War Reports from the Eastern Front: Carnage vs Redmarkus

[MrLongleg]

I can just recommend to dig as deep as you can - I got almost completely wiped out in the Blizzard in my game against Miller41. Of course I was a little too overconfident and never tried the Blizzard before.

[Q-Ball]

I would defend that bridgehead in the Kuban very strongly. Maybe send a Mtn Division there. Many are right: This is a critical bridgehead for 1942, and maybe the key to your '42 campaign.

I don't know why more don't do this, but I would load-up each Mtn Div. with 3 Stugs, and split the Div into 3 Regts. The STUGS are then basically "Mountain Stugs", and each Regt will likely have a defensive value enough to ward off the Reds. That's what I would do.

Except against me, don't bother with that. Send both Mtn. Divisions back to Bavaria.[:'(]

[CarnageINC]

Normally I use the SAS term "who dares, wins" but this time I don't know. I'm still not sold on "Zeus" and will be gun shy unless I meet my first week objectives. If I can't clear up those pockets before the blizzard I may have doomed 70% of my panzer forces to destruction. I've nursed them this far, most having mid 90's TOE now. The 2nd Panzer Group objective is a little bold and I don't know if its realistic. I might get some major traffic in the way if he withdraws his forces.

As far as the Crimean, I might send some Romanian mnt.brigades to assist in defense but my German Mnt. divisions will stay at the positions their at now.

No maps this time as the front has basically gone static. The turn before the snow I'll post my front line positions.

[notenome]

I'm big on economy of force and movement when I play Axis, which is why I would suggest you to revise your disposition for Operation Zeus. You can achieve all your objectives in 1 week, and shorten the distance your panzers will have to travel. First off there's no reason to make 4 breakthroughs when three will do. Put one panzercorp on each flank and concentrate the rest in the middle, in the bulge below Sumy. Concentrate your infantry in those points and leave only a light screen (and I mean light! If he attacks the screen he's attacking into the pocket) between them. I made an awesome high tech map to ilustrate.

The one on the left keeps the four breakthrough model but alters the dispositions, the only on the right alters both. Also, remember you only need a 30 mile gap, door Bravo and Alpha are bigger than they need to be.

[randallw]

Don't forget about those forts, whatever plan is for them.

[CarnageINC]

ORIGINAL: notenome

I'm big on economy of force and movement when I play Axis, which is why I would suggest you to revise your disposition for Operation Zeus. You can achieve all your objectives in 1 week, and shorten the distance your panzers will have to travel. First off there's no reason to make 4 breakthroughs when three will do. Put one panzercorp on each flank and concentrate the rest in the middle, in the bulge below Sumy. Concentrate your infantry in those points and leave only a light screen (and I mean light! If he attacks the screen he's attacking into the pocket) between them. I made an awesome high tech map to ilustrate.

The one on the left keeps the four breakthrough model but alters the dispositions, the only on the right alters both. Also, remember you only need a 30 mile gap, door Bravo and Alpha are bigger than they need to be.

Field Headquarters of OKH, 30 October 1941

"Welcome to OKH HQ General Notenome, I take it this is the first part of your front line tour from OKW? I see you have some plans for us.....lets take a look at this sir."

I like what I see Note, its a good idea. However I can't go with your plan for the following reasons.

1. Unit placement: I don't think I have the time due to the mud for units to get set. If they do make it to start positions, they won't be able to have a proper HQ buildup for the first week. That would place my attack in week two of the snow...cutting it to close for any mishaps that may occur.

2. Red has been very successful in cutting off some of my early penetrations when I spaced out my units. I need to maintain a chain of units near his front lines I'm guessing at least 4-5 deep to prevent any cut off of my units and resupply efforts from outside the pocket.

3. Your drive is to deep for my liking. It does push back his front lines quite a bit but it also leaves my units farther from my supporting infantry than I care for. My original plan keeps my units near my supporting infantry, allowing to destroy his divisions quicker IMO. They won't have room to run anywhere.

There are the main reason for it. I do like the first map idea of placing at least two panzer corps between the two doors but you might want to look at my recent intel. It looks bad to me.

Here is turn 20 OKH report

[CarnageINC]

Here is intelligence report from new information I have discovered.

[CarnageINC]

Nothing going on here, were both digging in as quickly as possible.

[CarnageINC]

Okay, here is where the mystery starts. I wish I would of posted last weeks maps. I have done a through recon of the front most turns and last week didn't show this new secondary formation that is appearing here and south of here. Has me worried if he has caught wind of my upcoming operation or not. It might of been my movements of my panzers corps?

[CarnageINC]

More lines forming here to.

[CarnageINC]

Here is where the trouble is starting for Operation Zeus. Door Able has moved, which is good, less fortification to deal with but its been reinforced which isn't good. On the plus side he doesn't have any secondary line in front of it....yet.

Another thing that has me puzzled is his line moved back and he gave me mostly 40 miles in most areas. Thats 2 weeks of ground I think.

[CarnageINC]

This situation make Operation Zeus very difficult to pull off. I have more unit to possibly have to push through to reach my objectives. This make Notenomes first map idea look good, but I have to think about it for awhile.

[CarnageINC]

Here is the final map. It shows more secondary lines. Door Bravo has moved, partly because last turn I pushed it back by attacks and he just didn't reposition his forces. It does show units behind the door which will only slow down my panzer's when they kick it in. Its not looking good for Zeus to continue forwards.

[CarnageINC]

Oppsy...here's the map [:D]

[Flaviusx]

Carnage, is he flying any recon in your rear?

I notice he's got some relatively exposed HQs you could easily displace.

[CarnageINC]

An additional notes I want to make is I won't be posting the front line trace this turn...since I do it every 5 turns.   I thought I would wait until after my offensive.  Same goes with my casualites report to.  That way it will be a good comparison for Red's offensive.

[CarnageINC]

ORIGINAL: Flaviusx

Carnage, is he flying any recon in your rear?

I notice he's got some relatively exposed HQs you could easily displace.

Very rarely does he, last time I noticed it I made a posting of it. It showed him reconing down to the Crimean land bridge. Just to be sure I might go back a few turns and check.

[Flaviusx]

Note that mud impedes fortification. If all this shifting around ends up with him in level 1s at the start of the snows...

[CarnageINC]

ORIGINAL: Flaviusx

Note that mud impedes fortification. If all this shifting around ends up with him in level 1s at the start of the snows...

Yes, but all this in more units in the bag possibly but on the other hand the numbers that are showing up might slow me down from reaching my exit/pocket points.

[MrLongleg]

ORIGINAL: CarnageINC

Yes, but all this in more units in the bag possibly but on the other hand the numbers that are showing up might slow me down from reaching my exit/pocket points.

Just remember the fate of my operation Nikolaus. If you are not sure that you can really close the pocket on turn 1 and mop it up in turn 2 you might your Panzers find surrounded by many Russians just before the first Blizzard turn. You will need turn 3 to move back. Moreover you should have at least level 3 forts all along the line when the Blizzard hits.