Slitherine

On turn 8 the secondary objective in the north, Kraziai is taken by the Germans.. The German attack in the centre take heavy losses. This is a good time to counter attack and wipe out many enemy units. A german tank in the south gets worryingly close to Raseiniai. Starting this scenario I deployed all my land units and had 2 CP left. I left the 2 CP for use if I see a area of the front that needs aid. Now I use the 2 CP to deploy a anti tank gun to stop the german tank reaching Raseiniai.



My centre forces counter attack in the centre and destroy several German units.



6 German tanks are now destroyed. Mikhail Katukov is added as a commander to my forces. So note here. On this turn I moved my heavy infantry out of the primary objective Kelme in the north and this caused me to lose the scenario as a German infantry was able to move in. I continue on the auto save.



My core Red Army tank force supported by artillery and air support take back the northern secondary objective.



At the end of the scenario on turn 15 my forces hold all secondary objectives. The enemy has suffered and sustained high casualties. More defensive operations will have to be conducted to slow down the German invasion.

The Raseiniai replay.

The Forced Labor specialisation is taken.



Smolensk
Our core forces have been deployed to defend the region around Smolensk to slow down the German advance towards the Soviet capital.



The situation is dire, just a few days ago the Battle of Minsk-Bialystok ended in the annihilation of a large number of Red Army units. The enemy is now driving on Smolensk from multiple directions. Forward lines are on the verge of collapse and will be defeated soon. We need to prevent Smolensk from being lost and our key points in the rear to prevent a encirclement. Reinforcements are expected from Stavka.



My forces are deployed around the frontline. My anti air units are deployed around Smolensk. For the initial part, I am keeping my aircraft around Smolensk to lure the German aircraft . Allowing me to concrete my AA guns on them and destroy their fighters without much aircraft casualties.





The Germans start first and they deal heavy damage to my forward units. I try to retreat as many of them as I can to relative safety and construct a defence based around the rivers. Even Krasnyy is abandoned.



3 infantry units have arrived as reinforcements. Some of them will have to get off the trains first.

While a defence is organised in the south, additional core forces are available for deployment. At this point I am unable to make use of the extra CP due to not having the needed supply. I will only make use of the extra CP after auxiliary units have died.



The Germans advance on Smolensk. The German Wurfrahmen 40 unit advanced right up to my frontlines so I was able to deal great damage to it. I make a effort to damage the sturmpanzer as well by advancing some soviet units to hit it. This diverted the attention of several German units from the northern attack to Smolensk to hit those units.



Another air unit is available for deployment. The defence in the north proceeds and is based on keeping the Germans from crossing the river.



While my forces deal casualties to the enemy tank force as such a tank unit destroyed is in the south. 3 of my commanders are now wounded.



Our defence in front of Smolensk goes well and our engineers were able to retrieve some tanks. These tanks will join my core force in the next scenario.



In the south the German attack has taken heavy casualties and looks to have collapsed. A counter attack can wipe out their remaining attacking units.



The defence in the north looks to be suffering the most as German units just south of Zalnyeva have crossed the river. However soviet infantry north of the river can hit them from the rear to encircle them or force them back.

The German attack in the south has collapsed and there secondary objective of destroying 7 tanks is completed. The forces in the south can be sent to aid the defence in Smolensk while a few can be left to just guard the south.



By now the attacks directly on Smolensk has mostly collapsed.



My forces face success in the north. A portion of the enemy units are encircled and many of the enemy units are weakened.



The enemy keeps trying to go for Smolensk but their forces are too weak.



Our defence around Smolensk has been successful. Like the situation in the south, the enemy units in the north have been destroyed and no enemy units approach. While there are still a few German units in the centre, they are too weak to advance.

The Smolensk replay.

The Magnetron Radar and Scrambling specialisations are taken.



Yelnya
The completion of destroying 7 seven German tanks at Smolensk adds a AT unit at Moscow. For now our mission is to launch a counter offensive to retake Yelnya.



The salient around Yelnya seems vulnerable and retaking Yelnya will spoil enemy attempts for a renewed offensive. The Germans don't have many tanks but we will face well dig in infantry with artillery support. The enemy is likely to launch smaller diversion attacks on other parts of the frontlines. Air support will only be available once the weather improves, enemy air activity is expected to be lighter.



My core forces are deployed on the north and south of the salient around Yelnya. A unit of Panzer 38(t) is given to us from the retrieval of German tanks at Smolensk.




My forces advance from both sides and encounter enemy forces. The enemy has a fair amount of artillery and I focus on hitting them. I leave auxiliary units to defend the secondary objectives.

The first arctic convoy transporting war material from the western allies arrived.



The German mechanised units join the battle.



To prevent the German mechanised units from escaping I attempt to cut off their units.



A portion of my own forces get encircled but I am easily able to fix the situation and reconnect the supply lines.



Heavy rain ends and air support becomes available.

3 German tanks are destroyed. When the time comes for the defence of Moscow the Germans will have one less armoured unit.



Yelnya is taken.



The last objectives is to take Timishino to make sure all the secondary objectives are secured.




Enemy diversion attacks on the secondary attacks have just started but our battle ends in a victory as all objectives are secured. We now go to the southern front.

The Yelnya replay.

Rostov
The destruction of German tanks at Yelnya means their force at Moscow will be weaker. We are now called to the south to Rostov.



Our goals are to repel the German attacks in the area, evacuate the cargo trucks, and counter attack to take the secondary objectives.



My core forces are mainly deployed in the north and the south. The weakest part of the frontline is the centre which is only thinly held by auxiliary units.

The German forces fighting at Rostov are encircled.



Despite receiving some fire from German aircraft, the cargo trucks are successfully evacuated.



The German forces at Rostov are annihilated and the counter attack in the south can now proceed.



With the enemy now driving on Moscow, we will move to the defence of Moscow after this mission is completed.

Further north, the German attacks proceed. The main force of my core units in the north will smash the German forces and take the secondary objectives. I most worry about the centre but the auxiliary units and strategic bombers I sent were able to hold.



My main forces in both the north and south proceed towards the secondary objectives.



The first of the secondary objectives are taken.



The secondary objectives are taken by my forces on turn 15. I hold my positions for a few more turns.



The early victory occurs on turn 20.

The Rostov replay.

Amazing AAR, dude!

The drop tank specialisation is taken.



Moscow
We are called north for the defence of Moscow. Our successful efforts at Rostov has allowed us to deploy more troops at Moscow.



We must defend Moscow and once the enemy attacks have stooped, counterattack to push them back.


We are given a 57mm AT unit as a result of completing a secondary objective in at Smolensk.



Units at Moscow are under AI control.



My forces are focussed on the north of Moscow and the south.

The germans strike from the north and south.




The attack from the south is especially fierce. I abandon Tula and move back a bit.




The germans take heavy losses and their attacks start to lose steam. Infantry units at Moscow are now under my command and reinforcements are released.

As the enemy offensive in the south is shattered, my southern forces go on the counterattack.



We receive news of the Japanese strike on Pearl Habor.



I only have a few units in the centre position in front of Moscow and a German tank unit enters the outskirts of Moscow. Through desertions are troubling but the German tank unit is quickly dealt with.



Heavy losses are dealt to the Luftwaffe.



With both the northern and southern German pincers shattered, our counterattack is moving in full force. Artillery units at Moscow are now under my control and more reinforcements are released.

The southern force has taken Kaluga and the main forces more north to help take the other objectives.




Soon all the objectives are secured.



Moscow is now secured and the Red Star campaign is completed.

The Moscow replay.