DNO-Olorin vs Fungwu

[Olorin]

A few words on future operations in the south. I am currently contemplating two plans, which you can see in the two last screenshots.

The first is Operation Liontamer ([:D]) and assumes a breakthrough in Zaporoshje by Kleist's two Panzerkorps and XXIX.Armeekorps, which will then take defending position along the flanks. The rest of Kleist's mobile forces will exploit the resulting gap and advance to Berdyansk, Meriupol and Stalino. This move will form a small kessel which will be destroyed by 11.Armee.

[Olorin]

The second screenshot shows Operation Moonwalker ([:D]). It will require the splitting of 1.Panzergruppe into two smaller groups. Gruppe A will breakthrough in Trostyanesk and advance to Kharkov. Kharkov is also the objective of Gruupe B, which will breakthrough in Dnieprpetrovsk. Thus, Kharkov will be captured and a kessel will be formed between the two piencers, which 17.Armee will deal with.

I will decide which plan to implement in later turns, depending how things go in the south.

Similar plans are being prepared for Heeresgruppe Mitte, but it's not the time yet to reveal them.

[lojishen]

Great AAR.  I like Moonwalker as it puts indirect pressure on the Moscow front as well.

[Olorin]

ORIGINAL: lojishen

Great AAR.  I like Moonwalker as it puts indirect pressure on the Moscow front as well.

Thanks!

Turn 7 & 8:

Heeresgruppe Nord:

Fungwu is starting to run out of ant units and is throwing hole cavalry and militia divisions to delay my advance, fortunately without much success, as I managed to have 6 combat rounds. I needed them for my attack on the Luga Line in the north and Kiev.

I had a plan for offensive on the Luga Line (I named it Operation Tornado):

The two Panzerkorps will have different jobs, at least at the beginning of the assault. The final objectives is of course Leningrad for both of them.

Manstein's Panzerkorps initial objectives are Novgorod and Chudovo. They have to attack the 21st Mech Corps and whatever reserves Fungwu has behind the lines to get there. They are supported by 16.Armee's X.Armeekorps.

Reinhardt's Panzerkorps' main effort will be its 6.Panzer Division which must capture Luga and then advance along the Luga-Leningrad highway. 1.Panzer Division will cross the Luga river in hexes 88,47 and 87,47 at a point which appears to be weaker. It will then advance alongside 6.Panzer Division, protecting its left flank. The right flank will be protected by 269 and 93 infantry divisions.

General reserves: SS Totenkopf. This division will mop up the Panzergroup's rear areas and then reinforce the most successful Panzerkorps. 16.Armee's XXVIII.Armeekorps will defend against possible attacks south of Lake Il'men'.

The offensive started successfully with the taking of the Luga fortress, after the 3rd combat round. 3 and 36.Motorized Divisions gained a few hexes as well. The bad news is that I misplaced 8.Pazner Division. 21st Mech Corps is sitting on flooded marsh with a road and can be attacked only from one direction. I did not see it, and put my panzer division in the wrong hex, they can't attack from there

[Olorin]

Heeresgrppe Mitte

In the center, not much is new, the two Panzergroups are still advancing. Roslavl was taken in turn 7, Spas-Demyensk in turn 8. I will reach the main Soviet line in the next turn and attack it in turn 10. The good news is that the two infantry armies are catching up.

[Olorin]

Heeresgruppe Süd:

In the south, the battle for Kiev has ended successfully for the Germans, with the taking of the main hex of Kiev. Kleist is still pursuing the Soviet divisions trying to escape. He caught and destroyed two, but the bulk of them looks as if it will escape.

[Olorin]

Turn 10:

Heeresgruppe Mitte:

Things are about to get interesting, as Herresgruppe Mitte makes contact with the main Soviet defensive line protecting Moscow. A few "powerful reconnaissance missions" were launched to test Soviet defenses, which were found to be formidable. The plan is obvious if you take a look at the attachment, revealing the two schwerpuntes by the two Panzergroups. Guderian will attack at three points (the three bridges on Oka and Ugra rivers) using his three Panzerkorps respectively, near Kaluga. When a breakthrough is made, he will advance to Tula, with XXIV.Panzerkorps and in the general direction of Mozaisk with XXXXVI and XXXXVII.Panzerkorps. Hoth's LVII.Panzerkorps will cross the Volga in Zubtsov and advance to Shakhovskaya. A little bit more to the south, XXXIX.Panzerkorps will advance towards Mozaisk to meet with Guderian and hopefully form a huge kessel in the process.

[Olorin]

Heeresguppe Nord:

In the north, the offensive continued with good results. The 21st Mech Corps and one infantry division were isolated and destroyed. Now the way to Novgorod is almost open, unless Fungwu rushes his reserves here. Manstein was supposed to take Novgorod, but I decided to change missions for him, he will move behind Reinhardt's Panzrkorps, as a second echelon force, to form a more powerful schwerpunkt, where result will be more decisive. Already, Reinhardt has taken Luga and crossed the river in 30Km depth. Most of the Soviet units here are militia and construction units, that's why I decided to put my main effort here. Meanwhile, Höppner's reserves, 269.Infanterie-Division and SS Totenkopf, will reinforce Reinhardt too, while trying to protect his left flank.

The Finns, had taken Viipuri in turn 8 and are preparing for a new offensive, with the goal of reaching the historical limit line. The Karelian front is empty of enemy units and the Finns are marching to the Svir river, where the Soviets are preparing a line. The Stalin Canal has some 120 VPs and general Talvela's 6th Army corps will attempt to take them all.

[Olorin]

Heeresgruppe Süd is far away from making contact with the main Soviet line in the south. 6 and 17.Armeen will need 4-5 turns to reach it. In the meantime, 1.Panzergruppe under von Kleist will split into two Armeegruppen, in compliance with operation Moonwalker, which was thought to be preferable over operation Liontamer, because of the more decisive results that the former operation will yield.

The Romanians are having their butts handed on a plate by the stronger than anticipated Soviet forces, in Odessa. 3rd Romanian Army will reinforce Antonescu and 3rd Romanian Army. However, given the strong opposition. Odessa's fall seems unlikely in the near future, unless I find some German reserves to reinforce them

[Olorin]

Turn 11:

The attack continues in the north and center. The south is still a few turns away from contact, with 17th and 2nd Armies having to cover the most distance until contact with the Soviets.

Heeresgruppe Mitte destroyed some 6+ divisions in two small pockets. The offensive is slowly gaining momentum and if all things go according to my plan, the breakthroughs will happen in 2 turns, 3 if Fungwu has reserves that I can't see. After that, the two Panzergroups will have earned back their mobility again and things will start rolling. I am taking heavy casualties, because Fungwu has some very strong divisions at his front, with fortified status, with lots of artillery support. But the casualties are to be expected and they are worth it. This is the main Soviet line of resistance and this is where the game will probably be won or lost, so effort and sacrifices from my part are necessary.

The attacks enjoy the complete support of 2.Luftlotte. My central air fleet is entirely dedicated to combat support (except the last round, when I switch it back to interdiction). The corps and army artillery from Kluge's and Strauss' Armies is also supporting the two Panzergroups. All means are gathered in this mighty schwerpunkt.

[Olorin]

Heeresgruppe Nord:

The attack on the Luga Line is entering a phase of big results. A few more pockets are ready to be formed. The planned move of Manstein's Panzerkorps, behind Reinhardt is complete. The maneuver will be modified and extended. Manstein will drive further northwest, behind my lines, to Narva and Kingisepp, because Fungwu has greatly weakened this area to reinforce his cracking line in front of my 1.Panzer-Division.

[Olorin]

Heresgruppe Süd

In the south, things are quiet. My units are still force marching. As I said the infantry armies are still far away from the Soviet line and Kleist's Panzergruppe is split into two Armeegruppen, which will execute Operation Moonwalker. Gruppe B is a few hexes away from Dneprpetrovsk and Zaporozhje.

The Romanians look like they will be able to hold the Soviet offensive in Odessa. I am not too worried, despite some casualties I took here. The 4th Romanian Army reinforced the battered 3rd Romanian Army and Antonescu Group, however, it will take positions behind the lake, east of Odessa and attack this weakly defended spot.

Victory Status
Draw
Enemy held objectives:7070-Enemy losses:721
Friendly held objectives:5030-Friendly losses:249

Stats:
HRS lost-7639
tanks lost-896(actually 622 are missing from my panzer formations, ouch!)
airplanes lost-1734

EEV-36%
Soviet Replacement Reduction-35% (currently SU produces 1625 RS per turn)

[lojishen]

Hi Olorin,
 
Any updates on this game, I'm interested in how the critical battles ended.

[Olorin]

ORIGINAL: lojishen

Hi Olorin,

Any updates on this game, I'm interested in how the critical battles ended.

Hi, lojishen

we've reached turn 22. The rest of the AAR can be found here http://www.gamesquad.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75595. I can't upload more than one picture per post here.