Part 3 of FitE 5.0

[larryfulkerson]

In spite of the best efforts of the Soviets, the Axis has captured and held Odessa:
 

[larryfulkerson]

Here's some Axis losses so far ( before combat in turn 19 ):
 

[larryfulkerson]

Smolensk changed hands:
 

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the Axis air loss report just after the first combat round:

[larryfulkerson]

Just after the first combat round of Axis turn 19,  here's the losses so far:
 

[larryfulkerson]

Odessa's suffering is almost over:
 

[duckenf]

ORIGINAL: larryfulkerson

Odessa's suffering is almost over:

But they've held up a very large number of German units -- is the Soviet defensive line stabilizing? Axis losses, especially in heavy rifle squads appear very high (nearly 50%). How quickly are the Soviets making up the 300 units difference gap--it seems rather slow: 1210 v. 896 in turn 19; 1212 v 887 in turn 17?

[larryfulkerson]

The Soviet defensive lines seem relatively stable....the Germans can push 'em back here and there but for the most part, excepting any unforseen occurances, any major breakthroughs seem farfetched right now.  The 300 unit gap is closing since the Soviets get about two dozen units every turn and the Germans don't.  It's slowly starting to become a stalemate I'm afraid. 
 
Time for the Germans to try something risky somewhere perhaps?

[duckenf]

ORIGINAL: larryfulkerson

Time for the Germans to try something risky somewhere perhaps?

They can probably hold with infantry along most of the line and try and consolidate some panzer and mechanized infantry (backed by all thier artillery and the Luftwaffe) at a fwe key points to try one last roll of the blitzkrieg dice to get some major encirclements -- perhaps on the front on the road to Moscow?

[kfmiller41]

Well Larry, I am in about turn 6 of my game right now and I think I am doing a good job of pulling my troops back until I can make a fight of it somewhere. I am using a fighting withdrawl in the south and seem to have a decent line forming around Kiev. Up north though he has blown right thru me, but I have some room and have been blowing bridges and delaying with expendable units. Did manage to cut off and wipe out a battallion of the Waffen SS though[:-] who got to far ahead of the rest (they only though they were invincable[:D]) Fun game even if it looks bleak.

[larryfulkerson]

I've noticed that the Soviets can make up the difference in numbers of units if they hide most of their front line behind rivers that have only a few fording points.  That way they have to defend only a few places and not along the entire front line.  Also the active defense seems to work wonders.  Active defense being having a few 2nd string units on the actual front line and some of the bigger units in tactical reserve just behind the front line units so that if the actual front line units get attacked the bigger units move in to help out.  Most of the German attacks have gotten whacked unless they attempt their attacks with overwhelming force.  Attacks with results 2% Soviet loss and 15% Axis loss isn't uncommon for this reason.

[larryfulkerson]

Odessa finally fell to the Axis:
 

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the north half of the front lines just after the second combat round in turn 19:
 

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the south half of the front lines just after combat round two in turn 19:
 

[larryfulkerson]

The Axis has forced their way across the Dnepr River in a front at least 30 kilometers wide.  The Soviets are scrambling for more units to hold back the wave of enemy troops:
 

[Freddy Fudpucker]

I'm enjoying your aar Larry and the animated GIFs are excellent.

May I ask you a question? I've just bought the game and may look at writing my own aar but..how do you take a screen shot. I tried PrtScr but it didn't do anything and there's no mention in the hotkey section of the pdf manual.

Thanks in advance.

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: Freddy Fudpucker
...how do you take a screen shot. I tried PrtScr but it didn't do anything ....
Thanks in advance.

It didn't do any visible or notice-able thing but what it did was post a screenshot on your "clipboard". I use MS paint to get the image off the clipboard by using the "paste" command. Once you have it visible in MS paint you can crop it, save it, modify it, etc.

[larryfulkerson]

Just after the second combat round of Axis turn 19 here are some of the Axis losses so far:
 

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the moves for turns 15 thru 19:



Note the capture of Smolensk, Kiev, and Odessa. Most of the progress was in the South end of the front lines just to the east of Odessa.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's some of the Soviet losses so far: