Power of the Dark Side, Stephan61[A] vs Stamb[S]

[Stamb]

In the same turn, which is turn 7, Kiev fall to direct attack.



This was my mistake of leaving only 1 division there. I thought high CV and potential hold (with big losses, as i still did not get used to new changes) will prevent Stephan from making an attack.

[Stamb]

Also there was siege of Smolensk.


I already commented this battle in this thread:
https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... 6#p4989666
No point to repeat it here.

[Stamb]

This is turn summary for the start of turn 7. Almost no problems with a trucks in a units. I disbanded all motorized engineers and many other units already during first few turns. To get more trucks ASAP and to save some much needed manpower.


And this is OOB:

[Stamb]

After seeing MSAG's thread and reading how experience affects units performance i was trying not to deploy low exp division on a map. Each turn i was refitting 8-10 divisions with a max TOE set to 100% in reserve and then deploying it to map. I think i did not deploy a single division with an exp of lower than 42 or at least 40.

The disadvantage is that units come with 0 CPP and i had and still have (i am at t9 now) problems with support units in an armies. But i will eliminate it soon.

[loki100]

Hugely judgemental but given how morale interacts with TOE and the risk of a retreat becoming a rout, I'd keep them out the line till at least 45 experience. Much under that and you simply give up artillery etc. On the other side, try to keep TOE>60, but this is not easy as the pressure builds, but again it avoids free routs and some shatters

[Stamb]

Militia is prone to a routes because of a poor TOE which is typically only men and few machine guns. But as you wrote - I am trying to get exp as high as i can before deploying units on a map. For example on t9 it will be units with a 46 or 44 morale.

But even without a pockets it is hard to have strong defense while trying to defend whole front. I hope pressure will not increase in the next turns, and it will only go down due an Axis CPP loss + fatigue build up.

[Stamb]

I wanted to show full map but then i realized that i will need too wait too long to show it without a fear that my opponent might benefit from it.
Thus only frontline and maybe a couple of hexes will be shown.

North:
We can see his mobile forces near Pskov.
Also Totenkopf is here and not near Narva river when it was before.
I was also able to push some unit back and as as result isolate and route mot regiment or division.

n.png.png (1.66 MiB) Viewed 976 times

Valdai path:

valdai.png (3.2 MiB) Viewed 976 times

[Stamb]

Smolensk VP bonus is gone thus is decided to fall back. Unfortunately no trash units to leave in a city for a last stand.

smolensk.png (3.25 MiB) Viewed 974 times

Road to Kursk - it is defended. But can not show it

kursk.png (2.91 MiB) Viewed 974 times

[Stamb]

And this is eastern Ukraine defense. Note that ID is isolated with a help of a cavalry. No supplies for them on the next turn.

eastern Ukraine.png (1.75 MiB) Viewed 973 times

And OOB:

oob.png (2.49 MiB) Viewed 973 times

[Stamb]

This is Smolensk are on turn 9
Das Reich that was participating in a battles on previous turns is trying to push our brave defenders. Fortunately SS division is pretty exhausted in terms of CPP and minor river also help us to repel this attack.

das reich across minor river.png (1.03 MiB) Viewed 970 times

In our action phase we can see low CVs for an IDs.
Should we attack them or its a bait with reserve activation?

to attack or not to attack.png (794.11 KiB) Viewed 970 times

Is it possible that 2 German infantry divisions have only 5 CV on a map already on turn 9 or it is just a recon mistake?
Thankfully we have cavalry division nearby to make a hasty attack and figure out approximate power of this divisions.

scout attack.png (1.11 MiB) Viewed 970 times

32 and 31 in battle CV is not good for a Germans.

Time for real attack:

real attack.png (883.81 KiB) Viewed 970 times

[Stamb]

And attack on that 5=5 regiments to the north from Smolensk

another attack.png (869.67 KiB) Viewed 967 times

[Stamb]

In the south enemy leaves a gap between units which is immediately exploited by our cavalry units. I like cavalry!
Also one of the best commanders is in charge of 32nd army now.
It is time for a great battles:

mot routed.png (4.57 MiB) Viewed 962 times

Also we make hasty attack again, with our lovely cavalry, to verify true strength of a unit.
And we attack again.

panzer routed.png (4.47 MiB) Viewed 962 times

Panzer losses

panzer losses.png (4.1 MiB) Viewed 962 times

It is quite funny for me that it is August `41 and i, as a Soviet player, is actually doing routes on units in the South that met minimal resistance on their way to a D, Z cities.
Only some cavalry and under strength divisions were on their way.

[Stamb]

T10.
There is almost no actions in the North. Only a couple of attacks here and there to push me back. Nothing worth showing.

In the Center there is a great hold. I find it very strange that division that was participating in a battle from a reserve activation is not actually benefiting from a terrain, as it should according to a manual and simple logic, and that is why is contributing only 34 CV to a battle.

great hold.png (1.42 MiB) Viewed 954 times

Also i see low CV unit again. Now only 3 CV. Should be a free win for our divisions, right?
No. Motorized division comes into play.

great bait.png (1.14 MiB) Viewed 954 times

[Stamb]

In the Center with a help of airborne brigade and cavalry, Soviets best unit, we isolate RFSS brigade and force it to retreat. Now it is stacked with SS cavalry brigade. And still isolated.
So if we win this battle - both of this units route.
And we won it!

center.png (3.96 MiB) Viewed 947 times

[Stamb]

South.
Cavalry and airborne brigades with a support of rifle divisions act in a team and allow to push back Axis allies.
This is the first time when i actually make deliberate attack with an airborne brigades.
But this is Axis allies, why not?

air borne brigades in action.png (1.77 MiB) Viewed 943 times

[Stamb]

Did i tell already that i like cavalry?

cavalry rocks!.png (1.12 MiB) Viewed 941 times

But you know what i like more than a cavalry? It is Axis allies. When i was playing as an Axis - it was a pure suffering with such "allies". Both vs AI and vs human.
But now they are against me.
Or maybe they are actually Soviet allies?
Well, if you are a simple player than you might look on their CV and thing that they are pretty good. As pretty often, especially with CPP they look pretty mighty.

But it is an illusion. In my opinion, and opinion of most pvp players, they are useless. Their CV will drop drastically in most of the fights. Fortunately i am a Soviet player so i can enjoy their performance.
Crossed major river and had no MP to make deliberate attack. Had enough MP for a hasty one. But it is enough. Even lvl 1 fortification does not help them.

romanians CV is an illusion.png (1.76 MiB) Viewed 941 times

[Stamb]

By sneaking around with a cavalry i got a report that some German general was killed in action.

killed in the south.png (415.53 KiB) Viewed 938 times

[Stamb]

But we have much more cavalry nearby and gaps in enemy lines.
There is no time to think what do to.
It is time to exploit this gaps!

setup in the south.png (1.01 MiB) Viewed 937 times

[Stamb]

And then just attack that units with our forces near Poltava.
If we win a battle - they route 100%

Also there was panzer division stacked with a HQ 9=9 on map CV.
I decided to attack it with a hope to kill another leader. I thought that there is Model.

was it worth it.png (4.79 MiB) Viewed 935 times

Unfortunately leader of that HQ survived.

[Stamb]

After that i decided to continue this party and attacked rest of Romanian forces.

axis allies 1st part.png (4.87 MiB) Viewed 932 times

Almost 100% TOE lost. Isn't it beautiful?

axis allies 2nd part.png (4.86 MiB) Viewed 932 times