Matrix Games Forums

This game is standard GC41-45 scenario with reduced Blizzard and random weather.
We do not have any house rules however I will avoid abusing the game engine.
I hope this AAR will last longer than my previous attempt.

I will try to fight in north and center and slowly retreat in the south. Actually I am doing this every game. I do not like running, but sometimes there is no other option.

Turn 1

Mehring did good job with the initial airfield attacks. He sniffed out probably everything that has been possible. From the precious aircrafts I had lost around 130 recons and 240 IL4s.

For the sake of mother Russia I was hoping that extended Lvov pocket won't happen. Thankfully Mehring decided for more or less standard opening.

Good news for Leningrad is that around 50% of units were routed out of the northern pocket. I have estabilished line on the Velikaya river from all units I could get in the north and will try to hold around Pskov as long as possible.

In the center I left only screening units on Berezina as there is no chance to fight in front of Dnepr. Dnepr is secured by enough forces to prevent any crossing attempt on turn 2.
The gap north of Vitebsk can be a problem but I don't have any spare units.

It seems at least one Pz Korps from AGC was moved south to AGS. My deployment in south is not the best but it will slowdown the spearhead. Sacrificing few divisions for slowing Panzers is worth it.

Turn 2

Not much action this turn. Most of the exposed units ends in pockets.

In north it seems Mehring may try to go through Narva. I have deployed there 4 divisions as blocking forces. This should be enough to stop him there, at least for the next turn.

In center I reinforced landbridge and Dneper line. Few units were deployed also north of Vitebsk, but his mobile units are far from this area. I should be secure here.

In south checkebord is laid and I have retreated few hexes back. Kovel pocket is definitely sealed. The new pocket west of Proskurov could be smaller, but I made blunder on turn 1. I tried to attack Panzer regiment and did not notice that I have been attacking across river. Attack failed and I was out of MPs.

Factories evacuated:
Leningrad - T-50 (7 points)
Voronez - IL2 (2x1 point)

Are you planning on pulling off the Dnestr next turn? Always seems like that line ends up being pocket bait...particularly on turn 3/4

Yes, I have retreated from Dnestr on the next turn. But with random weather I have always temptation to not retreat.

interesting to watch how you are developing your defense so far.

Agree, random weather is so much better - it constantly tempts you to gamble with holding a given line for one more turn in the hope of extracting that bit more industry

Turn 3

Mud in the European weather zone.

Surprisingly again not much action this turn.
Mehring is probably waiting for infantry to catch up but he is also giving me valuable time to recover from the initial blow.


In north I have routed one German motorized division which has been positioned very poorly.
The new Leningrad PM divisions are positioned on the Luga line.

In center I am constantly reinforcing landbridge and Dneper. Axis attacking and capturing Mogilev was the only action here.

All quiet on the Southern Front too. Axis advanced few hexes and I moved my checkboard few hexes back.

Factories evacuated:
Poltava - 8 armament points
Leningrad - 7 armament points
Kaluga - 7 armament points

Turn 4

Mud strikes in central weather zone. Basically the entire front is paralyzed.

Factories evacuated:
Leningrad - 6 vehicles points
Leningrad - 8 armament points
Kiev - 4 armament points
Zaporozhye - 4 armament points
Taganrog - LaGG-3-29s 1 point

GHC is screwed by General Mud and of course your very good tactics. The tempo of GHC is slow because of mud.
I have played 2 games using "random" weather and watched allot in AAR's and 90% of the time mud hits several times in the first 6 turns completely changing the balance of the game.

Very good GHC players vs average SHC a win becomes a draw and vs the better SHC a draw becomes a SHC win by late 44.

It will be interesting to see in this case how it plays out with the lesser blizzard effects.

Good luck.

Well his operational tempo has increased as he does not have to worry now. He is moving with Panzers to east faster then I would like to see.

Turn 5

In north Mehring finally decided to go through Pskov. I have abandoned Narva and reinforced the area between Pskov and Luga.

In center he crossed Dneper at Mogilev. Couple of unsuccessful attacks have arranged that only one Panzer division has made it to the other bank. One division in open terrain is no match for mighty Red Army and was easily pushed back.

Main event happened in the south. I did not have unit in Kiev and Mehring exploited it. He easily swept through my defense, captured Kiev and crossed Dneper. I cut off the entire spearhead but damage has been done. I have been hoping that I can prevent him from crossing until turn 7-8.

Factories evacuated:
Charkov - 20 vehicle points

OOB and losses on turn 5.

Turn 6

North seems to be under control.

In center Germans are over Dneper and I have retreated few hexes back.

Most critical situation is in the Kiev area. I have disengaged from Germans and I can now only hope that they will be low on fuel.

Attack on Odessa has started. I am hoping to hold Odessa for few more turns. Else the situation in far south is stabilized.

Charkov - 15 armament points
Brayensk - 4 armament points
Moscow - T-40 18 points
Gomel - 2 armament points
Voronez - IL-10 1 point

Unless he gets some major pockets soon, GHC is in big trouble.

nice job Bobo.

thanks Pelton

He is pocketing nearly every turn some units but I can afford it. In the next turns(AAR is little bit behind) it looks like he is focusing to much on Moscow. I even did not bother to evacuate Stalino so far.

Turn 7

In north it looks like Mehring will try the right hook.

Rest of the front. Only "minor" actions this turn. I have pulled back from landbridge. Axis moved with Panzers towards Smolensk and expanded the bridgehead at Kiev area.

Factories evacuated:
Dnepropetrovsk - 16 armament points
Ordzhonikidzegrad - 4 armament points
Kremenchug - 2 armament points
Tambov - 3 GAZ-AA-37 points

Odessa defence is holding.