Senno v Oleg; Starring in "Proof Beyond a Reasonable Doubt?" No Oleg

[Senno]

Third Panzer in conjunction with 9th Army reaches the outskirts of Smolensk.

The Soviets remain on the Dnepr from Mogilev to Smolensk.

[Senno]

Slogging away in AGN. Gotta say I love battles that I lose at 1.9 to 1, haha.

Infantry forces of AGN are now oriented east/west rather than north/south. The Pskov pocket ramains. "Letting" them stew as they shrugged off attacks to consolidate.

[Senno]

Turn 8 end:

AGN and Finns, half of AGC, max zoom:

[Senno]

AGC, AGS endturn 8, max zoom:

Further south left out, I'm basically staring at the Soviets at Odessa.

[Senno]

Historical rate of advance for comparisons sake:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Easte ... 941-12.png

Compared to history, I'm not doing so awful. Rate of advance, anyway. Soviets have a ton of manpower in game, though. So it's still a slugging match in most places.

I'm going to have to pick up the pace so I can get my butt kicked on the east side of the Dnepr during the blizzard, instead of the west side. Hopefully this last turn is a start to that happening.[:)]

Oh yeah, the Italians are nearing the front. Well, the very, very rear of the front. Garrison duty is in their future. The party favors shipped back from Kiev have fallen into their hands....[:D]

I continue to appreciate all comments. And the advice from all who take the time to render it. 2ndACR, thanks much.

[Senno]

Turn 9 returned with the usual alacrity.

In AGN, Soviets have fallen back to the Luga/Novgorod axis. Generally well dug in, behind level 2 and 3 forts in the north. The lines run on down to VL and AGC. As my "Get there firstest with the mostest" strategy has failed spectaculary, I will now attempt to switch to "Hit 'em where they ain't." Not sure how that will work, as Soviets are everywhere, haha. Hopefully though this will loosen up AGN a bit, and provide a return to maneuver warfare, which has been missing since turns 2/3.

Pardon my mixing (butchering) Civil war quotes with dead ball baseball quotes. I find that sports and war analogies work well together, at times.[:)] =P

AGC:

Soviets remain heavily committed at the tail end of the land bridge around Smolensk. South of there Soviets have fallen behind the Pronya, Sozh and Besed rivers, in the top half of AGC. He is finally off the Dnepr, at least. Ongoing strategy for the next few turns will resemble AGN's,

Around Gomel I intend to finish sealing the pocket off, and consolidating the link-up with First Panzer. Rescuing the motorized unit in Kiev is also on the menu.

AGS:

As noted above, will finish off the linkup with Second Panzer and associated smallish pocket. The hold at Zhitomir that I noted above hurt badly, as Soviets emptied out Zhit, and is now behind the Irpen/Ros/Sinyukha line. If that attack had been successful, I could have sealed that up.. I probably wouldn't have somewhat linked up with Second Panzer in that case, though. So there are plusses and minuses. But that's a net minus, as Zhitomir was a nice consolidation of Soviet troops. I will have to settle for the Prip Marshes pocket, and Kiev, I guess.[:)]

11th Army remains in contact generally, on the Bug.

These are general impressions at start of Turn 9.

[Senno]

Turn 9:

Elements of the Karelian Army reach the "no attack line" on the east side of Lake Ladoga. Soviets have security regiments along the line, digging in.

The active portion of Kannas Army enters into a game of tiddlywinks with the Soviets, along the no attack line to immediate north of Leningrad. Oleg has a fortress, and 3 sec regiments here that are currently visible.

The level of commitment along the "no attack line" by the Soviets was not subject to any house rules at start of game.

The units committed seems fair to me, as it is voluntary on Oleg's part to commit the generally higher moral Sec regiments over fortresses.

[Senno]

Turn 9

In AGN, 4th Panzer breaks through in conjunction with 16th and 18th armies, and elements of 2nd Army. MP's were somewhat low, so a leaky pocket is started, as 4th Panzer reaches Lake Ilmen.

Elements of 2nd Army sieze VL, finally having the MP's to actually move in.

[PeeDeeAitch]

A leaky pocket still gets them out of their foxholes.  Get the skeer in them, then drive them hard.

[Senno]

Yessir.[:)]

Giving it the old war college try.[;)]

[PeeDeeAitch]

So far I have quoted Nathan Bedford Forrest and Georges Danton here.  If I can find a good one from a Chinese general we will have him surrounded!

[Senno]

LoL.

Sun Tzu is so cliche'. Let's find a more obscure Chinese General. One the hipsters would be happy to quote....[;)]

[PeeDeeAitch]

If I could find a quote from "72-Cannon Chang" I would use that.

[Senno]

His name sounds appropriately awesome. I'd google him, but I'm trying to arrange my own cannon to lay some on heavy so I can cross a big river. Running low on AP's, sigh.

Maybe I can borrow 10-15 of his "72" though?[;)] I'm running low, and may have to settle for largish fireworks to shoot at the Soviets...

[Senno]

Turn 9

AGC:

Third Panzer crosses the northern Dnepr west of Smolensk after 9th Army opens a singleton hole. He was generally well dug in along the line(s), which is my own fault. This goes back to turn 3/4 when I waited for infantry, rather than consolidating what I had nearby into a fish, and plunging on. I pay for it now, having to break down level 2 and 3 fortresses. Oy...

I continue to grind on, but it's like running in quicksand.

[jomni]

Here's some info on 72-Cannon Chang.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhang_Zongchang
 
He has quite a reputation.

[Senno]

Thank you for taking the time, Jomni.

We were just joking around, though. I wasn't about not having heard of him. But the rest was kidding around, hehe.

[2ndACR]

Your doing fine. The Russians dig extremely fast. Everyone says the Germans are faster, but I am not so sure.

[Senno]

Turn 9

AGC:

At Gomel Second Panzer and 4th Army continue to cross the Dnepr/Besed widening the bridgehead.

[Senno]

Turn 9

AGS:

First Panzer nearly closes the gap with Second Panzer. The landline has been closed. Unfortunately, MP's prevented a full closure that will last he Soviet turn. The Soviets will have their 1 movement minimum and be able to reconnect due east of Chernigov, most likely. First Cav and GD Motor Regiment are in the swamps, along with 34th ID, and hopefully will close the pocket completely next turn.

In Kiev, the L.A.H. SS Motorized was cut out of the Soviet surround. East Kiev was attacked and cleared, but we were unable to advance due to MP's.

6th Army assisted in the relief of Kiev, and moved to contact, otherwise. 17th Army moved to contact with Soviets south of Kiev.