Axis Lambs to the Slaughter_Marquo vs TD Part 2 (TD allowed when flare sent)

[mmarquo]

T 17 in the south Kharkov is taken, Rostove threatened; here I am capturing every manpower center I can before winter. In the Crimea Sevastopol will fall by the blizzard for sure. I will be okay with Leningrad fallen, the Crimea all but taken, Moscow may or may not be taken and large buffer between my most eastern advance and the big cities on the Dnepr. I have not really tracked the armaments but I have taken my share; he has agressively evacuated and this will hurt him in '42 and part '43. I hope to push very east in 42 and 43, and then start a controlled retreat in 44. I think the capturing manpower centers is as important as the armaments - but there is a balance.

[mmarquo]

Here is my T 17 production: a nice reserve for the winter and spring.

[mmarquo]

September 24, 1942 Turn 67

After weathering the usual blizzard counteroffensive, continued blizzard and mud made any thought of March madness a pipedream. The counteroffensive did not start until June; random weather creates incredibly entertaining situations. As the Summer draws to a close, over 125 Soviet divisions have surrendered since the 1942 offensive opened, not counting uncounted inf and tank brigades.

Here is the OOB as of 12/5/1941 as the Blizzard Offensive starts.

[mmarquo]

OOB as of 9/24/1942

[mmarquo]

And the losses as of 9/24/1942:

[mmarquo]

In the center there has been fierce fighting for Moscow. TD layered 4+ forts in multiple rings around the city; here is I am simply grinding away. Taking the city is immaterial; TD is very tenacious and is willing to lose huge causalties and this suits me just fine. He committed everything here, and as a result, the drive east elsewhere has been unstoppable. I got to the gates of Grozny and stopped; I frequently checked where the production was, and drive towards these cities. This has resulted in another wave of massive evacuations; Soviet production has been delayed for at least another year, and given the decreasing manpower multiplier, Berliners are starting to breath a bit easier. For the record, this attack on Moscow will not stop for the winter nor the second blizzard; here is the proverbial meat grinder.
Murom, Azamas, Saransk, Penza, and this turn, Stalingrad, have all fallen. The surge east has taken a severe toll on the Soviet manpower centers.

Moscow, September 1942

[mmarquo]

As mentioned above, the drive east has captured many manpower centeres and caused the evacuation of production assets.

[mmarquo]

Stalingrad, the crown jewel of the Volga, falls on September 24, 1942. There will be no rattenkreig; the defense of Moscow has a cost: Stalingrad. All of the production which was here several moves ago has been moved, and will be offline for a year. Even though TD got the assets out in time, few T 34s will be haunting me in the near future.

[Michael T]

Good work Marquo.

[mmarquo]

This is the legacy of the the ass whipping you gave my STAVKA. I have to be cautious because TD has put together a fearsome counterattack force consisting of tank and guard infantry corps. They sortied several times out from behind Moscow and did damage; if he shifts them south to Stalingrad then Moscow is doomed. I think that the numbers are not a real reflection fo his assets; every turn I have been routing 20 - 30 divisions; Soviet morale as to be in the toilet and the units have to be severely depleted. I do not think he has the assets to cover both fronts effectively now.

Mud is coming but with lower 1942 Soviet morale and falling manpower multiplier he will not recover much. Winter and the blizzard will not stop me; I will press the attack at all costs.

Marquo

[Michael T]

I will press the attack at all costs.

Way to go [:)]

Final victory in 43' perhaps.

[comsolut]

Turn 17 to turn 67, quite a gap. Would have been interested to see the summer 42 campaign lines advance, as that is one stretched line the Germans have going into Fall 42.

[mmarquo]

I do not have saves to post the map. In the north I was thrown back to the Dvina; in the center Rhzev fell; Vyazma remained mine; he pushed like a wave beyond Bryansk but Kharkov held; in the South I was pushed back from Stalino but not too far.

Please elaborate on the stretched line. The only spot on the map TD really cares about is Moscow; he is pyschologically attached to it and was willing to let me advance almost at will elsewhere. As we all know Russia is huge, and there are only so many Axis units to cover an ever widening front. I am very strong around Moscow and in the South; I have transfered assets to clear out the northern flank because I am going to bag many more divisions there, and to also help the northern pincer around Moscow. I am being very cautious; I use my recon assets to the limit to avoid nasty ambushes, and am liberally using Axis regiments to "corset' the Axis allies. I am also setting up rear pickets. I am thinking that spending APs and manpower on fortifications are assets misspent; I would rather keep my fighting units at high TOE rather than giving them expensive holes tro crawl into. Frankly I would welcome it if he came out of his trenches to counterattack.

Marquo

[comsolut]

No real experience to comment, and looking at the Russian OOB, probably just being too cautious, but the line looks long and brittle.

You certainly have your hand on the pulse of the game and that is critical to knowing what you can and cannot hold. Mine was just a first glance observation.

[mmarquo]

Update at Turn 112/August 1943.

Stalingrad fell in spring 1942; and was retaken in winter 1943; the Southern strategy seems to be working; many manpower centers captured, and Soviet OOB stagnant at ~ 7,100,000; Axix OOB stagnant at ~ 3,200,000. Leningrad remains captured; Moscow never fell; Rostov still mine. TD's main thrust is between Ryazan and Voronezh. Every turn is wave of Soviet attacks, followed by Axis counterattacks at exposed armored spearheads; the average counterattack destroys 3,000 - 5,000 for a cost of 1 - 1,500; his units retreat and often rout. I keep rotating infantry into and out of the line; fort belts in depth at ~ +2 level. I have more success placing armor directly into the line especially where 3 hex attack is possible; continually rotating units into and out of the line. So far my losses are most often about equal with returning troops.

The war in the west causes more harm than the Soviets; constant withdrawals are getting harder to equilibrate. I will soon have to pull back to get better interior lines; barring a huge gaffe on my part Berlin will not fall in this game; there are about 110 turns left of which 20 - 30 2ill be mud. I will not play the extended stock game again; this game should end in May 1945 not later.

[mmarquo]

Main slaughterhouse

[mmarquo]

Southern Flank

[Michael T]

this game should end in May 1945 not later

Certainly.

[Peltonx]

Nice job.

Southern strategy is basicly the way to go to get a draw and a possible minor victory at this point.

Very hard to take Moscow if not impossible vs a good SHC player. Be interested in how things go as there is still a long ways to go.

You using reserve mode at all or just counter attacking?

Like to see some of your combat results also when your counter attacking and winning.

[mmarquo]

Turn 113 --> STAVKA sues for peace. The southern strategy paid off: the depleted, understrength Soviet army can only reclaim one - two hexes per turn, and the border, not to mention Berlin is an eternity away.

TD is a true gentleman, and I will miss his wit.

If any developer wants the final game file for R and D purpose please contact me.

Marquo