2nd Edition Soviet Order of Battle

8th Army Non-Divisional Units
1-8 M/C III 1B:2121
3-2-8 Art X 1B:2020
0-1-5 Bdr III (NKVD) 1B:2223
0-1-5 Bdr III (NKVD) 1B:2423
2-6 Art X 1B:2523
2-6 Art X 1B:2323
2-3-8 AT X 1B:2323
1-6 Eng III 1B:2320
1-6 Lt AA III 1B:2220

11th Army Non-Divisional Units
3-2-8 Art X 1B:2722
0-1-5 Bdr III (NKVD) 1B:2622
0-1-5 Bdr III (NKVD) 1B:2819
2-6 Art X 1B:2822
1-6 Eng III 1B:2819
1-6 Lt AA III 1B:2919

27th Army Non-Divisional Units
2-6 Art X 1B:1812
2-6 Art X 1B:2008

Baltic MD Reserves
3-6* Rifle X 3 1B:0916
0-1-5 Bdr III (NKVD) 1B:0916

Baltic MD Non-Divisional Units
3-2-8 Art X 1B:2818
3-2-8 Art X 1B:2919
2-3-6 Art X 1B:2819
1-0-6 Sg Art III 1B:2512
1-6 Eng III 1B:1816
1-6 Lt AA III 1B:1816

Leningrad MD Reserves
6-6 Rifle XX 70 (w) 1B:1902
3-6 Rifle XX 191 1B:1705
8-4-8 Tk XX 3 2A:1031
4-8 Mot XX 163 2A:1031
1-8 M/C III 2A:1031
1-2-6 Para X 201 2A:1031
1-2-6 Para-Inf X 9 1B:1705

41st Rifle Corps
4-6 Rifle XX 111 1B:1806
4-6 Rifle XX 118 1B:1906
3-6 Rifle XX 235 1B:1904
2-6 Art X 1B:1905

Leningrad MD Non-Divisional Units
3-2-8 Art X 1B:1705
3-6 Art X 1B:1401
3-6 Art X 1B:1902
3-6 Art X 2A:1031
2-3-6 Art X 1B:1904
2-6 Art X 1B:1905
2-0-6 Sg Art X 2A:0931
1-6 Eng III 1B:1401
1-6 Lt AA III 1B:1401
0-1-5 Bdr III (NKVD) 1B:1905
0-1-5 Bdr III (NKVD) 1B:1905
0-1-5 Bdr III (NKVD) 1B:1705

Baltic Fleet
BB Okt Rev 2A:0931
BB Marat 2A:0931
CA Kirov 2A:0931
CA Gorkiy 2A:0931
(CA) Petropav. 2A:0931
CL Aurora 1B:1724
3-6* Marine X 1 2A:0931

Resource Points
RPs = 7 2A:1031

Antiaircraft Units
Pos AA (Lt) = 1 1B:1421
Pos AA (Lt) = 1 1B:1408
Pos AA (Lt) = 1 1B:1213
Pos AA (Lt) = 1 2A:1731
Pos AA (Lt) = 1 1B:1816
Pos AA (Hv) = 2 2A: 1030
Pos AA (Hv) = 2 2A:1031
Pos AA (Hv) = 2 2A:0931
Pos AA (Hv) = 2 2A:0832

Baltic Fleet Aviation
I-16 2A:0931
I-16 1B:0711
I-153 1B:1724
DB-3B 2A:0832
SB-2 1B:1421 

Leningrad/Northern Front VVS
MiG-3 1B:1401
Yak-1 1B:1902
I-153 1B:1705
Ar-2 2A:0931
SB-2 2A:0931

Leningrad PVO
LaGG-3 2A:1031
I-16 2A:1031
I-16 2A:1031
I-153 2A:1030
I-153 2A:1030

All Other Forces: As shown in the Soviet OB.

Dahman Commentary

Basically, I have set up the Baltic MD reserves in a forward fashion in an attempt to stall the initial Axis drive at Riga and Kaunas. Kaunas is invulnerable to attack during the surprise turn, while Riga can be attacked at best at 1.5:1 (+1). Even if successful, the units at 1B:1812 make this a shallow victory. The drawback to this deployment is that a well-planned attack can take out the frontier armies early, easily, and generally when isolated. But by shutting down Kaunas and Riga, no rail can be used during the regular June II turn past these points.

The Aurora is stationed at 1B:1724 as a distraction. It is my experience that it dies early anyway; this will force the Axis to attack it early, drawing off forces in the June II turn.

Fighters are stationed in the Leningrad MD to guard against harassment missions in the opening turn. The c/m units are stationed in Leningrad since they can use exploitation movement to reach the Pskov front, even if harassed.

I plan to use all available bombers to harass the rail lines for the July I turn. This means that few of the powerful German infantry divisions will be able to reach attack positions in the Pskov gap.

Judge's Verdict

There are very few differences between Sam's and Alan's deployments, which isn't surprising given their shared GEnie background.

Sam also deemphasizes Riga, although he opts for a 5-point defense. In the first edition of L41, losing Riga in the surprise turn could prove devastating. With the appearance in the second edition of a force in 1B:1812, such an event is not quite so threatening.

It isn't very likely that the German player will direct his main effort through Riga now. Thus, defending it lightly seems semi-safe. Beefing Riga up has its drawbacks, too-witness Ed Dickenson's attempt.

Perhaps the most exemplary aspect of Sam's deployment is the placement of the Leningrad MD non-divs near Pskov, right at the epicenter of future action. The Luftwaffe cannot interdict units that are already in position!

Sam's set up at Daugavpils, where he only has 2 strength points, caused me considerable pondering. The Germans will be able to see this before plotting their special operations prior to play. If a successful Panzer attack can be achieved against hex 1B:2719 in the surprise turn, and the Brandenburger II seizes the 1B:2612/2512 bridge in the regular turn, the stack in Daugavpils can be overrun. This might allow a few c/m units to make better-than-normal progress towards the Pskov gap.

I almost banished Sam to second place over this. However, such a German adventure has only about a 45% chance of success, and occupies the Burger from committing other, possibly more damaging, acts of mayhem elsewhere. After sleeping on it, I decided it just didn't offer the Germans a significant advantage. However, if you are the conservative type you can always finagle another strength point into Daugavpils from somewhere else.

Quibbles: I don't agree with sacrificing the Aurora.

Verdict: First Place (Tie)

Go ahead, call me a wimp! After considerable agonizing, I finally decided to declare Alan Tibbetts and Sam Dahman co-winners. Their set ups each had slightly different touches that I really liked, and there just wasn't enough justification to rank one superior to the other.

Europa Contest #1 Leningrad: 1941 Scenario

Randy Pukalo
David Jennings
Ed Dickenson
Alan Tibbetts
Sam Dahman