TTG multi-player teaching game

[thedoctorking]

However, as we can see from a map of the situation farther to the south, the precipitate German advance left pretty much all the Axis mobile force in the sector vulnerable to isolation. Two panzer divisions on the southern encirclement might have been isolated with enough force to prevent subsequent rescue in the coming turn, with German infantry far away and no tanks able to come to their aid. Isolating the leading corps in the northern arm was trivial, requiring one parachute brigade to advance through empty hexes to link up as indicated. Isolation of the southern arm and the remainder of the northern arm could have been accomplished by an advance from both sides into the Proskurov region, if there were no undetected Axis units sealing that area (as in fact, there were not).

[thedoctorking]

Unfortunately, for the Soviets anyway, they declined to take any of these opportunities. A couple of divisions moved in the vicinity of Proskurov but failed to make contact to isolate the armored spearhead. In my opinion, this is a major mistake that probably is more important than the Axis failure to capture Riga on turns one or two. Instead, the Soviets moved their nearly-isolated units out of the pockets without confronting the Germans in any way, even to choke their supply. In the north, the armor retreated towards the swamps, but once again, without any flank protection either between the German spearhead and the Kiev area or on the northern side of the swamps. No Axis player likes to send troops into the swamps, but if they do, they will most likely be able to cut the rail line and prevent any of those fleeing units from escaping.

[thedoctorking]

In the southern Ukraine, Soviet forces tried to establish a picket line along the Yuzhny Bug. Factory evacuation can’t start until next turn, and it is a close race to decide if the industrial resources of central Ukraine will be available to the motherland going forward. The forces from the southern near-pocket moved eastward but are probably going to be pocketed again by the fully-supplied German armor to the north and destroyed turn after next.

[thedoctorking]

Losses this turn were 217,394 Soviet ground (111 air) to 22,619 Axis (41 air). Deployed forces are 3,423,996 Soviet to 3,268,979 German (9183 to 3200 in the air, looks like a lot of Soviet airframes came back from National Reserve).

[Fetterkrolle]

We were very lucky that they did not go for Riga, so that we could reinforce it just in time.

[SparkleyTits]

Is post 39 supposed to be the same pic as post 19 from the Soviets turn 1?

[mrhuggles]

I hope you show the combat result for the eventual battle of Riga [:)]

[Fetterkrolle]

If he does not show it I will, lets just say it was interesting...

[thedoctorking]

ORIGINAL: SparkleyTits

Is post 39 supposed to be the same pic as post 19 from the Soviets turn 1?

Thanks, fixed.

[thedoctorking]

ORIGINAL: mrhuggles

I hope you show the combat result for the eventual battle of Riga [:)]

Yes, I've got a whole discussion of how that worked out.

[thedoctorking]

TTG Neutral AAR, Axis turn 3

Supply difficulties in the north and center slowed the pace of Axis operations this turn, while in the south the failure of the Soviets to cut Axis supply last turn meant that the Soviet mobile forces are now likely to be destroyed. This turn demonstrates the importance of isolating armored spearheads whenever possible, and even if they cannot be isolated, of snuggling up close to them to extend supply paths.

In the north, the Axis turn began with all the armor and motorized divisions of 4th Panzer Group isolated. They had some fuel left over and thus a few movement points, but the highest was 17. The infantry of 16th Army, followed by the reserve corps belonging to 2nd Army, were moving steadily east towards Velikie Luki, while 18th Army was still in central Lithuania, too far from Riga for a deliberate attack. With a turn spent attacking Riga, German infantry now looks to be ready to assault the Soviet main line of resistance around turn 6 or 7 at the earliest.

[thedoctorking]

The Axis turn here was unspectacular. The airbases and rail repair units continued to move east. The infantry advanced, 18th Army to the gates of Riga while 16th and 2nd pushed to the crossings of the Dvina. The armor forces were re-connected, but did not move. Perhaps the Axis is trying to stockpile fuel, but it would have been well to cut the rail line north of Riga to prevent a change of heart on the part of those three divisions in the city.

[thedoctorking]

In the land bridge region, the turn began with similarly poor movement allowances for the German armor. The drawback to the rail repair strategy the Axis is using – bringing all three FBD units forward into Lithuania, and then using two units to build the Panevezys – Daugavpils – Polotsk – Velikie Luki line as rapidly as possible – is that units in the land bridge region, and especially at the southern end, have extremely long supply paths. The forward elements of 2nd Panzer Group were in the 40’s at the start of the turn and the 50’s by the end. They started with 10-20 movement points and can expect the same next turn. The Axis is stockpiling AP, presumably in hopes of a multi-corps HQBU on a subsequent turn. But for now, the armor can do nothing until the infantry arrives.

[thedoctorking]

And, sure enough, very little was what they did. 4th and 9th Armies marched steadily forward, taking the opportunity to wipe out more of the first turn Belarus pocket as they advanced. The Berezina pocket from last turn was easy to re-establish, this time with a solid double line of regiments holding it closed against any conceivable Soviet counterattack. A motorized brigade ducked south into the swamps, not quite far enough to cut the rail line down there.

[thedoctorking]

Army Group South’s armor was the only truly mobile force this turn. Benefitting from short supply lines supply and no Soviet interdiction, their units averaged movement factors in the 30’s. They were able to cut the rail line leading out of the northern kessel and completely pocket the mobile units attempting to escape in the south. Elements of 1st Panzer Group, supported by a loaner corps from 2nd Pz Gp, fanned out across the Ukrainian steppe, not reaching any of the industrial cities.

[thedoctorking]

Losses this turn were 20,198 Axis to 327,635 Soviet (49 to 151 in the air). Deployed totals are 3,345,326 German to 3,144,399 Soviet (3,440 to 9,142 in the air). This was a reasonably good turn for the Axis, mostly because of the success in the south. This is when it really begins to pinch for both sides, though.

[thedoctorking]

Herr General Mrhuggles, AGS Commander, reports:

My third turn involved trapping retreating motorized and tank divisions across the center of my front, as well as preventing rail escape of the trapped units being forced into the swamp in the north
there were two main pincers to the north and south of kiev, facilitating these tasks
the southern pincer also has the benefit of threatening soviet positions on the banks of the yuznhy bug (or whatever its called )
With the northern pincer looking as if its designed to trap the forces in the swamp, and the southern pincer poised to charge south, it's hoped that Kiev will not be heavily defended by next turn
its hoped that these pincers can then converge from either side of the soviets before they have time to react
If the soviets end up suspecting such an attack, the threat on the south can be realized

[thedoctorking]

Nothing to see here (Fetterkrolle posts moved to their proper place after Soviet 3)

[Fetterkrolle]

I like how the AAR is 5 turns behind the actual game. It is nice to look back at the desitions you made earlier and to learn from them

[thedoctorking]

And we don't want your opponents to learn too much...