loki100
Posts: 10920
Joined: 10/20/2012
From: Utlima Thule
Status: offline
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T14 – 21 September 1941
So .. very bad things
at least they paid a high price for damaging my tanks (I really should have just pulled back from that hex) – not least some were destroyed by Mig-3s flopping out of the sky and crashing into them. The LW is told to be more careful next time.
Didn't do much here ...
Logistics watch – by far the most exciting part of the game.
I think we can call Smolensk a success – though that rail move penalty is eye-watering (remember its /6 of what was used last turn). Can't think why that could have happened?
So much supply in the Smolensk-Minsk sector that even Gomel has enough.
And its sausages and beer for AGS too.
To the business. As above, a lot of attacks by both sides at Leningrad. The freshly redeployed LVII Pzr made all the difference (I really shouldn't have had that side trip).
My infantry are starting to clean out Soviet salients on the Volkhov and I think I'll reach Lake Ladoga next turn.
The Soviets took really heavy losses (something like 40,000) which is a real problem for them here. I know from experience its very hard to fit out wrecked formations on this sector, even better routed stuff can't be sent to the reserve so for the moment, their resources are finite and diminishing.
Quick jump to the south. I have a rather ambitious idea and want to see what I can manage with PG1 before doing much with AGC.
Given that the Soviets have finally abandoned that long salient to Chernigov, I can solve my infantry shortage. 4A redeploys towards Bryansk and 6A can screen the eastern flank of PG1. 17A mostly concentrates on Stalino, but that leaves me PG1 relatively free.
So struck north, could mostly get away with hasty attacks (a few failed), Belgorod fell easily.
At the very least this sets an odd retreat path for the Soviet units to the west, they certainly can't shore up their lines east of Kharkov and they are going to pick up a lot of fatigue as they keep moving.
Dombas, 17A moving up keeping its CPP. XXXXVIII Pzr Corps has recovered so swung it north of the Donets, the threat may encourage a weakening of the Soviet line anchored on Stalino.
Crimea, 11A dismantles the forces guarding the entrance, its well rested and even not on assualt has high CPP. At the moment, this is as much a killing zone as a serious attempt at Sevastopol – like Leningrad this is another spot where the Soviets really struggle to refit trashed formations.
All of which was fun, but essentially a diversion from deciding what to do with AGC.
I need to do something to shake up the Soviet defences here (or indeed do nothing is a valid option).
One approach is to use PG2 and 3 to try for an encirclement based on Vyazma, I have high mobility but am a bit short of combat power. The other is to send PG2 south, the fantasy is a grand link up with PG1, the more feasible outcome is it will yield me the Orel-Kursk sector.
In the end, the Soviet deployment left my decision unclear. 3 PG's infantry made substantial gains at Vyazma, the trick of attack and stop (so they are out of ZoC) means I can regain a lot of CPP.
Southern wing of 3PG made enough gains to threaten an encirclement – at worst I might force that salient to pull back – its weakly screened and starting to worry me.
2 PG had to deal with a strong multi-line defense but it is clear of the worst terrain. Its not badly placed for Kaluga or to go south towards Orel.
I guess if I don't know what I am going to do, then neither do the Soviets?
Whatever else happened this turn, the loss ratio improved.
Fairly heavy air losses – I'm now more willing to use the LW as it is going to be of little value come mid-October. By the time it comes back into use, I'll mostly have a new generation of planes in any case.
Despite my efforts, Soviet manpower pool is recovering a little.
And a view on the VP screen. My absolute goal is now achieved (Jan HWM score), Orel is not going to yield any time bonus (if it falls at all), Kursk and Stalino should. Not at all sure over Rzhev or Kalinin (or Rostov for that matter), but lets say a minimum of +40 before I need to think about being defensive.
Being somewhat pessimistic, that will also get me over the October 42 HWM.
Worth mentioning here – don't take something (esp if you have missed the +6) that you can't guarentee to hold onto. The Soviet +6 time bonus is deducted from your score. So at worst you come out neutral but if you gained less than 16 you can be in deficit. This is less important for Rostov and Kalinin as both are scheduled for a very quick transition but is affecting how I regard say Orel.
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