1.04 The Wolf and the Bear (no Gids)

[Tarhunnas]

OOB and losses turn 61. Even with the losses of the last turns, Soviet strength is formidable.

[Klydon]

Both sides are hurting in the tank department. Over 7 million Russian casualties and almost 130k artillery gone. Russians have really been hurt and his unit count is taking a huge hit.

Nice job on the 42 campaign! [&o]

[Q-Ball]

This has been a very effective Summer 1942 campaign. 7 mil losses is no joke, even for the Red Army.

Destroying units will force him to spend APs on building new divisions, rather than new Corps.

His tank strength is very low. I wonder if he just isn't building enough units to deploy tanks in the pool, or the pool is also empty. Soviet production in 1942 should be something like 450 per turn. If you can prevent him from accumulating piles of T-34s, that will bode well for 1943.

It's a long way to Berlin, and I'm not sure he's getting there

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 62. The offensive to the Southeast continues. XXXIX Panzer Corps breaks through and captures Boguchar in a coup de main.

Meanwhile the rested 2d Panzer Army has been redeployed to the area east of Kharkov (circled) and spread out to the extent possible to hide it from enemy reconnaisance. The plan is a thrust east to join with the forces at Boguchar and trap the Soviet defenders of the bulge northwest of Boguchar.

After that blow, it should be possible to advance to Stalingrad, forcing the relocation of the last Soviet big industrial centre.

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 63 August 27 1942.

The Soviets have apparently put together a tank reserve, and now they have launched a spoiling attack with several tank corps on my northeastern flank, surrounding Tambov.

[Tarhunnas]

The situation at Tambov will be handled by local infantry reserves, so as not to dissipate strength from the main thrust southeast.

The attack by 2d Panzer Army succeeds, a breakthrough is accomplished and they advance to contact elements attacking southwest from Boguchar. At the same time, panzers break out to the southeast and a large part of the Soviet defenders are cut off. The encirclements are weak however, and the panzer divisions are at low strength. The encirclements will probably not hold, but they will unhinge the Soviet defenses and bring us a third of the way to Stalingrad.

[Klydon]

Nasty. Even if you don't get to Stalingrad, you are doing what the Germans need to do in 1942 and that is kill as many Russian counters as possible. 

[Sabre21]

Soviet players really need to learn to use defenses in depth when facing panzer units. I can see where a lot of your panzers can get cut off so I hope you brought plenty of gas along.

[Tarhunnas]

ORIGINAL: Sabre21

Soviet players really need to learn to use defenses in depth when facing panzer units. I can see where a lot of your panzers can get cut off so I hope you brought plenty of gas along.

Yes, I expect some of them to be cut off, and I am operating on a shoestring, but most of the Soviet units in the vicinity are 1-1s, so I think the risk is acceptable. The Soviet army is really beginning to look ground down, with many both tank and infantry units being very weakish. Anyway, like many military operations, a brave posture can hide your own weakness and impose your will on the opponent. Of course, there is an ending to that, when the enemy calls your bluff... sometimes it's known by the name Stalingrad.

[Peltonx]

Nice job starting to look like you very much have upper hand if hes down to only 4.3 million men. I am guessing his CV# are low on most of his units.

From what I am seeing if the Russian player gets below 5 million in 42 hes in trouble.

Pelton

[Tarhunnas]

ORIGINAL: Pelton

Nice job starting to look like you very much have upper hand if hes down to only 4.3 million men. I am guessing his CV# are low on most of his units.

From what I am seeing if the Russian player gets below 5 million in 42 hes in trouble.

Pelton

Many Soviet units are CV 1 or 2, but both armies are very worn down. My mobile units have CVs of 3 to 5. They need a rest, but I can't let go now when I have a good grip.

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 64. September 4 1942.

The pockets were broken as expected, but so is the Soviet defense line. The advance towards Stalingrad continues, while the pockets are solidified.

Soviet attacks in the Tambov area continues, but I am letting 2d Army handle that with local forces. It is not really a threat even if they manage to advance, a breakthrough seems unlikely. And any Soviet units attacking there will not be able to oppose the advance to Stalingrad.

Capturing Stalingrad seems within the bounds of the possible, but the question is if it can be done before mud? This game has random weather, so mud can strike at any time now, even if not very likely in september.

[krupp_88mm]

wow really nice job, i dont know if i would go for stalingrad, he can keep laying down inf and reserves, plus its too late in the year, remember your victory disease you had before, if you do get stalingrad winter comes your lines will be very long and youll have to withdraw anyway, i would just try to straighten your lines north and south of the bulge and try to surround some more corps and guards divisions, and maybe capture or destroy some more manpower cities, i think hes on the ropes if you just keep destroying units

maybe even try a quick dash to wreck saratov's manpower and encircle the north of the bulge, he might not be expecting that, tehn again if he doesnt lay down any reserves in front of stalingrad maybe just a feint that way to force him to evac the industry and then turn around, unless he leaves it ungaurded



the blue plan would be to force him to shift his reserves in front of stalingrad, while you sweep south to shorten your lines and pocket units in the south

the red plan is to pocket units and then fall back to defensive positions for winter

[Q-Ball]

I would go for Stalingrad. What's the worst that can happen?[:D]

Seriously, I would keep pushing, though you likely have to be more conservative if there is ANY chance of MUD. Getting Panzers cut-off then stuck in mud would be a disaster.

Saratov is a good target; there is alot of industry there if he hasn't moved it.

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 65. September 10 1942.

Map after recon but before German moves. The encirclements hold, now it's harvest time.

[Sabre21]

Remember every unit destroyed is gone for good and the more that are destroyed will thin his line even more but those remaining will have higher cv's due to fewer units to place his replacements in.
 
On the other hand if you stretch his line out by heading to the Volga, you will have the same effect of thinning his front but the units will have lower cv's and every city you take gets that much closer to a decisive victory.
 
Tough call...especially it being September..you have only 2 or 3 good weather turns before mud. Had it been mid-August or sooner I would say go for the Volga. being that it is September, kill units and get redundant or protected railheads as far forward as possible.

[Tarhunnas]

The situation at Tambov is getting serious and cannot be ignored anymore. I will have to divert reserves to deal with it. Map before German moves.

[Tarhunnas]

Southern half of front after Axis moves. 2d Panzer Army breaks through to the sothwest and cuts the railway between Rostov and Stalingrad. The situation is beginning to look precarious for the Soviet forces in the Donbass. Now I have a new conundrum. Turn right and head for Rostov to cut off the Soviet southern front, or turn left to take Stalingrad?

I suspect though, that STAVKA might be withdrawing the Southern Front to Rostov...

The threat at Tambov was nicely handled by 2d Army by routing two Soviet tank corps and surrounding a third. My northern flank is starting to be a headache though. If the Soviets were stronger, I would be running serious risks there, or maybe I already am...

[Tarhunnas]

My forces are very worn down however, as can be seen from this closeup of 2d Panzer Army on its way to a tryst with destiny at Stalingrad. The CVs are depressingly low. The only consolation is that the enemy is just as weak.

[Tarhunnas]

Losses and OOB after Axis turn 65. Losses from the recent pockets bring Soviet losses above 8 million.