Providence Lost: A 42-45 multiplayer grand campaign game

[fiva55]

Here is some thoughts about the summer of 1943 so far from my esteemed opponent.

Original: Jajusha

"In the soviet army, it takes more courage to retreat than advance" applies here.

My surrounded and isolated units are ordered to attack instead of defend. T-34 guns, unable to penetrate tiger armor, have specific orders to drive against them. If no fuel is present, tanks are to be used as roadblocks. If no ammo is at hand, stones and sticks are to be used. Every single bit of Russian soil fights against the German aggressor.

Causing you near 1000 AFV casualties in 2 weeks is an important achievment, as it will take you a fair bit of time to produce that much field vehicles (unless, you have a big stock of them, and i hope you do not!).

The battle is still not over, but i can share with you that i had 3 field armies, 2 tank armies (1st and 5th tank), 1 guards army (the backup you saw on the second week) and several support brigades (guard arty, some AT brigades, etc).

Original plan was to bait you in the first week of summer (after these alternate mud turns) with a fake salient in the area, having Stavka recruits in the flanks to keep the CV values to a minimum. After you had taken the bait, the tank and guard armies would then invest against your breakthrough panzer divisions, making a decisive dent to your tank forces.

That was the plan at least, turns out you did a strategic retreat in the middle of May, and those inf divisions where just too juicy to let go like that. I surrounded and isolated them, committing a part of my force, but you where ready to counterattack, and what a blow it was, you chewed through several 50-70CV defenses, i don't think i had many of these defenses still up after your turn. Thankfully i had my reserves in place, and was able to form a supply corridor for 2 weeks in a row, allowing me to use the once isolated units to inflict more casualties from inside (where you had lower CV values).

Finally, i managed to botch another Crimea op. Went with Cav divisions this time, and i'm even not sure if closing the land bridges puts you isolated, i think you can still supply your units from sea... Guess i wont be bombing your Romanian oil fields just yet.

[DTurtle]

ORIGINAL: fiva55

Situation begin of turn 50

Ha! Just where I expected [;)]

It seems like time to try to get out of there somehow. Attacking the 5=5 armor in the NW and the 9=9 armor in the east seems like a good way to isolate some troops, while simultaneously putting a little distance between those stacks of doom and your troops.

But then, you are a lot better at this than I am, so I'm sure you'll do the right thing [:D]

[fiva55]

ORIGINAL: Aditia

Lowering TOE seems a good way to go about it to me. Even disbanding a lowly arty Bn costs AP right?

Yes, disbanding cost AP, although I hardly lack those at this stage of the game.

ORIGINAL: DTurtle
Ha! Just where I expected [;)]

It seems like time to try to get out of there somehow. Attacking the 5=5 armor in the NW and the 9=9 armor in the east seems like a good way to isolate some troops, while simultaneously putting a little distance between those stacks of doom and your troops.

But then, you are a lot better at this than I am, so I'm sure you'll do the right thing [:D]

Breaking out wasn't a problem, nor was entrapping those Soviets again. It proved to be a lot harder too keep them trapped though. This turn, they again broke through 2 solid tank lines, though luckily my losses were less severe compared to last turn.

Still, this battle has cost me almost 300 panthers and 50 tiger tanks....... A wise man knows when to retreat, but with mud entering the fray this turn I want to try one last time.

Lack the time and the screen shot for more a extensive post, but will give a more detailed overview asap.

[fiva55]

With mud this turn, 2nd and 4th Panzer make one finale attempt to isolate the Soviet spearheads.

[fiva55]

OOB


Fins & Army Group North


Army Group Center


Army Group A


Army Group B

[fiva55]

So I finally trapped those Soviets, but at a huge cost. We will see in the coming turns whether it was a mistake of mine or not. On the side note, I will have less time to write extensive post for the foreseeable future.Thus I will change my AAR writing style, imitating the style used in this WITP:AE AAR . Hopefully this way keeping the AAR updated will be less time extensive while still giving you a good overview of the game.

PS: If you are interested in WITP:AE, you really should check that AAR.

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TURN 52 19/06/1943
BEGIN OF WEEK REPORTS

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EVENT LOG
Refit/Normal replacements: 638.983 Men were added to Germany's front line units

PRODUCTION
Manpower pool: 597.409
Armaments pool: 15.553
Rifle Squads: Rdy 18.214/Dam 507

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FIN. & ARMY GROUP NORTH REPORT

From: FINNISH HIGH COMMAND HQ, AGN HQ
To: OKH HQ
Subject: Frontline report

Nothing noteworthy has happened. Front line has been quiet with no attacks. 18th and 9th Army have been set to static to speed up fortification.

[Signed]
Generaloberst Guderian

[fiva55]

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TURN 52 19/06/1943
BEGIN OF WEEK REPORTS

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ARMY GROUP CENTER REPORT

FROM: AGC HQ
TO: OKH HQ
SUBJECT: Frontline Report

Front has been quiet. No attacks reported. Will begin to pull some divisions of 16th Army back behind the river Oka. Will try to counterattack bridgeheads.

[Signed]
Generaloberst Georg von Kuchler

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ARMY GROUP A REPORT

FROM: 2nd Panzer ARMY HQ
TO: AGA HQ
COPY TO: OKH HQ
SUBJECT: Encirclement successful

Have finally succeeded in isolating the Soviets, but suffered heavy losses. Reported loss of 272 Panter Ds. Request that commander of II SS Panzer Corps be awarded for bravery.

Intelligence reports 4 tank corps, 2 inf corps, 3 inf divisions and 1 calv corps now trapped.

In desperate need of refitting, request to be pulled back from front lines.

[Signed]
Generaloberst Erich von Manstein

FROM: AGA HQ
TO: 2nd Panzer Army HQ
SUBJECT: RE: Encirclement successful

Congratulations on success. OKH reports that Hausser will be promoted to Generaloberst. Request to be pulled back is denied. Assist in mopping up operations.

[Signed]
Generaloberst Ernst Busch

[center][/center]
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ARMY GROUP B REPORT

FROM:17th Army HQ
TO: AGB HQ
COPY TO: OKH HQ
SUBJECT: Enemy at the gates

Soviet pressure is mounting. Suffering heavy losses. Predict that Stalino will fall within 3 weeks if reinforcement are not send. Request to retreat behind the river Kalmius.

[Signed]
General Rudolf Konrad

FROM: AGB HQ
TO: 17th Army HQ
SUBJECT: RE: Enemy at the gates

Request for retreat is denied. Delay enemy as long as possible. 3rd Rum. Army is building second defensive line. You are authorized to fall back once fortifications are sufficient (level 3).

[Signed]
Generaloberst Maximilian von Weichs

[fiva55]

After receiving a PM from Tarhunnas and reading this thread about the armaments bug, my opponent and I have decided to postpone the game until the new patch comes out.


To fill up the gap, we have decided to play the Operation Blue scenario, with me as Soviets. With me having left Stalingrad alone in our current game, Jajusha wants to give a shot in taking the city . Is anyone interested in me writing a AAR about the game?

[Mynok]

We're getting short on AARs to read with all the stoppages due to the pending big patch. Everyone's going to end up reading my AAR against Oleg and see my ignominious crushing. [:D]

[fiva55]

ORIGINAL: Mynok

We're getting short on AARs to read with all the stoppages due to the pending big patch. Everyone's going to end up reading my AAR against Oleg and see my ignominious crushing. [:D]

The 1943 GC scenario right? I checked it out, good luck. You will need it.[:D] Anyway, I have decided to start up a short AAR anyway, I find that writing about the game keeps me organized.

[squatter]

Whoever said that the Soviet +1 odds bonus was an irrelevance by 1943?

[fiva55]

Just a screenshot of the front lines to give everyone the big picture.

[fiva55]

BEGIN TURN 53
OKH RECEIVED REPORTS SUMMARY

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AXIS OOB
Men: 2.720.515
Guns: 20.712
AFV: 3.291
Air: 2.276

SOVIET OOB
Men: 6.134.508
Guns: 103.407
AFV: 9.056
Air: 13.227

SOVIET ATTACKS RESULTS
19 held
25 retreated
01 routed

PRODUCTION
Manpower pool: 320.428
Armaments pool: 0

EVENT LOG
Refit/replacements segment: 60.623 men were added to Germany's front line units
Unready units: 33 German units unready

NOTABLE EVENT
57 AF bombed, resulting in 300 German aircraft damaged/destroyed in exchange for
the loss of 400 aircraft on the Soviet side.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BEGIN OF TURN OBSERVATIONS
Three major concentration of troops have been detected

In the sector of Army group center, the first Soviet Breakthrough Artillery
divisions have appeared:



In the sector of Army group A, large numbers of enemy tank corps can be seen:



In the sector of Army Group B, large numbers of infantry corps can be seen:

[fiva55]

Thoughts:

Defence strategy
Clearly stacking 3 divisions on one hex and hoping that it will hold is not
an effective defence anymore. Even if the attack is repulsed, the resulting
casualties will result in 3 divisions going into unready status.

Both checkerboard and linebacker strategy also seem to be ineffective for
the current situation, but I have no idea what else to do. Some
experimenting will be needed if I want to delay the Soviet Army as long as
possible.

Unready units
With the new refit rules, I'm forced to redeploy my unready units behind
the front lines in order to refit them. I tried to make the best of the
situation, and used them to dig secondary defence lines.

Air
My opponent seems to have some grudge against my airforce, and has started a
massive airfield bombing campaign. Though he suffered more losses, he can
easily afford them.

In order to prevent the collapse of my already weakening airforce, I have
retreated all of my airfleets at least 10 hexes behind my front lines. I
trust that the army airbases will extend their range.

Allied units
2nd Hungarian Army and 3rd Rumanian army have ceased to be an effective
fighting force. With no armaments to refit their unready divisions, there is
no point in keeping them in the frontlines. I have started to them retreat
well behind the front lines in order to build new defence lines.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Turn 53 Orders

Redeployments
The north is relatively quiet, allowing me to strip 10 divisions from Army
group North; 5 of those have been send to reinforce army group center, the
remaining 5 have been send to take over the sector of 2nd Hungarian army.




One panzerkorps has been detached from 4rd panzer army and send to Army
group center.

In the south, 17th army and 1st panzer army have retreated a few hexes.
Their new defensive positions are now behind a river. There was no point in
slugging it out with infantry guard corps on open ground.

Attacks
No attacks have been made.

[fiva55]

BEGIN TURN 54
7/3/1943
OKH RECEIVED REPORTS SUMMARY

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AXIS OOB
Men: 2.548.138
Guns: 19.450.712
AFV: 3.318
Air: 2.226

SOVIET OOB
Men: 6.092.038
Guns: 101.686
AFV: 8.917
Air: 13.277

SOVIET ATTACKS RESULTS
10 held
32 retreated

PRODUCTION
Manpower pool: 419.220
Armaments pool: 0

EVENT LOG
Refit/replacements segment: 70.129 men were added to Germany's front line units
Unready units: 46 German units unready

NOTABLE EVENTS
The Soviets continue their AF bombing campaign, with a registered 60 AF bombings.

Rzhev, Orel and Kursk have fallen to the Soviets.

A massive tank battle between 22th PD and 9th PD of III Panzer Korps and Soviet 1st Tank Army
a few miles west of Kursk. The Germans fielded 159 afv VS 813 on the Soviet side. The Germans
were forced back, losing 53 afv, but not before causing 150 afv casualties on the Soviet side.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
END OF TURN OVERVIEW

NOTABLE EVENT
Orel has been recaptured

[fiva55]

BEGIN TURN 55
7/10/1943
OKH RECEIVED REPORTS SUMMARY

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AXIS OOB
Men: 2.464.341
Guns: 19.135
AFV: 3.518
Air: 2.143

SOVIET OOB
Men: 6.100.505
Guns: 102.893
AFV: 9.043
Air: 13.346

SOVIET ATTACKS RESULTS
09 held
18 retreated

PRODUCTION
Armaments pool: 0

EVENT LOG
Refit/replacements segment: 66.015 men were added to Germany's front line units
Unready units: 59 German units unready

NOTABLE EVENT
The Soviets continue their AF bombing campaign, with a registered 67 AF bombings.
Seriously, what does Jajusha have against German planes?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
END OF TURN OVERVIEW

NOTABLE EVENT
Kaluga has been abandoned, it was only useful as a springboard for an offensive towards
Moscow. Nothing screenshot worthy has happened.

[fiva55]

BEGIN TURN 56
7/17/1943
OKH RECEIVED REPORTS SUMMARY

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AXIS OOB
Men: 2.402.639
Guns: 18.217
AFV: 3.458
Air: 2.076

SOVIET OOB
Men: 6.112.647
Guns: 103.099
AFV: 9.022
Air: 13.848

AXIS LOSSES
Men: 2.364.099
Guns: 32.274
AFV: 7.245
Air: 4.810

SOVIET LOSSES
Men: 6.007.010
Guns: 106.838
AFV: 24.061
Air: 31.629

SOVIET ATTACKS RESULTS
10 held
29 retreated

PRODUCTION
Manpower pool: 494.347
Armaments pool: 0

EVENT LOG
Refit/replacements segment: 95.746 men were added to Germany's front line units
Unready units: 51 German units unready

NOTABLE EVENTS
More AF bombing, with a registered 56 AF bombed.

The Soviets have tried to make some amphibious attacks in the Crimea, without success.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
END OF TURN OVERVIEW

NOTABLE EVENT
Nothing screenshot worthy has happened.

[fiva55]

BEGIN TURN 57
7/24/1943
OKH RECEIVED REPORTS SUMMARY

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AXIS OOB
Men: 2.317.070
Guns: 17.729
AFV: 3.414
Air: 2.009

SOVIET OOB
Men: 6.108.403
Guns: 102.675
AFV: 9.068
Air: 14.188

AXIS LOSSES
Men: 2.410.067
Guns: 38.262
AFV: 7.528
Air: 5.091

SOVIET LOSSES
Men: 6.076.638
Guns: 108.889
AFV: 24.566
Air: 32.061

PRODUCTION
Manpower pool: 529.387
Armaments pool: 0
Rifle Squads: Rdy 18.934/Dam 728

EVENT LOG
Refit/replacements segment: 68.117 men were added to Germany's front line units
Unready units: 61 German units unready

NOTABLE EVENT
The Gorlovka-Makeeva-Stalino defence line has been breached in force.
Makeeva has been captured by the combined might of the Soviet 47th, 2nd Shock
and 24th Army. The southern flank of the 3 city line has been blown away. 75%
of 17th Army is now in unready status.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
END OF TURN OVERVIEW

NOTABLE EVENT
Makeeva has been recaptured, XXXXVII Panzer corps has been redeployed in this sector from
Army Group A. The goal is to hold the line one more turn, allowing 17th Army to refit.

[hfarrish]

By the way your Men OOB is decreasing, I would suspect you are about to hit the point of no return I ran into in my 42 game (and you did a much better job on the offense in the summer of 42 than I did, for sure). At those levels of manpower if he starts attacking in a serious way there is little to hold your army together. Will be interested to see what happens.

[hfarrish]

For example, your Southern forces look about like mine did...I would recommend retreating farther, faster, and trying to get everyone in refit mode as soon as possible.

I may sound a bit over the top, but I just saw this movie and it doesn't end well...