42-45 vs. normal Soviet AI decisive victory turn 14

[wac29]

Here is a quick game done while waiting for 1.04

The goal for 1942 was to use the limited mobile forces to create pockets in the south almost every turn, with 4th Panzer Army creeping north, until enough AP built up to activate forces in AGC and start pocketing the soviet armies opposite AGC and then AGN. No deep south drive toward Baku. 1st Panzer Army was to also creep north to protect the flank of 4PA.

Here are some screenshots of turn 1.

[wac29]

Next pocket

[wac29]

Last pocket

[wac29]

Southern operations

[wac29]

Turn 2

Reducing the Russians outside Leningrad

[wac29]

Reducing the small AGC pocket

[wac29]

4th PA and friends eliminated the first pocket and created another...

One of the nice things about 1942 and going for relatively shallow pockets is that since the rail network is caught up the mobile units maintain high MP without HQ buildup or even much airdropping.

[wac29]

1st PA can't really form a pocket but the troops further south isolate Rostov, even though there is not much trapped. I plan on having the Italians occupy Rostov and try to maintain a bridgehead.

[Mynok]

AI game I assume? Still, nice pockets...but I'm surprised those OKH forces in the south haven't been reassigned yet.

[wac29]

Turn 3

Finish off the Orienbaum pocket

[wac29]

AGC finishes up for now

[wac29]

4th PA et. al. finish up the pocket from last turn and get in position for a big move next turn... I tried to position them to not have to cross rivers.

[wac29]

I have not used any AP for leaders, support units or reorganizations. I use a bunch now to activate units of 4th Army.

[wac29]

This is the plan. I know it's crazy and wouldn't work against a human but it's only a game.

I debated whether to go inside of Tula or outside but thought it would have strong units to break the pocket so went for the big score. It also has a lot of industry.

[wac29]

I also moved up 11th Army from the Crimea to help 4th PA

6th army forms a nice pocket...

[wac29]

1st PA also forms a nice pocket. I had to use regiments but if you notice the units on the eastern side of the pocket are behind rivers relative to the trapped units.

[wac29]

Turn 4

The big encirclement forms! 4th PA really is powerful although in this case it mostly exploited. It turns out I activated more units than really necessary last turn. With 45-50 MP the mobile units only need to have a one hex hole to slip through enough to meet the pincer from the other side. It really is better in some ways to spend all those MP going through ZOC's because soviet units that are attacked are activated for free.

[wac29]

The first pocket down south cannot be cleared completely. The Russians must be running out of reserves soon...

[wac29]

The last pockets is cleared. I thought I would not really drive east here toward Stalingrad but I must to engage.

I had intended the troops south of Rostov to try to hold a line but have been probing forward successfully.

[wac29]

Turn 5

The big pocket is mostly reduced. I have been activating nearby units as much as AP allows, mostly infantry, to help.