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

[Oleg Mastruko]

This could turn into an interesting game. So far it's a lesson - yet another lesson - proving that you must never abandon any objective outright, you must always keep your enemy guessing, both as Soviet and German. Kamil in that other game made clear that he as German is not interested in Leningrad - MISTAKE. Fulkerson in this game made clear that he is not going to defend LG as Soviet - ANOTHER MISTAKE.

You have tons of interesting opportunities here Ketza. Watch the Moscow industry. Make at least a credible threat towards Moscow, watch the industry. If he evacuates, consider abandoning Moscow as objective and going absolutely wild elsewhere. Otherwise, I think you have strength to take Moscow, but do it only if you think you'll bag 30+ divisions, and most of industry.

[pompack]

As I learned in WitP, a Master can make any player look like a noob and Ketza has run the best German early campaign that I have seen in an AAR. To me the key has not been so much the early withdrawal of the Russians as the beautifully timed use of HQ buildup. Both in AARs and personal experience, most HQ buildups seem to be mis-timed and either are wasted or hit empty air. However Ketza timed them to perfection, especially the two that sent his panzers to Kharkov and the Svir (no disrespect meant, but it was interesting to read posts urging him to isolate Lgrad when he had already done it on the Svir).

An awesome performance for the first nine weeks [&o]. The kill rate looks a little low only because so many of the hopelessly pocketed units have not gotten around to surrendering yet.

And just to add my own bit of unneeded advice: Screen Moscow and take the Donbas! You may not be able to hold Voronezh and Rostov since they are well beyond your possible December supply limits but you can certainly trash them and hold the rest. With that and all of the manpower centers and industry that you have removed so early it's hard to see him mounting a credible Winter Offensive.

[Ketza]

Thanks for the compliment Pompack. I must admit many of my ideas have come from the forums and watching others great victories and unfortunate disasters!

[Ketza]

10 AGN - Leningrad is cleared. Visney Volchek is captured. 16th army begins to head to the eastern line. Finns begin to move. 4th Pz will come off the line once finns move into place. He is starting to show up in some areas to defend.

[Ketza]

10 3rdPz and 9th sector - more of the same a few small pockets and a grind forward. Rhezev is reached by recon cavalry.

[Ketza]

10 4th and 2nd PZ - small pocket created Bryansk falls. The factories at the small city near Bryansk fall as well. A fresh Pz corp is enroute to the area from AGN.

[Ketza]

10 AGS - The Kharkov Bulge is gaining strength and a few small pockets are created. An odd situation is the North bank of the Dnepr and Orel rivers are being defended from the south. 6th army links up with 4th Army and forms a leaky pocket. Mps are an issue due to supply. 2nd and 11th keep hammering away and are seeing the hardest fighting and getting several holds a turn.

[Ketza]

Losses 2.1 million. 15 -20 or so units in pockets. Need something big if Im gonna lay a hurting on his army. His loss of cities might make up for the low losses. I am pretty sure losing the T-34 factory and the tank factories in Leningrad will haunt him as well when its time to form armor corps.

I was thinking that putting pressure on Moscow just to trash the manpower nearby and get him to move the factories would be the best way to approach the game from a strategic point at this juncture as someone suggested. Since getting a clear victory early is not probable one must play for the long haul once certain objectives are met and not throw away your army on real estate that has no strategic value.

[Ketza]

Havent shown these in awhile. His air is getting mauled from interdiction attempts as I get closer to his MLR. The interdictions have helped him on a few occasions but he is paying a high price in aircraft.

[Ketza]

Turn 12 - Sorry no screenies for turn 11 totally forgot them.

After extensive recon it looks like Stalino is just to good to pass up.

2 PZ corps are gassed up and ready. This operation has some Risk as supply lines are not in the best shape and it may be a trap but sometimes you just have to go to the well more then once!

[Ketza]

12 south start - In general larry has been putting ip more resistance across the front as I seem to be hitting some time of trip wire that has started his defence. I really expected him to bolt in the south after Kharkov but he still has a front. Fighting is very heavy in the Crimea area but we gained a bridgehead last turn so things should shake loose soon.

[Ketza]

12 center start - He came out of his Moscow lines big time last turn. A major force showed up at Rzhev slowing the advance there. He also hugged me all along the line which was new for him. There is not a lot of room for pcoets in front of Moscow but there is more opportunity then there was before now he is out of those level 4 forts.

[Ketza]

12 North start - He has forces starting to form a line so here as well I seem to be hitting some mysterious line that prompted a more virorous defence. 18th Army and 4th Pz are almost completely out of the line and the 2 corps of Finna are on the way to 16th army sector. This will enable a general slide to the south by 16th army.

[Ketza]

The weary troops of 17th army venture further east...

[Ketza]

12 final Moscow front -

9th army and 3rd pz were probing forward and recon showed he had left several of his level 4 forts abandoned when he moved forward. It was decided to strike with a reserve Pz corp as well as the newly arrived Pz corp from leningrad. The result was a bit of a surprise. 5 of his level 4 forts were taken out. 2 were unmanned and 3 were tough fights against paratroopers.

Being this close to Moscow is going to force him to make a choice on moving his factories this turn or trying to save the brewing disaster in the south and save some troops.

[Ketza]

12 south final - Well the 2 Pz corps jumped off after a third Pz corps brushed aside his carpet. Stalino was overrun and an SS division cut the main rail leading south. 2nd army widened its bridgehead over the Dnepr.

[Ketza]

With the success of this turn I am going to ask Larry if he wants to continue. I know he is a good player and he has a good handle on the mechanics and I think in the long run he could make some better calls on his dispositions. He really made a major mistake at Moscow by suddenly lunging forward with his army.

If he wants to continue we shall but if not of course the AAR will come to an end.

We will see!

[squatter]

Out of interest Ketza, exactly how many times have you used HQ buildup in this one, with how many HQs, and what's the noticable impact on your vehicle/supply situation been?

[pompack]

ORIGINAL: squatter

Out of interest Ketza, exactly how many times have you used HQ buildup in this one, with how many HQs, and what's the noticable impact on your vehicle/supply situation been?

Yes, please.

squatter and I are of one mind on this (odd I know but it happens [:)])

[Ketza]

ORIGINAL: squatter

Out of interest Ketza, exactly how many times have you used HQ buildup in this one, with how many HQs, and what's the noticable impact on your vehicle/supply situation been?

I have used it 5 times this game. One in AGN for Leningrad. Once in AGC for 3rd Pz which I never really used (waste) and 3 times in 1st Pz. Each time I did it was for 1 corp.

Each time it cost me around 3k trucks so it is something you dont want to do on a whim. You need to plan it in advance. Im not in the truck negative yet and still can disband a bunch of stuff to get more but at this point in the game I dont really need HQ buildup any longer.

Another thing that I do is turn off air support for a turn and use the bombers as well as JU-52s to fly fuel in. Doing this the turn prior to a "leap" you can fly 400+ tons of fuel to a Pz Corp. Which if it has 10-20% fuel you an juice up to the high 40s. Thats what I did with each of the big leaps and it saves a lot of trucks and is usually good for the 2nd echelon Pz attack.

.