SCARZ (Axis) vs. AURELIAN (Soviet)

[Scarz]

"How are your ground losses/kills looking?

Keep up the great work"




Thanks, I appreciate the kind words.

I have those figures, but won't be providing them till turn 6. I am a few turns behind from the game, so I don't give anything away, and didn't think to capture that info during these early turns.

[Scarz]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

Looks like you are doing pretty well....keep pocketing units.

I do think your AGS opening could've been better, particularly in that you didn't clear the double-track rail line to Lvov; clearing that makes your RR plan easier. But it looks like you are recovering nicely down there, couple big pockets.

Yes, I feel a little behind on the AGS main rail line. Do you go straight for Lvov on turn 1? I have never tried that, can it be captured on turn 1?

[821Bobo]

ORIGINAL: Scarz

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

Looks like you are doing pretty well....keep pocketing units.

I do think your AGS opening could've been better, particularly in that you didn't clear the double-track rail line to Lvov; clearing that makes your RR plan easier. But it looks like you are recovering nicely down there, couple big pockets.

Yes, I feel a little behind on the AGS main rail line. Do you go straight for Lvov on turn 1? I have never tried that, can it be captured on turn 1?

Yes there is only AT brigade in Lvov and can be easily taken.

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: 821Bobo

ORIGINAL: Scarz

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

Looks like you are doing pretty well....keep pocketing units.

I do think your AGS opening could've been better, particularly in that you didn't clear the double-track rail line to Lvov; clearing that makes your RR plan easier. But it looks like you are recovering nicely down there, couple big pockets.

Yes, I feel a little behind on the AGS main rail line. Do you go straight for Lvov on turn 1? I have never tried that, can it be captured on turn 1?

Yes there is only AT brigade in Lvov and can be easily taken.

Yes, and you don't even need any Panzers to clear the whole line....a couple infantry units are able to march to Lvov no problem. It should be taken Turn 1.

But looks like you're doing fine anyway...those pockets have quite a few units stacked in them

[Scarz]

TURN 4

AGN – A very slow turn for 4 Pz Grp, as the panzers have pushed nonstop since the beginning of the invasion. I considered pushing them for one more turn towards Soltsy, but finally decided they needed a bit of a rest. Factoring into his decision was the fact that 16 Army diverted two corps to the Idritsa Pocket with only XXVIII Corps closing in support. 18 Army is still moving up and pushing a corps towards Valga.

[Scarz]

AGC – 3 Pz Grp (XXXIX Mot Corps) moved up to the land bridge with the idea of taking Vitebsk. However, the Russians have some really strong forces in the area. I counted three tank and one mechanized divisions, in addition to several dug in infantry divisions, that would need to be cleared and I didn’t want the panzers to be forced to fight through these strong forces. With the infantry from 9 Army is just now arriving, so my choice was to rest the panzers another turn, or try to skirt the position.

[Scarz]

LVII Mot Corps continued to hold Velikie Luki. 2 Army is moving east at speed and is currently planning to follow 2 Pz Grp.

[Scarz]

LIII Corps (3 Pz Grp) made the initial clearing assaults allowing XXXIX Mot Corps to cross the Dnepr at Orsha.

[Scarz]

Per my original plan, 2 Pz Grp forced a crossing at Zhlobin and swung in behind a large portion of the Russian Dnepr River defense centered at Mogilev. Unfortunately, the pocket is very loose and probably won’t hold as there is a 30 KM gap between 2 and 3 Pz Grps just south of Krasnoe. However, I may be able to force an evacuation of the land bridge by threating to move on Smolensk from the south. If the Russians sit tight, it may present a chance at cutting in behind them. Finally three infantry corps from 4 Army and XII Corps (2 Pz Grp) is very close to the bridgehead and ready to stream across the river towards Gomel.

[Scarz]

AGS – The Russian forces around Shepetovka pulled back towards Kiev. Unfortunately, contending with three separate pockets was just too much, so I didn’t push 1 Pz Grp towards Kiev or further east for Cherkassy (my expected southern Dnepr crossing site). However, 1 Pz Grp is fairly well concentrated now and will be ready for another deep lunge either next turn or the following.

[Scarz]

I need to clear the two pockets quickly to free 17 Army to support 1 Pz Grp. 6 Army will advance on Kiev.

[Scarz]

Army Grp Anton – The Rumanian units of 3 Rum Army are supporting AGS with reducing the pockets, while 4 Rum Army continues to chase the Russian units in the Odessa direction. XI Corps and the Rum Cavalry Corps continue to push eastward into open space.

[Scarz]

Air War – I continue to lose recon planes at too high of a rate. I lost 47 this turn. I must rest them next turn if possible. The Russians continued with focused interdiction missions aimed at 4 Pz Grp’s and LVII Mot Corps. The Russian bombers only lost 96 bombers, even though JG 53 was stationed in Polotsk a mere 20-30 km away.

[DeletedUser1769703214]

ORIGINAL: Scarz

Air War – I continue to lose recon planes at too high of a rate. I lost 47 this turn. I must rest them next turn if possible. The Russians continued with focused interdiction missions aimed at 4 Pz Grp’s and LVII Mot Corps. The Russian bombers only lost 96 bombers, even though JG 53 was stationed in Polotsk a mere 20-30 km away.

Do you have your last Air Directive you used for this turn?

[Scarz]

ORIGINAL: HardLuckYetAgain

ORIGINAL: Scarz

Air War – I continue to lose recon planes at too high of a rate. I lost 47 this turn. I must rest them next turn if possible. The Russians continued with focused interdiction missions aimed at 4 Pz Grp’s and LVII Mot Corps. The Russian bombers only lost 96 bombers, even though JG 53 was stationed in Polotsk a mere 20-30 km away.

Do you have your last Air Directive you used for this turn?

I don't, but I have not changed the settings since turn 1, and didn't fly any missions this turn except a few ground support. Do you think my issue is in the settings?

[Scarz]

TURN 5

AGN – XXXVIII Corps and 101 Sec move northward into Estonia and meet no resistance. Parnu falls without a fight, which should help the supply situation for XXXVIII Corps which will be tasked with clearing up to Tallinn.
Pskov is defended by a border regiment and two unknown units. I am tempted to try a direct assault, as there is still a VP bonus, and I Corps has moved into position.

4 Pz Grp has rested for a turn, and has gained some prep points and reduced its fatigue. While I am tempted to rest Hoepner’s panzers another turn and allow XXVIII Corps (16 A) to move up and make the initial assault next turn, I think that may be too slow. If possible, I would like to see 4 Pz Grp move to Shimsk before the Russians can bring in more troops. After much consideration, 4 Pz Grp pushed northeast and captured Shimsk. However, resistance was stiff and one lone Russian division resisted two assaults from the march, and Totenkopf was forced to clear the division. This attack will really necessitate a pause for 4 Pz Grp. I will need to wait for 16 Army to bring up its infantry before more progress can be made.
On the Brightside Pskov was successfully assaulted by I Corps. But none of the I Corps divisions had any movement left to occupy the city, so I am unsure if I will immediately lose the VPs if it is re-occupied by the Russians.

Sadly the Russians were able to relieve the Idritsa Pocket. This is an unfortunate time waste, and is tying up two whole Corps from 16 Army. If it was a smaller pocket, I could have probably moved off with one of the corps. X Corps was tasked with garrisoning Velikie Luki, to free 12 Pz Div, while maintaining the northeast portion of the pocket.

[Scarz]

AGC – As predicted, the Russian defenses in the land bridge have pulled back and abandoned Vitebsk without a fight. The Russians were also able to relieve the Mogilev pocket at Krichev (but not at the big gap where I was concerned last turn). 9 Army is still moving toward the front lines, and I will send two corps into the land bridge while one corps approaches Smolensk from the south and one from the north of Vitebsk.

3 Pz Grp will rest this turn, and allow the infantry to make the initial assaults next turn. This may be a little conservative, but I am trying to conserve the panzers as much as possible. Additionally, LIII Corps (2 PG) will move toward Smolensk from the south and be prepared to open the way with the 9 Army infantry next turn.

[Scarz]

2 Pz Grp closed the Russian penetration, thus sealing the Mogilev Pocket once again. XII Corps (2 PG) captured Gomel without a fight, while the 4 Army infantry sealed the southwestern portion of the pocket and pushed forces forward toward Gomel. XXXXVI Mot Corps rested this turn, and I have ideas of using it to swing south and cut in behind the Russian forces defending Kiev. However, I will only consider this diversion if there is a chance of bagging a lot of Russian forces.

The 1 Cav Div and 102 Security continue to clear the rail line and northern part of the marshes and 2 Army hurries forward.

[Scarz]

Smolensk AO

[Scarz]

AGS – My plan is to have 6 Army push for Kiev while 1 Pz Grp moves directly eastward and looks for a crossing at Cherkassy or a bit further east. 16 Army will be tied up reducing the final two pockets so 1 Pz Grp will need to be a bit more cautious on its moves east as it has no supporting infantry.

The pocket reductions are moving along at a good clip, just a few divisions left in the final of the three initial pockets. The Rum Cav Corps and XXXXVI Mot Corps isolated a few divisions forming a defense in front of XI Corps (11 A). The Russian defenses in the south seem to have become unhinged, although there is still be a strong concentration around Kiev, but very little south or along the Dnepr. XIV Mot Corps raced ahead and captured Cherkassy, but they lacked movement range due to petrol shortages as they are far from their depot. I am going to keep III Mot Corps in reserve and allow the panzers a little rest, while also being ready to commit the corps to assist 6 Army as it closes in on Kiev.