Olorin4
Generalfeldmarschall
A 2nd AAR in the same scenario? At first I thought it would be too much to do the same thing twice, but Fungw convinced me to do it and I think things will turn out differently. However the first turns are bound to be the same as in my other AAR (vs TurkTownBlue). To make it slightly different, I will post more detailed screenshots. So, here it goes...
Turn 1:
2 & 3 Panzergruppen (Hoth and Guderian):
The opening turn is the most crucial, imho, so I was very carefull not to waste rounds and movement points. I used HQs to limit movement costs for my crucial panzer units. HQs can make a big differemce, saving movement points, readiness and supply. Also, overruning the intitial Soviet units, in front of the two central Panzergroups is essential. So, I secured a clear road, free of enemy ZOCs, for Guderian and Hoth to advance without hinderance. Guderia's recon battalions reached up to 4 hexes ahead of Baranovice. Hoth's recon units surrounded the two Soviet divisions in Lida and the town north of Lida. This gave the chance to destroy those units for good in later combat rounds, clearing the road, which will prove crucial in the next turn for Hoth.
The Bialystok Kessel is formed only by auxillary units (Brandeburgers, recon and engineer units). They cut off the supply of Soviet formation in the pocket. Since these formation will be reorganising for the two opening turns, commiting entire divisions to close the pocket would be un-economical.
4.Armee (von Kluge):
7, 23, 268, 131, 134, 17 and 78 "Sturm" Divisions were withdrawn from the front to follow Guderian's Panzers. Only 8 Divisions attacked the Soviet front and they destroyed most of it. The forces near Brest Litovsk including two Tank Divisions are attacked by XII.ArmeeKorps (Schroth) and some anti-tank, SPAT and AA units.Brest Litovsk itself fell during the first combat round.
9.Armee (Strausse):
It took two combat rounds to destroy all the Soviet formations facing 9.Armee. Already, all of its divisions are marching behind Hoth's Panzer. Only 102.Infantry Division stayed behind, mopping up a small kessel.
1. Panzergruppe (von Kleist):
South of Vladimir Volynsk, there is an lone Soviet division. if this division was destroyed, a three hex gap would allow Kleist to breakthrough. So this division's destruction was a priority. It was surrounded and destroyed, in the first combat round, which unfortunately took 30% of my turn. I had 70% of my movement points to exploit the gap and I did so. There is a Soviet Mech Corps guyarding Brody and 16. Panzer Division, established contact with it and still had one movement point to attack it in the last combat round (on ignore losses, as it was the last round).
17.Armee (von Stülpnagel):
This army is facing the strongest opposition. The Soviets are fortified and have artillery support and many units on tactical and local reserve, which could burn my turn. So, I was very carefull in the first combat round, as this is the round, in which a turn burn is more likely to occur). Only artillery bombardment on fortified units, normal attakcs on limit losses on entrenched units. I bypassed many fortified Soviets, encircling destroying them in later combat rounds. However, much of the Soviet front is remaining after Turn 1.
6.Armee (von Reichenau):
Same as 17.Armee, Reichenau faces fortified Soviet regiments. Only probing attacks and artillery bombardments were launhed in the first round. I assaulted these enemy units after combat round 2. What remains of the 5th Soviet Army are mere remnants.
4.Panzergruppe (Höppner):
This Panzergrup has only two Panzerkorps and I will face the same limitations as happened historically to von Leeb. There are two roads, leading to Daugavpils and Jekapbils. Manstein will take the first, Reinhardt the second, before the Soviets can destroy the ridges. To attack Riga with this Panzrgrup would be an inexpedient meassure, the real target is Leningrad here. Riga is left to 18.Armee.
18.Armee (von Küchler):
As stated above, its first target is Riga. There are several entrenched Soviet units blocking the way, many of which were destroyed during the first two combat rounds. All that is left, was to clear the Soviet remnants before Riga.
16.Armee (Busch):
ITs first target is Kaunas. 12. Infantry division avoided a frontal attack and crossed the Niemen river to close in Kaunas from the rear. However, it didn't have enough movement points to take the city. The rest of 16th Army's divisions attacked frontally, and as is the case with the other fronts, this attack was succesfull.
Lufwaffe:
In my air briefing, I can see that 4872 enemy aircraft has been destroyed, though the real number is possibly lower. On map, all Soviet air formations ear Riga and Leningrad are gone, as is the DBA units near Novgorod and Smolensk. The airforces of sevastopol is also gone. However, much of the destroyed aircraft is simply damped into the reinforcement pool. Bridges were destroyed in Korosten and Kiev in the south, Kirov, Ugra and Safonovo in the center.
Turn 1:
2 & 3 Panzergruppen (Hoth and Guderian):
The opening turn is the most crucial, imho, so I was very carefull not to waste rounds and movement points. I used HQs to limit movement costs for my crucial panzer units. HQs can make a big differemce, saving movement points, readiness and supply. Also, overruning the intitial Soviet units, in front of the two central Panzergroups is essential. So, I secured a clear road, free of enemy ZOCs, for Guderian and Hoth to advance without hinderance. Guderia's recon battalions reached up to 4 hexes ahead of Baranovice. Hoth's recon units surrounded the two Soviet divisions in Lida and the town north of Lida. This gave the chance to destroy those units for good in later combat rounds, clearing the road, which will prove crucial in the next turn for Hoth.
The Bialystok Kessel is formed only by auxillary units (Brandeburgers, recon and engineer units). They cut off the supply of Soviet formation in the pocket. Since these formation will be reorganising for the two opening turns, commiting entire divisions to close the pocket would be un-economical.
4.Armee (von Kluge):
7, 23, 268, 131, 134, 17 and 78 "Sturm" Divisions were withdrawn from the front to follow Guderian's Panzers. Only 8 Divisions attacked the Soviet front and they destroyed most of it. The forces near Brest Litovsk including two Tank Divisions are attacked by XII.ArmeeKorps (Schroth) and some anti-tank, SPAT and AA units.Brest Litovsk itself fell during the first combat round.
9.Armee (Strausse):
It took two combat rounds to destroy all the Soviet formations facing 9.Armee. Already, all of its divisions are marching behind Hoth's Panzer. Only 102.Infantry Division stayed behind, mopping up a small kessel.
1. Panzergruppe (von Kleist):
South of Vladimir Volynsk, there is an lone Soviet division. if this division was destroyed, a three hex gap would allow Kleist to breakthrough. So this division's destruction was a priority. It was surrounded and destroyed, in the first combat round, which unfortunately took 30% of my turn. I had 70% of my movement points to exploit the gap and I did so. There is a Soviet Mech Corps guyarding Brody and 16. Panzer Division, established contact with it and still had one movement point to attack it in the last combat round (on ignore losses, as it was the last round).
17.Armee (von Stülpnagel):
This army is facing the strongest opposition. The Soviets are fortified and have artillery support and many units on tactical and local reserve, which could burn my turn. So, I was very carefull in the first combat round, as this is the round, in which a turn burn is more likely to occur). Only artillery bombardment on fortified units, normal attakcs on limit losses on entrenched units. I bypassed many fortified Soviets, encircling destroying them in later combat rounds. However, much of the Soviet front is remaining after Turn 1.
6.Armee (von Reichenau):
Same as 17.Armee, Reichenau faces fortified Soviet regiments. Only probing attacks and artillery bombardments were launhed in the first round. I assaulted these enemy units after combat round 2. What remains of the 5th Soviet Army are mere remnants.
4.Panzergruppe (Höppner):
This Panzergrup has only two Panzerkorps and I will face the same limitations as happened historically to von Leeb. There are two roads, leading to Daugavpils and Jekapbils. Manstein will take the first, Reinhardt the second, before the Soviets can destroy the ridges. To attack Riga with this Panzrgrup would be an inexpedient meassure, the real target is Leningrad here. Riga is left to 18.Armee.
18.Armee (von Küchler):
As stated above, its first target is Riga. There are several entrenched Soviet units blocking the way, many of which were destroyed during the first two combat rounds. All that is left, was to clear the Soviet remnants before Riga.
16.Armee (Busch):
ITs first target is Kaunas. 12. Infantry division avoided a frontal attack and crossed the Niemen river to close in Kaunas from the rear. However, it didn't have enough movement points to take the city. The rest of 16th Army's divisions attacked frontally, and as is the case with the other fronts, this attack was succesfull.
Lufwaffe:
In my air briefing, I can see that 4872 enemy aircraft has been destroyed, though the real number is possibly lower. On map, all Soviet air formations ear Riga and Leningrad are gone, as is the DBA units near Novgorod and Smolensk. The airforces of sevastopol is also gone. However, much of the destroyed aircraft is simply damped into the reinforcement pool. Bridges were destroyed in Korosten and Kiev in the south, Kirov, Ugra and Safonovo in the center.