timmyab (Sov) v Smokingdave (Axis)

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timmyab
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timmyab (Sov) v Smokingdave (Axis)

Post by timmyab »

This campaign was started six months ago and we're now on turn 50. This means I've forgotten most of the details from 1941, but I really intend it as an introduction to the 42 campaign anyway which I'm far less familiar with.

Sudden death
full fow
Non-random weather
mild blizzard
Sov +1 bonus

Turn 2 North

AGN fails to cross the river at Ostrov which is good news for me and one of AGCs pz corps is operating North of the Dvina.
A rifle divisions breaks out of the marshes to relieve the Minsk garrison and hold up 4th army's advance.
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timmyab
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RE: timmyab (Sov) v Smokingdave (Axis)

Post by timmyab »

Turn 2 South

Three divisions are trapped by 1st PG. Most of the rest show a clean pair of heels and head East as fast as possible.
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timmyab
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RE: timmyab (Sov) v Smokingdave (Axis)

Post by timmyab »

Turn 4

Pressure builds at Pskov and the land bridge. Time to back off so we can continue to gain strength. Too early to make a stand.

1st PG approaches the Dnypr between Cherkassy and Kremunchug. Probably the best crossing place for the Axis imo.
Odessa is ignored so has only a cavalry corps defending it.

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timmyab
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RE: timmyab (Sov) v Smokingdave (Axis)

Post by timmyab »

Turn 5 North

4th PG pauses causing uncertainty about where they intend to strike. I had a hunch it would be the right hook.
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timmyab
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RE: timmyab (Sov) v Smokingdave (Axis)

Post by timmyab »

Turn 6 North

Well so much for that hunch, 4th PG takes the direct route to Leningrad.

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timmyab
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RE: timmyab (Sov) v Smokingdave (Axis)

Post by timmyab »

Turn 6 Center

Two weeks of slogging past Smolensk has brought AGC to my first serious defensive position.
Part of 2nd PG assists 4th army further South.


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timmyab
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RE: timmyab (Sov) v Smokingdave (Axis)

Post by timmyab »

Turn 6 South

Success for 1st PG. The Dnieper is crossed in two places in strength and 7 Soviet divisions are trapped.
Further East, two pz divisions are cut off by our heroic mobile forces.

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timmyab
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RE: timmyab (Sov) v Smokingdave (Axis)

Post by timmyab »

Turn 7 South

1st PG has become split into two seperate forces. The Northern one crosses the Psel river and the Southern force gets into a fight for it's line of supply.


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timmyab
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RE: timmyab (Sov) v Smokingdave (Axis)

Post by timmyab »

Turn 8

AGN is well into the slogging phase now.
7th army gives way to the Finns.

AGC divides it's armor either side of my river defense. The Northern concentration gets ZOCed and I pull back from the more dangerous looking Southern force.

In the South four of the divisions isolated by the Dnieper crossing continue to hold out thanks to air supply.

I can't remember exactly but I think most, or possibly all of the industry in Dnepropetrovsk was cleared already.


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timmyab
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RE: timmyab (Sov) v Smokingdave (Axis)

Post by timmyab »

Turn 9

Reward for one of my two cavalry divisions operating in the Pripet marshes. It slips past a security screen to smash up newly converted Axis rail lines.


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timmyab
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RE: timmyab (Sov) v Smokingdave (Axis)

Post by timmyab »

Turn 10 South

1st PG pushes both sides of Dnepropetrovsk.

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timmyab
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RE: timmyab (Sov) v Smokingdave (Axis)

Post by timmyab »

Turn 11 South

I made a mistake on the previous turn and forgot to ZOC part of the lower Dnieper.
The Romanian armored division takes advantage and isolates most of 51st army.
Lucky for me the encirclement is weak and I have sufficient strength to rout the Romanian armor and 51st army can retreat in good order.



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timmyab
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RE: timmyab (Sov) v Smokingdave (Axis)

Post by timmyab »

Turn 12 Center

3rd PG turns North and crosses the Volga at Rzhev.
This news draws the first smile from Comrade Stalin since June 22nd. He is confident that Moscow will not fall, (this year at least).

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timmyab
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RE: timmyab (Sov) v Smokingdave (Axis)

Post by timmyab »

Turn 12 Overview

AGN is close to cutting off Leningrad.

AGS has Kharkov nearly surrounded.

I don't think there was much industry left in either city, if any.
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timmyab
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RE: timmyab (Sov) v Smokingdave (Axis)

Post by timmyab »

Turn 14

3rd PG makes a strong thrust to the North.
Hmmm....to fight for the Valdai hills or not? On the whole I think it's better to withdraw, 3rd PG's supply will be hampered next turn so they should be just about spent for the Summer now.

Leningrad is now completely cut off.

Kharkov continues to resist capture, Stalino is now threatened too.

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timmyab
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RE: timmyab (Sov) v Smokingdave (Axis)

Post by timmyab »

Turn 16

The Germans cross the Neva.

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timmyab
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RE: timmyab (Sov) v Smokingdave (Axis)

Post by timmyab »

Turn 16 South

Kharkov and Stalino are both firmly in Axis hands.

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timmyab
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RE: timmyab (Sov) v Smokingdave (Axis)

Post by timmyab »

Turn 17

Osinovets falls

There's little happening elsewhere, I think the Axis have decided to preserve their strength for the coming Winter.

One of my cavalry divisions still wanders behind enemy lines defying attempts to pin it down :)

I abandoned Odessa either T15 or T16. I wanted the two good divisions for the Crimea just in case 40th pz corps came crashing in.

Overall I'll settle for the end of Summer position. I will lose Leningrad, but I expect to against a strong player. The main thing is that I was able to delay in the South for long enough to rail most of the industry out from the big industrial centers, often just in time.
Losses are 30 arms factories and 7 heavy industry.
There were remarkably few opportunities for me to counterattack throughout this Summer, even with my +1 bonus. This means that I haven't got any guards divisions yet.


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sillyflower
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RE: timmyab (Sov) v Smokingdave (Axis)

Post by sillyflower »

Your losses look like being very light, even with L'grad falling, and you've lost no industry to speak of. If you have an OK winter, Axis will struggle in '42 and the best they can hope for now is a draw. However, you will have to take Berlin the hard way if you want to win. Smokin' won't quit.
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timmyab
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Location: Bristol, UK

RE: timmyab (Sov) v Smokingdave (Axis)

Post by timmyab »

Well I'm not counting my chickens yet. The Axis armor is very powerful in 42 and I don't have very much post-1941 experience. Even in 43 I've seen it catch out overconfident Soviet players, turning round seemingly lost causes.
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