Der Newbie: Turn 8 I leik pockets

[Timotheus]

Intermission

Note to all readers: this is an AAR - AFTER action report. I am now on turn 30.

Your remarks and advice are NOT ignored - the purpose of this AAR is to point out my newbie mistakes so that I (and others) can learn from them for the next try. You are giving advice and making comments on a PER TURN basis - please do not be aggravated when the newbie dork (me) does the opposite and compounds the mistake turn by next turn...

Which leads me to my next point.

My non-pro plays WILL result in suboptimal situations, which perhaps some pros have never dealt with - simply put because they would never play so ineptly. Think of it as a challenge, a puzzle, a general Model dropped in after his predecessor made a right hash of things - how would you un**** the ****ed up situation in a given turn? Then of course OKH comes in and joyfully does something completely different (aka Das Newbie Fuhrer does what the historical Austrian house painter did and ****s things up).

Thanks (on behalf of me and all the newbs) for all your comments and advice! [&o]

House Keeping Newbie Help
A player may choose to separate a division into regimental subunits - in fact, this is already done for you at turn 1 when you start the Axis! You have some (green) units near Lvov which are not XX (division) but III (Regiment).

What you do is up to you - for easier housekeeping and to lower the strain on the Corps HQ (a Corps HQ can only command 8:8 units cap successfully - splitting a division like that results in HQ being strained in its command capacity).

As an aside, I have not changed the air force settings from turn 1 - what are your air force settings after turn 1?

Now, on with the show!

[Timotheus]

ORIGINAL: gingerbread

Did you remember to convert (59,51) to Axis rail gauge?

I think you mean 61,50 (Vilnius/Wilno)?

Working on it.

59,51 is not converted.

Which reminds me, the most important part of an Axis turn:

Railroad Build Troops

[Timotheus]

Turn 4

Here is the start of turn 4, AFTER I have run the photorecconnaissance airplanes over the front.

Guess what - we have found the enemy!

I fact, we have found LOTS of the enemy... Where did they all come from, end of last turn there was NOTHING...

The Plan[/b]
Right no more amateur city. We have to plan this carefully from now on and actually think on what we are doing.


In AGN, we shall try to unhinge the Pskov defensive position, which has been reinforced by the enemy using railroads to good effect - or perhaps my turn 3 photo recconnaissance was not so good...

As usual, we shall try to pocket as many Soviet divisions as we can.

In AGC, the Stavka has rushed a ****load of units to bar the Smolensk land bridge. Ominously, there are enough units to defend the mighty Dnepr river also. We shall try to unhinge the defense line - if we fail, the blitzkrieg WILL FAIL THE NEXT TURN. Literally, the whole operation WILL FAIL if the OKH fails to unhinge the Smolensk-Dnepr defensive line.

The only good news is that the enemy has had no time to dig in - fortification level of "0" everywhere but few places with level "1".

We HAVE to attack and unhinge the whole defensive line - if allowed to dig in and stall us, we have lost the war. I cannot stress this enough.


AGS is STILL liquidating the Lvov pocket; the Soviets are VERY stubborn there. As a result, the infantry ground pounders are very much lagging behind.

The Soviets have succeeded in scrapping enough units to make a defensive line Zhitomir - Vinnitsa - Odessa.

Since the infantry are far behind, the panzers are in a quandary - motor ahead, VERY far ahead of the support, or stay put and wait for the landser?

The Romanians will be allowed to do their thing and slowly advance to the enemy defensive line while routing/encircling/destroying as many enemy units as they can.

Note that the Stanislav-Proskurov area is controlled by the enemy STILL, and there is a huge enemy controlled gap between the Romanian army and our AGS guys.

The plan for AGS: half a**ed improvisation, we'll see how it goes (which is a horrible thing to admit for the High Command - the language used for the orders was of course different - "Exploit opportunities to advance eastward while reducing the enemy already encircled. Recconnaissance in force of the Zhitomir-Vinnitsa-Odessa line.

[Timotheus]

AGN

Our panzerwaffe boys men have burst through the Pskov defense line like it was nothing and have done what they do best - encircle the enemy units while at it.

Tallinn in Estonia (extreme north) was unprotected and is now ours.

The OKH decided to send the whole L Corps: SS-Polizei (motorized), 86th Inf and 36th Inf to open up a new front for the defenders of Leningrad - the Narva line. Next turn they will smash into the city from the north east, as there are no enemy units protecting it from that direction - the photorecce airboys have proven that.

The battles to unhinge the Pskov line were lopsided in our favor - casualties ratios of 40 our guys and 1000 plus enemy troops KIA/taken prisoner in ALL the battles. The Stavka can do NOTHING to stop us.

[jwolf]

Since you have already played far past this point, I assume you found this out sometime -- but your FBD near Vilnius missed a hex, the one Gingerbread was talking about. Check that rail path very carefully. It's a standard rookie error that many players make.

Edit: also note that your arrangement near Pskov did NOT form a pocket (unless you still moved other units later that turn in order to block the Russians to the west of Pskov).

[Timotheus]

AGC

Der newbie fuhrer is fuming. The AGC has done NOTHING this turn. The landser have caught up to the panzer boys, who are stopped out of contact with the enemy and are in HQ Buildup mode (i.e. grab supplies and fuel for rapid movement/lots of combat next turn.

This means, however, that the Soviets have had time to dig in.

The OKH has explained that this is actually good - we WANT them to stand and fight to allow us to make pockets. We don't want to spook them by unhinging their defensive line too soon.

In response to the OKH generals' explanation, DSN has pointed his finger at the map and traced the Dnepr river line on it... in silence.

Ominous silence.

[Timotheus]

AGS

First, the good news - the Romanians did well, they routed and shattered and destroyed a good few fortified regions, NKVD border troops and infantry divisions. They are slowly moving east.

Now, the bad - we are stalled as the High Command has decided to make the panzers wait for the landser.

The Lvov pocket has been cleared

"Completely?" asks DNF.

"Ja, ja, mein newbie fuhrer!" - Keitel.

"Vas... IST... DAS!" - the newies finger points at the south east area of Lvov where the 72nd Mountain Division and the 93rd NKVD Border Regiment were resisting.

"Gulp" - lokaitel.

The heroic mountain division stiffened with NKVD troops has heroically resisted all. In fact, attacking it was a mistake as it herded the Soviets into mountains...

Despite being out of Command, Control and Communication range, out of supplies, they are putting up a hell of a fight.


"Are the panzer boys from the 1st Panzer Group in a HQ buildup mode, at least?" - DNF.

"Gulp" - Keitel.

"Well, I am sure that you boys will manage anyway. If you turn this to schei***, I will be... ANGRY".

"Gulp".

"Now, there are some reinforcements which can be put to good use. Some odd infantry divisions."

"Ja, ja, mein newbie, the 2nd Army was packed on trains and sent north to L-grad".

"Vat about the 94, 96 and 96th infantry divisions in the Berlin area".

"Vey... vey are in reserven mode".

"You mean you forgot about them and left them there, eh?"

"...".

"Next time, use the commander's report, sort by MP (movement points) and see what units have their full complement of MP's and have not moved... dumbkopf!".

Der Newbie Fuhrer paces around the room, then sits down: "Fine, fine, I am sure you vill manage next turn. I want encirclements. I want kessels!"

The newbie fidgets on his chair: "Now, where are the pies that I told them to bring?".

"... GULP".

Hitler's Pies

[Timotheus]

Turn 4 Strategery

Not good.

Not good at all.

Der Newbie Fuhrer has told the OKH that there should be one of three things happening per turn:

1) Encirclement of enemy troops
2) Rapid movement eastward to unhinge enemy defensive plans
3) Preferably, both 1 and 2 at the same time.

This turn, AGC and AGS have done none of the above.

Worse, a totally stupid mistake of not doing a HQ buildup for the AGS panzer troops.

The newbie is raging... hard.

Now, BRING ME MY PIES!


Railroad Builders

[loki100]

one general warning, especially in the north, don't trust air recon, especially only off 1-2 sweeps. Detection levels are low due to the woods and swamps and its quite possible that you miss a substantial grouping of forces.

I've pulled a few surprise build ups in our current PBEM using this and there is an older Oshawatt AAR where he dropped paras on what he thought was empty hexes only to find the Finnish army hanging around waiting for them.

T4 is frustrating as a lot of Soviet reinforcements arrive at the time your offensive stalls due to supply/fatigue etc.

It gets worse [;)], one regular hit to German morale is to keep on finding even more Soviet units as 1941 goes on. In PBEM with the Soviets I really like to spread out the rifle brigades, not only do they then dig in, it makes the Red Army look bigger (air recon in the rear will really struggle to spot the difference between a brigade and a division).

[Timotheus]

Hold the presses!

This newb has learned a momentous thing!

You see, when your turn is active and you are the one moving your units, they are marked like so:

5-10, where the first number is the Combat Value and the second number is the movement points.

But enemy units are marked with the "=" sign, like so:

2=9, where the first number is the attacking strength and the second number is the defensive strength.


Yes, I did not know that, I just winged it. [8|]

Now I press "Z" key all the time.

And now, on with the show!

[Timotheus]

Turn 5

Turn 5 Strategery

No change; implement the plan from turn 4.

AGN

There was a Soviet force which infiltrated from the area between Lake Peipus and Lake Pskov. Our 291st Inf divisions has intercepted them and inflicted a shattering defeat on the enemy, clearing the northern flank. It was an NKVD regiment scouting for the enemy - now the flank is secure and barred for any more unpleasant surprises.

The L Corps has moved into position on the Luga line (extreme north) and is ready to put pressure on the enemy to split their forces.

We have are continuing to encircle sizeable enemy forces in a secure pocket.

However, our advance has stalled. We have not broken through the enemy defensive line.

AGN supremo von Leeb has complained that he needs another panzer group to efficiently sweep all before him to Leningrad, but Der Newbie Fuhrer has told him that he already has one panzer group too much! Also, von Leeb was told to move his *** to L-grad pronto.

[Timotheus]

AGC

AGC supremo Fedor von Bock is claiming a success as his panzer waffe forces have broken through a huge chunk of the enemy front and encircled it.

... Well, not quite encircled it.

There is no pocket.

The motorized and panzer divisions did not have enough "oomph" juice to close the pocket... which might cost us dearly.

On the positive note, Smolensk is surrounded from all sides.

But taken together with NO PROGRESS in the AGN as well as the CLEAR FAILURE to pocket the enemy in AGC DNF is NOT HAPPY.





As a matter of fact, Der Newbie is suspicious... Fedor.... it's a RUSSIAN name, ain't it?

Better talk to Heydrich about it... [:@]

[Aurelian]

ORIGINAL: Timotheus

AGC

AGC supremo Fedor von Bock is claiming a success as his panzer waffe forces have broken through a huge chunk of the enemy front and encircled it.

... Well, not quite encircled it.

There is no pocket.

The motorized and panzer divisions did not have enough "oomph" juice to close the pocket... which might cost us dearly.

On the positive note, Smolensk is surrounded from all sides.

But taken together with NO PROGRESS in the AGN as well as the CLEAR FAILURE to pocket the enemy in AGC DNF is NOT HAPPY.





As a matter of fact, Der Newbie is suspicious... Fedor.... it's a RUSSIAN name, ain't it?

Better talk to Heydrich about it... [:@]

Only fair, considering all the ones of German extraction who served the Tsars

[Timotheus]

AGS

AGS' supremo, Gerd von Rundstedt sees this turn as his opportunity to shine. His troops fulfill the directions of Barbarossa and successfully create a few pockets. Even the Romanians get in the act.

On the easternmost side the Soviet 72nd mountain division , 93rd NKVD regiment and 94th NKVD border regiment are STILL resisting.

This does not bode well... why don't the Soviets give up and make it easy for us?

[Timotheus]

Turn 5 Assessment

Failure. Total and utter failure.

AGN has had no progress to L-grad, AGC has failed to close the (too ambitious) pocket and only AGS' performance could be characterized as "somewhat satisfactory". AGS and only AGS has followed the Barbarossa directions and "pocketed" several Soviet divisions.

Any turn where either the Axis units do not move towards their geographical objectives (generally, move east and NE in the case of AGN) and/or neither do they pocket enemy units is a

FAILURE

The losses screen bears this sad conclusion out:

[Timotheus]

Newsflash: Der Newbie Fuhrer has decided and decreed that since the last turn was so pathetic and the Axis forces so ineptly led, Turn 6 will follow immediately.

Hear ye, hear ye! [X(]

[Timotheus]

Turn 6 Plan
Redemption or vee vill find vayz to make yu talk!
von Leeb: Gulp
Fedor von Bock: Gulp
von Rundstedt: Vat, I did gut?!

AGN
It is amazing what a casual mention of a court martial can do to one's drive and energy and motivation.

AGN's boys get their ***es into high gear and motor all the way to the Gulf of Finland coast FROM the south of Lake Pskov area.

That is an amazing accomplishment considering the opposition AND the ****ty terrain our mechanized and truck borne troops had to literally WADE through... sometimes swim/float on.

Not only have we totally broken and unhinged the Pskov line, our forces have created an awesome pocket with 8 divisions trapped, alongside an enemy HQ and a full Soviet air base!

von Leeb has claimed that that was the plan all along and mumbled something about "HQBU" and "We cannot attack every turn, that's idiotic, better rest and gather strength and do a knockout blow and not slap them every turn - that's newbie amateur play".

Is he questioning the great Newbie himself???

[:-] [:-] [:-]

[Timotheus]

AGC

Der Newbie Fuhrer: Zo, Fedor, or should I say, FYODOR, like the Ruzians call you, eh? EHH!? Vat du ya haf to zey for yurzelf, eh?

Fedor, mutters: **** ****.

DNF: Vat vass dat? I could not hear?

Fedor: Holy ****!

DNF: Vay do you keep saying dat?

Fedor: Vell, vee haff moved our troops, scouted the enemy line and tried to do an encirclement.

DNF: Andz?

Fedor: We have succeeded, Mein Herr Newbie!

DNF: Eggzelent! I knew I could trust you to do my bidding provided you were given the proper motivatiooooVAT?

Fedor: Mein Newbie Commandant...

DNF: VAT!?

Fedor: Just... just look at the map!

DNF: **** ****...

Fedor: Vass ist dass, mein Newb? I could not hear...

Der Newbie Fuhrer: Holy ****!!!!!

[jwolf]

Your Turn 5 move in AGC near Smolensk was a bit reckless, but you did successfully force the issue with the Dnepr. Russians have to pull back, sit and get caught, or try to stage a massive counterattack -- and the latter is unlikely with the AI.

[Timotheus]

AGS

von R: Mein Newbie Fuhrer! Herr Newbie!!!

DNF: Huh? Vat?

von R: I haff to report that the opposition is very weak in Armee Grouppe Sud. I mean, where did vey all go?

DNF: Ohh, I haff a VERY gud idea where all these units vent...

v. Rundstedt: Mein Newbie, I haff to repo... Dear Gott in himmell, vat happened to YOUR FACE?

DNF: I haff gone to my personal doktor. Herr Teddy Morell has given me a few things to calm me down and make me feel better.

von R: Mein Newbie, your face... it is... changing colors every second...

DNF: [:@][:'(][X(][>:]

von R: Right, I haff to report that we have some good kessels in the South...

DNF: Are zey hundred percent... SECURE?

von R: More or less, mein Newbie... Err... Ja, dat is de right korrect thing to zey, ja...

DNF: I don't care... I am flying... Keitel! Keitel... wipe this drool off my face... and bring me that purple pill from Teddy!