Grognard1812 (Soviet) vs Pitaman

[Grognard1812]

End of turn, the Axis defenses hold near Rostov.

[Grognard1812]

Turn 91, Snow in all Soviet Weather Zones.

The SS Panzer Corp continues attacking eastward from near Kalinin and the Panzer drive continues westward from the German Panzer Salient. Clearly the intent is to cut off the rail lines to Moscow and create a huge pocket.

[Grognard1812]

The Soviet Army attacks the weaker force advancing from the Panzer salient, first attacking and cutting off the most forward Panzer Divisions.

[Grognard1812]

Then attacking and routing 3 Panzer Divisions.

[Grognard1812]

And then routing another 2 Panzer Divisions and 1 Motorized Division. By reoccupying the hexes vacated by the German units 3 Panzer divisions are isolated.

[Grognard1812]

End of turn situation in the Moscow area, with the 3 Panzer Divisions isolated South of Ivanovo.

[Elessar2]

Looks like this game's version of the historical Kursk it would appear.

[chaos45]

Hes very close to interdicting the last 2 rail lines....those Rifle corps are going to start being super stubborn units to push...as well u usually dont want panzer divisions being attacked by full rifle corps stacks if u can help it.

[Wuffer]

ORIGINAL: Elessar2

Looks like this game's version of the historical Kursk it would appear.

yes. and even bigger.

quite tense. .....

btw thx for the AAR, Grognard1812.
Following since the beginning.

[chaos45]

If the german gambit to encircle a Soviet front here fails I think its game over though....as you can see the German army is quickly weakening from the casualties it suffered from the all winter long offensive. Almost all of his infantry is base 5 CV now against Soviet rifle corps in late 1943 that will be like nothing.

[Dweomer]

ORIGINAL: chaos45
If the german gambit to encircle a Soviet front here fails I think its game over though....as you can see the German army is quickly weakening from the casualties it suffered from the all winter long offensive. Almost all of his infantry is base 5 CV now against Soviet rifle corps in late 1943 that will be like nothing.

I do not think he will be able to encircle the front.
- The eastern "pincer" just had 6 mobile divisions routed, 3 mobile divisions retreated and 3 mobile divisions encircled. It is going to be stomped on by the rifle corps, rather than make progress. The panzers are already understrength and probably poorly supplied after months away from a decent source.
- The western "pincer" is in much better shape, but will need some time to batter through the defenses as more and more rifle corps will appear into its path. It may be able to cut off the rail lines, in which case the Russian should evacuate Moscow, which is a moral defeat rather than a strategic defeat.

In the mean while, the Hungarian/Italian/Rumanian front will be in massive trouble within the month. Either it will start to fall apart, or it will have to retreat at a significant pace.

I think it is game over already. The panzer ball wasted too much time prancing around the steppes in 1942 taking and giving back real estate instead of encircling Russkies.

[Grognard1812]

Agreed that this is this game's version of the historical Kursk Offensive, with the SS Panzer Corp western pincer being equivalent to the stronger Army Group South attack at Kursk and the eastern pincer being equivalent to the weaker Army Group Center attack that occurred at Kursk.

I am presently waiting for my opponent to return Turn 94, which is forecast to be the first turn of mud.

The stronger SS Panzer Corps keeps making progress every turn and there is a good chance that it will eventually cut off the rail lines to Moscow. If it occurs I agree that it would be best to evacuate the Moscow area - better to lose Moscow than have over 50 Soviet divisions encircled. If the Soviets lose Moscow I think it would be a Pyrrhic victory for the German Army due to what is presently occurring to the German Army Group Center and Army Group South.

[Grognard1812]

Start of Turn 92, the SS Panzer Corp continues its advance from the western pincer while the eastern pincer's Panzer Divisions reoccupy the hexes lost last turn, with the 3 Panzer Divisions no longer isolated from last turn.

[Grognard1812]

A clearer screenshot of the start of Turn 92, in the Moscow area.

[Grognard1812]

As a repeat of last turn, 3 Panzer Divisions are attacked and forced to retreat from the base of the advance of the eastern pincer.

[Grognard1812]

And then the 3 Panzer Divisions previously isolated are forced to retreat back to their original hex.

[Grognard1812]

And finally 2 Panzer Divisions and 1 Motorized Division are routed out of their advanced positions.

[Grognard1812]

End of turn situation in the Moscow area with the 3 Panzer Divisions isolated again.

[Grognard1812]

The Soviet Offensive continues against Army Group Center and Army Group South, with the Soviet Army approaching Voronezh and Lipetsk. End of turn situation.

[Grognard1812]

Turn 93, Snow in the North and Central Soviet Weather Zones and Blizzard in the South Soviet Zone. Next turn is forecast to be the first turn of the mud season.

Start of turn, the SS Panzer Corps continues to successfully push eastward, while the 3 isolated German Panzer Divisions in the Eastern pincer try to escape from being encircled another turn.