Road to Moscow - Crossing the Border

[MikeJ19]

I'm going to try out the Road to Moscow series. I have rarely, if ever, played any scenarios involving the German invasion or Russia. This is going to be fun.

Thanks to Rob Kunz for sending me the updated version of the scenario.

[MikeJ19]

For the most part the terrain is wide open with small towns/villages. There are some forest and light woods. There are few roads and rails – these are important for supply purposes. There are a good number of airports – which will help as I move East. The Pripyat marshes help protect my Southern flank – although, there are some key victory locations in the middle of them along the road/rail net.

To the east there are two main rivers. The Berezina and Dnepr. They both run North to South. Seizing the crossing sites over them will be very important for the success of our attack.

[MikeJ19]

An overview of the Soviet Red Army

[MikeJ19]

Here is a look at the forces at my disposal. A lot less Panzer divisions then I would like, but I will make do!

[John B.]

Following this one!

[MikeJ19]

John,

Thanks! This looks like a lot of fun, and a good challenge.



Another, but different look at the map. Trying to understand how it will effect my planning

[MikeJ19]

Initial thoughts

This is a bit of a race. I have a long way to go and a short period of time.

I need to bypass and then destroy the initial defenders – and may have to do this frequently. The clearing of the Soviet units that I bypass is very important to ensure that my supply lines are clear. It will also free up troops for battle at a later point. Obviously, it also removes enemy units from the battle.

Roads, railways and bridges are going to be important to seize intact – both for speed reasons and for supply. Need to keep engineers engaged on my main approaches supporting this.

Need to remember to move my air force units forward as the battle moves East.

Manoeuvre warfare tenets:

Disrupt – I want to take out the Soviet artillery, HQs and air force early. This will make it harder for them to build a coherent and powerful defence.

Prempt – Speed in this case may be used to exploit gaps and make any Soviet defence lines irrelevant before they are in place.

Dislocate – I want to flank, encircle and cut off Soviet defences rather than conduct frontal attacks. I need to balance this with time. Taking too long to encircle will cause problems with getting East quickly.

Time Line

Here is a proposed time line for my attack

[MikeJ19]

A look at the first option

[MikeJ19]

Here is the second, more cautious, option

[tcarusil]

I will be curious to see how you fare. I have played this scenario several times and have found it difficult to get rail supply to the front and hard to make major breakthroughs. Seems as soon as I get pass one Russian road block another immediately blocks my progress. Good luck

TomC

[MikeJ19]

Tom,

Thanks, that is my concern at the moment. Trying to maintain enough forward momentum to get to the objectives is going to be difficult.



Here is a look at my third option

[larryfulkerson]

I helped playtest this beauty. I'll be watching this one. Good hunting.

[MikeJ19]

Larry,

Great to hear from you. I hope you are doing well.

All the best,

Mike

[MikeJ19]

Option Comparison

In comparing the options against the current known deployment, I think that all options work, so they are all feasible.

Option 1 is the most bold. I’m trying to push both Pz Groups into the Soviet rear areas and hope that the other two Armies can clean up the bypassed mess.

Option 2 is a more cautious approach – taking one step at a time idea. At the same time, it get the two Pz Groups poised to push East.

Options 3 is a very straightforward push. Each Army is given a lane and pushes Eastward. It is the least aggressive option.

If I want to preempt, option 1 is likely the best option, it gives the Soviets a lot of different things to try and block at the same time.

If I want to disrupt, option 1 and 2 are both very strong. I’m bypassing and destroying forces quickly and from many directions.

If I want to dislocate, option 1 and 2 are, again, strong. Bypassing resistance and hitting into the rear areas results in Soviet power being in the wrong place.

Options 1 and 2 are both riskier. If the bypassed Soviet forces are not cleared up, they will cause havoc with my supply situation.

I think of myself as aggressive, but usually my fighting style is more patient and builds off finding gaps and weaknesses in the enemy approach. I exploit these situations. This approach is best suited for Option 3.

I will think about this overnight...

[MikeJ19]

Now to look at the initial moves for each of the Armies.

I wish it was easier to identify who is in which Army... Oh well.

[MikeJ19]

A look at the North.

[MikeJ19]

As a young person, I remember reading Guderian's book Panzer Leader. Very neat to see that he is now commanding one of my Armies!

[MikeJ19]

My guns opened fire at 0400 as the planes flew overhead in the first wave of airfield attacks. The poor Soviet defenders were caught off guard in many places and my panzers pushed through the border crossings as they drove East.

[John B.]

watching with interest!

[MikeJ19]

John,

Thanks, it is nice to know that someone is watching... I'm enjoying your AAR!

Here is a look at the situation on the morning of 23 June.