AAR: Defense of the USSR part 7

[Vic]

The promised infantry reinforcements have only very very partly arrived at Leningrad HQs.
Leningrad is almost out of contact with the rest of the USSR.

[Vic]

I did what i could to strenghten Leningrads front with inadequate means. I even send half of the staff of the HQ to the front.
But it will not be enough. Leningrad will fall next turn, or the turn after it.
I already created a Far Nothern Front to hold the advance to Murmansk.
And next turn extra production will arrive due to part of this turns production could not reach Leningrad HQ.

[Vic]

A lot of troops are ready for the defense of Moscow and lots more will arrive next turn. All focus is now on holding moscow.
If i can make it into the winter with Moscow still in my hands i will be able to also reinforce the south.

[seille]

Would be great to see some more battle and losses screens, too. [:)]

[tweber]

German Turn 8, November 9

Winter strikes along the Eastern Front. Tank, truck and aircraft movemove is halved. Furthermore, strong Siberian units have arrived to protect Moscow. Moscow is likely to hold this winter.

Due to movement restrictions from the weather, I am not able to attack into the woods except along the roads with tanks or mechanized infantry. I launch one assault on the center road but it is not successful (even after an artillery strike). My restriction to roads prevents my ability to attack from multiple directions which significant slows me down.

I also strike some of the Siberians. They are well entrenched in the Moscow lines and I barely chip the paint on the tanks.

My only success is in extending my flanks. I am able to capture Tula in the southern sector of the front. Tula help protect my right flank. I am sure the Soviets will strike my flanks soon. I need to start thinging about defense in depth until the spring.

[tweber]

Further North, I am making good progress against Leningrad. I recapture the cross roads to the SE of the city. I also storm the fortication and the airfield directly south of the city. This cuts off the defenders in the out defenses to the SE. If I hold these hexes, I can attack from 4 directions with significant artillery support next turn.

[tweber]

In the South, Groups A and B advance, but speed is limited by the snow. I will be at Stalingrad in force in 2 turns. The Soviets should have time to defend the river line.

Along the Black Sea, Sevastopol continues to hold, but barely. It's resistance limits what I can do in the Caucausas. This should help the Soviets considerably in organizing a defense.

The picture below shows German kills (left) and casualties (right). The drop off this turn is due to my inability to operate my mechanized units in the snow.

[Arditi]

  Tweber, you are making a skilled push.  Is everything going to plan or would you have done anything differently?  Enjoying it.[:)]  Arditi

[Ola Berli]

Gents,
 
I try again. How many turns do this Barbarossa sce. have?

[Ola Berli]

Arditi,
 
for me it looks like tweber go hells for leather on all 3 fronts ( North, Centrum, South ) Could be that the
end result will not be to his expectations. He should perhaps been more specific for ex. take Leningrad and
or Moscow before the winter sets in.

[TPM]

ORIGINAL: Ola Berli

Arditi,

for me it looks like tweber go hells for leather on all 3 fronts ( North, Centrum, South ) Could be that the
end result will not be to his expectations. He should perhaps been more specific for ex. take Leningrad and
or Moscow before the winter sets in.

I don't know about that...looks like he's doing pretty well on all three fronts if you ask me.

[tweber]

I am doing a bit better than expected, especially if I am able to take Lenningrad and Sevastopol before the Soviet combat advantage in December takes place (I have 1 turn left before that).   Taking out these 2 location will shorten my front which is important. 

I can't say that I have made any moves that I really regret, but this phase is simple for the Germans.  AG N pushes all out to Leningrad, AG C to Moscow, AG S to Kharkov, and Romania to Sevastopol.  The trick is playing the changes well.  I may play too aggressively or too conservatively during the winter.  I may make bad production choices.  We will see.

I think the key to where I am now is getting over the rivers.  They are like hurdles.  Can you take them in 3 steps or 5?  It is important to push the pace for the entire game.  A delay in turn 2-3 will have dramatic impacts on where you are on turn 8.  Getting the brunt of you army (and not just the armored spearheads) up will also set the weight of your attack and the resulting shape your opponent is in.  The German period of dominance is short and you have to make the most of it.

As for turns.  1 round is 20 days so there are ~18 rounds a year.  I think that winter goes from November through March (although is it somewhat random in November and March - this was the first big scenario that I wrote so I would have to check the events).  I think the game ends with a German marginal victory if they hold until 1945 (though I would have to check).  This gives 3 1/2 years or ~60 turns.

[Arditi]

Tweber, interesting...thanks for the post.[:)]  It's going to be fun to watch. 
                    Ciao,  Arditi
 

[Ola Berli]

twber,
 
thanks for that! Voila...new info. pretty impressiv it is not only Barbarossa but the whole East Front. What a game! I am Sold [&o]