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Greetings - again.

Again Opponent is not named unless they give green light - ultimately I've learnt over time not everyone wishes for the exposure of an AAR.

Same premise of the other AAR in terms of concept.

Here there was explicit agreement not to use Motorization of non motorized formations ontop of no cheesy / gamey stuff; and my usual request not to open T1 pockets.

All fine and dandy, T1 with some variegation of me fine tuning - or adjusting to this quality Soviet troops adding a bloodied nose or a few combat delay (at times the later is my own fault to try to just shave the needed result with minimal forces) ... goes as roughly desired.

Showing AGC T2 Air Recon. - At first glance the Soviets are relatively light there; barring blind Recon crews.
If the ground is as perspected, Germans may have an easy life crossing the Beresina here.

T2 AGN Post-Recon

The Soviets here are quite beefed up around Pskov.

With usual pickets in the wilderness - Ground Recon may net more information and notions, but I hope to be able to seize Parnu on T2 here - assuming there are no ulterior defenders in the way lurking in the swamps.

T2 AGS - Post Air Recon

Lots of Soviets here!

And I mucked up forgetting to erase 1 Air Directive. Hungarian bombers flown to bomb an empty airbase and got minced by the Soviet AA. The Majar Air Command must have lost the 'cancel attack' order somewhere in their bourocracy!

The Soviets anyhow seem to have packed together and and organized themselves at a very safe distance...

The pocketed units tried to push out - something I kind of like as they badly fail at that, they exausth themselves and are isolated. It means I can destroy the pocketed units way easier.

Similarly to the other AAR here - the VVS has not performed grand interdiction or other aerial shows typical of other games.

I am somehow relieved of the initial lack of activity of the VVS; since Luftwaffe is 'far and distant' in Poland.

The worst I've seen doing is bombing of Railyards. It hinders the repairs by an amount, and makes the Axis logistics even worse. But by now I've learnt to load Army HQs with AA and stick them to the relevant spots.

T3 Ongoing - Soviet Tactics: Night Bombing

It was envisioned the possiblity of a bombing run by the Soviets - and Riga had a massive fighter force there. But instructed to take off only by day.

The Soviets came by night, with many flights. I was light on flak (keyword, was - that has been instantly addressed!)

Across 7 bombing runs the Soviets damaged the mix of port, railyard and manpower.

I am not entirely unhappy with the losses of the enemy long range bombers though!

PS: Still may ponder to shift to the Sovietland some Night Fighter squadrons from France since the Soviets use Night Bombing runs (And that is one another plus for the Enhanced Theather Management)

T3 AGC

Infantries that you see have moved alraedy. Mobile forces have not.

Recon will be losing steam soon as the initial bases are outran by the advances and new airbases need to be secured and linked to the logistic system.

Soviets simply have no need nor urge to get into a fight and dances away safely from encirclements and poundings, leaving at best this or that token unit to delay - well nestled in swamp or thick forest where their measly combat factors raise an amount.

I expect this to repeat across the next two turns, when the Soviets will be inflated, bloated and muscled up to stiffen the resistance.

T3 AGN - Talinn Empty?

Infantry units are moved, mobile ones not yet except the one up north.

The original plan was to cast a mobile corp against Talinn before it can exceedingly dig in, prepared with adequate ART and ENG assets for Urban Combat.
I can safely say that the other game I was in - where I waited 2 turns keeping a full INF Corp resting, and preparing for ... just to see all the enemy forces slip away by sea was a massive downer.
But Talinn was entirely vacant - that was unexpected. (I believe a potential mistake since I know how pesky a Urban Hex supplied by sea can be from other games.)
That is to help with Northren Logistics an amount.

The MOT HQ will get there to provide construction support and AA defence.

At Pskov the Soviets have not retreated much but Manstein there has also been reinforced by assets of the 3rd PzGruppe (Switched of HQ) and with crack SU to deal with the potential nest of resistance.

Routed Unit!
That is something that irks me - that unit was in the T1 pocket - but has remained routed! It was stacked with a mundane combat unit that surrendered when attacked; but the Routed one teleported all the way out of the pocket.
But I assume it can come handy later when the Soviet steamroller will do the same to Germans!

ORIGINAL: AlbertN

T3 Ongoing - Soviet Tactics: Night Bombing

It was envisioned the possiblity of a bombing run by the Soviets - and Riga had a massive fighter force there. But instructed to take off only by day.

The Soviets came by night, with many flights. I was light on flak (keyword, was - that has been instantly addressed!)

Across 7 bombing runs the Soviets damaged the mix of port, railyard and manpower.

I am not entirely unhappy with the losses of the enemy long range bombers though!

PS: Still may ponder to shift to the Sovietland some Night Fighter squadrons from France since the Soviets use Night Bombing runs (And that is one another plus for the Enhanced Theather Management)

Ya, you are doing the right thing to get Night fighters. Dont run regular fighters at night, Ops losses are retarded. If you can capture the damage before and after on the port & railyard that would be great. From all my other games the damage was superficial at best that the Soviets did in their bombing. Thank you in advance.

You have large gaps in your line and prone to infiltration from the Soviets. But maybe that is your intent.

AGS T3 - Soviet Leadership Skill!

As per the Center, the Soviets gain sensible distance to avoid being pitched in heavy combat of any sort there.

Infantries still to move there.

I'd like to spend some words on the combat - the Soviets attacked with their isolated formations; and what is the 'standard' business happens.

Very often Soviets attack and it seems some long range exchange of artillery fire is made.
If I check the Manual, it is painted as a feat of grand leadership skill to convert a bloodied attack into an 'Enemy Scouted' type of business.
Here it seems the Soviets always do that. A large amount of their attacks that I see end up either amazingly good for them routing and retreating Germans, or with ridiculous amount of losses if they botch it.

Here I can only commend my opponent logic where ultimately these surrounded units were to be mopped up by infantries, easier to replace, whilst they have got 3 modern panzers (2 III and 1 IV).

This is a case limit, due to the units being isolated - but across my games this '1:X' Soviet attacks where Soviets lose nothing are extremely diffused and I feel that as a problem - if to attack is pratically scott free in case it goes wrong.
While German has not the same luxury - even a 'Scouted Enemy' result has still (proportional for the manpower at hand) tragic consequences.

Riga T3 Situation

Post Bombing and I assume Post Repairing (That happens in my T3 Logistic Phase)

Alas I am dubious the Soviets will repeat the feat but may try to do so to Pskov if I take it.

Pskov

For now I've encircled Pskov.

Pondering if to wait one turn to have the INF and PARA units in there surrender, or gain in time and repairs to be for future logistics.

Hard decision!

T4 - The Soviet Legend Begins

Pskov falls.

It should be time of trumpets and drums and banners.
Alas the Soviets stemmed out well 3 attacks, before to buckle in!

Elite formations (Lehr Brigade and a Motorized division) were stalled cheaply, twice in a row, by a single Soviet Division in Light woods.

If one goes by the numbers on the map, your '1' strong Soviet Division in defense is already as worthy as a German division at 90%+ TOE.

These Soviets are not even entrenched atm!

German armoured spearheads reach Narva after the seizure of Talinn but it is expected that the Soviets will tap the riverline with fresh troops soon.

T4 - AGC, Mirage?

Air Recon ultimately seems to have skirted away from Smolensk (I assume that is due to the 'hex range'), I doubt the Soviets have left such important city that can be turned into a stronghold, vacant!

Infantries are slowly catching up with the armoured forces that by now are 'fighting' on their own (Or better MOTs fight, PZ loiter around).

The Soviets in general seem already positioned in the woodlands and the swamps and all the favorable terrain - that is normal. At this stage I suspect a rinse-repeat of all other games with Fortress Smolensk, but will see what I can do.

Right now I cannot fathom which direction to take yet, it seems there are many Soviets everywhere, and if all goes by numbers around Pskov ...

T4 - Romanians

Generic approach toward Odessa by the Romanians that will 'screen' the Germans, loading up CCPs for Odessa as they march.

Initial, shy naval interdiction. Next turn the German planes will get based closeby Odessa and will begin the party.

The Soviets have disbanded the whole of Fortified Positions there - that's quite a large material loss. Personally I believe the option to Disband must have an AP cost, and should not be possible if there are enemy units closeby (within X hexes, at the start of the turn). Here I had adjacent units, and was looking forward to get some Romanian experience by fighting the Fortified Zones. Alas...

I do not feel the move a correct one there - but I won't make a fuss about it beyond notifying my opponent.

Real Time Update - Breaking News

Like Talinn, Odessa was found vacant.

That is an absolute first and may explain why also there was no air cover protecting the sealane leading to Odessa.

The Soviets have elsewhere gone already anticipating the whole German plan. It seems the Luft-Sea Squadron can continue to slack, its deepest fatigues having been the relocating for Talinn siege, and the transfer to the south for Odessa Siege.

If the Soviets do not even defend a significant target like Odessa...

T4 - AGS Minor News

Minor pocket established.

Soviets running everywhere away from my grasp and their numbers are starting to become already quite overwhelming.

I assume (and maybe wrongly) that my opponent will keep running. The pocket itself is not that great at all (I must learn how to herd troops I think... when I try they always go the wrong way, as per east!).

Against your mundane Soviet player in their turn there is the armoured conterattack that blasts away some German formations, and opens the pocket up.

Given the SS Brigade at the 'corner' of the pocket it's not smart but that's how I got there.

Admittedly preliminary 'Ground Recon' signals the present enemy formations in line not that strong except one stack. But what lies behind I do not know!

T4 - AGC Pointe to Gomel

Measily resistance there, nailed Gomel and Chernigov together at once with just -1- fight in the way to dislodge an infantry formation in thick forest.

I am somehow puzzled at where the Soviet forces are as in general I meet way stiffer resistance! Probably massed elsewhere on the Road to Leningrad and Moscow?

For now these are nice railyards to connect in once the workers get there!

T4 - AGC Pointe to Smolensk

I thought... what if the Soviets have left Smolensk undermanned and the like?
Issued scouting force, so it seemed!

Only 20ish visible factors of defenders! I can muster over 40!

3 Motorized divisions are issued for a deliberate attack but ultimately the Soviets stem off the attack with relative ease.

Alas the preliminary scouting was wrong of the 50%, the real defenders -post combat- revealed 30 nominal CV defending Smolensk.

Infanteries are still catching up as they spent T2 liquidating pockets and T3 marching! That prey will have to wait.

ORIGINAL: AlbertN

Real Time Update - Breaking News

Like Talinn, Odessa was found vacant.

That is an absolute first and may explain why also there was no air cover protecting the sealane leading to Odessa.

The Soviets have elsewhere gone already anticipating the whole German plan. It seems the Luft-Sea Squadron can continue to slack, its deepest fatigues having been the relocating for Talinn siege, and the transfer to the south for Odessa Siege.

If the Soviets do not even defend a significant target like Odessa...

Can't understand the reasoning for leaving Odessa undefended. Throw two or three division in there and force 11th army to have to pry them out. Sure they will be lost but you'll slow down a good portion of 11th army for a turn or two.

Since it was undefended what does that mean for port/railyard damage? Are they intact or just mildly damaged?

That's the status I got the City in. So without any combat, due to the ZoC, the % are there.
Ultimately it is okay to assume that the departing Soviets mined portual facilities, etc - it's not total destruction but neither seizing the stuff integer.

I am puzzled as well to have got Talinn and Odessa empty - which I reiterate, is not what I get commonly from my games.
I even got 100k+ soldiers in Odessa in a few games, stalling the Axis advance an amount of turns!