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T6 Kiev

Some minor pockets on the steppes, otherwise forming up to cross the Dniepr next week.

T6 Smolensk

[Insert obligatory Axis grumble about July rain]

It always happens at least once, not a drama. Needed a relatively slow consolidation week anyway, clearing out the small pockets and shifting the front a few easy miles.

T6 Pskov

Can't afford to slow down much here though and the railhead is right up with us anyway so grinding on to try to create some attrition and momentum. Letting the Soviets dig in here to level 2 would be more painful for sure.

The Narva line is already stacking up and I suspect he is committing reserves to the Leningrad theatre significantly more than the others. But maybe it always feels that way...

ORIGINAL: Gunnulf

T6 Pskov

Can't afford to slow down much here though and the railhead is right up with us anyway so grinding on to try to create some attrition and momentum. Letting the Soviets dig in here to level 2 would be more painful for sure.

The Narva line is already stacking up and I suspect he is committing reserves to the Leningrad theatre significantly more than the others. But maybe it always feels that way...

To get to Level 2 fort can't be in an Assualt HQ. Thus if this front is an Assualt HQ they won't dig beyond level 1. I have seen this in my games and take advantage of only level 1 forts. Soviets should have non-assualt HQ's digging in the hex in my opinion which the Soviets will learn soon enough Thus I bet those entrenchments won't go past level 1.

If you hover over the Soviet units you should see no more than, "Fort 1 10%. If the fort is over 10% the unit is in a non-Assualt HQ and will go to level 2 fort with time That is how you can tell. Check out the front line and let us readers know.

Curious and it may not be the case. But it looks like you attacked the hex with the orange arrow pointing to it but was unable to occupy the hex, correct? My recommendation if that is the case is to break down the Germans into regiments and not attack with all of them only the amount of what you think is needed for the attack. That way you can occupy the hex you just fought so hard for.

The Germans are all about finesse & learning how much to attack with when and where is key. Why attack a hex with a division when two German Regiments will work? You are doing very well so far Gunnulf, I like the progress

It's good advice of course, I think from memory I had just enough MP to put in a division attack at the end of its reach, but I wasn't sure a regiment would have enough left to get into that hex after so I decided to give it a solid whack and cause as many casualties as possible whenever possible If he came back wanting more in an unfortified hex next turn then all the better. Plus, and maybe I'm wrong on this though, given that I owned the hex to start with, and finish not in contact, it's marginally better for this units CPP recovery?

ORIGINAL: Gunnulf

It's good advice of course, I think from memory I had just enough MP to put in a division attack at the end of its reach, but I wasn't sure a regiment would have enough left to get into that hex after so I decided to give it a solid whack and cause as many casualties as possible whenever possible If he came back wanting more in an unfortified hex next turn then all the better. Plus, and maybe I'm wrong on this though, given that I owned the hex to start with, and finish not in contact, it's marginally better for this units CPP recovery?

yes, I've started to do a few attacks to clear surrounding hexes to generate the CPP bonus (but be careful to check you owned the hex you occup at the start of the turn).

really it depends on how many SMP you have left. One set up is no move, just attack so lets say your CPP dips from 80 to 40 due to the attack. Sit and get the full bonus (ie assault HQ and no adjacency), you'll get 24 CPP back, so the net cost is around 15.

I've found this can set the basis for a rolling offensive with either a strong German infantry army or a Soviet front.

Very nice AAR thank you.

T7 AGN

The grind north continues, slowly taking chunks out of the front line defenders. The railhead is well advanced to support this rather than setting up a super-depot at Pskov, time will tell which choice was better, but we are making ok progress. Already getting a feeling that Stavka has put particular attention on sending initial reserves and the Narva line is particularly thick with units. I'm sure we'll get through but not a 1 week job for sure. If he's strong here he must be weak somewhere else (although it never feels like the Red Army is short anywhere from now on of course! Certainly a lot of air support up here so we bring in a 2nd JG to counter this and make sure we don't burn out of fighters.

T7 AGC

Two thrusts in the centre (which goes against many principles of war of course...) with 9 Armee and 2 PzGruppe grinding hard on the main axis while 3 PzGruppe swings east for the moment. Again the railhead pretty advanced on the main axis but the others will have to survive on sandwiches for a while at least.

T7 AGS

17th Army launches across the Dnepr, reasonable opposition but nothing to stop a determined attack. 1 PzGruppe exploits the bridgehead and almost closes the pocket behind Kiev but 6th Armee isn't quite able to close the gap in one week leaving a small escape route through the swamps to the north. Quietly confident at least an Army size pocket will be trapped by ZOC though in that difficult terrain. Elsewhere some minor pockets formed elsewhere on the steppes, but relatively weak units I think so but a huge bag.

What are the OOBs like, how many men do Soviets have in the field at this point?

His OOB is in reasonable shape, while I have pocketed a few units he is blocking and withdrawing in a professional manner and is well below historical losses I'm sure. I was going to a review around the T10 mark which is just going on right now, but essentially by this stage the Red Army had lost circa 1.6million including just under 1 million PoWs. Not too bad for me, but certainly not a disaster for him I'm sure, and after Kiev the prospects for big pockets are going to be thin I'm sure...

ORIGINAL: Gunnulf

T7 AGS

17th Army launches across the Dnepr, reasonable opposition but nothing to stop a determined attack. 1 PzGruppe exploits the bridgehead and almost closes the pocket behind Kiev but 6th Armee isn't quite able to close the gap in one week leaving a small escape route through the swamps to the north. Quietly confident at least an Army size pocket will be trapped by ZOC though in that difficult terrain. Elsewhere some minor pockets formed elsewhere on the steppes, but relatively weak units I think so but a huge bag.

OH! Very nice. Soviets stayed too long at Kiev. Pockets small and quickly finished & Kiev can be closed next turn. Small bit size morsels turn into a feast after a few turns Good job Gunnulf.

Looking good in the Centre and the South. Where did you send FBD3 after Minsk?

In the centre my two railheads have nearly reached Rzhev and Byransk. Not sure yet whether to then go Tula to direction to double up support for the Moscow or to head for Kursk to get a better supply situation overall for winter in this area...

Heavy mud will start appearing around Moscow on ~ turn 17, so if you want to give it a shot now's the time.

How is your supply looking overall, from the supply screen?

T11 summary

I'm going to timewarp a little ahead for a supply/Orbat summary as we are running a few turns ahead for OpSec reasons. In short I think things are going reasonably well, neither outstanding nor disastrous for either side. I am keeping his army slightly below 5 million for the moment thanks to pockets and general attrition. We've captured 20k trucks so thats going to help a bit. air losses are running at 5-1 which seems ok, but its AI so I only have some control over locations and when to call ground support. I've had a few nasty moments with bombers getting caught out but overall he is losing fighters quite often I think.

Supply-wise the railheads are pretty much where I would hope them to be, although finding the time to get Veluke Luki linked up would be nice, but is a luxury that will have to wait a while. Most armies are getting a reasonable flow of supplies, but of course more would be nice in places. It would be good I think to get Orel pushing supplies north before long to take some pressure off the main axis. We'll see...

Time-warp done, I'll revert to map updates for T8 soon.