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All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> Gary Grigsby's War in the East Series >> After Action Reports >> RE: T6

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RE: T6 - 7/12/2018 3:38:43 PM

Twigster

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Very interesting AAR... since WitE 2 is not yet out, I am starting to feel very much drawn to get
another game going.

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Post #: 61

RE: T6 - 7/12/2018 8:27:54 PM

xhoel

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Twigster

Very interesting AAR... since WitE 2 is not yet out, I am starting to feel very much drawn to get
another game going.

Thanks a lot for the kind words. Its my first AAR and I'm glad people are enjoying it.
As to starting another game, I can only recommend it, WITE 2 seems a bit far away :D

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Post #: 62

RE: T6 - 7/13/2018 12:55:12 PM

wkuh

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Very well done AAR, thanks your efforts.

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Post #: 63

RE: T6 - 7/13/2018 4:24:30 PM

xhoel

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quote:

ORIGINAL: wkuh

Very well done AAR, thanks your efforts.

Thank you for the kind words, stay tuned for more!

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Post #: 64

T7 - 7/21/2018 11:03:15 PM

xhoel

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Turn 7, 31st of July-7th of August 1941
Overview of the Situation

The remaining units trapped inside the Pskov pocket are forced to surrender after attacks by the 18th Army. The Soviets stabilize their defenses on the Luga line. 2 Soviet armies are defending the river. In the AGC sector the Soviets have pulled back again and have now formed a defensive line near the smaller Dnepr branch. In the South the Soviets have decided to hold their ground and defend behind the Dnepr. The lower side is crossed at multiple points by our units. The joint operation of the 2nd and 6th Army to cut off the rail line leading inside the Pripyet marshes has been completed succesfully.

Soviet prisoners of war being marched to detainment centers in the rear:

Finish front:

The II Corps of the Finish Kannas Army has taken defensive postions on the Mannerheim line north of Leningrad. Its IV Corps has been diverted east to assist the Karelian Army in breaking the Soviet defenses on the area around Sortavala. Here an attack by the VII Finish Corps was repelled by the Soviets earlier this week as the bad terrain helps the Soviets alot.

Kannas Army sector after moves:

Karelian Army sector at the start of the week:

Karelian Army sector after the Finish assault:

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by xhoel -- 5/7/2019 9:45:43 PM >

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Post #: 65

RE: T7 - 7/21/2018 11:29:01 PM

xhoel

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AGN

The 18th Army finishes up clearing the rest of the Pskov pocket. The city is taken and security units move in to restore order. The XXVI Corps crosses the Narva and makes contact with units of I Corps. The 16th Army is split in half, with the II and X Corps heading north towards the Luga line while the rest heads towards the Pola river line after clearing the swamp area around Lovat. The 4th Panzer Group has been pulled back for R&R. Luftflotte 1 conducts a series of air raids on Soviet Airfields destroying 53 fighters, 3 bombers and damaging many more airframes. We lose 5 bombers and 3 fighters. These raids are a prelude to the strategic bombing campaign that aims to isolate Leningrad by destroying the port facilities at Osinovets.
Breaching the Luga remains the main task of AGN, one that is not going to be easy as the enemy has deployed a considerable amount of units here and the terrain favors the defender. What is positive is that due to the disaster at Pskov the enemy has not had time to build intricate defensive lines and most of the Soviet units are sitting in rudimentary trenches or foxholes.

Pskov pocket the morning of the 31st of July:

German forward positions on the morning of the 31st:

Situation after German moves:

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by xhoel -- 5/7/2019 9:48:59 PM >

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Post #: 66

RE: T7 - 7/21/2018 11:53:42 PM

xhoel

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AGC

In the sector of AGC the Soviets have pulled back once more and established a defensive line 60 miles west of Vyazma near the smaller Dnepr branch that flows in this area. 3 Armies are deployed in forward positions while another one is deployed to the rear holding a line from Rzhev to Vyazma. It seems that the Soviets expect our main axis of advance to be this one, heading towards Moscow. Breaching these defenses is going to be difficult. Nevertheless a plan has been drawn up that forsees our infantry breaching through the gaps between the rivers clearing the way for the panzers which should be able to penetrate to the Soviet rear and eliminate the Soviet units standing in front of Vyazma. The 9th Army has been deployed to the north while the 4th Army has been deployed to the south. Both the 3rd and the 2nd Panzer Groups have been pulled back for R&R. The XIV Panzer Corps that was on loan to Panzer Group 4 is also expected to join its sister formations near Smolensk in a week. The 2nd Army reaches Gomel and forward units manage to enter the city. Soviet presence in this sector is very weak and could offer a good opportunity to hit the Southwestern Front in the back.

AGC sector, morning of the 31st of July:

AGC plan of attack:

Gomel area at the start of the week:

Envisioned advance axis for the 2nd Army:

Closer look of Soviet defences:

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by xhoel -- 5/7/2019 9:53:56 PM >

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RE: T7 - 7/22/2018 12:14:23 AM

xhoel

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AGS

The 111th Division crosses the Dnepr north of Kiev and 2 Corps of the 6th Army are deployed in defensive posture in the immediate area around Kiev. The rest of the 6th Army is located near Kremechung and Dnepropetrovsk. The 3rd Rumanian Army is located between these formations. Luftflotte 4 launches air raids against Soviet air bases in the area destroying 42 Soviet fighters and suffering only light losses. One of the raids however goes really bad, causing the loss of 12 bombers.

In the area around Kremechung the western bank of the Dnepr has been cleared of Soviet forces. The goal of this maneuvre is to tie Soviet forces in the area to allow for a easier crossing of the Dnepr further east near Dnepropetrovsk. Here our units manage to clear both banks of the Dnepr which were defended by cavalry divisions and some German battalions have made it to the eastern bank but no divisional crossing has occurred yet. The 1st Panzer Group is preparing for a crossing at this point. The V Fliegerkorps takes advantage of the lack of Soviet fighter in the area to bomb a lone Soviet airbase, destroying 20 bombers on the ground.

Further south, the lower Dnepr has been crossed in several points as there are no Soviet units defending it. Units of the XXX Corps make contact with Soviet defenders at the entrance of the Crimea. The objective of the Rumanian 4th Army and the 11th Army is the capture of the Crimea as soon as possible. Since no Panzer Corps can be released for operations on the lower Dnepr area, the Rumanian Cavalry Corps has been transferred to the sector to allow for a quick advance with minimal use of resources. The III Rumanian Corps remains in Bessarabia for training and refitting.

Axis positions at the start of the week:

Kiev area after German moves:

Battles in the Ukraine (color coded, Air base that is circled was bombed):

Lower Dnepr area after Axis moves:

German troops make contact with the Soviet defenders in Crimea:

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by xhoel -- 5/7/2019 10:03:42 PM >

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RE: T7 - 7/22/2018 12:26:34 AM

xhoel

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Casualties T7:

Ground:

Air:

Destroyed formations:

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by xhoel -- 5/7/2019 10:05:02 PM >

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RE: T6 - 7/23/2018 4:01:40 AM

thedoctorking

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Twigster

Very interesting AAR... since WitE 2 is not yet out, I am starting to feel very much drawn to get
another game going.

Want to play again? I am looking for another one on one as the Soviets since the Multiplayer system crashed both of my ongoing games.

1.11.03, full blizzard, no Soviet bonus, no suicide para or amphibious operations.

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Post #: 70

RE: T8 - 8/2/2018 8:36:14 PM

xhoel

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T8, 7th of August-14th of August 1941
Overview of the situation:

-The Italian Expeditionary Corps arrives.
-German troops cross the Dnepr in force, Kiev falls in our hands.
-German offensive in front of Vyazma stopped by strong Soviet resistance and local counterattacks.
-AGN breakthrough on the Luga, 10 Soviet divisions surrounded, Leningrad only 30 miles away.

Finnish front:

The II Finnish Corps remains on the defensive on the Mannerheim line north of Leningrad. The VII Finnish Corps attacks the Soviets at Sortavala and manages to secure a bridgehead over the river here. The 4th Finnish Infantry Division and the 2nd Finnish Jaeger Brigade manage to cross on the other side and set up a defensive perimeter. Soviet casualties are high, almost 2000 men KIA. The Soviets have around 9 Infantry Divisions in the sector. Their destruction is the primary objective of the Karelian Army.

Positions at the start of the week:

Finnish attack:

Positions after the Finnish attack:

Finnish front after Axis moves:

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by xhoel -- 5/7/2019 10:07:55 PM >

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Post #: 71

RE: T8 - 8/2/2018 9:03:55 PM

xhoel

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AGN

The Soviets remain on the defensive on the Luga line which has been fortified and reinforced. The Soviet defenses are composed of one primary defense line on the river and 2 separate secondary defensive belts. In the area the Red Air Force has quite a lot of airframes, mainly fighters, all tasked with defending Leningrad.

Positions at the start of the week:

Black lines indicate secondary defensive belts. Black circles indicate air bases bombed by the LW during this week

With that in mind the LW launches devastating air raids on Soviet airfields destroying around 60 fighters on the first day. With the fighters neutralized our bombers start pounding on the enemy positions right where our attack is planned to fall. The LI and II Corps succeed in their attacks and manage to secure a 30 mile beachhead over the Luga. Following their attack, the I Corps moves forward and after heavy fighting manages to push back the Soviets and clears the avenues for the Panzers. This comes at a heavy cost. I Corps suffers heavy casualties (560 men KIA). The rest is left to Panzer Group 4, which moves in and establishes a corridor around the surrounded Soviet troops. The encirclement is completed after the Totenkopf SS Mot. Division secures the port of Oranienbaum with the Soviet garrison surrendering after heavy fighting. The now sealed Oranienbaum pocket contains 8 Rifle Divisions and 2 armored/motorized divisions. We are now within 30 miles of Leningrad itself.

Positions after German moves:

Closer look at the Oranienbaum pocket:

I Corps assault:

Further east, the L Corps and the X Corps attack Soviet troops in front of their positions in an attempt to make a pull back of the Soviets harder and to enable a flanking movement on Novogorod. Meanwhile the XXIII Corps push on the Lovat and are pressuring Soviet forces in the area.

Positions on the Vadai hills after German moves:

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by xhoel -- 5/7/2019 10:14:24 PM >

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RE: T8 - 8/2/2018 9:39:53 PM

chaos45

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Yep the disaster at Pskov basically cost the soviet player leningrad early is my guess....as well the Soviet player doubled down and put up a bad defense on the Luga trying to defend the entire luga river line is suicide and only results in the loss of an entire soviet army almost every time its attempted.

IMO- Pskov is only to delay a super fast drive on Leningrad- Hold until T4 or T5 at the most...then fall back and hold the bottle neck south of lake with you back to the hills and the shortened Novgorod to leningrad hills line...and why did he not defend the 3 swamp hexes to the South and west of novgorod- that is extremely critical ground to defending leningrad....even just a token soviet division there buys critical MP costs to the germans. Also just gave up the bottleneck/ ability to defend vladia hills without a fight. As the Soviets its not just about holding ground its about buying time and costing the German player movement points...making the german player waste movement points to reclaim land or launch full/hasty attacks is critical to slowing them in the early game even if you get some units beat up.

Take note soviet players this is how not to defend leningrad.

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Post #: 73

RE: T8 - 8/2/2018 10:23:51 PM

xhoel

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AGC

The Soviets have decided to stand their ground in the central sector in front of Moscow. They have deployed in 2 defensive lines, the first one being 20-30 miles deep and the second one only 10 miles deep and held by tank divisions. Recon and intelligence indicate substantial material and troop build up in the sector. In the Gomel sector the Soviets have pulled back again and are now defending a line stretching from Bryansk to Konotop. Our advance here is slow as no motorized formations are available. Nevertheless the 2nd Army together with the XXXXIII Corps manage to advance 30-40 miles along the whole front.

Positions at the start of the week:

Red arrows indicate retreating Soviet troops.

The music however was played somewhere else this week. In front of Vyazma the 9th and the 4th Army launched their offensive aimed at destroying the 3 Soviet armies defending the approaches to the Red Capital. The plan was for the 9th Army to clear a route north and for the 4th Army to clear a route south, for these avenues to be exploited by the armored formations of the 2nd and 3rd Panzer Groups.

Vyazma sector at the start of the week:

Black line indicates secondary Soviet defensive positions. Blue and green arrows indicate the planned axis of advance for the 4th and 9th Army respecively.

The start of the offensive began quite succesfully. The 9th Army managed to break through the first line of Soviet defense composed of Airborne Brigades and 1 weak infantry division without any major problems. The attack on the secondary line of defense however proved to be costly. It was important for us to take the village of Nelidovo and our units attacked Soviet units south of the village (2 Airborne Brigades and 1 Rifle Division). The first and second attacks by the V Corps failed after strong Soviet resistance and a local Soviet counterattack by the 45th Cavalry Division. By the time of the third and successful attack our troops and supply reserves had been exhausted and no further advance could be made. Our casualties from this battle alone were 715 KIA and many more wounded. The XIV Panzer Corps was deployed north of Nelidovo where they pushed back a number of Soviet divisions. The village itself however remains in the hands of the enemy, denying us the river crossing that would enable us to advance in force in this area.

Northern sector:

Yellow circles indicate weak enemy resistance/units that were pushed back quickly, black marks the heavy battle south of Nelidovo and red marks the village itself. Green arrow marks planned axis of advance.

Northern sector after German moves:

German losses in the aformented battles:

Our troops in the southern sector fared no better. Initial attacks were repelled by the enemy, and secondary attacks were needed to force the Soviets back. After having advanced only 20 miles our units bogged down. This sector was also not spared a bloodbath. In order to widen the corridor that our units had already established, the XIII Corps launched a quick attack with 2 divisions against the 100th Rifle Division. This proved to be a costly mistake. Soviet troops managed to hold on and were relieved by a counterattack of the 17th Tank Division. Our units took heavy losses, around 600 men KIA and hundred of wounded.

Southern sector before German moves:

In yellow, main battle sites, in black the battle on the outskirts of Yelnya.

Southern sector after German moves:

Battle on the outskirts of Yelna:

In the light of these events von Bock ordered the 3rd and 2nd Panzer Group to stand down and that no further attempts to advance east would be undertaken this week, a news that was quite welcomed by Guderian and Hoth. Both Panzer Groups have moved forward to staging bases closer to the front.

Vyazma sector after German moves:

Bryansk sector after German moves:

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by xhoel -- 5/7/2019 10:23:26 PM >

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RE: T8 - 8/2/2018 10:30:29 PM

xhoel

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From: Germany
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quote:

ORIGINAL: chaos45

Yep the disaster at Pskov basically cost the soviet player leningrad early is my guess....as well the Soviet player doubled down and put up a bad defense on the Luga trying to defend the entire luga river line is suicide and only results in the loss of an entire soviet army almost every time its attempted.

IMO- Pskov is only to delay a super fast drive on Leningrad- Hold until T4 or T5 at the most...then fall back and hold the bottle neck south of lake with you back to the hills and the shortened Novgorod to leningrad hills line...and why did he not defend the 3 swamp hexes to the South and west of novgorod- that is extremely critical ground to defending leningrad....even just a token soviet division there buys critical MP costs to the germans. Also just gave up the bottleneck/ ability to defend vladia hills without a fight. As the Soviets its not just about holding ground its about buying time and costing the German player movement points...making the german player waste movement points to reclaim land or launch full/hasty attacks is critical to slowing them in the early game even if you get some units beat up.

Take note soviet players this is how not to defend leningrad.

I think this is due to the fact that he has moved most of his units in the Moscow region. In Bitburgers defense I will say that he has a good grasp of defensive warfare, that I have not encountered so far. He is giving ground slowly and has not lost that many units till now. Plus I will wait to hear his side of the story once the AAR advances and he can read it.
Thanks for the comment though!

< Message edited by xhoel -- 8/2/2018 10:31:39 PM >

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Post #: 75

RE: T8 - 8/2/2018 11:24:04 PM

xhoel

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Joined: 6/24/2017
From: Germany
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AGS

Overview at the start of the week:

The threat of being flanked by the 2nd Army, forces the Soviets to pull back from the Kiev-Cherkassy sector. Both cities are declared open cities and the Soviets troops that were defending the sector have redeployed 80 miles east on the Sula and Uday rivers. Here the Dnepr is crossed in multiple points and the 6th Army already has 3 Infantry Corps on the eastern bank of the river. The XXXXVIII Panzer Corps is also transferred to the area and is expected to be on the eastern bank of the Dnepr by next week to assist the 6th Army which is lacking 2 of its infantry corps (fighting near Dnepropetrovsk).

Kiev-Cherkassy sector at the start of the week:

Kiev-Cherkassy sector after Axis moves:

In the sector from Kremechug to Dnepropetrovsk the situation is much different. Soviet troops recaptured the eastern bank of the Dnepr that was being held by a few of our platoons and are on the defensive all along the river line. It is on this sector of the front that the heaviest fighting occurs. The Soviets defend stubbornly even launching local counterattacks but in the end our troops are victorious. We secure a 30 mile wide beachhead on the eastern bank. The LV Corps (6th Army) is already on the other side and the well supplied and well rested XXIV Panzer Corps crosses the Dnepr under the cover of the LW and jumps into the fighting immediately, brushing aside the remnants of the 18th Army and deepening our hold in the area. The Das Reich SS Motorized Division outdoes all expectations, crossing the Orel river and advancing 40 miles north, cutting both rail lines leading out of Poltava before turning back to the bridgehead on the Orel. This means that the weapon factory at Poltava (8 ARM) will have to be evacuated using the only intact rail line out of the city and that any Soviet evacuation will have to be conducted on foot. This also leaves the Soviets sitting in a salient, separated from the defenders at Dnepropetrovsk and makes Kharkov vulnerable to a direct attack.

Eastern Ukraine overview:

Situation in the Kremechug-Dnepropetrovsk sector at the start of the week:

Marked in yellow: Soviet positions that were attacked by our forces this week

Situation in the Kremechug-Dnepropetrovsk sector after Axis moves:

Another defensive line has been established from Zaporozhye to the Sea of Azov. This line is manned mostly by cavalry divisions, defending in open terrain without fortifications and is by and large the weakest defensive line in the south. The LIV Corps and the Rumanian Cavalry Corps are heading east to meet the Soviet defenders. Even though the terrain here is difficult they have managed to march for 30-40 miles in a broad front and should make contact with the enemy by next week.

Zaporozhye-Sea of Azov defensive line at the start of the week:

After Axis moves:

In the Crimea, XXX Corps has made contact with the Soviet defenders at 2 of the 3 entrances leading to the peninsula. The II Rumanian Corps follows behind them.

Crimea after Axis moves:

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by xhoel -- 5/7/2019 10:28:25 PM >

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RE: T8 - 8/3/2018 12:23:13 AM

xhoel

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From: Germany
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Casualties T8

This week has been by and large the bloodiest week the Wehrmacht has lived through so far. The failure of the offensive in the AGC sector has taken a serious toll on our units and we will have to manage our divisions carefully so that morale and TOEs remain high.

Wehrmacht soldiers tending to a wounded comrades arm wound.

Ground:

Air:

But if the Heer had a rather difficult week, the Luftwaffe shined like never before. All along the front the LW assumed control of the air and did not allow our enemy to breathe for a second. At the end of the week, the numbers are stunning: 558 Soviet aircraft destroyed, numbers that are sure to rise as written off aircraft are counted.

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by xhoel -- 5/7/2019 10:30:46 PM >

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RE: T9 - 8/10/2018 6:00:26 PM

xhoel

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T9, 14th of August-21st of August
Overview of the situation:

-The Oranienbaum pocket is cleared, the Soviets lose 100.000 men in the fighting.
-In the AGC sector, the Soviets pull back to the Rzhev-Vyazma-Bryansk line.
-The XXX Corps assault to capture the entrance of the Crimea fails.

Finnish front:

After our Finnish allies managed to gain a bridgehead on the Yanisyoki river last week, the Soviets have pulled back 40 miles east. The Karelian Army and the IV Finnish Corps are pursuing them and have made contact with the enemy all along the line.
The Soviets have evacuated the Hanko naval base and the 4th Finnish Coastal Brigade has entered the port unopposed.

Finnish positions at the start of the week:

Positions after Axis moves:

< Message edited by xhoel -- 5/12/2019 10:43:46 PM >

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RE: T9 - 8/10/2018 6:36:22 PM

xhoel

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AGN

The pocket of Oranienbaum was not broken by the enemy, however the Soviets are using the tactic of ''hugging'' our units in order to worsen our supply situation and unit movement. Yet this has not helped them a lot. Generalfeldmarschall von Leeb has ordered the quick liquidation of the pocket in order to secure the rear area where our troops will gather in preparation for the offensive on Leningrad itself. The task falls on the shoulders of the XXVI, XXXVIII and I Corps. Elements of the LVI Panzer Corps also engage in the clearing operation. After putting up quite a lot of resistance, 8 Rifle Divisions, 1 Motorized Division and 1 Tank Division are destroyed. Soviet casualties amount to around 95.000 prisoners and 5.000 KIA/WIA.

Oranienbaum Pocket and the Leningrad sector at the start of the week:

Our motorized and armored units guarding the perimeter of the pocket are relieved by infantry divisions of the 18th Army who conduct small attacks forcing the enemy to give terrain. The same thing happens west of Novogorod, where our attacks force the enemy to retreat further east. The advance in the sector is slow due to the difficult terrain and strong Soviet resistance. However the enemy has concentrated around 12 divisions in the area, and the more units we force him to commit here, the better it will be for our offensive, which is planned to fall further north.

The Leningrad sector after Axis moves:

On the Polist river the XXIII Corps of General Albrecht Schubert fails to secure a bridgehead after 4 attacks on the lone Soviet Rifle Division which is assisted by counterattacks of numerous Soviet Cavalry Divisions. The reason for the failure seems to have been General Schuberts underestimation of the enemy, a mistake that might as well cost him his position.

The sector south of lake Ilmen at the start of the week:

The same sector after German moves:

Circled in pink, is the battle for the bridgehead over the Polist river

The LW continues to be active in the AGN sector conducting numerous raids against enemy airfields in an attempt to weaken the VVS in the area. These efforts pay off, after our attacks, around 100 enemy planes have been destroyed and many more damaged while our air groups have suffered minimal losses. Similar raids were attempted by the VVS last week and meet their demise pretty quickly, after they were intercepted by our fighters and hit by a storm of flak causing the loss of 66 airframes.

Pictured below, failed VVS air raids on our airfields:

The 4th Panzer Group has been pulled back for R&R and should be ready for offensive action next week.
Meanwhile the Industry located in Leningrad has been evacuated.

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by xhoel -- 5/12/2019 10:47:12 PM >

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RE: T9 - 8/10/2018 10:52:23 PM

xhoel

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From: Germany
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AGC

In the area of AGC the enemy has pulled back again and is now holding the Rzhev-Vyazma-Bryansk line. This line is not only fortified but is also being defended by a lot of troops and the Soviets posses enough mobile reserves to stage local counterattacks. A head on offensive would probably give the same result as the offensive operations of last week, where we managed to gain little ground at a high cost. Instead of doing that AGC wants to destroy the flanks of this defensive line and force the Soviets to either abandon it or to surround them where they stand.

AGC positions at the start of the week:

During this week however the 9th and 4th Armies march forward to make contact with the retreating Soviets, while both Panzer Group 3 and Panzer Group 2 continue to stockpile fuel and ammunition needed for the big push. Fighting in the sector is minimal as our units engage Soviet forward positions held by Airborne Brigades and weakened Rifle Divisions.

Positions in the sector of AGC after Axis moves:

All the engagements are successful except for one: The 268th Rifle Division, defending in open terrain without fortifications manages to hold back a deliberate attack by the 8th Infantry Division, causing heavy loses on them.
The battle report is displayed below:

Next week, VIII Corps, which has distinguished itself with its conduct will be transferred to the 3rd Panzer Group easing the load of the 9th Army.

Further South, the 2nd Army has managed to link up with the 6th Army and is advancing forward. Its forward units are only 10 miles away from the Soviet defensive positions.

VVS attacks against our airfields in this sector do better than those in the North, destroying 13 fighters and 5 bombers, while losing 48 bombers and 14 fighters of theirs.

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by xhoel -- 5/12/2019 10:53:27 PM >

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RE: T9 - 8/11/2018 12:07:41 AM

xhoel

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AGS

AGS positions at the start of the week:

Circled in black are units that held at least once against German assaults. All of them were in clear terrain without fortifications. Also notice the surrounded SS Division and the use of hugging tactics by the Soviets.

The sector of Army Group South has seen the heaviest fighting of the week most of which has occurred in the Dnepropetrovsk area. With bridgeheads established over the Dnepr the 6th Army has started its advance in the northern Ukraine. The enemy still remains further east, 40 miles away from our forward units. The Dnepr is crossed this week by units of the 3rd Rumanian Army, the Mobile Hungarian Corps, the Slovakian Corps and the XXXXVIII Panzer Corps. The VIII Hungarian Corps, which AGS does not deem to be worth anything on the frontline, has been left to garrison Kiev. The Italians are also moving towards the front. The advance of the 6th Army in the sector has managed to cut off the last rail line out of Poltava which means that the citys industry (8 ARM) cannot be evacuated.

In the area around Dnepropetrovsk, the 1st Panzer Group was alarmed to learn that the Das Reich SS Mot. Division was cut off by the enemy and surrounded on all sides by Soviet units. In this area the Soviets followed the same tactic as in the north: hugging our units in order to disrupt supply and movement. This meant that the XXIV Panzer Corps found itself in a precarious position. Immediately orders were given out and the infantry of the 6th Army operating in the area sprung to the offensive. Together with units of the 11th and 17th Army they managed to clear Soviet forces in the vicinity and all German units had crossed the Dnepr at the end of the fighting.

Positions after German moves:

However the offensive in this sector was halted once again by ferocious Soviet resistance and poor judgement by our commanders who failed to coordinate assaults properly, which meant that no breakthrough was achieved. In another feat of overestimating our abilities von Kleist decided to use the III Panzer Corps which was being held in reserve, to punch a hole through Soviet lines. Their assault made little gains and extorted a heavy cost in men and machines for our units. By the end of the week, we had secured a corridor over the Dnepr but no breakthrough to Kharkov or Stalino had been achieved and our units find themselves far away from our supply lines.

Battles in the Dnepropetrovsk area:

Panzer Divisions serving under AGS are severly understrength and will need to be refitted immediately. Here is an overview of the panzer units and their TOEs:

Due to the commitment of infantry formations in the offensive, the western bank of the Dnepr was left open to a Soviet attack. To prevent that from happening, the Rumanian V Corps and the 8th Rum. Cavalry Brigade (garrisoning Krivoi Rog) were rushed to the area to form a defensive wall and protect German HQs on the western bank of the Dnepr.
South of Zaporozhye, the LIV Corps and the Cavalry Rumanian Corps engaged the weak enemy defensive line being held by Cavarly divisions. After good initial progress the fate turned against us once more and the offensive stopped after having advanced no more than 20 miles.

Without a doubt, the biggest defeat of the week was that of the Battle of Armyansk, at the entrance of the Crimea. Here, 3 German Infantry Divisions and a Rumanian one, being supported by Heavy Artillery and Tactical Bombers failed to break through the Soviet defenses ans suffered heavy losses. The reason for the failure is attributed to the lack of Pioneers which at the time, the 11th Army had allocated elsewhere. The Battle report is shown below:

The II Rumanian Corps is deployed at the two other entrances to the Crimea while the fresh III Rumanian Corps is arriving to reinforce the 11th Army.

Crimea after Axis moves:

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by xhoel -- 5/12/2019 11:04:14 PM >

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RE: T9 - 8/11/2018 12:23:34 AM

xhoel

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Casualties T9:

Ground:

Air:

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by xhoel -- 8/11/2018 12:24:13 AM >

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RE: T9 - 8/11/2018 12:37:51 AM

xhoel

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Some clarifications:

Last turn was quite frustrating and I made several mistakes in the way I attacked and committed my armored reserves. Moreover I had a lot of bad rolls especially in those battles where I badly needed a win. The fact that my opponent has deployed masterfully in defense and is using cavalry and tanks in reserve mode didn't help either. Another thing that frustrated me had to do with the way the automatic SU movement works. Last turn I transferred 2 Pioneer Battalions to the 11th Army so that I could use them to attack the entrance of the Crimea. The AI however decided that another Corps needed them and transferred them there. The attack had to be continued without Pioneers and the result was a catastrophe.

So a word of advice to new players:
1) Don't play this game when angry or frustrated. If you see things are not going your way, stop, save the game and come back at it later when you are calm. Otherwise you are simply gonna hurt your progress.
2) Pay attention to ZOCs and the new +1 MP rule for failed attacks. Undertake hasty attacks only if you are sure that you can win the battle and it's not an important one.
3) Pay attention to have the right SUs ready for the job when needed.

Cheers,
Xhoel

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RE: T9 - 8/14/2018 12:05:27 PM

Oloren

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One of the best AARs I've seen yet.

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RE: T9 - 8/14/2018 7:43:14 PM

xhoel

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Oloren

One of the best AARs I've seen yet.

Thanks Oloren, means a lot! Stay tuned for more.

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RE: T10 - 8/22/2018 9:44:54 PM

xhoel

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T10
News from the front:

Heavy fighting along the whole front with multiple attacks conducted in certain keypoints.

-AGN breaks through Soviet defenses in the North. Leningrad has not been cut off yet.
-In the sector of AGC, our offensive is stopped short of its goal, even though we have managed to outflank the enemy, the Soviets still retain a 30 mile corridor from which they will undoubtedly evacuate their forces from the half completed encirclement.
-AGS makes limited progress in the area between Kremechug and Dnepropetrovsk. 3 Soviet Divisions are surrounded. XXX Corps takes the entrance of the Crimea.

A full update is to be expected tomorrow.

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RE: T10 - 8/23/2018 1:38:01 PM

xhoel

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T10, 21st of August-28th of August 1941
Finnish front:

The Soviets are pulling back from Karelia. The Karelian Army and the IV Finnish Corps are in pursuit, their goal is to reach the Svir river line as soon as possible, to exert pressure on the Soviet forces there.
Meanwhile Finnish recon and patrols indicate that the Soviets have started building Fortified Regions north of Leningrad. Without a doubt this is being done, in order to free Soviet Rifle divisions positioned on the border. If only the Finns would join us in the attack...

Karelian sector at the start of the week:

Karelian sector after Finnish moves:

North of Leningrad, Fortified Regions are highlighted in red:

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by xhoel -- 6/3/2019 2:37:14 PM >

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RE: T10 - 8/23/2018 1:42:59 PM

xhoel

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AGN

The 18th Army leads the breakthrough in the North this week. Having learned the lesson from the battles of the last two weeks, most of the attacks are conducted by 2 or more divisions attacking based on carefully conducted assault plans, supported by heavy artillery and air support. The tactic pays off. The 18th Army in conjunction with the 4th Panzer Group and the II Corps (from the 16th Army) manage to create a 50 mile breach in the Soviet defenses. 6 Soviet divisions are routed in the process and 3 Soviet Rifle Divisions are surrounded. The rail line leading to Leningrad has not been cut yet. Nevertheless the advance of this week gives us hope that we will be able to isolate Leningrad from the main body of the Soviet forces soon. Soviet defenses west of the Volkhov river are inadequate and the routing of this week, will have consequences in the operations to come.

Leningrad sector at the start of the week:

Leningrad sector after German moves:

Circled in black is the attack north of Novgorod.

A full strength attack (3 divisions) by the L Corps north of Novgorod however was halted by the Soviets, who where saved by the timely counterattack of the 41st Cavalry Division.

The XXIII Corps of General Albrecht Schubert finally manages to push back the Soviet defenders on the Polist river line and has gained a bridgehead over the Lovat river. The Pola river line remains as the last natural obstacle in the sector.

Pola sector at the start of the week:

Pola sector after the German attack:

Another 100 enemy planes have been destroyed and many more have been damaged as the LW continues its efforts to break the VVS in the sector. The air campaign will start targeting Osinovets soon.

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by xhoel -- 6/3/2019 2:40:14 PM >

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RE: T10 - 8/23/2018 2:40:38 PM

xhoel

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AGC

In the sector of Army Group Center the 9th Army manages to break through Soviet defenses south of Rzhev opening a 40 mile deep and 30 mile wide corridor to be used by our armored formations. The opening is exploited by the 3rd Panzer Group, which manages to cut through the Soviet rear, capturing several air bases in the process and advancing 80 miles. Unfortunately the 4th Army has less success in their attacks in the southern portion of the sector. Its units fail to create a corridor wide enough for our panzers to operate with ease and the 2nd Panzer Group falls short of its objective of linking up with the rest of the German forces. The Soviets will be able to evacuate their units using a 30 mile gap between our units. In order to hinder the evacuation fresh bomber groups have been moved to air bases close to the front. Their goal will be to interdict enemy movement in the area.

Vyazma-Bryansk sector at the start of the week:

Rzhev sector at the start of the week:

Rzhev corridor after the fighting:

The incomplete encirclement in the AGC sector:

AGC overview:

Even though the offensive was unsuccessful, it will force the Soviets to move out of their fortified positions around Vyazma and relocate to a new defensive line. On the other side, the fact that our troops are now 50 miles away from Moscow is a major boost in morale.

Further south, the 2nd Army advances east trying to make contact with the Soviet forces.

2nd Army sector before German moves:

2nd Army sector after German moves:

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by xhoel -- 6/3/2019 2:45:30 PM >

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RE: T10 - 8/23/2018 4:22:52 PM

xhoel

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AGS

The 6th Army continues to advance forward, unopposed by enemy troops. The Mobile Hungarian Corps, the Italian Expeditionary Corps and the Romanian 3rd Army follow behind them.

Positions at the start of the week:

Positions after Axis moves:

The rested and resupplied XXXXVIII Panzer Corps moves to Mirovgrad but developments further South convince GO von Kleist that the Panzer Corps would be much more valuable in assisting the LIV Corps (11th Army) in their push towards the Donbass. Therefore the Panzer Corp is ordered to relocate south and has taken positions near the swamps east of the Dnepr in order to avoid enemy recon.

XXXXVIII Panzer Corps movement:

In the area around Dnepropetrovsk the enemy continues using hugging tactics to make resupply operations difficult. Our infantry units however, manage to push the Soviets back and enlarge the area of operations. During these attacks, 3 Soviet Divisions are encircled. The XXIV Panzer Corps is pulled back in order to R&R. 2 of its Panzer divisions are on 50% TOE and need to be refitted immediately.

Positions at the start of the week:

Positions after Axis moves:

In the area around Zaporozhye the LIV Corps together with the Rumanian Cavary Corps push the weak Soviet defenders back, routing 2 divisions, while shattering a third. Our reports show that the enemy has run very little recon in the area and is not really concerned about it. Hopefully this will continue to be so. In that case, our recently arrived panzers will make good use of the open terrain in the area.

Positions at the start of the week:

Positions after Axis moves:

Without a doubt, the best offensive of this week was the one conducted by the XXX Corps at the entrance of the Crimea. The attack at Armyansk succeeds and our units follow through with a second attack south of the recently captured town, pushing the Soviets back. The battles are bloody and we suffer around 1.000 casualties. However the importance of the operation cannot be understated. The Soviets now don't have either the fortifications nor the frontage to adequatly defend the Crimea.

Positions at the start of the week: