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

[Redmarkus5]

Well, maybe so, but that doesn't change the facts in terms of the losses I suffered and the number of my divisions destroyed (140!). Even if he moved too slowly to take Moscow in '41, or dispersed his forces too widely, I had not destroyed that force while he had taken huge chunks out of mine. He should have been able to mount a more forceful offensive, IMO.

Let's not forget that the Axis historically reached the gates of Moscow AND took Kursk-Kharkov-Orel-Byansk-Tula, as well as Rostov in the south, which reflects a fair dissipation of effort on their part. In the game, not one of those cities was taken during '41.

I am not criticizing my opponent's tactics - remember also that historically the Axis diverted AGC south to Kiev and lost 6 weeks that way - I am commenting on the game balance.

[Smirfy]

ORIGINAL: redmarkus4

Well, maybe so, but that doesn't change the facts in terms of the losses I suffered and the number of my divisions destroyed (140!). Even if he moved too slowly to take Moscow in '41, or dispersed his forces too widely, I had not destroyed that force while he had taken huge chunks out of mine. He should have been able to mount a more forceful offensive, IMO.

Let's not forget that the Axis historically reached the gates of Moscow AND took Kursk-Kharkov-Orel-Byansk-Tula, as well as Rostov in the south, which reflects a fair dissipation of effort on their part. In the game, not one of those cities was taken during '41.

I am not criticizing my opponent's tactics - remember also that historically the Axis diverted AGC south to Kiev and lost 6 weeks that way - I am commenting on the game balance.

The Axis pursued bolder tactics and concentrated their Pz gruppe to get results, you cannot expect a diluted broadfront shallow thrust strategy to obtain results similair to history. The Axis destroyed a front when they diverted forces When your opponent diverted forces there were no such rewards because they were constantly diluted. Your opponent took the Crimea and was in an excellent position to try for Moscow but got cold feet. Nowhere did he create a vacum like the defeats of Kiev and Vyazma created in 1941. I think your opponent had an excellent opening but dispersion led him to getting a scare or two untimately leading to too timid a strategy.The Germans learnt it aswell after the first couple of weeks you just cant get away with those moves you done in the first couple of turns. They Concentrated your opponent operations became more modest in their goals and execution.

[Redmarkus5]

Turn 38 - Front

With the end of the blizzard Soviet CV values have fallen by about 40-50% (not sure what that's supposed to represent) but while the Axis armour has started to recover, most Axis units still appear very weak.

However, the Axis has opted to launch local attacks with his Panzer divisions into the woods south of Lake Ilmen and in the region just north of Dnepropetrovsk. I have substantial reserves in both sectors and have also launched two offensives designed to bleed off any Axis reserves and diminish his precipitous offensive:

1. Attacks north and south of Smolensk.

2. A naval invasion of the Kuban with 6 infantry divisions.

[Redmarkus5]

Operations around Pskov showing my defence lines (yes - still linear!) and reserve deployments.

[Redmarkus5]

Renewed attacks around Smolensk to draw the Panzers south from Pskov

[Redmarkus5]

Axis offensive operations on the Dnepr and Soviet counter moves

[Redmarkus5]

Naval landings in the Kuban...

[Redmarkus5]

OOB Turn 38

[Redmarkus5]

Sample showing the make up of the Soviet Tactical Bomber force at T38.

[raizer]

  I see you have some Il 2s on night missions-are they useful at night?

[Redmarkus5]

That's an oversight - I forgot to change the setting. The default setting seems to be night. You then have to remember to change them after you upgrade from U-2VS, which I just did for most of those you see listed...

[raizer]

yah thats happened to me as well....Im trying to bomb this guys panzers and Im not getting crap...so I figured wtf let me check the air groups and all the ones I manually converted went over to NM-doh!  flip them back and go to it

[Bastables]

ORIGINAL: redmarkus4

I think they're meant to represent the attempts to build the fortified lines after the failing of citadel, otherwise known as the Panther-Wotan lines

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panther-Wotan_line

They much like the Hindenburg fortifications were to be constructed behind the lines and then fallen back onto. STVAK had other ideas and overran the limited fortifications in the south.
[/quote]

Thanks. Yes, I understand that they represent those lines. My question was do they represent engineering efforts to build the defenses or combat units to man the defenses? If they are combat units, then where in the historical OOB do they fit?


[/quote]
Pure guess work but my inclination is to write them off as a combination of both the engineering units and manning, aka an abstraction.

[nicwb]

I'm interested to see how that amphibious assualt works out in the Crimea, I haven't seen to much of that sort of tcatic in any of the AAR's so far.

[Klydon]

ORIGINAL: nicwb

I'm interested to see how that amphibious assualt works out in the Crimea, I haven't seen to much of that sort of tcatic in any of the AAR's so far.

Thats because its been broken until the latest patch. [:D]

[Redmarkus5]

Exactly! I had the troops sitting there ready to invade at the start of the blizzard, but the feature didn't work! Very frustrating...

[Redmarkus5]

T39 - Kuban

Amphib ops meet with some success and I am able to successfully mount an attack from the beachhead which has to potential to cut off the enemy's key defenders. He has already pulled back one hex and this allows me to link up with my troops on the beach...

Pretty quite along the rest of the front apart from a couple of Axis attacks. Not sure why he doesn't rest and refit a bit.

[Redmarkus5]

Now that I have activated my rebuilt air force, I will start monitoring air losses and reporting same.

[alfonso]

ORIGINAL: redmarkus4

Maybe the game needs the Stalin Line to be added in places (AGN had to fight through it IIRC) ...

Here you can see it...

[nicwb]

[quoteThats because its been broken until the latest patch. ][/quote]

So now all the WITPAE tragics can play WITE without suffering complete withdrawal symptoms ? [;)]