xhoel -> RE: Road to Leningrad (Germans) Beginner AAR v1.11.03 (redrum68) (3/10/2020 12:38:10 PM)
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Your decision to not go for Tallinn was sound. Splitting your Panzer Group to go for 2 different directions was not. In the 1941 start, the Germans have about 2 weeks of good fuel and ammo on hand. On turn 3 everything shuts down since your forward forces are too far ahead of the rail lines. This means that next turn, most of your armored/motorized formations will have very little MPs to move. Which means that your southern Panzer Corps (the 56th) will be stuck where it is, far from where it needs to be (Pskov). This also has other implications. You just committed a full panzer corps to push for an irrelevant objective and to surround 2 Soviet divisions. Adding to that, 2 of your divisions are south of the Dvina, which is a mistake as they will have to cross the river again to go north, which costs a lot of MPs. Your armor should be pushing north-east towards Pskov/Novogorod not east towards Vitebsk. It will take you 2 turns or more to get this Panzer Corps back were it need to be, giving your enemy time to reposition themselves. What you should have done, in my opinion was to concentrate both of your panzer corps on breaching the Velikaya river live, thus making it impossible for the Soviets to form a strong defensive line here and forcing them to abandon Pskov or risk encirclement. The key point here is to retain focus and composure: Keep your eyes on the prize which is Leningrad and keep your Panzers together to facilitate breakthroughs and to cover each others rear. You did a good job on taking Pskov and also on pushing your infantry across the river. You will need the infantry to reach your panzers ASAP, since next turn you won't be able to use them that much. I'm guessing you are moving your airfields with aircraft in. You shouldn't do that and as a rule, you shouldn't move your airfields forward constantly. Just move an empty airfield forward and air transfer some fighters there. The rest of your air bases containing LBs should stay back in the rear on a rail line. Also, after turn 1 airfield bombing is hard to do properly and not that effective. Your air groups must be pretty tired from the turn 1 fighting. It is a good idea to send them to the NR to recover morale and lower fatigue and get the ready aircraft numbers up. This will help you in the long run. In relation to MPs: A panzer/motorized division with 50 MPs after the first turn is really really rare. This is realistic as units are rarely operating at their optimum capacity and at perfect supply. For the first 3 turns you shouldn't worry too much about it. Last remark: I know that small scenarios are not the same thing as the Grand Campaign and players choose different strategies to achieve the VPs needed. However, if you are learning the game, it would be wise to play the scenario as if you are playing the Grand Campaign, so it helps you refine your gameplay for when you switch to the campaign. That means, don't pay too much attention to the VPs, try to get Leningrad while not suffering heavy losses and surrounding/destroying as many Soviet formations as possible. Cheers!
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