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

[Senno]

Thanks, 2ndACR. He now has size 3 forts interspersed. Haven't seen any 4's yet, at least. I suspect those will start popping, though. The road to Leningrad has quite a few 3's now, soon to be 4's if I can't get 'em popped.

[Senno]

Turn 9

AGS:

In the far south, the Romanians have seized Odessa. 11th Army crosses the Bug at 1 location northeast of Nikolaev. Otherwise forces continue movement to contact with the Soviets.

[Sabre21]

ORIGINAL: 2ndACR

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

Both sides are about the same on levels 1 and 2, although the Germans are a bit faster on average to 2 due to the much higher construction value. From 3 on, the Germans are easily twice as fast. I can get a single German division into a level 4 fort in about 6 turns, sooner if stacked.

[Senno]

Turn 10:

Pre-recon


Pop. First size 4 Soviet fort encountered on the Luga at Kingisepp, as I scan Soviet positions at start of turn 10. Soviets start with a unit in the hex with a size 2 fort, if I remember right. So, from 2 to 4 in 10 turns? That's not really that fast, I don't think. But it sure hurts now, haha.

Those rounds of failed 1.9 to 1 attacks hurt now, as well, in that immediate vicinity, as he is generally behind size 3 forts from the coast south along the river. Fortunately a linkup is in the works, with additional forces being added to the attack.

[Senno]

Turn 10 OOB:

[Senno]

Turn 10 Losses:

[Senno]

The Dead Pile:

Shockingly small.

On the expected plus side, I haven't lost any units. Yay...

I'm not going to put up air losses, he's down 6300 or so, I'm down just shy of 1000. This does hurt as fuel delivery to the Panzers is growing ever smaller. The Soviets air interdictions, still infrequent are causing ever higher casualties when they do fire off. Damn Goring and his promises, haha.

[Senno]

Turn 10:

AGN:

AGN continues to plod north.

The units of XXVI Corps/18th Army link up with L Corps/2nd Army and bash a hole in the defenses on the Luga. The 2 hex wide breach is occupied, but lack MP's to move any further into the hole. This should compel the Soviets to move off the Luga defenses on their turn. But once again, they should slip away to reform. Pocket = missed. Maybe the Soviets will allow me a sympathy hot pocket? I sure could use one....[;)]

Second Armies seizure of VL doesn't appear that frightening to the Soviets, I suppose. They have thinned out their forces in the vicinty. I assume these were moved to the south of Lake Ilmen to head off the 4th Army Panzers. This is ok, as it eases Second Armies slow advance. I don't intend to go around Lake Ilmen really, just having feinted in that direction. Light forces of 18th Army have moved into the void south of Lake Ilmen somewhat, to hold the Soviets back as best they can.

Thus, Operation Prevent Courland Pocket in 1941, is off to a successful start. There is not a giant ledge forming a convenient jumpoff spot to surround AGC and cut off AGN. Since I have very little else to feel good about, I am happy about this =P. Second Army has achieved the goal set for it at the start of the campaign. Pretty much my only Army to do so, haha. I can't claim total success yet, as the Blizzard approaches....He still has time to surround AGC, maybe...

I remain disappointed that I am not close to Gorki and Baku, and that the war is far from over.[;)]

I don't intend to accept this position (South of Lake Ilmen, north of VL) until the blizzard, as he will simply shove me out of the nice, warm and cozy city of VL on the first turn he can attack. Second Army will have to do this with their own limited forces, however. They continue to hold the vital link between AGN and AGC.

[Senno]

Turn 10:

AGC:

Smolensk is captured. Third Panzer finds open space south and creates a smallish pocket. Ended up having a motorized that had mp's to close it off, woot.

I don't want to go much further south with Third Panzer at all. This smallish pocket was inviting, and with infantry available I took it. I imagine theSoviets wouldn't mind if I swim in the Dnepr the rest of the summer, haha.

Third Panzer will be heading east/northeast generally in future...

[Senno]

Turn 10

AGC:

Minor elements of Second Panzer (Cav, Motorized Regiment, 1 ID) continue operations to seal in the Prip Pocket, reaching 17th Army west of Chernigov.

[Senno]

Turn 10

AGC

Second Panzer commences Operation "There's No Here, Here", leaving Gomel. It's nice, but not really the place to be in the high summer. A seam in the defenses in located, and pulled. Second Panzer ends up south and east of Chernigov. I'd rather link up with Third Panzer sooner than later, but needing to leave Gomel, we tank the open road. Fourth Army and light elements of Second Panzers infantry commence opening a hole to the northeast as well. Linkup with Third Panzer is the short-term goal, now that the Prip Pocket is sealed.

Operation "Save Das Reich" (the Motorized Division, that is) will commence next turn, lol. It's been air dropped fuel for now. I expect it to be cut off next turn, as I left it exposed, and not in great position in any case.





Edit: I'm catching up to Oleg in views, woot.

[Senno]

Turn 10

AGS:

6th Army takes Kiev in handoff from First Panzer and helps Second Panzer seal in the Prip Pocket as noted above.

17th Army heads east/southeast and collides with a well dug in line. Operatons to kick that line down will commence next turn, if it remains in place. First Panzer commences rolling down the inside of the Dnepr, attempting to roll up the defense. A very small pocket is formed southwest of Kiev.

[TulliusDetritus]

Senno, you started timidly, but now it looks like the machine is well oiled [8D] I would not know where to start with ze Germans. A few mistakes and it's over [:)]

[Senno]

Thanks TD, appreciate it.[:D]


I hope to be able to produce some nice pockets more consistently going forward. And continue to try to drive those Panzers with audacity.

Results vary, haha.

[Senno]

Turn 10

AGS:

11th Army and the bulk of the Romanians are now across the upper Bug in force. Soviets remain in force, well dug in along this line, for now.

[PeeDeeAitch]

I still wish old "72-cannon" had quotes instead of just a large number of concubines and an impressive...er...cannon.  If he had said something worthwhile to inspire you this war would be over.

[Senno]

Turn 11:

General Impression:

With the Infantry, we will be moving to contact. In AGN thats towards Leningrad, as the small breakthrough caused a retreat off the river line back towards Leningrad. In AGC that's east/northeast towards Moscow. In AGS that's to the Dnepr, then tracking down along it's shores to head to Stalino. That's pretty much historical, I believe.

Soviet retreats in AGC and AGS have yielded hundreds of square miles of hexes. How much is actually checkerboarded and not empty we shall see. But I'm not going to race forward with the Panzers, 2-3 turns from infantry. Just 1-2 turns out in front, haha. I've not killed enough units, and know that they are still out there somewhere. Unsupported panzers are easy to cut off.

My relative lack of audacity has prevented a PDH sized haul. I have to be content with the territory, and not the units dying. Not that I have the same advance limits as PDH, sadly... I am trying to be more audacious, though. It's difficult to do after watching TD chew up the Panzers in his earlier AAR....

If there's no checkerboard, I will close up to the Soviets, but try to remain balanced, so not easily surrounded.

I now have more territory to retreat from come the blizzard in the northern half of AGS. Maybe I will survive until Spring '42, rather than winter. We shall see.

I am happy that I got a chance to play Oleg. He accepts the defense, and has not done a Sir Robin on a strategic level. He is a fun opponent to play.

I am trying to do my part by accepting the offense, haha.

[Senno]

AGN:

[Senno]

AGC:

[Senno]

AGS: