Disaster in the making. Oloren (axis) vs Terje (USSR)

[terje439]

Turn 107 EXTRA EXTRA!!

Apologies
Got kind of hotheaded here, so the turn will not be described as it usually is, I hope you all forgive me for this.

German Panzers attack!!
From what we have learned, alot of German panzers supported by mechanized troops made an attack this turn. This is reported to have caused some concern among our valiant leaders, and words like "might decide the war" can be heared all over Stavka.
Our reporters have managed to get hold of top secret aerial photos, see more below.

[terje439]

Turn 107 Too bold?!

Agressive officers win
We have learned that Stalin has agreed upon the hastily made plan of the more agressive officers in Stavka, and allowed a slugfest to commence.
It is also reported that some mistakes have been made, but also that one of the hated SS divisions have been cut off. Shall we see the first German division of the war surrender?!
From what our reporter has managed to find out, a total of 6 German attacks were made, causing 1 held, 4 retreats and 1 rout, while our own gallant fighters launched a total of 11 attacks, scoring 4 held and 7 retreats, although all the retreats were achieved further to the south just to pin the German panzers that are present at that part of the front.
Losses are reported to be 35.000 Axis troops dead and 101.000 of our brave soldiers killed on the battlefield.

The really good news is that our reporter also have been shown over 100 German tanks that have been crushed on the battlefield. And our reporter also managed to get some fresh airphotos, it seems to confirm that even kitchen scrubs are being thrown into the fight.

All we know, is that the following weeks will be scary and dangerous, but if we emerge victorious, the German offensive power might be broken.
Be sure to read more as the news arrive!!

[TulliusDetritus]

Terje, you really have a colourful front near Moscow! [:)] I understand why you have been forced to be in this situation: you brought everyone and you possibly did not have enough APs to reassign units (especially when we think about corps: really expensive to reassign them to other commands).

But the thing is, perhaps you are suffering lots of penalties: stacks with units attached to different commands (this, we don't know). And given that units from really different fronts are in this area I wonder if the HQs are far away. That is another problem (more penalties).

The whole thing looks like a lazy single's apartment! You truly need a cleaning brigade. And presto! [:)]

[krupp_88mm]

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

Terje, you really have a colourful front near Moscow! [:)] I understand why you have been forced to be in this situation: you brought everyone and you possibly did not have enough APs to reassign units (especially when we think about corps: really expensive to reassign them to other commands).

But the thing is, perhaps you are suffering lots of penalties: stacks with units attached to different commands (this, we don't know). And given that units from really different fronts are in this area I wonder if the HQs are far away. That is another problem (more penalties).

The whole thing looks like a lazy single's apartment! You truly need a cleaning brigade. And presto! [:)]

!

[AKCLIMBER]

Brilliantly, laugh out loud funny!

Terje, I've just started playing my first GC as Soviets v Axis AI and my lines are nearly as colorful as yours Thanks for the educational AAR. Good luck (and keep attacking!).

Cheers!

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

Terje, you really have a colourful front near Moscow! [:)] I understand why you have been forced to be in this situation: you brought everyone and you possibly did not have enough APs to reassign units (especially when we think about corps: really expensive to reassign them to other commands).

But the thing is, perhaps you are suffering lots of penalties: stacks with units attached to different commands (this, we don't know). And given that units from really different fronts are in this area I wonder if the HQs are far away. That is another problem (more penalties).

The whole thing looks like a lazy single's apartment! You truly need a cleaning brigade. And presto! [:)]

They all looked so nice and acoloured in layers untill the Axis cought Moscow, after that...
And yes, the AP is a pain, but what can I do? I only get so many, and there are so many things I need them for.
I need units.
I need to combine units.
I need to exchange leaders.
The list seem endless, the APs...not [:)]

But yes, there are times when I suffer a -30% penalty due to HQs, so I have got to take that into account. Usually I can offset this by a) bombing runs prior to the attack b) overwhelming forces c) more SUs.

Some of the "white" units towards the south became so last turn, I must have lost a HQ somehow...

*edit* oh, and I AM a lazy single [;)]

Terje

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: krupp_88mm

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

Terje, you really have a colourful front near Moscow! [:)] I understand why you have been forced to be in this situation: you brought everyone and you possibly did not have enough APs to reassign units (especially when we think about corps: really expensive to reassign them to other commands).

But the thing is, perhaps you are suffering lots of penalties: stacks with units attached to different commands (this, we don't know). And given that units from really different fronts are in this area I wonder if the HQs are far away. That is another problem (more penalties).

The whole thing looks like a lazy single's apartment! You truly need a cleaning brigade. And presto! [:)]

!

Haha epic [&o]


Terje

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: AKCLIMBER

Brilliantly, laugh out loud funny!

Terje, I've just started playing my first GC as Soviets v Axis AI and my lines are nearly as colorful as yours Thanks for the educational AAR. Good luck (and keep attacking!).

Cheers!

Thank you, I think the key will be something as easy as do not do what I am doing hehe. Good luck, alot of fun to be had with this game.


Terje

[terje439]

Turn 108

Overall
I start by flying as many recon flights as possible. The only units that can be seen that are not committed by the Axis, are the ones chasing down my partisans, and if you look inside the salient, there are not really alot of reserves there either. So, I think my plan now will be to take a small step back each turn to force the Axis to relocate more and more units to the defense of their line, and only attack when the odds are in my favour. That being said, we lost alot of AFVs, and that looked somewhat scary untill I looked at what I actually lost and compared it to the Axis' loss in AFVs.
The Axis launch 10 attacks, scoring 9 retreats and 1 rout this turn, causing me to lose a staggering 579 AFVs. We on the other hand launched 8 attacks, scoring 3 held and 5 retreats causing the Germans to lose 147 AFVs. There is something that should be rememebered when looking at the ammount of attacks, and that is that mine are made all along the line, while all the Axis attacks are made inside the salient. They did also manage to reopen the small pocket and free their SS unit, but that is no big concern. A small annoyance, sure, but that is all.
Casualties are listed as 35.000 Axis troops and 113.000 of ours this turn.
The manpower pool recieved a tital of 189.000 workers this turn, and ends at 2.896.

Units
I create one mechanized corps, and order the construction of 6 rifle divisions, 3 rifle brigades and 3 mechanized brigades.
As earlier mentioned, the losses of AFVs were high, but our only "real" tank losses are 246 T34 M1942s. The rest are mainly light tanks, such as the T60 M1941 (131 lost) and T70 M1942 (1106 lost). The Axis AFVs are mostly main battle tanks, with the highest losses being PzIIIm (24 lost), PzIVg (25 lost) and StugIIIh (20 lost).
With a rather high ammount of casualties this turn, our forces are still able to report a net growth of 71.000 soldiers this turn.

Partisans
With no reports of last turn, it is hard to say if I should be happy or not by the number of units left on the map or not. Anyway, after the Axis chase away 13 of our units, we are left with 27 active partisan units, so still around the 30 mark, I think I find that acceptable. Our guys managed to perform 22 acts of sabotague this turn, sadly most of the attacks occured in the north where there is no fighting. As a thank you for their effort, 22 supply drops are made this turn.

Worries
Should I relocate morre factocries or not.

[terje439]

Turn 109

Overall
It seems the Axis try to push their way north. This actually suits me, I hope they keep slugging their way north one more turn as that might give me an oppertunity to punish them severly, but I doubt my plan will succeed since the German troops obviously are non-routing, so I need to be lucky with the way a few units retreat if I am to succeed, but we will see what happens.
Once more I keep pushing all along the line, and the Axis are forced to slowly give away hex after hex in the south, but this does not really help me as there are no units behind the front to take advantage of the situation, still I kill more enemies than I lose troops there, so I will keep these attacks going for a while longer.
With 8 Axis attacks for 7 retreats and 1 rout, and our 8 attacks causing 4 held and 4 retreats, losses are given at 35.000 Axis troops and 116.000 of our soldiers.
A total of 185.000 workers went into the manpower pool, and it ends at 2.810, the good thing is that my units are slowly filling up, that being said, it will still take ages and then some before they are all at full strength.

Units
I form 4 rifle corps and recieve one airfield this turn. Even though we lose alot of troops, we still manage to make the overall size of our army to grow by 70.000 soldiers this turn too.

Partisans
I've obviously been to generous with these SOBs lately..
A mere 10 sabotague actions is no good. 28 supply drops on the other hand a good result. Sadly, since the Axis force 11 units to retreat, we are down to 25 active units.

Worries
IF the enemy pushes on, can I sever the salient at the neck?

[krupp_88mm]

question.. do you think hes up to something devious?



it appears looking at the main map
if he captures Yaroslavl (or cuts its west rail),
and hits you with a surprise attack along the Chagdoscha River
to take that rail hex in clear terrain west of Cherepovets,
that would cut rail access to your entire NW front

how would that impact your combat operations, and could you evacuate in good order?

[M60A3TTS]

Krupp, will you please edit your post and drop the map? Know you mean well, but we all have one and it's most distracting as posted here.

[Schmart]

I think your opponent is running out of steam, and that this offensive was a poor decision. He should either have tried to roll up your line towards the south or northwest. Also, he is using almost exclusively mobile formations to mount the offensive, rather than beefing up the break-ins with infantry. A poor operational choice: he either dosen't have the infantry strength, or deliberately chose not to use infantry. Either way, it's a win for you.

If I was you, I'd try to funnel the offensive in a northeast direction. He can run as far as he wants that way; his supply lines and frontage will only stretch until he's burnt out. Concentrate your forces on the neck and sides of the bulge so he can't suddenly roll up your line in either direction. Once you've concentrated enough strength, I would drive due east towards Moscow below the Klyazma river (deeper into his lines than your red lines propose). You've got a bit more open terrain there to help your drive. A secondary drive from northwest of Moscow could either encircle the bulk of his mobile forces, or at the very least initiate a panicked retreat on his part, and begin a nice late summer counter-offensive for you.

[Q-Ball]

This looks to me like Zitadelle. Impressive attack, really bad long-term for the Germans health.

I think this is an opportunity for you, and should be looked at this way.

What is he gaining exactly? More territory he can't hold, and dead Germans. You will trade 35,000 for 113,000 any day. Germans lose on that math.

A few notes on your unit dispositions from the shots I see:

1. You have CORPS manning quiet sectors of the front. Use divisions for that.
2. Your Airbases should all be on RR lines. Why? Because they draw supplies from railheads via truck. The shorter the distance, the fewer trucks get broken. If that distance is ZERO, none will break. You need to save Vehicles.

[Baelfiin]

Your units are very very scattered , the russian lines are like looking at my tye die shirt 8)

I think that is going to have a negative impact on your attacking efficency

[randallw]

Cutting off those Germans will be a challenge; the neck you create must be wide enough so it is not broken in a single turn and you don't seem to have that many units near the origin of the red arrows.  You also need enough MPs to push forward and you seem to lack huge amounts of mobile units there.

Another problem is that there are some 3 unit stacks at the front; if one of those massively powerful stacks forces it back some of the retreaters may have to rout ( the hex behind them should be empty for everyone to retreat ).

[Flaviusx]

This German doesn't know when to stop. He's going to win himself to death.

[juret]

intresting. everyone dump shit on axis player. lets see 4-5 turns from now whut the plan was with this attack or if they had right

[terje439]

Wow, alot of replies one of the few days I am off to work.
I will answer them all in one post, and if I miss anything, please let me know.

1. question.. do you think hes up to something devious? I

2. It appears looking at the main map if he captures Yaroslavl (or cuts its west rail),
and hits you with a surprise attack along the Chagdoscha River to take that rail hex in clear terrain west of Cherepovets,
that would cut rail access to your entire NW front how would that impact your combat operations, and could you evacuate in good order

3. I think your opponent is running out of steam, and that this offensive was a poor decision. He should either have tried to roll up your line towards the south or northwest. Also, he is using almost exclusively mobile formations to mount the offensive, rather than beefing up the break-ins with infantry. A poor operational choice: he either dosen't have the infantry strength, or deliberately chose not to use infantry. Either way, it's a win for you.

4. If I was you, I'd try to funnel the offensive in a northeast direction. He can run as far as he wants that way; his supply lines and frontage will only stretch until he's burnt out. Concentrate your forces on the neck and sides of the bulge so he can't suddenly roll up your line in either direction. Once you've concentrated enough strength, I would drive due east towards Moscow below the Klyazma river (deeper into his lines than your red lines propose). You've got a bit more open terrain there to help your drive. A secondary drive from northwest of Moscow could either encircle the bulk of his mobile forces, or at the very least initiate a panicked retreat on his part, and begin a nice late summer counter-offensive for you

5. This looks to me like Zitadelle. Impressive attack, really bad long-term for the Germans health.
I think this is an opportunity for you, and should be looked at this way.

6. What is he gaining exactly? More territory he can't hold, and dead Germans. You will trade 35,000 for 113,000 any day. Germans lose on that math.

7. a). You have CORPS manning quiet sectors of the front. Use divisions for that.
7. b) Your Airbases should all be on RR lines. Why? Because they draw supplies from railheads via truck. The shorter the distance, the fewer trucks get broken. If that distance is ZERO, none will break. You need to save Vehicles.

8. Your units are very very scattered , the russian lines are like looking at my tye die shirt 8)
I think that is going to have a negative impact on your attacking efficency

9. Cutting off those Germans will be a challenge; the neck you create must be wide enough so it is not broken in a single turn and you don't seem to have that many units near the origin of the red arrows. You also need enough MPs to push forward and you seem to lack huge amounts of mobile units there.

10. Another problem is that there are some 3 unit stacks at the front; if one of those massively powerful stacks forces it back some of the retreaters may have to rout ( the hex behind them should be empty for everyone to retreat ).

11. This German doesn't know when to stop. He's going to win himself to death.

12. intresting. everyone dump **** on axis player. lets see 4-5 turns from now whut the plan was with this attack or if they had right

[terje439]

And then the answers.

1. I think he is honest in his mails, (remember this is his first pbem game as well!) when he says he does not know if he should keep on attacking or fall back. I think he is afraid to give away the initiative.

2. The main problem for the Axis right now, is that there are no reserves, he is allready forced to use 4 panzer divisions to hold the current line further south.
There is no real combat anywhere north of Moscow (apart from the salient), so I should be able to evacuate well enough.

3. As stated above, he is out of units, all I can spot (and I fly ALOT of recon missions) behind the front, is ONE infantry division and the SEC divisions. Attacking just at the time he did, and in the direction he did, I would agree, is a bad choice. Had he waited a few turns I would have launched my own offensive and had fewer units available to counter him with, and he attacked towards my reserves (I think he did not spot them all)

4. The problem with going deeper is that that requires more units, untis I do not have available. I need a short line, but if my lines are managed, it sill costs him almost all his mech/pazer divisions. But it everything depends upon his next move, he might pull somethign I did not beliveve he could still. We will soon find out.

5. I agree. All he has done so far, is making the front even longer, and what should also be remembered, is that my units do not rout as much anymore, they merely retreat which also hampers any Axis advance.

6. Once more I agree, the only slight concern for me at this moment would be the loss of the manpower in the cities he could take, but if I manage to take out his mobile units because of it, it is a very good trade for me nevertheless.

7. a) Not too many divisions left really, but all the line north of what you see is held by divisions, but I agree with what you say, just not enough troops to make it doable all along at the moment.
b) Well, for now, what I really need is air support (I can usually drop a German stack defensive CV 5-8 points by aerial attacks at the moment), and for now my vehicle pool is growing by about 3.000 per turn. But That is excellent advice that I will make use of after this crisis/oppertunity (next turn might tell which it is).

8. Absolutely, I usually get -30% on my rolls, however changing a single corps HQ cost 15 CP(or is ti AP I never get that one right), or 3 mechanized brigades if you want to put it that way. I can still field vastly superior CVs in my attacks, which negates this effect for now. It is not at all a good choice, but that is the point, for now it is not a choice, it is a neccessity.

9. ALL my tank, mech and cav corps are present, they might not show, but there should be enough MP present I am counting on that Germans units are not given some exception to the "isolated units are worthless"-effect. The units he will have outside the pocket will all be inf divisions with an avaerage CV of 5, and rather low MP, I THINK I have enough.

10. The only stacks of 3 I see are my Guard divisions (if he attacks here, I'll be REALLY happy. These stacks are around 40 CV, high morale, and are all filled with SUs.), and the city defenders which have level 2 and level 3 forts. An attack here, even if it forces my units to rout, is acceptable to me, as it will be costly in terms of soldiers and AFVs for the Germans.

11. As mentioned, his first game as well, and he has stated that it was my attacks occuring all along the line, and which always sent his units retreating that made him decide he needed to do something.

12. I agree, this is only an oppertunity to the USSR if I manage to take care of the oppertunity, alot also depends upon what happen in the next German turn.


Last; since this game will end at some time.
Oloren, I hope none of my assumptions/guesses are stated in such a way to make you look bad, that is not my intention, never has it been so, nor will it ever be. I am having tons of fun with this game, and say thank you for this oppertunity to play against you [&o][&o][&o]

Terje