FITE2 Cpt Flam Axis, Larry Soviets

[gliz2]

Peshka was both dive- and level-bomber (light/medium bomber category). Also few hundreds recon version were deployed.

It had a fighter version (over 1.500 deployed) called PE-3 which was used similar as Me-110 or Me-410.

I think active defense is more productive for the Soviets as they have the edge over Germans in terms of resources. Thus the best tactic is to hassle the Wermacht.

[larryfulkerson]

Patrick has broken through in the north leading to Narva. I haven't blocked the avenue all that much so he's probably going to blast his way through the next MLR going north. I can expect Patrick to try to surround all my defenders before he grabs Leningrad I suppose. He may need those extra follow on units to force his way into the Leningrad area.

[cpt flam]

German view about turn 26
AGN

first units arrived exhausted along Velikaya river.
We are at the gates of Ostrov.

Advance continue toward Vitebsk, trying to bypass defensive line established from long time.

Air war is still advantageous 25 vs 175

[cpt flam]

AGC

last turn: 2nd Panzer arrived by rail from Germany
I used them this turn to open the front line

I was surprised to repulse a regiment south of Vitebsk with a small attack.

A bit less units were destroyed 32 regiment and 11 HQ (some were really strong).

[larryfulkerson]

Here's a view of how easy it is for the German units to leap across the river and force their way onto the other side and this means there will be a foot race to the east to see who can get there first because there's a lot of industry in that direction. Now that he's across the river he's got access to the deep south as well. Great. I've given priority to the area west of Moscow but I'm thinking that this area is going to need some roadblocks and strongpoints and really quickly now.

[cpt flam]

AGS and 11th Army

I kept some height as the front is rather large.

Nikolayev is isolated from supply.
Kherson road seems open.

Few action was taken against pocket on the left of picture.
Destroying an HQ with artillery regiment supported by HQ and ART spent my units.
Small attack against Kiev area to gain an hex. Support there is strong too.

I think that 51 regiment and 25 HQ are actually isolated.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's some of the Soviet losses so far. Heavy losses in the HQ units I notice.

[cpt flam]

Turn 27 Axis view point

in AGN
3rd Motorized division and a Panzer are leading the advance
part of the front is broken

about our air force, for each type I will show available replacement and losses at beginning of the turn
Fighters 187 dispo for 255 lost Fighter-bomber 8 vs 89
Bombers 44 vs 252 Dive bombers 128 vs 77

this turn I lost 19 planes for 184 Russians

[cpt flam]

AGC
sector from Orsha to just north of Bryansk

Roslavl has been taken and rails are passing through

more to the south, Chernigov has been liberated from communists
losses have been about the same as last turn 32 regiment and 12 HQ

Army HQ as the 7-16 on previous picture are forms around much support squad

I must wait anxiously about soviet answer

[cpt flam]

AGS

another hex from Kiev fortress is taken by Hungary
bombardment of Kiev and Odessa is under way
First Rumanian units are at the gates of Kherson
motorized units are about 10 kilometers from Krivoi Rog
behind lead unit, others having cleared pockets will arrive soon

you can see that many units are actually encircle
I think that 76 regiment and 48 HQ will be isolated

[larryfulkerson]

Here's a view of the Orshsa area right now and I think I may be in serious trouble in this AO. The Germans are breaking through my lines and they are going to destroy all the Soviet units in this image. I've decided to ignore the tendency to pull units back to the east. I've decided to stand and fight right here.

[larryfulkerson]

New moves from Patrick. I'm watching the playback of Patrick's turn and I'm marveling at his moves. Some of the best I've seen. And I thought you guys might want to see this too so I zipped it up and attached it here below. My password is "password" without the quotes. It's a lot like that animated movie of the Operation Barbarosa I posted about on the main forum section.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the Pskov area right now. You can see how the Axis forces have already entered the peninsula and have outflanked my units which are being surrounded and will soon be destroyed. The withdrawl attack when I try to leave an adjacent-to-an-enemy-unit hex is fierce and I always lose a lot of equipment. That's mostly the reason I'm just letting my units sit there dug in and out of supply. I suppose I can try to move my recon units because they have a higher recon value and can probably get disengaged without much of a departing attack.

I've railed into Pskov a lot of supporting arty and so far my MLR there in the city is holding out just fine. My units are well rested and most of them are in the green, ready for combat. I'm guessing that the Axis will outflank my forces somewhere south of this position and the Axis advance will dictate the need to displace all these forces and move northeast to the next terrain of natural defensive positions. I have a light screen to the north of this image but it won't hold back any determined German units.

I have plans to see if I can't integrate my ships into the Leningrad defensive plan. I'm going to need several fighter squadrons to perform a CAP over the Leningrad area because I'm pretty sure Patrick is going to want to strike my ships from the air if not from the sea ( eventually ). I haven't had much of a problem railing units to this AO because neither of us is using any INT missions to prevent enemy unit movement.

I'm wondering how Patrick's supply level is here at the front. I'm guessing it's still adequate for operations because he is still on the advance all over the map.

[larryfulkerson]

The Axis forces have broken my front lines near Smolensk and are streaming units through the holes. This is a major problem and I may not be able to recover fom this. I'm getting boat-loads of reinforcements each turn ( not combat ready yet ) and it appears that I need to rail them all to this AO pretty quickly now.

[cpt flam]

my view about turn 28
AGN

supply is fine here as rail line are up to front line
finally a new pocket is form
I knew there was support unit unknown behind as I couldn't RBC battalion size units

there will be probably few change in this sector before mud

air war cost me much this time 42 vs 203

[cpt flam]

junction between AGC and AGS

crossing of the river has been made by strength
units came to open a pocket and become trapped too

destroyed units remain as before 31 regiment and 10 HQ (from which: 20, 22 & 29 Armies)
Larry showed what's happening around Smolensk

[cpt flam]

AGS + 11th Army

many less pockets to reduce

I "noted" each division traveling toward edge of the battlefield
these comprised Slovak, 7 Rumanian and 16 German

known isolated, there is 88 regiment and 36 HQ
I try to have mini map explain part of the front not shown

[larryfulkerson]

New moves from Patrick. I especially like to watch the playback and I'll bet there's some people out that that would like to watch it too, so I zipped it up and attached it here below. My password is "password" without the quotes.

[cpt flam]

Turn 29, mud is coming quickly now
AGN

Few units are stopped in front of Tartu
in the bottom of the picture, I gone with bridge engineer looking for a crossing and retreated when I saw number of
defenders.

air war was a bit better: 34 vs 214

[cpt flam]

AGC
sector of Bryansk
some units will be isolated as I could RBC the AA brigade
You can see the number of HQ supporting SE of the city

2 Panzer divisions are positioning toward Yelna

losses have been better as we wipe off 38 regiment and 18 HQ