RE: Towards the edge of destruction: hooooper v Blubel (Full Version)

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hooooper_slith -> RE: Towards the edge of destruction: hooooper v Blubel (12/21/2012 12:41:21 AM)

I mean, I don't have the turn, so I can't look.



sillyflower -> RE: Towards the edge of destruction: hooooper v Blubel (12/26/2012 2:42:23 PM)

Sorry - I did wonder



hooooper_slith -> RE: Towards the edge of destruction: hooooper v Blubel (1/6/2013 2:36:53 PM)

Turn 12

The Germans have returned from their Xmas skiing holiday, and it seems to have refreshed them, because they are making impressive progress on all fronts.

Beginning in the north, they have squeezed Leningrad's defenders into a long, thin indefensible salient. The fate of the city looks to be sealed.

[image]local://upfiles/43294/5151802420CE43459E9D6CECBFA42332.jpg[/image]



hooooper_slith -> RE: Towards the edge of destruction: hooooper v Blubel (1/6/2013 2:38:35 PM)

On the important Valdai sector, the fighting seems to have died down. Suits me.

[image]local://upfiles/43294/8B1219F6D23A4B5EB7308E31D13097DC.jpg[/image]



hooooper_slith -> RE: Towards the edge of destruction: hooooper v Blubel (1/6/2013 2:41:43 PM)

Before Moscow, we have a double envelopment. Once Rzhev falls, the drive on Moscow is definitely on, and it will be tough to stop before the mud.

[image]local://upfiles/43294/BEAE08BE1B8A4D9B8284170E8721EE83.jpg[/image]



hooooper_slith -> RE: Towards the edge of destruction: hooooper v Blubel (1/6/2013 2:44:07 PM)

In the south ... well of course we stayed a turn too long, and this is what happens when you stay a turn too long:

[image]local://upfiles/43294/ED434679822D47B0B0C0E6A2726F0B5F.jpg[/image]



hooooper_slith -> RE: Towards the edge of destruction: hooooper v Blubel (1/6/2013 2:46:37 PM)

In the south, there's nothing to report. It seems the Donbas and the Crimea will be safe until next year.

[image]local://upfiles/43294/7FA3379F47C0413EBC17F02B268EA556.jpg[/image]



hooooper_slith -> RE: Towards the edge of destruction: hooooper v Blubel (1/6/2013 2:54:55 PM)

Soviet responses.

In Leningrad, the only thing to do is to rush for the city. This brings our defences up to three units a hex, and 27th Army ships over a brigade from Novaya Lagoda.

[image]local://upfiles/43294/D6E4218C423442358013108B845592F6.jpg[/image]



hooooper_slith -> RE: Towards the edge of destruction: hooooper v Blubel (1/6/2013 3:02:47 PM)

Moscow, it is essential to break the German hold on Rokossovsky: this is where the battle for Moscow will be, if not won, then probably lost. Fortunately, there are a few relatively weak divisions in the German line, and it proves possible to create a counter encirclement before Borodino, with the help of a cavalry division. A strong attack from north east of Rzhev relieves the elements of 22 Army holding that vital city.

[image]local://upfiles/43294/56FDC38BB1804348818BE09190EF39B3.jpg[/image]



hooooper_slith -> RE: Towards the edge of destruction: hooooper v Blubel (1/6/2013 3:06:11 PM)

In the south, my broken legions trudge east, leaving behind a litter of bodies and wrecked equipment

[image]local://upfiles/43294/FC683D32B3C54213815EAFB94C64771A.jpg[/image]



hooooper_slith -> RE: Towards the edge of destruction: hooooper v Blubel (1/6/2013 3:17:49 PM)

So, the game remains extraordinarily well balanced. The situation at Leningrad has deteriorated fairly spectacularly, and the Volkhov line is looking very frail. But often the city has a surprising depth of defensive resources, and there is a slim chance that the Germans will choose to move their armour south to bolster the drive on Moscow. The success of our counter attacks there has, or may have, improved out chances of holding the capital, so my adversary may choose to reinforce. Moscow is a much bigger prize than Leningrad, especially as I haven't been able to relocated most of its industry as yet. In the south, it's a disaster, and in idle moments I'm flicking through a list of generals to arrest. The only consolation is that my decision to fight forward means that the enemy is still a long way from Kharkov and Kursk, and, furthermore, is faced with a difficult decision as to which direction to go in.

The Red Army's biggest weakness is its lack of men and equipment: the cupboard is frighteningly bare:

[image]local://upfiles/43294/7A62705A26F6445A8864B63E6B430E45.jpg[/image]



hooooper_slith -> RE: Towards the edge of destruction: hooooper v Blubel (1/6/2013 3:22:28 PM)

In conclusion, here is the big picture in the north. Wouldn't it be nice if the Germans were to advance towards Vyshny Volochek?

[image]local://upfiles/43294/4AABF6C047FF4146A8E965185B05F1B8.jpg[/image]



hooooper_slith -> RE: Towards the edge of destruction: hooooper v Blubel (1/6/2013 3:24:10 PM)

Centre. The big pull back to the Orel line is partly a response the disaster in the south, and partly because I need to concentrate all my resources on Moscow, and I don't want the defence to be overloaded. Excessively cautious?

[image]local://upfiles/43294/9C3DF0ECE9D24FA7A90BC00E5906CC35.jpg[/image]



hooooper_slith -> RE: Towards the edge of destruction: hooooper v Blubel (1/6/2013 3:25:30 PM)

And south. A drive through Kharkov and down to Stalino would be most unpleasant, so that's where most of the reserves have been lined up.

[image]local://upfiles/43294/1CD9D35C917945458483A4A3537BC020.jpg[/image]



hooooper_slith -> RE: Towards the edge of destruction: hooooper v Blubel (1/7/2013 10:32:41 PM)

Turn 13

Folllowing their successful turn 12, the Axis spend a week setting about the housewifely tasks of closing pockets and mopping up. Here the divisions of the Leningrad defences who didn't make it into the city limits are rounded up the the SS, while the infantry of AGN draws up to the weak Volkhov defences. Blubel has done a good job up here.


[image]local://upfiles/43294/9C4CA57956B945189AAED1E60B827352.jpg[/image]



hooooper_slith -> RE: Towards the edge of destruction: hooooper v Blubel (1/7/2013 10:34:34 PM)

A quiet turn at the Valdai, the vital link in the defence of Leningrad and Moscow.

[image]local://upfiles/43294/3CE41FE75B124A418F30642E2DD08155.jpg[/image]



hooooper_slith -> RE: Towards the edge of destruction: hooooper v Blubel (1/7/2013 10:37:02 PM)

Moscow, the pockets are closed again, but another turn goes by. I think the Germans are too late to take the city with a simply frontal attack.Indeed, the main German thrust seems to be sliding around the northern flank, which is fine by me. It's tough going up there.

[image]local://upfiles/43294/DF89904A7F3F47BEB75DB55C5F977C35.jpg[/image]



hooooper_slith -> RE: Towards the edge of destruction: hooooper v Blubel (1/7/2013 10:39:43 PM)

In the centre we are just waiting for the barbarians. This is the picture after Soviet moves. The panzer forces seem to be moving north, possibly to supply the southern prong for an attack on Tula/Moscow.

[image]local://upfiles/43294/E3753F41487C4EA8A93066BFC9994FAE.jpg[/image]



hooooper_slith -> RE: Towards the edge of destruction: hooooper v Blubel (1/7/2013 10:43:14 PM)

Soviet moves

On the Leningrad front, we have no choice but to give ground as slowly as possible.

[image]local://upfiles/43294/054EB0F095F6493DABA3E1D115AF70D7.jpg[/image]



hooooper_slith -> RE: Towards the edge of destruction: hooooper v Blubel (1/7/2013 10:44:56 PM)

On the Moscow axis, the defence assumes its final form: not a step back.

[image]local://upfiles/43294/9E532E3808334DFDA5050E19CE13AEBD.jpg[/image]



hooooper_slith -> RE: Towards the edge of destruction: hooooper v Blubel (1/7/2013 10:49:50 PM)

Finally, the OOB. I don't recall having so few troops at this stage since I was a neophyte. A tribute to Blubel's skill and an indictment of my failed strategy in the south.

[image]local://upfiles/43294/CACE1574BC0B41249599242DFCA6E4B2.jpg[/image]



hooooper_slith -> RE: Towards the edge of destruction: hooooper v Blubel (1/11/2013 2:32:04 PM)

Turn 14

There's a bit of a lull in the fighting this turn, no doubt signifying that the German are gathering themselves to spring next go.

On the Leningrad front my defence of the Lagoda ports holds (this hex is often the key to the whole Leningrad campaign in my experience, and should be fortified as soon as possible). However this may not save me because the Germans are over the Volkhov in force and could pull off a small right hook.

[image]local://upfiles/43294/7F91A54DDB7D4DE2908B68DBBD0E53D1.jpg[/image]



hooooper_slith -> RE: Towards the edge of destruction: hooooper v Blubel (1/11/2013 2:40:49 PM)

At Valdai, the Germans grind forward another couple of hexes. On the Kalinin axis, however, they seem to be pushing ever further north, which is good news for Moscow.

[image]local://upfiles/43294/8BE50670298F41208F4200F133937EC7.jpg[/image]



hooooper_slith -> RE: Towards the edge of destruction: hooooper v Blubel (1/11/2013 2:43:31 PM)

In the centre, the enemy seems to have disappeared. A frontal assault on Moscow seems to be off the agenda.

[image]local://upfiles/43294/5EAF17142ED145B194D5E6ECB595B4A8.jpg[/image]



hooooper_slith -> RE: Towards the edge of destruction: hooooper v Blubel (1/11/2013 2:47:03 PM)

In the south, it's quiet.
Too quiet.

[image]local://upfiles/43294/337C600AC1C14A96A50BBAC4DC96D5A9.jpg[/image]



hooooper_slith -> RE: Towards the edge of destruction: hooooper v Blubel (1/11/2013 2:59:19 PM)

Turn 15
The fighting builds to a climax, but the Soviets just about hold the equilibrium.

In Leningrad, AGN leaps over the Neva and wipes out the Red Army west of the Volkhov.

[image]local://upfiles/43294/0A5CB0DE94E24FEBB691D744E017A94E.jpg[/image]



hooooper_slith -> RE: Towards the edge of destruction: hooooper v Blubel (1/11/2013 3:04:48 PM)

At Kalanin, AGC pushes into the wasteland in the direction of VV. This is fine by me.

[image]local://upfiles/43294/23E97EDFA1AD41389CF6C98190995200.jpg[/image]



hooooper_slith -> RE: Towards the edge of destruction: hooooper v Blubel (1/11/2013 3:20:07 PM)

The next breakthrough is in the direction of Tula. It cracks the line, but as there is no other pincer in sight, I'm not too concerned about this.

[image]local://upfiles/43294/EBF46346D21C45BFB71A61A8CCEA5457.jpg[/image]



hooooper_slith -> RE: Towards the edge of destruction: hooooper v Blubel (1/11/2013 3:23:30 PM)

On the Kursk-Kharkov sector, the pressure is becoming uncomfortable.

[image]local://upfiles/43294/11B716E632D3471985F8E9692BB74B65.jpg[/image]



hooooper_slith -> RE: Towards the edge of destruction: hooooper v Blubel (1/11/2013 3:40:58 PM)

As it is on the lower Dneiper. I have a bad feeling about all of this. This screen shot shows the position after the Soviet moves. The 6 Army, which was refitting in Stalino, is rushed to shore up the crumbling front line.

[image]local://upfiles/43294/5B3329B673044F808A36740D17ECBEEA.jpg[/image]



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