Russia! Why not? (Morvael welcome)

[cpt flam]

10-14 what a nasty surprise when i open my map
3 infantry div isolated in the north, no possibility for rescue with mud
the worst is that these units stay until the end

pools
70 150 men 1 fort disbanded
255 700 VEH (- 4K)
0 ARM 6 INF and 4 Panzer "upgraded"
14 990 Hiwis

[morvael]

4th Tank Army in action Of course the initial plans were more ambitious than that, but they failed to materialize, so I had to be content with "scraps" (3 divisions including the prestigious 1st Infantry Division of the I Corps). For too long the northern forces remained without assistance from Panzer Divisions (all Axis mobile forces at that point were south of Smolensk) and I was eager to exploit that.

What's wrong about "divisions staying until the end"?

edit: your infantry divisions "upgrade", but your panzer divisions upgrade (their upgrade is actually good as it allows for faster tank replacement due to matching slots for in-production tanks).

[loki100]

neat move ... maybe when mud lifts you can dismantle the northern flank of the axis defense lines?

[morvael]

This is a secondary front, because of difficult terrain there are little to none mobile forces (so no decisive battles). The real battle rages on the open terrain in the south. I try to advance here when it's required to shorten my overall front length. So if one front advances on Smolensk, then the next one has to advance on Velikiye Luki, so in turn the next one has to advance on Pskov I just give the boys there something to do in their spare time.

[morvael]

About 12th Guards Tank Corps: in a true Soviet fashion I have wasted this elite unit on a pointless attack (made hasty, while wanted deliberate) and it got badly mauled and is now left stranded alone in face of German panzers (not for cut off, but it will get beaten once again most probably and it's already at half of previous strength).

[cpt flam]

turn 123 MUD can give some time
but last week they got a foothold past the Dnepr

pool
79 890 men (+ 9K)
255 000 VEH
7 714 ARM 8 INF+ 3 Pz change TOE & a PG become Pz SS
21 520 Hiwis

[morvael]

Easiest place to attack (from 4 sides). I was surprised it wasn't defended by at least 2 SS PzGr divisions, but a lonely footslogger division.

[loki100]

looks a lot like you are putting in sufficient pressure to force a lot of the German Pz/PzGr divisions into the front lines.

[morvael]

Rumanians alone are not enough, so they need some backing power. Also, in some clear terrain I saw some PzGr and Pz in the first line.

[morvael]

The AAR is a bit delayed (turn 129 now). Shall I continue it or will cpt flam resume his reports?

[cpt flam]

I think it would be more interesting from now to have your POV
mine would be retreat, followed by move toward germany
having more time behind, you can open your mind (not much)

[morvael]

Ok, I will post here when I have time. I will miss your arm/manpower details, though

[morvael]

My turn 123.

In the north, because of mud, the pocket with three German divisions still holds, although it's smaller now, thanks to 1 failed and 2 successful attacks. 1st Tank Corps is down to 13% supplies and 15% fuel, and the rest is in no better shape, as it is very hard to supply units holding the crucial area by Pskov lake. The rail line through Gdov is not operable, because the Germans are still holding next to Slancy (south of Narva).

[morvael]

Slowly, the 1st Ukrainian and Western fronts expand, so that the 2nd Ukrainian Front can disengage and prepare for deployment somewhere else. The heaviest battles of 1942 and early 1943 raged east of this area, to defend Voronezh and Boguchar (and it was a success for the Red Army). At present high troop concentration becomes a problem, rather than an asset. Disengaging a front, especially in mud, is a difficult task and takes weeks to complete.

[morvael]

Those regular armies that still had two tank brigades were ordered to send one brigade to the rear, so that 5th and 6th Tank Army could be formed. This task will soon be complete, although it will take a long time before these troops will become elite, like their counterparts in 1st, 2nd and 3rd Tank Armies.

[morvael]

With great effort, the bridgehead across Dnepr is expanded, even though the mud is everywhere. It's crucial to gain space around the hex west of Zaporozhye, so that rail can be repaired and supply transported (NKPS waits close by). With mud and without the bridge, only units next to the river stay in command range, so the HQs must be close by.

To speed up rail repair, each front forms an additional rail repair unit. Axis AFVs strength grew by 435 since October 1st. The Hungarians and Finns expand their armies, while the Rumanian gets smaller.

Strength (Soviet vs Axis):
men: 9 490 020 vs 5 153 659
guns: 152 107 vs 52 219
AFVs: 16 331 vs 5 537
aircraft: 18 039 vs 3 475

Trucks:
in units: 267 101 / 284 793 (93.79%)
in the pool: 150 046 / 171 855 (87.31%)
in repair: 73 049

Losses:
killed: 13 184 vs 6 346
prisoners: 1 055 vs 162
disabled: 30 753 vs 922
guns: 957 vs 302
AFVs: 146 vs 15
aircraft: 175 vs 92

Including:
in combat: 75 vs 76
from AA: 17 vs 10
on the ground: 0 vs 0
operational: 83 vs 6

[morvael]

Turn 124

German I Corps surrenders. What a shame for the Axis regional command. Other than that, the front is relatively quiet, as mud prevents combat. 1st Baltic Front prepares to take Velikie Luki with help of a 2nd Breakthrough Artillery Division (1st is by the brigehead). 2nd Ukrainian Front still disengages. 5th and 6th Tank Armies head for Moscow. NKPS repails rail up to Zaporozhye, while the bridgehead does not expand, but is filled to the max with troops instead (3 stacks of 3 corps each). Two new rifle and two rocket artillery divisions are being formed.

Strength:
men: 9 531 008 vs 5 156 155
guns: 152 278 vs 52 566
AFVs: 16 393 vs 5 710
aircraft: 18 067 vs 3 463

Trucks:
in units: 268 696 / 286 660 (93.73%)
in the pool: 147 950 / 166 160 (89.04%)
in repair: 75 538

Losses:
killed: 12 581 vs 3 474
prisoners: 1 259 vs 26 638
disabled: 33 158 vs -2 248
guns: 872 vs 349
AFVs: 108 vs 21
aircraft: 146 vs 24

Including:
in combat: 48 vs 20
from AA: 33 vs 0
on the ground: 0 vs 0
operational: 65 vs 4

[morvael]

Turn 125

As can be seen 1st Baltic Front is ready to storm Velikie Luki, but the weather does not allow it yet. This will be a frontal assault, as difficult terrain prevents flanking maneuvers. It's southern neighbour, North Caucasus Front, prepares to surge towards Smolensk, with the help of 3rd, 4th (underway from Pskov), 5th and 6th Tank Armies (as open ground is a good place to use mechanized forces). New, significantly stronger TOE for tank corps is now available, so all along the front tank corps units were withdrawn from the frontlines, to speed up their upgrade process. At the same time, 40 light SU regiments were formed, because of 900 SU-76M waiting in the pool. The goal is to have one regiment attached to each rifle corps.

Strength:
men: 9 594 296 vs 5 157 860
guns: 152 878 vs 52 807
AFVs: 16 618 vs 5 859
aircraft: 18 182 vs 3 647

Trucks:
in units: 270 044 / 291 205 (92.73%)
in the pool: 145 635 / 169 181 (86.08%)
in repair: 78 784

Losses:
killed: 14 390 vs 4 645
prisoners: 1 003 vs 380
disabled: 35 513 vs -1 902
guns: 823 vs 234
AFVs: 124 vs 5
aircraft: 134 vs 43

Including:
in combat: 64 vs 35
from AA: 26 vs 4
on the ground: 0 vs 0
operational: 44 vs 4

[loki100]

nice air of waiting for a huge storm to break

[morvael]

Yeah, my armies can pack a punch, but unfortunately they are low on trucks/MP. Also, winter weather is not the best time to advance, so even though the Axis lines will crumble (or preemptively withdraw), I will have trouble to advance more than 10 miles in coherent groups [:(]