Back in the East STEF78 (Axis) Oshawott (USSR)

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Sun May 11, 2014 7:32 am

While reading the Oshawott's AAR, I decided to give the german point of view of this campaign.

I prepared a global map turn 25 but overwrote it stupidly[:(]

As we play mild blizzard VC260, my aim is to win in 1942. My goals for 1941 were:
- taking Leningrad... I needed one more turn
- creating a buffer in the South and in the Center. That's the only reason of the late attacks on Rjevh and VK
- inflict dignicant damages to the red army. I heavily failed to achieve this goal. Russian's losses are very low.

Oshawott's was very keen on counterattacks but failed on 2 points:
- he didn't create a strong defence around Leningrad
- he didn't use partisans efficiently

But he globaly won the first set of the match.

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Sun May 11, 2014 7:41 am

Waiting for the blizzard....

focus on 3 sectors:

Leningrad
6 russians divs are surrounded and he will try to free them. I will use the finns to hold the line.

Smolensk

It will obviously be one the the major axis of attacks of USSR during blizzard

Donetsk

I didn't take the city which would have act as an anchor during the blizzard.

Crimea isn't a concern anymore. I've frozen the russians in this area.

bigbaba · Post by **bigbaba** » Sun May 11, 2014 11:10 am

ou realy want to stay and fight where you are mate?:) i would prefer falling back at least in december and prepare a fort line , lets say, 6-8 hexes behind the front. in january, when the blizzard shock is gone you can stop falling back and defending.

it's realy a risk to fight such a strong red army with so few loses head on in december.

at least we get some action wher you decide to stay and fight.

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Sun May 11, 2014 11:17 am

ORIGINAL: bigbaba

ou realy want to stay and fight where you are mate?:) i would prefer falling back at least in december and prepare a fort line , lets say, 6-8 hexes behind the front. in january, when the blizzard shock is gone you can stop falling back and defending.

it's realy a risk to fight such a strong red army with so few loses head on in december.

at least we get some action wher you decide to stay and fight.

I will fight north of Kaluga and retreat South. You can't hold the line in clear terrain.

But before retreating, I will use my double line of fortification and try to earn 1 or 2 turns.

In fact I've begun ti build a second defence line Briansk - Kursk - karkhov

My main concern is the Soviet cavalry corps. They are really nasty.

bigbaba · Post by **bigbaba** » Sun May 11, 2014 11:25 am

ah didnt saw the 2nd defensive belt. and indeed russian cavalery is a nightmare in december espacialy when he uses his bombers and transporters to provide supply to the cavalery corps and increase their movement speed.

Oshawott · Post by **Oshawott** » Sun May 11, 2014 11:07 pm

espacialy when he uses his bombers and transporters to provide supply to the cavalery corps and increase their movement speed.

I am not actually doing this. I use bombers for bombing units. I think this is the intended purpose. [:D]

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Mon May 12, 2014 2:11 pm

Turn 26, 11th december 1941

A view of the northern part of the front. The line holds except in the Rjevh sector where I give ground. 2 divs were surrounded but rescued. Leningrad won't be liberated easily.

And mild blizzard allows some successfull counterattacks

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Wed May 14, 2014 6:04 pm

Turn 27, 18th december 1941

Heavy pressure on the Smolensk area. Oshawott managed to trap 2 Inf Div and set 2 Cav Corps (CV 6) to complete the encirclement.

I sent Von Manstein as head of the Kampfgruppe and make a huge effort to free them.

The odd is 2.1/1. YYYEESSS!!!! [;)]

In the South, my line of forts is virtually destroyed, I fall back on my second line.

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Sun May 18, 2014 12:43 pm

Turn 28, 25th december 1941

I'm progressively earning experience as GHC [:D]

SHC attacks all along the front. I continue to give ground in the South.

At this time none of my units are on refit. My pools look good

Still able to counterattack and to free surrounded Inf divs another time.

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Fri May 23, 2014 6:23 pm

Turn 29, 1st january 1942

The worst part of my "garbage december 1941 CV" is behind me but I'm now out of my forts in several parts of the front.

I keep on counterattacking but I'm really not that strong

Interesting devlopment around Odessa. I have to reinforce this area. the cost will be the gates of crimea but the bad guys arrive fastly also from the east

jzardos · Post by **jzardos** » Tue May 27, 2014 2:13 pm

This is very grim for axis. Did you at least destroy lots of factories? Looks like Soviet player just ran away in summer 41?

loki100 · Post by **loki100** » Tue May 27, 2014 3:26 pm

in a way it looks like you are having a better blizzard than was to be expected given Oshawatt's excellent 1941 game.

While your manpower looks ok, the low number of tanks is going to be a problem ... hard to see how you can muster the strength to make a serious attack come the summer - but it'll be fun to watch [:)]

gingerbread · Post by **gingerbread** » Tue May 27, 2014 5:18 pm

Since it shows 145 ARM, it follows that you are seeing total Axis manpower in the pool. Do check the figures for Germany only.

It's not fun to bring bad news. The Hiwis should compensate.

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Tue May 27, 2014 5:28 pm

ORIGINAL: jzardos

This is very grim for axis. Did you at least destroy lots of factories? Looks like Soviet player just ran away in summer 41?

I didn't destroy lots of factories. Oshawott's defence was keen and agressive. He didn't just run away.

I'm not as pessimistic as you. Blizzard is always bad for GHC and I made some mistakes (or Oschawott used good tricks) but I'm fairly confident to be able to counterattack more agressively as soon as 1-1 = 2-1 is over.

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Tue May 27, 2014 5:31 pm

ORIGINAL: loki100

in a way it looks like you are having a better blizzard than was to be expected given Oshawatt's excellent 1941 game.

While your manpower looks ok, the low number of tanks is going to be a problem ... hard to see how you can muster the strength to make a serious attack come the summer - but it'll be fun to watch [:)]

We are end january and I didn't loose a single german regiment. The cost is that I gave him the opportunity to build lots of guards.

I don't think that my low tank pool is a problem. As already said, 1941's tanks are useless in 1943

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Tue May 27, 2014 5:33 pm

ORIGINAL: gingerbread

Since it shows 145 ARM, it follows that you are seeing total Axis manpower in the pool. Do check the figures for Germany only.

It's not fun to bring bad news. The Hiwis should compensate.

You're right, I already made the same mistake. I will check it next turn.

And thanks for the "bad news". It's better to know the truth than to have wrong datas!

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Tue May 27, 2014 5:38 pm

Turn 30, 8th january 1942

Same heavy pressure from SHC. I'm trying to use the cities as anchors and continue to counterattack as much as possible.

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Mon Jun 02, 2014 6:43 pm

Turn 31, 15th january 1942

Focus on the extreme South of the front. Oshawott sends more troops in Odessa and takes another port. I send 2 more Inf divs in the area.

Who is the mouse and who is the cat?

bigbaba · Post by **bigbaba** » Tue Jun 03, 2014 4:51 am

attacking out of crim paninsula isn't that easy for the red army. they don't have an intact railroad there if axis had captured crim previously and gave up the area in the blizzard. don't know if that is the case in this game.

if he nwas able to hold crim and therefore has an injtact rail supply there then you have a problem.[:)]

Oshawott · Post by **Oshawott** » Tue Jun 03, 2014 4:11 pm

@Bigbaba

Once the connection to the main rail system is cut the entire rail in the Crimea is useless. However, Yevpatoria is a port and can support a Russian attack out of Crimea to some extend.