panzergruppe guderian [Updated October 2002]

PGG   2 prizes Beginners Single Elim Continuous 
  21  
   10  Round 2 15 Round 3 20    Round 4 9 Final
  

  Valley

Robert Frisby, VA

2002 Champion

2nd: Michael Pustilnik, NY

3rd: Jeff Hacker, PA

4th: James Tracy, OH

5th: Larry Meyers, AZ

6th: Doug Porterfield, MD

Event History
1991    Phil Rennert      16
1992    Phil Rennert      10
1993    Phil Rennert      12
1994    Phil Rennert      11
1995    Phil Rennert       8
1996    Phil Rennert       8
1998    Michael Pustilnik      10
1999    Robert Frisby     16
2000    Robert Frisby     16
2001     Michael Pustilnik     14
2002     Robert Frisby      16


AREA Ratings


GM: Robert Frisby

Past Winners

Phil Rennert - MD
1991-1996

Michael Pustilnik - NY
1998, 2001

Robert Frisby - VA
1999-2000
 

Deja Vu ...

This year's final featured Michael Pustilnik and Robert Frisby in a rematch of last year's final. Pustilnik bid 60 victory points to play the Germans, and came up short when a 1-1 attack on Roslavl and a series of 1-2 overruns on Vyazma failed to take either city on the last turn. The Soviets won the final for the fourth consecutive year.

The Germans destroyed the bulk of the 13th and 20th Armies by the end of Turn 3. The retreating 19th Army, which was able to move on Turn 1, along with the 16th, 22nd, and 24th Armies and various reinforcements, built a L-shaped line running from the northern map edge south to the Dnepr river and then east to Smolensk. The Soviets deployed the remnants of the 13th Army, the 21st Army, and four southwestern reinforcements around Roslavl.

When the Germans assaulted the Smolensk line on Turns 3 and 4, they discovered that the frontline units had above-average defensive combat strength. The Germans attempted to penetrate the line through a number of 1-2 overruns during their mechanized movement phase on Turn 4. The Germans lost two panzer divisions in these overruns, but succeeded in
penetrating the line and enveloping Smolensk. Over the next several turns the Germans took Smolensk and methodically destroyed the extensive Soviet forces near Smolensk north of the Dnepr. The Soviet line south of the Dnepr protecting Roslavl and Yelnya continued to hold until Turn 11.

The Germans took Yelnya from the north then, and moved into position to assault Vyazma and Roslavl on Turn 12. They also moved one panzer division into position on the west bank of the Ugra river to threaten a seizure of hex 5915 (20 victory points) on Turn 12. On the last turn the Soviets used three units, including another southwestern reinforcement division, to block this panzer division. The Soviets defended Vyazma and Roslavl by placing three rifle divisions and a HQ unit in each of them. The Germans needed to take either Roslavl or Vyazma on Turn 12 to win the game. A 1-1 attack on Roslavl failed to take that city. The Germans tried several 1-2 overruns on Vyazma during the mechanized movement phase, but failed there too. They also lost another division in the process. The Germans ended up with 45 victory points (55 for five cities
plus five for the southwestern reinforcements, with 15 subtracted for losing three divisions).

All of the bids fell in the range of 50 to 71 victory points. This year the Soviets won half of the games played. The Germans won half of the games when they bid 66 or more, and they also won half of the games when they bid 65 or less. The Germans won most of the first round games, and the Soviets won all but one of the subsequent games (all of these post-round one games involved bids in the range of 60 to 66 victory points).

 GM      Robert Frisby  [2nd Year]   10086 Tummel Falls Dr, Bristow, VA 
    Frisby100@aol.com   NA

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