abulbulian (Axis) vs bwheatley (Sov) GC v1.05 (no bwheatley)

[abulbulian]

T5: Loses and Destroyed Factories

Sharp rise in Soviet loses as many pocketed enemy units finally surrendered. We'll see if I can keep up a decent pace for the next 2/3 of summer/fall. My goal is still 3.5 - 4 million Soviet troops lost.
We're still doing poorly on the destroyed factory front. No factories destroyed this turn and my total still sits at 11 armament and 14 heavy industry destroyed. [:(] Let's hope I can raise this total significantly over the next 10-12 turns.

[abulbulian]

ORIGINAL: Pelton

Another thing i do is drop back one corps and tank up on turn 3. This way they can really jump forward after the front units have opened things up. Any turn will do with the tanking up. but your using all your tanks to pocket units.

Dont waste flying in supplys to units until it can make a big difference, the transports get tired really fast.

Your tactics are different then mine, they might be better. Only one way to find out.

Dont change a thing, your play style is you. Great job.



Pelton

Thanks, I've learned a lot from other's AAR (yours too) and had great advice from the master ComradeP. [&o] That guy is a wealth of knowledge.

[kirkgregerson]

Nice AAR.  Looks like the Axis are off to a decent start.  It's tough to get many factories in the beginning, the Soviet player can move those in immediate danger.  But as you get close to the heart of his production, it will be tough to move them out as fast as the stuff up front.  Are you caught up with AAR, if so the turn is on the Soviets now?

[abulbulian]

Yes, Bill will hopefully have turn #6 ready me tonight.

[abulbulian]

Well I was wrong about the turn coming last week. Bill seems to be going through some personal turmoil and I can't really get much feedback from him about when he'll be doing the next turn. I'll update this post once I hear something more definite.

[:(]

[abulbulian]

Ok going to post turns 6 and 7 now.  First I want to make a house rule clear that Bill had asked for and we both agreed on.

No HQ Build-Ups for either side for entire game. 


Not sure who it will hurt more, but that's what were going to find out.

[abulbulian]

T6: Start

Bill did a good job of counter-attacking a few of my spearheads. I had a feeling my encirclement around Smolensk would not hold. I just wanted to try and slow down all those Soviet units around Smolensk from running back to help in forming the defense line around Moscow.

As can be seen below Bill routed the 20th Mot and cut off both the 14th Mot and 7th Panzer (where's Rommel [:(])
Although it might look grim, I do have all of 9th Army, 3rd Pz Grp, and parts of 4th Army to help break through to the isolated units and re-encircle the Smolensk units.

[abulbulian]

In the south the poor SS Wiking Mot div that took Kirovograd the prior turn now find itself at the center of many Soviet units licking their chops. But once again I have very strong and mobile infantry units of the 17th Army and 2nd Army to help turn this situation around into a brilliant German victory.

Although a bit unorthodox, I'm now liking more decision to send a beefier 2nd army to help push in the south. [:)]

[abulbulian]

T6: Finnish Zone

Events in the far north have been going well with the Finnish offensive. So far I've they have removed a few infantry and Sec units from the Soviet OOB with a few more are 'in the bag'. They will race as fast to the Finnish 'No Attack' lines to make sure Bill has them garrisoned.

[abulbulian]

T6: AGN

I was able to push 18th Army a few more hexes towards Leningrad. The terrain is brutal, but the Soviets don't have any decent forts here. My plan is to rest most of 4th Panzer Grp and position 16th Army for a potential right hook around Lake Ilmen the next turn if Bill leaves me an opportunity there. We'll see if 18th Army continues to gain the majority of the Soviet's attention.

[abulbulian]

T6: AGS - 'turning lemons into lemonade'

With help from strong infantry forces of the 9th Army and 3rd Pz Grp, I was able to re-encircle the Smolensk units and break through to my isolate Pz and Mot divisions. My plan is to push 4th Army towards Orel before turning it north on Moscow. The wide expanses of the Soviet Union is starting to dilute my fronts. I must try and focus some drives and just leave screening forces on the flanks. The 2nd and 3rd Pz Groups are low on fuel and will probably have to rest a turn or two before they can make and threatening drives.

REMEMBER: our house rule is no HQ Build-Up for either side the entire game.

[abulbulian]

T6: AGS - 'SS Wiking is relieved'

I was able to use the bulk of 17th Army and a some units of 2nd Army to force a supply path to the SS Wiking Mot div. Now the Soviets will have to decide either to retreat or continue causing trouble for SS Wiking. I'm hoping they actually stick around for another turn as I have very strong forces of 17th Army and parts of 11th Army in the south that could come north. The 60th Mot div from OKH reserves was release to AGS a turn before and will be on the front for use next turn.
Slow going due to mopping up some previous encircle Soviet units, but 6th Army needs to proceed to Kharkov. I will send 2nd Army to support in this offensive.

[abulbulian]

T6: Romanians and 11th Army

Because Odessa fell without a battle last turn, I'm pushing 11th Army east towards the Dnepr bend. I'm still undecided what to do about the Crimea. I will have to try and take it, but what forces to use?
It would be perfect for the Romanians to assault, thus leaving 11th Army free to force it's will on Dnep and Zapor. Depending on how it's garrisoned, they may just not have the strength to take it from the Soviets.

[abulbulian]

T6: Loses and Destroyed Factories

Still happy with lose #'s and ratios, although again doing poorly on the destroyed factory front. No factories destroyed this turn, thus totals stuck at 11 armament and 14 heavy industry destroyed. [:(]
My guess is that Bill is sacrificing Soviet units to delay my advance and buy time to rail out his important industry. Not sure what I can do to counter this? The house rule of no HQ Build-Ups doesn't help me gain ground very quickly to threaten Soviet industry.
I welcome anybody's advice on this topic... [&:]

[abulbulian]

T7: Finnish Zone - 'Redemption shall be ours..'

All Soviet resistance in the Finish 'attack' zone has been wiped out. Now it's just a race to see how far they can get. Ran out of movement near Lennigrad. He'll have to get some units in place or it could be disastrous for him.

[Ketza]

Good gosh he is cutting it close at Leningrad!

[abulbulian]

T7: AGN - 'Eye on the Prize'

Was able to unleash my right hook around Lake Ilmen with 16th Army and Manstein's LVI Pz Corps. Just able to cut the rail junction at Tikhvin with the 20th Pz [8D]
Also I was able to trap large forces between the advancing 16th and 18th Armies. Some good cavalry divisions in this pocket that I'll be more than happy to wipe off the Soviet OOB.

note: unfortunately for Bill, the 2 routed units around Nebolochi never recovered on my turn. That would have been enough to have foiled 20th Pz in it's race to Tikhvin. Lucks plays a part as some of the great generals even have admitted.

[abulbulian]

T7: AGC - 'The Soviet nightmare at Smolensk is almost over'

Some of 3rd Pz Grp and 9th Army spend the last days of July reducing the Smolensk pocket. The start of August should see the remaining Soviet troops holding out in the city sent off to PoW camps in Poland.
The vastness of the Soviet Union is spreading AGC units out. I need to re-group and refocus 4th Army on a drive towards Orel which I hope to have captured by the end of August.

[abulbulian]

T7 Start: AGS - 'what will forever be know as the miracle of Kirovograd begins...'

At first glance the start of T7 looks like trouble for units of AGS. Our evil enemy has cut off the valiant SS Winking Mot div holding on to Kirovograd.
In addition to Wiking being cutoff, we also have to rescue the 10th Pz, 11th Pz, L.A.H. Mor, and the 1st Rom Armor.
The placement of 2nd Army with AGS makes turning the tables on our Soviet foes possible. To date, excluding the opening days of Barbarossa, this will be our greatest victory of the current campaign.

[abulbulian]

T7 End: AGS

The brave soldiers of 2nd Army, 6th Army, 17th Army, and 1st Pz Grp were not only able to rescue their comrades, but encircle two more pockets of Soviet units.
Oh let's not forget a few divisions of 11th Army force-marching north to play a critical part in the southern most pocket.
Although we were delayed another turn (and probably next turn mopping up) in our advance east, we can only hope the large destruction of Soviet units will make a strong defensive line in the Donets basin very difficult for out foe.