Thunder in the East - GC41 NEE K62 (A) vs AtAtack (S)

[K62_]

This leaves Guderian's PG2 free to focus on the Gomel direction. There is a good number of Soviet units here but they are not very strong and they get routed out of the way. Gomel falls but I can't advance much past it because of the Soviet defense being very deep. Totenkopf is redirected here for what is quickly becoming the German schwerpunkt.

guderian.JPG (151.25 KiB) Viewed 1198 times

[K62_]

All the AGS pockets have held, here's a look at the potential haul:

AGS_pockets.JPG (239.36 KiB) Viewed 1194 times

[K62_]

In the Kiev area Kleist's PG1 advances to the river on both sides of the city. There is a defensive line forming on the Dnepr here.

AGS_Kiev.JPG (156.69 KiB) Viewed 1191 times

[K62_]

The other half of Kleist's PG1 advances very aggressively in the Kirovograd direction. There are hopefully few strong Soviet divisions left under Southwestern Front currently, so the advance is conducted at regimental strength as the risk of counter-attacks is deemed minor.

AGS_Kirovograd.JPG (138.53 KiB) Viewed 1188 times

[M60A3TTS]

1. Limits on temporary motorization
I think unlimited temporary motorization is too much of an advantage for Axis in '41. You can deploy an extra motorized korps at a moment's notice on any section of the front. This is unhistorical (for multiple reasons) and makes the game very different in 1941. So I am following these two restrictions instead:
1. No temporary motorization for units smaller than regiments, Axis Allies or security troops.
2. At most one division equivalent (i.e. three regiments) can be temporarily motorized at any given time.
Even with these restrictions we should still see a noticeable impact. Overall I would prefer if this feature were not used at all, but since my opponent is completely unrestricted during future Soviet offensives I think it is only fair for me to take a bit of advantage of it as well.

Temporary motorization? Not in any game that I'll ever play. To this day I don't understand how anyone ever thought that this was a good idea.

[K62_]

In the Army Group Antonescu area, the Bessarabskaya pocket has been broken and a cavalry division made it out, aiming for the safety of a defensive line forming on the Dnestr.

recon_targets_AGA.JPG (88.71 KiB) Viewed 1184 times

However this line is not very strong yet. German infantry makes a breach in the Tiraspol area and the Romanian tank division drives through, only to find Odessa lightly defended. The Romanians take the city with help from a strong German SU, pocketing a good number of the remaining Southern Front units.

AGA.JPG (126.32 KiB) Viewed 1184 times

[K62_]

Ground losses - support.JPG (125.7 KiB) Viewed 1182 times

air losses.JPG (128.59 KiB) Viewed 1182 times

OOB.JPG (51.06 KiB) Viewed 1182 times

[K62_]

Temporary motorization? Not in any game that I'll ever play. To this day I don't understand how anyone ever thought that this was a good idea.

Just curious, do you make it a habit of mentioning this on all AARs that use some form of temporary motorization, or is this one somehow special?

[K62_]

Looking forward to your AAR, well done! Strong if at points risky opening, especially curious how it will play out in the South. Is the open pocket formed by PG1 intended to be open? With no house rules, it will be a challenge for you for sure.

Re T1 air losses: While 1:20 pilot losses, 1:16 aircraft losses are good overall, I would presume that your marginal loss ratios at the end of the T1 air effortare much worse and it may be worth to stop the air efforts sooner.

Thank you! My take is that the opening has gone quite well, especially in the South where the Soviets have lost additional forces by trying to keep the Rovno pocket open a little longer. If it was closed, they had no reason to stick around, I believe.

Yes, marginal analysis is ultimately the right approach here, but it's a lot of effort if you end up looking at every single battle. It's also made more complicated by the fact that I've used a lot of air support during T1 and a significant proportion of the bomber losses have been incurred there, as the air groups were already fatigued. For me an average will have to do, along with the knowledge that the Luftwaffe recovered quite nicely in the subsequent turns.

[K62_]

A great opening!

Thank you, I hope you enjoy the rest of the AAR as well!

[M60A3TTS]

Temporary motorization? Not in any game that I'll ever play. To this day I don't understand how anyone ever thought that this was a good idea.

Just curious, do you make it a habit of mentioning this on all AARs that use some form of temporary motorization, or is this one somehow special?

No, this one is not special. If I see it in a game, if commenting at all, I will say the same thing. But, have at it, it's just an opinion of one.

[K62_]

A sneaky Soviet tank division cuts off three panzer regiments heading for Nikolaev. This was a totally avoidable mistake on my part which leaves me scrambling a bit in this area. Fortunately some motorized regiments got high MPs and I'm able to recover by committing GD, taking Nikolaev and advancing as far as Krivoi Rog.

map Krivoi Rog.JPG (180.74 KiB) Viewed 996 times

battle Nikolaev.JPG (116.31 KiB) Viewed 996 times

[K62_]

In the Kiev area I take over the front with infantry. Kleist's PG1 is a bit overweight after the initial battles in the south and a motorized korps needs to be returned to Guderian. The link-up is achieved by taking Chernigov and cutting off the Pripyat marshes.

map Chernigov Kiev.JPG (151.75 KiB) Viewed 994 times

[K62_]

Guderian's PG2 is headed for Bryansk this turn, but first it has to deal with the pesky 248th Rifle Division. After no less than 4 attacks the Soviet division finally retreats in good order.

battle 248RD 4th battle.JPG (111.25 KiB) Viewed 992 times

SS Wiking moves into the gap and finds Bryansk itself lightly defended.

battle Bryansk.JPG (111.97 KiB) Viewed 992 times

[K62_]

Hoth's PG3 steps sideways to link up with Guderian in the Bryansk area.

map Bryansk Gomel.JPG (172.67 KiB) Viewed 990 times

[K62_]

The Smolensk area is rather quiet, aside from pocketing three Soviet divisions around Vitebsk.

map VL Smolensk.JPG (173.39 KiB) Viewed 987 times

[K62_]

AGN isolates Tallin by land and starts preparing for an assault. The Pskov line is very strong, I can't even cross the river yet.

map tallinn pskov.JPG (197.85 KiB) Viewed 981 times

[K62_]

loss ground.JPG (115.5 KiB) Viewed 979 times

loss air.JPG (134.03 KiB) Viewed 979 times

loss units.JPG (72.69 KiB) Viewed 979 times

oob.JPG (55.2 KiB) Viewed 979 times

[K62_]

Starting to get some serious rain:

weather current.JPG (96.11 KiB) Viewed 870 times

There should be light mud across the entire front next turn:

weather estimated.JPG (98.96 KiB) Viewed 870 times

[K62_]

Naval interdiction fails at Tallinn because the AI decides to send in Stukas with drop tanks instead of the patrol aircraft:

battle NI issues.JPG (101 KiB) Viewed 865 times

So I attack without the city being isolated. The 600mm siege mortars do stellar work. The naval brigade routs away, but the infantry division retreats to the adjacent hex and will be bagged next turn:

battle Tallinn.JPG (156.62 KiB) Viewed 865 times