The Thrilla on the Dnepr - a '41 GC

[jasonbroomer]

T7

While this was a relatively quiet turn with rain affecting much of the front, the Soviets still suffered terrible losses (140k). Vet's strategy of retreat, panzers hitting the retreated units and then routing them is very difficult to counter. I shall do my best

IN the north, we continue to rush reserves to the sector. I do not want Leningrad to fall although I fear that I under defended it earlier and now the Luga line is becoming breached.

T7 North Eot rushing reserves.png (3.13 MiB) Viewed 1962 times

In the centre, we muster our forces and just manage to succeed in pushing back two motorised divisions left in the open. I doubt we would have attempted it if the Axis had a better leader in charge.

T7 Smolensk successful but expensive.png (4.83 MiB) Viewed 1962 times

Worryingly, this victory came at a heavy cost to the Soviets. We rejig formations to form a new line we fresh troops but Bryansk defences begin to be re-transferred to the Leningrad front

T7 Moscow Eot some concern.png (3.26 MiB) Viewed 1962 times

[jasonbroomer]

T7 South

We begin to reorientate our defences away from Kharkov towards Stalino

T7 Kharkov Eot planning to flip to Stalino.png (2.89 MiB) Viewed 1959 times

We know that Vet has two FBDs (at least) in the south and has some serious troops in the sector. We can't realistically delay at Kharkov and Stalino, so we must choose where to make our stand. We have invested (wasted?) a lot of APs in building these fortifications here. Perhaps they have slowed the Axis advance by a turn or two but frankly this is inconsequential given the speed of Vet's advance. Nevertheless we retain sufficient troops to keep Kharkov for a turn or two more. Hopefully our 'arrowhead' of dug in cavalry will be enough to stall any attempt to storm the city.

We had also planned to defend Kherson (Vet managed to secure a bridgehead over the Dnepr) but we discover that we cannot do naval transport with the Axis ZOC over the ferry hex, so there will be no chance to evacuate if the units are isolated. What a pain! So we hurriedly pull back to the Crimea entrance defences which are not yet complete...

T7 Crimea Eot falling back.png (1.8 MiB) Viewed 1959 times

[jasonbroomer]

T8

A further turn of bruising attacks, whatever we do it does little to stem the causalities. Anyway we react with a couple of counterattacks which lifts moral at Stavka a little.

Here in the Kalinin woods we spot a regiment deployed on its own

T8 Warning Vet that regiments will not be tolerated.png (3.02 MiB) Viewed 1895 times

Pulling off troops from nearby guard duty may make them slightly more vulnerable but I want to send a clear message that regiments are targets that will be hit. Hopefully this will force him to use divisions for picket duty.

In the south, Vet has bypassed the main Kharkov defences to gain a bridgehead over the major river. This makes Kharkov untenable. We do have enough troops in the area though to push back the bridgehead

T8 Abandoning Kharkov to do this attack.png (1.82 MiB) Viewed 1895 times

Trashing 2 panzer divisions in the process. This means that we have to give up Kharkov entirely but the attack makes me happy.

Unfortunately, in the Crimea we made an unforced error and Vet managed to pull off the following manoeuvre

T8 Crimea.png (1.8 MiB) Viewed 1895 times

I don't have an image of the resulting position but it trapped 3 divisions (my first pocket since the opening). While Vet's continuous retreat and then rout tactics is dispiriting (and seemingly unstoppable), this is what I consider my first self inflicted mistake in the game. I seriously misjudged the speed that Vet's panzer (based hidden somewhere off the front line) would be able to traverse a major river and two marsh hexes (albeit with admin movement) and then cover the distance and cross a minor river and pull off a hasty attack into my level 3 fort. Clearly I needed to garrison it with 3 divisions and not a single one but I was over focused on digging in elsewhere.

My troops were so disposed to ensure that Axis infantry would not be in a position to assault my first level 3 fort until next turn. This fine, aggressive push by Vet coupled with my inability to defend Kherson as I had imagined, has left my plans for the defence of the Crimea in tatters. To paraphrase Mike Tyson, plans doesn't survive a smack in the face.

I am forced to merge one of the unready divisions in the pocket to enable me to hit the panzers. This attack, while futile may slow them a little. Any thoughts of defending the Crimea are now abandoned and we accelerate the fortification of Kerch and begin to pull back our forces.

[Veterin]

I wasn't 100% sure that would create a pocket at Perekop. When i hovered over Perekop hex and the hex directly east to it, it did look like it was "Impassable" terrain. I've been trapped previously near Kherson from impassable terrain (was one of my soviet games vs you).

1.png (251.09 KiB) Viewed 1865 times

My panzers had a full turn of resting whilst my infantry flipped hexes and formed a bridgehead (for admin movement). Cant recall what my MPs were but they were full CPP and fuel would have been good too given a turn of no movement.

[jasonbroomer]

I wasn't 100% sure that would create a pocket at Perekop. When i hovered over Perekop hex and the hex directly east to it, it did look like it was "Impassable" terrain. I've been trapped previously near Kherson from impassable terrain (was one of my soviet games vs you).

1.png

My panzers had a full turn of resting whilst my infantry flipped hexes and formed a bridgehead (for admin movement). Cant recall what my MPs were but they were full CPP and fuel would have been good too given a turn of no movement.

Yeah, it's blocked and those troops were pocketed. In a more recent game I was attacked via this hex (to my surprise), it was winter so perhaps this impassible hex freezes over - something that I have not seen elsewhere. This game is such a mystery.

[jasonbroomer]

T9 Leningrad

Vet continues to butcher his way through my defences. Irritatingly he uses the minimum of force to dislodge a stack of three divisions from their strong point

T9 3 Axis divisions taking out Soviet strongpoint.png (1.18 MiB) Viewed 1607 times

While the Soviet losses in this battle were relatively modest, note that a mere 3 Axis divisions were required for this role (plus lots of artillery and pioneers and Model), and then the panzers were called up to massacre the retreaters

T9 Massacre in second line.png (1.49 MiB) Viewed 1607 times

Quite simply, 30k losses from a single attack is just game ending for the Soviets at this stage.

What has happened is that two of these divisions were retreated into the the hex to the rear. I had hoped that the 265th would have dug in into the light woods in this hex but it had not the time to do so. While the 290th and 268th were solid Soviet formations (50 morale and exp) and commanded by one of the strongest leaders the Soviets have, the retreat caused their morale to plummet so when the panzers hit, they were devastated.

Evidently my defences so far have been as effective as the fire safety officer at a bond villain lair.

The Narva line was also breached, leaving my defences of Leningrad in tatters. This being mid August, I really don't see how I can hope to hold onto the city. I am beginning to fortify the rough ground to the south of the city, while these two hexes can act as speed bump, I just don't have the manpower to block the Axis advance.

Anyway we shore up the line with whatever resources we can find to fling into it

T9 Leningrad.png (2.67 MiB) Viewed 1607 times

We have recaptured whatever ground we can. In the highlighted hex, we have placed a disposable brigade plus a couple of spam HQs (useless army HQs or air HQs). This means that the solid 8=27 division in the front line cannot retreat to this open hex. If attacked it will probably fall back to the adjacent hex, where 2 solid divisions are preparing in heavy woods. This I hope will be more robust.

To the west, we continue to man the Narva banks for a further turn but pull in the weak divisions that we had guarding the stretch of front north of Pskov. Defending the Narva may gain us a little more time.

[821Bobo]

Yes, during winter impassable river hexsides become frozen and allow movement/attacking(ice lvl 5 for minor and 8 for major river).

[jasonbroomer]

Yes, during winter impassable river hexsides become frozen and allow movement/attacking(ice lvl 5 for minor and 8 for major river).

Ty

[jasonbroomer]

T9 Centre

We have now given up any hope of defending Byansk, which means that my whole front can be outflanked from the south. Thankfully I know that Vet is not running supply via Gomel (only one FBD is in the centre), so this is Axis of advance is unlikely. Our main defences continue to lie on the Mscow-Smolensk main road.

T9 Centre.png (3.06 MiB) Viewed 1602 times

I can't help resist retaking the ground circled, this may slow the Axis advance slightly. My main concern is the path to Kaluga, I have marshalled three defensive lines of varying strength. If he breaks through here, my defences on the main road can be out flanked. While these three lines can be now outflanks from the south, it will take considerable time for Vet to do this.


In the south, Vet is now across the Don, south of Kharkov

T9 Bombers massacred but at least admin movement removed.png (1.8 MiB) Viewed 1602 times

Last turn's successful counterattack has drained our formations CPP so we can't repel the crossing again, so we send in our bombers to interdict this hex. Losses were high and the effects modest - but this is the Soviet way

T9 South.png (2.2 MiB) Viewed 1602 times

Meanwhile, we pull back to our prepared Stalino defences

[jasonbroomer]

T9 Crimea

Following the debacle of the two turns ago, any hopes of defending the isthmus have vanished so we delay while Kerch is fortified. A token division to sent to Sevastapol, which will at least distract a few Axis divisions

T9 Crimea.png (1.35 MiB) Viewed 1595 times

This was a horrid turn

T9 Ouch.png (358.43 KiB) Viewed 1595 times

Our losses up to this turn were unsustainable. The additional 200k on top of these must surely spell the end.

[Shupov]

We know that Vet has two FBDs (at least) in the south and has some serious troops in the sector.

How are you determining where the FBDs are?

[jasonbroomer]

We know that Vet has two FBDs (at least) in the south and has some serious troops in the sector.

How are you determining where the FBDs are?

I spotted one branching south SE from BL on turn 1. Epic use of air recon in my view. I doubt very much that this FBD has been diverted towards the centre.

[jasonbroomer]

T10

Vet undertakes some brutal herding activity, which are followed up by a panzer attack

T10 brutal herding 1.png (2.07 MiB) Viewed 1413 times

While I feel that the the resulting massacre is somewhat acceptable in this situation, this next example appears just ridiculous

T10 brutal herding 2.png (2.24 MiB) Viewed 1413 times

Herding Soviet divisions out towards the Axis front lines into the open, where they are duly immolated just feels too extreme. Losing 30k troops is just a catastrophic result for a single 'minor' battle for the Soviets. Sadly I have been consistently hammered this way through the game

T10 Losses.png (818.18 KiB) Viewed 1413 times

Outside of the initial pockets, only 20k of these losses came about through isolation. Running at 100k+ losses per turn is not sustainable for the Soviets

[jasonbroomer]

T10

To cap it all, I blunder my all or nothing counterattack at Stalino

T10 Whoops.png (1.5 MiB) Viewed 1408 times

Running preparatory hasties in advance of the hammer blow, I forget the rule change that prevents further attacks on a hex with 9+ combat delay, so I don't even get chance to launch the main attack. Perhaps a good thing as the chances of success were pretty low!

At this stage I throw in the towel, I can't say that I was enjoying the game and the situation was hopeless. The Soviets simply do not have the manpower to deal with a Rovno pocket on turn 1 and a persistent battering thereafter. Having to deal with the threat of herding and deep thrusts which open up isolations is too demanding for any Soviet defence, especially if the turn 1 pockets are a tight as good Axis players are managing.

Oddly enough I believe the real game imbalance is caused by rout losses caused by German motorised elements. In my concurrent (and ongoing game) versus HLYA, I am finding that herding is not actually required. Single, well supplied swipes at Soviet formations, in level 1 forts or below, by motorised Axis just cause so much damage that the Soviet OoB can never really gain a foothold materially above 3m before the mud sets in.

Regardless, I consider myself pretty well versed in this game and was thoroughly crushed by Vet. So well played him.

I am not an expert in Soviet play but hopefully this AAR provides some useful insights on what to do and not do when playing them. I made various mistakes in this game, most noticeably, I was a turn too late in getting my defences in the north in place.

Some things that I have observed playing the Soviets in this game

• Get the Luga line fortified in depth as a priority from t1.

• Do not place weak formations on the front line (moral or exp <50). Use them to dig in the rear while training them up (refit). I wonder if it would be best just to disband poor formations for their manpower. A green untrained division of 7k is no better than a trained 1k formation. Think very hard about sacrificing units with lots of manpower in them.
  The Soviets have only a few good units, get them blocking the critical approach routes.

• Motorised units take fewer retreat losses. Bear this in mind.

• The best way to train your troops is to win battles

• Place your defensive lines a turn before they are needed. Units with any fatigue suffer horrific retreat losses.

• I spent a lot of time in this game assigning troops in front lines to my best leaders. The malus for fighting with units that have just being assigned to a new army appear significant. Newly assigned SUs rarely deploy, troops don't get the full benefit of better leaders if they are newly assigned. Plan in advance.

• Soviet FZ can have 3 units assigned to them, not just one. Doh!