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@chaos

Game is over when it gets to the end... or when one opponent resigns.

But loosing Moscow and/or Leningrad is neither of those things. And what's more, ATM, both cities still stand.

That said, if you play to win absolutely (which is not BrianG's cup of tea for all I know)... then I guess the situation is not the best.

Yeah, I think Axis are doing well but it seems far from over to me. I think both Moscow and Leningrad will fall but as long as the Soviets have evacuated a decent portion of the industry and still have a decent portion of their army to fight back they should be able to mount at least some winter offensive and will continue to get stronger in later years.

Could you please post losses/OOB numbers?

AGN. Got my two hex corridor to the Finns. Sent a German division up to clear some of those border screening units, just to pin down some proper Soviet units.

North Moscow. Got the Moscow cleared with just a few attacks, which was a surprise. Continuing to push further East though most of the Panzers were occupied further South.

South Moscow. Get across the Oka river with infantry assaults and had 3 Panzer Corps fueled up to make a good pocket. Am really counting on it holding this turn. There was not much behind the front line which I had not expected, was more anticipating rolling up the front line. Got to overrun several airbases, I did some costly airbase bombing to try and clock up more kills but probably it was not worth it. I have not used the Luftwaffe well this game, losses are too high - in particular of fighters.

AGS. Think I made a misjudgement to try and surround Rostov, so instead reverted to trying to assault the city which failed. It just looked too risky to send more stuff South of the Don.
Will see what things look like come the Snow turns but am concerned about my shortage of Infantry down South.
The good news is got the Crimea cleared of the stack that was defending the Kerch straights.

My plan is to just starve out Lenningrad, don't think it really matters how long it takes as the Finns can hold the line.
The priority has to be to get more infantry down towards AGS. I think am going to end up with a lot of Panzers defending the front line come the Blizzard because have too much concentrated around Moscow but am prepared to accept that if I can do more damage before December.

Nice pocket around Tula and I can't see any way he can break it. Surprised that the Soviets haven't just pulled back more in the center after losing Moscow. I'm guessing between those 2 center pockets left to liquidate that's half a million men which could be the difference in the game.

First Snow turn

North. Just digging in for the winter. Tried an assault on Leningrad but am going to have to wait a lot longer.

Center. The pockets from before the mud are gradually getting cleared. Am attacking to the East of Moscow and pocketed one stack.
The main effort is to push the Soviets back towards Voronezh to give me some buffer during the Blizzard, so 3 Panzer Corps attacking down from the North and one up from the South.
Soviets have a 3 level fort in Kursk so that is probably impregnable and a problem.

South. Clearing the Soviets away from West of the Don, hoping to hold the river line until it freezes which as I remember takes one turn into the Blizzard.
Model took Rostov with the second assault, will just try and clear the swamps now.
Built a few forts during and put pioneers in them but building up very slowly. Should have done it a few moves earlier.

Have played very few games through the blizzard as Axis, only one or two that were competitive as far as I can remember so not really sure how the combat is going to pan out. Am thinking to try and trash as much Soviet rail as I can over the next two turns. Then retreat fast in Dec (2 hexes a turn if need be), try and hang on in Jan and begin to fight back in Feb. Will probably not get to send many Panzers to Cities as if I keep attacking they won't have the MPs to get back but am shifting out most of the SUs.

Have one division holding Kerch, does it freeze in the winter ?

Moscow area. Not much value in attacking any more so just stabalise my front line and pull one Pz Corps back to Moscow.

Kursk Area. Soviets had pulled back from Kursk city which was a surprise as don't think I could have taken it before the blizzard. Tula had a Level 3 and held off two attacks but should get it next turn.
Pocket 29 units with a strong push down from the North and Panzers pushing up from the South. It is a very stringy pocket so not sure how much will hold and even if it does will have difficulty clearing it next turn. My army will be a mess come the Blizzard but am hoping the damage to the Soviets will be worth it.

Rostov. Take one swamp hex and clear the West Donets again. A lot of Soviets piling up behind their front line so expecting a big push here with lots of Cav. I need to rail down a few more Infantry but the line is not connected yet. At least I have all my Mountain Infantry here.

Just read this whole AR. nice work! especially in the center. didnt think u would take Moscow with your panzer/mot supporting North.

Last Sonw turn.

Moscow area. Pull back another Panzer Corps and just stabalise the front line.

Kursk area. One pocket got broken and do a bit of herding on that which lets 2 units rout out. Hopefully it will hold now and can kill them in the first turn of Blizzard.
Elsewhere kill 22 units and get all the pockets cleared.
The line is a mess and too many Panzers in the lead but hopefully can get tidied up in a turn or so and keep flying fuel to the Panzers to get them back.
Used one Pz Corps to attack East of Kharkov and destroy a few more hexes of Soviet rail.

Rostov. There was mud in the Europe zone and only just managed to clear my side of the river. Will try and hold on to the river until it freezes.

4 million men killed/captured before blizzard is a milestone of mine for an easier blizzard. I know the replacements were raised so if I play 12.5 I will have to raise that milestone to 4.5 million. See what Brian has in the coming turns but looks good from a German POV.

We shall see, the Soviets look very strong.

First turn of Blizzard, the retreat begins.
Have got all but one stack of last turns pocked eliminated.
One German unit already under threat of being sealed off

What is the turn delay on the AAR?

What is the turn delay on the AAR?

None

ORIGINAL: tyronec

What is the turn delay on the AAR?

None

Nice.


What is the average arbitrary Russian front line CV of a hex coming at you? Average per unit?

even with the extra replacements, the Soviet army has to be weak....keep in mind the huge POW camp at Leningrad still with those 4M prisoners already taken.

ORIGINAL: chaos45

even with the extra replacements, the Soviet army has to be weak....keep in mind the huge POW camp at Leningrad still with those 4M prisoners already taken.

Yes, I agree with you Chaos. The Soviets are hurting. As for Leningrad I would have put the Finns on the South side too. But that is just me. This could get interesting if those German regiments get pushed out of the way by Soviets south of Leningrad. How many turns have the Leningrad forces been surrounded now? At 7+ turns those units will start auto surrendering if the Soviets attack with them or attacked by Germans if no supplies have been dropped to them.

I feel that the Soviet hammer looks to be hitting down south around Rostov but that hammer is going to have to wait for the river to freeze over for best traction based on the screen shots.

ORIGINAL: HardLuckYetAgain


How many turns have the Leningrad forces been surrounded now? At 7+ turns those units will start auto surrendering if the Soviets attack with them or attacked by Germans if no supplies have been dropped to them.

The Soviets cannot do airhead resupply until 1942. That was a patch change from a while ago.

ORIGINAL: M60A3TTS

ORIGINAL: HardLuckYetAgain


How many turns have the Leningrad forces been surrounded now? At 7+ turns those units will start auto surrendering if the Soviets attack with them or attacked by Germans if no supplies have been dropped to them.

The Soviets cannot do airhead resupply until 1942. That was a patch change from a while ago.

Soviets can drop normal supplies and it prolongs the outcome.

Yes, but airhead resupply could in the past keep Leningrad fighting a lot longer when adequately defended. Alas, no longer in '41.

ORIGINAL: M60A3TTS

Yes, but airhead resupply could in the past keep Leningrad fighting a lot longer when adequately defended. Alas, no longer in '41.

Correct. But I have noticed any supply is beneficial for prolongation of the timeframe of the surrender of the unit.

Nice seeing you again btw M60.