Death ride of the Wehrmacht (no guctony please)

[CapAndGown]

I have already published the first turn of this game on youtube. The first four episodes may provide a useful introduction to the air game for new players.

I am now picking up this game on turn 2, June 29, 1941

First off, this turn involved pocket clearing. I am very much in favor of cleaning up pockets as fast as possible. This is especially important in the first three turns when rail hexes in the Baltic states have a chance of not being damaged when they flip to German control. All the major pockets in the north and center were almost completely reduced leaving just a few stragglers that will need to be cleaned up next turn.

[CapAndGown]

The other major story of turn 2 was the advance of our panzer units. In the north we advanced to the Velikaya while also converting large swaths of territory to German control. In the center we were able to gain a bridgehead over the Dnepr. In the south we created several small pockets while advancing to within 30 miles of Vinnitsa.

[CapAndGown]

June 29, 1941

When I got this turn back I was very surprised to see that the Soviets had encircled a huge chunk of my Panzers in and around Mogilev. I have puzzled over this for 2 days now, but think I finally figured it out: he must have motorized an infantry division. There is simply no other way a Soviet unit, spending four MP per hex could have traveled the distance covered. In the end, I don't think it really cost me much. Indeed, not only did we maintain the bridgehead over the Dnepr, despite having one of our Panzer regiments thrown back a hex, but we extended the bridgehead to include a bridgehead over the Pronya as well. And now the infantry are arriving and will hopefully give my Panzers a much needed rest.

[CapAndGown]

In the north we saw our two lead mobile division also encircled. For the most part our mobile divisions did little this turn as we wait for the infantry to arrive.

The double track rail line between Vilnius and Daugavpils was totally repaired this turn and Daugavpils is now a priority 4 depot. The rail line running through Raseiniai and Jelgava up to Riga is also repaired and next turn the port at Riga should be operational, providing another major supply hub for AGN. Next turn the line between Riga and Daugavpils will be repaired, beefing up a supply grid of AGN even further.

[CapAndGown]

In the south the Soviets have executed a massive Sir Robin. Only a few units remained behind, perhaps due to limited mobility, unlikely because of they were delaying forces. At any rate there was almost no combat in the south as the Panzers concentrated on gaining ground to clear a path for the infantry while encircling the few Soviet units left behind.

[CapAndGown]

July 13, 1941

The Soviets left Pskov an open city. I wasn't expecting such easy pickings. At any rate, our panzers made a dash through the light woods towards the Luga while infantry closes in on Talinin.

[CapAndGown]

In the center I made a compromise between the need to advance quickly and the need to rest my units. The motorized divisions led the advance while the panzer divisions rested. The panzers need the rest more due to their tanks wearing out. Plus, they represent the real combat power of the Wehrmacht.

Panzer Gruppe 3 will drive on Smolensk while Panzer Gruppe 2 will drive on Gomel. Our FBD is advancing on Gomel from Minsk while in the north we have an FBD advancing from Daugavpils to Vitebsk.

[CapAndGown]

I made the same compromise in the south: lead with the motorized divisions, hold back the panzers. This is more critical for Panzer Gruppe 1 since their tank strength is much lower than for the other panzer groups.

Vinnitsa will become our most forward advanced depot next turn.

[DeletedUser1769703214]

ORIGINAL: CapAndGown

Click then event

Then at the top click for the closure

[DeletedUser1769703214]

What was the defense before the German advance on the picture in post 9. I see in an earlier post a unit or two on the front line. But do you have one of the total defense of the Pskov area before the German Move with recon?

[CapAndGown]

ORIGINAL: HardLuckYetAgain

What was the defense before the German advance on the picture in post 9. I see in an earlier post a unit or two on the front line. But do you have one of the total defense of the Pskov area before the German Move with recon?

I don't have a copy of the game before movement, but here is a shot of the battles that took place:

[DeletedUser1769703214]

Thank you much! Now I can see what you faced That valley for the soviets is tricky to defend & was curious what you faced.

[CapAndGown]

July 20, 1941

The Soviet air force came alive this turn with some interdiction near Pskov and Kiev. They also supposedly bombed Ploesti, though except for the wrecked aircraft scattered around the Romanian countryside you wouldn't know it.

Somewhat more seriously, the cut off our lead panzers south of the Luga.

[CapAndGown]

I made my first two leadership changes this turn. Heinrici took over 11th Army replacing Stuplnagel. The new commander of XXXXIII corps is a chap by the name of Schneckenburger. He seems OK, so he will stay. Meanwhile my worst corps commander, Herman Metz was replaced by Hans Kreysing. The men of XXXXIV corps celebrated this change in leadership.

In the north we continued our drive on Talinn, while south of the Luga not much progress was made as we await the arrival of the infantry. We did capture the town of Shimsk on the shores of Lake Ilmen in order to split Soviet forces north and south of the lake.

Our FBD made it to Pskov, though it did not have enough MP left to convert the rail in that hex. Next turn Pskov will be a major depot. I am thinking of diverting the FBD down south to work on rail lines in either the center or south. Pskov should serve the north for a while since I expect progress in this sector to slow down.

[CapAndGown]

In the center we had two main thrusts: one towards Smolensk led by PzG 3; and one towards Gomel led by PzG 2. Vitebsk and Gomel were both captured. They were lightly held.

An FBD will make it to Vitebsk next turn turning it into a major supply hub. It will take a bit longer before the FBD working its way southeast from Minsk makes it to Gomel. In the meantime I set up a depot at Bobruisk. Even though it doesn't have a rail yard, I wanted a hub closer to the front in order to reduce the wear and tear on my trucks.

Smolensk was surrounded and will be left for the infantry to deal with. I don't know what all is in there, hopefully a lot! [:D]

Meanwhile, PzG2, in addition to capturing Gomel drove to the east of the Besed in order to reach the clearer terrain away from the Dnepr. This will open up paths to Bryansk, Orel and Kursk while threatening the northern flank of the Red Army's Southwest Front.

[CapAndGown]

In the south we continued to drive into empty space. We did capture Kirovograd which was undefended. I used 3 motorized divisions to clear a path for the infantry to advance next turn while the panzers rested for another turn. I put 4 panzer divisions on refit, though I don't know how much good that will do since they are far from the nearest supply depot.

Vinnitsa is now a major depot and the FBD should make it to Fastov next turn. Meanwhile, the Romanian rail repair unit is closing in on Kodyma. I sent it through Beltsy rather than Kishinev since I don't know how long it will take to reduce Odessa.

I expect major opposition at Odessa. I would like to have that port as a supply source as soon as possible. Actually, if we don't get it in the next two turns it won't matter since the front will have moved far beyond the range where Odessa could help. So to see if I can speed up the capture of this major port I have detailed the LIV corps to help in the assault. I temporarily attached it to OKH so I could gain access to the Carl siege mortars. It will be resubordinated to 11th Army next turn.

[CapAndGown]

July 27, 1941

Progress in the north was generally slow as we waited for the infantry to arrive at the Luga defense line. We did capture Talinn, giving us a port close to the Narva front. The rain is starting in the north and according to the forecast will encompass much of AGN and AGC's operating area. PzG 4 rested this turn. I am pretty much given up using them any more in this sector and will probably move them south starting next turn.

Pskov is now our major depot for AGN. The FBD there was rail south to connect the Vilnius-Minsk rail line. This will then provide two double track lines to Minsk. From there I will probably use that FBD to connect Minsk with Orsha. Meanwhile the FBD working on the Daugavpils-Vitebsk line has finished that section and turned south to connect Vitebsk with Mogilev. And the FBD coming down from Minsk through Bobruisk has almost reached Gomel. From there it will turn northeast towards Bryansk.

[CapAndGown]

In the center, troops from the 9th Army took over the siege of Smolensk. Russians flew in supplies this turn, so I set up an air superiority directive over the hex. Mobile divisions mostly took the week off. Next week there will probably be mud in this area. Hopefully it will not slow us down too much. You can probably guess where we are going.

[CapAndGown]

Much to my surprise, the Soviets abandoned the Dnepr. No doubt the threat from the direction of Gomel persuaded them that sticking around was not healthy. In any case, this will make our life much easier. PzG 1 was brought up to 20 miles south of Cherkassy in preparation for crossing the river.

[CapAndGown]

Another surprise this turn was how easily Odessa fell. I had set up air superiority over the city to stop supplies being flown in, as well as naval interdiction, all in the expectation that the city would hold out for a while. Instead it fell after two attacks: first the Rumanians brought down the forts to level 2 (taking heavy casualties) then the LIV corps with 4 divisions followed up. The defenders all routed rather than surrendered since the hex was not isolated, so we missed out on destroying 9 Soviet divisions. Still, having Odessa as a supply source should help out our drive into the Crimea.