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versus Soviet AI, Difficulty normal, FOW

I understand that taking Riga and Minsk on T1 is `normal` and I can do those. However, the T2 litmus test is one I fail. Kiev is taken, but I am always stymied at Smolensk. I get the LVII Pz Corps adjacent, full strength, but cannot take the city from the `strength 45` defender. Ths seems a strong defence for T2 and I am wondering if it is hard wired for game purposes. I note on T3 that the AI creates a vast swath of defenders east and around Smolensk.

You're taking Minsk and Riga on turn 1, and Kiev on turn 2? I thought taking Minsk and Riga on turn 1 was impossible now due to the lowered engagement ranges. Smolensk is often difficult to take due to the terrain restricting encirclement movements, but against the AI doing so on turn 4 or so, after isolating the city, should be possible.

Against the AI, yes. After T1 against a human all bets are off. There is a specific route south of Pripyat that gets you to Kiev on T2 though weaker units/open terrain. For Riga you can get a fresh Pz Corps on the hex to the west and get a retreat result. For Minsk you approach from the NW, again using the clear terrain/weak unit 'path'. Note that a lot of relatively costly hasty attacks with infantry-only stacks are needed to clear the way. The AI usually isolates one or two thrusts, but the fist echolen Pz Group ( i.e. the one cleared the way) is well placed to quickly de-isolate the spearheads containing the lead formation. FOW is ON.

Now as for Leningrad I have not had much success in rapidly taking this area. Often the fall does not occur until the first winter turns after Mud season, but before the Blizzard.

Shocking the AI - I note that when Kiev falls, or Smolensk is attacked on T2, the AI creates a containment belt 6 or 7 hexes deep! around one or the other penetration, but not both.