Zhukov's war

[Endsieg]

I guess you fellas never intended this game shud reach a climax  in 1941? and played accordingly.  KT skipping his opening move said  as much.  Where is the "fun" in that btw, if you're playing the Possum mod?
 
The German player being only at Smolensk on Aug 17, and then GrossDeutschland being retreated by the Sov as Tom reports...this all means you both want to play the Possum mod into 1943 if possible. Fine by me, but is this still a "game" or is it a "demonstration"

[DavidFaust]

24.8.41
Clear

The great Luftwaffe fought until they had no more machines left too fly. Missions are now limited to a much smaller scale until urgent repairs and refitting have been carried out.

We have under estimated the great bombing strength of the VVS and have suffered accordingly. Attempts to limit losses and provide better fighter protection has taken place.

All ground operations have come to a halt but preparations are taking place for offensive operations.

[Tom1939]

ORIGINAL: Endsieg

I guess you fellas never intended this game shud reach a climax  in 1941? and played accordingly.  KT skipping his opening move said  as much.  Where is the "fun" in that btw, if you're playing the Possum mod?

The German player being only at Smolensk on Aug 17, and then GrossDeutschland being retreated by the Sov as Tom reports...this all means you both want to play the Possum mod into 1943 if possible. Fine by me, but is this still a "game" or is it a "demonstration"

I did play kingtiger in a fair game before, and I got crushed. I guess it was no fun for him. So this time he gets his fun hopefully:)

I do not want to play until 43. I was given a big advantage, I want to crush the germans this winter. In 42 my advantage wil go away. Grossdeutschland has retreated because it was in a nearly empty panzer korps (not much in it besides them), with no air support. Red air force is absloutely brutal for this time, fighting the germans with ony 3 planes lost for 1 german. And numericaly the sky really becomes dark from them. This all happens because the skipped first turn.

[DavidFaust]

ORIGINAL: Endsieg

I guess you fellas never intended this game shud reach a climax  in 1941? and played accordingly.  KT skipping his opening move said  as much.  Where is the "fun" in that btw, if you're playing the Possum mod?

The German player being only at Smolensk on Aug 17, and then GrossDeutschland being retreated by the Sov as Tom reports...this all means you both want to play the Possum mod into 1943 if possible. Fine by me, but is this still a "game" or is it a "demonstration"

I knew I would have a very tough time playing against Tom and the VVS was my fear. I didnt expect it would happen so early. Tom got his fighter force exp up very quickly. I assure you that Im having alot of fun playing this game.

My expections for this game would of been close to historical advances with Germany getting close to there objectives but not capturing them. Looks like im falling behind and will fail here.

If I were to play this game again, I would play with rules to limmit the abality of the VVS to train there fighter wings up so fast. I was well aware this would happen so I have to deal with it

[DavidFaust]

I have approached a major cross road

These are my basic options

- Continue the advance expecting limited ground gains with high losses.
- Attack on a small scale with limited air support making good ground gains with moderate losses.
- Preserve my armored divisions for 42 summer operations
- Prepare defensive and winter positions
- Bulk up flak to protect my exposed korps

- Start air operations with the objective of clearing the skies
- Hold on air operations till the refitted fw109'a airwings are combat ready
- Limited air operations with the objective of disrupting Soviet air operations
- Resting all airwings for a decisive air battle in the future


Whats your thoughts and ideas?

[Tom1939]

ORIGINAL: kingtiger_501

I have approached a major cross road

These are my basic options

- Continue the advance expecting limited ground gains with high losses.
- Attack on a small scale with limited air support making good ground gains with moderate losses.
- Preserve my armored divisions for 42 summer operations
- Prepare defensive and winter positions
- Bulk up flak to protect my exposed korps

- Start air operations with the objective of clearing the skies
- Hold on air operations till the refitted fw109'a airwings are combat ready
- Limited air operations with the objective of disrupting Soviet air operations
- Resting all airwings for a decisive air battle in the future


Whats your thoughts and ideas?

Do I have a vote? [:D]

- continue to advance
- throw in the armor and try to get Moscow
- start air operations to clear the skies

[:)]

To be more serious, in your position I used to run for poland, but we are not on the same skill level. You might be able to stop me if blizzard comes, but I can hardly imagine how.

[Endsieg]

what's the situation on the Leningrad front? any chance KT can make an all-out effort to at least take that little gem (destroy the factories) ?
 
I've playtested Possum enough to know that by skipping 1st turn KT let Tom "keep" about 7000+ aircraft that he otherwise would have lost on opening turn airfield attacks+air combat.  I guess you didnt use the house rule prohibiting "rear-area" air transport missions.  That would explain Tom getting the VVS getting up to snuff so quickly, right?  I also think if you played using the house rule "max 4 fighter wings per combat HQ" the game would be different,  forcing both players to disperse air assets, reducing the role of airpower in general....though I know KT wont agree with me there [:)].
Did you guys use the rule limiting interdictions/airfield attacks to max 3/per turn/per target?
 
I know it's cheesey, but what if KT could use the "help Axis" function a few turns?

[Tom1939]

ORIGINAL: Endsieg

what's the situation on the Leningrad front? any chance KT can make an all-out effort to at least take that little gem (destroy the factories) ?

I've playtested Possum enough to know that by skipping 1st turn KT let Tom "keep" about 7000+ aircraft that he otherwise would have lost on opening turn airfield attacks+air combat.  I guess you didnt use the house rule prohibiting "rear-area" air transport missions.  That would explain Tom getting the VVS getting up to snuff so quickly, right?  I also think if you played using the house rule "max 4 fighter wings per combat HQ" the game would be different,  forcing both players to disperse air assets, reducing the role of airpower in general....though I know KT wont agree with me there [:)].
Did you guys use the rule limiting interdictions/airfield attacks to max 3/per turn/per target?

I know it's cheesey, but what if KT could use the "help Axis" function a few turns?

Possum map makes Lenningrad more easily defendeable. Not that easy to cut supply for all the northern defenders. I have 2 strong lines there, well entrenched. Possible but not easy.

We have a no rules game. You are right with aircraft number (plus 7000 aircraft is mighty, and I love to use it), and experience (last week when I deceided to use fighters to stop the Luftwaffe I deployed 30+ squadrons with most of them 70+ exp).

[Endsieg]

Tom,
 
there has got to be in Possum '41 a middle ground;  somewhere between Soviet being crushed, as you said, in a previous game; and the Axis player skipping his first turn with the consequences of an overly effective VVS by mid-Aug as we see in your present experiment,  totally paralyzing the Axis attack
Not allowing the "bulking" of PzKs with PzDivs and HQs with fighter wings could be the key to achieving some sort of unpredictable game balance between evenly matched, highly competent players.... dontcha think?

[DavidFaust]

ORIGINAL: Endsieg

Tom,

there has got to be in Possum '41 a middle ground;  somewhere between Soviet being crushed, as you said, in a previous game; and the Axis player skipping his first turn with the consequences of an overly effective VVS by mid-Aug as we see in your present experiment,  totally paralyzing the Axis attack
Not allowing the "bulking" of PzKs with PzDivs and HQs with fighter wings could be the key to achieving some sort of unpredictable game balance between evenly matched, highly competent players.... dontcha think?

I disagree with your ideas for play balance

The stacking rules deal with Korps stacking limits correctly
My 4 fighters in my Hq's had a hard time trying to bomb with 1 full strength Soviet fighter in defence.
I would say Tom had a Hq with 8-10 fighter airwings in it and I managed to bomb it.

Tom is not your average player either, his timming, setup and placement of the VVS has been brilliant

The middle ground in my option....

Germany skips 1st turn using the possum mod with a normal set of rules including limiting of air transport missions in the rear to gain exp. I would like to play test this with the mighty Josan. Me being Germany of course.

[Tom1939]

1941. 08. 24.

Seemingly the germans went home. The red air force reports extremely weak german corpses with small air support. Our only attack still failed.

Losses this week:

Axis/Soviet

352/88
28/30
121/12
146/279

Stavka

[Tom1939]

ORIGINAL: Endsieg

Tom,

there has got to be in Possum '41 a middle ground;  somewhere between Soviet being crushed, as you said, in a previous game; and the Axis player skipping his first turn with the consequences of an overly effective VVS by mid-Aug as we see in your present experiment,  totally paralyzing the Axis attack
Not allowing the "bulking" of PzKs with PzDivs and HQs with fighter wings could be the key to achieving some sort of unpredictable game balance between evenly matched, highly competent players.... dontcha think?

I think pssum is quite balanced if played with the normal set of house rules. But expert german players are always hard to stop in 41, even with possum. I do think this game will be very balanced if the germans survive the winter.

[DavidFaust]

31.8.41
Clear

A small blocking army has been created
Strong mobile troops positioned to min air attack and in a position to smash Soviet advancments. Mobile troops must be able to retreat to cover after they attack
A stronger air defence has been committed
Major reforming of fighter airwings
Forming and evaluating the winter campaign
Preparing for our 42 summer campaign

[Tom1939]

1941. 08. 31.
Clear

Fw's took over the air defence in the centre. We managed to succesfully bomb a german unit in our only air attack there, but the losses were horrible. We picked on some undefended troops after that. Our attacks failed again on the ground.

Losses this week:

Axis/Soviet

226/240
2/45
86/24
13/151

Stavka

[DavidFaust]

7.9.41
Clear

More Fw's have moved to the front to protect out troops. The VVS has retreated a large portion of her forces to Sibera and her forces on the front have pulled back slightly.

[Tom1939]

1941. 09. 07.
Clear

This fw's are small in number, but now there are some in the north as well. After one air mission against them we had enough. Back to training.


Losses this week:

Axis/Soviet

Aircraft: 11/74

Stavka

[DavidFaust]

14.9.41
Clear

German troops were sent to reinforce her allies assulting Odessa. The city fell.
Kiev has been assulted and a major portion of the city is in our hands, next week it will be in our hands.

The bulk of our Fw's have been committed to provide fighter defence on the Russian front.

[Tom1939]

1941. 09. 14.
Clear

The german surprise assault nearly captured Kiev. The understrength defenders fought with extreme bravery and stopped the enemy. One of the rifle divisions stopped the last german charge in brutal close combat just 200 meters from the river behind us. They lead the counterattack which forced back the germans 500 meters allowing us to send in reinforcements. The heroic rifle division lost half of it's men, but became the first of the new elite soviet fighting force, and it is now the the first guard division.

Saving Kiev is now the first priority. Central reserves for the planed great winter offense were used to send in reinforcements. The best of the best is now in Kiev, supported by the finest of our fighters. It might not be enough to save the city, but many german's will die to take it (many of them will be pilots).

Losses this week:

Axis/Soviet

53/107
4/4
15/9
0/2

Stavka

[DavidFaust]

21.9.41
Clear

The pen is mightier than the sword. After reading his report I bolted, lol

All troops and aircraft have retreated from Kiev apon hearing of the massive reinforcements committed.

I regret not tempting the best of the VVS into combat. I should of reconed the area and then decided to fight or not.

[Tom1939]

1941. 09. 21.
Clear

After the heroic stopping of the german ambush in Kiev the germans were demoralized. Seeing the houndred's of tanks with masses of infantry strengthening our lines in Kiev they begun pulling back. The Luftwaffe has left the sky as well, avoiding confrontation with the 2000 fighters supporting the operation.

All signs show the germans are ready to run away from our beloved country. Only small backup troops can be seen. All troops want to attack, but it is too soon. Our command chain still has flaws, and behing the weak backup troops death can await us in the form of strong panzer korpses.

Losses this week:

Axis/Soviet

2/0
0/0
0/0
9/52

Stavka