ORIGINAL: TheElf
ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/01/42
Ok some important things to be said today.
He has probably decided that Southern Russia is a tough nut to crack so he's moving towards my northern border ( Bozrya) some 15 units ( i'd say something like 100,000 men, not more imho). I have nearly 1500 APs at Bozrya and few more infantry units in the proximity, with hundreds of bombers that can keep destroyed and fatigued his units. No way man![;)]
Ok this is a critical point for you in Russia. First, how certain are you that the units approaching Borzya from the south are detached from his original Southern Army on the outskirts of Vladivostk? My point is this. If he brought in additional units to probe Borzya and did not subtract them from the original army in the south you still don't know how well you will be able to hold out in either location. If they were taken from Vladivostok, it means his Southern ARmy is weaker than it was, but you still have no measurement of his strength versus yours, just that you position in the south has improved, slightly.
If they are previously uncommitted units it means he is probably attempting to cut off your main supply line from Mother Russia through Irkutsk. You MUST keep that railroad clear of Jap units. You will essentially be fighting a two front war in Russia so hold on to Vladivostok of course, but the supply line to your surviving units in the south should be your #1 priority.
In the North: What do you have 1 Hex NW of Hailar? Are those units foritfied? How fortified/prepped is Borzya itself?
If your units NW of Hailar are unfortified, I would recommend you get as many units on the north bank as you dare (all prepped for Borzya) and give him one good walloping as he crosses. Then head north and hunker down. Make a show of your position and force his Shock attack across the river and then high tail it to Borzya to settle into you(hopefully) Level 9 fort. Also consider, you will need some good CAP to beat back his IJAAF units he'll likely use to disrupt your LCUs with.
Finally, IF he is frustrated by your defenses in the South and is looking for any easy way out, Blagovyeschesnk will be his tertiary route. It may in fact be his primary route, but is looking to split your forces North/South before consolidating in the middle and taking Blagovyeschesnk. WATCH HIM LIKE A HAWK. You'll need to keep a core group of units here that are all prepped for its defense. The good news at Borzya is that you have a river crossing combined with a fort, so you may be able to skimp a little here. Just be ready.
My opponent was thrown back the first time he tried to invade Russia, mostly due to his not understanding ground combat, and not respecting the Soviets. But eventually he won what should have been the decisive battle at Borzya and cut my supply lines to Vladivostok. Fortunately he could not afford to keep all his LCU's in Russia (**due to my pressing him in China**)and gave me the opportunity to reopen the railroad to the south.
Russia is a game of cat and mouse combined with Smoke and mirrors. He will try to out manuever you, find a weak point, and exploit it. He can afford to lose a couple battles. YOU CANNOT. Once you lose at Borzya, or Blago you will likely lose Vladivostok if he knows what he is doing. Likewise if you lose Vlad...you well, lose Vlad. It is not an easy problem, especially since you are not going to get any more AV pts. When the ground war starts your cumulative AV will steadily decrease. The only relief will come in the plentiful supplies from mother Russia.
Good luck...we're all counting on you.[;)]
Elf, thanks for the great support!
Ok, let's analyze it.
Ok this is a critical point for you in Russia. First, how certain are you that the units approaching Borzya from the south are detached from his original Southern Army on the outskirts of Vladivostk? My point is this. If he brought in additional units to probe Borzya and did not subtract them from the original army in the south you still don't know how well you will be able to hold out in either location. If they were taken from Vladivostok, it means his Southern ARmy is weaker than it was, but you still have no measurement of his strength versus yours, just that you position in the south has improved, slightly.
His original southern army has not changed. At least in terms of numbers of units. Still 27 units north of Vlad, with 6 on the southern borders and 16 at Mutakiang, plus 3 more units assaulting my western regional forts. So a gran total of 52 units for the south. This number has not changed since the beginning of may ( more or less).
My understanding is that he has brought those units mainly from the borders ( most of which are now undefended on his side). I'm using my wellingtons from Bozrya and BLago to recon constantly his movements and bomb those advancing units. Of that group i've spotted for sure the 2nd Hvy Gun Regiment. But in the next days i'll take more infos. Belo is safe for the moment: he has only one division ( which is daily bombed) on the border and then nothing in his back ( Tsitsihar is undefended-the unit u see is marching northwards). Bozrya is defended by 1500 APs ( almost). One motorized bde will be joining these positions in few more days). On the border i have one regiment, just for some advanced recon poruposes. I'll move my units southwards on the northern side of the river in the next days. Bozrya is at level 9 forts, obvioulsy.
Also consider, you will need some good CAP to beat back his IJAAF units he'll likely use to disrupt your LCUs with.
The IJAFF is being kicked out of the sector for the moment. Hailar is costantly bombed and is almost closed. 150 bombers are costantly hitting his positions there ( Pe-2 are hitting the AF, while wellingtons are suppressing his units). 75 fighters are providing CAP with one Air Army.
However, i'm keeping the 2nd red banner army hq with 2 divisions and 1 mot bde as a reserve at Belo. If i managed to keep the control of the skies it's gonna be quite hard for him to overun my positions at Bozrya....
but yes: it's going to be a bloody bloody summer in Russia...
