1. MP game vs. Miller41 (SOV) - really no Miller! ;)

[CharonJr]

After having played the AI it is now time for a MP game for me here and Miller41 will try to show me the errors of my ways


And I am all for OKH raising its security level since we keep being spied upon by the Soviets...


With the new beta patch I hope to be able to make better progress in the north, than what I have seen in other AARs, but we will see what will happen.

AGC (Heeresgruppe Mitte) is stripped of a lot of panzer, 1 corps will support AGN (Heeresgruppe Nord), another one will support AGS (Heeresgruppe Süd) and a third corps is even assigned to Heeresgruppe Süd in order to enable a T1 linkup with the Romanians and a hopefully secure pocket in the south. I prefer the south for my panzer operations, but this leaves Heeresgruppe Mitte fairly short of mobile forces.

With the 2 remaining Panzerkorps I will try to put some pressure towards Smolensk and Gomel, but this will not be easy. And depending on what I see during the next turn I still have the option of sending the northern Panzerkorps of Heeresgruppe Mitte towards Smolensk, too.

Heeresgruppe Nord will push hard towards Leningrad with Pskov as the next target.

Heeresgruppe Süd will try to establish a bridgehead across the Dnepr as soon as possible, Kiev is a potential target there, but a lot will depend on the defenses I will face during my push east.

I got more held results than expected here which has me a bit worried about the pockets.

I have formed 3 large pockets and am fairly confident in the northern one, the center should be fairly secure as well, but I am worried about the south. Mostly by this salient since I am not sure if those hexes will stay under Soviet control, if this is the case it might be a close call if Miller is able to reestablish contact.

Due to the fairly wide thrusts by the panzer the infantry should have a fairly easy time of following them, but they will still be outdistanced again during the next turn.

Forgot to take screenshots of the losses, but I recall that I stopped my bombing missions before hitting 5k planes since I wanted to keep my level bombers in reasonable shape for using them in getting air supplies to my spearheads (mostly focused on bombers in my attacks).

[PeeDeeAitch]

THAT is why you sent that panzer corps to Daugavpils, it is going to smash northwards. I have thought of that, but I get too conservative.

[CharonJr]

And I still have the option of turning east, but yes, I want Leningrad here.

[Flaviusx]

That's a very strong opening, imo.

[CharonJr]

I am still not sure about taking Riga instead of simply sending those panzer across the river and having them closer to Pskov (but this would have cost me at least 1 mot division - more likely 2 - for the pocket then) and I could have handled the small Kovel pocket a bit better (underestimated the defender's strength there and had to send in a mot division to get the situation under control), but overall I like the outcome here.

[PeeDeeAitch]

I like how it turned out - you have several options open to you. As you mentioned the LVII PzC can go back to the center, it can swing wide and fake going back to the center then go north, or it can just join in on a rush to Pskov.  In the center you can reinforce with the XIV PzC, or send it south.  You have set yourself up for a fluid advance that forces you opponant to react and change to what you dictate. That is key in the first few turns, and you might well find yourself in a situation much to your liking.
 
Your long and well played solo game helped you learn the mechanics, and I think that (unlike others) this will aid you in the long run as you have a good grasp on what you can do. Of course, facing a human you will see the unexpexted, but at least you start on very solid ground.
 
I shall watch this closely

[Flaviusx]

The nice thing about taking Riga is you've got a port right next to your panzers and this improves your logistical situation. I think it's worth doing. Otherwise you either have to divert panzers to do the job on turn 2 and delay your advance to Pskov, or wait until the infantry gets there, which might not happen until turn 3.

Bypassing Riga also invites Soviet games in your rear.

[DivePac88]

Good luck CharonJr, I am subsribed...



Like the cut of your operations toward Pskov, and was wondering on the 9th Armys role. Do you intend to use the 9th Army's infantry in the north as support for LVII Panzer Korps, or in it's more traditional role as contact between AGN and AGC.

[CharonJr]

Unless I am mistaken Riga will not work as a supply source unless the Gulf is completely under my control or am I wrong there?

[CharonJr]

With the lack of armor in the center I will most likely (have to) use them between north and center (Smolensk being the main target), but I will try to keep everything as flexible as possible here for now.

Depending on the resistance in the south I am thinking about pulling 6. Armee more towards the center once the marshes are left behind and bringing 9. Armee more to the north - I want Leningrad

[CharonJr]

Just got the turn back, since it is 1 am around here I will only get to play it tomorrow, but all the pockets held (though he did try to penetrate the southern one at the salient I mentioned, obviously it stayed Soviet).

And it looks like I have to assign additional long range recon planes to Heeresgruppe Nord, I am fairly blind up there.

But from what I see he is concentrating to the east of Minsk and to the east of Tarnopol (depending on my MPs and how close I can get the infantry I might try to pocket those) in addition to starting to build up at/behind the Dnepr.

Except in the south my RR units should have fairly clear runs and the infantry to have a fairly easy time heading east - both as I hoped.

[PeeDeeAitch]

In the north you will have to aggressively push the army airbases forward - the advance on the first couple of turn can outstrip the recon ability. Move them toward the front then recon again - though tired, they can provide more coverage.  Turn two and three are the "blind turns" there often times due to the advance.

[timmyab]

Scary first turn for the Soviet player.The Panzer corps NW of Daugavpils would be a particular worry for me.Is it going to go NE and overrun Pskov before the defences can be stiffened or is it going E to unhinge the main line of resistance behind the Dvina, or is it a feint to draw defenders away from the Vitebsk-Mogilev area.I think with a large part of 2nd panzer group going south, and therefore less of a threat in the center, I'd feel forced to heavily reinforce the Pskov defenses.
The situation in the South is also worrying.The one bright spot is that I'm fairly certain the Lvov pocket can be broken in the place you suggested.Not that it's going to help that much anyway.

[CharonJr]

Since I have not moved any units in the second screenshot the Lvov pocket should be safe

[timmyab]

ORIGINAL: CharonJr

Since I have not moved any units in the second screenshot the Lvov pocket should be safe

I was referring to turn 1.I'm certain that if that cavalry unit had gone West instead of NW it can make contact with units to the SW and possibly from the West as well.

[sillyflower]

ORIGINAL: CharonJr

Unless I am mistaken Riga will not work as a supply source unless the Gulf is completely under my control or am I wrong there?

I've looked at rules v. carefully - not least 'cos I've just done my first german turn and took Riga too.

Enemy-held ports exert ZOCs that prevent naval movement -manual 14.2.3.4 -ie naval transport or amphib. aircraft can also interdict naval movement.

Supply rules don't say anything about interdiction from enemy ports/aircraft prevent supplies so (being a lawyer) I think you are wrong. Also in another thread someone posted that Riga was showing as a supply source when he hadn't got as far as the island N of Riga. And when it was further from his troops than his railhead but that's another story............

I'm sure Pavel-the-All-Knowing or someone of his ilk knows the definitive answers to both issues

[CharonJr]

T2:

The Soviet airforce seems to have been placed in the national reserve, no planes on any of the airbases I saw.

The pockets in the north and center were cleared, the southern one reduced, yielding about 350k men, 5k guns and 4k tanks from about 65 units.

Minsk was taken and LVI Panzer reaches Pskov, but is unable to displace the defenders and since I kept attacking the 2 divsions will most likely be isolated next turn, but freeing them again should not be too difficult (have to air supply them this turn).

LVII Panzer is formally assigned to 4. Panzergruppe, taking some load from Heeresgruppe Mitte.

XXXXVII Panzer manages to cross the river Berezina, but this spearhead is fairly exposed, too and sadly the terrain prevents me from cutting north to link up with XXXIX Panzer and pocket the units between Minsk and Mogilev. But the rail leading to those units is cut.

Miller tried some forward defense in the south, but due to the fuel reserves in my mobile units from turn 1 I was able to create 2 additional pockets here with 11. Armee's taking of Kishinev providing the southern anchor.

They are not very secure, but the units inside will be weakened anyway and freeing those units will take units that could better spend their time digging in the rear.

Sadly I will have to slow down my advances soon, but I will still try to take advantage of any opportunity that will allow me to get into a good position before I have to rest my armored spearheads (will have to remember to be a bit more conservative in my attacks, getting a city 1 turn earlier is not worth being cut off).

[CharonJr]

Caught myself a spy

And Riga showed a distance of about 15 hexes to the next supply source.

[karonagames]

Shooting at dawn would be too good for him!!![:)]

[raizer]

omg a screen shot of a spy...that is a first...
man if you can get to Novogorod [:)]