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... and for the number lover wallahs out there, here are the losses at the start of turn 4 (air losses are 58 - 879):

Rail conversion from Riga is picking up pace

I Corps (18th Army) wipes out all resistance along the gulf coast - large numbers of prisoners (c. 45K) as the isolated divisions here surrender, including the brave 112th.

112th ID's inglorious end:

The two Pz Corps probe forward and finding no resistance, drive on until exhausted!!! They take Kingisepp near the mouth of the Luga, turning the Narva defences, and Oranienbaum port without a fight. Where are the Russians?

I am very concerned that I have over-extended. 16th army has moved up rapidly to support the Eastern flank but there remains a huge gap between the Plyussa and Luga Rivers that I cannot fill. Goering assures me that his transports can provide the fuel and shells my panzers require!

Very impressive drive forward.

Here's the overview of AGN after German Turn 4 - I feel as though I have mishandled my infantry who are moving too slowly, and that I am taking a big gamble on the Russians being too weak to seriously threaten my armoured divisions. We shall see. Now to the Finns, who have woken up to see their allies at Leningrad's door, and at last move to support them.

My Pz HQ's are right on the Luga - 19 hexes from the rail head.  This is a very exposed position for the 4th Pz Group.

Seems to me you've totally preempted the Soviet defenses.
 
Yeah, they may cut off your forward elements and give you a difficult time, but it's hard to see how they can recover from this and establish some kind of defense on the Luga...and that's really about the last good place to make a stand for Leningrad before the Volkhov.
 
They are looking awfully thin on the ground.
 
You're well ahead of schedule.  

Fat Herman does let me down - his promises are empty boasts - as he fails to re-suppply 6th Pz and 3rd and 36th Mot Divisions at all. The 3rd has no fuel at all, and if forced to retreat will have to abandon all their heavy equipment (I presume)! The three most Northerly divisions are at about 20% fuel capacity. These are high stakes indeed..

So - to the Finns. Here's their jumping off positions. This will be a slogging match for a couple of turns.

...and here's what I could make of their attacks. Not bad but no breakthroughs yet.
Notice the little coloured triangles on the unit counters? This is set to morale (green - good, red - poor) at the moment, and helps to explain why the Russians rout relatively quickly at present.

Finnish Front at start of Turn 5. Russians have pulled back it seems - but they are not easy to locate in these dense woods. Recon in force...

and the main event at start Turn 5. Now to the meat grinder... (and good night)

thanks for all the effort , the play by play with the screenshots tell a great story. I for one will be watching with keen interest as to whether or not you have overextended yourself in some places.....good job..

I have to say this is probably the most complete Alpha I've ever seen, not to mention the first Alpha showcased by quality AAR's.

Thanks, Pipewrench - great to have the other AAR's on line, and to learn from. With BigA's big campaign and a PBEM between two very experienced players, we are spoilt for choice. I think now, having shown you how I have got into the game as a new player, I will limit my AAR to the military aspects, and less on the game components. (When I have learned more of the detail, I will do another more detailed AAR in the future maybe.)

Meanwhile please ask any questions you may have and give any advice you want! Looking at the start of turn 5, Pieter's (ComradeP's) advice to close down the rail junction South of Lake Ilmen looks to have been sound. (Pieter - I was on my way but maybe a little too late!)

Finnish Front: the population of Vyborg welcomes its liberators, and the 4th Finnish ID rushes through the gap in the lines towards Leningrad. Nobody else in this boggy, forested wilderness is rushing anywhere, although the Karelian army in the North is marching as hard as it can against an elusive enemy.

I have used this turn to try out out a new function for HQ's - Build Up. I have used this for both of my Pz Corps and it has built my supplies and fuel up to full strength. I think this is worth trading against manoeuvre this turn to allow the infantry to close up.

Estonia is largely cleared and with no significant combat. IF Tallinn is not evacuated it's going to need Model's (the red HQ) big guns to help reduce it. Next turn we link up with 4 Pz - I hope. I am still worried about where the Russians have gone to ground.

Rail line has made great progress towards Pskov this turn, but I stepped out of the Baltic Rail conversion zone this turn and it stopped being so easy!!!