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Last Stalingrad hex taken and the Rostov area pocket.

The VVS did a bit better this turn with some micro management.

Lenningrad. Take a couple of hexes but it is very costly. Am thinking I should not be attacking here but would like to link up the rail line in to the city.

V-L. Switch the main attack southwards and get 4 good wins. Axis don't have enough to have a strong line everywhere so keeping attacking their weaker hexes works well.

Orel-Kursk.
Axis have pulled back from Orel leaving just one division behind, decide to assault the city to get the depot active asap. Elsewhere switch the main attack to south of Bryansk where the terrain opens up somewhat if I can get past those heavy woods hexes. Pocket a stack near Kursk but it is going to cost me getting a tank corps trashed.

Rostov area.
Cross the river in the north just to make another threat.
Assault and take Gorlovka, could have pocketed it instead but trying to push forwards and open up the game.
Pocket 4 units near Rostov, expect Axis can break it but will take them some effort.
In the South break out and capture two ports.

Am hoping Axis will not be able to construct much of a line next turn and it is also difficult for them to pull some of their units back.

Taman area.
Take Krasnovar.
Both sides have got a lot of really weak units here. Not sure it it is worthwhile attacking much morebut guess I can pick on any weak stacks.

Losses for the turn satisfactory though the VVS continues to get trashed. After a few air combats it all needs to go back to the SR to recuperate.

North.
Three attacks around lenningrad, I tried loading the unist with AA SUs to fend off the Luftwaffe but it didn't have much effect.

Moderate progress around Velik-Luki.

Really this is all just to keep some Axis units pinned dowm.

Centre.

All the effort is West of Kursk where Axis are not so well dug in. Lose some battles and win some. Axis are holding out well enough here and is is a slow grind, I really over committed this turn and don't have enough units on REFIT. Am going to have to slow down next turn but it is a difficult balance between trying to keep pushing Axis back so they are not too well dug in AND keeping the Rifle Corps up to strength.

Am going to try doing some Merging units next turn to see how that works with keeping the lead Corps full.

South.
Have opened up two new attacks across the Donets river where Axis units were getting thinned out.

Am across the minor river in force so there is the threat of pocketing the whole Axis force in the Stalino area next turn.

Axis broke the pocket again last turn as expected, have resealed it with 11 divisions enclosed this time. Axis will have a tough attack to open it and it is going to be very difficult for these units to escape.

Continue to expand along the Azov coast, might get some naval supply next turn - not sure.
The game could really open up here, maybe Axis have a defensive line forming at the next river but am hoping not.


Taman peninsula. Not really worth attacking here any more, the terrain is too rough and not much worth taken, some troops being transferred north.

Losses for the turn are satisfactory, VVS continues to get trashed.

Just a couple of attacks around lenningrad and two more near V-L.

Soviets pull back a few hexes north of Bryansk.
Near Kursk have about a dozen divisions pocketed. They will all get out easily enough but I should continue to get attacks against units that are not entrenched next turn. Have another couple of armies of Rifle Corps joinint the attack from the Reserve nest turn.

Rostov area. Axis broke the pocket again last turn, have resealed in and herded another couple of Panzer divisions in - am hoping it will be secure this time.
Something of a break out in the area and 30+ divisions pocketed in total. Most can escape, will see what reserves Axis can muster next turn to retrieve the situation.

Overall losses for the turn Soviet are not far off even.

Looks to me that there can be no recovery for Axis now, but I thought that some turns ago and was wrong that time.

Whats the current OOB.

Start of T35, current OOBs.
As you can see the Soviets don't have a huge advantage. Am making progress by concentrating the attacks.

Axis did lots of counter attacks this turn and trashed many of my surrounding units, am not sure if being so aggressive last turn was a good idea.
Have 9 divisions sealed off in the pocket, including 6 Mech/Mot/Panzer.
Have a decision to make this turn, push on at full speed OR consolidate somewhat and just do attacks at good odds. It may be possible to pocket another division or two but there will be a cost.

is it supply tickers on a map?

all of the units between Z-town and Mariupol got freight from a ports?

Yes, freight across the sea to those ports, though I should have them linked up this turn or next.
No idea what supply tickers are.

supply tickers - that green (in your case) triangles

I was asking if it is supply or something else.

Yes, supplies. No shortage in this area.

Pics are in a bit of a mess, not sure what is happening.

No attacks around Lenningrad, have the rail line linked up so no longer a priority.

V-L. Just 3 attacks, switching the attack focus again.


Kursk. Had a lot of lead units trashed last turn, however it did force Axis to pull back a little. Renew the offensive and trying to woor around behind Kursk. A kamikazee Tank Corps cots some rail lines. Rostov. Kill the 12 pockeded divisions from last turn.
Pocket another 7 that might be secure.
Pocket another dozen just to obstruct the Axis turn.


Taman. Axis are pulling back, guess they need the troops elsewhere.

Losses for the Soviet turn, thanks to the surrendered divisions.

Rosencrantus conceded at this point which I think is fair enough - too many divisions are being lost around Rostov.

Thanks for a good game, it has been tough going and there were periods earlier on when my losses were not really sustainable. We had quite a few issues with bugs and so on with the various patches but thankfully we were able to come up with house rules to deal with them and continue playing.
Good luck to him in his next game and hope he finds a worthy opponent.

tyronec wrote: Thu Mar 24, 2022 6:31 pm Rosencrantus conceded at this point which I think is fair enough - too many divisions are being lost around Rostov.

Thanks for a good game, it has been tough going and there were periods earlier on when my losses were not really sustainable. We had quite a few issues with bugs and so on with the various patches but thankfully we were able to come up with house rules to deal with them and continue playing.
Good luck to him in his next game and hope he finds a worthy opponent.

Good game, am glad I finally got a game that was at least past one campaigning season. If I played better I definitely could have held out to berlin but my lack of defensive experience and underestimation of the Soviet offensive potential showed. As you said bugs definitely had an impact on the game like with GS and such, but that is no excuse to make up for how well you played.

Good game!

An interesting AAR. Looking forward to the next one