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Start Turn 8 - Failure on the Emajõgi

Manstein's 56PzK stopped for two turns by the brave men of the 118 Rifle Division. No Daugavpils type coup de main here. Hello, Erich? Please hold for Herr Hoepner.

I'll bring up the 24TD of the 10MK sitting behind the 188RD as a Tactical Reserve (and hope its 30% proficiency doesn't ruin the fun). They'll probably both get destroyed but worth it.

The battle for Estonia continues.

Turn 8 - Leningrad Front
I've decided to reinforce what I'll now start calling the Leningrad Front. The actual Front HQ unit is stuck in Garrison mode outside Leningrad, the 8A HQ was eliminated in June with no indicator of when it will return, and, the 55A HQ doesn't arrive for a month so I'm using the North West Front HQ to have some HQ benefits in the area.

I was looking at the map and saw how extremely unfavorable the terrain is to a Panzer Group, so I'll turn it into a densely fortified grind - bringing the 55A and three Opolcheniye divisions forward and transferring the 49A from the Western Front to dig in behind the Narva. The 49A may end up crossing the Narva to further stiffen the Front and it would get replaced in the line by the 54A currently assembling east of Leningrad.

To support the 8A first echelon under assault I shifted the 10MK and a Naval brigade from the Coastal Operational Group. The 10RD was cut off, but by backing it with the 21TD and 1 Naval Brigade I'm hoping to give it a fighting chance into turn 9. I'll see what Elmer has to say about the 8A, the battle for Tallinn, and the arrival of the German 18A and it's infantry divisions soon enough.

Thanks a lot! I understand that on the Excel you are moving manually the Army IDs rather than automatically using a script to read the HQ position of each Army to be mapped on the Excel map. It is fine. I like white/light color map background, looks like boardgame

Cpl GAC wrote: Tue Oct 15, 2024 5:55 pm fulcrum - here's the thread and downloads on the light map look; https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... 6&t=404758

In this thread Cathar1244 and I discuss how to add the map background to a spreadsheet; https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... 4#p5035074

Here's the map if you want to try it; https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/bclouk0t ... nxnu8&dl=0

I did it in paint.net...I think. Sorry I don't remember all the steps. Exporting it from the game was quirky - I remember that part.

The unit #s - I do in Google Slides and download as transparent background pngs. Then I upload them as images to the spreadsheet and drag-and-drop and resize as needed - its a fantastic way to track formations and their movement.

Correct - I create images of the formation IDs and in the spreadsheet select Insert=>Image. Then it becomes drag & drop; I'm putting the map image on a spreadsheet as a background and then adding formation ID images "over cell"s, which I can move around as needed on the spreadsheet. I play with 2 screens—TOAW open on one and the formations map on the other. The map is a very good indicator of my plan and the situation. When armies are assembling or rebuilding, I shrink the image's size as a reminder that it's not front-line ready.

Once you have all the "pieces" it is just like resetting a game board after play; I push the not yet-in-play or destroyed formations east of Moscow to drag into play as needed;
Also - you can see the 10A rebuilding around Tula on the left side.

Point of clarity - this is a screenshot of the game in play where I added marks and images (which were already created for my excel map) to the screenshot. It is not the same as the above comment showing the screenshot of my excel planning map;

Turn 8 - destruction of the 12A

Surprise - the German 17th A is moving between the 12A and 9A and elements of the 48th PzK have swung southwest threatening to encircle the bulk of the 12A. The 2MK has moved north to break the encirclement; The 11TD and 16TD will attack the 454 Sicherungs Division in the 2nd round while the 15MechD digs in to stop the 48th PzK drive. SS Wiking is engaging the northern side of the pocket to prevent the units from retreating out. Reorganization hinders a concerted breakout.

Thank you! I understand.
By the way, this scenario Russo-German war is designed to be played as Soviet Human against computer Elmer German opponent right? is it not adjusted to be played as German human right?

Cpl GAC wrote: Mon Oct 28, 2024 12:29 pm Correct - I create images of the formation IDs and in the spreadsheet select Insert=>Image. Then it becomes drag & drop;
56pzk.png
5 ShA.png
5A.png
5MK.png

I'm putting the map image on a spreadsheet as a background and then adding formation ID images "over cell"s, which I can move around as needed on the spreadsheet. I play with 2 screens—TOAW open on one and the formations map on the other. The map is a very good indicator of my plan and the situation. When armies are assembling or rebuilding, I shrink the image's size as a reminder that it's not front-line ready.

Correct - This scenario is designed to be played against German Elmer;

This scenario is the Axis Programmed Opponent [PO] Version of the Directive 21 Scenario. This means that you can now play as the Soviets against the Axis Computer. Human vs. Human is also possible. As there are extensive changes in other areas, it was felt that a name change was best, in order to avoid confusion.

Current version; https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... 5&t=387726

Ah, Summer 1941 - it never fails to be a house of fire. I finished up turn nine - things are beginning to solidify - and Variable Initiative kicks in again. Gerry gets two turns to disassemble my plans.

Elmer runs its turns, I put down my coffee, fold my morning paper, and look over to see the entire 1st Pz Group at the Kiev gates.
Up north, the 4th PZ Group crashed into the Narva defenses, cutting off Tallinn. The 29A defense broke, Velikiye Luki fell, and those Pz Corps are now fanning out - including a drive due north towards Lake Il'men

Cpl GAC wrote: Mon Oct 28, 2024 12:43 pm Point of clarity - this is a screenshot of the game in play where I added marks and images (which were already created for my excel map) to the screenshot.

Never used Excel as you describe, I’ll have to give it a try.

I’ve always used Snipping Tool and Power Point to build maps; then Paint Net if the saved jpg needs to be re-sized. Guessing that since you have Excel you also have Power Point. It's designed to support the graphics we're making and yields better resolution.

Best Regards, RhinoBones

I'm in the Google ecosystem, not Microsoft. I make the unit IDs on Google Slides. I learned the hard way that Google Sheets limits the size of a background image—that's why I use LibreOffice Calc for the drag-and-drop planning map.

I was using Paint3D for the TOAW actual shots but they are about to deprecate it.

Turn 11 - holding off the 4th PZ Group

The strengths shown are stack strengths. I'm hoping the panzers assault the towns of Kunda and Sillamae. They are most all red health and this will further drain them. The 55A will not hold and the 49A isn't strong enough. I'm going to have to commit the 54A's five Rife Divisions behind the Narva too. The 54A is marching due west into the fray; It's not going to be enough - compounded by the shortage of troops south of Lake Il'men. I wasn't planning on battle-testing three divisions of the 5th Shock Army so soon, but I think they just became the stopgap Staraya Russa Operational Group. Moving those three units via rail eats up that precious rail transport capacity.

Also, I'm going to have to forget thoughts of using 28A to hit the north flank of the 1st Pz Group and rail up its nine divisions to bring Gerry to a standstill far short of the Leningrad suburbs. Now Kiev gets more intense and the Dnepr bend defenses will have to stretch.

Turn 11 turn - Kiev

The German 9PD and 16Mot break into Tarasovka and push out the dug in 146RD trying to split the 19A right flank from the 37A left flank just south of Kiev. Fine, Elmer. We can do this one hex at a time and re-enact the lesson of Warsaw 1939 on a grand scale. In the north; Pskov holds, the Staraya Russa Operational Group is arriving for local deployment to the city's south, and the Middle Panzer Group chewed up the 22A approaching Vitebsk and is about to tear into the 30A & 31A defending the eastern bank of the upper Dvina.

Army Group Center's 2 Army and 4 Army infantry is just crossing the Berezina with no panzers leading the way. The Dnepr defense from Smolensk to Cherkasy is ready.

Turn 13

Variable Initiative rewarded the Soviets 1st go on turn 11, but then gave the Wehrmacht the Variable Initiative on turn 13. So after 2 turns of the 4 PG assaulting the Leningrad Front; Although surrounded and near defeat I say this to the 55A and Coastal Operational Group; Well done, boys.

Not a German fighting unit in sight above 40 health.
Well done.

I don't follow these numbers too closely, but here is what I have in personnel and equipment at Turn 13;

Infantry Tanks Air The US made planes sit almost un-touched as On Hand

I think it's good? If anyone wants to read the tea leaves and let me know, it would be much appreciated

The Bobruisk Offensive August 1941

I don't think it's fair to Elmer to drive on Minsk in 1941 or 1942. A human would immediately adjust to that strategic threat but Elmer really can't. That said, I think taking Bobruisk back with the 21A and 28A and then driving due south with the 28A and 40A to Korosten and attempt to decisively ruin the German forces around the Pripyat Region is fair.

Here's the front, the Panzers are north and at Kiev. If successful The Bobruisk Offensive would leave a sizable force on the 6 Army's flank and chew up two - three Infantry Corps; My concerns are; although the Soviets have returned to 98% efficiency the Wehrmacht is still at 125% and it's still disaster after disaster season.

Is it the safe play? No. But - it will be interesting.

The Bobruisk Offensive Plan

I think it will take a month for the 28A to sweep north then get to the Pripyat River. The 13A will hold the Bobruisk-Osipovichi-Slutsk sector, and the 21A will hold the Bobruisk-Bykhov axis.
In the 2nd phase, the 28A will cross the Pripyat and march to Kiev, securing the eastern flank of the 5A.

Elmer may have different plans. A lot can change in a month.

Turn 16 start - Bobruisk Offensive

hit 'em where they ain't
-Willie Keeler - American baseball player

Turn 14 I moved the 28A over the Dnepr, turn 15 the 28A moves up both sides of the river (No record of the river's name - any help? I don't think it's the Pstich on the right fork). Turn 16 two German IDs batter the 13A. Here's the start of turn 16. I moved the engineer over the Berezina to keep the 307RD in supply.

I think I have split the 2 Army and will destroy the units to the north, then swing the 28A south on the far side of the Pstich River and across the Pripyat River into the Southwest Front.

Turn 18 start - Defense at the Narva and the Northwest Front

Since turn 14 the 4PzG has mopped up the encircled 55A and advanced two hexes. The rail line is not far away, but I'm not sure there is enough teeth left to break the defense to then just come up to the Luga where the 8A is quickly rebuilding; Further south, Pskov holds while the 39th PzK breaks itself just to the east at the Cheryokha River defended by the 11A and 34A. East of that sector the 16 Army and 24PzK are putting pressure on the 27A, 29A and 32A after chewing up the 3A and 16A, but it's mostly by Infantry Divisions breaking through only to be exposed to being cut off.

East of that - to the south of Staraya Russa - the deployment of the new 52A has solidified the flank;