONE hex west of Pskov

[HardLuckYetAgain]

I hung on by a thread here after he blew away my big defense hexes south of Moscow. There was no +1 Soviet attack

[HardLuckYetAgain]

Without further ado I present the first turns setup map for the begining Leningrad defense that is imperative to do for this defense to be effective.

But first a few disclaimers.

1. Any defense can be broken when known in advance. As such use this strat at your own pearl in the future.
2. You will need to do a "ton" of clicks & searches for specific units for key places. Be prepared for repetitive brain numbing exercise in clicking, searching, assigning, and other misc nonesense
3. The Strategic synopsis will not be given up front but rather later after all my games pass turn 13-15 for sake of not giving too much information out on key hold & retreat points.
4. I am by all means no expert in this game. I learn by trial and error and sticking a wet finger in the air to see which way the wind is blowing I first and foremost thank all my opponents in the games I have played. Without their contributions none of this would have been possible. I won't name them unless they want to be named or they have written their own AAR in which case I don't mind saying their name. Otherwise I won't give out their names.

Here is the Map for the "1st turn" only for the beginning defense of Leningrad. I will go over each number specifically with its own page. Please note that the numbered hexes are a must to be populated with specific unit types. Other hexes on this map I do populate with units based on what is avail and is not annotated on this map. I will mention those after going over each of the respective numbers.

The first consideration is that of Air. Air will be concentrated in force in the North. You can do the easy way out by sending everything to reserve and then place the air units on the Map the 2nd turn. If you are like me I painfully select units on the map and Air transfer them to my air bases for the north until I run out of good candidates then transfer the rest to reserve. Please note that you must do one or the other of these two items before moving any unit on the map. My normal makeup for a front is 10 air bases, 6 fighter IAD/PVO and 4 bombers bases. All air bases that are not an IAD/PVO/DBD BDBD I disband along with respective Corps Air HQ's over the first few turns AP permitting along with non front Air Army HQ. Please note that the Air HQ's of Urals, Volga, Moscow etc transfer without a cost in AP's to different fronts/Stavka I use these HQ's for my VVS for the 3 areas on the map North Center South which begin with 3 VVS per front. Probably not the most optimum but this is what I do. At a minimum you will have 12 Fighter bases and 8 bombers bases guarding the road to Leningrad. (again I disband all the funky named BS that the Soviets have for manpower. You will have 3 fronts worth of Air only for the first 9 turns. Turn 8 start building an IAD AB every turn and Shap AB when needed to fill out a front. Turn 8 you will also build 7 fighters every turn & 1 Tact bomber (this switches later in the year by the way). The Soviets gain Victory through the Air. In this case Quantity has a Quality all its own. These units will be needed to rotate out fighters every turn by Fatiguing Germans and keeping yours fresh. I will go later in detail if needed on this.

2nd consideration is that of AP expenditure. ALL AP points on the first turn is used to get the 27th Army setup correctly with correct HQ load of Units & a great leader. Depending on what I see I on the map I will normally put Zhukov in this HQ since it is imperative to have the best leader here. (I have had many battles with Zhukov and Model in them) If I see a weak effort towards Pskov I either leave the current commander or give one with good Morale/battle rating. If AP points are left over then a good Air leader for the Northwest Air HQ. You must change this out on the 2nd turn if you don't get this changed on the 1st turn. But all AP is spent to normalize the 27th Army which is guarding hex numbers 1, 4, 7, and 9 on the map. (****note that there are a few things that I will use AP on on the first turn. In example an Armor or Mot unit that can't get away encirclement and I can disband it. Then I will disband that armor unit to save the trucks. I don't care about the free unit return since I pretty much disband all the armor reinforcements you start getting on turn 12 to save on trucks for the air war. I save the tank divisions on the map that convert over to brigades. This way I don't have to wait for them to train and have two full armies ready to go full of tanks (which you really don't need until 42 imho)

[HardLuckYetAgain]

Hex number "1"

This is the most important hex on the map for me for this defense. This hex is where you need 3 division with the following;

1. Construction value over 20+
2. Morale value over 45+
3. Rifle squads Exp value over 45
****Note try to pull units with already full TOE's or units in high 90's******

Please try and choose units with a 4 attack value if at all possible and get these units from anywhere you can. I have yet had a game I couldn't put 3 great units in this hex. On turn 2 you will have a level 1 fort and turn 3 a Level 2 fort in this hex. If you don't..... then you did something wrong ;-}

[HardLuckYetAgain]

Here is an example of 1 of the 3 Divisions I put in hex 1 in one of my games

[HardLuckYetAgain]

More to come, just working on my turns on a few games.

[mktours]

Hi, Hardluckyetagain. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and strategy. I have some different ideas with you but I do agree and appreciate some other ideas of you.
I am interested in playing 2 campaigns against you, one as soviet and one as Axis. We could start the two campaign at the same time, same version, same house rules, so it would be fair to both sides. If you are interested, we could discuss it further.

[chaos45]

man you got a lucky roll on that division, I have never seen a 4 strength on map in the rear area like that.

Every game I start up they almost all seem to be in the south and I have to rail them north if I want any decent divisions aside from tank/mech.

[HardLuckYetAgain]

ORIGINAL: chaos45

man you got a lucky roll on that division, I have never seen a 4 strength on map in the rear area like that.

Every game I start up they almost all seem to be in the south and I have to rail them north if I want any decent divisions aside from tank/mech.

I agree on that division, got real lucky. Most of the time I barely have 2 4 str units for that hex since I want Strength and digging strength.

[HardLuckYetAgain]

ORIGINAL: mktours

Hi, Hardluckyetagain. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and strategy. I have some different ideas with you but I do agree and appreciate some other ideas of you.
I am interested in playing 2 campaigns against you, one as soviet and one as Axis. We could start the two campaign at the same time, same version, same house rules, so it would be fair to both sides. If you are interested, we could discuss it further.

Mktours! I have to admit I have always followed your writings the most of anyone on this forum. Heck, I think a game between you and I would be fun as heck. I would love to play but I have 5 current games going and there is no way I can take on any more. My Soviet turns are averaging almost a full 6-8 hours on turns 4-10 in my games. My eyes are bleeding at the end of the day after doing as many games as I can to get them back to my opponents When we do play I want to just have our two games going to concentrate fully on them. I know the mettle of your resolve and I do the same thing. Thank you for the offer but I have to decline until I have a manageable game load.

[mktours]

ORIGINAL: HardLuckYetAgain

ORIGINAL: mktours

Hi, Hardluckyetagain. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and strategy. I have some different ideas with you but I do agree and appreciate some other ideas of you.
I am interested in playing 2 campaigns against you, one as soviet and one as Axis. We could start the two campaign at the same time, same version, same house rules, so it would be fair to both sides. If you are interested, we could discuss it further.

Mktours! I have to admit I have always followed your writings the most of anyone on this forum. Heck, I think a game between you and I would be fun as heck. I would love to play but I have 5 current games going and there is no way I can take on any more. My Soviet turns are averaging almost a full 6-8 hours on turns 4-10 in my games. My eyes are bleeding at the end of the day after doing as many games as I can to get them back to my opponents When we do play I want to just have our two games going to concentrate fully on them. I know the mettle of your resolve and I do the same thing. Thank you for the offer but I have to decline until I have a manageable game load.

Thanks for the reply!
You could take your time in your games. I have genuine interest in playing against you because I want to check out some different thoughts between us, and the best way to check them out is in playing the game. That said, I am not ready to play as well, I am not quite buying the new Mods of Movael, in deed, my knowledge of the game stay at 1.08.04, and I didn't study the new rules post 1.08.04. But that doesn't matter if I am to play against you, I could study them. My judgement remains that the Mods are not balance and they are unstable, but since we play two sides at the same time, that doesn't matter.
So, if you are interested in playing the two games between us, we could discuss it later when you are ready to play, and if you are to insist on the new version post 1.08.04, I would need to take some time to study and digest the new rules.
Kind regards!

[mktours]

ORIGINAL: HardLuckYetAgain

ORIGINAL: mktours

Hi, Hardluckyetagain. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and strategy. I have some different ideas with you but I do agree and appreciate some other ideas of you.
I am interested in playing 2 campaigns against you, one as soviet and one as Axis. We could start the two campaign at the same time, same version, same house rules, so it would be fair to both sides. If you are interested, we could discuss it further.

Mktours! I have to admit I have always followed your writings the most of anyone on this forum. Heck, I think a game between you and I would be fun as heck.

Indeed, I am interested in playing against you because I am very appreciating your thinking in your writing, and I believe it must be rewarding to me in playing the games between us, I believe I could learn a lot from it.

[HardLuckYetAgain]

ORIGINAL: mktours

ORIGINAL: HardLuckYetAgain

ORIGINAL: mktours

Hi, Hardluckyetagain. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and strategy. I have some different ideas with you but I do agree and appreciate some other ideas of you.
I am interested in playing 2 campaigns against you, one as soviet and one as Axis. We could start the two campaign at the same time, same version, same house rules, so it would be fair to both sides. If you are interested, we could discuss it further.

Mktours! I have to admit I have always followed your writings the most of anyone on this forum. Heck, I think a game between you and I would be fun as heck. I would love to play but I have 5 current games going and there is no way I can take on any more. My Soviet turns are averaging almost a full 6-8 hours on turns 4-10 in my games. My eyes are bleeding at the end of the day after doing as many games as I can to get them back to my opponents When we do play I want to just have our two games going to concentrate fully on them. I know the mettle of your resolve and I do the same thing. Thank you for the offer but I have to decline until I have a manageable game load.

Thanks for the reply!
You could take your time in your games. I have genuine interest in playing against you because I want to check out some different thoughts between us, and the best way to check them out is in playing the game. That said, I am not ready to play as well, I am not quite buying the new Mods of Movael, in deed, my knowledge of the game stay at 1.08.04, and I didn't study the new rules post 1.08.04. But that doesn't matter if I am to play against you, I could study them. My judgement remains that the Mods are not balance and they are unstable, but since we play two sides at the same time, that doesn't matter.
So, if you are interested in playing the two games between us, we could discuss it later when you are ready to play, and if you are to insist on the new version post 1.08.04, I would need to take some time to study and digest the new rules.
Kind regards!

Sure, sounds like a plan. We can discuss when you are up to speed and I have a manageable game load

[HardLuckYetAgain]

Sticking with the same game here is the 2nd unit I put in the hex making sure I meet the 3 criteria for this hex. (showing the same game so the end picture matches the units I brought. Sometimes you will get lucky and the armor & Mot units that start close to Pskov are of high quality

[HardLuckYetAgain]

The 3rd unit for hex #1.

[HardLuckYetAgain]

Hex # 2 is the 2nd most important hex. The main criteria here is Construction value of the Division you pick to go into this hex. I don't care about anything else other than the construction value totaling over 35+ for this hex with the Division you pick to go here. You want to make sure that this is a level 2 fortification by turn 3.

[HardLuckYetAgain]

Hex #3 is a tricky hex. You may get lucky and a Division that is close will have enough movements to get into this swamp hex. If not you will have to find a Division close and try and use rail to get one to this hex. If you aren't able to get one to this hex you will have to improvise by putting a division on the other side of the river to prevent a German crossing. Even if the Division retreats to the swamp it is fine since your goal is to prevent the crossing of this river hexside by Germany the first turn to be able to defend the swamp hex the 2nd turn. Any Division will work to go into hex #3. Higher the Defense value the better along with having decent morale and Rifle squad experience. (I base a ton of my decisions on those two factors).

[HardLuckYetAgain]

Hex #4 is a Main defense hex. You want to have at a minimum a 22 combat strength. Anything lower and the Germans usually move the hex, they can move this too but most times this defense value is fine. Make sure to get good Morale and good rifle squad experience divisions for this hex. If you are lucky and have the Armor unit that is close of good quality then put it here. But most of the time the armor unit is worse than warm poo poo. I have had as a low defense value of 22 up to 35+ in this hex. Quality in this hex matters, make sure to get the good divisions for defense here. Plus, move everything that is going into key defense hex's by "rail". Keep "fatigue" at a bare minimum. Too many games I played as Germany I watch Soviets fatigue their units with tons of movement. Moving them back and forth across the map to key defense areas. As the Russians you "HAVE" to see the battlefield a turn or two in advance. You have to have key units in key places without having to do forced marches. Learn this and you will do well playing the Soviets.

[HardLuckYetAgain]

Hex #5 (two swamp hexes) Main consideration in this hex is a minimum of a defense value of 6 in both hexes. Again move Divisions by rail and move the last hex into the hex. (I reserve at a minimum 15,000-20,000 rail to move units every turn turn 3 and later for the Soviets. Best mobility and low fatigue compared to moving by foot/track) Germans should be pretty much too fatigued to move that amount of defense value the 2nd turn if they get to this hex at all. Even if they do move it they won't have enough MP's to get into the swamp with other Soviet ZOC's

[HardLuckYetAgain]

Hex #6 Another tricky hex. I put pretty much any unit of any quality to start construction of forts. Try to find a Division with a construction value of 10+ for this hex. On the 2nd turn this hex needs to be upgraded with divisions with higher construction values to get to a level 2 fort by turn 3. But for the 1st turn stick to what I mentioned.

[HardLuckYetAgain]

Hex #7 (two separate hexes) The hex that is SW of Pskov for 7 (2 hexes away) you want to put a defense value totaling 8+. This is just a delaying force to make Germans expend MPs. Anything works here. The 2nd Hex 7 (4 hexes from Pskov) I normally bring a big armor unit from down south if available. If not get three good units for this hex for the coming defense north of Pskov.