War Reports from the East Front II: Carnage vs. Redmarkus

[CarnageINC]

Front Line Trace 8-21-41

Here is the second month of my drive. I'm still slightly ahead of my first drive in game 1 with Red.

[Klydon]

Very ambitious in the south. I hope those panzers had lots of fuel and you are flying resupply missions, because they are going to run out of gas fast.

Just my two cents from the cheap seats, but I think you could have done a minor pocket in the south with closing up on the river near D-Town. That would have bagged some units, gotten you over the back side of the river and probably gotten you Z-Town. 16th and 18th armies have a lot of frontage, which is according to plan, but I think at some point, you are going to have to figure out a good stop point and get them digging very early on the shortest possible line. If you don't, that whole line will be a house of cards come winter and the Russians will just kick your head in big time unfortunately. We also know what happens when Rumanians are left to watch the Crimea. (Hint; it isn't very pretty at all [:D] ). I would also consider being ready to pursue if he pulls back from the river, although I think your southern pincer is going to have issues. It doesn't have nearly as strong of infantry support and the Russians naturally have more cav in the south to gum up the works in terms of cutting off spearheads.

I will say if you can hit the pocket, it is going to be a monster. Potentially lots of dead Russians. Logistically, its going to be a nightmare for you.

Will be interesting to see how it all shakes out.

[sillyflower]

+1

It's sh#t or bust, that's for sure. Seems like a bite too far to me, especially give Red's success so far in the game at cutting off supplies.

[CarnageINC]

SITREP 8-28-41

Well gentlemen, sorry to say but Operation Hercules is over just as fast as it begun. The implied threat to his flanks sent Red's Soviet center forces back from the Dnepr River. I consider this a major success, considering my panzers didn't have the fuel for this kind of drive. The primary objective was reached so I will renew my drive eastward.

[timmyab]

Well done forcing the withdrawal.I think it's a significant mistake though from Red, he could have held the Dnieper positions especially from Kiev Southwards for another week or two no problem.Perhaps a withdrawal in the North is more justified.

[CarnageINC]

I agree that Red's pulling back as much as he did was a major mistake.  I'm guessing that he could of stalled out my drives for a month or so.  My panzers just didn't have the fuel to drive deep.  I thought they would of been resupplied to the low twenties but most that I didn't air drop to are only in the mid teens.  Of course he didn't know that and probably thought my panzer's had full fuel.

[Klydon]

If his recon is high enough on those panzers, he can roughly tell how much gas they have by using the corner clicky screen (color code gives him a rough indication on gas supply and those guys would have been very red as in empty tanks).

He has no reason at all to stay and fight at this point. It is the end of August and all he has to worry about is staying alive for the next several turns before mud comes in. He keeps his army largely intact and ends the quick huge land grab that Carnage had in mind. Carnage will get that territory anyway, but now it will be over a period of several turns and the Russian army is not going to suffer the losses at all. There is absolutely no reason to stick around and face Germany infantry in the summer of 1941.

By far the one thing this helped is it got him out of his fortified lines behind the river and Carnage was able to do it without taking heavy crossing casualties.

[CarnageINC]

SITREP 9-4-41

I must admit that there is no real benefit to massing 3 panzer groups down south as I have done. As long as you properly use the 1st Panzer Group you should be getting similar results IMO. I think it would of been better to talk my 'higher' power [:'(] to go for the middle option which would of been more conventional.

My two panzer thrusts...if successful...will allow me to attempt another pincer move just before winter arrives I believe. Again I may be over atomistic but it should make for a interesting front line for winter.

[Klydon]

ORIGINAL: CarnageINC

SITREP 8-14-41

Middle of my 'offensive' drive here, not all has been going well but I'm still having fun. Not every German player is a superstar player I guess [:D]. I am still relearning something after every turn so at least I'll be better prepared for my next game after 1.05 comes out.

I saw this the other day and meant to comment on it.

First, a lot has happen with the game since your first AAR's. There has been a lot of posts, information come out, etc and the game has been patched quite a bit since you played last. In short, things are quite a bit different now than they were when you were playing before. As you mention, you are learning a lot from this run. Much like a lot of us learned from your first AAR's (among the first early AAR's after the game went public), there is a lot to be learned as well from recent AAR's, but it takes time to go through them.

As you also mention, 1.05 is coming and that is going to be a lot of changes that all of us are going to have to get used to because a lot of things people did are going to get changed.

Big thing is hang in there and try to get the learning curve out of the way for next time.

In regard to having 3 panzer groups in the south. I agree with you that it is likely over kill. I don't really look at panzer groups but rather along the lines of panzer corps, since the groups are not even close to even in strength. (Panzer corps are closer to each other, but even those can be fairly spread in terms of combat power). At any rate, there are 10 panzer corps to start the game. 3 are in the south, 5 in the middle and 2 north. I think the minimum you want north or south of the marshes is 4 corps. I think there is something to be said about sending extra corps south, because 3 isn't enough down there, especially to start the game when PG1 only has 4 panzer divisions that can move on turn 1. How many you send is another discussion.

As usual, your AAR's are entertaining and your maps are great, so keep up the good work.

[CarnageINC]

Glad to hear what you had to say Klydon, I'm happy to have a old fan following the AAR.  I don't seem to be getting the input from last game, which IMO was very helpful.  Your right about 1.05, I think both sides will  have some adjusting to do, I feel it should help give the Germans a bit more offensive capability during the summer of 42.  I'm also glad to hear that the AAR is still entertaining.

I had hoped my new formula with the maps would work out.  I feel that I need a bit more detailed map but not sure what direction to go in.  I guess I should experiment or ask in general what people would like to see on them.  So if any of you following the AAR have any ideas on how to make the maps better please give me some input.  I enjoy making them since I feel I'm not to inciteful on my comments [:)].

[CarnageINC]

SITREP 9-11-41

I'm going to try my older format of breaking down each Army Group. I usually use a formatted paper to type it up on but I seemed to have deleted it or put it in a different place. Overall this turn was much better than the last few, I'm applying my hard learned lessons better so I hope to start putting more pressure on Red. Once my rail heads cross the Dnepr, fuel should be more excess able.

AGN: Forces of the 18th Army are meeting very stubborn resistance. River crossings are becoming rare because of lack of forces with the movement ability to cross. 16th Army is making good progress past Phase Line Odyssey. Fortifications will start to be erected in the northern region because of the lack of mobile forces for the coming winter will no be available to AGN.

AGC: 9th Army is having difficulty making any headway toward Phase Line Odyssey. A detachment from 3rd Pzr Grp is being thought of at the moment. A new operation is now in effect, codenamed HAMMER. The primary objective is to pressure the center again by swinging around the east side of Orel and drive toward Kursk. Capturing Kursk is a secondary objective. 4th Army is assisting 3 Pzr Grp making good progress even though fuel resources are limited here.

AGS: 6th Army is making good progress against minimal opposition. 17th Army is moving into position to assist 1st Pzr Grp with its new assignment. Operation ANVIL primary purpose is to force Soviets from the region between 1st and 3rd Pzr Grps. Secondary objective is the capture of Kharkov. 2nd Pzr Grp is making good progress even though fuel is critical in this region. 4th Pzr Grp 'light' has broken into the Crimean peninsula and their primary mission is to force a Soviet split between Sevastopol and the eastern land bridge.

[CarnageINC]

SITREP 9-18-41

AGN: OKH has decided to bring in as much heavy artillery and rocket support units that it can currently muster. 18th Army is to receive the bulk of these units to help break the stalemates with river crossings and the Battle of Novgorod. 16th Army will go into defensive positions and cover area south of Ilmen lake.

AGC: Supplies and fuel are starting to reach this front in larger numbers. 3rd Pzr. Grp. will launch the next series of attacks in Operation HAMMER. Several Stug Battalions have been transferred to assist in the push toward Kursk.

AGS: 1st and 2nd Pzr Grps have run short of fuel reserves, transport aircraft are being brought in to assist in resupply efforts. Both are expected to start their renewed drives next week. 4th Pzr Grp successfully opened up the Crimean to Axis forces. Siege of Sevastopol will start next week.

[timmyab]

Just a minor point.I would push a few hexes beyond phase line odyssey in front of the cities at least.Having those cities in the front line makes them a tempting target.Once they're gone then the armour has nowhere to hide from the blizzard that's close enough to the front to launch counterattacks.Level 4 towns like Ostrachkov are also useful for this.I'd also be looking to kick the Soviets out of the rest of the Valdai hills before their defence stiffens.This area is a natural winter fortress.

[CarnageINC]

What you say Timmyab has merit. First point about the cities, their will probably not be any armor support in AGN. Holding cites is good for the troops TOE and morale but AGN is a secondary theater right now. Second point I have to take into consideration with the Valdai Hills is frontal coverage. I need to be able to safely cover my lines so I'm probably going conservative on that region.

Thanks for the input, it did make me think things through more thoroughly.[;)]

[CarnageINC]

Front Line Trace 9-25-41

[CarnageINC]

SITREP 9-25-41

AGN: This theater has stabilized somewhat. Efforts are still being made to make headway against stiffing opposition.

AGC: 3rd Pzr. Grp.'s renewed offensive toward Kursk was a success even though Kursk was not able to be held for long.

AGS: All panzer groups in this theater are still lacking major supplies and fuel but situation is improving with the rail lines crossing the Dnepr River this week.

[sillyflower]

Grats - you did much better here than I was expecting.

[Klydon]

I am sure everyone says the same thing, but what an extra turn or two of good weather would give in the south. Russian has got to be very concerned about now about losing half his front there not to mention the units around the Stalino area as well.

I think the Germans are going to get smoked in the 16th, 18th and 9th army areas over winter, but that was part of the plan to make things possible in the south.

Going to be some nail biting turns for the Russian wishing for bad weather sooner rather than later. Good recovery, especially in the south.

[CarnageINC]

2 October 1941 Newspaper

[CarnageINC]

SITREP 10-2-41

AGN: Oberkommando des Heeres has decided to start a preemptive refit of all infantry divisions in AGN area of operations. Max. TOE is to be set at 75%. This is to help ensure that several divisions of lower strength will not become 'unready' status come winter time.

AGC: Front is starting to solidify in northern area of operations, while the southern sector is fluid still. Preparations for winter defense will being shortly, no TOE adjustments for seen in this region.

AGS: Consolidation of region underway for winter defensive measures to be taken. Supply had become an issue and no further advance is possible or wanted at this time.