Speedy's 1st Try vs SU AI - Normal

[Speedysteve]

Hi All,

This is my first try vs the SU AI on Normal difficulty and normal speed. Playing Historical, without Geneva Convention and with plots.

Really enjoying the Operational Aspects so far.

Agreed with Hitler's views, became a Nazi, let the LW bomb for the next 12 days to keep the SU's surpressed are the major choices I've made so far.

[Speedysteve]

For AGN I assigned Command focus to 4PG and Artillery Focus to 16th Army.

I don't like using Armour to clear Urban areas for the obvious reason but I really wanted to get across the river into Kaunas in prep for the next few days to create a pocket before the Panzers head NE towards Leningrad...not sure if this is a good start to AGN or not as it's my first attempt in DC3.

[Speedysteve]

Morning All,

AGC is now done. I'm trying for a large Bialystock pocket. As this is my first run at DC3 I'm unsure if this will be achievable.

Aim is for PG3 to head towards Vilnius and then SE to Minsk.

PG2 is heading NE from Brest towards Minsk although I'm not 100% happy with their movements.

[Speedysteve]

And here's AGS.....aiming for a Lvov pocket west of Tarnopol....feels like a journey into the unknown as I've played many an East Front game but this particular engine is new to me.

[Flaviusx]

PG1 is very likely going to run out of gas on you before you make a big pocket WITE style.

I tried the very same thing my first game and the big Lvov pocket just doesn't work here. That's a point in this game's favor. It's better imo to go for smaller pockets and work your way down the road networks to get behind 6A first to gobble that up and then gradually go east towards Proskurow, making other pockets along the way.

You can bag a fair amount of stuff over time but not in one big gulp.

[Speedysteve]

Hmm. Thanks Flav. It will certainly be an eye opener if that's the case then[X(]

One of the things I'm 'looking forward' to learning in this 1st run is when to relocate the FSB's. From memory trucks can reach 10 hexes (300KM's) from FSB's to my Pz HQ's and after that thigns begin to break down?

Is there an ideal time to move them forward as I believe things shut down for a turn or 2 when you move FSB's?

[Flaviusx]

I think you just have to move them up ASAP once you reach certain geographic objectives. And make sure the infantry is close behind to relieve the panzers. My sense is when you delay doing so you wind up on the backfoot and it just get harder and harder to sustain the momentum.

[Speedysteve]

Thanks Flav.

Start of 26th June:

[Speedysteve]

I got stuck into the Reports of the day and decided on reducing the Civilian Oil Production use by 25%, I accelerated the Synthetic fuel production by 25%, prioritised the refining of Russian Oil and ordered AGS Security forces to continue mopping up for a further month.

AGN FSB has been ordered to move forward to Kaunas.

That darn Hitler chap is interfering with Guderian's Panzers. I said I'd back him but I never said he could interfere with my running of the war [;)]

19th Panzer had some maintenance mess ups. I'm going to find out who caused it and send him to somewhere warm and sunny.

3 commendations were put forward for Bravery leadership etc (SS Wiking, 3rd Motorised and 4th Panzer).

Status of Panzers below:

[Speedysteve]

Start of 26th June for AGN.

All 4th Pz Gp Armour has between 120 and 140 AP's.

Hoepner played the Manouevere Card granted an additional 20 AP's to al Pz Units in a few days time.

[Speedysteve]

AGN after moves commencing 26th June.

All attacks went fine except stubborn Soviet resistance by 90th Rifle Division against 2 German Infantry attacks. This prevented the closure of the Niemen pocket.

[Speedysteve]

AGC prior to moves

[Speedysteve]

AGC after moves. A frustrating few days!

Hitler's meddling with Guderian's boys means they have 20-25% less movement in them over the 4 days as each of them has spend a day of their time justifying their existence to the buffoon!

10th, 17th, 18th Panzers and SS Das Reich ploughed to the NE from Brest smashing 4th Army Infantry and a Tk Division out the way.

I made an error I won't repeat at Brest again. I didn't bring up the siege artillery and despite being surrounded it survived an all out assault by 9 infantry divisions over the 4 days! Siege artillery on the way. Still very annoying as the rail and roads are blocked up to 2nd Pz Gp.

3rd Pz Gp had more success in smashing into Vilnius and ejecting a weak Soviet Garrison after 1/2 days fighting. Motorised and Panzer divisions spread out from Vilnius with 20th Motorised heading south only 60 km's away from a link up with Pz Gp 2 and the encirclement of potentially 15 divisions of the 10th Army.

Concern here is fuel as 3rd Pz Gp has a long route back to Warsaw and 2nd Pz Gp has Brest in the way.

Grrrr.

[Speedysteve]

As I haven't RTFM [;)] yet could someone tell me what the effects of enemy units being surrounded are? Are they immediate or does it take a turn or 2 to register? If surrounded and then attacked do most (more than usual) enemy men and material get captured/destroyed?

Thanks

[Speedysteve]

AGS before most moves:

1st Pz Gp all have 135-140 AP's.

[Speedysteve]

AGS after moves. Lvov is a tough nut. Definitely wish I'd tried to create a smaller pocket. Will try and cut off a smaller version of the pocket in the next few days.

Grrr

[Speedysteve]

Romania after moves. The Soviets pulled back a bit in the south. 3 successful local attacks overall.

[Speedysteve]

Status of Pz Gp's on 30th June....

[elmo3]

Enjoying this as I haven't played the Axis side yet.

[Flaviusx]

Hmmm. Kaunas not the best place for the AGN FSB. I wait until I grab Dunaberg, which is also along my preferred rail rout for AGN.