A snapshot AAR

[gingerbread]

Rifle Corps are overpowered compared to history due to the way they are formed. The TOE is for 5 RB, but if the player uses 3 full strength RD to form the RC, it will have 9 RB initially. The 9RB TOE starts with the 42c version.

Attackers are favoured due to the possible extra x2 CV. I think Soviet players are attacking more outside the Blizzard now compared to before since it has been shown to work. But it does cost casualties, so the challenge for the Axis is to cause enough so that the Soviets can't afford any more from any of their own attacks. Interesting dynamics.

The quality of the Soviet formations should if anything be worse in this version due to the NM training cap. I honestly thought that this change would make more of a difference than shown in this game. The 2 frogs game shows a different outcome, but I can't tell how much the training cap was a factor.

[timmyab]

The Kalinin battle is a good illustration of the kind of thing that is making the game fubar. Initial odds are not far off 1:3 and the Soviet leader is inferior to his German counterpart. The unit in Kalinin has every advantage and a retreat result should be extremely unlikely, maybe 20-1 or something. Basically this attack should cause mass Soviet casualties and little else.

[Tarhunnas]

The initial odds against the defense value of the German unit was 1 to 3, but you have to count on that the fortification level will fall one or two levels. Even so, this was a very lucky combat, and it would normally not have succeeded. However, one has to take some chances as the Soviet. Some attacks will be bloody failures, and some will get lucky. Of my attacks in the Northern sector, three succeeded and three failed miserably. This one was the least likely to succeed I think.

As I said above, I agree that Soviet offensive capabilities seem exaggerated at this stage of the war, though I would not go so far as to call it fubar.

Below a map of Soviet advances in the Moscow sector.

[Tarhunnas]

In other developments on turn 54, the Germans make a breakthrough in a southerly direction towards the Donbass, apparently aiming for the coast. This could have been dangerous, almost cutting off two Soviet fronts. However, determined resistance by Soviet forces manage to slow the attackers down.

There was a shock army as backup to the line and also a couple of tank corps and cavalry divisions. It seems to have been just enough, but it was a close escape.

Map before Soviet moves.

[swkuh]

That's an amazing breakthrough... waiting to see your response. Wondering how timmytab prepared this operation undetected?

Myself, I always go for the limited gain rather than the maximum possible when an opportunity presents.

[Tarhunnas]

It wasn't exactly undetected. I knew where the main Panzer force was, and it was one of several possible attack directions. It is hard to guard against them all, but I tried to have a defense in depth in the most likely directions. It seems I managed just barely to be strong enough in this direction, but I still didn't expect he could strike this deep through a five hexes thick carpet with a shock army as the last layer.

I will not show the map after Soviet moves yet for reasons of operational security, but I am definitely not completely off the hook, and the Germans might well bag substantial forces.

[Tarhunnas]

Here is a map after Soviet moves. A somewhat precipitate withdrawal and a fairly decent front is formed north of the Black Sea shore.

[Tarhunnas]

Unfortunately, it is not solid enough! The Germans cut right through seven hexes deep formations and reach the sea, cutting off five or six armies!

This is a disaster which I am not sure I can recover from. Possibly, the campaign was decided this turn!

Map before Soviet moves.

[M60A3TTS]

I've seen something like this before. [;)]

ORIGINAL: Tarhunnas

Turn 67. September 24 1942.

1st and 4th Panzer Armies have battled their way to the suburbs of Stalingrad.

Meanwhile, 2d Panzer Army breaks through to the west, encircling Rostov to the north and south. Once the start to meneuver, the Soviet forces in the Donbass seem like an empty shell, they are falling apart. Hungarian armor break through in the north, while 11th Army makes a break in the front at Stalino. Here resistance is stubborn however, and there is no breakthrough to contact 2d Panzer Army.

[Tarhunnas]

Hehe, history tends to repeat itself. But I think Soviet recuperative Powers were greater in the game version at that time, and the German Arm shortage was biting harder. So I am not sure I will be able to recover like Gids did in that game.

[loki100]

ouch, does make pushing much past the Mius in the Winter Offensive very unattractive

Is there anything you can do to take advantage that all the Axis mobile units are on one sector?

[Tarhunnas]

ORIGINAL: loki100

ouch, does make pushing much past the Mius in the Winter Offensive very unattractive

Well, it was not the Winter offensive that was at fault, I should have withdrawn more. I did pull back, and I did backup my line as much as I could, but it wasn't enough. And the breakthrough was very well performed by timmyab!

ORIGINAL: loki100
Is there anything you can do to take advantage that all the Axis mobile units are on one sector?

I am attacking wherever practicable on the rest of the front (and in some unpracticable locations to vent frustration) but even though I am succesful in pushing back the Germans a hex here and there, it will not make any difference in the short term.

[Gabriel B.]

ORIGINAL: Tarhunnas

ORIGINAL: loki100

ouch, does make pushing much past the Mius in the Winter Offensive very unattractive

Well, it was not the Winter offensive that was at fault, I should have withdrawn more. I did pull back, and I did backup my line as much as I could, but it wasn't enough. And the breakthrough was very well performed by timmyab!

ORIGINAL: loki100
Is there anything you can do to take advantage that all the Axis mobile units are on one sector?

I am attacking wherever practicable on the rest of the front (and in some unpracticable locations to vent frustration) but even though I am succesful in pushing back the Germans a hex here and there, it will not make any difference in the short term.

In long term the advantage is that the axis southern wing is geting atrited fighting for terrain that is dificult to hold .

I would start striping the soviet northern wing now for reserves, you have little to loose and it is
very hard to dislodge the germans from there .

[jwolf]

ORIGINAL: Tarhunnas


and in some unpracticable locations to vent frustration

Heh. I always like to see the human element at play. [:)]

Timmyab's mech units are beaten up a lot, BUT they have excellent mobility and that seems to be the key. As long as he stays close to the front he can try to pocket bits of your line, rolling from south to north and stay in pretty good supply, with high MP, all the time.

It's still very impressive that he was able to cut through your thick carpet like that. Dare I ask -- can you break open the pocket?

[STEF78]

You're badly wounded.

Maybe you should have sacrified half a dozen of Inf Div to keep the ZOC and prevent GHC Inf to move freely and attack your first line.

These armies are now lost. Time to give ground?

The best protection for SHC against pzd/mot are the major rivers because of the number of MP's required to cross.

[Tarhunnas]

Here is a map of the front after Soviet moves Turn 57.

The Hitleists have continued their advance after mopping up the trapped armies at the shores of the Sea of Azov.

They have also launched a subsidiary attack south of Voronezh and once again crossed the Don, apparently to cut the railroad.

[Tarhunnas]

Losses and OOB after the recent debacles.

[STEF78]

Not sure that dividing his Pzg is a good idea

If I was your opponent I would try a Pocket coming from Vornezh in the north, Vorochilovgrad from the South and closing in Boguchar

[jwolf]

ORIGINAL: STEF78

Not sure that dividing his Pzg is a good idea

If I was your opponent I would try a Pocket coming from Vornezh in the north, Vorochilovgrad from the South and closing in Boguchar

Agreed, but maybe Timmyab's strategy is to secure the Donets river first to hold his southern flank? Just my speculation.

[timmyab]

The Soviets persist with their interminable airbase bombing campaign. I sometimes wonder if it's a good policy.