Razing the Reich II (no Manstein63)

[Peltonx]

This is where it gets interesting if he has been moving FBD units along rail lines properly.

His tanks will be nearly full every turn and near full strength if he has ready and refit set-up right.

First 7 turns are about gaining space, unless your given a gift of course then next ten about pocketing Russian units and
the pockets do not have to be more then 10+ units to have an snowballing effect by mid September.

Nice job so far MT

[Michael T]

End Soviet Turn 8 – 7th August 1941 (Clear)

In the far north the Finns made another series of unsuccessful attacks against the Janis line. Unfortunately they are not really being punished for these suicidal attacks.

On the Leningrad front a mini disaster looms. PG4 turns south and PG3 turns north and a rather large pocket will form next turn between Lake Ilmen and V.Luki. I have thrown in all available reserves to make his progress in this area as hard as possible. The only silver lining being that his advance on Leningrad and Moscow is delayed by this battle.

PG2 continues it’s drive to the south east of Smolensk.

PG1 pushes on towards Kharkov.

I have generally retreated several hexes right across the front baring the Leningrad front and Smolensk itself. The reserves sent to the battle at V.Luki had to come from somewhere. Line shortening and security meant retreats. We have some room to move here anyway.

I have been ramping up the bombing of Panzer Truppen these last few turns. Almost 2K destroyed from the air this turn. Total air losses are 8K Soviet to 1K German.

Some mud would be nice.

Can you hear me weather Gods…..

[DeletedUser1769703214]

In the far north the Finns made another series of unsuccessful attacks against the Janis line. Unfortunately they are not really being punished for these suicidal attacks

I hope he moved all the engineers the Finns have to the attacking Corps. I believe VI Corps has the best commander too to do that with the Finns, like a 7 Inf score if I remember correctly. Otherwise he is just going to bang his head on that wall.

[chaos45]

you wont need mud, you have already bought all the time you need till winter.

Im also guessing you are 100% factory evac on anything he is threatening as its turn 8 and he is far from main factories in the south.

[Michael T]

Mud would mean some of my guys can escape the pocket before it closes.

Yes no factory problems to date. About to lose 2 Hvy Ind in Gomel. But so far only Minsk and Odessa have been lost as far as factories go. Odessa was a surprise loss. It fell to a Rumanian army. The defenders rolled real bad and the attackers real good.

[Balou]

ORIGINAL: Michael T

The only silver lining being that his advance on Leningrad and Moscow is delayed by this battle.

Isn't that the more important aspect here ? PG3/4 being occupied in the north delays them being used near Moscow later on ie before mud hits..

[Michael T]

May well be true.

[Michael T]

End Soviet T9 – 14th August 1941 (Clear)

Sadly no mud.

In the north PG4 and PG3 wrap an iron grip on the pocket north of V.Luki. The troops are doomed. 2xTk Div and 7xID. 71000 men lost. We bid them farewell….their sacrifice will not be in vein.

PG2 hooks in and up behind Smolensk, unhinging the whole front in that area. I have no option but to withdraw and leave but token resistance in the city.

PG1 keeps on slugging toward Kharkov. The city is devoid of industry bar the heavy stuff. We pretty much hold our line in the south.

[VigaBrand]

The wether was changed, so that the mud hits only in turn 10 or later.
Because often came the mud to early, so moravel changed it. You should not bet for mud, because it couldn't comes before turn 10.

[Michael T]

Thanks I did not know that. So it would seem random weather must be better than non random now I guess.

[Peltonx]

ORIGINAL: Michael T

End Soviet T9 – 14th August 1941 (Clear)

Sadly no mud.

Thankfully this has been fixed no more 2-3 turns of mud between turns 3-7.

General Mud is not a player skill any more.

Its basicly a + for Germans now long run as you get more mud turns then non-random 2-4 more turns per yr.

[Michael T]

If there is really no chance of mud before T10, and then only one mud at the most after T10 then I think I have played my last game with non random. Can anyone confirm this is how it is now?

[Michael T]

Morvael has confirmed first chance of mud is T8. First turn of August.

[Michael T]

End Soviet Turn 10 – 21st August 1941 (Clear)

In the far north the Finns keep battering away. Again we hold at the Janis line but cracks are appearing. The key hex in the middle of the line has been reduced from a level 2 fort to level 1. I think it might fall next turn. If it does a full withdrawal to the Svir might be the result.

On the Leningrad front the Ilmen Pocket is wiped from the map [:(]
The Hun then press forward and have a bridgehead across the Pola. Every spare unit I have is being thrown in to this fight south of Lake Ilmen.

From here to the Crimea the Hun made multiple penetrations of our lines rather than any singular major thrusts. Result is we have to withdraw right across the front in an orderly fashion.

Unfortunately a few stragglers are left behind to meet their fate….

[Michael T]

Leningrad Front close up.

[Michael T]

End Soviet Turn 11 – 28th August 1941 (Clear)

The Finns continue their assaults on the Janis line, it holds out again. But I sense that it’s only a matter of time before it cracks. The problem is the game does not punish these attacks with high losses, so there is no risk to the attacker. He can just keep banging away until he eventually lucks out. In previous versions of the game these attacks would have bled the Finnish army white. Not good. And a backward step by those entrusted with the development reins.

The battles south of lake Ilmen continue. 2 reinforced PzGp are battering their way through the Valdai. We throw more men in to the hell hole that it has become. Again though not enough losses are imposed on the attacker for failed attacks. This turn he must have had at least 10 hold results in this area for very light losses.

Fairly quiet between the Ilmen battles and Vyzama, so we hold the line.

But from the Ugra river to D-Town we pull back several hexes for some breathing space. We can afford it.

From D-Town to the Crimea we hold.

[Balou]

I doubt the hook is going to work with pz/mot divs alone, mainly because he needs more troops to cover his eastern flank. He may be well supplied so far- his FBD should be up there close to the frontline, but as long as the front holds around the Valdai hills (and west of Novgorod), his supply lines will be thinned out to the max on his way to Sviritsa. No pz and no truck country up north with lots of (heavy) woods and swamps. From what I can see, he will have a very hard time as long as the Valdai hills remain the thorn in his side.

[Michael T]

I agree, I will be surprised if he gets thru around the corner of Lake Ilmen. And yes his rail line is past Pskov. I look for a chance to interrupt it but his line is too strong. Though the further he goes without pushing me away from it the more thinned he must get. Will be an interesting position for him come blizzard if the lines were to remain like they are now. But I am getting ahead of myself.

[Icier]

I think you will find that his armor will be severely degraded...under 1.09.00 patch the German armor suffer if forced to continuously batter
through.

[Aditia]

Interesting AAR.

I have been taking some close looks at your screenshots. I think the following Axis behavior, combined with your excellent management of your forces, is precipitating failure of Barbarossa:

- Not identifying weak spots in your line, combined with well timed HQBU, to cause crises in your line. Especially on turn 5, 6, and 7. He is making decisions based on where he wants to be, instead of deciding based on where he can do the most damage!
- When a breakthrough does happen, your opponent values opening a supply perimeter over denying you an orderly retreat of your line. If his priorities would have been swapped, your lines would have not been so neat and you would not have this tremendous preservation of force.
- When he finally does decide to prioritise destruction of the red army over an orderly advance, it works great! But unfortunately for him it is against your strongest position at lake Ilmen.

Your opponent has 1 chance left I think to save his summer campaign and that is to realise taking Leningrad is a lost cause, remove parts of your front between Rhzev and Kharkov, thereby threatening Moscow and unhinging your hold on the Dnepr bend. This does require good supply and multiple HQBU. Those panzer corps he is using to grind south of lake Ilmen are better used to cut your line south of the Valdai, forcing you to Anchor there, but he should have withdrawn at least 1 corps from lake Ilmen last turn for that...

Maybe I am completely wrong, but that is how I see it.

Anyway, well played thus far sir!