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you know, from some of the posts during the AARs, I think people forget what it takes to do some of what is being shown (which, of course, since you are not able to do it yet, there is no reason for you to "know" what it takes)

and as I have said, Jon and Andy are masters at this

and when I am trying to make a pocket, I keep thinking, maybe I should take some screen shots of it in the act (normally after I am half way though !)

so, I got a me a chance for a pocket

just had 3 turns of mud, followed by my 2nd turn of snow (which means, no matter what I do, I know there is a nasty storm coming, so, while I should just clean up my flanks and start to dig in, I got a nice chance here, and, if nothing else, I tend to be overagressive)

what it looks like to start with

I left one little bitty gap in my line !!!! and this is what I come back to

looking at the pocket and what my plans are

in the north, I can use the lake to help out, and since I want to use the south of the lake as my other ancor point...

I want to head right on in (black Arrow) but, maybe easier to take the short cut to the left

remember I am in the snow, so I don't have massive movement, or, as easy combat

opening moves

hmmm, the easy part, took 5 Divs making 3 attacks to clear out the spot !

I also, had to clean the flank, so my Inf could march forward to take the key hex

in the middle, that hurt, took a pounding trying for the bottom seal hex, had to go for the stronger hex, as I don't have anything with enough movement to follow the attack on the weaker hex !, south I start to move in

hmmmm

got my break though, but am having to clean up my flank, to allow the follow up guys to get into place

okay, closed the pocket, but my armor flank is weak, so going to have to give them some more troops !

in the south, I pound on that little stack, need that area clear, so will let them get away, if they route

and a little clean up, a little shoring up the flanks, making sure not any little gaps open, and the pocket should be closed, as well as I can get it, with what I got

(for a little pocket, that is 1 and a half PZ Groups, 2 Armies, and part of some other Corps !)

up north some, is what is left of my last pocket, also using the lake as the ancor

not a bad little pocket, about 88,000 men

and after that, it is time to Reorganize my forces in the North

Orange will be my shoulder flank, Green, will head south a little to help the Germans on defence, Russians are nasty in the blizzard, the Fins make them look like beginners !

my armor in the middle is resting and refitting, next turn, they will become the reserves

then it is doing a little digging in, make sure my repair units are moved, close the gaps with my HQs, and make sure I not forgotten to move anybody in the rear, and then let the Russian have there say

and hope I get another week of snow !

I didn't take a snap of what the reorganize looked like after ward, but, north is now Orange and the rest are in the Green

Judging by the fourth screenshot, you're trying to create a pocket 1 hex row to the left of where you intended to create it (the black arrow), but that seems to be a much better idea. If you can dislodge the 2=6 Rifle Division and move the 15-1 stack 1 hex to the right and do the same for the 7-1 Infantry division, the pocket's there.

Edit: seems you closed the pocket in a different way according to the screenshots posted whilst I was typing.

Impressive advance by the way, being well North and East of Moscow and Kalinin at this point.

well, plans and what you can do, end up being different, costs of moving into hexes, zones of control and rivers and what not, eat up your mp fast

sooo, yes, I set up what I wanted to do, and then showed what I was able to get away with

(in the middle, I wanted to push the HQ away, and then slip though that gap to the weak Inf, but didn't have anything that could get there)

shhhhhh, your not suppost to notice that part

okay, as I feared, the Blizzard came (which was one of the main reasons, I wanted this pocket to start with, that deep and with that many openings, it would of been in my backfield, before I could move)

one hassle now is, I got me a nice big pocket and weak troops to try and finish it off

the AI tried to fight for the "south" pocket I didn't show, but left the north alone, think it may of needed rest for the coming snow off

as you see in the south, I built some fort zone, they not much, but they will help a little, if they can be given the chance to build

over all, they just to slow down the Russian Advance

Ron, your an air commander (very good). I really hate dealing with it in the game. Sorry there is a draw back here. "You can be my wing man anytime". A little Val Kilmer there (Top Gun)...Maybe we can draw this into the game (PBEM), hum...