Untitled Document

First half of the duel is played by knightmare as Germans, and Alsenor as Russians.

Knightmare is something of a Zitadelle specialist, even though he calls it Zittidale - hell knows why! :)

Anyway, he has used it for all his challenges, and has asked me repeatedly in the past to play it with him to show me his special opener.
When I told him that he had to earn the right to play me by becoming Top Dog first, what did he do?
Yes, he took the top spot this week!

Our new commander-in-chief wasted no time in asserting his rights to a feature battle with the old man, and eagerly sent his opening turn of his favorite scenario - you guessed it - Zitadelle.

As usual for the demo games, we will play one side first, and then switch sides.
We will give you a report on the battle with a delay of three turns, but I can show you what I saw when I opened knightmare's first turn:

(Knightmares) axis forces breakout east of Belograd to attack Soviet armor and clear threat to city.

Two of the big panzers could have been taken out by the Russians, but I found it more prudent to withdraw all armor into safety.
Time and place for confronting the panzers will have to be chosen very carefully.

Knightmare is doing a good job of keeping most of his forces under a AA umbrella by rapidly brought up air defense unit.
I will have to look hard for unprotected targets...

My axis forces are advancing in response to repeated russian air attack's.
Alsenors tb's are wrecking havic on unprotected ground units and will have air supremacy in the next day or so.
While (German) ground units are itching for a fight they will have to regroup and refuel before advancing to Yakoulevo.

I have now established air supremacy, but valuable ground targets are well protected by the enemy under AA umbrellas.
Only soft targets or weaker armor can be hit without risking damage to the planes.

General Alsenor is wrecking havoc with the mighty Russian air force but has been keeping his armor units out of the battle for now so Knightmare is having to move tentavly in order to avoid getting strung out.
German armor struck out for Yakoluevo but blitzted east across the river to flank 2 heavy tank 41s but decided to assault Yasnya Polyarna.

The pincer operation is progressing to our satisfaction, and it looks like the enemy is still not concerned with the weak defenses Belograd was left with.

In the shot (above left) you see the western pincer group, after wiping out the Stug plus infantry north of the river, then crossing south out of reach of the panthers on their way to Belograd.
The screen shot next to it shows the southern pincer of two tanks backing up infantry already in contact with weak defenders of Belograd, on retreat to the city while being strafed by fighters and one TB.

Below shows progress of both flanking moves, and infantry pursuing defenders into city.

The Russians blindsided axis forces in Belograd but with fierce determination and reinforcements of antitank units Knightmares Germans might be able to hold them off.
Elsewhere eastern group continues there assault on Podyarugy, overwhelming entrenched guards units and aand seizing the flag and badly needed prestige points. Heavy armor clashed north east of Yakoulevo in response to the assault on Belograd.

This was only the first half of the duel, which can still be won by either player.
Knowing that knightmare is a very competitive player, and not used to defeat, he will do everything in his power to repair the damage done so far.
He is now facing the task of a brilliant victory in ten turns or less.

Second half of the duel is played by Alsenor as Germans, and knightmare as Russians.

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The two screenshots show my positions after the initial opening moves in turn 1.
As you can see, I am somewhat conservative in my approach.

Make no mistake about it Gen Alsenor is a deadly mofo he started this battle out very conservative moving north with the center group as I was setting up for a counterattack south of Belograd, then on his second turn I realized his center group is the entire massive German armored machine coming at me. Knightmares commanders are working furiosly in a very deep bunker to devise a plan to attack this awesome display of force.

Above mentioned center group in full pursuit...

Alsenor / report 2b / German side (attacking)

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Alsenor / report 2c / German side (attacking)

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The expected assault on Belograd comes from east across the river, but does not yet present a big threat due to the four gun positions in the city.

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The air support to the fight for the bridge may put the Russian air force at risk of losing superiority. Having lost one fighter to ground fire at Belograd on the previous turn, and the lead fighter taking some damage on his ground attack here, he was crippled further by the Luftwaffe 190-a fighter.

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The main Panzergruppe rolls on without encountering serious opposition...

Alsenor / report 2d / German side (attacking)

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The main tank force of the Russians is making a showing in an attempt to break across the river, but their spearheads could not clear the bridges and became easy prey (left).
The German Panzer group can now afford to detach three panthers and send them east behind enemy lines to fall into the Russians armor's rear (middle).
The assault on Belograd seems to lack back-up by either armor or artillery, and should present no danger to the defenders (right).

knightmare / report 2 / Russian side (defending)

The General took the bait, Knightmare's Forces Feinted an attack force against Alsenors forces in the center group and the General responded with an all out force against them,Phase two was to move my center group and evacuate troops in an all out rout to further string out Alsenors army. While all of this was going down I swung all of my armor around the east side of the river to assault the enemys positions west of the river Alsenor replied with a very strong defensive position wich I was able to penetrate and solidify ground gained west of the river. Knightmare started out the assault with preempted strikes with heavy bomber raids against infs on the other side of the bridge north of Belograd then followed up with t-34 attack against same troops still in shock from bombers and overrun positions there then moved up heavy kv-41 and engaged antitank units and a light tank backing up infs after destroying the stugs and severly damaging the tank forcing it to retreat another t-34 moves up to complete the breakthru and overrun the damaged tank. once breakthru was complete t-34's and multiple guards units solidified ground gained on the west side of the river.

I don't really know what the bait was, but the heroic maneuver across the bridge brought most of the Russian armor into view and will shorten the battle.
Although the damage sustained by the Germans during that breakthrough was greater than it should have been, it has little strategic consequence.
The remaining two Russian bombers are now without fighter escort and will be vulnerable to serious damage, while the full TB force of the Germans can operate at will.
At Belograd the Russian infantry continues to impale itself on the defending gun barrages, without much hope of entering the city.