Operation Barbershop - Carnage(Ax) vs. Redmarkus(Sv)

[randallw]

Those swamp hexes east of the Volkhov are good to defend, if you are worried about an attempt to cut off Leningrad.
 
Your opponent certainly has a complicated problem with trying to link up those units down south.

[raizer]

u get in the swamps just N of the last letter v in volkhov and thatll be like trying to dig a tick off the back of a sheepdog

[Apollo11]

Hi all,

Just one small remark...

IMHO it would be more useful to show your (defending) Soviet counters with "x = x" instead of "y - y" (i.e. to show defensive strength!

Unit Counter Info: This sets the specific information displayed on the unit counters regarding
a unit’s combat strength and movement points. This preference works together with the
Unit Values Display Type preference. This preference can be set to CV-Move or COMBAT by
selecting the box to the right of the “Unit Counter Info” text. If CV-Move is selected while the
Unit Values Display is set to Numeral, then the counters will display the CV and Movement
Points remaining. If CV-Move is selected while the Unit Values Display is set to Graphic, then
the counters will display a graphic bar indicating the movement points remaining. If COMBAT
is selected while the Unit Values Display is set to Numeral, then the counters will display the CV
value followed by another CV value that accounts for the fortification defense modifier (15.3).

If COMBAT is selected while the Unit Values Display is set to Graphic, then the counters will
display a graphic bar indicating the CV value. In all cases the CV displayed is the total for all
units in the hex and the MPs displayed is the most MPs remaining by any unit in the hex. The
default setting is CV-Move. Note: Regardless of the Unit Counter Info setting, enemy units will
always be displayed on the map as if the setting is COMBAT; i.e. with the CV value followed by
the CV value with the fortification defense modifier.

Leo "Apollo11"

[Redmarkus5]

Will try to remember to do that before I print screen. I'm moving units all over the place every turn, trying to patch the holes and get the reserves in place, so move values are important to me.

[Apollo11]

Hi all,

ORIGINAL: redmarkus4

Will try to remember to do that before I print screen. I'm moving units all over the place every turn, trying to patch the holes and get the reserves in place, so move values are important to me.

Thanks!

And yes... I change those two methods of showing data quite often myself as well...


Leo "Apollo11"

[Redmarkus5]

TURN 14 - NORTH

Well, Carnage has done a great job of cutting off Leningrad. I am pushing every unit I can spare into the line to hold him from moving further east to cut the port supply link.

The city is fairly well defended and I hope to be able to hold it until winter, although I expect to lose my outer defence line next turn.

Pushing troops across the river, I was able to 'bounce' an HQ unit, just behind his 9=29 SS division, so maybe that will help me somewhat.

[Redmarkus5]

CENTRE

In the centre Carnage pocketed the salient that was formed last turn, but I was able to counter-attack and knock back a full panzer division, opening up an possible avenue of retreat. I had insufficient MP to move any units out this turn, so we'll see.

[Redmarkus5]

SOUTH

The most significant action was in the south again. Carnage managed to pull off the task of breaking my envelopment around Stalino, although he abandoned the city.

I had expected him to pull back towards the Dnepr and regroup, but he instead pushed forces east. I was almost able to surround a panzer division again, missing out by just a couple of MP.

The forces I have been moving south are now gathering, although they are disorganised, but I may be able to give him some trouble here come winter, unless he gets his line in order soon.

[Redmarkus5]

KUBAN

Here Carnage has pushed infantry in strength across the straights and into the Kuban. I was prepared for this, keeping 7 divisions in position here, despite the pressure further north, as well as building a fort.

I think the enemy would have been employed more effectively following up behind the panzers near Stalino, where a real crisis had formed for me tow turns back, but I can't see the full picture in terms of the forces he has to-hand up there.

Nevertheless, I'll need to keep reinforcing the Kuban to ensure that he doesn't break out here, and that will eat up badly needed reserves.

[Redmarkus5]

FRONT

This is the situation across the front at the end of turn 14.

The main risks I face at present can be listed as:

1. An enemy assault on Leningrad and/or up the west bank of the Volkhov River or even across the river itself. I consider this the most likely enemy objective, as he must want desperately to deal with Leningrad and bring the Finns south to support operations in 1942. It's achievable, but also predictable.

2. A final push towards Moscow, possibly in an operation Typhoon-type offensive. I need to add at least one more solid defence line to deal with that threat, as I believe he will be sorely tempted to try this move once he has refitted his troops.

3. A strong push towards Orel, or even Kursk and Kharkov that draws my strength away from the key Moscow axis. This is a likely fall back option if Carnage feels that he has taken too many casualties in the other sectors - he'll go for my perceived weakness.

4. A push towards Rostov that threatens my southern flank and forces another retreat to shorten the line, although I can afford to give more ground here. This could happen if the enemy is focused on a pre-planned sequence of events and considers his achievement of agreed phase/time lines to be important.

5. A breakout in the Kuban that forces me to deploy major forces south of Rostov. I actually regard this as the smartest thing Carnage could do, as it would shift my attention and reserves far away from my key cities.

6. All of the above simultaneously. Does he have the combat power to do that? His movements over the last 4-5 turns suggest that he does not, but he may also have been resting in preparation for just such a final effort.

[cookie monster]

I see you have a fair bit of partisan activity behind the Axis lines.

[Redmarkus5]

Those are almost all PC units. My transport capabilities are still poor and as the Axis only needs to run around with a few security units to deal with the partisan threat, I haven't prioritised this side of things.

[cookie monster]

I have my night transports at VVS bases for partisan resupply as per the manual.

They dont fly night transport missions during blizzard but are now in the snow

This is versus the AI

[Klydon]

Things are shaping up a bit on defense with the arrival of new troops. The only really bad area right now appears to be Leningrad. Hopefully you will be able to delay him for as long as possible in releasing the Finns. Certainly if you can hold bridgeheads on the west side of the Volkov, this area would be a prime location to try to unload a blizzard offensive to relieve the pressure on Leningrad. 

I think Carnage has to change up tactics a bit and I don't know if he will be able to or not to deal with the situation now at the front since the Soviets appear to be recovering some strength.

[raizer]

Im pulling for you red...yours and carnages aars are great reads

[Redmarkus5]

Thanks Gents.

There have been several openings that I could have exploited if I have a few more resources. Hopefully, such opportunities will appear again when I have built up my strength a bit...

[Apollo11]

Hi all,

Thanks for posting true defensive values of your force (i.e. those including terrain and forts) Mark!


Unfortunately, after I saw them, you situation is very very very bleak... you haven't dig fast enough and extensive enough... [:(]

Your defending stacks are extremely low and, except for some very very few locations, they are insufficient to hold Axis at all... it is like going with hot knife through butter... I am afraid that in this game only miracle can save Soviet side...


Leo "Apollo11"

[Redmarkus5]

Well, bleak as things may be, the enemy has stopped attacking along most of the front this turn. Maybe he plans to resume with his hot knife through butter strategy next turn, or maybe I can produce a miracle...

He has pulled back in the Stalino area, so I have re-taken more ground in the first real Soviet forward movement of the campaign so far.

He does continue to push forward in the Kuban and recon indicates that he has massed several more divisions down there, so he seems to be gambling on this being a key stroke. I am moving another 10 divisions south by rail to backup the forces I have in place there. I need to confine him to the swamps and mountains until the weather changes.

If I can mount a winter offensive, it will be limited in scope. My main options are shown below.

Option 1 is predictable and logistically the most challenging. It also involves attacks in very difficult terrain.

Option 2 is also very predictable and likely to meet with the strongest resistance, but it has the advantage of possibly pushing the enemy away from Moscow - assuming it has not already fallen during 'Typhoon'.

Option 3 offers the best potential result in terms of inflicting a major defeat on the enemy, but it also draws troops away from my centre. However, if I can make good progress, I may force Carnage to pull back from the Kuban to defend the Crimea.

All the above are based on me surviving until the blizzard turns with reserve forces intact.

[Klydon]

I think you look at option 2 TBH. The big reason why is that is where you tend to get a pile of re-enforcements at and its also a place in your system that you can pull troops in from both the north and the south if you want to. The other reason is you have a lot of units here already.

I think option 3 is a bit over ambitious and that you would find him more than willing to pull back behind the river. Also, you will run into Axis minor mountain units down here as well.

Option 1 would be my second choice because I think Leningrad is in serious trouble. You may want to launch a minor attack here, especially if you have units on the west side of the Volkov that you can push from. The terrain here is not as good in the blizzard as it is normally due to the swamps and freezing, so if he is not dug in well here, you might be able to get some place and really, you don't need to get too far in order to reopen Leningrad and give them some reenforcements.

[KenchiSulla]

Option 2 with a limited offensive in Leningrad area to restore supply lines. If he wants to hold on to it you will be able to bleed his infantry there...

Or can it be supplied by ships, I think so?