Providence Lost: A 42-45 multiplayer grand campaign game

[Jajusha]

As for the current campaign, my abysmal lack of trucks and slow rail repair have been the biggest enemy. Once i can engage i can do a big pile of bodies, a big part of them German, but as fiva is retreating to repaired rails, i face lack of supplies, fuel and ammo, slowing any advance considerably.

North: Most of the front was static most of summer, i have just 1 town over there where i can build new divisions, and the rail situation is really bad. Any new troops must spend 1 or 2 turns traveling by rail, then 2 or 3 more to get into position, just be fatigued and out of supplies for 2 or 3 more turns.

Center: We finished our version of Kursk, and after that German armor has been used in mostly defensive engagements. Even so, i was unable to encircle and destroy his inf divisions several times. The first artillery divisions and brigades where game-changers in the Moscow area, where i had very high defensive CV in front of my troops. After the "trials by fire" to relieve the Moscow area of any pressure, they were sent to the southern front where panzer divisions where being directly used to defend key areas. Smolensk was mostly abandoned by German troops, they are defending river lines and river crossings more fiercely then cities.

South: Where i made most progress, the bulk of my red guards and inf corps are here, and gained good ground only hindered by the poor logistics situation, and the sieges in the Stalino area.

Crimea: What a hard nut to crack. The assault over the strait of Kerch required the commitment of 1 soviet army. After the strait was secure, i quickly found one cannot build rail from that side of the Crimea, and any ofensive through the Crimea would have to be very limited in scale, as a new front couldn't be opened without rail. Alas, Fiva quickly exploited my rushed advance as i was running to Sevastopol while using fresh recruits to hold the flank and he was able to isolate the 51st army just when mud was arriving.

The air has been my territory since mid of summer. The bombing campaign was quite successful , even if i was losing 2-3:1 in casualties, i managed to take out a lot of his fighters, to the point where they mostly stoped showing up in ground support missions.

November is bringing me an extra 100 (from 90 to 190) t-34s per tank corps, so, i expect an increase in armor corps fighting capability. Used these last 2 turns before mud to make sure i'm not too far ahead from my rail and moved most of my army behind some weak divisions. All soviet troops have order to refit to 100%. We are expecting to cross major river lines when they freeze over this winter, to counter any previous attempt of fortification.

Overall, German fighting capability has been decreasing, but the rate of fivas retreat allows him to conserve his forces while keeping mine exausted. I'm hopping that with winter, and the moving penalties to both forces plus the frozen rivers, i'm able to engage his forces more often, for higher casualties.

[Aditia]

How are your replacements doing fiva? In my pbem for 43-45 during mud season, replacement rate has taken a dump, I have no idea why. Does manpower 'production' for the Germans slacken off at the end of 1943?

[fiva55]

ORIGINAL: Aditia

How are your replacements doing fiva? In my pbem for 43-45 during mud season, replacement rate has taken a dump, I have no idea why. Does manpower 'production' for the Germans slacken off at the end of 1943?

Replacements are averaging 50.000 men a turn. I haven't finished my mud turn yet, so I can't tell you whether the replacement rate will take a dumb in the mud season. I will keep an eye on it and post the numbers though. As for the mp production, as far I know, production does not slack off until begin 1944, but I could be wrong.

[fiva55]

BEGIN TURN 69
10/16/1943
OKH RECEIVED REPORTS SUMMARY

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AXIS OOB
Men: 2.273.916
Guns: 18.946
AFV: 3.911
Air: 2.148

SOVIET OOB
Men: 6.858.636
Guns: 115.098
AFV: 9.698
Air: 17.466

AXIS LOSSES
Men: 2.685.345
Guns: 45.170
AFV: 9.379
Air: 6.510

SOVIET LOSSES
Men: 6.492.285
Guns: 121.016
AFV: 28.972
Air: 37.211

SOVIET ATTACKS RESULTS
03 held
06 retreated

PRODUCTION
Manpower pool: 438.232
Armaments pool: 0
Rifle Squads: Rdy 19.281/Dam 426

EVENT LOG
Refit/replacements segment: 49.127 men were added to Germany's front line units
Unready units: 10 German units unready

NOTABLE EVENTS
As expected, in the Crimea, the Soviet 51st Army was unable to escape the encirclement formed by 1st Pz Army. Trapped now are 1 Rifle corps, 5 Rifle divisions, 2 Guards Rocket Launcher Divisions, 4 Calvery disions and 2 tank brigades. With mud all across the front this , 1st Pz Army has now been assigned the tedious task of eliminating the now isolated Soviets.

[fiva55]

BEGIN TURN 70
10/23/1943
OKH RECEIVED REPORTS SUMMARY

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AXIS OOB
Men: 2.290.166
Guns: 19.573
AFV: 4.140
Air: 2.166

SOVIET OOB
Men: 6.835.947
Guns: 114.953
AFV: 9.896
Air: 17.513

AXIS LOSSES
Men: 2.693.981
Guns: 45.301
AFV: 9.429
Air: 6.587

SOVIET LOSSES
Men: 6.548.416
Guns: 122.539
AFV: 29.055
Air: 37.658

SOVIET ATTACKS RESULTS
14 AF bombed

PRODUCTION
Manpower pool: 427.578
Armaments pool: 0
Rifle Squads: Rdy 19.430/Dam 460

EVENT LOG
Refit/replacements segment: 43.861 men were added to Germany's front line units

NOTABLE EVENTS
All is quiet, except in the Crimea.

[fiva55]

BEGIN TURN 71
10/30/1943
OKH RECEIVED REPORTS SUMMARY

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AXIS OOB
Men: 2.303.953
Guns: 19.882
AFV: 4.253
Air: 2.253

SOVIET OOB
Men: 6.847.399
Guns: 115.363
AFV: 10.088
Air: 17.401

AXIS LOSSES
Men: 2.699.129
Guns: 45.417
AFV: 9.451
Air: 6.595

SOVIET LOSSES
Men: 6.556.676
Guns: 123.045
AFV: 29.075
Air: 37.863

PRODUCTION
Manpower pool: 410.888
Armaments pool: 0
Rifle Squads: Rdy 19.704/Dam 464

EVENT LOG
Refit/replacements segment: 47.566 men were added to Germany's front line units
Unready units: 1 German units unready

NOTABLE EVENTS
[*]In the southern sector, rearguards, who were left behind to prevent the Soviets from creeping up to the Dnepr line during the mud, were encircled. The commitment of local reserves were sufficient to break them out.

[*]Slowly but certainly, the Soviet 51st Army in the Crimea is being destroyed.

[fiva55]

BEGIN TURN 72
11/6/1943
OKH RECEIVED REPORTS SUMMARY

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AXIS OOB
Men: 2.295.329
Guns: 20.020
AFV: 4.334
Air: 2.290

SOVIET OOB
Men: 6.812.954
Guns: 114.673
AFV: 10.171
Air: 17.455

AXIS LOSSES
Men: 2.704.290
Guns: 45.523
AFV: 9.490
Air: 6.651

SOVIET LOSSES
Men: 6.582.412
Guns: 124.040
AFV: 29.152
Air: 38.204

SOVIET ATTACKS RESULTS
14 AF Bombed

PRODUCTION
Manpower pool: 414.926
Armaments pool: 0
Rifle Squads: Rdy 19.446/Dam 438

EVENT LOG
Refit/replacements segment: 29.486 men were added to Germany's front line units

NOTABLE EVENTS
The last turn of mud, and only 6 divisions of 51st Army remain. Holed up in the mountains east of Sevastopol, German Pz divisions where unable to force them to surrender.

[Fishbed]

How come the Soviets in Crimea appear to be in such a good supply state, while your troops aren't...?

[fiva55]

ORIGINAL: Fishbed

How come the Soviets in Crimea appear to be in such a good supply state, while your troops aren't...?

Fighting in the mud and in rough terrain does that to your fuel supply [:D].

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TURN 73 THOUGHTS

The first snow turn starts on a good note, with the Germans finally eliminating the Soviets in the Crimea. Also on the bright side, all German units are in ready status, if only barely.

Soon however, the Soviets will start their winter offensive. As of yet, the Soviet war machine is like a steam roller, forcing their way forwards slowly but certainly. Luckily, besides their 5th Guards Tank Army and 1st Tank Army, they lack the means to exploit their tactical breakthroughs effectively, but we will see if it will change this winter.

As for the German defenders, most of them are in level 3 forts behind rivers. The plan is to hold the current line until the rivers freeze. After that, we will make a steady withdrawal towards west. I still have some space to trade for time, but I fear I will soon run out of it.......

END OF TURN 73 OVERVIEW

Notable points
[*]Recon shows no large enemy reserves in the North.

[*]The landbridge west of Smolensk is a weak spot in our defence, so 1 PzCrps has been send to reinforce it.

[*]The main bulk of the Soviets forces seem to be in the South. 1st Pz Army will remain in this sector to counter this threat.

[Mynok]

This is winter 42-43 right? Methinks you are ripe for a pummeling around Dnepropetrovsk. Those Rumanians are not going to hold up against what he has to bring in the area. And your panzers are mostly south the Dnepr and can't get back up there to back up the defenses in time.

[Klydon]

Too bad you can't pull a pincers movement up on the bulge. Getting rid of those units, including the 5 artillery divisions would be a good set back for him. 

[fiva55]

ORIGINAL: Mynok


This is winter 42-43 right? Methinks you are ripe for a pummeling around Dnepropetrovsk. Those Rumanians are not going to hold up against what he has to bring in the area. And your panzers are mostly south the Dnepr and can't get back up there to back up the defenses in time.

It's the winter of 43-44. I'm not to worried about the Rumanians, they can hold up against infantry divisions. It's just when the guards infantry corps arrive that they will give ground. Then again, not much in my arsenal can stand up against those infantry corps, with the notable exceptions of the 35 CV 1st SS Pz division

[Mynok]

43! You should be getting an SS Panzer corps pretty soon I think? Be very helpful down south.

[fiva55]

BEGIN TURN 74
11/20/1943
OKH RECEIVED REPORTS SUMMARY

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AXIS OOB
Men: 2.281.404
Guns: 20.210
AFV: 4.675
Air: 2.305

SOVIET OOB
Men: 6.793.800
Guns: 115.112
AFV: 10.534
Air: 17.798

AXIS LOSSES
Men: 2.752.233
Guns: 47.025
AFV: 9.666
Air: 6.804

SOVIET LOSSES
Men: 6.657.788
Guns: 126.048
AFV: 29.368
Air: 39.031

SOVIET ATTACKS RESULTS
17 Held
34 Retreated

EVENT LOG
Refit/replacements segment: 34.626 men were added to Germany's front line units
Unready units: 27 German units unready

NOTABLE EVENTS
Attacks all across the front, but the line still held.

[fiva55]

BEGIN TURN 75
11/27/1943
OKH RECEIVED REPORTS SUMMARY

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AXIS OOB
Men: 2.247.583
Guns: 19.333
AFV: 4.689
Air: 2.350

SOVIET OOB
Men: 6.909.148
Guns: 117.943
AFV: 10.652
Air: 17.939

AXIS LOSSES
Men: 2.798.036
Guns: 48.629
AFV: 9.857
Air: 6.047

SOVIET LOSSES
Men: 6.742.020
Guns: 127.950
AFV: 29.628
Air: 39.365

SOVIET ATTACKS RESULTS
13 Held
41 Retreated

PRODUCTION
Manpower pool: 453.985
Armaments pool: 0
Rifle Squads: Rdy 17.006/Dam 600

EVENT LOG
Refit/replacements segment: 68.367 men were added to Germany's front line units
Unready units: 36 German units unready

NOTABLE EVENTS
[*]German ID with <3000 men have been merged all across the front

[*]Despite the many successful Soviet attacks, they still haven't managed to break through the German lines in force

[*]The Soviet 5th Guards Tank Army has been located in the north, engaging the Fins. To counter this threat, 2 strong waffen SS Pz divs have been send to reinforce the sector

[fiva55]

Updated to 1.04.22. The Soviet advance continues to be steady but slow. The key to surviving seems to
be retreating at the right moment, carefully balancing time and space.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BEGIN TURN 77
12/11/1943
OKH RECEIVED REPORTS SUMMARY

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AXIS OOB
Men: 2.207.380
Guns: 18.733
AFV: 4.888
Air: 2.364

SOVIET OOB
Men: 6.945.511
Guns: 119.131
AFV: 10.682
Air: 19.526

AXIS LOSSES
Men: 2.875.368
Guns: 50.982
AFV: 10.319
Air: 7.049

SOVIET LOSSES
Men: 6.896.301
Guns: 130.849
AFV: 30.280
Air: 40.235

SOVIET ATTACKS RESULTS
7 Held
37 Retreated
3 AF Bombed

PRODUCTION
Manpower pool: 476.872
Armaments pool: 0
Rifle Squads: Rdy 16.942/Dam 557

EVENT LOG
Refit/replacements segment: 61.900 men were added to Germany's front line units
Unready units: 27 German units unready

NOTABLE EVENTS
[*]The Fins have been hit hard these few turns, with losses greatly exceeding replacements. Large parts of the 2 Finnish armies are now in unready status.

[Jajusha]

No idea how the winter of 43 should look like, but currently its a slow grind of fort busting.

[fiva55]

Alright, to all good things come an end. Jajusha and me have been playing the 42 GC for almost 3 months, and I consider him a good an reliable opponent.

We had fun playing the campaign, with both sides having the chance of going on the offensive and being on the defensive.

Like Tarhunnas, I have encountered the armaments bug, but was luckily less effected by it then him. I'm glad that it is fixed now, and I would recommend to anyone who wants to try something different to give the 42 GC a shot.

Currently though, our game has developed into a grinding war. There is no doubt that Jajusha will be able to force me back west in the remaining 100 turns, but at a 1 hex pace per turn, neither of us is very interested in playing out the remaining turns. Having long lost the ability to do anything but some local counter attacks, I mostly stayed in the game so Jajusha would have a chance of capturing Berlin. Now that Jajusha has lost interest in capturing Berlin, I have offered him my surrender.

So consider this a Soviet win, congratulations to my opponent. Thank you all for your interest. We are currently starting up a 43 GC, with me as Soviets. Let's see if I can do better than Jajusha [:D].

[Fishbed]

Aya Fiva, you're breaking my heart as a reader!&nbsp;[:(]
But well I can understand the whole point, so Salute to both players and thanks for the game [&o]