2by3+

[WingedIncubus]

I am torn between maintaining the line as it is - or abandoning the river for a few hexes back

[Neogodhobo]

hhm.... Id say, try to keep as much ground as possible, but in the end, its up to you.

[WingedIncubus]

Centre done for Turn 5.

[thedoctorking]

I'll do mine tomorrow.

[thedoctorking]

Did we get an allocation of AP and rail cap?

Can I rail my new armies to the front? I notice that a couple of divisions in each army have few or no MP's left. Maybe I could leave those divisions for the Moscow defense area and get a few other divisions instead? Like some of the reinforcements coming in from Siberia?

[thedoctorking]

OK, all done. As requested, I left a corps in Pskov and Velikie Luki to slow the fascist infantry down. I used about 20000 rail cap to move those two armies you gave me up into position (or at least part of them). I hesitate to sound overconfident, but I think my position looks good. I used 10 AP to create some support units and shift a few guys around from army to army.

If there are extra AP available, I'd like to replace the commander of 23rd Army with somebody who has a clue. If not, not a huge deal since the German armor is about to descend on him and hopefully after they get done with him the NKVD will [:'(]see the light and send him off to the undiscovered country. But I'd like to anticipate our friends the Chekists and get the job done before the Germans attack.

I have a good deal of extra command capacity now that you have given me those two armies so if you want me to take over some troops and extend my front to the south I can do it.

[Neogodhobo]

edited.

[Psych0]

OK, South done. I did 2 counter attacks to get some wins for guards status eventually. Also isolated 2 panzer divs and bumped 2 panzer HQs so their southern spearhead won't have much fuel at all next turn.

Replaced 1 commander (18th army). 38th army is forming in Kharkov area on refit to put up a much stronger defence of the Dnepropetrovsk area next turn.

Odessa will require a major effort so that's German infantry that will show up much later along the Dnepr.

Also their rail heads seem to be 1 whole turn behind schedule, good news.

Comment about Pskov: in my humble opinion those units won't achieve anything, better to pull them back. We are very much short of units, so giving 2 away is not the way to go comrades. For the Motherland!

[Neogodhobo]

About Pskov... The plan was to create a frontline from Leningrad to Pskov to Velikie Lukie to support Drakken's effort to protect Moscow's flank.
I dont know why Northern Commander retreated all the troops from there, to the exception of a few divisions.

The reinforcement you received was to help create that defensive frontline. As follow : https://imgur.com/a/nC32S
Because now, you just gave them a whole lot of ground that could have been defended and would have slowed them down several weeks.

The point of having Paratroopers left in the Forest behind Velikie lukie was to offer some sort of resistence if the enemy was to push trough that frontline, but now, there is no frontline at all. The enemy is free to encircle both Northern and Central Commanders.

[thedoctorking]

I can run my turn again if you prefer. I'll do it tomorrow. I believe that the German panzers in front of Luga would be able to drive to Leningrad or near it if I didn't get my infantry in the way, but if defending Pskov and Velikie Luki is more important than I'll do as I'm told. I read your orders as giving absolute priority to holding Leningrad.

[Neogodhobo]

No, we will leave it as it is. Priority is for Leningrad to be hold but we cant afford the Germans trying to pierce trough our gap. I doubt they actually try to pierce trough over there simply because it would be impracticable for them.

The future will tell. If anything, prepare some reserve forces that will be ready to counter such a breakthrough.

[Psych0]

Why not add to your turn and save just those 2 units in Pskov by moving them NE?

[thedoctorking]

I'm sorry I didn't understand your idea. My sense is that by retreating as I did, the Germans will not be able to attack my guys effectively south of Lake Ladoga. The cost of moving through enemy hexes, plus the small screen of mobile units that I left out in front towards the north end of that line, means that they will be drastically slowed. So I get another turn to prepare for full-on attacks. Leaving a couple of divisions in the two towns is also about slowing the enemy at relatively low cost. We'll lose those units, but it will take a full-on attack by five or so German divisions, which will cost them 15 or so movement points, essentially stopping them in place for a turn. Actually, it could be two turns, because given that they have to move a few hexes to get to the towns (at least to Velikie Luki), they probably won't be able to conduct effective attacks this turn and will lose next turn as well to carry out the attacks. This is particularly true if Air Command can scrape up some transports to deliver supplies to those guys during next turn's air phase.

The only place where the Germans will be fully combat-effective in my region is in the Leningrad area, where their armored divisions (five of them, three panzer corps) are right up against my guys. That's why I put the majority of my troops inside the Luga-Novgorod line. I'm actually most concerned that I didn't do enough up there. I have a triple line, which is usually enough, but since my general at the northern end of that line (23rd army) is miserable in his morale rating, I'm afraid that his guys will rout instead of retreating when attacked by that X=X stack of panzers. That's why I requested that if we have enough AP left (11, I think), he be replaced by somebody with a decent morale rating.

[thedoctorking]

So if there's enough points left at the end, I'd appreciate it if you'd replace the 23rd Army commander for me. And if you think we should abandon Pskov, move those guys down to the Luga line while keeping them within 5 of their corps HQ (HQ could be repositioned as well).

And btw, where is my air support? All those airbases appear to be empty?

[Neogodhobo]

Il answer the rest of your message in a little bit, but to answer the air support, there is no air support. They have all been transferred to the disposition of the Southern Commander as mention previously.

Our airplanes are taking a beating and so drastic measures had to be taken. Planes are being used to escort Recon planes and Recon planes are supposed to be active in the South.


EDIT : Alright, hum... Well, you are the Northern Commander. So you do as you will, as long as your objective are achieved.
Im thinking the Germans might, maybe, possibly, try to flank you and Drakken in that opening. As I mention, just make sure you get some divisions ready to support Drakken's flank and the paratroopers in the forest if they needs help because their whole defensive position was put in place with the idea that there would be people defending from Pskov to Velikie Lukie.

I will replace your General as asked. Decisions is up to you, in terms of leaving the troops in Pskov or moving them. I will wait your finale decision.

[thedoctorking]

I'll keep the guys in Pskov. If he attacks successfully this turn they will just be routed. If he waits a turn, he waits a turn. If I get some new divisions next turn I'll fill in the two armies north of Velikie Luki. I'm not actually expecting it to fall either.

[Neogodhobo]

Alright, I shall do the turn tonight or tomorrow during the day.

[wallas]

ORIGINAL: Neogodhobo

Il answer the rest of your message in a little bit, but to answer the air support, there is no air support. They have all been transferred to the disposition of the Southern Commander as mention previously.

Our airplanes are taking a beating and so drastic measures had to be taken. Planes are being used to escort Recon planes and Recon planes are supposed to be active in the South.

I have posted earlier all air units but the recon are in reserve. This turn I flew recon as much as I could with what we have.

[thedoctorking]

And if we lose a few divisions, what's one rat to the pack?

[Neogodhobo]

ORIGINAL: thedoctorking

And if we lose a few divisions, what's one rat to the pack?

I dont consider the men under my commands to be rats living in an animal pack, commander, thank you very much. But your views on the soldiers of the Motherland are noted..