Starting Prestige (after purchases and replacements): 108332
Hero:
A new pilot for II./JG 62 can extend the usefulness of the Bf 109K fighters, slowly becoming obsolete otherwise.
Starting Army Composition:
Infantry
Infanterie Reg 99 (span.) - Azul Infanterie 43 (SdKfz 250/1) - ***** - Ignores Entrenchment, No Retaliation, Survivor, Helmut Wirnsberger
Infanterie Reg 100 (span.) - Azul Infanterie 43 (SdKfz 250/1) - ***** - Ignores Entrenchment, No Retaliation, Josef Allerberger
Gebirgsjäger-Reg 88 - Gebirgsjäger 43 - ***** - River Assault, Oleh Dir
Gebirgsjäger-Reg 89 - Gebirgsjäger 43 - **** - River Assault
Gebirgsjäger-Reg 90 - Gebirgsjäger 43 - **** - River Assault
Pionier Bataillon 33 - Pioniere 43 (SdKfz 250/1) - ***** - Fast Deployment, Survivor
Pionier Bataillon 34 - Pioniere 43 (SdKfz 250/1) - ***** - Butcher, Fast Deployment
Grenadier Reg 4 - Grenadier 43 (SdKfz 250/1) - **** - Burcher, First Strike
Infanterie Reg 57 - Wehr Infanterie 43 (SdKfz 250/1) - ***** - Avenger, Prudent, Survivor, Matthaus Hetzenauer
Tank
PzAbt 401 - Panther II - ***** - AT Support, Double Support, Fearsome Reputation, Steamroller, Survivor
PzAbt 402 - Panther II - ***** - Provocator, Tank Killer, Steamroller
PzAbt 411 - Flammpanzer 38(t) - ***** - First Strike, Vigilant, Steamroller
PzAbt 501 - E-75 - ***** - Envelopment, Steamroller, Survivor, Rikugun Tai-I Akiyama
PzAbt 502 - E-75 - ***** - Rapid Fire 1.5x, Reduced Slots, Steamroller, Survivor, Albert Kerscher
PzAbt 511 - Heuschrecke - ***** - Artillery Support, Butcher, Expert Support, Steamroller, Survivor
PzAbt 512 - Maus - **** - Ignores ZOC, Provocator, Steamroller, Otto Carius
Recon
AufkAbt 11 - SdKfz 233 8Rad - ***** - Artillery Support, Envelopment, Lightning Attack
AufkAbt 22 - SdKfz 234/2 8Rad - ***** - Hit and Run
Anti-Tank
Panzerjäger Abt 201 - Jagdpanther - **** - Field Repairs, Skilled Support
Panzerjäger Abt 202 - Jagdpanther - ***** - Double Attack, No Retaliation, Survivor, Karl Ullmann
Panzerjäger Abt 203 - Jadgtiger - **** - Provocator
Panzerjäger Abt 211 - JagdPz IV/70 - **** - Double Support
Artillery
Artillerie Abt 601 - 21 cm Mrs 18 (SdKfz 7) - ***** - Double Attack, Zero Slots, Skilled Support, Elsa Kloss
Artillerie Abt 701 - 15 cm sFH 18 (SdKfz 7) - **** - Counter Battery Fire, Skilled Support
Artillerie Abt 702 - 15 cm sFH 18 (SdKfz 7) - **** - Counter Battery Fire, Double Support, Skilled Support
Panzer Artillerie Abt 611 - Grille 17 - ***** - Counter Battery Fire, Zero Slots, Skilled Support, Emma Habermann
Panzer Artillerie Abt 612 - Hummel - ***** - Skilled Support
Panzer Artillerie Abt 631 - Wespe - **** - Skilled Support
Sturmpanzer Abt 751 - Sturmtiger - **** - Skilled Support
Anti-Aircraft
FlaK Abt 271 - 12.8 cm FlaK 40 (SdKfz 7) - ***** - Fast Learner, Lethal Attack, Skilled Support
FlaK Abt 272 - Wirbelwind - **** - Skilled Support
FlaK Abt 273 - Ostwind - **** - Skilled Support
FlaK Abt 274 - 2 cm Flakvierling 38 (SdKfz 10) - ****
FlaK Abt 275 - 8.8 cm FlaK 37 (Sfl.) - ***** - Karla Wuhrer
Fighter
I./JG 61 - Ta 152H - ***** - Fast Rebase, Survivor, Adolf Galland
II./JG 61 - Ta 152H - ***** - Leadership, Fast Rebase, Survivor, Heinrich Bar
III./JG 61 - Ta 152H - ***** - Fast Rebase, Legendary, Thorough Preparation, Survivor
IV./JG 61 - Ta 152H - ***** - Aiming Assistance, Fast Rebase, Survivor
I./JG 63 - Me 262A - **
II./JG 63 - Me 262A - *** - Erich Hartmann
III./JG 63 - Go 229A - ** - Fast Learner
Tactical Bomber
II./KG 44 - Ar 234B - ***** - Double Move, Crippling Blow, Survivor, Hans-Ulrich Rudel
III./SG 7 - Hs 129B3 - **** - Crippling Blow, Lightning Attack
II./ZG 6 - Fw 190G - *** - Entrenchment Killer 3x, Readiness, Survivor
III./ZG 6 - Me 410A - **** - Survivor
Armored Train
Panzerzug Berlin - Armoured Train - *** - Fast Learner
Panzerzug Hamburg - Armoured Train - *** - Fast Learner
Reserve
Pionier Brücken Bataillon 1 - Brückenpioniere (Opel Blitz) - * - Ferocious Defense, No Surrender
Pionier Brücken Bataillon 2 - Brückenpioniere (Opel Blitz) - * - Learns From Mistakes
Pionier Brücken Bataillon 3 - Brückenpioniere (Opel Blitz) - Learns From Mistakes
Fallschirmjäger Reg 1 - Fallschirmjäger 43 - *** - No Surrender, Survivor
Fallschirmjäger Reg 2 - Fallschirmjäger 43 - *** - No Surrender
Fallschirmjäger Reg 3 - Fallschirmjäger 43 - ***
Fallschirmjäger Reg 4 - Fallschirmjäger 43 - *
Fallschirmjäger Reg 5 - Fallschirmjäger 43 - **
Fallschirmjäger Reg 6 - Fallschirmjäger 43
PzAbt 412 - Panzer IVJ - ***** - Fearsome Reputation, Ignores ZOC, River Assault, Steamroller, Survivor
AufkAbt 12 - Panzer II Luchs - ***** - Distraction, Field Repairs, Overrun, Steamroller
AufkAbt 21 - SdKfz 234/2 8Rad - ***** - Hit and Run, Overrun, Steamroller
Panzerjäger Abt 212 - 12.8 cm Pak 44 (SdKfz 7) - *** - Ferocious Defense
Werfer Abt 621 - Panzerwerfer 42 - ***** - Reduced Slots
I./JG 62 - Bf 109K - *** - Entrenchment Killer 4x, Survivor
II./JG 62 - Bf 109K - **** - Entrenchment Killer 4x, Thorough Preparation, Survivor
III./JG 62 - Bf 109K - ** - Survivor
IV./JG 62 - Bf 109K - ** - Survivor
I./NJG 71 - He 219 - *** - Combat Luck, Survivor, Gerhard Barkhorn
I./AG 9 - Fw 189 - ***** - Avenger, Prudent, Resilient, Survivor
II./AG 9 - Fw 189 - *** - Distraction, Sixth Sense
III./AG 9 - Fw 189 - * - Sixth Sense
IV./AG 9 - Fw 189 - * - Resilient
I./SG 7 - Hs 129B3 - ***** - Crippling Blow, Entrenchment Killer 4x, Lightning Attack, Survivor
II./SG 7 - Hs 132A - **** - Lightning Attack
I./ZG 6 - Fw 190G - ***** - Aggressive Counterattack, Readiness, Survivor
IV./ZG 6 - Me 410A - *** - Survivor
I./KG 43 - Ta 400 - **** - Survivor
II./KG 43 - Ta 400 - **** - Survivor
III./KG 43 - Ta 400 - *** - Survivor
IV./KG 43 - Ta 400 - *** - Survivor
I./KG 44 - E 555I - ***
Highlights
First objective for my army is straightforward. Scout my flanks and make sure they are clear of any enemies. This should not be that complicated, since the discovered forces are not numerous.
Second point - clear out as many enemy planes as possible and get some awards in the process.
Pioneers take a heavy beating despite artillery support. At least they got a medal out of it.
A small force moves up north to secure airfields.
Another small group passes through the center.
The main attack, including two armored trains, is from the south.
Units that were used less often also have a chance to shine.
Approach towards Minsk is very difficult. I need infantry to get through defenses, but said infantry is decimated by artillery on approach and enemy tanks make it difficult to set up a proper frontline.
Camouflaged Shock Tactics artillery? Now that's just nasty and explains a lot! I suspected as much from the first instance in which my Maus units got hit by something and suddenly could not move the next turn, but it's a really difficult setup, it can easily cause the player to lose units if not carful.
Surrounding Minsk fully is arguably the most reasonable way to try and capture it.
Interesting finding in the city itself.
Minsk captured...
...and a special pilot joins the force.
Summary:
Equipment Captured:
SMG Inf - 1 (up to 2)
OT-34-85 - 63 (up to 69)
T-44 - 44 (up to 91)
T-44/100 - 69 (up to 95)
IS-3 - 71 (up to 104)
SU-85 - 1 (up to 10)
ISU-122 - 29 (up to 34)
100mm M1943 - 42 (up to 48)
SU-100 - 131 (up to 131)
203mm M1931 - 8 (up to 97)
122mm M1939 - 4 (up to 40)
152mm M1938 - 9 (up to 31)
ISU-152 - 21 (up to 26)
37mm M1939 - 4 (up to 21)
85mm M1939 - 6 (up to 30)
Il-2M3 - 79 (up to 79)
Il-10 - 95 (up to 95)
Final Prestige: 109909 (up 1577)
CP gained: None (0)
Overall:
Things escalated quickly, that's for sure, and I am not only talking about the wild plan the Germans thought of, but also the mission itself. It started off pretty easy and straightforward, just got though the open fields make sure to stay in formation and capture the airfields one by one. Then, if the situation allows for it, capture Minsk... except it is defended by a truly nasty setup, probably one of the most sneaky and borderline unfair defenses the AI had at it's disposal so far. If I did not notice my units suddenly getting stuck in place quickly enough and did not employ absurd countermeasures by aligning intense support fire, I could have easily lost a few. With two Shock Tactics 203mm guns that cannot be easily seen and targeted, once can extend the frontline too far east and fall right into that trap. It also helped that these guns targeted the Maus tank first, which was then able to withstand any other attacks and not attempt to retreat. That said, the city can be captured more easily by taking the time to encircle it. Sure, there are dozens of powerful tanks in the area, but they cannot hold forever, once even such powerful defenses as those in Minsk are surrounded, dismantling them is just a matter of time. Plus, this objective is optional so it so it does not feel like a huge must. It's probably one of the more difficult elite objectives so far aside from maybe Case Orange and Lublin.
A final thought. Dropping the payload near Smolensk and not directly on the city felt strange at first, as it trying to justify the move, but then it occurred to me it also was aimed at leaving a solid amount of survivors to tell the tale. So after some thought, this makes sense. The additional aftermath however... well at least the next mission does explains it was probably not pure coincidence.
