Ketza (Axis) vrs Fulkerson (CCCP) No commies!

[Ketza]

This is my first time against a true carpet defence. It was not as effective as I thought it would be but they may be because he was relying heavily on stalin line forts. SO far I am pleased with the southern advance as it is a nice belend of killing and pocketing lots of units as well as a nice advance.
but the war is still young!

[Mynok]

He'll definitely relieve Rovno for a turn if he has any concept of how the game works, but you are in good shape in the south for sure.

I still would have pushed a little more with 17th army, if only because it frees your FBD's for rail repair. You need to get those forward as fast as possible down south.

You know, having those 11-19 panzers one hex northwest would preclude a Rovno relief. Not sure what your idea was there?

[squatter]

Nice opening turn.
 
However, despite recon reports, it's my guess as far as WitE is concerned you're up against a novice - turn 2 and Pskov gone, Dniepr breached by Smolensk.
 
This could be a missmatch.

[Ketza]

ORIGINAL: Mynok

He'll definitely relieve Rovno for a turn if he has any concept of how the game works, but you are in good shape in the south for sure.

I still would have pushed a little more with 17th army, if only because it frees your FBD's for rail repair. You need to get those forward as fast as possible down south.

You know, having those 11-19 panzers one hex northwest would preclude a Rovno relief. Not sure what your idea was there?

They are actually 0 MPs in the PZ division, there is an HQ over them. Sometimes things dont quite come out perfectly.

[Mynok]

Oh how right you are. It's always an MP issue with those panzers. I'm fully convinced that the key to Axis play is understanding that panzers have one great weapon in their arsenal and that is maneuver. At least in 41 that's the case...

[Ketza]

ORIGINAL: squatter

Nice opening turn.

However, despite recon reports, it's my guess as far as WitE is concerned you're up against a novice - turn 2 and Pskov gone, Dniepr breached by Smolensk.

This could be a missmatch.

Larry did tell me in our email exchange he is still learning the game but had 3 PBEMs going with me making 4. He is a very accomplished gamer and knows the eastern front very well. Whether or not that makes him good at WITE noone knows until they play him. I myself am still learning so I am just hoping for a very long competitive game.

[Klydon]

Nasty and well executed turn 2.

Russian is in serious trouble for Leningrad. He has very little that moves up there and very little he can rail in on turn 1. The Russians do not have much that can move on turn 1 with a lot of reserves still frozen. IMO, not moving the full mech corps south of Pskov up to defend the river line and also other units to move there is a mistake and one he won't repeat next turn. Infantry support will get their fairly quickly, but will likely be delayed a bit as the unit in the pocket moves up to the north and reflips some territory, making it harder for the infantry to just shoot over.

Russian is going to have some hard decisions to make with his rail cap for turn 2. You have a lot of threats going against industrial locations that need to be moved and I am betting he hasn't seen what is about to happen to him as far as Leningrad is concerned. If he doesn't send a fair number of troops up there this next turn and turn 3, he won't be able to stop you. 

[sillyflower]

ORIGINAL: squatter

Nice opening turn.

However, despite recon reports, it's my guess as far as WitE is concerned you're up against a novice - turn 2 and Pskov gone, Dniepr breached by Smolensk.

This could be a missmatch.

I can't help but agree though doesn't mean opponent is a novice, but just tried wrong approach. My current soviet opponent did the same tactic of coming forward in the north and fighting forward in the South. It didn't work for him either. In the North on T5 I was able to prevent leningrad's factories moving out, tho' city won't fall until T11.

In south SW front wiped out after 4 turns which has enabled big advances. Shoring up both sides has left Moscow v. exposed. End of my T10 I'm 8 hexes from Moscow and all its factories and very little in the way that isn't routed. Russian has 2.1m losses + probably 140K more in unbreakeable pockets. I think there is a tipping point in Russian strength which makes all the difference.

Surviving the 1st blizzard isn't just about casualties inflicted but also about gaining ground and capturing or at least forcing move of so many factories and manpower centres that Russian can't build enough strength for decent blizzard offensive.

[Ketza]

Turn 3 AGN start -

He has laid down a weak front line carpet. 8 or so units held in pockets from turn 2.

[Ketza]

AGC start - He relieved Minsk pocket and has formed a weak line on the Dnepr only where there are crossings. He still has a presence in the Pripyat swamps. Panzer fuel situation is pretty poor but will see what we can do to get over the Dnepr if possible.

[Ketza]

AGS start - He relieved Rovno but in doing so committed a few more infantry divisions. After cutting rails this turn they should all be somewhat still in the bag but I dont want to overcommit to this pocket and give up forward momentum which is more important at this time. His carpet is still layed down in front of Kiev.

[Ketza]

Turn 3 AGN final -

Killed some random pocketed divisions and widened the Pskov bulge. Massive airlift of fuel this turn to 2 Panzer divisons in 1 corp and did a HQ buildup on the other. The corp from 3rd Pz was transferred to 4th. Infantry is on the way and next turn should see a great leap forward. Damn just noticed in my screenie forgot to move a HQ back after I refueled a division by air. Doh!

[Ketza]

Turn 2 AGC final - 3rd Pz is on the landbridge and the infantry is catching up. Minsk is reisolated. 2nd Pz moves forward. A pesky Soviet division cannot be attacked because I screwed up moving some units as I was in a hurry moving the infantry forward. Hopefully it wont impact supply to much buts its not a good thing.

I grabbed the factories in Mogilev. He moved the Smolensk factories.

[Ketza]

Turn 3 AGS final - Repocketed Rovno and created a second pocket in the south. Had to rout one Soviet division out of the north pocket to make it more secure. I probed towards Kiev and routed a bunch of junk along the way. Rather then leave a PZ out to dry that far deep I brought it back. Rail was disrupted for him though and he has a bit of a mess on his hands down south. I didnt have the AP for a HQ buildup but will do so next turn for a run at the river turn 5 after some repositioning turn 4.

Im not finding a carpet defence to be that much of a hinderance. Maybe he is too much carpet and not enough wood. The 3 pockets are neat to look at!

[Ketza]

Turn 3 losses -

Didnt destroy a lot this turn some 17 or so units but the Lvow pocket had some nasty holds I wasnt expecting. It should be cleared fully next turn. Wanted to spend the MPs of most of the army heading east and the pocket isnt really dangerous anyway.

He has totally withdrew his airforce and I am actually losing more planes then him each turn.

[CapAndGown]

You are doing pretty good in AGS and AGN. AGC seems about average to a tiny bit below. (I am deducting marks for the Minsk stuff)

You are not facing carpets. These are checkerboard defenses. Carpets are when you face a solid line 3 or more units deep.

[Ketza]

ORIGINAL: cap_and_gown

You are doing pretty good in AGS and AGN. AGC seems about average to a tiny bit below. (I am deducting marks for the Minsk stuff)

You are not facing carpets. These are checkerboard defenses. Carpets are when you face a solid line 3 or more units deep.

Ahh yes you are correct I have my terminolgy crossed. I meant checkerboard. I have never really been up against it before. Seems pretty easy to herd units around and drive thru it.

Im pretty disapointed in the Minsk area myself. I usually capture the place and get it over with but part of what I am trying to do this game is capture as many divisions as I can and keep them from routing. I doubt he will let me pocket large numbers of troops and I want to get to 3-4 million casualties before winter. Of course taking ground is important to. I suppose to be a great Axis player you need a good balance which I have yet to find.

[Klydon]

Yeah, that one division is going to slow down 4th army pretty badly. You will have to go through a minimum of 2 enemy zones next turn if you go straight east or through swamp if you go a bit to the NE and just south of Minsk.

Next turn may give an idea of what is going on in the Leningrad area as far as how much he sends in.

Down south plays a whole lot different when you hit the big opening with extra troops from AGC. The Russians just don't have as much to play with there.

I am sort of surprised you got the Mogilev factories. I am about in the same spot with my me vs me game and just finished Russian turn 2. They are the "no brainer" to move on the second turn. Smolensk could have waited another turn and with the reduced rail cap the Russians have on turn 2, you can pretty much move one set of minor factories and perhaps a bit more and have about 20k or so for troop moves. In addition to the Mogilev factories (48k to move), I got a plane factory out of Leningrad, but that was it.

All in all, the Axis are rolling. Be interesting to see how much more you captured in terms of troops.

[Encircled]

I started off playing checkerboard, but you lose a ton of units, and I'm no longer sure its the answer

You have to start with checkerboard, but as soon as you can, you have to identify and crowd around his main attack(s). Its Tullius strategy, and I don't think I've seen a better way at the moment.

[TulliusDetritus]

ORIGINAL: Encircled

I started off playing checkerboard, but you lose a ton of units, and I'm no longer sure its the answer

You have to start with checkerboard, but as soon as you can, you have to identify and crowd around his main attack(s). Its Tullius strategy, and I don't think I've seen a better way at the moment.

Yes, concentrating my forces around the main threat is the strategy I prefer. Well, as long as the enemy threatens an objective which is vital to me (ie Moscow or Leningrad). If he wants Vladivostok, please go ahead [:)]

BUT... at first it's complicated and DANGEROUS [X(] You have to know when and where you are safe. Otherwise a defeat = lots of captured troops. So far I have been lucky (my two games).

Anyway, be aware of Sabre's advice (I am still a simple noob so take my play style with a grain of salt): carpet defences can be destroyed in ONE turn. Successive defensive lines might be the answer.