Turn 7
18Feb2020: Real-life issues for both players made February a slow month, but didn't stop us cold.
First glance shows decent advances by the Axis only toward Leningrad and in Ukraine. Northern Front did fine. The Lake Jan line held against two Finn attacks, but the fortifications went from 2.54 to 0. On the Baltic coast I was pushed back a single hex from the Narva River to the Luga. Panzers from Pskov blitzed north but didn’t make it to the Luga. German infantry moved up to regain contact with the withdrawing forces of Northwest Front, and Vitebsk has finally fallen. South of the Dvina, AGC did little except mass against my landbridge and Dnepr river lines. Dnepr forces are still not outflanked. Strong infantry stacks should be able to force crossing next turn - I don’t know why they didn’t try on this turn, TBH.
Southwest Front suffered the only major setback this turn. Vinnitsa and seven divisions were pocketed by the combined effort of 1st PzG. Four of the six divisions trapped in the hills southwest of Vinnitsa were routed (but not destroyed); two hold out for one more turn in the hills at 67,91. Southern Front lost only what they gave up in tactical withdrawals, and still holds strong on the Dnepr south of Kishinev. Pleasing results, all things considered. Axis is pushing but my defenses are slowing them down. They are still 50 miles from Smolensk and Odessa.
Vehicle Pool: 165k (48k needed), no worries. RailCap starts at 36374/151540. Reserved rail will be turned down if there is surplus this turn.
Manpower-3370, Port-138, Railyard-292, Vehicle-150, HInd-232, Oil-128, Fuel-149, Resource-196, Armament-366.
Arrived Unit list shows 7 divisions, 3 brigades, and 3 new Army HQs. Four Corps HQ were disbanded along with two NKVD regiments. Six air units upgraded to late model planes. One air battalion (10 plane) units renamed and upgraded to air regiment (20 plane). Next turn, ground arrivals should be 12 divisions and two empty armies. Turns 9, 10, 11 will have slightly more arriving each turn.
Key stats from EvLog production totals: 83.6k Armaments produced, 1362 vehicles, 312 aircraft, 109 afv, 185k manpower. About 750k armament surplus left after replacement phases. Down at the bottom of Event Log, Resource Status shows Rail at 100% - 202k free, 192k needed. This will be checked at end of the turn and possibly adjusted. 18 partisan battalions now formed, and 14 supply drops done from VVS airbases. Doesn’t look like any of them are actively blowing things up yet.
CR Battles tab reports 115 battles of all types. Only around 35 Axis recons; escort still on. 25 bombing attacks so the Luftwaffe is doing more. 35 ground battles across the whole front - biggest fights were near Vinnitsa with ~20k Soviet casualties. The fights up at Lake Jan were bloody, with Finns and Red army each losing over 1k men. Soviets can afford that. Eight interdictions by Soviets with minimal results.
Axis main-line rail repair progress: 72,30 (switched back toward Pskov). 68,56 next to Minsk. 70,61 S of Minsk. 64,88 nex to Proskurov. 73,105 E of Kishinev, right up to the Dnestr River front line. No change here , so a wasted turn for Rumanian Rail. Should I try to hold this section yet another turn? This would be risky as five German infantry divs are 50 miles north, and panzers are 120 miles north and should get decent supplies. ‘Twill be pondered.
Looking back at my Turn Six risks and expectations, I called things pretty well. Vinnitsa was pocketed. AGN panzers didn’t pocket anything but did advance toward the Luga line. AGC did almost nothing except stage - Vitebsk was the single ground battle in that zone. I’m surprised AGC was that deliberate. A clear weather turn with zero progress towards Moscow is a Soviet success. My Lake Jan line looks like it won’t be able to hold forever; he should be able to retreat one hex next turn. Maybe not though - I could disband the fort region, then move in another good RD. He’ll be facing 3 divs (or maybe 4 if reserves activate).
Oh, let’s check Hanko - still sitting there and isolated. Defensive CV down to 8.
Repoooort and spreeeadsheet time.. Two partisan battalions are at 50% or higher Toe and Morale, with four more at 45-49% Morale. Still watching to see when they start running around.
214 total infantry units. Average morale is 45 (flat), EXP is 36 (+2). A little better. Still at about fifteen RDs above 50 Mor+Exp.
Satellite map view for turn start. This pic emphasizes how slow the AGS advance has been in Ukraine - AGS lines are about 100 miles farther west than AGC and AGN.
