Barbarossa: warspite1 (Axis) vs AllenK (Soviets)

[warspite1]

Turn 2
29 June 1941

Army Group Centre

The southern pincer is even more compromised than PZ3 as it used more units in the liquidation. There were a couple of clashes that resulted in routed Soviet units, but again no big wins for the Germans.

The three panzer corps are also widely dispersed and need to re-group.

[warspite1]

Turn 2
29 June 1941

Army Group South

...and so to the south. Heeding Loki's advice I decided to try and concentrate PZ1 - although this was not as successful as I'd hoped.

In the north, 6th Army, shorn of armour support, head slowly toward Rovno. Two successful battles were fought and a number of others that drove the enemy back. However, two regiments of the 62nd Infantry Division were held by their namesakes defending behind the Bug.

[warspite1]

Turn 2
29 June 1941

Army Group South

To the south, I have tried to form two pockets - albeit the larger one (formed using PZ1 assets) appears somewhat precarious given the number of Soviet units to the east.

My panzers were severely mauled last turn, let's hope the Soviets can't do as much damage this time.

[warspite1]

Turn 2
29 June 1941

Army Group South

And then in the extreme south we have the Hungarians (largely out of picture), the Romanians, and 11th Army....

I didn't give anywhere near enough thought to what the hell I was doing before I started ordering units here there and everywhere. That could be messy.

I need to get a handle on this front - I have a bit of a soft spot for the Romanians in World War II for some unexplainable reason. They sided with the Germans which is a bit of a no-no - but they suffered huge losses.

[warspite1]

Turn 2
Ground Losses

The Soviets losses are up to almost 650,000... The tanks and guns look healthy too. I expect these are inflated as I've wasted time liquidating pockets and haven't moved forward enough...

[warspite1]

Turn 2
Air Losses

Nothing to say about the Axis losses. I need to get used to the game so I can handle this myself. At least the Soviets are having a hard time too thanks to my fighters.

[warspite1]

Turn 2
Destroyed Units

Numbers have ticked up nicely thanks to the units trapped in the various pockets no doubt.

[loki100]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Turn 2
29 June 1941

Army Group South

And then in the extreme south we have the Hungarians (largely out of picture), the Romanians, and 11th Army....

I didn't give anywhere near enough thought to what the hell I was doing before I started ordering units here there and everywhere. That could be messy.

I need to get a handle on this front - I have a bit of a soft spot for the Romanians in World War II for some unexplainable reason. They sided with the Germans which is a bit of a no-no - but they suffered huge losses.

would suggest that in the opening phase this sector is all about delivering 11A with very high CPP to the gates of Odessa, if the Soviets have managed to create a large defence, then use it to clear the city, it not it can march east hugging the coast (all those ports are incredibly helpful for your logistics)

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: loki100

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Turn 2
29 June 1941

Army Group South

And then in the extreme south we have the Hungarians (largely out of picture), the Romanians, and 11th Army....

I didn't give anywhere near enough thought to what the hell I was doing before I started ordering units here there and everywhere. That could be messy.

I need to get a handle on this front - I have a bit of a soft spot for the Romanians in World War II for some unexplainable reason. They sided with the Germans which is a bit of a no-no - but they suffered huge losses.

would suggest that in the opening phase this sector is all about delivering 11A with very high CPP to the gates of Odessa, if the Soviets have managed to create a large defence, then use it to clear the city, it not it can march east hugging the coast (all those ports are incredibly helpful for your logistics)

Antonescu

That looks like its too much on the difficult pile... Can't I just head northwest and smack the Hungarians around until they give me back Transylvania?

[warspite1]

While waiting for the turn back, I've taken the opportunity to watch a couple of the You Tube videos on the logistics of the game.....

.... all I can say is, I wish I'd watched these before the start of the last turn [X(] The Germans may be in a spot of bother.

More detail to follow when the Soviets have completed their turn.

[Skritshell]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Turn 2
29 June 1941

I turn the Ground Support to off.

Army Group North

The first operation is to clear the Kurland Peninsula. The 3rd Regt of the Totenkopf Motorised Division heads west to the coast to capture the port of Ventspils and runs into an MG Artillery battalion guarding the port. The Soviets are quickly overcome (surrendered) and two regiments of the 291st Infantry Division are called up to take care of the remnants of the 67th Rifle Division (routed) southeast of the port.

Wodrig's XXVI Corps are called up to seal off the eastern exit - but that is as far as the Germans can go....

Perhaps I am to critical, but what is the ENTIRETY of 18th army doing in Courland turn 2? 16th Army is on an axis of advance towards Velikie Luki.... I fear for PG4's progress in the north.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Skritshell

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Turn 2
29 June 1941

I turn the Ground Support to off.

Army Group North

The first operation is to clear the Kurland Peninsula. The 3rd Regt of the Totenkopf Motorised Division heads west to the coast to capture the port of Ventspils and runs into an MG Artillery battalion guarding the port. The Soviets are quickly overcome (surrendered) and two regiments of the 291st Infantry Division are called up to take care of the remnants of the 67th Rifle Division (routed) southeast of the port.

Wodrig's XXVI Corps are called up to seal off the eastern exit - but that is as far as the Germans can go....

Perhaps I am to critical, but what is the ENTIRETY of 18th army doing in Courland turn 2? 16th Army is on an axis of advance towards Velikie Luki.... I fear for PG4's progress in the north.

warspite1

Lol.

Well a few things.

a) I am putting my AAR out there - I am therefore setting myself up to be criticised - that's part of the deal. So if you want to comment critically then you go ahead.

b) This is not only my first AAR, this is my first ever attempt at this game so I join you in fearing for PG4 [:)].... as well as the entire German Army.

c) It's not the entirety of 18th Army, but there are more units that I would have liked in this area. All my infantry armies are behind where they should be in the hands of a competent player.

However, as said, I'm learning the game, this is my first go and if the Germans last to winter 1941 then I will be happy [;)]

[warspite1]

Turn 3
6 July 1941

The turn comes back. There is a lot for me to look at this time around - not least the logistics situation.

There doesn't seem to have been too much action, based on the battle indicators. However the losses numbers have changed so I'll need to have a look at this and try and ensure I understand what this information is telling me!!

So I'll start off with the losses summary and then move on to the logistics.

[warspite1]

Turn 2
Soviet Response

Army Group North

There were no land attacks in the north as the Soviets appear to have run, and there is little/nothing left behind the lines.

There was some naval air interdiction off Ventspils and Riga. There was little to write home about off the former (the Germans lost a handful of aircraft) but over 300 Soviet aircraft were lost off Riga.

[warspite1]

Turn 2
Soviet Response

Army Group Centre

Very little to report at Army Group Centre HQ. There were a re-supply and recce mission or two but otherwise nothing.....with a lack of losses to match.

[warspite1]

Turn 2
Soviet Response

Army Group South

I am pleased to say there is little to report here. I was really concerned about my panzer regiments strung out before the Soviets. That said, there appears to be an awful lot less Soviets in the pockets than before. Perhaps they were able to slip past?

I won't bother showing the extreme south as there was nothing happening at all.....

[warspite1]

Turn 2
Air Losses

Air losses continue to increase - a further 20 pilots killed and 29 aircraft lost during the Soviet part of the turn.

At least for the Soviets, they lost 545 pilots and 562 aircraft - mostly in the north.

[warspite1]

Turn 2
Ground Losses

The German losses were over 7,000 at the end of the Soviet turn, while the Soviet losses increased in the same phase by just over 28,000. That difference seems nothing like enough....

There was no change to the Soviet destroyed units.

[warspite1]

Turn 3
6 July 1941
Turn Summary

Looking at the summary I've got some isolated units and other units with sub-optimal indicators so I will look at the commanders report to identify these.

The isolated units are a couple of Hungarian motorised brigades. I will need to extract them.

There are two understrength units - but when I click on the button a considerable number of units comes up. Maybe these are different %. I will need to have a look at this.

[warspite1]

Turn 3
6 July 1941
New Events

I am not going to be worried about the Western Front at this stage - I'm trying to learn about the east!! Leave me alone.