Operation Barbarossa - Alpha AAR

[elmo3]

OK with the inclement weather I did not have much time to spend on turn 9.  We moved forward as best we could but achieved no breakthroughs or pockets this turn.  So I'll just present the screen shots without further commentary for this turn except to say that is one scary looking stack in Kiev.

[kfmiller41]

Notice the trend of axis losses slowly climbing turn after turn[:D]. That slow attrition is going to just kill the German army just like in real life

[ComradeP]

Elmo: is that scary looking stack really in Kiev? According to the map, the Kiev hex is on the east bank.

Now that the bad weather has arrived fairly early in the season, what is your strategy for the next few turns?

[elmo3]

ORIGINAL: ComradeP

Elmo: is that scary looking stack really in Kiev? According to the map, the Kiev hex is on the east bank.

Now that the bad weather has arrived fairly early in the season, what is your strategy for the next few turns?

There is an urban area on the west side of the river too, but you are correct that the city hex is on the east side. The weather is still clear and I'm hoping that continues for a few more turns before mud arrives.

[Platypus]

ORIGINAL: PyleDriver

The upper left corner triangle is what we call soft factors. It toggles from off, morale, experience, supplies, fuel and attached units. The upper right trangle is movement. Black inside the white hasn't moved, white has moved and still can, no triangle theres no movement left...Enemy soft factors can be seen if the detection level rises high enough...

Hi PD -- I have scoured the forum, but cannot find any comprehensive references to the counters and their components.

Could you please elaborate on all of these graphical elements for us?

Perhaps a snapshot of the basic counter with circles and arrows detailing each distinguishing element and where they are located on the counter.

A great resource for those 'intrepid armchair-generals' amongst us.

cheers

[Balou]

Kiev-question 1: Am I right that the Soviet troops in the "Uzh-river / Zhitomir / Kiev triangle rely on a single rail line to stay supplied ?

Kiev-question 2: and if so, would interruption of the railway network (hex north-east of Kiev) interrupt the flow of supplies to those troops ?

[elmo3]

ORIGINAL: Balou

Kiev-question 1: Am I right that the Soviet troops in the "Uzh-river / Zhitomir / Kiev triangle rely on a single rail line to stay supplied ?

Kiev-question 2: and if so, would interruption of the railway network (hex north-east of Kiev) interrupt the flow of supplies to those troops ?

They might also draw supply from the rail line to their north. But they might get less supply depending on how far their HQ's are from that line if the other one gets cut.

[Capt Cliff]

Perhaps this was asked before, I couldn't find it, but the Soviet units with the triangular black corner with and -R- in it on the chit denotes a routed unit?

[elmo3]

ORIGINAL: Capt Cliff

Perhaps this was asked before, I couldn't find it, but the Soviet units with the triangular black corner with and -R- in it on the chit denotes a routed unit?

Yup.

[elmo3]

Someone asked about Kiev earlier so I checked again with the units off.  The hex on the west side of the Dnepr is light urban and that is really Kiev.  The hex on the east side is a city and it is listed as E. Kiev.  So Kiev proper is on the west side.

[Balou]

So supply of the aforementioned units depends on where their HQ is ? I don't see any, could it be in one of those stacks ? Btw, can you "have a look" at all the enemy units in one stack ?

[ComradeP]

Someone asked about Kiev earlier so I checked again with the units off. The hex on the west side of the Dnepr is light urban and that is really Kiev. The hex on the east side is a city and it is listed as E. Kiev. So Kiev proper is on the west side.

So the name "Kiev" is on the wrong side of the Dnieper, as the hex on the left/eastern bank isn't the main Kiev hex (which makes sense as the old part of the city is on the right/western bank)?

[elmo3]

A unit will draw supply via it's HQ and also directly from a railhead if it does not get enough via the HQ.  Most likely the HQ's for those units are a few hexes back from the front.  If you mouse over an enemy stack you will get some information on each unit depending on the detection level of each unit.

[elmo3]

ORIGINAL: ComradeP

So the name "Kiev" is on the wrong side of the Dnieper, as the hex on the left/eastern bank isn't the main Kiev hex (which makes sense as the old part of the city is on the right/western bank)?

I don't know about the name being on the "wrong" side but it is on the east side, probably so as not to interfere with the minor Irpen River name to the west of the city. The old part of the city would be on the right/eastern bank.

[elmo3]

I'm going to start the review of turn 10 (week of 8/28/41) with a new screen shot.  The Finnish army is released on turn 4 but I completely forgot about moving them until this turn!  They have now invaded and hopefully will draw some Soviet defenders from the Leningrad area toward them to make life easier for the Germans advancing from the south.  Note:  There have been a couple of threads already about including Murmansk and Arkhangelsk on the map so if you have comments on that please use those threads and keep that discussion out of my AAR.  Thanks.

[elmo3]

AGN is happy to see the Finns finally starting to pull their weight.  [8|]   The 8th Pz Div and Totenkopf SS Mot Div have pushed to withing 60 miles of Leningrad.  The northern wing of 18th Army (purple) has linked up with 4th Pz Grp (pink) (last turn I think) to cover their flanks for the final push.  The Soviets are bending but have not broken yet.

[wiking62]

You forgot to move the Finns when they became available![>:]

Don't worry, we have all made those sort of mistakes[:D]

Keep up the great work elmo. I look forward to each of your updates.

[elmo3]

In the center 2nd Pz Grp (light blue) is grinding closer to Vyazma while 3rd Pz Grp (light green) is expanding the wedge slightly northward and also attacking along side 2nd Pz Grp.  The 2nd Army (med blue) and 9th Army (dark green) are holding the flanks while pushing back the defenders as opportunities arise.  I should mention that all along the front I am attacking with flanking units when the odds are well in my favor.  The 4th Army (dark blue) off the bottom of the screen shot is working it's way closer to the east end of the marsh.  I'm sure they will be happy to be back on dry land soon.

Edit - One good thing about the extra time it took to take Smolensk is that it has allowed the rail repair units to catch up and help provide better supply lines for the upcoming attack on Vyazma and beyond.

[wiking62]

I don't know if anyone has already asked this question:

Are ZOC's the standard occupied hex and the surrounding six hexes as per most wargames?

[elmo3]

Elements of the 1st Pz Grp have reached the west bank of the Dnepr and hope to force a crossing this turn.  We also need to keep pressure on the Soviets northwest of the city to eventually pocket the defenders.  That will be tough as we don't really have the strength of AGC.  The 4th Army may need to help with closing the pocket from the north if they can clear the marsh in time.