Gnikam eht ni retsasid - Oloren USSR, Terje Axis. Oloren now permitted.

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: CarnageINC

I commend you on continuing your game Terje, I didn't quite reach the timeline you did with my Sillyflower game but I couldn't stomach the tromping I got from a well played game by Sillyflower [:(]  I shall be watching your AAR, thanks for posting.

I have years of practice in the "taking a beating"-skill from being outplayed in WitP [:D]


Terje

[terje439]

Turn 39

Disclaimer
Paint issues again...

Overall
I believe this song explains how I feel the best klicky [:D]
Finally our forces are back to their "normal" CV values, and so are the USSR. As a result we make far more attacks than the USSR this turn, and we have started to push the enemy back again. The main effort now will be on bringing our panzers back from Poland/Germany, as well as rest and refit our units.
The USSR make 15 attacks, scoring 1 held, 9 retreats, 4 routs and 1 shatter, while we make 37 attacks, scoring 5 held, 27 retreats, 4 routs and 1 surrender.

Losses
USSR : 62.000 troops, 1.881 guns, 114 AFVs, 197 AC.
Axis : 49.000 troops, 676 guns, 35 AFVs, 3 AC.

Units lost
The 21st Rumanian Infantry Division shatters.

Units destroyed
The USSR 56th tank brigade surrenders to the Rumanians as it tried to chase down our airfields and HQs on its own.

Pools
Manpower : 85.401
Vehicle : 150.495
Armaments : 194.428
Hiwi : 2

Pest control
5 partisans fall back in the face of our SEC units.

[terje439]

Turn 40

Overall
We keep pushing. Most of the USSR armored units have vanished from the front so I estimate a low ammount of losses in terms of AFVs for the USSR from now on. The USSR make 6 attacks, scoring 3 held and 3 retreats. We manage 40 attacks for 8 held, 22 retreats, 8 routs and 2 shatters.
I now need to find a way to rotate my units away from the front and back for some R&R.

Losses
USSR : 97.000 troops, 2.032 guns, 104 AFVs, 336 AC.
Axis : 44.000 troops, 571 guns, 45 AFVs, 20 AC.

Units destroyed
22nd Rifle brigade, 197th Rifle Division both shatters this turn.

Pools
Manpower : 93.088
Vehicle : 153.115
Armaments : 189.008
Hiwi : 2

Pest control
4 partisans are hunted down.

[terje439]

Turn 41

Overall
Although the USSR line is breaking up, I have severe doubts. I only have a handful of really usable units. Most of my infantry is totally shredded and is not contributing alot. Not sure how much of an offensive I will be able to mount to be honest.
The USSR make 4 attacks, scoring 3 retreats and 1 rout (all against the Rumanians). We manage 36 attacks, resulting in 1 scouted, 7 held, 21 retreats and 7 routs.
The big question right now is wether I should keep using my panzer divisions to attack and rest my infantry, attack with all or not attack at all and hope to regain some strength before spring.

Losses
USSR : 45.000 troops, 1.303 guns, 47 AFVs, 179 AC.
Axis : 43.000 troops, 527 guns, 63 AFVs, 2 AC.

Units destroyed
614th Army Artillery Brigade.

Pools
Manpower : 98.447
Vehicle : 156.577
Armaments : 186.964
Hiwi : 8

Pest control
7 units are forced to retreat.

[karonagames]

Much now depends on how you have managed your refit and TOE% settings : You will have to put about 1/3 of your infantry on 50% who will be roughly 4CV by summer, 1/3 on 67% who will get to 5-6CV and your highest morale units on 80% and these guys should get to 7-8 CV depending on morale. Your mechanised divs should be able to get to 80% TOE and achieve 8-10CVs. You should still find plenty of low CV defenders to start your morale building attacks on, and by the end of summer you could add 2 CV points to all your units.

If you haven't been micro-managing this then you will probably be averaging 4-5 CVs across the whole front by May.

[Blubel]

Try to take 2-3 of your best moral infantry divisions from the line and set them to refit.
Detailed pictures would be helpful.
If you can spare 2-3 panzercorps, some small encirclements in areas with clear ground might be possible. These guys at the Baltic coast really look like they should be captured...

[karonagames]

These guys at the Baltic coast really look like they should be captured...

Likewise, trapping guys against the Sea of Azov would be handy too.

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: BigAnorak

Much now depends on how you have managed your refit and TOE% settings : You will have to put about 1/3 of your infantry on 50% who will be roughly 4CV by summer, 1/3 on 67% who will get to 5-6CV and your highest morale units on 80% and these guys should get to 7-8 CV depending on morale. Your mechanised divs should be able to get to 80% TOE and achieve 8-10CVs. You should still find plenty of low CV defenders to start your morale building attacks on, and by the end of summer you could add 2 CV points to all your units.

If you haven't been micro-managing this then you will probably be averaging 4-5 CVs across the whole front by May.

Should have some filled out and some mid range as well as some wannabe Rumanians the I hope.


Terje

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: Blubel

Try to take 2-3 of your best moral infantry divisions from the line and set them to refit.
Detailed pictures would be helpful.
If you can spare 2-3 panzercorps, some small encirclements in areas with clear ground might be possible. These guys at the Baltic coast really look like they should be captured...

Problem is that due to the low CV of my Inf I think I might need to focus my panzers in one area, but will keep looking at the logistics as well as available (usable) forces.


Terje

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: BigAnorak

These guys at the Baltic coast really look like they should be captured...

Likewise, trapping guys against the Sea of Azov would be handy too.

See below [:)]


Terje

[terje439]

Turn 42

Overall
Mud arrives, and pretty much everything comes to a halt. Both sides make a few attacks, the USSR scoring 3 retreats with their 3 attacks, while we make 8 attacks for 3 held, 4 retreat and 1 rout. The rail capacity is being used to its max potential as we bring full strength units to the front, and move some battered infantry back west for some rest. The offensives we will launch will be small I think. We will try to trap as many units as we can, but I doubt we have the force to make any real headway east.

Losses
USSR : 10.000 troops, 267 guns, 0 AFVs, 203 AC.
Axis : 40.000 troops, 394 guns, 26 AFVs, 8 AC.

Pools
Manpower : 100.349
Vehicle : 158.506
Armaments : 147.958
Hiwi : 2

Pest control
5 more partisans flee this turn.

[sj80]

Hey Terje,

I think you are right and attacking in the southern area is the best way to go. You must try to throw him behind the dnepr and establishing a good defense there. Otherwise maybe he will try to knockout your southern allies in 1943.
I would use one Panzer Army as reserve for AGN and AGC to prevent breakthroughs there. All elite Inf divs and the other Panzer Armies I would sent to the south.

sj80

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: sj80

Hey Terje,

I think you are right and attacking in the southern area is the best way to go. You must try to throw him behind the dnepr and establishing a good defense there. Otherwise maybe he will try to knockout your southern allies in 1943.
I would use one Panzer Army as reserve for AGN and AGC to prevent breakthroughs there. All elite Inf divs and the other Panzer Armies I would sent to the south.

sj80

I am currently planning on using 1 enlarged panzer corps in the south, I think it should have enough force for the job. Elite infantry...yes...erm...there are none at the moment [:D]


Terje

[terje439]

Turn 43

Disclaimer
Just off work, about to go to bed, so no picture as this turn is "done in haste".

Overall
The mud slows down the number of attacks being made, nevertheless we manage a total of 9, scoring 2 held, 5 retreat and 2 rout. The USSR make none.

Losses
USSR : 46.000 troops, 611 guns, 12 AFVs, 109 AC.
Axis : 28.000 troops, 166 guns, 31 AFVs, 33 AC.

Pools
Manpower : 105.684
Vehicle : 155.033
Armaments : 156.101
Hiwi : 5

Pest control
A new high tide for partisans as we chase away no less than 10 partisan units this turn.

[terje439]

Turn 44

Overall
With mud still in play we do not make much headway. As a matter of fact, the total ammount of conquered territory is one hex...We make 6 attacks, causing 1 held and 5 retreats. Losses are light on both sides. We are waiting for the ground to get solid, then we will release our panzers. At the moment the most time consuming thing on the agenda is rotating out infantry units so they can be refitted.

Losses
USSR : 7.000 troops (???), 217 guns, 0 AFVs, 24 AC.
Axis : 24.000 troops, 169 guns, 30 AFVs, 2 AC.

Pools
Manpower : 110.076
Vehicle : 157.069
Armaments : 176.634
Hiwi : 0

Pest control
4 partisans are chased away this turn.

[sj80]

Hey terje,
maybe I was a little bit too optimistic about the current state of your forces. [:D] Manstein mentioned in his book that the mid-war operations (Fall Blau, Unternehmen Zitadelle) could have been successful if Hitler only shifts more troops to that major battle spots and has thinned out the "static" front lines. Maybe we should listen to Manstein and shift every available unit to our battle spots on 1942 and later.
For example you can shorten your lines and free more units very good when giving up the area around Talin.

In my game against glvaca we have now entered the blizzard and he is really kicking me around. He is using the zoc locking everywhere. My poor Wehrmacht. So I can feel and share your pain.

sj80

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: sj80

Hey terje,
maybe I was a little bit too optimistic about the current state of your forces. [:D] Manstein mentioned in his book that the mid-war operations (Fall Blau, Unternehmen Zitadelle) could have been successful if Hitler only shifts more troops to that major battle spots and has thinned out the "static" front lines. Maybe we should listen to Manstein and shift every available unit to our battle spots on 1942 and later.
For example you can shorten your lines and free more units very good when giving up the area around Talin.

In my game against glvaca we have now entered the blizzard and he is really kicking me around. He is using the zoc locking everywhere. My poor Wehrmacht. So I can feel and share your pain.

sj80

hehe yeah pain is the right word [:D]
Will have another go across the map to see what I can conjure up for the offensive in the south.

Terje

[terje439]

Turn 45

Overall
Mud still. We make 4 attacks, and score 1 held and 3 retreats. The rotating of units is still going on, alot of units are still in need of R&R, but thew situation is improving slowly.

Losses
USSR : 38.000 troops, 365 guns, 7 AFVs, 77 AC.
Axis : 23.000 troops, 143 guns, 24 AFVs, 2 AC.

Pools
Manpower : 115.777
Vehicle : 157.525
Armaments : 195.400
Hiwi : 2

In other words, my reserve personell can each be given 1.4 vehicle and 1.9 gun [:D]

Pest control
8 partisan units are hunted down. Some were just out of reach and remain on the map.

[karonagames]

You don't seem to be adjusting your Max. TOE%. This really helps to focus your men where they will do the most good - in higher morale units, or units that will increase morale from attacking. Your manpower is insufficient to get all your infantry back to full strength.

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: BigAnorak

You don't seem to be adjusting your Max. TOE%. This really helps to focus your men where they will do the most good - in higher morale units, or units that will increase morale from attacking. Your manpower is insufficient to get all your infantry back to full strength.

Not sure you are right, my manpower pool keeps rising despite the fact that my units are filling out. Been using refit to channel equipment and manpower into the most vital units first.
How big would the Wehrmacht be if their divisions were all filled out? But will heed your advice and lower TOE on some on them.

Terje