timmyab (Sov) v Smokingdave (Axis)

[Ketza]

[:D][:D]Its amazing your truck shortage has not been a major issue for you. I guess its not that big a deal after all

[timmyab]

Turn 158

Last turn triggered the Romanian surrender. This is the situation at the beginning of the turn.

[timmyab]

It's important to prevent the Axis from defending the Carpathian mountains. Lucky for me there are plenty of turncoat Romanian divisions that can act as a blocking force until the main force arrives.
The Romanian 1st army takes up positions around the Mures river with orders to 'hold until relieved'.

[timmyab]

1st and 6th tank armies are in the vanguard of the main force in the South with 5th and 4th tank armies attempting to rush the mountain passes further North.

The Romanian surrender takes the Soviet oob over 10 million.

[timmyab]

Its amazing your truck shortage has not been a major issue for you. I guess its not that big a deal after all

Quite a few things in the game are more superficial than they appear at first glance. Just as well because it makes my head hurt enough as it is

[timmyab]

Turn 159

The Axis forces in Hungary appear weak and the 1st Romanian army has no problems holding it's position on the Mures river.
The three tank armies of 2nd tank front have almost crossed the Carpathian mountains without meeting any resistance. Following behind them are all twelve available mountain divisions organised into three mountain corps.
The railhead is trailing badly but most of the rail in Romania has been captured intact and I am assured that within two weeks a supply line will be operational all the way to Arad via Brasov and Sumu. This will also speed up the arrival of reinforcements to continue the offensive into Hungary.

[bigbaba]

lol, now the romanians fight. good job keeping the axis troops out or romania so you can cross the mountains fast and in good order.

[timmyab]

Strangely I've never played the Axis side at this stage of the game but I suspect it should be possible to make Soviet progress through the Carpathian mountains a tedious business.
I seem to remember that there are also some rules about German units in Romania disarming Romanian units at the point of surrender? This would prevent the rail network being captured as well I suppose.

[sillyflower]

Smokin' didn't give the Pros this gift of Romania when he played us [:@].

[timmyab]

Turn 160

1st Tank army reinforces the Romanian 1st army and immediately starts to expand the Arad bridgehead.

[timmyab]

Turn 161

The Axis continue to retreat in good order except in the Western Pripets where 1st Tank front gets in behind some German divisions.

1st Tank army heads North from Arad to assist other formations from 2nd Tank front in clearing Eastern Hungary.
A request from 1st tank army to probe Westwards towards the Danube was turned down by 2nd Tank front commander Bagramyan due to shortages of fuel and worries about inadequate flank protection.

[timmyab]

The last two broken rail links in Eastern Romania are repaired taking rail suply all the way to Arad next week.

[timmyab]

Turn 162

With the Romanian rail line operational massed Soviet infantry arrives around Arad including the elite 61st army and 1st shock army which has been transfered from the North.
2nd tank front continues to engage the few Hungarian and Wehrmacht units that remain in Hungary.

[timmyab]

The battles of the Western pripets claim some German and Hungarian scalps. No German motorized units are in any of the pockets though and none have yet been destroyed throughout the campaign.

7th tank army withdraws from the fighting and prepares to join the rest of 2nd tank front in Hungary.

[timmyab]

Turn 163

2nd tank front leaves the mopping up to the infantry and pushes past a weakly defended Tisa river line. It's orders are to secure a bridgehead across the Hron river before the Germans can build a strong defensive position North of Budapest.
2nd Guards tank army is sent South to give 2nd tank front a more powerful spearhead.

The Guards rifle corps of 1st shock and 61st army make for Budapest.

[timmyab]

Turn 164

2nd tank front scouts find the Hron river to be too well defended for a hasty assualt, however air recon patrols report that the Danube seems to be undefended in Southern Hungary. Bagramyan (2TF) orders the well fuelled 5th and 6th tank armies to take advantage of this opportunity to outflank the Danube defenses.

2nd Guards army and 7th tank army arrive at Arad this week to reinforce the offensive in Hungary.

[timmyab]

Overview

[timmyab]

Turn 165

The Hungarian force defending the Sio river is routed allowing 5th tank army to sweep North trapping the German divisions defending the Danube South of Budapest while 6th tank army pushes West towards Gyor and the Raba river through undefended terrain. 7th tank army is sent across the Danube to reinforce these two armies.
Budapest is succesfully assualted by 1st shock and 61st armies guaranteeing the surrender of the shattered remains of the Hungarian army next week.

[bigbaba]

wow, now that is a perfect deep Operation offensive. identify the weak Point, penetrate, exploit.

damnd, why does my posting sounds so fishy?:) it was not intented.

[timmyab]

Yes the opportunities for deep penetration are rare when playing the Reds.

Turn 167

Good sized pocket North of Warsaw. Will need to be resealed next week probably.