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Turn 66

AGN: 1 hex away from closing the gap. The AI has counter attacked and encircled an infantry regiment using Cavalry. I managed to breakout. I am sending a panzer/mountain corp from AGS and 2 armour corps from AGC to pursue the offensive in the north. The rest of AGC and AGS can build forts.

You have a scattered untidy looking front line there. Some bold computer moves could pinch off that thrust in the northeast.

Turn 67

Its done. The SU army of the north is isolated. Now I don't think this would have happened against a human opponent but I glad I manage to pull this one off. The summer of '42 has been frustrating. AGN will be the only one to obtain its original goals for '42.

I have launched an attack due east from the rail line with the new arrivals. These units have been switch to the 4th Panzer Army. I want to try and reduce any efforts the AI might make to breakout.

(Randallw, too true. The AI has been very sluggish here. I to think that all the activity with AGC and AGS prevent the AI from focusing on the north. But who knows.)

Turn 68

The AI is rushing the units in the pocket to the east. I have noticed that in '42, almost all cut off units will treat as many times as it can before surrendering. The rush now it to get the pocket cleared so units can reposition for winter.

Turn 69

The elimination of the AGN pocket continues. With so near I will not pursue any new objective. The rest of the front is building forts like crazy.

Turn 70

Mud. Same as the previous turn. Still more SU units to liquidate.

Turn 71

Still mud and AGN is still trying to collect the remain Soviets. My formations up there are getting seriously depleted. I have 4000 man infantry divisions. I need the pocket gone so I can get some refit done before the blizzards. I am pushing rail into the area.

I see that Axis players sometimes have bold plans for 1942.  I am guessing it is from the idea that since the Germans were able to reach as far Stalingrad it can be done here....but that requires a Red Army of similar size here, compared to historical, and i'm not seeing 1941 Soviet losses that close to historical, whether a computer or human Sov player.

Turn 72

Mud. These last few Soviet units just don't want to surrender! I have no idea what they are using for ammo. They sit in those fort hexes and just take a pounding.

Turn 73

Mud. Finally the last of the pocket surrender. Now the mad scramble to prepare AGN for a winter defensive. The Finns will like go on the offensive but they need to refit as much as everyone else.

The rest of the line is preparing. The fortification belts have been made and almost all are to lvl3.

I need to move a German infantry corps to the Crimea defences to support the Romanians. I still have armour there refitting but a rail line exists there now so quite redeployment is doable.

Now the summer offensive began on Turn 52 and end Turn 73. When I say the mass of Soviet infantry I was doubtful I could achieve anything. And all those forts! Every line I broke through there where more of both. The turning point came on Turn 59 when AGS made contact with the sea. From what I observed of the AI behaviour it tried swarming infantry everywhere all the time. Eventually it had to break. The north/south dash of AGC panzers helped shake the centre loose.

I believe my timing for the attacks and commitment of reserve panzer corps was... lucky. Having those 2 AGC panzer corps attacking across the Dnepr was an act of desperation. I had to try anything to lock down the south SU units.

Finally, AGN. I think that the AI has certain behaviour toward the Finns that simply will not allow it to withdraw. If that is indeed the case, then pocketing the SU units as I did could be considered “gamey” behaviour. If the SU AI and the Finns are tied in some fashion that allowed this pocketing, then I suspect it needs to be looked at.

The following is the Turn 73 OOB. There should be one from the spring of '42 for comparison. One thing I did tally was the number of SU units removed from the game during this summer campaign: 313. I have no illusions that I will win this fight but I think I stand a good chance at draw. Maybe.