Za Rodinu Soviet AAR (No Axis)

[Tarhunnas]

A shot from the central sector. Vyazma has just been liberated.

[Seminole]

Orel and Kursk are also in the front line, but might be harder nuts to crack...

I hope you're not going straight into them.  I like nothing more than for my opponent to try and storm a city.
I realize time is short, but much better to push the flanks and force him to decide between the risk of encirclement, or mailing you the keys to the city and bugging out without a fight.

[Tarhunnas]

ORIGINAL: Seminole

Orel and Kursk are also in the front line, but might be harder nuts to crack...

I hope you're not going straight into them.  I like nothing more than for my opponent to try and storm a city.
I realize time is short, but much better to push the flanks and force him to decide between the risk of encirclement, or mailing you the keys to the city and bugging out without a fight.

Yeah, he did just that at Vyazma, though that took a couple of turns of getting around the flanks. This is not going to happen at Orel or Kursk. Time is running out and attacks in February are chancy at best.

[Tarhunnas]

The southern part of the front after Soviet moves. Only a few attacks north of Kharkov, otherwise much spreading out and deepening of lines to hopefully get some fortifications improved before March.

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 35, STAVKA ORDERS

OVERALL

As before, only attack where you have good odds. Continue to prepare for March. Even with the changes to March Madness in the latest patch, I suspect the Germans will be able to hit us hard in March.

I have started building rifle brigades. I suspect we need the depth, and with the morale bonus for brigades in the patch, I think they might be worthwhile.

NORTH

The Finns have started to attack. This is good! Even if they inflict 2-1 casualties, this will hurt them more than it hurts us. Just move back into the hexes they have pushed us out of. Some more reinforcements have been moved north, as this area have been starved of reinforcements for some time.

CENTER

The going is definitely tougher. Only a few attacks this turn, but judicious selection of good odds gave 6 retreat and only one (expensive) hold.

SOUTH

The time of easy attacks is over. There might be a few local possibilities to inflict casualties on the Fascists. They have made more attacks, but this is no worry. As with the Finns, a loss ratio of 2-1 is no problem or us.

Stalin. Shaposhnikov.

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 36, STAVKA ORDERS

Situation is rather static. Repeat of last weeks orders.

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 36. February 19 1942.

Map of central part of the front after Soviet moves. As can be seen, there is a bulge at Belgorod, which we will probably evacuate next turn, so as to avoid any unpleasantness in March. The Fascists unaccountably abandoned Kharkov this turn, without really needing to, which smells somethig of a trap...

[Tarhunnas]

Losses after turn 36.

[Tarhunnas]

OOB. Please feel free to comment on strengths and losses, those of you who have a feeling for the numbers. I am not so well versed in the Soviet side of things. Note that Pavlov is still alive, and I am perversely keeping him in command of Western Front.

[vlcz]

I'm found of Pavlov myself, indeed I have him at a front (althought in a quiet sector) in 1943 mainly for "virtual justice" I suppose... but Budenny on the Kalinin front seems an extremelly brave option ! [:D] on the other hands since last patch people seem as considering Zhukov a much beter option than old Boris for Stavka.

As for numbers, your army seems a bit low in numbers, altought with the new anti-march rules probably have the time to refit them for the 42 onslaught

[Flaviusx]

Red Army is super weak. 4.6 million going into March of 1942 is scary low.

Put Zhukov in STAVKA. This goes for everybody, btw. I really see no reason for anybody else to be running the show now. Boris is yesterday's news.

[Seminole]

Put Zhukov in STAVKA. This goes for everybody, btw. I really see no reason for anybody else to be running the show now.

You mean because of the removal of overload considerations for Stavka/OKH in the latest beta?

Seems like the chain of command modifiers would really reduce his effectiveness compared to commanding at the front level. I'd rather his checks be made against a random(20) then a random(40) (ignoring distance effects).

He might be 'better' than the others, but it still seems like a waste of his talents.
e.g. I wouldn't want Patton sitting behind a desk in England

[Flaviusx]

I mean exactly that. STAVKA actually matters now. There are better leaders than Zhukov from an admin standpoint (Boris and Vasilevsky) but Zhukov is strong in everything and his 9 infantry rating in particular matters in a Red Army that is always going to be composed primarily of rifle forces.

[Seminole]

Zhukov is strong in everything and his 9 infantry rating in particular matters in a Red Army that is always going to be composed primarily of rifle forces.

But at the end of the command chain isn't that difference small?

Assume an average distance of 32 hexes from the unit to Stavka:
Is a 9/random(48) (worst case 18.75%) that much different from a 6/random(48) (worst case 12.5%)?
Or am I misunderstanding how that works?

Biggest hurdle seems to be that of the leaders initially available to command Stavka Zhukov is best of breed. I think I'd rather have Vasilevsky or Tolbukhin in Stavka once they're promoted, and have Zhukov making rolls on the most important Front at a much better command chain+distance denominator.

Compare Zhukov at the Front level, assuming an average distance of 21 hexes to unit:
9/random(27) (worst case 33%) compared to 6/random(27) (worst case 22.2%)

I'm not a mathmagician, but my gut tells me Zhukov will make more rolls, and thereby be more effective overall for the Soviets, left in charge of a Front versus an alternative manning the Front and placing him in the Kremlin.

[Flaviusx]

Fronts aren't that large and armies are getting smaller now. Your average leader quality is going down at the army level if you choose to avoid overloading. With that in mind, I want to compensate for it that STAVKA. Multifront operations on either the defense or offense are the norm, too, it's rarely the case that any single Front is so strong that it can do it all by itself. At any rate, the A-list is still there for the Fronts, besides Zhukov.

I don't think Boris or Vasilevsky are good enough to compensate for this dilution of quality at the army level.

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 37, STAVKA ORDERS

OVERALL

Blizzard is over, and we can expect new threats by the Fadcist invader. The effects of March Madness have been reduced by the gods of war, but we can still expect a strong Axis offensive next turn. We need depth, depth and depth!

* North of Rzhev we need at least a two deep line with spaced units in an intermittent third line.

* Soth of Rzhev we need a three deep line with spaced units in a fourth line.

* Never more than two units in the front line. Front line stacks are at risk being cut off and eliminated!

NORTH

The Finns have unfortunately realized the futility in their attacks... Well, well. Establish defense as outlined abve. STAVKA expects no major offensives from the enemy here.

CENTER

The center will hold in position, evacuating any risky forward positions.

SOUTH

We are in an exposed position in the Belgorod bulge, with probable enemy panzer concentrations north and south (circled on map below). Withdraw from the bulge to the line indicated on the map and establish extra deep defenses opposite the panzer thrusts.

On the Crimea, keep weak forces at the isthmuses to the north and dig in with our main forces at Feodosiya. An attack here is deemed unlikely, but a strong forward defense only means a risk of getting cut off.

Stalin. Shaposhnikov.

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 38. Snow.

The German spring offensive has started with two major but diverging thrusts. It seems the changes to March madness weren't so dramatic after all...

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 38, STAVKA ORDERS

OVERALL

As expected, snow weather saw a rapid revival of German fighting ability. We are faced with two massive tank thrusts, happily diverging and far from each other.


NORTH

No heavy attacks here. Generally keep current positions. Move back into the hxes vacated by teh finnish attacks. If the finns attack again and inflict 2-1 casualties, so much the better. Further south, you ar athorized to withdraw a hex if you deem it necessary. Try not to leave unredy units in the line if it can be avoided. They are easy to crush and will take heavy losses.

Turn off refit on the majority of units, as we need all reinforcements further south. STAVKA took two airborne brigades from the line near VV to use to build guards divisions for a central reserve.

CENTER

The center has moved back from positions north of Bryansk to avoid encirclement. The 4th shock army, which was in reserve west of Moscow, has been transferred to Tula.

SOUTH

Seal off the enemy penetration west of Voroshilovgrad. You are authorized to withdraw units to the north and south of the enemy thrust if deemed necessary to avid encirclement. We can afford to give ground if necessary, but not too cheaply.

On the Crimea, conduct a fighting retreat to the isthmus.

Stalin. Shaposhnikov.

[Tarhunnas]

Turn 39. The fascist spearheads have begun to curl inwards. Below is a STAVKA intelligence assessment of enemy probable intentions.

[Tarhunnas]

Losses from the previous enemy turn. Not too bad, if they continue on the rate 2-1 that should be ok for us in the long run.