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Center

South

Army

Turn 10 Telegraphing.

Loses 1.7m
Factories Lost: 4A, 4HI

I don't think this was a very eventful turn but what I noticed was the that the German moves seemed to be telegraphed very plainly by the placement of the mechanised and panzer units.

In the north, my somewhat flippant comment last turn that he was trying to pocket lake Ilmen seems to be borne out by the strong forces surrounding the lake. However, I am worried that a strong drive north from Novgorod can leave Leningrad Front cut off so I keep shuffling east to stay safe.

In the center, again I can see the wide pincer developing from Velikie Luki and Bryansk. I would have not gone so wide myself but I have only played the AI so I'm thinking perhaps this might work better for him. However, I look at the thick woods north of Moscow and the wide Oka river to the south and begin to hope that Moscow will hold out in 1941.

In the south, it seems clear he intends to pass north and south of D town. I'm wondering where his railhead is and which path it took. Crossing the wide rivers without the railhead close behind can be a supply headache for him. I'm going to stick close and hope I can capitalise on this.

The battle for the Crimea has also begun. It's not yet clear if he will seal it up and head straight for the rich factories in the Donets or try to push through. I have strong forces in the Crimea and hope to do better than Odessa.

This is the turn where I fall in love with the cavalry. Finally, I can actually move around on the battle field! I have built and entire cavalry army in SW Front and swung it completely around D town in one move to block an advance. I think more cavalry armies are in my future.

What I hate is not having enough front HQs to properly control my armies. I don't think I get another one until November. What was Stalin thinking? On the other hand, I have more army HQs than I know what to do with.

Turn 11 Mud to the rescue

Mud in central zone has essentially frozen the situation from last turn so I won't post the screen shots.

My army is over 4.8m now and loses are 1.75m. Reinforcements are poring in from the Urals.

I'm not sure what to do with the large number of understrength tank brigades that are coming through. Obviously they can't go into battle. I decide to rail then west and see if they can at least start digging in a few choice places. Tanks production just does not match the number of units.

The previous posts helping me understand the factory situation have made me cautiously optimistic that I will have plenty of armaments and heavy industry, but won't get too cocky before autumn mud sets in.

North

Center

South - Upper

South - Lower

Loses

Turn 12 - Lake Ilmen Captured

Soviet Army 4.85m
HI: 228
Arm: 362

The encirclement of Lake Ilmen has begun! Perhaps the deep ranks for well fortified Soviet rifle divisions have scared off the panzers. In any case, the German infantry continue to gnaw away at my defense. I hope to hold out until the mud rescues me, but I suspect Leningrad will still fall during the snow. The some of the brave troops of NW front may not make it back from their boating expedition on the lake.

My slow retreat in the center seems to be working. I have had no pockets for a few turns now. Have I master the art of retreat or is he simply out of petrol? I think we will know soon. The southern most panzer push is obvious in the screen shot; the northern most is just slightly cut off. The telegraphed moves have come exactly where expected.

In the upper part of the south the mud has actually cost me a couple divisions that could not retreat fast enough. I suppose it is a mixed blessing.

Further south the pincer move north and south of D Town is going in slow motion. I think there must be a supply issue. In the Crimea my outer most defensive line is destroyed. He could hit that one from 3 sides so it was just a speed bump. I hope the next line does better. However, I'm happy to see 11th army opposite me here rather than closer to D Town.

My armies grow rapidly now with rifle divisions and armoured brigades pouring in from the Urals. I expect to be over 5m men soon.

North

Center

South - upper

South Lower

Stats

Turn 13 - Cutting the head from the snake

Soviet Army 4.9m
HI 228
Arm 362

This this the turn the snake moves to strike big in the center and south only to have its head cut off.

In the center, the northern pincer J hooks into the Reserve front looking for the open terrain. There is just enough room for me to insert some infantry in unhelpful places so I take the chance. The southern pincer though has left a gap and I close it with my much loved cavalry while Western Front reforms in front of him.

It is a similar story around D Town. This time it is the northern pincer which I cut off. I also smother the armoured head with units on all sides. The southern pincer I almost cut off with another smother attack. I have created enough ZOCs to ensure only a trickle of supply will make it forward.

However, if the panzers have come in with full petrol tanks I'm afraid my aggression in the center and south will backfire in a big way. This is one of the most tense waits I have had to see what happens next turn.

Turn 14 - All clear

My aggression of last turn has come out ok. His armoured columns have not moved very much. I credit the lack of supplies I caused, but only thedrillsgt knows for sure.

My army is about to pass the 5m mark and new units are pouring in. The tank brigades are too numerous and soak off tanks I need at the front, so I have set all but a few to 20% TOE. I'm also running low on HQs. I try very hard not to overload them to maximise SU allocation.

I have taken to bombing airfields each turn. My loses are terrific but it's all obsolete junk I want to get rid of and it makes him fly against my planes rather than my ground units. I'm probably going to take a morale beating for this.

I'm also happily bombing away at the fuel in Polesti. 40% destroyed and counting. I think perhaps he has not noticed yet.

Turn 16 North

Turn 16 Center