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

[Q-Ball]

Looks like you used almost all Mobile units of Pz Gp 2 in the south. That is an insane rate of advance in the South so far.

I noticed you have an airbase unit completely surrounded, and "Stranded". If you never ever "bump" it, what happens to it? Anyone know? Will it stay there forever, while it slowly starves and the men die off?

If so, I would leave it!

[abulbulian]

T3: Loses

Still more pockets to reduce, so I'm happy with the final numbers here. Looking forward to the Hiwis in 42, will need them. [8D]

[abulbulian]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

Looks like you used almost all Mobile units of Pz Gp 2 in the south. That is an insane rate of advance in the South so far.

I noticed you have an airbase unit completely surrounded, and "Stranded". If you never ever "bump" it, what happens to it? Anyone know? Will it stay there forever, while it slowly starves and the men die off?

If so, I would leave it!

I think it will stay forever, but the Soviet player can always 'displace' it. Not sure if it suffers any attrition.

[abulbulian]

Start T4: Fins

The Fins decide they want a piece of the Soviets too. The Finish Continuation War begins with an opportunity to isolate a Soviet infantry div or two.

[abulbulian]

T4: AGN

Key city Novgorod was taken by 3rd Motorized Div under the command of Mainstein's LVI Pz Corps.
As expect the initial surge of the past few turns starts to diminish. My Pz Grps are in need or rest/refit and my Infantry Armies need to catch up to the front lines. That will be the underlying story for this turn across all sectors.
A few turns ago I put our infantry ace Model in charge of 18th Army's I Corps.
Bill was able to gain supply into a few pockets that put a dent into any hopes of reducing them this turn. [:(]

[abulbulian]

T4: AGC

Little or no progress here as 9th Army double times it to the positions held by 3rd Pz Grp. Bill had opened supplies to pocket SW of Vitebsk, so I had to re-pocket.
I was able to force a crossing of the Dnepr by Gomel. The gallant 1st Cav div was able to evict the defenders, but was too exhausted to occupy the city.
Happy with the progress of 4th Army. Those units will be much needed in the upcoming summer/fall battles.
Side note: I really love Calvary units, wish the Germans had a few more of these.. just not at the expense of Pz divisions. [:-]

[abulbulian]

T4: AGS

Very disappointed in my staff officers for neglecting a possible Soviet relieve effort coming from the Pripets. Looks like the reduction of the Kiev pocket will have to be delayed a turn.
The fuel situation for 1st Pz Grp and part of 2nd Pz is critical.
Any significant advance to the east this turn is out of the question. Although after squeezing out every last drop of petrol for a few mobile units, I was able to create a two more lean pockets (yummy) south of Kiev.
It's a health net of infantry, motorized, and tank units.

[abulbulian]

T4: Romanians

Without any mobile forces the Romanians and 11th Army are reduced to a crawl. In this area we gave as many Soviet units a 'black-eye' as we could. I plan to strike for Odessa if he leaves it temptingly open.
There was a directional change for 2nd Army to follow the land corridor created by 1st Pz Grp which will increase it's speed to the front.

[abulbulian]

T4: Loses

A sharp rise in loses for Axis as compared to the first few turns. This is somewhat expected for troops and AFVs as many damaged tanks have been unrepairable and lost.
One aspect of the game that I have yet to comment on is captured Soviet factories. Bill has done a good job so far evacuating indusry and I don't see myself doing well in this area. Here's what I've been able to destroy so far.

T1
--
Minsk: 4 Arm - 4 Hvy (this is baseline as every axis should get this since no Soviet evac allowed on T1)

T2
--
Mogilev: 3 Arm - 4 Hvy

T3
--
Kiev: 4 Arm - 4 Hvy (effectively since surrounded)

T4
--
Gomel: 2 Hvy

* So a grand total of 11 Arm and 14 Hvy industry destroyed so far.

[Ketza]

Wow your southern advance is amazing. I cannot see any real potential for the Soviet to slow you down.

[Peltonx]

Only thing I would have done different is your southern railheads.

On turn 5 you would have been able to HQ up corps on the other side of river so on turn 6 you could have bagged arm centers a long long ways from front. You have pocketed allot of units which will make defending very hard between turns 10-13. The key wil be fuel.

How many arm pts have u been able to bag so far? Your going to probably hit 3.5 million easy enough, but you need at least 50 arm pts bagged. 70 would be your enemys death.

Nice advance and job pocketing units.

Pelton

[abulbulian]

ORIGINAL: Pelton

Only thing I would have done different is your southern railheads.

On turn 5 you would have been able to HQ up corps on the other side of river so on turn 6 you could have bagged arm centers a long long ways from front. You have pocketed allot of units which will make defending very hard between turns 10-13. The key wil be fuel.

How many arm pts have u been able to bag so far? Your going to probably hit 3.5 million easy enough, but you need at least 50 arm pts bagged. 70 would be your enemys death.

Nice advance and job pocketing units.

Pelton

Yeah, I've done it different ways for rail in the south. So what do you think is best? In a previous post, T4: Loses, I detailed the destroyed industry so far. I'm at a paltry 11 armaments factories destroyed so far. [:(]

[abulbulian]

T5 Start: Fins

Note: I upgraded to v1.05.23 before this turn and since it took a several days actually finish the turn, it ended on v1.05.30. I did suffer a lose of about 500k armaments due to the 45mm production bug. So it's about break even if starting axis armaments are going from 600k -> 100k.

The Fins will get some revenge and should bag 3 divs and some SEC units.

[Peltonx]

generally I rail the AGS rail unit to Romanian and start building turn 2, both work on same line on turn 3 and 4. You should be able to be over river and HQ up if you have done the rail upgrade right.

The HQed units can easly reach d/z town or Kharkov.

I have reached Stalino and Kharkov on turn 7 many times, if the Russian has loose lines. Sooner if the Russian player is a newbie.

You are pocketing far more units then I have at this point and your arm number is not that bad if your enemy is stupid and railing out the forward industry.

A smart Russian playe gives up the front 35 industrys and starts railing out way ahead of the curve.

I really like your pocketing tactics so far. Great job

[abulbulian]

T5: AGN

We've pulled back a portion of 4th Pz grp to refit/resupply. I'm probably going to do an HQ buildup on at least one of the Pz Corps.
I'm going to keep my options open to either a drive up the Novgorod hwy to Lake Ladoga or the right hook around Lake Ilmen.
We'll have to see where the least path of resistance is and how many units I can potentially trap.
I don't like using my Pz forces in this terrain, but it's a means to an ends at this point. They will be relocated/redirected after the conquest of Leningrad. [:)]

[abulbulian]

Things are starting to get tougher with the Soviet defenses. Will see more battle outcomes like the one below (AGN sector).
I pride myself on weighing odds before making attacks and giving my units all possible advantages, but there's some intangibles I can't control. [:(]

[Peltonx]

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

[abulbulian]

T5: AGC

Although this turn was planned to be a refit of Pz Grp 3, I couldn't resist the temptation to surround Smolensk for at least one turn.
I don't expect the ring to hold on Bill's turn, however, it should give me another opportunity to re-pocket a large portion of these Soviet forces.
I've push some units of Pz Grp 2, including my magnificent 1st Cav Div, south and linked up with AGS. I now have many choices for 4th Army and I'm taking any advice? My initial plan was to push it towards Bryansk - Tula.

[abulbulian]

T5: AGS

All pockets held and we'll be reducing them all on T6. Hard to believe, but the initial Lvov pocket has last 6 turns now. [:'(]
We've pushed a bit east of Kiev to create a corridor for infantry of the 6th Army to move on Kharkov next turns.
The Wiking SS Mot Div was able to push SE and capture Kirovograd. We plan to march 17th Army east towards the key cities of Dnepropetrosk and Zaphorozhye.
Bill has already evacuated all but a few factories from these two key cities [:(]

[abulbulian]

T5: Romanians and 11th Army

Some interesting developments this turn. In a stroke of luck the Odessa perimeter defenders, 2nd Cav div, left their position to assist in a battle to the north.
The battle was lost and they routed, leave an undefended Odessa for 22nd Airlanding. There's not much industry left immediately to the east (shown on map in green). Still have to scratch my head as to why no unit was defending Odessa.
My guess is Bill figured I didn't have the movement to reach it if there was a ring of units around it. Well he was correct, but putting his perimeter unit(s) on reserve was the mistake. But if we push hard, we should find some in the Donets basin still in place.