D21

[Edwire]

T11, AGC, West of Smolensk

On murmansk front, the Axis made steady gain, but not much. Finnish army is still frozen. AGN does not see much action last turn, except probing Pskov defenders and harassing Narva defensive line.

The soviet line in Dubrovno is penetrated, and a hole is cracking Rudnya, spliting the defenders in two. However supply already become a major problem now, as the Rail has not even reached Minsk.

[Edwire]

T11, AGS, Kiev

1st Pz Armee finally managed to break trough the coastal arty and Kiev is now encircled completely. Elmer moved an infantry division from east, but obviously not enough to threaten the flank. Reinforcement are rushed to widen the encirclement.

Lots of troops have been lost enveloping Kiev, but lots of Soviet army is now trapped (Also not the red dot stack soviet troops at Kaniv). But encircled army is not a destroyed army, and Kiev is a fortress. Capturing it completely will still require some effort.

Note : This is the beginning of T11, but i moved some obvious unit movement, such as the SS Lah behind Kaniv.

[Edwire]

T13, Murmansk Front

After the Soviet pulled back from Litsa river, Axis Gebribs unit pursue and caught up. The soviet defenders surprisingly are concentrated in 1 hex. Being a bold commander, the 20th Geb Armee Commander order the encirclement and annihilation of the Soviet defenders. Even the Division HQ is used to block their escape route.

[Edwire]

T13, AGN, Luga River

After the destruction of Soviet defenders in Pskov, 23th Inf Korps marched north to trap the Soviet defenders in Narva. The amount of soviet defenders in Narva are much less than i expected. Could it be that the Soviet does not have more reserve in North Front, or they simply wait behind Luga River?

If the Soviet indeed defend Luga River, 26th Korps and 41st Pz Korps will be transferred to AGC. If not, might as well surround and capture Leningrad in 1941 if possible.

[Edwire]

T13, AGC, Smolensk

After bloody fighting, AGC finally capture Smolensk and rounded the Soviet defenders at Vitebsk. Most of the infantry dudes are on orange dots. It will be only a matter of time before they turn red. I'm starting to doubt i can capture Moscow in 1941.

In a little bit south, 48th Pz Korps reach the vicinity of Bryansk. However, it is guarded by fresh Soviet infantry and tanks. Seems like the battle of bryansk will also be a bloody one.

[Edwire]

T13, AGS, Kiev

Around 2 Soviet Armies are trapped in Kiev and i'm using whatever i can to expand the circle to the east (even Pioneers lol). Attacking the fortress with Infantry has resulted with heavy loss. Seems like the Panzer must do the job from east.

Any other ideas to annihilate the trapped Soviets with small loss? (i'm being greedy lol)

On an annoying note, the soviet Arty suddenly reconstitute just south of Kaniv, and in range to bombard Korsun airfield, which they did [:@] i lost some 10-20 Me 109 and 10-20 CR-32 (Hungarian AF) because of it.

[Edwire]

T14, 6 August 1941, Berlin, OKH

It has been 1,5 month since Operation Barbarossa started. Initially the offensive went well, but logistic problems and increasing Soviet restance starting to slow and ultimately halt the advance. OKH need to focus on their objective, North, Center, or South?

Since the logistic officer is lazy, only recently he reported the full detail of OKH armament.
Boxed in red means i'm losing much more than i produce. I know some of them are normal, but im still worried.

I guess pushing my reccon units mean i'm losing quite a lot of it.

I already lost quite a lot of tanks. Is it normal?
Hungarian and Italian only was little action while Rumanian and Finnish engage heavily with the Soviets.

[Edwire]

T16, AGN, Luga River

After series of analysis, planning, and debate, OKH decided launch operation "Leningrad Must Fall!"

Background :
Supply in the north area have been greatly improved in the last few turns, and the reconnaissance shows that most soviet troops are moving to Moscow area. This means other area should be lightly defended.

Objective :
Complete encirclement of Leningrad.

Operation :
Led by SS Polizei, 41st Pz Korps dashed forward and met the Leningrad outer defense. Their orders are to harass only while the rest of the Pz division head north to Oranienbaum to cut the supply point while 23rd Infantry Korps, in conjunction with 26th Infantry ,5th Infantry Korps and 10th Infantry Krosp to cut the Life Road in Novaya Ladoga. Let's see how this will turn out....

On another note, the Red Banner fleet have been sighted. They must sunk!
Finnish Army also made tremendous gain, already capturing Viipuri and partly at their western Stop Line.

[Edwire]

T16, AGC, Orel

OKH have revised their overall objective. Moscow is not primary objective anymore, instead, reserves will be sent to AGN and AGS (like historical eh?). There will be limited advance, perhaps as far as Vyazma, but definetly not Moscow. AGC will try to capture Soviet Industrial cities south of Moscow (Orel, Tula, etc), then drive South. 4th Armee will stop at Oka River to cover the flank.

[Edwire]

T16, AGS, Southern Ukraina

Kiev finally fall. After brief rest, 6th Armee and 1st Pz Armee will advance to Kharkov.

Meanwhile, 17th Armee and Axis ally have complete the conquest of Southern Ukraina without much opposition (although Soviet reconstitute behind the line (in red circle)). Found an unguarded crossing south of Zaporozhe, infantry will be sent to circle around.

Odessa still holds, but should fall this turn.

[Edwire]

<<accidentally double post>>

[Edwire]

Ok guys, actually i'm already at T26. I will try to catch the AAR up. I dont wanna spoil the fun im having in "Leningrad must fall!!" operation yet [:D]

But meanwhile i have some questions regarding this scenario :

The Bautrupps are trying to repair a rail line above dunes, evergreen forest, and fail. 2 different hex with 2 different Bautrupp, no luck in the past 3 turns.

1. Is it actually impossible or is it just my bad luck? Should i try 2 Bautrupp adjacent to the broken rail line to increase the chance (if have any effect) ?
2. If i stack 2 bautrupp next to a broken rail line, will it repair 2 lines (adjacent hex and beyond) instead of one?
3. I've been curious about one coastal arty in scheduled reinforcement that never arrive. I check the hex and voila, its in a deep water. (It even got entrenchment 27%!?). I think this is a glitch?

Thanks before [:)]

[sPzAbt653]

The coastal artillery arriving in the deep sea hex has been remedied, but unfortunately there is nothing that you can do about it. Sorry.

Bautrupps can't move into some terrain, but just find a unit that can and park them on the hex with a bautrupp adjacent, then it will be fixed. I think HQ's can move into those hexes, or 'foot movement' only units.

Read the bautrupp description in the scenario document to get some clarification, but basically the more units you have on a line the better the chance that more hexes will be repaired.

[Edwire]

Thanks for the reply. And no prob about the coastal battery. If its a full strength high proficiency SS panzer division, that would have been different story [:'(]

You're right about the Bautrupps, i did place a unit over the dunes then the rail successfully repaired.

Btw thanks for the great scenario. i'm really enjoying it [:D]

[Edwire]

T20, 27th August 1941, Leningrad

After 2 weeks of heavy fighting, Oranienbaum successfully captured. There is one empty undefended hex just in the right of Oranienbaum, so 23rd Korps shifted north and probe behind the outer defenders. The fortified militias should not be receiving supply anymore.

The main weight of the attack is put on 41st Pz korps and 5th Korps to cut the life road. They met resistance from 4th Guards Rifle Division. Aerial reconnaissance shows lots of soviet reinforcement are arriving east of Volkhov river. Time is crucial now.

My worries is the 2 strong Soviet tank divisions in the north (in red circle). They are kept in check by the Fins, but can turn south anytime. Also, progress of the 5th Korps is slow, the south flank is very vulnerable.

3 of 5 bradenburgers were committed to this operation.

[Edwire]

T20, 27th August 1941, Lemensk

10th Korps was originally tasked to cover the south flank of the "Leningrad Must Fall!!" operation and the other side of Volkhov river. However, situation have changed. Soviet defenders are stubbornly holding their ground. Now they are surrounded in Novgorod, but the initiative have been lost. It will take some time to fully eliminate the defenders.

In just a little bit south of Novgorod, i already established a temporary fortified line in Demensk. In last couple turns, the Soviet heavily reinforce their position here, and pose a threat to break the line. This calls for offensive operation. 10th Korps now will turn south instead and with some reinforcement will surround and destroy the Soviet in Demensk. 7th Fallschimjaeger will be repositioned to AGN and assist securing Volkhov river.

News from other front :
1. Murmansk is surrounded. They should fall in a few more turns.
2. AGC continue their limited advance and are starting to form defensive position. Bryansk is surrounded.
3. AGS approach Kharkov and starting to seal Crimean peninsula.

[sPzAbt653]

A possible suggestion - in many cases it is not necessary to split units in order to hold a continuos line. Often, the defense pictured below will be sufficient. There is an arguement for both sides I suppose, but I like the pictured setup as it forces Elmer to attack a stronger position.

[Edwire]

Thanks for the suggestion. I never notice Elmer rarely crawl between defended position like above (which i did a lot).

T22, Leningrad.

The SS Totenkopf spearhead finally cut the life road (Strangely, Elmer withdraw the defending Guards division defending the road). The whole Leningrad defenders should not be receiving any more supply. It is still a very narrow corridor though, i need to expand and secure the flanks.

[Edwire]

T23,

Date : 7th September, 1941
Location : Demensk, Northern Front

Operation "Leningrad Must Fall!!" was a huge success. With less than one month, Leningrad is besieged completely. At least for now. With the flanks being secured, attention for AGN can turn south to Demensk.

OKH are worried with the increase of Soviet presence in this area and have decided to launch "Demensk Offensive". Its aim is to seal the Soviet Army concentrated around Demensk from North and East. (Look at those yellow and orange dots in the soviet stack. Strangely they are not fortified though)

Fresh from their victory in Novgorod, 10th Korps, backed by the newly arrived 1st Korps, will drive south while 57th Pz Korps (still off-map, and with 58th Pz Korps as reserve) will attack from the eastern narrow road. Both forces will then linked in Yazhelbitsy.

[Edwire]

T25,

Date : 14th September, 1941
Location : Demensk

The Demensk offensive was another success for OKH. Although the two enveloping korps were not linked at their original destination in Yazhelbitsy, they successfully close the pocket.

OKH count there are at least 20 Soviet Infantry divisions in the pocket plus a bunch of auxiliary formations. Another blow for the Soviet. I don't think its fatal to them though...

AGN's next target probably will be to roll down south to Kalinin. And of course, the capture of the besieged Leningrad.