A Clash of Titans, Xhoel (Axis) vs Bitburger (Soviet)

[MarauderPL]

The tempo of historical German advance and the in-game German advance is different due to a different actions of both sides (i.e. Soviet approach to retreat/defence) - the game isn't and won't be historical simulation or visual novel(?), because the players are not recreating history, they are playing their own game, as they should. What we should be evaluating is fulfilling the objectives at both the beginning and the end of blizzard.
A lot of German players is doing far worse than historical too, but they are not posting AARs.
Also, hijacking this thread to change it into an Nth balance discussion topic is kinda rude (I'm sorry).

[xhoel]

@chaos45: I answered your comment in the balance thread, I do not want this to become another discussion thread and will keep it strictly related to the AAR. Saying that the Soviet is getting ''trashed'' is willfully ignoring the way the game is going. It took 2 full Armies (2nd Panzer Group and 4th Army) and 4 Corps (3 from the 9th Army and 1 from Panzer Group 3) to make the Kaluga operation possible. If that doesn't show that the game is being hard fought then nothing will convince you.

And in my oppinion Bitburgerdraft is doing very well on the defense.

@MarauderPL: Completely agree with your point, there are a lot of things you can't replicate in game. Thanks for the comment.

[mouse707]

I'm not sure that the advance on history is so high (remembering that following history leads to a german defeat). The previous 2 turns, up to my opinion, the game was finished, just a matter of time. But as Xhoels has shown, motorized troopd are exhausted, supply is complicated, the advance this turn was limited, excepted for Kaluga. The offensive capabilities of the German player will still decrease a little bit next turn because they didn't rest too much this one.

Soviet losses are important but not that strong. Playing reverse sides with Bitburger, I have seen that he clearly prefers to concede ground rather than troops.

So in the end, while Xhoel has clearly an advantage in this game, I'm not still sure that this game is over.

[xhoel]

ORIGINAL: mouse707

I'm not sure that the advance on history is so high (remembering that following history leads to a german defeat). The previous 2 turns, up to my opinion, the game was finished, just a matter of time. But as Xhoels has shown, motorized troopd are exhausted, supply is complicated, the advance this turn was limited, excepted for Kaluga. The offensive capabilities of the German player will still decrease a little bit next turn because they didn't rest too much this one.

Soviet losses are important but not that strong. Playing reverse sides with Bitburger, I have seen that he clearly prefers to concede ground rather than troops.

So in the end, while Xhoel has clearly an advantage in this game, I'm not still sure that this game is over.

Yes the Panzers are pretty beat up. The 3rd Panzer Division only has 84 AVFs operational and supply situation in the south is pretty bad. Bitburder is playing very well in defense, this will be a hard campaign.

[chaos45]

"Trashed" was probably to strong a term [:)]

[xhoel]

T13, 11th of September-18th of September 1941
Finnish front:

The enemy has pulled back from Karelia en masse and has deployed behind the Svir river line. Finnish infantry divisions reach the river line in quick fashion and recon patrols report that the line is only being held by Fortified Regions as the main body of the 7th Independent Army has been deployed further to the south to counter our forces in the area. The Finnish leadership has made it clear that no Finnish units are to attack Soviet troops on the Svir river line or beyond it, which leaves all the fighting to isolate Leningrad completely to us. For now, Finnish troops are simply going to start digging on the Svir river line while our troops fight their way north to link up with them and therefore isolate Leningrad.

Finnish positions at the start of the week:



Positions after Finnish moves:

[xhoel]

AGN

The enemy has redeployed his forces once again, in an attempt to hold back our thrust to the north. The Soviets have employed defenses in depth and have moved a considerable amount of formations west to hug our units attempting to disrupt movement and supply.





Army Group North plans and executes a large offensive to the north with 2 goals in mind:

a) Cutting off the road connection to Leningrad thus trapping a large amount of units in the pocket, who can no longer be used for defensive operations elsewhere.
b) Reaching the port of Sviritsa, thus cutting off all supply routes to Leningrad.

The simple fact that the OKH has granted AGN an abundance of support units (rocket, artillery, howitzer, pioneer, stug battalions) for this operation, emphasises its importance to the war effort. The operation begins with the clearing of the ''hugging'' units east and west of our starting positions. The goal was to force Soviet troops to give ground in order for us to establish a 30 mile wide corridor to be used by our armored formations. The Soviets who defend bravely are aided by the excellent defensive terrain but cannot stop our advance.

After the corridor is established and our infantry formations cannot advance any further, the XXXXI Panzer Corps (who was on R&R last week and is fresh and fully supplied) together with the LVI Panzer Corps are launched forward. The Panzers break through the last Soviet line of defense and manage to cut the land connection to Leningrad. The 1st and 6th Panzer Divisions are now within 20 miles of the port of Sviritsa. The lone Soviet 211th Rifle Division holds an attack by the 6th Panzer Division and buys the Soviets some time before the noose is closed on Leningrad.

Intelligence and recon shows that around 40 units are trapped inside Leningrad. The city however has not been cut off yet. The main goal of AGN is to seal the connection of the city so that our infantry can begin liquidating the pocket.

Positions after German moves:

[xhoel]

AGC

The pocket of Kaluga holds. 3 Infantry Corps are diverted to clear the trapped Soviet troops. 9 Rifle and 2 Tank Divisions as well as 1 AT Brigade perish in the pocket. We capture around 90.000 men. In front of Moscow the Soviets hold their ground but the situation in other sectors is different. The Soviets pull back and form defensive positions around Tula while Orel is completely abandoned as the enemy pulls back for a good 80 miles.

Positions at the start of the week:





A headlong advance towards Moscow with an exposed flank (not to mention the heavy Soviet defenses) is not the most optimal way to go about the capture of the Soviet capital. That's why AGC decides to hit Tula and secure its flank in order for offensive operations on Moscow to begin.

Thus the 4th Army and 2 Corps from the 9th Army advance forward as much as they can, pushing back Soviet defenders in order to clear the way for the panzers. Due to the heavy fighting to clear the Kaluga pocket, the infantry divisions only manage to make little headway. The troops are to be augmented by mobile formations which are thrown into the battle once again, and have to fight their way towards Tula. Due to the poor positioning at the start of the week and the distance to Tula almost all mobile formations in the sector of AGC are commited to the operation. At the end of the week, the city has been surrounded and around 15 divisions are trapped in the pocket. The encirclement is not air tight though and all hopes are resting on the 1st regiment of the 29th Motorized Division defending the southern perimeter. The industry inside the city has not been evacuated so it will fall into our hands even if the pocket breaks.

The 2nd Army continues to advance east trailing behind the retreating Soviets. Its units enter the cities of Kursk and Orel victorious.

The quiet Rzhev sector:



Moscow sector:



Tula pocket:



Tula industry:



2nd Army positions after moves:

[xhoel]

AGS

In the south the pocket has been broken again and the 13th Panzer division is cut off from the main body of our forces. The 230th Rifle Division defending Dnepropetrovsk is isolated however. The assault of the city is to be done by the V Romanian Corps. Elsewhere the Soviets have abandoned Kharkov and Belgorod and have retreated behind the Oskol river a good 80 miles to the east.

Positions at the start of the week:





The fate of the pocket, now christened with the name: ''The Chaplino pocket''is sealed during this week. AGS implements the plan to not only isolate the pocket but also the relief forces. The 17th Army hits the Soviet defenders hard from the north allowing the XXIV Panzer Corps to exploit the gap and move armored formations forward while the XXXXVIII Panzer Corps, the LIV Corps and the Rumanian 4th Army push from the south. 15 divisions are cut off (of which 4 Rifle divisions where part of the relief forces) and around 10 divisions are routed in the process. Meanwhile the III Panzer Corps is put on R&R to prepare for offensive operations next week.

6th Army sector after moves:



Donbass sector after moves:

[xhoel]

Crimea

In the Crimea the Soviets put up heavy resistance and make us bleed for every inch of ground. Nevertheless our units manage to push the Soviets back and capture Simferopol. The enemy has local air superiority in this sector and we will need to deploy air assets here ASAP. We are 30 miles away from the fortress city of Sevastopol but to capture it additional units will be required as the Soviet Coastal Army is sure to put up a tough fight.

Crimea at the start of the week:



Crimea after Axis moves:



Battle for Simferopol:



Battle for the outskirts of the city:

[xhoel]

Casualties:

Ground:


Air:


The LW has been running operations around the clock for 13 weeks straight now and this, together with the strong and stubborn Soviet resistance in the air have forced us to pull back many air groups for R&R. Therefore the LW was missing all along the front this week except for small attacks in the sector of AGS. We expect the air groups ready in about 2 weeks.



Comments and thoughts:

This turn was a really intense one in all sectors. In the North I was worried about each of the attacks I made, and got lucky with some rolls (2 to be precise) but was really pleased to have achieved the goal set at the start of the turn. In the Tula operation I messed up a bit, moving units around that I shouldn't have moved. Therefore the pocket is not safe as I would have wanted it to be and most likely the Soviets will manage to break through it and reestablish a supply corridor. In the South the attack worked as planned but seeing 2 strong Soviet mobile divisions rout out of the pocket really baffled me considering that it is not uncommon to see Soviet Rifle Brigades (1 CV) be attacked 4-5 times and they just keep retreating. I did regret attacking these units as I basically saved them from the fate that they were sure to face. But all things said and done I was pleased with the turn.

[chaos45]

Looks like you are well on your way to winning the game overall. Just a note I take away from this game so far- you are only on T13.....so you still have 3-4 weeks of clear weather and then another couple weeks of snow before Soviet blizzard bonus.

You are only 30 miles from Moscow in early/mid SEP, have encircle Leningrad and most likely cut it off easily enough next turn and taken the key locations in the south for 1941....again all my early/mid SEP.

Not to mention all the encirclements you currently have will decimate the Soviet OOB more or less, esp since they cannot replace those losses at all basically by blizzard-- due to reduced manpower and lack of EXP gain to train them.

Also it would appear for the long game you have damaged the soviet industrial capability I would guess due to rate of advance.

I mainly state all of this in support of my balance debate, as it is plainly obvious and this game is a current example.

[SparkleyTits]

2.1 mil on turn 13 is good going on loss ratios for Soviets
It will help alot with the lovely haul at Leningrad and the other nice snippets of troops in the net elsewhere but still with no more pockets Russian losses will be around 3 mil I imagine which will make for a softer winter but by no means a threat free one

At Moscow I don't know the supply paths but I imagine Xhoel has a turn a couple of turns of luxury to play with if he chooses the Oka route but if those luxury turns end in bad rolls and Soviet favour we could see a close call which could go either way which is always makes for a good AAR read

Looking forward to the next few turns mate, great stuff

[HardLuckYetAgain]

Turn 13 is the turn the Germans put the lid on the Soviets coffin and started nailing it shut. Can Bitburgerdraft rise from the dead? Or will Xhoel pour Holy water over the grave to prevent the resurrection?

[SparkleyTits]

Unless the Soviets heavily weaken the centre route to Moscow for an Axis riposte in that direction or the Soviets leave the Oka understrengthed against a nice stack of panzer fuel I see no coup de grace possible next turn as infantry will need another turn to assault the Oka which is when I imagine the fun will start up and writing on the wall one way or another if Xhoel tries that way

Fingers crossed we see a Soviet mistake or two in the balancing act that is needed to buy some time this turn and Xhoel can take home the win!

[xhoel]

Thanks for the comments. Assaulting Moscow frontally now is not an option, the Soviet defense there is far too dense and strong. The game is in no way won and can go either way. Stay tuned for more!

[xhoel]

T14, 18th of September-25th of September 1941.
AGN:

Even though last week our troops managed to get within 20 miles of the Svir river line and came close to closing the encirclement of Leningrad the Soviets have not given up yet. Instead the Northern Front has shifted most of its forces north in order to block our spearhead from making contact with the Finns. The equivalent of a full field Army has been deployed in the 30 mile wide front where our panzers are located while further south the Soviets are continuing with their hugging strategy in order to make supply and movement difficult.

Positions at the start of the week:





Knowing very well that taking Leningrad is the priority objective of Operation Barbarossa, AGN has deployed all its forces to assist in closing and securing the pocket around the city. Our infantry pushes back the Soviet hugging divisions and secures the 30 mile wide corridor. Divisions are moved to and from the front line as needed.

The main problem that the 4th Panzer Group faces is as follows: A direct assault on the port of Sviritsa would mean that our armored formations not only need to dislodge the Soviet defenders southwest of the port (circled in black) but also move (under constant enemy fire and harassment) into position and then assault the city, which is located not only in a swampy area but also across the Pasha river and defended by 3 strong Brigades (plan indicated by the black arrows). The option is not optimal by any means.

Instead General Reinhardt whose Corps is to lead the attack has come up with another plan. Instead of assaulting Sviritsa directly, the XXXXI Panzer Corps can isolate it by attacking the Soviet troops concentrated to the south east of the city (circled in white). Not only is the terrain here easier but the Soviet defenders seem to be less well prepared. Once the Soviets are pushed back here, they will retreat east instead of towards the Svir river line, where the Finns are already exerting pressure on the Soviet defensive line (ZOC). Once this is done, one of our armored formations will move into the gap and attack the Soviet Fortified Region (circled in red). Once they have been defeated the Finnish will move troops into the gap and the encirclement of Leningrad will be complete. To help with the plan, Luftflotte 1 is to make all its air assets available, in order to help soften the Soviet defenses.

The encirclement of Leningrad:

On the morning of the 19th of September 120 Level and Dive Bombers bombed Soviet positions in two massive air raids, destroying gun emplacements, hitting Soviet trenches, and lines of communications. At 7 am sharp German Nebelwerfer Battalions launched a 20 minute barrage across the river, while Pioneers crossed in assault boats and secured a beachhead on the other side. Pontoon bridges were build over the river, allowing the XXXXI Panzer Corps to attack the fatigued Soviet defenders, routing one rifle division and forcing the 2 other rifle divisions to retreat. The 1st Panzer Division managed to make a full divisional crossing on the evening of the 22nd . The next morning the 1st Panzer Division attacked and forced the surrender of the 17th Fortified Region. Contact was established with the Finnish Karelian Army and at 18:00 Finnish troops crossed the Sviritsa and meet up with the German Panzers.

The Encirclement of Leningrad was complete. 30+ divisions are trapped in the pocket. The main objective of AGN now is to clear the trapped Soviet troops as soon as possible.

The battle that sealed the fate of Leningrad:



Nebelwerfers moving into position:



The finally sealed Leningrad pocket:



Positions south of Novgorod:

[xhoel]

AGC

The pocket of Tula holds. Instead of commiting forces to the rescue operation, the Soviets have pulled back behind the Oka river and towards Ryazan. The same thing has happened in the sector of the 2nd Army where the Soviets have pulled back to Voronezh.

Positions at the start of the week:









Soviet positions behind the Oka are heavily defended. Instead of an assault in this sector AGC has ordered the 9th Army to redeploy to the Rzhev sector in strength. The 4th Army is put on mop up duty while the armored formations regroup for R&R. The pocket of Tula proves a tough nut to crack as numerous assaults fail due to stubborn Soviet resistance. In the end however, the 4th Army manages to force the surrender of 7 Rifle, 1 Armored, 2 Motorized and 1 Cavalry Divisions and 2 Airborne Brigades. Around 80.000 men are captured. The city itself has not fallen yet. 2 Rifle and 1 Cavalry Divisions are still defending it stubbornly.

Cleaning up of the Tula pocket:



Meanwhile the 9th Army probes Soviet defenses in the Rzhev sector to disappointing results. A lone Rifle Division manages to hold back 2 German Infantry Divisions (battle circled in black). To the South, the 2nd Army keeps advancing east without contact with the retreating enemy. Our troops are now within 40 miles of Voronezh. In the following weeks, the 2nd Army will move further north to relieve 4th Army formations, which have been earmarked to take part in the offensive for Moscow.

[xhoel]

AGS

In the South the pocket holds this time. Our infantry together with the 3rd Rumanian Army and the Italian Expeditionary Corps clear the pocket after heavy fighting. 15 Rifle and 1 Cavalry divisions are destroyed. The Soviets lose around 123.000 men. Our units advance forward chasing the fleeing Soviets. The new objective of AGS is Rostov and the destruction of the Southern Front.

Positions at the start of the week:





Positions after Axis moves:





The constant combat in the south however has taken a heavy toll on our formations and on the formations of our allies. 2 worn out divisions from the XI Corps are pulled back immediately for R&R. Both of them were at half of the prescribed bayonet strength as shown below:





Once they are up to full strength again they will move to Crimea to assist the XXX Corps there.

Unfortunately this is not an isolated case. 12 out of 37 German Infantry and Mountain divisions are operating with their TOEs under 75% and require to be put on R&R immediately. The supply situation is even worse: All 37 divisions are receiving 50% or less of the required supplies for them to operate effectively.



Supply state of German Infantry/Mountain Divisions:



The armored formations are in a similar state. TOEs range from 67-80% and fuel shortages are evident. Many formations have been put on R&R in order to replenish their tank losses but home production cannot keep up with them as the pools are almost empty.



Tank production and pools:

[xhoel]

Crimea:

In the Crimea the Coastal Army launched a counterattack to the east of Simferopol that drove back the 11th Rumanian Division. Even though it was forced to retreat in face of overwhelming enemy numbers and firepower the Rumanians conducted a perfectly executed fighting withdrawal which allowed them to curb their casualties.

Positions at the start of the week:



Marked in red is the Soviet counterattack, circled in black is our assault of Feodosiya



The position was retaken by our forces during this week. Meanwhile the 35th Reserve RM Division moved south west of Simferopol making little progress due to the rough terrain. They did however manage to capture the town of Yalta.

To the east, the port of Feodosiya was captured after a daring assault by the 22nd Airlanding Division. Further advances in the Crimea will only be possible once reinforcements arrive.