GC 41, Mehring (SOV) Kamil (GER)

[Mehring]

I'm sure they were very annoying and by my records, quite damaging. But how have these attacks spoiled your chances of taking Moscow? In my current Axis game, I lost a tank division on turn three- wiped out- and suffered several other reverses but went on to capture the Crimea, Voronezh, Tambov, Moscow, and, having isolated it all winter, Leningrad in the mud of the following spring.

[KamilS]

Mehring

I'm sure they were very annoying and by my records, quite damaging. But how have these attacks spoiled your chances of taking Moscow? In my current Axis game, I lost a tank division on turn three- wiped out- and suffered several other reverses but went on to capture the Crimea, Voronezh, Tambov, Moscow, and, having isolated it all winter, Leningrad in the mud of the following spring.

That wasn't only factor. It was just one of many setbacks, nevertheless important - I lost one turn regaining crossing over upper Dnepr, and had to commit more tanks, commit them without accually achieving important breakthrough.

I am not saying it is bad luck or something, because it is just my clouded judgement I am paying for, and it was what I wanted to point out.

[Mehring]

yes, that's how I see it, another small setback, another small loss of time and you're right, losing the bridgehead wastes your time, even if I don't defend the river line. Also I'm always trying to reconvert hexes to Russian control just to waste enemy movement. There's a price in loss of digging time and interdiction, but I reckon it pays off.

[KamilS]

Turn 8 - my actions

In central and souther parts of front bulk of my forces finally approached strong defences on river Dnepr.

In the north, what isn't surprising, Mehring barely lost any ground.

In the centre, necessity forced me to commit more mobile troops without actually creating any threat. It was necessity to keep pressure and push east. Slowly I was concentrating more and more troops on the tip of spearhead.

South was more rewarding battleground that turn.

I almost liquidated northern pocket that eluded me since turn 2. 6 out of 7 formations were destroyed.

My infantry approached middle Dnepr near Kiev and stormed it. That time I established as strong bridgehead as possible. I hoped to have good position to attack next turn.

Further east I kept bringing my infantry divisions. I was planning to cross river just west of Dnepropetrovsk.

Odessa was unfortunately strongly held, so I decided to move forces east and block city with screen forces only.

Precious time was ticking away.

[KamilS]

centre 8 (end)

[KamilS]

south 8 (end)

[KamilS]

Unfortunately I lost save from turn 9, so I have to skip to 10th.

Summarising. In first 9 turns, roughly half of available time, I inflicted far to little damage.

85 soviet divisions were liquidated (23 armour and 12 motorised), my loss was Hungarian motorised brigade.

[KamilS]

Turn 10 - beginning

Unfortunately I don't have save from end of 9th turn, so I have to skip to beginning of 10th.

In the north my forces are slowly getting under pressure from more numerous Soviet formation. I pulled them south, but continued putting some pressure on Mehring's units in Vielkie Luki.

In AGC zone, during turn 9 I unleashed all my mobile forces to surround his units in upper Dnepr area. As usual ring of encirclement wasn't strong enough, what blunted my advance towards Moscow.
Unfortunately forces of AGC were to widespread through whole front to make it possible for me to continue attack while sealing pocket off. Nevertheless it was minor success, and I let myself be satisfied with it.

In the south, my pz army was divided, that is why I failed to pocket Mehring's forces in Kiev region and end up beaten back behind Dnepr in Dnepropetrovs region. In souther part of Ukraine Mehring crossed lower Dnepr in force and put pressure on Romanian divisions.

Inability to achieve designated goals - destruction of industry and his army, made me abandon pre-war plans, and adopt to more opportunistic stance.

[KamilS]

centre 10 - start

[KamilS]

south 10 (start)

[KamilS]

Turn 10 - movement

In the north nothing happened, because my forces weren't strong enough to make anything happen. Fortunately I was able to be more active in AGC zone.

Fate of Mehring's surrounded units was finally clarified, and I hoped to proceed with destruction of that divisions next turn. I made some progress towards Moscow and Tula. Due to lack of focus gains were very small. I was now paying price for sending too many units south east. I started to move them towards Moscow, but they will enter battle piecemeal and at best will only balance out Mehring's reinforcements.

In the south, near Kiev I crossed river in force and pushed him hard. It wasn't enough to form pocket but shape of front suggests units close to river won't escape. I managed to gain bridgehead in lower parts of Dnepr as well. To increase stenght of upcomming attack I thinned my forces in lower Dnepr area as much as I could.

[KamilS]

centre 10 (end)

[KamilS]

south 10 (end)

[KamilS]

Final post - I was declared defeated so campaign ends in 22th turn.





Any opinions? I am asking out of curiosity.

[KamilS]

One more thing, list of encirclements made in turns 11-22

[Oleg Mastruko]

What do you mean "you were declared lost"? By whom? You or your opponent or some neutral umpire? [:D]

Yes, your situation seems bad especially in the north where it may even be judged catastrophic, but we lack screenshots from turns 11-22 to judge the situation. Last screenshots in the south seemed fine IMO. In the previous update you inflicted way too little casualties (1,4 mil.) but in the last one you're almost at 3 mil which is actually pretty good. I've heard, and my experience proves, that 3-3,5 mil before mud is near the Soviet breaking point, allowing you to survive blizzards in relatively OK shape (maybe, who knows).

We don't know the position of frontlines in the turn 22 so as to judge how much territory you might give, and what can you (re) take in spring 42.

In short, if I were you I would not give up at least until march 42, but from what I can judge situation is not very good.

[KamilS]

turn 21, before my move and withdrawal

My plan was to fall back to non-blizzard zone, to limit my losses in manpower, equipment and morale.

[Oleg Mastruko]

In the north German situation is terrible, in the center and south it's OK-ish. Did you capture Harkov factories? I don't know... since you invested this much time already, play till March 42 and asses the situation then.

[Mehring]

Here's to fill in. As Kamil's forces retreated for the second or third turn I pretty well declared the game over. It turns out Kamil was planning to withdraw from Russia entirely and bounce back the following spring. This is not a feasible war plan, leaving my industry intact and already, almost fully operational, the return of all my manpower centres and a powerful army already with many Guards units. My airforce which is very strong and experienced will be in easy striking distance of Ploesti and Bucharest. That there will be no bounce back against a powerful and entrenched Russian army is a forgone conclusion in my view.

[Mehring]

Finland