FITE2 Søren Russia, Kristian Germany

[Teufeldk]

The Panzers are rolling again!

This is a view of the front from the end of the German turn 2.

The turns did not end prematurely so no Russian pockets remain behind the lines. The advance has been very rapid, and as always, the infantry is struggling to keep up with the mobile divisions.

But so far everything is going according to plan:
In the north, Riga was captured by the 10th Panzer Division, and recon elements from that division have already moved across the Dvina River towards Pskov. In addition, Jekabpils have been captured by elements of the Brandenburg Regiment

The attack towards Minsk has reached Molodechino some 65 km from the town, and recon units have reported having engaged the city defenses just 25 km from the town center.
North of the Pripet Marshes AGC has passed Baranovichi. The town itself is still holding out.

In the south, the 4th Panzer Regiment from 13th Panzer Division has captured Ostrog on the way to Kiev. The city was defended by the 19th Motorized Regiment of the 22nd Mech Corps and was only taken after heavy fighting.

The first week of the war have seen 58 scout cars and 94 German tanks and assault guns put out of action. The Germans estimate that they have destroyed or captured around 1000 Russian scout cars and around 5000 Russian tanks of all kinds.

[Cfant]

Are you crazy? You lost 94 tanks in one week? Don't you know one PzIII costs about 100.000 Reichsmark? Yes, you have to conquer Soviet Russia, but you also have to be responsible with the money of the tax payers! [:D]

Fun aside, looks like an impressing start! Tank losses 1:50 is always good [;)]How many Soviet planes have been downed? How many HRS have you lost? And what's the main aim - Moscow, Leningrad or the South?

[Teufeldk]

Well, I don't want to disclose all my plan to Søren, but I am trying to push everywhere hoping to find one or more spots where the Russians have not yet have time to set up a proper defense.
It is gonna be difficult because Søren usually uses the Zone/Cheese defense you even a few units can block the line of advance.

I have lost 1479 Infantry Squads w/LMG and 210 Infantry Squads w/2 LMG in the first 2 turns. I believe the Russians have lost 15 to 20K.

My estimate of destroyed Russian planes is around 3000. But maybe Søren can make a comment on that?

I did not bomb the airfields as much as I use to because the I find that the I-153 and I-16 are so utterly useless with their low, stats, proficiency and shock values that Luftwaffe are better used for ground support.

[Teufeldk]

Report from the end of turn 4

The speed of the advance has slowed down a bit since the recon units are running low on supplies, and the infantry and artillery are struggling to keep up.

Even so, great progress has been made:
In the North, The Germans have captured Daugavpils, and they are closing in on Pskov - the gateway to Leningrad.

AGC is advancing towards Vitebsk and Orsha on the way to Smolensk. The advance on Gomel has not been as fast as hoped.

AGS is encountering heavy resistance, and the advance on Kiev have not progressed as much as hoped. This is primarily because the infantry has not yet caught up to the forward mobile units.

German Panzer losses of all kinds are now at 134.

[Teufeldk]

End of German turn 6

In the far north Gebirgs Korps Norway has launched Operation Platinum Fox – the drive towards Murmansk. The German 2nd Gebirgs Division is tasked with taking the Rybachy Peninsula, while the 3rd Gebirgs Division are trying to secure a bridgehead over the Lista River. So far the advance went well, but now the entire Russian air force have arrived on the scene to stop the advance. And even though the Finnish Air Force has much better pilots than the Russians the overwhelming advantage in numbers will insure that the Finnish air will be attrited very fast if they are committed.

In Russia the advance are slowing down in general as more and more Russians defend.

In the north recon units of AGN have taken an undefended Tallinn. AGN are also closing in on Pskov with the hope of taking it within 1-2 weeks, since it is expected to be heavily defended. AGN have also made good progress towards Velikiye Luki, and are currently just out side Idritsa. Further south the city of Polotsk have been taken.

AGC have taken Borisov on the way to Orsha, and Vitebsk.

AGS have taken Korosten (with the bridge intact) an important rail junction on the way to Kiev. AGS are still some 130 km from Kiev as the crow flies.

Romania have joined the war and together with the 11th Army they have made several crossing over the Dniester River

[larryfulkerson]

Are you guys still playing? I want to know what happened next.

[Teufeldk]

Yes, we are.

But we don't have that much time so sometimes there might be a few days (or more) between turns.


Søren is currently completing his turn 7.

[MikeJ19]

Kristian,

Thanks for the AAR. I'm enjoying watch how this goes.

Have a good day,

[Teufeldk]

End of German tun 8

AGN have reached the Neva River with the scout units, and are now waiting for the Infantry and Artillery to arrive on the scene. Further south the river bend west of Pskov has been cleared and the Germans are now preparing to make an attempt to cross the river around Pskov. In addition, the Germans have crossed the River about 30 km south of Pskov.

AGC is closing in on Velikie Luki and Orsha, and have captured Mogilev about 80 km south of Orsha. Further south German recon unit has advanced to just 12 km from the center of the city of Gomel.

AGS is still advancing towards Kiev and is now about 85 km from the center of the city. Further south Odessa have been captures and 11th army and the Romanian allies are advancing towards Nikolayev.

[Teufeldk]

AGS

[gliz2]

Kristian I am in awe. How the hell you did get Riga and Minsk in turn 2? I have never ever achieved that [X(] Just by checking the tables for movement it seems almost impossible.
And in turn 8 you are at the gates of Kiev and Pskov [&:]

[LLv34_Snefens]

ORIGINAL: Teufeldk

AGN have reached the Neva River with the scout units, and are now waiting for the Infantry and Artillery to arrive on the scene.

Narva River. I presume Søren would be throwing in the towel if you were at the Neva on turn 8.

[Dagfinn]

Hi
Would you care to post a screenshot of the Arctic Front?

[Teufeldk]

Lol, yeah.

Of course Narva

[Teufeldk]

I would love to post a screenshot of the arctic front.

But Søren has launched a counter-offensive up there and there may not be any units left next turn

I had a terrible turn 9 - only one combat round and then a fail proficiency check. I plan to kill the surrounded Russians and then retreat, but I because the turn ended I never got to the retreat part.
So as you can see in my end turn 9, I stood to be easily surrounded, which Søren, of course, did as you can see in the End turn 10 pictures.

After Søren has made his turn 10 I am afraid there will be no more Germans left. I just hope the reinforcements arrives in time to safe Petsamo and Kirkenes.

[Teufeldk]

@Gliz2

Well, as the German player turn 1 is your most important turn.

You have many things going for you:
1: No extra cost for moving in enemy ZOC
2: Movement Bias so you can move further
3: Rail damage is 0 the first 3 turns

You should use these advantages to get as far as possible, and "catch" as many Russians as possible to prevent them from retreating in the Russian turn 1.

Your focus should NOT be on killing the Russian front line troops - they are dead no matter what and can be killed with the rear troops. I admit that I usually kill a great deal of the Russians in the first turn, but that is just because I like order. I don't want troops behind my front

So, since there is no ZOC, just move past the Russians to get as far as possible. The pic below is my end turn 1. As you can see I have taken the railroad intact all the way to between Mazeikiai and Jelgava. When this is done you can move a Pz div, Bringing units and engineer en masse up there by rail. This enables you to capture Riga in turn 2 because the Russians have very few troops the area.

It is not magic - just logistics

[gliz2]

Thanks a lot Kristian,

I actually was curious and have restarted yesterday and I have to say - no magic indeed
But I had failed proficiency check in the middle of Turn 1 (seriously?... sigh)

Plus I observed that although there should be no ZOCs my troops are stopped quite often in there and that I got random events that stops advancing units for no particular reasons.

I will have another try for opening gambit today with even more cheeky approach.

Once again thanks for explaining. And yeah I've meant Narva river

[Teufeldk]

End of German turn 10

Turn 9 and 10 were horrible for the Germans. Turn 9 ended after just one combat round with a failed Proficiency Check, and turn 10 ended after 4 rounds with a failed Proficiency Check. So little advance was made in the areas, where the Russians are defending.

Anyway, AGN managed to cross the southern part of the Narva River and Pskov is all but taken. Further south AGN is only 12 km from Velikie Luki, about 95 km from Kholm, and 35 km from Vitebsk.

AGC has advanced to within 6 km of Orsha from an SW approach, but the western approach to the city is defended by strong Russian Forces. They are advancing on Roslavl, but are still far away. Further south AGC has expelled the Russians from Gomel.

AGS is at the gates of Kiev that appears to be only lightly defended. The Army Group is generally poised to cross the Dnepr, and are advancing on Krivoy Rog and Nikolayev.

We hope the future turns will last longer

[Teufeldk]

The South

[Cfant]

That's not horrible. It simply doesn't matter. Would have been bad on turn 1 or 2, but since then - it will happen sometimes. Much more importent is to keep momentum after crossing the Djnepr. Good luck!