Grognard1812 (Soviet) vs Pitaman

[redrum68]

Shupov is correct. You can actually see the impact if you play with better CV as the CV on the unit counters will often increase significantly if say you had a inf division assigned to a corps HQ with a very poor leader (say 3 rating across the board) with a very strong army HQ leader like Zhukov and disband the corps HQ.

[Grognard1812]

On turn 2, in the Pskov area the Soviet defenses behind the Velikaya river held up reasonably well with only one German motorized division getting across the river.

[Grognard1812]

In an impressive move by my Axis opponent, the German panzers broke through the Soviet defenses at the Ulla river and captured the city of Vitebsk and converted most of the hexes normally used for the land bridge defense between Vitebsk and Mogilev.

[Grognard1812]

At the start of Soviet Turn 2, in the South the Soviet defenses were effective in preventing any major breakthrough in the area around the city of Vinnitsa.

[chaos45]

In the south that looks like an easy cut off of that panzer spearhead...he left his flanks way to open

[Grognard1812]

ORIGINAL: chaos45

In the south that looks like an easy cut off of that panzer spearhead...he left his flanks way to open

Agreed, but due to a lack of MPs of the nearby Soviet units I was only able to cut off the forward 2 panzer and 1 mot division. This is the situation in the South at the end of Soviet Turn 2.

[Grognard1812]

Due to the situation in the Center around Vitebsk, I wasn't able to send enough units to the Pskov area to set up a solid defense and decided to retreat towards Leningrad to set up a better defensive line on turn 3.

[Grognard1812]

In the Center I was able to cut off the leading 2 German panzer and 3 motorized divisions, and then also apply ZOC pressure to four more panzer and motorized units. The cut off panzer and motorized units will not be receiving any fuel the next turn, which will hopefully slow down the Axis units in the area. At this early stage of the game it appears that the Axis main objective is Moscow with Leningrad being the secondary objective, as there are at least 3 panzer corps in the Center. This is the situation at the end of Soviet Turn 2.

[Grognard1812]

Summary of Soviet Turn 2

Whenever possible I think it is extremely important to cut off the leading German panzer and motorized units, as the following turn these units will not be receiving any additional fuel or replacements, wearing them down and slowing down the Axis advance.

I still think the best strategy the first few turns for the Soviet player is to run - as this extends the Axis supplies lines - both for their receiving supplies and replacements, and reduces the ability of the Axis player to encircle Soviet units the first few turns

This turn I assigned IL-4 level bombers (they have a range of over 100 hexes) and Soviet air transports to VVS airbases which will then on turn 3 be assigned to night missions so that they can supply partisans during the game.

As previously recommended any remaining isolated fortified regions were disbanded.

A number of Soviet Corps HQs were disbanded who had poor leaders, any support units in these Corps HQ were automatically reassigned to the next level army HQ without any further admin point cost.

[chaos45]

using the security unit at poskirov...should have allowed you to cut off the entire spearhead unless there were German units there not show in the screen shot. Maybe no depending on morale of your units but it looks like a for sure thing from MPs I see on your units.

[Grognard1812]

You are correct, I wasn't able to cut off the entire spearhead because there was a German division that were not visible on the screen shot just North of the security unit. It was visible only after I did air recon in the area but unfortunately I do not have a screen shot to show this as we are now on turn 4.

[Grognard1812]

In the Leningrad area at the start of Soviet Turn 3, the German units follow the retreating Soviet units.

[Grognard1812]

At the end of turn 3, the Soviet units set up defenses behind the swamps and river systems of the Luga and Oredezh, this is where they will make their stand to defend Leningrad.

[Grognard1812]

West of Smolensk having cut off the 3 motorized and 2 panzer units last turn deprived them of fuel, limiting the advance of Army Group Center during turn 3.

[Grognard1812]

At the end of Soviet Turn 3, the defense of Moscow begins at the Dnepr river East of Smolensk.

[Grognard1812]

All quiet in the Kiev area.

[Grognard1812]

At the start of Soviet Turn 3, again having cut off 2 panzer and 1 motorized units last turn slowed the Axis advance in the South.

[Grognard1812]

At the end of Soviet Turn 3. Was able to cut off 4 panzer divisions this turn in the South, no extra fuel for these units next turn. Soviet units continued retreating setting up defenses behind the Ingul river.

[Grognard1812]

At the beginning of Soviet Turn 4, German units are advancing towards the Soviet defenses around Leningrad. The panzer units in the area are probably resupplying planning a future offensive.

[Grognard1812]

The Soviet defenses at the end of Turn 4 in the Leningrad area.