D21 - A different approach

[Abnormalmind]

Leningrad Falls on Turn 28. Finnish Units are Freed



It took a while, but the heavy artillery from the Kiev assault force in AGS was railed to Narva. The heavy artillery made all the difference.

[Abnormalmind]

Turn 27 - Moscow



Axis forces press up against the Soviet outer Moscow defensive line. Reinforcements are streaming in. Since Army Group South was gutted to reinforce AGN/AGC, the Axis assault force is quite formidable. As the norm for this operation, Axis forces use the super rivers as a natural barrier against the Soviet forces.

[Abnormalmind]

Moscow Turn 32 - 8 Oct 1941



The northwest fortress line was cleared. More AGS reinforcements are arriving. The Moscow Canal is a super river, and a strong defensive line is built.

[Abnormalmind]

Turn 41 - Moscow



The heavy rains lasted a long, long time. Axis supply was drastically reduced. During the torrential rain period, Axis forces did little, thus conserved their supplies. The rail network is almost repaired to the west side of Moscow. Soviet artillery in the Moscow area is doing considerable damage to the Axis forces. The weather is starting to cool.

November 9th, 1941.

With all the 41 objectives captured, Axis forces are digging in all over the front. As a matter of fact, the vast majority of Axis lines are static for 30 turns, through around turn 70. There is activity in Finland as Axis forces push the Soviets backwards. 11th Panzer Division is railed to eastern Finland to assist with the southern push towards Murmansk.

[Abnormalmind]

Turn 41 - Leningrad



The Soviets pockets are still quite strong around Leningrad. Axis forces are using artillery instead of assaults to reduce the pockets. There's no need to assault the Soviet pockets until the bitter end. Time and artillery shells will do the work, while preserving the integrity of Axis formations.

The Volkhov River will become a static line for 30+ turns as Axis forces dig in and resupply in preparation of winter.

[Abnormalmind]

Turn 50 - Moscow



The cold has blasted the north, freezing the rivers and lakes. Axis forces have been digging in and resupplying for the last 15+ turns. Soviets were pushed out of Moscow. The bad news is the 41 Winter Offensive hasn't happened yet! Axis heavy artillery, about 10 different formations, were railed from Leningrad to Moscow and now cover all portions of the City. By this point in the scenario, Axis shock is down to 100. It will decrease even further during Winter Offensive. Axis bomber groups are now holding up around Berlin and Warsaw. I saw little need to lose planes during the forthcoming Winter Offensive. Also, the Soviet airforce has made a remarkable recovery and easily contests the airspace around Moscow. Axis airbases are far and few.

10 December 1941.

Time to think of 42' objectives. The first one that comes to mind is Arkhangelsk. Its capture will have a long term affect on the Soviets. A good thing!

[Abnormalmind]

The Soviets go on a brutal offensive during the winter months. Most of the Axis forces have been dug in for 25+ turns waiting. Moscow falls during the Winter Offensive, and I bite the bullet recapturing it. The Soviets almost pushed the German artillery, that's how close they were. After the smoke clears, the Soviets are spent. Their aggressive offensive has left most of their lines in ragged shape. Axis forces continuously bombard the Soviets during the entire Winter Offensive. It's a way to dull the offensive, since the Axis player usually goes first. However, there is one series of turns in which Axis forces do not go first... Nice surprise.

[Abnormalmind]

1942 Objectives

- Destruction of STAVKA northern armies by pincher movement. Fins and Germans will push southwards from the north, while Romanian forces are railed to contain the pocket and German forces advance EAST of the Volga River northeastwards to Vologda.

- Capture of Arkhangelsk

- Capture of Gorky, Inta, and finally Sverdlovsk... A very long road, but shall prove rewarding.

[Abnormalmind]

[Josh]

Amazing AAR so far [&o]
Apparently your new approach paid off, less units in the south, many more in the Centre and North. The South must've been a peaceful place. [;)]
And as to post 28... that's not a pocket... it has the size of a country! You're really planning to go all the way to Sverdlovks?

[Silvanski]

Nice AAR. Your Northern approach paid off. Let's see how well the Russsians recover in 1942

What did you send to the North Cape to help the 20 Gebirgsarmee for the Murmansk operation?

[Abnormalmind]

ORIGINAL: Josh

Amazing AAR so far [&o]
Apparently your new approach paid off, less units in the south, many more in the Centre and North. The South must've been a peaceful place. [;)]
And as to post 28... that's not a pocket... it has the size of a country! You're really planning to go all the way to Sverdlovks?

Hi Josh,

Thanks! When Kiev fell, Soviet forces rushed east. I waved good bye, and didn't pursue. All the super river crossings in the south are guarded by a full division of infantry, and there are some divisions in reserve, and it's all quiet. I expect the 42' Winter Offensive to shake things up.

I'm afraid it is Sverdlovks or bust. I don't expect the route to be as well guarded as the advance towards Leningrad and Moscow.

18 March 1942 - Turn 78: The pocket is officially closed at Vodogada as Finnish and German forces converge on Soviets attempting to escape. The entire northern STAVKA army, god knows how many troops, are isolated. Romanians and Italians are being railed to replace German forces along the pocket's rim.

The 60th Panzer Grenadier Division is northeast of Gorky quickly advancing east to secure the river crossing at Kotelnich...

[Abnormalmind]

ORIGINAL: Silvanski

Nice AAR. Your Northern approach paid off. Let's see how well the Russsians recover in 1942

What did you send to the North Cape to help the 20 Gebirgsarmee for the Murmansk operation?

Hi,

SS KG Nord
163rd Inf Div
169th Inf Div
2nd Geb Div
3rd Geb Div
The entire 20th Geb Armee
4th Brandenburg made a drop (and survived) to close down the Soviets escape.

And a lot of patience since supply is a major issue.

[Abnormalmind]

Turn 78 - The Pocket is Closed

German and Finnish troops converge on Vologda. The last door is shut. Once the remaining Soviets troops around the area are neutralized, the German forces will advance east to the Ural Mountains.

[Abnormalmind]

Turn 87 - Gorky and Lots of Mud

The ice and snow turned to water with added storms to cause the landscape to become mud. 90 percent plus are in reorg. This lasts a fair amount of time, perhaps 8 turns or so.

Gorky is well within the Axis means as Panzer Divisions lead the charge towards the objective.

The massive Soviet reorg must have triggered a desperation mode. The Soviets are blowing bridges!!!

[Abnormalmind]

Turn 92: 6 May 1942 - Northeast of Gorky

The rains lasted from turn 82 to 91, inclusive. This is turn 92. Finally the weather clear sufficiently for the Panzers to press forward. During the rains, supply and assault strengths are crippled and the armees are thrown into disorg.

Case Blau theater option is available. Axis forces have until turn 117 to use this option. It will boost shock to 120 and supply by 5 for 10 turns.

The forces displayed on this map should suffice for the assault towards Perm and Nizhny Tagal. The 1st Panzer Division is breaking southeastwards toward Sverdlovks to clear a path and gauge resistance.

[Abnormalmind]

Turn 95: 17 May 1942 - Gorky

The Axis forces are making a quick advance towards the objective. Once the city is captured, they will be ordered south to form a bridgehead then expand southwards.

I'm considering what to do with the Case Blau theater option. Tula and Ryzan affect the Soviets and are relatively close to Moscow to the southeast. This may be a good opportunity to clear that area.

[Da_Huge_D]

What... I didnt know that Soviet's had 10th Shock Army in WWII. Typo?[;)]

[Abnormalmind]

ORIGINAL: Da_Huge_D

What... I didnt know that Soviet's had 10th Shock Army in WWII. Typo?[;)]

Lol, yes a typo. Happens all the time. I'm like the master of typos.

I'm creating a new self imposed house rule because the scenario may break if I actually take Sverdlovsk and Nizhny Tagil. Axis forces will advance east as far as the mid-point of the Ural Mountains. This will allow Elmer a chance to break out/cut supply/do nasty things.

[Abnormalmind]

First one is turn 76, before the pocket is closed. The other image is turn 93. The pocket is finally starting to crumble. It's a rather large area. Although the diameter is becoming smaller, unit concentration is getting larger. That's when I rail the artillery into position to start reducing the large stacks. The Finnish skirmishers in the north are coming into contact with Soviet formations attempting to make a break. The Finns go hunting...