Gen.Goofy Does Barbarossa vs Orm (No Orm)

[warspite1]

30th June 1941
Finland

The Finnish front is pretty quiet. Mannerheim is in no in the mood to go chasing around after shadows and, having destroyed the annoying border division that invaded all on their own, Mannerheim simply orders a leisurely stroll to the 1939 borderline and an occupation of the abandoned fortifications north of Lake Ladoga.

[warspite1]

30th June 1941
Army Group North

Von Leeb gives von Kuechler free reign to continue marauding through Lithuania and into Latvia and two divisions are destroyed by von Both's 1 Corps on their way to entering Liepaja. Meanwhile the Soviet 23rd Tank Division provides more robust opposition to the divisions of Wodrig's XXVI Corps and retreats in good order into the hills between the port and Riga. Only 1st Division is held back as von Leeb wants to ensure destruction of the Soviet units further south. When this is achieved, the division gets released and takes up position on the right wing of the army.

It looks to von Kuchler that the units of the BMD have been brought back to aid the defence of Riga and the Dvina River. Both's Corps (11th and 291st Divisions) will ensure the enemy have evacuated the peninsular, Wodrig's XXVI Corps (21st and 61st Divisions) will manoeuvre west of the hills and swing east toward Riga and finally von Chappuis's XXVIII corps (1st, 58th and 217th Divisions) will attack from the south.

[warspite1]

30th June 1941
Army Group North and Army Group Centre (3rd Panzergruppe)

Three divisions and the 11th Army HQ are in Central Front territory. Two of these divisions have managed to open a supply path to the defenders of Kaunas. Not good. Once again von Leeb request assistance from his colleague von Bock. The problem is how to attack to get the best chance the defenders won't simply retreat into the Lithuanian capital?

Von Leeb really doesn't want to be using Hoepner's panzers for this purpose but if there is an ability to 'direct' the route of retreat, I don't want Hoth blocking a path south. As a result two divisions of Reinhardt's XLI Panzer Corps attack from the north. The plan works - one division is destroyed and the second retreats east, allowing Hoth to order up 35th Infantry Division to close the link to Kaunas.

[warspite1]

30th June 1941
Army Group Centre

To the south, in order for Hoth to have a run at Vilnius and beyond, there is a need to eliminate the encircled 3rd Army. 18th Motorised Division is employed to fully seal the pocket and the four Soviets units are quickly eliminated from the order of battle.

Schmidt's XXXIX Panzer Corps head north to deal with the remainder of 11th Army, but there is limited room for manoeuvre and the Soviet units manage to retreat until 7th and 12th run out of steam. with the Germans unable to outflank the city from the south, a desperate attack on Vilnius then ensues using the remaining available units - two panzer divisions. The Soviet garrison holds and 3rd Panzergruppe is no longer able to continue.

In achieving not a huge amount, the panzergruppe has used up most of the army group's fuel.... I can hear Guderian laughing from here...

[warspite1]

30th June 1941
Army Group North

Back to the north and Hoepner's panzers..

Perhaps predictably against such a formidable opponent, the game is already - even on turn 3 - turning badly against the Germans.

- The plan to bounce the Dvina quickly has turned to nothing. Hoepner's panzers can reach the Dvina but are out of fuel.

- This is doubly frustrating because the 27th Army are changing posture (I assume they cannot be going to defensive as the Soviets do not get enough PP at this stage - but regardless this will make an attack next turn more expensive even if there is enough fuel for the panzers to make such an attack).

- Zhukov must have been sent to AGN as the bridges across the Dvina at Dunaburg have already been blown.

- The escape of so much of the 11th Army was really annoying - as was the wasted time and effort expended on trying to track down and destroy the HQ by 3rd Panzergruppe - which ultimately failed anyway.

- All of this - bad though it is - may have been partially compensated for by an advance by 2nd Panzergruppe. However there is insufficient fuel for them for the remainder of this turn....

All in all, a bit of a disaster.

[warspite1]

30th June 1941
Army Group Centre

The Siege artillery hasn't even arrived at Brest-Litovsk [:(] and once it does it takes yet another turn to reduce the garrison. Von Bock therefore decides to try and take the city using almost the entire 4th Army. 573 vs 295 with a 200% modifier.

Had the city not fallen with that amount of effort expended Halder thinks he would have just given up - but fortunately the Soviet defenders are beaten.

9th Army spend the turn trying desperately to catch up with the panzers.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Guderian can get a 301 vs 189 attack against Minsk +40% but all attackers are tanks. If Guderian does not go for this, then there will be more time for the Soviets to reinforce the 'Mogilev Delta'. If they go for it and fail, the losses in tanks may be too much. There may be a penalty as there is no fuel left after this attack.

But IF it succeeds then there is every likelihood of a paranoia attack from Uncle Joe. With a big gulp and a knot in his stomach von Bock orders Guderian to proceed.

The plan works - the defenders retreat in good order, but Minsk is occupied. In so doing the panzers fall outside of command range but it has to be done. "Come on Uncle Joe don't let us down!" exclaims von Bock...

Its still a pretty rubbish position - von Bock simply does not understand how Western HQ has got away so quickly? But the loss of two cities this turn helps ease the pain a little... (well not really but he tries to stay positive).

[warspite1]

30th June 1941
Army Group South

To the south a five-division strong attack is employed to try and destroy four Soviet divisions holding out in Lvov. Von Stulpnagel adds a sixth as he does not want this becoming a fortress - but amazingly despite the overwhelming firepower and the state of all but one of the defenders, the city holds. Von Rundstedt feels he has no choice but to throw 1st Panzergruppe at the city. There are penalties for this but there are only two defenders left, one is out of command range and entrenchment is fairly poor. Still the city holds[&:][X(] Von Bock is so angry now he orders von Kleist to use panzers. The city falls at the third attempt but that was just ridiculous...

The nonsense around Lvov means that there is only limited action that can be taken elsewhere. Von Rundstedt orders Kempf's XLVIII Panzer Corps (two panzer and one motorised division) to operate with Koch's XLIV Corps from 6th Army to capture Rovno, while the remaining panzers and 6th Army units will head toward Tarnopol. Rovno, undefended, falls to the 13th Panzer division and the surrounding Soviet forces are then rounded up and destroyed. However, there is little that can be done further south before all fuel is expended.

[warspite1]

30th June 1941
Army Group South (South)

12th Army have got over the water [:@]

Anyways.....

On the extreme right flank of the Axis position the Romanian 3rd Army attack two Soviet divisions and send them retreating, while north of Kishinev a mixed Romanian/German force force three Soviet divisions to retreat north, still on the left bank of the Dneistr.

The final attack is made against units south of Kishinev by 11th Army. The Soviets are beaten back but the Germans are nowhere near being in a position to cross the Dneistr and once again my opponent seems to be able to frustrate my every move.

[warspite1]

30th June 1941
Decisions

- Einsatztruppen (3pp) I turn a blind eye to this.
- Oil (8pp) Request priority refining capacity.
- Austrian oil (0pp) I take a neutral stance to save pp
- Rail infrastructure AGS sector (8pp) I agree it needs attention
- Signalling in AGN sector (5pp) I agree it needs attention
- Trucks in AGN sector (0pp) I agree with the army to keep von Leeb sweet
- Same in AGS sector (0pp) to stay onside with von Rundstedt
- Expensive but I spend (13pp) to keep the Fuhrer happy and I get a nice shiny medal too.
- More expense but (7pp) required to fight for a commendation to keep von Bock off my back
- Do not move FSB in AGC sector (0pp)

[Tweedledumb]

Thanks for the AAR!

Are you playing 1.01 or 1.02?

[warspite1]

Its a masterclass in how not to play I'm afraid....

I am using 1.01.

[warspite1]

4th July 1941
Army Group North

Its all going horribly wrong on all fronts. To not be able to attack while the Soviets are changing posture is just so frustrating. I can't help but think the Germans have missed their opportunity. Oh well.

First things first is to clear the Soviets from Kaunas. I am so lacking in confidence about any attack I probably use too much force - but I just cannot afford another turn with the city in enemy hands.

Fuel is an issue so there is nothing much PzG 4 can do but sit around. 4th July and still south of the Dvina....

Army Group Centre

PzG 3 use the majority of the army group's fuel to clear out most of the remnants of 3rd Army but are still some way short of Polotsk. The two infantry armies make their way slowly to the front but are miles behind. As a result, with the Soviets established in the 'Mogilev Delta' even if there was sufficient fuel, they cannot really advance much beyond Minsk.

Army Group South

Much the same story.

17th Army can barely reach Tarnipol, but the couple of spearhead units that can reach cannot attack. Fortunately three divisions of 6th Army - out of position - are on hand to clear the city. However PzG 1 can only get half of their units into action and these are somewhat precariously situated. If the Soviets get good activation the panzers could well be taking a big hit.

Further south the Romanians and the bulk of the 11th Army are still tooling around west of the Dneistr. A few spearhead units cross the river east of Kishinev but cannot do anything else.

[warspite1]

8th July 1941

No screenshots again - on the basis things have hardly moved due to lack of fuel. Only in AGN sector has there been some movement as two motorised divisions have taken a chance and bounced the Dvina to cut-off Dunaburg in conjunction with an attack by a mixed infantry and armoured Corps to the west of the city.

PP are starting to run low as I try and get some sort of fuel to the panzers, but relations with von Brauchitsch, Goering and the transport geezers are really not great....

[baloo7777]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Its a masterclass in how not to play I'm afraid....

I am using 1.01.

Thank you for this masterclass...I feel your pain! [:D]

[warspite1]

12th July 1941

Once again nothing to show:

- In desperation the entire 18th Army attacked two units in Riga - one of which was changing posture, all to no effect.
- No attack possible on Dunaburg as the 16th Army had insufficient AP and the tanks could not leave their position.
- All 4th PzG could do was send a couple of armoured units north to try and take Ostrov on the march - but it was defended by a garrison unit and could not be attacked anyway.

- In the centre 2nd and 3rd PzG still messing around west of Polotsk and the Mogilev Delta with no fuel. The two infantry armies finally reach Minsk and move east. No attacks possible at all.

- In the South 1st PzG have no fuel and continue to sit around. Two units are as far away as Rovno! 6th Army and 17th Army have few AP and only the latter can get any sort of attack in. They are still some way short of Proskurow and Vinnitsa.
- No attacks possible in the 11th Army/4th Romanian sector. Only 1 attack carried out by 3rd Romanian.


Strangely none of the Army Group's had Tactical Air Support assigned?? I don't know how long that's been like that or why. I play the cards again this turn, but that is a strange one.

[AZKGungHo]

This is excellent and I'm learning a lot! Thanks.

[warspite1]

I'm not really sure what is happening with the fuel situation. I do not recall this level of problem in previous games as the Germans - but in both games I'm playing at the moment I am encountering the same problems.

When the game comes back I will look at this more closely. It may be the relations with Bill Nye, the Truck Guy (I think the train man is okay iirc) are not helping but I have only done what is necessary to keep the panzerleaders happy (so that I do not lose command focus).

I suspect there is nothing that can be done to save the game, the Soviets are well prepared defensively, bridges are blown, their losses have been minimal in the last few turns and the wall is already in evidence. But I guess it will be useful to understand why fuel remains such a problem at this stage of the game.

[warspite1]

16th July 1941
Army Group North

Wow! I mean just wow! I think this sums it up for me. Last turn I was close to taking out an almost undefended Ostrov. Well it turns out that the HQ that was sitting with the garrison unit was the HQ for a new reinforcement army. So instead of taking Ostrov, possibly the HQ and upsetting the reinforcement schedule of this army, for the sake of one turn, my units have to retreat the hell out of there.

Ho hum.....

I send 4th PzG to the army border to smack a couple of Soviet units defending behind the upper Dvina. An attack on Dunaburg fails as does an attack - albeit over water - by three infantry against a lone Soviet unit between postures.

Not much left to do than send the rest of 16th Army north of the Dvina to prepare to attack next turn.

I have told the Fuhrer that Leningrad is a rubbish place; a swamp infested mess in the summer and a place fit only for eskimoes in winter. As a result we should aim further south.... Dunaburg seems a sensible goal at this stage.

I haven't heard back on this proposal yet but I am sure The Fuhrer will see the sense in it.....

Army Group Centre

Nothing to be done here other than moving units east. The 'Mogilev Delta' has been largely evacuated (except a line north/south through Mogilev.

2nd Army is placed in Brest-Litovsk. The Soviets will have so many spare units now that they will be able to infiltrate between AGC and AGS. 2nd Army will, when formed, move east through the marshes in a bid to detect and stop any such incursion.

Army Group South

The Soviets have fallen back beyond Kiev, but with a large garrison defending the city. 6th Army move forward but cannot get close.

Not quite sure what happened here. A full strength, fully rested Hungarian cavalry attacks a Soviet unit with a power number of 6, in the open, and gets beaten.....

17th Army finally reaches Proskurow, but cannot make an attack. 1st PzG make for the gap between 6th and 17th Armies but make no attack.

4th Romanian receive a pasting against Odessa, 11th Army ignore their flanks and, despite a growing gap to the 4th, they rock up to the west bank of the Bug. Again, no attack is possible. On their left, 3rd Army cannot dispose of three out of command Soviet units that block their way over that river.

[warspite1]

20th July 1941
Army Groups North and Centre

There is little choice for 18th Army but to sit tight outside Riga and wait for the big guns. Meanwhile 16th Army capture Dunaburg (to be fair that's only about a month behind schedule so The Fuhrer won't be too unhappy with me.....).

The capture released sufficient units to take Jakobstadt. With the position on the Lower Dvina looking slightly more promising, I order 4th PzG to swing southeast to assist AGC. They clear the way for 3rd PzG to pressure Polotsk - although no attack is possible.

Meanwhile 2nd PzG are brought into the picture further south to try and put some sort of pressure on the massive wall of Soviets west of Smolensk....

I use 4th Army to try and pressurise Mogilev but prior to the attack the left flank is in a dangerous position.

I hope there are more divisions to come from 2nd Army. I have three so far....

[warspite1]

20th July 1941
Army Groups South

Proskurow falls to 17th Army and I use 1st PzG to surround 12th Army and sundry units around Vinnitsa. Fuel problems mean that liquidation of the pocket is not possible however and will have to wait.

6th Army keep a watching brief west of Kiev.

Further south its a struggle to get much of 3rd Romanian and 11th Army over the Bug. 4th Romanian have to sit this one out having taken a pasting the previous turn.

Large gaps between various units....[:(]