FitE LarryFulkerson vs Okimaw

[Okimaw]

Ther was not much movement on any of the fronts this turn. The Wehrmacht forces moved on into a number of areas that had been given up in the general retreat to form the various defenses that are up at this point. There were some counter attacks by formations that were surrounded in an effort to break out and cause some havoc with Wehrmacht supply lines and to possibly tie up more troops than they already have.
 
Here is a movie of the past 11 turns from the Red Army view. I've had to reduce the frames by 25% due to the limitaions of the hosting service. After thats too big I'll take it down to 50% and see how they look from there.
 
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While Smolensk has been significantly reinforced over the last couple of weeks there are some very serious shortcomings in the plan to hold and make it part of the overall defense line. For the plan to be viable, a line would be neccesary all the way to Bryansk and forces are probably not going to be sufficient once the Wehrmacht troops arrive en masse for the siege. On the north side another line running from Dukovshchina to Vyezma/Moscow is vital. If Stavka can't reinforce these sectors the armies defending them stand a good chance of being pocketed and destroyed. The actual battle of Smolensk lasted 2 months and bought the Red Army time to gather the still meager forces that defended Moscow in the winter of 41. I hope to do more than that but it will dpend on reinforcements in the next 2 turns. The Area marked on the southern portion of the map from Bryansk to Kiev along the Desna River is another area for concern. while there are fresh troops in reserve it may not be enough to make the defense along the Dnieper worth while as this weak area has the danger of large forces being cut off, destroyed and the whole purpose of the line defeated.
 
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Another area that has become a concern is the port of Murmansk. There has been combat to the south of Petsamo and south of Murmansk Wehrmacht forces have cut the rail line. a relief force of two armies with rail repair and bridging units is en route to secure and repair the southern rail line while forces have been brought in from Archangelsk to stiffen up the Murmansk garrison.
 
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Despite being surrounded and hopelssly out numbered the garrison at Odessa counter attacked, pushing Rumanian and Wehrmacht forces back 10km and causing considerable casualties.
 
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All across the USSR, the people's patriotism is being is being called upon to mobilize any available resources for The Great Patriotic War. This poster urges Soviets to "Protect the Motherland"
 
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This one is from downtown Moscow calling for residents to "Defend Moscow"
 
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[larryfulkerson]

Odessa finally fell after about 7 combat rounds this turn:
 

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the minimap view of the Axis moves for turns 5 thro 12:
 

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the Axis view of the front lines at the end of Axis turn 12:
 

[larryfulkerson]

Here's some of the Axis losses so far:
 

[Okimaw]

This turn saw another major shift in my defensive deployment. I had earlier anticipated that I would be able to shift enough troops into the Bryansk-Kiev Axis but with the Wehrmacht progress in the last turn I ran out of time. The axis of the defense will basically be from Moscow to Mariupol. The line from Moscow to Bryansk is still strong but from there, all points south are in a state of flux. From this misfortune I hope to make one solid line and tire my opponent out. The one thing I'm lacking to do so at this point is armored and motorised troops, to act as mobile fire teams in reserve where the line is threatened.

Here is a movie of the last 12 turns from the Red Army view

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Here is where the enemy had ample opportunities to breach the flanks on both sides of the line

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Here is the layout of the proposed defenses from Moscow to Mariupol

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The Fascists are now at the Luga River and are preparing to attack

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In the Kiev area, our heroic comrades have bought time for us and have made the Fascists pay dearly in men and equipment, The SS Nordland and Wiking divisions and the 9th Panzers were hit.

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With the fall of Odessa, the unviability of the Dnieper defense, the main strongpoint in the south has shifted from Melitopol to Stalino/Mariupol area.

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The people of the USSR are being called up on to join the Great Patriotic War in any way they can. Here is a poster calling on collective farmers to donate profits to buy tanks or planes.

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This poster is from Lenningrad urging all "let's defend the great city of Lennin

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[larryfulkerson]

Here's the north half of the front lines as seen from the Axis perspective in round 2 of Axis turn 13:
 

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the south half of the Axis view of the front lines from round 2 of Axis turn 13:
 

[larryfulkerson]

Here's some of the Axis losses so far:
 

[larryfulkerson]

6 combat rounds this turn.  I cleaned up the Odessa area, gained a hex in the Kiev area, crossed the river to the east side just south of Kiev, and am almost through getting a surround on the city Smolensk.  Here's the minimap view of the moves for turns 5 throu Axis 13:
 

[Okimaw]

This turn there wasn't very much going on except for pulling my forces back to the defenses I proposed earlier. On the one hand I know I'm running out of room to retreat to but on the other if I had tried to make any sort of substantive defense further west the Wehrmacht would definately gotten behind me and that would have been the beginning of the end. My hope is that the remaining troops along the Dnieper and in the Smolensk area can delay long enough for everyone to pull back.

Here is a movie for the last 13 turns from the Red Army view.

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The only area in which the Red Army took offensive action in this turn was Murmansk. One of our divisions and an NKVD regiment attacked the Wehrmacht forces closing in on the north of the city. Along with their frontline formations 3 headquarters were attacked and retreated, with any luck they will be reorganising next turn.

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Smolensk unfortunately could not be part of the latest defense strategy. The bulk of forces defending the area were withdrawn and will be deployed to extend the line further north of Moscow. It is slowy being encircled but will cost the Wehrmacht substantive time and casualties.

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Here is how the line is shaping up from Desna to Mariupol. For the first time I may be able to form one solid line. This will give the Red Army some chance to be flexible in defense as not all points can be attacked at once and it should be possible to reinforce at the attack points when that occurs.

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The party propaganda machine is still in full swing. Here is a poster urging the troops to humiliate and destroy the enemy

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This one asks, Have you helped at the front?

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[larryfulkerson]

Sevastapol looked like it was almost undefended so I decided to fly some airborne troops ( the FJ Div ) down there to try to take the city:
 

[larryfulkerson]

Here it is round four of Axis turn 14 and this is the north half of the front lines:
 

 
 

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the south half of the front lines in round four of Axis turn 14:
 

[larryfulkerson]

Here's a movie showing the original attack plan and our progress so far.  It's early in the game yet so even though we've captured only two of the objectives I think perhaps maybe we might be on schedule still:
 

[larryfulkerson]

Seven combat rounds this turn.  I gained a hex near Kiev and advanced almost everywhere else.  Here's the minimap view of the moves for turns 10 thro 14:
 

[Silvanski]

I see you've surrounded a bunch of Soviet dudes in the center... near which city is that?

[LLv34_Snefens]

Silvanski, that's near Smolensk.

Larry, the paradrop on Sevastopol is in violaiting with the house rules. It seems to be about 20 hexes from your nearest land unit.

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: LLv34_Snefens
Larry, the paradrop on Sevastopol is in violaiting with the house rules. It seems to be about 20 hexes from your nearest land unit.

Oops. I'll retract them ASAP if not sooner.

[Okimaw]

This turn there wasn't a lot to report.. Red Army is still in the process of organizing a strong defense. As can be seen in the movie below the line is shaping up. There are still some gaps in the south but in the next couple of turns reinforcements will arrive by train to remedy that.

Here is the movie for the last 14 turns from the Red Army view.

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While much attention has been given to the southern front the vast area between Moscow and Lenningrad has been lacking defenses. With available manpower it just wasn't possible. It is hoped that by strengthening the eastern Lenningrad line and possibly forming an arc eastwards on the north side of Moscow, flanking movements will not be possible.

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Murmansk area didn't see any action initiated by the Red Army on this turn but the forces sent to the area south have met the Wehrmacht forces that have cut the vital rail line. Given the value of the port to supply the Germans will not be allowed to hold it ven in the event they should capture it.

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Smolensk doesn't have hope of holding but the defenders have tied up a sizeable amount of wehrmacht forces. Strong forces in fortifications should make the attackers utilise reserves that are needed to assault Moscow. Depending how long Smolensk hold and how heavy the action is the Wehrmacht may be vulnerable to counter attack afterwards.

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Here is one sector of theBelev / Mariupol line in the Kharkov district.

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Here is a poster of Mother Russia calling the citizens to arms

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