Ingrian Crusade (RtL) – Hardradi(G) vs JohnDoe(S)

[Hardradi]

This is a mirror match, we are playing two games, I am the Germans in this one and the Soviets in the other game and vice versa for my opponent.

Experience wise, I have war gamed the ‘opening air’ war quite intensely and played against the AI into T2/3.

TURN 1 – Air base bombings

I go for the traditional Turn 1 air base bombing rather than shooting down and killing the Soviet pilots.
Despite all of my air training, sometimes human error cannot be helped. Some idiot in the chain of command forgot to tell Luftlotte 1 to fly at all costs, despite the weather.



Things go well, there is an enemy fighter intercept over Tallinn but only 17 Ju-88s are shot down.



TURN 1: To the Daugava

On the left flank 18th Army pushes up the coast conquering the ports of Liepaja and Ventsplis. In the centre, the bulk of 4th Panzer Group push through, liberate Riga and the northern side of the Daugava River all the way to Daugavpils. This traps large formations of enemy forces in the Kurland Pocket (after careful shepherding).

On the right, the 16th Army conquers Kaunus and Vilnius while elements of the 4th Panzer Group close a pocket by pushing up along the double tracked rail line to Daugvpils. This forms another pocket north of Kaunus trapping substantial Soviet forces. Some of the enemy forces in this pocket have been completely bypassed. Recon indicates that these are intact mechanised and armoured formations. These units are carefully screened so that there is little to no chance of a breakout.

Liberation of the ports, the central rail line and the bigger double tracked eastern rail were the main priorities. The airfields in central Lithuania and along the Daugava River were also priorities. Unfortunately, some Soviet forces escape the pockets to the northern side of the Daugava River.



The central single track rail line is captured mostly intact. Sadly, the rail tracks to Kaunus are a mess. (Not sure what I have done with the two RAR support units at this stage, if anything).



Two construction battalions are allocated to Riga to assist with repairs of the Port and Railyards. AA support is also provided (I think this is where I blew all my AP and or/the AA allocation). Supplies are also flown into Riga by Luftwaffe transport aircraft. The fighters of JG 54 are re-based along the Daugava River line. Some light recon aircraft are also brought forward onto captured air fields.

[Hardradi]

TURN 2: To the Vilikaya River/Parnu

The two pockets have held but information on the location of enemy units in Kurland and across the Daugava River is poor.



The Luftwuffe ups the intensity of its recon efforts. Firstly, over the two pockets to make sure that they can be cleared as efficiently as possible. Secondly, across the Daugava River to try and allow the Panzers a clear run as far north as possible.
JG 54, after being re-based to the Daugava River airfields, flies out with drop tanks to challenge the skies over the Pskov Fortified Region on the old Stalin Line. This should also assist in protecting the advance of the Panzers (I hope). In addition,
the Ostee(naval planes) fly their first patrol missions into the Gulf of Riga. This will assist in opening up the Gulf to Riga to Axis shipping.



Clearing the pockets was harder than expected. The bad terrain in Kurland made it difficult while in the Kaunus pocket the enemy mechanised and armoured forces proved quite strong. Next week it will be done.
Infantry forces not occupied with clearing pockets headed north as fast as possible along designated routes of advance.

Relying on detailed recon data received throughout the week, the bulk of Panzer Group 4 push hard and reached the Pskov Fortified Region along the Vaiakaya River. Minor forces were encountered on the western bank and easily pushed back.
Along the Gulf of Riga coast the 6th Panzer pushes north through minor resistance. A Kampfgruppe raced forward to seize the important port, railyard and airfield at Parnu.



FBD 4 gets busy and two single tracks are repaired all the way to Siauliai.

[Hardradi]

TURN 3: Encirclement of the Pskov Fortified Region

In the wake of 6th Panzer Division’s rapid advance to Parnu, 18th Army advances north across Latvia into Estonia. Hampered by difficult terrain, the advance of 16th Army is a bit slower.

The rear units of 18th Army clear the pocket in Kurland while the rear units of 16th Army do the same north of Kaunus.

Based on aerial reconnaissance and supported by recon in force by the 3rd Motorised Division, a hole in the Soviet defences is found across the straits between Lake Peipus and Lake Pskov. Exploiting this, XXXXI Corps is able to outflank the entire northern position of the Pskov Fortified Region.
At the Velikaya River to south of the Pskov Fortified Region, a Kampfgruppe from Manstein’s Totenkopf Division wins a bridgehead over the river which is also exploited by the 4th Panzer Group. The Pskov Fortified Region is also enveloped from the south. Reports indicate at least six trapped rifle divisions along with other ancillary forces, maybe 65,000 men.



VVS air support over the Pskov region is very strong. JG 54 was put to the test by masses of Soviet air power. Axis and Soviet losses are heavy.
Air operations over the Gulf of Riga have proved successful and the port of Riga is operational and distributing supplies in the north.



Ominously, poor weather is expected as a cold front blows in from Scandinavia.[:'(]

[jlbhung]

Hi Hardradi,

In Turn 1, did you motorized the three SEC divisions? I noticed that they went quite far.

Regarding Turn 3, what did the Soviet place in the hex between Lake Peipus and Lake Pskov. Nothing or a regiment/brigade but was too weak to stop you. I am thinking what should I put there if I play the Soviet side.

[Hardradi]

Yes mate I motorised all three. One regiment has the combat power to take Ventspils. When I first tested this I got it into the town but in this game I only got ZOC over it which is just as effective. I motorised the other two to protect the right hand double rail track as it was captured by ZOC movement and still intact (yellow).

In the hex west of Pskov I think its a Soviet security regiment in that hex, part of the original OOB. I did the same thing in my game as the Soviets, left it in position and it was routed as well.

[Hardradi]

TURN 4: When you go to bed feeling like Manstein and wake up feeling like Paulus

It’s raining and in certain regions the ground has become muddy. Even grimmer is the news that the Soviets have counter attacked. The entire 4th Panzer Group and two Divisions from the 18th Army are found to be encircled by Soviet forces. They also almost succeeded in cutting off two Divisions of the 16th Army. This does not bode well for our quick decisive drive on Leningrad.



The Soviets have doubled down on their defence of Pskov, naturally I have to as well. Firstly, 18th Army breaks through to its eastern divisions trapped in the pocket. It’s not as easy as I think, must be this new light mud stuff in certain hexes. Also attacking with regiments does not seem to be as effective as I would have thought.
Likewise 16th Army struggles its way north. As my units come into contact with hidden Soviet units, I find out that the Soviets have really doubled down on this counterattack. Elements of the 4th Panzer Group are required to seal off this counterattack in the south.

Even though it looks like all of the Soviet forces on the map are probably entrapped in and around Pskov I resist the temptations of driving directly on Leningrad and Velikie Luki with a motorised forces.



Now that it’s done, next turn it should be a simple matter to clean up the isolated units with my “fresh” division’s.

In Estonia, the 18th Army reinforces the Parnu region and pushes towards the Archipelago.

A snapshot of Luftwaffe fighter cover. JG54 is down to 53 working air frames, awed by the array I did not realise that this was a serious issue yet. (Death by Drop tanks)



The weather boys don’t have good news. They are predicting a double cold front over us, one is an Arctic Maritime and the other is a Polar Maritime. Wet, muddy and I guess cold. After some of the not so encouraging battle and movement results during the turn, I begin to take more of an interest in this.



The logistic boys have some more good news, the repaired railed tracks have reached Daugavpils. North of Riga they are all the way to Valmiera airfield and beyond.



With our successful naval interdiction in the Gulf of Riga supplies are now even flowing into Parnu in Estonia. (The dark blue lines are port to port freight. The white rail line going to Riga is hidden.). Still, the truck supply (red) lines are all quite stretched.

[jlbhung]

TURN 4: When you go to bed feeling like Manstein and wake up feeling like Paulus

LoL

[Hardradi]

TURN 5: The Pskov Pocket holds

The VVS flies into action and interdicts our Panzer Group holding the eastern side of the Pskov Pocket.

A series of vicious attacks are also launched against the 3rd Regiment of 1st Panzer Division in an attempt to break open the Pskov Pocket. The Soviet 41st Rifle Corps is unsuccessful. Their total casualties are not too bad, only about ~1100 men.
The VVS flies in freight a series of freight missions and I estimate that around 580 tons of supplies are dropped. This is not good and may delay the liquidation of the pocket even further. Why didn’t JG 54 respond to this or the interdiction?

In eastern Estonia elements of 6th Panzer Division now attached to the 18th Army is also attacked but easily holds position.



Apart from minor re-shuffling and strengthening of certain positions, the forces holding the pocket remain static.
To the south the reminder of 16th Army moves into striking distance of the pocket.

Despite the continuing poor weather, logistics and repairs to the supply network appear to be going well. With construction battalions allocated for repair, key rail yards and ports are close to being fully operational.

[Hardradi]

TURN 6: Estonia conquered

It’s still raining and the ground is muddy in patches.

The wrecked Luftwaffe (I pushed it way to hard) downgrades its activities. We begin naval interdiction to try to cut off Soviet supply shipping into Tallinn. The results are paltry. The Soviet VVS takes advantage and heavily interdicts our Panzer forces around Pskov.



On the ground, the week is mainly spent successfully digesting the remains of Pskov Pocket and resting. I get the feeling that I have taken to long and should have pushed for Leningrad instead of surrounding and destroying the enemy. The enemy losses, almost half a million men, do look impressive and do contribute to the Victory Points.

In Estonia, we are still on the march. The Baltic Islands are undefended and Kuressare falls to the 18th Army. On the mainland, 18th Army led by elements of 6th Panzer easily push back the Soviet defenders. A lightly defend Tallinn falls and the rail line to Leningrad is interdicted, effectively trapping the Soviet forces to the west.

In the south it appears that the Soviets are going to defend Velikie Luki.





After viewing the on screen CV’s I was worried about the condition of my forces. The TOE of three Panzer Divisions are less than 60% along with zero Combat Prep points.



The infantry TOEs are better but their Combat Prep points are low. (At this stage I didn’t know about filling up the Assault Corps to get better CP)

[Hardradi]

TURN 7: Lull before the storm

The Soviets continued their incessant bombing of our Panzers forces in and around Pskov (I think I was allocating AA to them but I am not sure). In Estonia, the lead regiment of 6th Panzer was cut off but not in any danger.
Much needed support arrived in the form of Messerschmitt’s of JG 27.



Around Pskov the tanks and motorised troops of 4th Panzer Group rested and refitted for the coming actions. Their tired infantry counterparts and 16th Army were not so lucky and were ordered to continue the push towards the north and east. (From memory, the Soviet forces proved quite strong in some of the battles fought. Maybe this is because so many of their units had been wiped off the map the few remaining received all the refit and supplies.)

In Estonia, we sealed off the pocket east of Tallinn.



Unfortunately most of the supplies for 4th Panzer Group continued to be drawn all the way from Daugavpils and rail repair just fell just short of Pskov this turn.



On the weather front it looked like we might get a break in the cloud cover but the ground would still be wet.

[Hardradi]

Turn 8: Across the Narva

The Luftwaffe is on the defence, heavy recon provides small results, JG 27 is moved closer to the front to stop the attacks from the VVS.



In Estonia, the pockets of enemy troops (1) are cleared and 18th Army marches to the Narva River (2). At its southern end where it flows out of Lake Peipus they link up with forces of 4th Panzer Group and create a bridgehead over the river(3).
4th Panzer Group along with elements of 16th Army found the going tough in the swamps and thick forests north Pskov. Along Lake Peipus they were able to link up with 18th Army (3). The 3rd Motorised Division hooked east in an attempt to encircle Soviets defenders with a double envelopment. The Panzer elements of the right arm ran out of steam and were unable to complete the link up.

After a long break the results of 4th Panzer Group were a bit disappointing and Soviet resistance more stubborn than expected. One positive was that the ground in front of both pincers appeared to be open, to Leningrad on the left pincer(4) and Novgorod on the right pincer(5)
Far to the south, elements of 16th Army fought for and captured a bridgehead over the Lovat River near Velikie Luki(6).



Supplies are going well in the north with Tallinn open and supplying 18th Armies drive on the Narva River. Pskov will open next turn and the double rail track to Daugavpils will also open. Looks like it’s time to send the FBD south to link up Pskov with Daugavpils.

[Hardradi]

Turn 9A: Is it possible?

Dawn, August 17th 1941, the weather still sucks. More importantly, from the previous turn, at the head of our two pincers aimed north there were two large gaps in the enemy lines. Only the pincer aimed at Novgorod has been directly reinforced and blocked by Soviets forces. The 3rd Motorised Division sits in the box seat with lots of fuel, guns and ammo. Is the road to Leningrad open?



Recon does not pick up any enemy forces on the road but they haven't been picking up much of anything lately. The enemy forces on the Narva line are overpowered and routed back towards Oranienbaum by the 18th Army. We cautiously bring forward a regiment of 36th Motorised Division from the rear to scout our way forward all the way to the Polkovo Heights. No visible opposition, is it possible?

[Hardradi]

Turn 9B: Off the hook



I decide to let my opponent off the hook.

[Hardradi]

Turn 10: 3rd Motorised Division under the guns

[Seminole]

Excellent maneuvering.

[Hardradi]

Turn 11 to 12: More encirclement's

Soviet pressure turns into more pockets

[Hardradi]

Turn 13 & 14: Digestion and Expansion



[&:] No surrender

[Hardradi]

Turn 15: VV I want thee

[Hardradi]

Turn 16: On the road to Moscow [:D]

Thanks to my opponent. Had a few $hi+ my pants moments. You certainly fought hard right to the end.

[Hardradi]