Summer 42: Fall Blau - GC41 Rosencrantus (A) vs Tyronec, jubjub (S)

[Rosencrantus]

AGN:

AGN.JPG (438.14 KiB) Viewed 2810 times

PG 4 pushes towards Novgorod in an attempt to out flank the Soviet units in the well dug in terrain. The most important part of maintaining a steady advance especially in the north with the rough terrain is to ensure that many units are resting and that you use ZOC and terrain to hold whatever gains you get.

AGS:

AGS.JPG (314.9 KiB) Viewed 2810 times

vin.JPG (942.57 KiB) Viewed 2810 times

PG1 fans out into ukraine. The encirclement at Vinnitsa is cleared. 60,000 men lost. See how many units are resting. Looking back now, I honestly think I might have left my panzer units a bit too vulnerable at the front as they are in regiments... But I believed that GS would save the day against any Soviet offensive.

[Rosencrantus]

AGA:

odessa.JPG (147.46 KiB) Viewed 2807 times

Odessa is placed under siege by Army Group Antonescu. Naval only bombers have already been relocated from LF1 to LF4. AS and NP directives begin this turn in the hopes of securing isolation and taking the city in one fell swoop next turn.

Losses:

g.JPG (34.13 KiB) Viewed 2807 times

Forgot to take a screenshot of the air losses but they are substantially lower than the previous turn, around 100-125 total probably. Ground losses are another story, with the combat around the front and the encirclements being cleared, the Soviets suffered a total of 284,147 losses, 236,922 being permanent losses.

[Rosencrantus]

T6 - July 27, 1941

AGC:

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Grandstrat.JPG (384.78 KiB) Viewed 2803 times

Tyronec was probably expecting a drive towards Moscow, and as a result a panzer corps breaks out into the open towards the south. From my experience in every competitive AAR that I've read, every immediate drive on Moscow gets stalled from the difficult terrain and the overextended flanks. With the very stubborn Soviet resistance in the South, I decided instead to send PG2 south in the clear terrain to outflank the Soviets on the Dniper river and open up the map for a drive on all the city objectives in the South (Orel - Stalino line) and perhaps even Moscow later on...

gomel.JPG (73.49 KiB) Viewed 2795 times

Gomel was also taken.

AGN:

AGN.JPG (402.11 KiB) Viewed 2803 times

PG1 secures more double rail line and I managed to capture my primary objective for the turn, Luga. I even got my secondary objective, Novgorod.

[Rosencrantus]

VLbat.JPG (96 KiB) Viewed 2797 times

VL.JPG (212.56 KiB) Viewed 2797 times

The city of Velikie Luki is taken. An FBD unit will soon be spared to repair the double rail line to the city.

rail.JPG (375.63 KiB) Viewed 2797 times

Speaking of rail lines, the R.A.D units have repaired major parts of the rail network in the north. I also sent the FBD4 to Dno instead of the main double rail line to maximise the amount of important rail repaired as the unit wouldn't get admin movement for a lot of the newly occupied hexes.

[Rosencrantus]

AGS:

AGS.JPG (286.1 KiB) Viewed 2796 times

PG1 continues advance into Ukraine and infantry reaches Kiev but finds it heavily defended. At this point I was beginning to worry a bit as I only ever advanced as far as he retreated. I'm gaining territory yes, but I am fighting on his terms and as the Axis you need to take the initiative as much as possible to maximise your 41 campaign.

AGA:

AGA.JPG (246.74 KiB) Viewed 2796 times

The VVS breaks the isolation attempt of Odessa, the LW makes another effort to isolate the city while 11A and 4th Rum. Army are resting and preparing for the assault.

[Rosencrantus]

State of the Front:

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trace.JPG (480.4 KiB) Viewed 2794 times

Here's the image of the front at the end of turn 6. Very good progress, but the rapid advance have left my supply lines extremely overstretched. The only respite I get is the fact that most of the supply comes from only a few depots so hopefully these issues resolve once I get more rail repaired.

g.JPG (38.09 KiB) Viewed 2794 times

a.JPG (55.8 KiB) Viewed 2794 times

[Rosencrantus]

T9 - August 17, 1941

AGC:

kiev.JPG (198.54 KiB) Viewed 2714 times

With the diverting of PG2 to the south a huge salient has been formed between AGS and AGC. History is about to repeat itself as PG2 and PG1 encircle massive amounts of troops near Kiev. At least 20 divisions. This definitely could have been avoided if I haven't gotten significant ground past the Dnieper in the south but Tyronec abandoned the river positions as soon as I grabbed a hex over the river, a bit early in my opinion. Stuffing the bridgehead and preventing a breakout from the one hex would have allowed him to hold the river positions longer, in my opinion at least.

Kievencircl.JPG (234.36 KiB) Viewed 2714 times

Soviets also launch their first major counter-attack of the war, coincidentally at Yelnya. I have temporarily halted the advance to Moscow sending a panzer corps of PG3 to the North and one to PG2 back around T7.

Smolen.JPG (153.48 KiB) Viewed 2714 times

[Rosencrantus]

AGN:

4 more Soviet divisions will be encircled next turn as they have been ZOCed in AGN.

agn.JPG (185.58 KiB) Viewed 2709 times

So far supply has been ok for now as I just super depoted at Gomel and due to the now slow advance in the north, FBD4 from AGN has been relocated to repair the Gomel-Kursk line. With FBD2 repairing from Gomel-Orel. All rail repairs in the North now will be handled by the R.A.D groups.

trace.JPG (300.06 KiB) Viewed 2700 times

rail.JPG (204.13 KiB) Viewed 2700 times

[Rosencrantus]

T11 - August 31, 1941

AGC:

AGC.JPG (215.01 KiB) Viewed 2705 times

The Kiev pocket can finally begin to be cleared and significant surrenders are secured. The panzer corps sent to PG 2 from PG3 is returned in preparation for Op. Typhoon. PG2 and 4th Army are able to encircle Bryansk. Practically all of AGC will be resting for CPP and gathering supplies for the next few turns until the final phase of Barbarossa commences with the final target being Moscow and all the cities surrounding it: Rzhev, Kalinin, Orel, Tula.

AGS:

SOUTH.JPG (366.13 KiB) Viewed 2705 times

AGS meets weak opposition with the destruction of so many divisions in the South and are already at the gates of Kharkov.

AGN:

AGN.JPG (207.45 KiB) Viewed 2705 times

40,000 men are captured in the 4 division pocket formed from AGN. PG4 captured Kolpino and is inching towards cutting Leningrad off by land.

Losses:

g.JPG (37.4 KiB) Viewed 2705 times

With so many surrenders being secured this turn, Soviet losses are very high, see for yourself.

[DesertedFox]

Wow, nice work!

[loki100]

agree, seems you have managed that hard balancing act of keeping the Soviets off balance, lots of pockets and a decent supply net ...chapeau

[tyronec]

Yes Rosencrantus has outplayed me this game with a couple of large pockets keeping the Soviet army below 3M throughout the summer. I think my chances of survival are slim but will play on to see what happens.

[Rosencrantus]

Yes Rosencrantus has outplayed me this game with a couple of large pockets keeping the Soviet army below 3M throughout the summer. I think my chances of survival are slim but will play on to see what happens.

I think you overestimate German logistics my friend . I'll still do my worst though.

[Rosencrantus]

T13 - September 14, 1941:

Operation Typhoon:

Here is a breakdown of the forces at the beginning of Typhoon, the final phase of the 41 campaigning season. I am starting it 2 turns earlier than historically, hopefully that'll give me more time to hurt the red army before the October mud comes around.

AGC:

Typhoon.JPG (396.91 KiB) Viewed 2453 times

Totaloob.JPG (112.88 KiB) Viewed 2454 times

AGC consists of 1,126,535 men, 10,638 guns, and 2,212 AFVs. PG2 will push for Orel, Tula and beyond while PG3 will be leading the main thrust towards Rzhev, Kalinin, and Moscow. They consist of 791 AFV's and 1,371 AFV's respectively. The main goal is to have both PGs linked up an encirclement at Moscow but that is very optimistic. In addition the panzer divisions sent from PG3 to PG4 have been/is returning to PG3.

LF2.JPG (232.94 KiB) Viewed 2454 times

AGC is supported by Luftflotte 2's 765 aircraft consisting of 225 fighter aircraft, 400 bombers, and 140 support aircraft.

AGN's 16th Army also is holding AGC's northern flank while AGS's 2nd Army is holding the southern flank.

fregiht.JPG (68.02 KiB) Viewed 2454 times

Logistics for AGC are fine right now (but a struggle elsewhere), as FBDs have been allocated to make super depots. This will change once more rail needs to be repaired.

Let this final decisive campaign begin.

[DesertedFox]

Hi Rosencrantus,

Appreciate the update. What's the situation with AG North?

[Rosencrantus]

Air Phase and Battle:

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Air reconnaissance reveals that Soviet forces are quite in depth and in entrenched positions near vyazma while the south of Orel is much more scarcely defended.

attacks.JPG (296.05 KiB) Viewed 2442 times

Smolensk - Moscow axis:

However my infantry divisions have rested for a few turns and are more than capable of defeating the entrenched units along with their reserve activations. Still the depth of the Soviet defenses PG3 is facing prevents a breakthrough and my encirclement south of Vyazma fails. Soviet armour takes a heavy beating though.

Bryansk - Tula Axis:

PG2 breakthrough the Soviet line out into the plains near Orel and surround the city. I'm hoping that I can outflank the Soviets in the strong defensive terrain north of Bryansk and force them to give up those positions.

[Rosencrantus]

AGN:

AGN2.JPG (174.82 KiB) Viewed 2440 times

Pushkin.JPG (77.74 KiB) Viewed 2440 times

Pushkin has been taken after a ferocious battle. Logistics here are starting to become a real pain, there is simply not enough freight being sent in. Despite this AGN is making progress towards cutting off Leningrad via Shlisselburg.

AGS:

AGS.JPG (124.95 KiB) Viewed 2440 times

AGS captures Kharkov after finding it abandoned and is rushing a FBD to its level 9 railyard. PG1 pushes towards Stalino.

[Rosencrantus]

AGA:

Here's an update on Crimea and the battles of 4th Rum. Army and 11th Armee.

crim.JPG (219.86 KiB) Viewed 2436 times

crim2.JPG (231.58 KiB) Viewed 2436 times

Both the choke points at entrance of the peninsula have been soundly defeated by my divisions I have been resting for turns to get up to near 100 CPP along with massive amounts of GS. I've also allocated both the Hungarian motorised brigades to the advance to ensure that I have at least some motorised troops in the area.

Quick question, would Hungarian units be able to help out Romanian units in a reserve activation or vice versa? I'm not exactly sure if a reserve pop makes the unit essentially on the same hex as the unit being reinforced.

Losses:

With the intensity of the fighting picking up again, losses have shot up, 201 AFV's were lost and 340 aircraft lost. (Don't have a screenshot forgot to take one ).

Soviet AFV losses were 1,295.

[Rosencrantus]

T14 - September 21, 1941

AGC:

AGC.PNG (2.55 MiB) Viewed 2368 times

Smolensk - Moscow axis:

Heavy fighting continues, some units were left in the salient that formed the turn earlier and a pocket of 4 divisions have been created. At this point I was getting a bit worried as the Soviet line has withstood 2 turns of all out assault and a real breakthrough hasn't even happened yet.

Orel - Tula axis:

As hoped, the Soviet positions north of Bryansk have been abandoned and I march over their former positions freely. PG2 continues the advance towards Tula knocking aside any screening forces. Orel has also been captured.

AGS:

AGS.PNG (1.83 MiB) Viewed 2368 times

A panzer corps of PG1 breakthroughs a portion of the line in front of Stalino, outflanking the forces north and south of them. I expected Tyronec to withdraw to the river line at Stalino.

Losses:

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a.PNG (322.99 KiB) Viewed 2368 times

Losses to be frank, are quite high, for both sides. This turn alone I lost 20% of my total AFV losses this entire campaign and suffered the most amount of men killed. Soviets aren't doing so amazing either, they lost 1,314 AFVs and have lost over 130k men. Fighter shortages in AGN also led to substantial bomber assets being shot down during a GS mission.

[Rosencrantus]

T15 - September 28, 1941

AGC:

AGC.PNG (2.67 MiB) Viewed 2280 times

Smolensk - Moscow:

Soviets must have been feeling the pressure from the relentless attacks the previous 2 turns. They abandon Vyazma and when a panzer corps drive on Rzhev they find it lightly defended and seize it. Supply is alright for PG3.

Orel - Tula:

Forward forces cross the Ula river while majority of PG2 rest for the turn. Supply issues are now beginning to seriously cripple my advance, my units are set on priority 2 and still even meeting the needs set for that level.

Let's take a look at my rail net.

This game I prioritized pushing rail as far as possible, while repairing as many lvl2+ railyards when they weren't out of the way.

AGN:

AGNrail.PNG (3.47 MiB) Viewed 2280 times

R.A.D units have been dealing with rail repairs for AGN since about T7. It was a pain in the beginning as AGN advance was still relatively quick, but with the now slower advance, the extra FBD repairing rail elsewhere at a rapid pace in my opinion is well worth it. All the intact rail in the baltics have now been repaired by R.A.Ds into a pretty good rail network.

AGC:

railAGC.PNG (3.3 MiB) Viewed 2280 times

The FBD from AGN was sent to repair the Gomel - Kursk line and afterwards can be sent anywhere to repair more rail.

AGS:

Rail.PNG (2.57 MiB) Viewed 2280 times

Note as Kiev was too large of a diversion from the main double rail leading to D-town, a single R.A.D unit repaired the rail to Kiev slowly over the turns.

Now that we are on T21 (which I'll show later), I am quite happy with my rail network with the rail connections between army groups being the only real rail network issues I have yet to fix.