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Turn 2 results. As expected, I have far too many forces in the south and not enough above the marshes. I overused rail capacity to test move some factories to ensure I knew how to do it. That created holes I could have filled via rail movement. The northern Front HQ was surrounded and I lost the commander. That bad was on me and my lack of experience. In any event there are three main pockets still operating
1. east of Riga - I evacuated several more divisions and still hold the key rail hexes that will make him have to mop up the units
2. Minsk - 10 shattered units are in the pocket. I avoided losing a loaded airbase by the hair of my chinny chin chin. There is some strength there, so there is hope that it will last two turns. I wont hold my breath though.
3. Brest (minor)- he still has three or 5 hexes to mop up in that area, which will keep units from the main line for a couple more turns
4. Lvov to Chernotsvy - a dozen units could not get away or were planned fodder. They sit on the main rail line and will require cleaning. Again modest hope that will be a two turn affair

Here is the south, which is the best of it for the reds.

Center. Above the marshes, things get far more dire for the reds. Not enough unit density and several pockets of units surrounded.

North turn 2... Still have a pocket east of Riga and weak defense in depth to the south.

And the northern unit density issue.

I have 88 admin points. How do I know when I should be building units? and otherwise use them versus stockpile.

Also, If I move part of a factory to two separate locations, will that cause any undo play effects?

ORIGINAL: topeverest

I have 88 admin points. How do I know when I should be building units? and otherwise use them versus stockpile.

Also, If I move part of a factory to two separate locations, will that cause any undo play effects?

As far as I know with factories move them in batches of 4-7-10 (that will maximise how they expand in 1942 onwards) but there is no reason why you can't send the factories from a given city to different locations.

early game, I'd save your APs. The first few turns are chaotic as you try to piece your OOB back together and you will end up with quite a lot of support units in your Front HQs as the corps disband (the SUs go to the notional control and in the south in particular that will put quite a lot into SW Front not the relevant armies). By about turn 5, you'll have a better picture.

The exception is you really need to get digging at Leningrad so some more sappers up there (and FZs) is a good investment,

Turn three I feared better than I could have hoped. Several pockets survived, the empire did not create any new material pockets, his advances were minor in nature. I was able to push more units to the depleted north and set units for Moscow and Leningrad sieges. It seems my air force is pretty useless. I am curious if there is a use for it at this point in the war?

and south

At this time in the war the Red Army was a mess, and had great difficulty doing even simple things. The same is true for the Red Airforce. You are doing pretty well.

I had some success by putting better quality planes against the Fins, who are flying obsolete gear from the UK and Italy. Over all it takes a significant amount of time before you can get the quality of the planes and pilots improved.

Real Life got in the way. That dreaded job thing is horrible. I tried a few counterattacks with poor success. Not sure if the idea is to deliver casualties or win hexes, and unclear to me what odds are worth attacking to give casualties. In general, pulled back in good order, but I left few units in close proximity to the enemy. There was a minor axis salient south of the Pipyat marshes, but I didn't have enough strength to really put a dent into it. I have begun moving factories to the east, closest factories first.

Question I tried to build a few support units in urban hexes, but I had very few choices. I was looking to build construction units but was unable. Do I have to do more than that? below is picture of the sectors

Just trying not to lose a bunch of units here. Keeping the enemy from having a quick advance, but otherwise not defending the marsh. Is it viable to dump supply into a few cities and make a longer fight with cutoff forces?

Expected German progress here

Talin and Northwest Front

Should I evacuate Hanko?

And Leningrad. I don't see how I can hold this. I am open to any ideas. What is best way to protect east of lake lagoda?

ORIGINAL: topeverest

Talin and Northwest Front

Should I evacuate Hanko?

I'd suggest one of two options. Either (a) pull out the brigade and the sappers attached to the FZs and let it die on the first attack or (b) swap the rifle brigade for a decent rifle division. That might catch out your opponent, but then once you are driven back to the line just north of Leningrad, in truth, there will be a number of spare Finnish units. (b) can be fun though.

ORIGINAL: topeverest

And Leningrad. I don't see how I can hold this. I am open to any ideas. What is best way to protect east of lake lagoda?

The only way to get this situation completely under control is the very gamey stunt of shifting SW Front up here. You've not done that (which I think is the decent thing to do) so its down to your opponent. If he really wants Leningrad, he's going to take up. But you can tie up a lot of German units at least till the start of September and that will help you elsewhere.

You did well pulling units out of the pocket west of Riga, a good german opponent will not let any of them escape. Do pull out of Hanko there is no reason to stay.

You might want to read the Sapper222 invades his homeland AAR (mine). Saper222 is a more experienced player than your opponent, I took him on for my first game and wrote a lot of questions and answers that you may find useful.

Please do not build defenses on the extent of the Luga to the GofF - the ideal defensive line for Leningrad spans from the hills SW of Pushkin to Novgorod, covering the swamps and the lower Luga. The Luga further west is pocket bait.

Also, way too many units around Moscow. With random weather and the attenuated blizzard you should fight forward and hold territory. Units in the rear don't help (albeit with your opponent here you may be able to let them sit there).

Thanks for the tips all. Turn occurred before could react to suggestions.

Turn 5 saw the Germans focus their spearheads in two locations, Zhitomihr/Vinnitsa and Vitebisk / Smolensk. We also saw mud in the south soviet zone which threw a wrench in the ole mix.

Smolensk is a hyper concentrated blitz advance against only modest soviet concentration, and one that I don't really have an answer for. I moved units for a defense in depth, but I expect a sizable breakthrough there. I am trying to prevent as much pocketing activities as possible, but next turn will be bad for sure. I am sure I will be unloading the Moscow defense in the next turn. The Zhitomihr blitz skirted the mud and smashed into the defense in depth in the area. It was by far my most successful turn delivering casualties to the German spearheads, mostly from that area. I ever so much wanted to counterattack, but the mud made a pincer impossible.

I have decided to mass my air in one or two locations soon as practicable, but I am going to have to react to this major breakout attempt. From a factory relocation, I have taken the forum advice and have moved the at risk high value factories.

View of southern theaters. Germans took heavy losses punching a spearhead, but defense in depth prevented any major issues. Withdrawal in good order