Defending the Motherland (Sov Player vrs AI)

[PMCN]

According to a friend of mine the Russian version of the ATR was the best going. And the tanks they are stopping are in the realm of its penetration, so if shot on from the side they could be easily damaged. It is just in reality the Boyes ATR and the German ATR were pretty much good only for breaking tracks and boosting the morale of troops.

I recall in Tobruk the only tank the Boyes could do something to was the L6/47 (self propelled coffin that it was) and even then only from the rear and at fairly close range. I'm just used to considering them not worth the effort, so it was rather suprising to see the number of damaged tanks from them. Only that one kill, though they got several half tracks, armoured cars and panzer grenadiers (halftracks again). I should do some research on them. I didn't mention it but the number of damaged T34's when the Tank Corps reinforced the airborne was disconcerting. I didn't loose more than 1 or 2 but I had a good 20+ damaged by PAK 50 so I have to take that into account.

I'm not sure how many of the attacks GAIA launched were silly, outside of that one by odessa, and maybe the first one on the 53rd Rifle. I think the biggest problem the AI has is that it has no overall plan that I can detect. To be effective every attack you launch should be for a distinct purpose. Even when I am only doing what amounts to attrition attacks, I only do them if they serve that purpose and I look at my options and select the best ones. Mind you even having a plan did not help me much in the blizzard when I lacked the means to implement it. Still I think the question of a overall driving plan is pretty much where AI opponents hit the wall.

[randallw]

Strangely these Sov AT rifles are often missing in other games, unless they are semi-modeled as AT rifle squads.

[PMCN]

Well that was interesting reading on the Soviet ATR...it was apparently more robust then the other versions of the same, but still not exactly a tank killer.  Though it isn't in the game either, killing a Pz IIc isn't unrealistic and most of its other kills were against halftracks and such things that it would be effective against.  I rather dread the effect of panzerfaust fire when it starts to show up...that will be decidedly unpleasant I think.

[PMCN]

Marking nearly a year of combat the following have casaulties and material losses have been incurred defending the Motherland:

Official War Records Office
Soviet Losses to date:

Men Killed: 1 149 022
Men Captured: 558 680
Men Disabled: 952 562
Guns Lost: 40 220
AFVs Lost: 13 729

Fighters: 6
Fighter Bombers: 10 795
Tactical Bombers: 1 865
Level Bombers: 3 349
Recon: 805
Transports: 1 465

Flak Losses: 2 011
Operational Losses: 8 400
Total Aircraft Losses: 18 285

Estimated Axis Losses (from NKVD sources):

Men Killed: 549 506
Men Captured: 200 135
Men Disabled: 1 415 789
Guns Lost: 22 044
AFVs Lost: 4 029

Fighters: 1 449
Fighter Bombers: 171
Night Fighters: 10
Tactical Bombers: 768
Level Bombers: 2 192
Recon: 570
Transports: 460

Flak Losses: 1 113
Operational Losses: 2 757
Total Aircraft Losses: 5 627

[randallw]

That's pretty decent progress.

Start looking under the couch cushions for APs that may have slipped under there; stock up for rifle corps conversion in one month. [;)]

[PMCN]

I have been trying to rebuild my AP kitty...but things keep coming up and I have a hefty expense coming in a few weeks.  I want to swap 2 armies to the Voronezh front to bring the stress on the Bryansk Front down (theoretically that could cost 110 AP, hopefully it comes in less).  I'm waiting on the 15th air army at the moment, I have 2 IAD and 1 ShAD with planes ready to go.  So the transition to the Rifle corps may be a more delayed process.  But I am up over 250 AP (I think) at the moment and so I should be able to get my Guards Corps done early, and after that we'll see.  I will also build 1 Guards tank corps out of 3 of my 4 Guards Tank bde.  I suspect July and August will be AP lean months!