Nach Moskau und zurück - Gunnulf (A) AtAtack (S) GC-No early end

[Gunnulf]

Or a time machine

T23 Leningrad

A new Republic, if we can keep it! The weather treats us well and elements of 3 combined corps smash a hole through and park Panzer on the lakefront. Not much of a view in the November mists compared to early Sept but we made it at least and give the Reds something to think about. The Leningrad perimeter has shrunk already which is sensible for sure and if nothing else it means he needs to think less about using winter as a springboard to push to Pskov and we can expect the focus to fall on a relief effort.
Finally 4 Panzergruppe becomes the last to transition out of assault mode and starts to dig in properly.

[Gunnulf]

T23 End of Barbarossa

I think we can rationally declare the end of offensive operations for Barbarossa. We aren't going any further this winter and are digging in to hold what we can ahead of new offensives in spring 42. This is the perimeter, notwithstanding that 3 Panzer will have to withdraw their bridgehead to Lake Fish once pressure is applied. They have done their job of disrupting supplies as long as possible and are exposed now. Otherwise we are quite happy with the front lines, but here is the record of their extent, and the current losses & forces to compare with later come end of March42...

[Gunnulf]

T24 Kalinin Sector

Almost certainly XXXIX Korps has outstayed its welcome and its time to pull back to more secure positions. Maybe the whole of 3 Panzergruppe could have dug in up here and caused more problems sat astride the rail link but I am pretty sure it would have been untenable before too long.

[jubjub]

4 Panzergruppe becomes the last to transition out of assault mode and starts to dig in properly.

I highly suggest placing all 4 panzer armies back into assault status before 1942.

[Gunnulf]

I've been wrestling with that on slight moral grounds. But all should be dug in by then so there are many good reasons to do so of course.

[jubjub]

ORIGINAL: Gunnulf

I've been wrestling with that on slight moral grounds. But all should be dug in by then so there are many good reasons to do so of course.

Not sure I understand your qualms. It's an exception that's specifically called out in the manual.

[Gunnulf]

Absolutely, no real barrier to doing so of course and its the smart move. I do feel like maybe there should be ongoing AP (or VP) penalties in future patches to discourage outstaying Assault HQ quota so at least its a choice with consequences then, but thats just me and I'm an idiot. It asymmetrically helps the Axis with a falling tally rather than the Soviet opposite who get more each year by design so its never an option. We started on patch 0.9 where I would have had 5 but I gave AtAtack the choice of whether and when to upgrade to .15 and beyond and while it might marginally affect his winter counter-attack (but probably not much), he (I think wisely) decided to pull the trigger on it a few turns ago so thats the regime we are working under now.

[jubjub]

I do feel like maybe there should be ongoing AP (or VP) penalties in future patches to discourage outstaying Assault HQ quota so at least its a choice with consequences then,

That's not a bad idea imo. Don't the panzer armies go away at some point, so eventually you're forced out of them right?

It asymmetrically helps the Axis with a falling tally rather than the Soviet opposite who get more each year by design so its never an option.

True, but the Soviets will have more AHQ command capacity starting in 1942 even with 4 Axis AHQ's.

[Gunnulf]

Mmm, I'm not sure if the army transitions to another name /identity I assumed it woukd still be an assault HQ but its another way to Enstoneure the axis can't cling on to extras I guess

[loki100]

ORIGINAL: Gunnulf

Mmm, I'm not sure if the army transitions to another name /identity I assumed it woukd still be an assault HQ but its another way to Enstoneure the axis can't cling on to extras I guess

specific to this, yes it does as long as it stays as an army HQ. 11A is a problem as over late 42/early 43 it wanders between being 11A/AG Don/Army Detach Kempf and then 8A. So it would lose assault status between being 11A and ADK. I think this is unique, as the Soviets have the one off corps-army transitions but no army-front HQ shifts (more importantly no Front-army-Front transition)

Overall impressed with this outcome, interesting to have pushed so hard NW of Moscow but that should be making a monumental mess of the Soviet supply to the forces at Leningrad and along the Volkhov

[Gunnulf]

If he's smart, and I am 100% sure he is, he's already repairing this line now I have pulled out but its lost weeks of flow at a critical build-up phase I think. It would be interesting to hear afterwards from AtAtack how much difference it made, but we are a couple turns ahead and it seems the situation in Leningrad is tight maybe. I think that Rybinsk/Sankovo junction sector is must-hold for the soviets more than people realise. This is my 3rd game but in the 2nd I also took Yaroslav briefly and that didn't work out well for the Reds in the north.

[Gunnulf]

T26 Leningrad Sector

Having called an end to offensive operations this order is ripped up as it seems an opportunity arises to follow up on some weakness in the Red perimeter south of Leningrad. Maybe supplies were tight as we hoped but scouts suggested that success was possible in the snowfall and 5 attacks press home successfully. We hope to keep the pressure up while we can but at the very least turning the gap between the besieged and the relief forces from 10 to 20 miles will be a big help.

[loki100]

ORIGINAL: Gunnulf

T26 Leningrad Sector

Having called an end to offensive operations this order is ripped up as it seems an opportunity arises to follow up on some weakness in the Red perimeter south of Leningrad. Maybe supplies were tight as we hoped but scouts suggested that success was possible in the snowfall and 5 attacks press home successfully. We hope to keep the pressure up while we can but at the very least turning the gap between the besieged and the relief forces from 10 to 20 miles will be a big help.

...

even better, the freight demand to replace those lost men is going to add to his problems, that is 3 divisions demanding supply (& manpower) and contributing nothing

[Gunnulf]

I am working on the hope that things will start to 'snowball' for him yes.



I'll get my greatcoat...

[Gunnulf]

T26 Moscow Sector

Some probing attacks begin in the Moscow area against 4th Army but so far they are repulsed. Everybody well dug in and supplied with each army having at least some reserves on hand. We'll see if the tempo increases here but so far pretty quiet. As it currently stands we can afford to give a little ground if necessary and still remain a danger to Moscow in spring, but we have a long winter ahead first...

[Gunnulf]

T27 Leningrad Sector

4 Panzergruppe and 18 Armee continue to apply pressure to the besieged Leningrad Front. Weather still snowfall rather than blizzard so air support proves useful at key strongpoints, especially as what was before a very active soviet air force in this sector appears to have evacuated, presumably to conserve supplies. Still a long way to go against a garrison of at least 20 divisions, but many of them probably quite battered now.
The Soviet relief forces are starting to apply pressure though and 2 regiments holding the perimeter are routed. The gap is plugged for now to maintain the integrity of the line but the threat is growing from the east.

Overall also having seen total soviet forces dip below 4.8m, and despite inflicting another 108k casualties, their overall numbers are rising at a rapid rate as the Reds regroup and no doubt prepare for a series of counterattacks...

[Beethoven1]

You are gonna take Leningrad I think. Maybe not now, but perhaps in 1942 if not now.

[Gunnulf]

Yep, progress is better than we could have expected a couple of months ago when the defence looked solid so we'll keep on the pressure while we can despite the weather.

T27 Kharkov sector

However, meanwhile pressure is applied to 17 Armee shielding east of Kharkov and a minor crisis looms and needs some attention, and the deployment of reserves.

[Gunnulf]

T28 Donets

And more small fires start in 11 Armee's sector in the Donets basin. The reserves plug the gap to maintain the intergrity of the line but in doing so expose themselves in the open for a while at least until they can re-establish defences. Possibly should have gradually given ground but the Fuhrer was quite insistent...

[Gunnulf]

T28 Leningrad Sector

Mixed news as while 18 Armee continues to slog through the snow and reach the Leningrad suburbs the Soviet relief forces make some first breaches in the lines themselves. Clearly they will not reach the city but are at least aiming to create a crisis and divert our attention from the prize. Also the fortress of Oranienbaum falls without much of a fight removing that thorn in our side. I always feel worth the Soviets fighting for that one and making use of the level 5 fort, but hopefully its a sign of a collapse unfolding...