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

[juret]

they still exist (t-34 1942) they will be used when u dont have enough of t-34 1944 as reinforcments. i think u must loose over 300 t-34 per turn to use up some of em after your tank corps upgraded the TOE.

[terje439]

Thank you both, that was what I hoped and believed


Terje

[terje439]

Turn 141

Overall
The Axis once more make no attacks, we however might have been to eager as we score 8 held and 17 retreats. That is too many helds, but that is the punishment we take for relying on a 3:1 favour in unmodified CVs.
We do however manage to form a pocket, the Axis can break the pocket, but doing so will leave two more German divisions in danger of being trapped next turn. Will be exciting to see what the Axis do about this.
Due to too many held results, our losses are a bit too high for my liking, but what is done is done. Losses are reported as;
Axis : 53.000 troops and 171 AFVs
USSR : 102.000 troops and 562 AFVs
A total of 153.000 report to the manpower pool this turn ending it at 7.654.

Units
3 TACs are sent to the reserves this turn.
We order the formation of 1 tank corps, and the construction of 4 rifle divisions and 2 rifle brigades.
Our forces grows by 65.000 troops this turn.

HQ Zhukov
The units in this front is now really making their presence known to the Axis (see below).

Partisans
We end the turn with 28 active units after 12 are chased away by the Axis. 8 acts of sabotague are made, and this time we atleast manage 5 supply drops.

[terje439]

Turn 142

Overall
The Axis decide to sacrifice those two pocketed divisions, and are falling back all along the centre of the line. They deliberately leave some Rumanian and Hungarian divisions behind as speedbumps. Instead of pushing these guys back, I decide to encircle as many of them as possible. Once more the Axis make no attacks, while we make 17, scoring 2 held, 13 retreats and 2 surrender. Losses are given at;
Axis : 56.000 troops and 182 AFVs
USSR : 86.000 troops and 387 AFVs

Units
4 TACs are given a minor vacation this turn.
We form one guards rifle corps and one normal rifle corps this turn, and order the construction of 2 rifle divisions and 1 rifle brigade. Stalin grants us a new HQ and a new NKPS unit this turn.
Our forces grows by 83.000 troops.

Pools
Vehicle : 147.000
Armaments : 988.000
Manpower : 1.249

Liberation
The city of Ryazan is liberated by our victorious forces this turn.

Units destroyed
The German 376 Infantry Division, the German 82nd Infantry Division and the German 70th Fortified Zone are all captured this turn.

HQ Zhukov
The mechanized units continue their advance, threathening to once more cut off two German divisions, although the pocket is not closed, it forces the Axis to either retreat or heavily reinforce the area.

Partisans
Although the Axis chase away 11 units, we are still left with 29 on the board at the end of the turn. 15 sabotague missions are undertaken, and finally the ammount of supply drops are going back up, with a total of 17 being made this turn.

[Q-Ball]

Good choice on those Axis Allies. Even though they are "only" Romanians and Hungarians, the Axis needs every Rifle it can put in the line. That was a real bad decision on his part; it will cost you a turn's pause to surround and destroy those 5 divisions, but it's worth it.

Not sure if your opponent is aware that Axis Allies do not "re-spawn". Only Germans do. Those units are gone forever.

Not sure why he didn't crack the pocket open to those 2 divisions either. At a minimum, that would delay you, as you would likely pause to destroy rather than advance.

If he keeps making these decisions, you will close ground quickly.....

PS: What is that huge cluster of airbases around Saratov? Any reason they are just sitting there?

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

Good choice on those Axis Allies. Even though they are "only" Romanians and Hungarians, the Axis needs every Rifle it can put in the line. That was a real bad decision on his part; it will cost you a turn's pause to surround and destroy those 5 divisions, but it's worth it.

Not sure if your opponent is aware that Axis Allies do not "re-spawn". Only Germans do. Those units are gone forever.

Not sure why he didn't crack the pocket open to those 2 divisions either. At a minimum, that would delay you, as you would likely pause to destroy rather than advance.

If he keeps making these decisions, you will close ground quickly.....

PS: What is that huge cluster of airbases around Saratov? Any reason they are just sitting there?

Well if he had tried to save those two German units he would be in alot of trouble after this turn as he simply did not have the forces in the area to stop me from re-encircling those two divisions, but also encircle his two other German divisions, so that I think was the correct choice on his part.
Yes, I was surprised to see those divisions left. True, they do slow me down one turn (one of them is allready surrounded), but as you say, he needs those units to stop my advance. It might be that he is hoping level 2 forts will be enough for him to re-establish a line as his units seem to increase fort levels by 1 every turn up to level 3.

After I shifted Zhukov down to the centre, the ground gained here has increased from 1 hex every 2 turns to 2 hexes every turn, so I think I will be able to turn his Don-line quite soon. If that happens, he will have a hard time stopping me anywhere south of Moscow unless he has some trick up his sleeve.

Those airfields are simply not in use. I find my the areas behind my front more than congested enough, and with me constantly sending airgroups back to the reserves I simply do not see any need for them, I have better use for the "spare" hexes for my arty/"follow-up stacks".

Terje

[Flaviusx]

One minor drawback with respect to killing Romanian units: they won't flip over to your control when you force a surrender. But I'd still go for them.

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: Flaviusx

One minor drawback with respect to killing Romanian units: they won't flip over to your control when you force a surrender. But I'd still go for them.

Good point, yet at this time I think thinning out the Axis line is/should be my #1 priority to increase my pace westwards, but when I get closer this is definitively something I will keep in mind! [&o]

Terje

[randallw]

The real trick with the Romanians is how to get a good supply trace to them once the country turns.

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: randallw

The real trick with the Romanians is how to get a good supply trace to them once the country turns.

Well since my advance so far is so slow, my HQ attached RR engineers are repairing the rail lines just fine, so if the dam bursts I should be able to use all of my NKPS should be available to work on the rail lines down south, but can I not trace across the sea?


Terje

[terje439]

Turn 143

Apologies
I forgot to count the number of attacks this turn. The Axis scored 1 retreat, I probably about 15 retreats, 1 rout and 4 held, but do not take these numbers (apart from the Axis ones) for the right ones.

Overall
The Axis managed to withdraw the non-surrounded units, but make no attaempts to free the allready encircled ones. As mentioned above, I forgot to write down the number of attacks made this turn, but losses were heavy on both sides;
Axis : 81.000 troops and 236 AFVs
USSR : 109.000 troops and 675 AFVs (good thing that 454 of them were the T34-1942 model of which there are still 8.000 in the pool).
The enemy keeps falling back, and this is not working for him unless he has a line with level 3 forts somwhere behind him, as in the open he does not have the CVs to withstand my attacks.
A mere 163.000 reported to the manpower pool this turn, ending it at 6.214

Units
Another 10 TACs head off for a holiday. I never should have let the first one go, now the word has spread it seems...
We form 2 rifle corps and order the construction of 2 rifle divisions, 1 rifle brigade and 3 mechanized brigades this turn.
Our forces records a net growth of 58.000 troops this turn.

HQ Zhukov
These guys keep making life difficult for the Axis, the infantry corps take alternate turns to attack, and the mechanized corps exploit any break in the line to turn it.

Units destroyed
1st Rumanian Cavalry Division and the 201st Hungarian Reserve Division were destroyed this turn.

Partisans
14 sabotague missions were made by the 26 units still active after 10 were chased away. We also manage to make 9 supply drops this turn.

[randallw]

What I meant was, once the Romanians join you, all of the units are on your side, even the ones deep behind the main line ( in Axis territory ).  Those units deep behind will be brittle, and will die once your opponent 'discovers' them.

You can supply them by air but that's just a drop in the bucket.  Converting hexes so they have a place to rout to, rather than surrender, will be a trick.

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: randallw

What I meant was, once the Romanians join you, all of the units are on your side, even the ones deep behind the main line ( in Axis territory ).  Those units deep behind will be brittle, and will die once your opponent 'discovers' them.

You can supply them by air but that's just a drop in the bucket.  Converting hexes so they have a place to rout to, rather than surrender, will be a trick.

Ah, get your point. Will keep that in mind

Terje

[Peltonx]

ORIGINAL: terje439

Turn 143

The enemy keeps falling back, and this is not working for him unless he has a line with level 3 forts somwhere behind him, as in the open he does not have the CVs to withstand my attacks.

Very good AAR with allot of good info.

He is trading space for time( 85 turns left) and falling back as mud will hit soon and he still has the major river line. You for sure will crack it, but if he has 2 lines of level 2 forts it will take you a while.

He can fall back a long ways and shorten his lines allot and come summer river lines will be back in play.

You also seem to have a more mobile army then most at this time which is helping you, GJ.

Your enemy is in much better shape then Kamil vs Pelton and Tarhunnas vs Gids. He has allot of space to trade for time, but you are doing very good yourself coveing ground and pocketing units.

Very interesting and informative AAR.

Good luck, its a race agianst time.

Pelton

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: Pelton

ORIGINAL: terje439

Turn 143

The enemy keeps falling back, and this is not working for him unless he has a line with level 3 forts somwhere behind him, as in the open he does not have the CVs to withstand my attacks.

Very good AAR with allot of good info.

He is trading space for time( 85 turns left) and falling back as mud will hit soon and he still has the major river line. You for sure will crack it, but if he has 2 lines of level 2 forts it will take you a while.

He can fall back a long ways and shorten his lines allot and come summer river lines will be back in play.

You also seem to have a more mobile army then most at this time which is helping you, GJ.

Your enemy is in much better shape then Kamil vs Pelton and Tarhunnas vs Gids. He has allot of space to trade for time, but you are doing very good yourself coveing ground and pocketing units.

Very interesting and informative AAR.

Good luck, its a race agianst time.

Pelton

Thank you for those kind words.
I think Flaviusx is right when he says I was too late in trying to upgrade my army though, thus allowing the Axis to keep his advance going as long as it did. However as I stated, I had NO idea what I was doing for the first game year, I am using this game to get a grasp of how things work.
My biggest concerns right now are;
1. I am advancing, but too slow
2. My units are still not able to do what the Axis could up to -42, and that is to advance and end the turn with a good defensive CV, so I am still very vulnerable to counterattacks
3. I need more units, I simply lost too many divisions and corps in -42.

Terje

[terje439]

Turn 144

Overall
Much of the same, the Axis fall back a little bit, denying me some deliberate attacks. This turn the Axis launch two attacks scoring two retreats, one against HQ Zhukov (see below) and 1 against a division placed opposite the Rumanians across the Don. I do not undertsand why I STILL try to use divisions...
We launch a total of 28 attacks, scoring 6 held and 22 retreats. I am now having nightmares about the text "1.9 : 1"[:@].
At the end of the turn losses are reported as;
Axis : 62.000 troops and 286 AFVs
USSR : 112.000 troops and 669 AFVs (se under HQ Zhukov).
The manpower number still baffles me, it seems to drop for every city I liberate. The last few turns we have had around 165.000 arriving in the pool, this turn is no different with 164.000, but before I liberated the last two cities we were around 175.000... Anyway, the pool ends at 5.287 this turn.

Units
Another 14 TACs and 1 FB are sent to the reserves this turn. My TACs usually take a -20 hit to morale per turn [X(].
We form 1 rifle corps and order the construction of 4 rifle divisions and 2 rifle brigades this turn. Despite heavy losses, we still manage a net growth of 53.000 troops this turn.

HQ Zhukov
I tried to use these guys like the Axis did up to -42, and that is make a hole in the line and then advance with my mech corps. Unlike the Axis panzer divisions in -42, my mechanized corps ends up with a defensive CV of about 20, and not the 60+ the Axis used to get. This turn I end up with a bloody nose as three corps are pushed back with the loss of close to 250 tanks...

Partisans
5 sabotague actions are undertaken this turn, and we manage 9 supply drops. After the Axis force 10 units to retreat, we are left with 29 units on the map.

[juret]

t-34 losses might be high but u can replace all of em. just make sure your tank/mec corps dont rout out and cant attack next turns.

can u post a scren shot of front with zhukov HQ. how your guard units evoloving ? many new guards each turn?

[Peltonx]

ORIGINAL: terje439

ORIGINAL: Pelton

ORIGINAL: terje439

Turn 143

The enemy keeps falling back, and this is not working for him unless he has a line with level 3 forts somwhere behind him, as in the open he does not have the CVs to withstand my attacks.

Very good AAR with allot of good info.

He is trading space for time( 85 turns left) and falling back as mud will hit soon and he still has the major river line. You for sure will crack it, but if he has 2 lines of level 2 forts it will take you a while.

He can fall back a long ways and shorten his lines allot and come summer river lines will be back in play.

You also seem to have a more mobile army then most at this time which is helping you, GJ.

Your enemy is in much better shape then Kamil vs Pelton and Tarhunnas vs Gids. He has allot of space to trade for time, but you are doing very good yourself coveing ground and pocketing units.

Very interesting and informative AAR.

Good luck, its a race agianst time.

Pelton

Thank you for those kind words.
I think Flaviusx is right when he says I was too late in trying to upgrade my army though, thus allowing the Axis to keep his advance going as long as it did. However as I stated, I had NO idea what I was doing for the first game year, I am using this game to get a grasp of how things work.
My biggest concerns right now are;
1. I am advancing, but too slow
2. My units are still not able to do what the Axis could up to -42, and that is to advance and end the turn with a good defensive CV, so I am still very vulnerable to counterattacks
3. I need more units, I simply lost too many divisions and corps in -42.

Terje

For your first game you have done better then most 90% and you did not quit during 1942.

By not quitting you have added to your knowledge of what to do an not do from 43 to 44.

As far as getting counter attacked at this point in the war that is not really a bad thing. German player can't replace loses and the combat ratio is almost always less then 2 to 1, which is in your favor. Anything lower then 3 to 1 your winning the war of atrition. The more he counter attacks the better for you in long run.

If I was you I watch my manpower number closely, I would attack if possible enough times to keep it constant.

Even lost attacks will add up loses for German player. Even if win lose ratio is 1 to 1 or even 1 to 1.25, as long as your OOB is not dropping your strength will remain same as his drops.

Hoooper was very good at quickly grinding down German army based mostly on the OOB.

If you are able to grind down German army during late 43 and early 44 you will have some nice size pockets by late 44 and a much faster advance.

Pelton

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: juret

1. t-34 losses might be high but u can replace all of em.
2. just make sure your tank/mec corps dont rout out and cant attack next turns.
3. can u post a scren shot of front with zhukov HQ. how your guard units evoloving ? many new guards each turn?

1. True, but I am now starting to lose the new T34s, that is something I cannot afford just yet, the 1942 model is no biggie, but I would like to see losses of the new model reduced.

2. Yup, making sure of that for sure

3. Will be attached with the next turn.


Terje

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: Pelton

1. For your first game you have done better then most 90% and you did not quit during 1942.

2. By not quitting you have added to your knowledge of what to do an not do from 43 to 44.

3. As far as getting counter attacked at this point in the war that is not really a bad thing. German player can't replace loses and the combat ratio is almost always less then 2 to 1, which is in your favor. Anything lower then 3 to 1 your winning the war of atrition. The more he counter attacks the better for you in long run.

4. If I was you I watch my manpower number closely, I would attack if possible enough times to keep it constant.

5. Even lost attacks will add up loses for German player. Even if win lose ratio is 1 to 1 or even 1 to 1.25, as long as your OOB is not dropping your strength will remain same as his drops.

6. Hoooper was very good at quickly grinding down German army based mostly on the OOB.
If you are able to grind down German army during late 43 and early 44 you will have some nice size pockets by late 44 and a much faster advance.

Pelton

1. Well, knowing what I know now, I think I lost too many units, but with some luck (direction of Axis attacks) I managed to hold on, but it was alot of luck.

2. True, but quitting was never an option, if I start a game I will keep playing untill the opponent quits or the game ends.

3. Ah that is true, BUT when three of my mechanized corps (which are after all the only true breakthrough units I have) lose 250+ AFVs between them, they need a turn or two of rest, which again slows me down, but I see your point. The question for me however is what kills the most Axis troops;
a) allowing myself to be counterattacked or
b) keep my forces available to attack again next turn.

4. I will not attack when my total CV is 1:1 or worse than the defensive CV of the Axis stacks. Again I get that this kills enemy troops, however it also drains ALOT of power (CV) from my own units, again it is wether to attack this turn or wait untill next turn and get a better result which keeps my CV more intact. I will make attacks if I get above 1:1, which is why I still get a few "held" results each turn.

5. True again, yet it once more is the qquestion as to what kills more enemy troops, a held result this turn followed by a turn of rest, or a retreat result next turn and then another attack the turn after that again.

6. That is the hope, I really need to pick up speed, but what I am seeing(sp?? never get this one right) around HQ Zhukov is encouraging as he is now placing 1CV divisions on the frontline. Those cost me MP and do not result in alot of killed enemy troops, but they increase my chances of surrounding enemy units.


Terje