Roadblock to Leningrad

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This game features AI control of the air war, so the Germans will bleed some Soviet VP this way. I try to relocate them on bases more wisely, but the AI has it's own fears and is willing to overcrowd so I just tuned it out and concentrated on the ground.



4th Panzer Army has struck with two distinct wings, separated by 120 miles. The attack on Riga seems over-strength, and STAVKA suspects a blitz on Tallinn instead of Pskov may be in the offing. Welcoming this, they only screen the route north with NKVD formations and some hopelessly outmatched local units.

The port at Ventspils is not seized, and the pocket in Courland is thus supplied and poised to counter attack.

Several formations bounced off the front line have been pinned against the southern map, but they have rallied and are ready to march.



Overall map at the end of the turn:

[Beethoven1]

Is this against AI or a player?

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This is a server game. Don’t really like to play against the AI because of it’s ability to warp units around the map means it plays under a different rule set.

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Turn 2 beginning (well, I did get over eager with the tank division in Courland before taking a pic):

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The Germans seem content to ignore the Courland pocket, so STAVKA orders an advance on the port of Liepaja by 23rd Tank Division.
Farther north the exfil of units from Courland to Estonia continues unimpeded.

NKVD units swarm the vanguard of 4th Panzer Armee's left wing. They appear to be headed straight for Pskov at this point.
4th Panzer Armee's right wing swings back to the north, failing to bridge the Daugava at two separate points and link up with the left wing.

STAVKA orders counter attacks by 5th Airborne Corps while 10th Rifle Corps tries to shepherd units from the looming pocket.

11th Rifle Corps and 21st Mech Corps are re-assigned to operate under Leningrad Front, and pull back to defend in depth the approaches to Velikie Luki.



Overall strategic picture at the end of turn 2:

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Turn 3 and the VVS cloud seeding Air Directives begin to bear fruit:



Germans try to clean up the rear area in Lithuania. Efforts are also evident in Courland, but the two ports are still under Soviet control.

The 4th Panzer Armee's left wing has made another plunge eastward, this time reaching to the outskirts of Pskov.

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STAVKA orders moar counter-attacks!

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Doing a good job of not losing map counters:



Ground losses thus far:



OoB is growing rapidly:







End of turn 3 strategic map:

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Turn 4 - Consolidation.

The Panzers largely rest, the right wing enhancing their bridgehead while the left shakes off the NKVD skirmishers. Otherwise just waiting on the infantry before making the next plunge.
The Lithuanian ports are finally seized and a small Courland pocket remains.

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The Soviets pull back from Parnu, planning to make the stand at the Saaremaa island ferry.
A screen is established in front of the forces on the Narva Line, and a new line is fleshed out from Luga to Novgorod.

It appears they want to hammer straight through Pskov. If this happens we intend to fight over every hex falling back to the Luga-Novgorod Line.

Likewise, we have no intention of granting the eminently defensible terrain west of Velikie Luki without a fight. I hope is to at a minimum stretch the German line as long as possible, and prevent massing infantry to assist in the assaults toward Leningrad.

Overall strategic map at the end of turn 4:

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Turn 5 - Patience

Has the German OoB peaked?





The Germans advance cautiously northward in the Baltics. The panzers and their motorized attendants appear to be gathering in the center to take advantage of a crossing over the Velikaya river south of Pskov.



Ground Losses:

[Beethoven1]

The German advance is way too slow (especially the turn 1). If this is anything more than a learning game for the Germany player to learn the basics of how to play, I would consider starting over, depending on the purpose you both have in mind for the game.

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German Motorized formations have an eventful turn, going back and forth attacking Soviet forces.

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ORIGINAL: Beethoven1

The German advance is way too slow (especially the turn 1). If this is anything more than a learning game for the Germany player to learn the basics of how to play, I would consider starting over, depending on the purpose you both have in mind for the game.

"Hallo? Hallo? STAVKA? Von Leeb here. Please ask Stalin to consider starting over. Hallo?!?" - July 20th, 1941

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End of turn 5 - Zhukov's defense

[Hardradi]

Looking VERY solid. [:)]

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Turn 6

The panzers have concentrated to cross the Velikaya river south of Pskov.
Successful attacks, the Soviets will need to pull off the river and fall back to the terrain behind.

Strategic map at the beginning of the turn:



Unit level detail map after repositioning:



Depot setup end of turn 6:



Overall progress map turn 1-6:

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Turn 7

Weather is favorable for the Soviets:



Supply situation is good, most of the rear area depots are full now and the near front line ones are getting filled:



The number of depots provides several spots to refit units trashed by routs while rotating in fresh units. This will allow us to use our unit density to fiercely contest these forests/rough/swamp hexes on the Pskov-Luga railway.
Army Group North has concentrated their panzers to try and hammer a hole through the woods. They're in for a slog.

Overall strategic action turns 7-10:

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Turn 10

The Panzer progress has to be frustrating AGN.
In Estonia the mountain brigade serving as screen has slipped away from Tallinn and is an trying to exploit gaps in the German lines to isolate the attackers of Saaremaa island.

The German 251st Inf Div, isolated in a move on Velikie Luki the week prior, has been saved by the progress of Army Group Center, but remains separated from its comrades in Army Group North.

Unable to capture the lone infantry division STAVKA orders the local cavalry to exploit the gaps in AGN's right wing and a successful attack on 3/254th compels their rout, and raises alarm bells at OKH about the threat to the Pskov double track line.

Army Group North's right wing is crumbling:



Unit level detail map at the end of turn 10:

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Turn 11:

Russia cavalry valiantly hold on behind enemy lines, and provide an anchor for follow on assaults the next week:



STAVKA orders reinforcements to continue keeping up the pressure on AGN's right wing. A fresh reserve motorized division from AGC is overrun and the Pskov-Daugavpils railway is cut for a 20 mile stretch by Russian cavalry.



Total manpower:



Total AFVs:



Unit level map at the end of turn 11:



German player has resigned: