Stalin's in the gulag, I'm in charge! II - vs 2ndACR (Axis)

[randallw]

Those divisions of the two mech corps, under Stavka control, that you've shoved out in front for Western Front probably will retreat/rout easily, then you'll be having to wait 11 weeks for them to come back after their conversion....you may also need to move a HQ towards the rear to 'catch' them on routs and get them unrouted again.

[TulliusDetritus]

It's true that on my other game I wasn't paying attention to many things: air war, refit, HQ organization etc. [8D]

Now I will try to be more "competent" or rational. I have been doing a massive reorganization in this Western Front on my last turn. As you can see, many of the units were atached to STAVKA, now the boss is Zhukov himself [&o]

I ran out of APs though. BUT the Reserve aka Kalinin HQ is here this turn therefore I have like 200 APs now...

These units you're mentioning will be in theory attached to either the Kalinin or Western fronts armies in this area.

Needless to say, thanks for this advice [:)]

[TulliusDetritus]

[center]Turn 4[/center]
[center]10 july 1941[/center]

Well... why should I lie? [:D] I thought my situation was desperate. But somehow... I still have many STAVKA strategic Reserves! And on next turn I will get...

[center]25 more divisions![/center]

On the last two turns I have created a big defensive mass in the Center to protect Moscow. Now I have formed a similar mega horde to protect Leningrad. I even managed to more or less cover the Dnper in my destroyed Southwestern Front... AND I still have like 20 divisions behind the front that I will be keeping behind my Western, Kalinin and Leningrad Fronts...! But... if 2ndACR wants it he will get it [:D] So don't cry, man!

[center][/center]

[TulliusDetritus]

Leningrad

[TulliusDetritus]

The Kalinin and Western Fronts, with the many reserves I could be using if I need them [8D]

[TulliusDetritus]

Here the situation is obviously more complicated... The idea is that I should "invite" him to turn southwards [;)] So the south part of the Bryansk Front will be obviously strenghtened...

[TulliusDetritus]

The Smolensk area... The reorganization is 100% done. Two aces, Tolbukhin and Vatutin appointed as bosses of two armies here. All the armies have now 2 sappers + 2 RR Bdes + 3 artillery... Fortifications are still low though... Let's see what happens here!

[TulliusDetritus]

My other game showed me one important thing... You NEED cavalry, just in case. When I started the destruction of my opponent's AGN forces, I realized cavalry was needed...

So no mistake on this game... Like 6 or 7 cavalry divisions have been sent from the south to Leningrad and Western Front areas They could be very useful to let's say cutt off my opponent's Panzers, remember, the most feared thing when you're in charge of the Red Army. I will possibly be sending even more cavalry divisions to these two places. We never know what the good lord will be providing... AND, from my opponent's first moves I may conclude that he might be an agressive player. That can be a good thing... but of course it can be also a bad thing (for him that is). And that's where the cavalry thing makes sense But of course maybe I am sniffing too much glue [:D]

[TulliusDetritus]

In the South I am obviously in retreat mode [:D]

Two Rifle Divisions + Coastal HQ stay in Odessa. On my last game they resisted three turns. Let's see what happens on this one [8D] And the good thing is they don't surrender and die, they escape routed via the port to Crimea or Eastern Ukraine.

[randallw]

Army HQs can handle 3 construction units, not just 2.

[TulliusDetritus]

I see, Randall. I will be assigning one more RR Brigades thing on next turn. Thank you again [:)]

[Aurelian]

I always go with 4 myself.

[TulliusDetritus]

Aurelian, so according to Randall you should be kicking one of these contruction units out?

[Aurelian]

Probably. For some reason, I go for 4. Both RR brigades and artillery.

Just lots of experimenting on my part [:)].

Latest experiment is running all Corps east ASAP, except the 9th, and building FRs as suggested in cookiemonster's wiki.

[randallw]

The computer may automatically kick the 4th construction unit out of Army HQs.

You still have some re-org to do, with those North Cauc divisions, Airborne Corps ( under Kharkov MD ), and Orel MD units ( of that mech corps ) up front.

[Mynok]

IMO you have way too much in the North, but that's just a German perspective. Some of those would be very helpful for you down south where you are really out of units. Your only saving grace there is his infantry and railheads are way in the back. That buys you some time.

He's got plenty enough panzers down there to pocket that entire bunch around Kiev if he gets across the river south of there.

[Sabre21]

ORIGINAL: randallw

The computer may automatically kick the 4th construction unit out of Army HQs.

You still have some re-org to do, with those North Cauc divisions, Airborne Corps ( under Kharkov MD ), and Orel MD units ( of that mech corps ) up front.

That's only if you have the support level at that Hq set at 3. If it is set at 9 you can have 9 of each, if it is locked, then nothing comes in or goes out. Construction units are exempt from the support level settings other than locked or 0.

[CharonJr]

Ah, good to know, and that explains why I have tons of contruction units from my failed attempts to assign more than 3 to HQs

[TulliusDetritus]

[center]Turn 5[/center]
[center]17 july 1941[/center]

Well, if I am not mistaken I think my massive (because I launched them everywhere, but most importantly in the Northwest and Western Fronts) counter-attacks on turns 2 and 3 are now paying dividends [8D] Without them, from what I have seen in other AARs the Germans should be in Pskov and Vitebsk (as someone said on this AAR) in turn 3.

The counter-attacks are only the link of a chain though. The next link of the chain is what makes the difference, in my humble opinion: bringing many STAVKA strategic reserves and form (if possible, of course) a formidable defence.

When my opponent has resumed course on this turn towards the east he has faced these STAVKA reserves which were reorganized, had two top ace bosses (Tolbukhin and Vatutin and Zhukov on top) and plenty of support. Result: he's been contained aka quite many HELD things (and the cream of his forces was attacking: Panzer and Motorized divisions)! [&o]

I am merely a noob but I am starting to think that this might be a good tip for any Soviet player = counter-attacks + CONCENTRATE your STAVKA Armies and independent units in front of the enemy main thrust. Feel free to experiment or of course disagree [:)] But one thing you know: if you don't do anything it's going to be a free ride for any competent German player [:)]

[center][/center]

[TulliusDetritus]

This is what happened in the map. Coincidence or the top aces + support make the difference? [8D]