Stalin's fired, I'm in charge! III 1/2- Tullius (Soviet) vs Marquo (Axis)

[TulliusDetritus]

And the last part. Oh, I hadn't paid attention [:D] Marquo is hysterically using the recon planes behind this Massacre Zone. Has he finally realized this is the "big" (so to speak eh) offensive? [:D]

Finally, the tank and cavalry corps in the wrong side of the Volga crossed the river, ready to strike the e-enemy hordes.

But I am pretty certain the panzer hordes will soon show up. Let them come, I say!!

[TulliusDetritus]

The total losses. Not sure these are good or bad numbers. But still, the kill ratio is less than 2:1. More like 1.8x:1 [:)]

[Klydon]

My guess is his panzers are off refitting to bring them up to strength. More or less, it appears he has given up the initative and will likely use them as a fire brigade once they have recovered.

[TulliusDetritus]

ORIGINAL: Klydon

My guess is his panzers are off refitting to bring them up to strength. More or less, it appears he has given up the initative and will likely use them as a fire brigade once they have recovered.

You are more optimist than I am [:)] Somewhow I think he will be doing this pacman thing (after the disastrous summer). And you might be right, of course. Eh, I wish you were right!

After all, Marquo had clearly said on the emails (before I started any attack) that he would keep attacking during the winter. I don't know if he was overestimating his forces and/or thought a Soviet attack would be almost impossible.

Time (more concretely spring) will tell.

[TulliusDetritus]

And sort of good news: I have finally managed to extricate the 2nd Shock Army from the Moscow area. The army will be sent obviously to the offensive zone.

In fact on the next two turns I will be creating two more regular Armies. Hmm, I'm pretty certain I need them: remember, I have the rifle divisions in the Massacre Zone, but some of them cannot be attached to any Front Army (I would necessarily overload them).

And if I am not mistaken the first Army HQ that should appear is the 62nd That is the valiant army that fought in Stalingrad under Chuikov. Ergo, -like a kid with his toys- I want it! [:D]

[TulliusDetritus]

Oi, I should pay some more attention. I also can extricate the 61st Army (Stavka), like 5 hexes east of Moscow. This army contains in fact a Guards Rifle Corps. Still, another rifle corps will replace it, so no problem (in theory). And it's a 12:18 army therefore I can assign 3 more rifle divisions to this HQ [8D]

The Western Front 46th Army will defend the area defended by this army.

[TulliusDetritus]

And by the way, I had got it wrong. No rail line between Gorky and the south. I have some rail hexes repaired south of the city and still, they don't appear as a possible destination (from Gorky that is). The rail line that matters is a little more in the south, apparently the Murom - Arzamas axis.

The line is in my hands now anyway.

[TulliusDetritus]

[center]Turn 80[/center]
[center]Christmas Eve[/center]

Well, as you can imagine I am still wrapping the many gifts. But -big scandal- Marquo is officially on the run. Just wait you chicken, don't run away, lemme give you the "gifts"

[center][/center]

[TulliusDetritus]

As you can see, I will hardly manage to trash some units this turn in the main offensive area. During the first winter this might be an inconvenience, indeed, as you want to basically harvest guards. But this is not the first winter, this is not my objective now. What I clearly want: grabbing land, and the general area of Kursk is the mythical goal, remember. I will strictly stick to this plan. And let's see what the good Lord will provide.

So the more he runs the better. I have to do all I can to encourage this [8D]

[TulliusDetritus]

And looks like I was right. He has sent his armored hordes NW of Stalingrad... Which means 1) I have to be careful in this place and 2) my forces south of Rostov (which were on the run [:D]) can resume their course towards the north and smash everything in sight. The 5th Tank Army (already there) should support them

EDIT: before Soviet moves

[TulliusDetritus]

Oi, France vs England is about to start. That's some serious stuff! I am off!

[TulliusDetritus]

In fact NW of Stalingrad the panzers arrived AND striked. They were involved in most of the attacks.

Again, before Soviet moves.

[TulliusDetritus]

I was keeping one Tank Army in the north (the 2nd), near Moscow. I am going to send them to the south. It has 3 tank corps, all of them guards [8D]

After all, almost all the Rifle Corps are in this area, so I don't think that is a risky move.

[TulliusDetritus]

As I had said, I needed some more Armies HQs. Oops, I thought the first created army would be the 62nd. But no, it's the 20th. This is the "old" army that fought in the Moscow approaches during the Blitzkrieg and earned Guards status during the first blizzard (and thus became the 1st Guards). Therefore the first "slot" is reserved for the 20th. I guess [8D]

If I create another one I might get the 62nd.

[TulliusDetritus]

I have tried to dislodge (again) one of the stacks next to Moscow. Lots of Rifle Corps and one Tank Corps striked but the 3-units stack (fort level 2) held. I will not stop until I kick them out. No matter the losses I'll be back so watch your back!

After all, I don't want him to hink he is 100% safe in this Moscow area. He might divert more forces to the south!

[hfarrish]

Looks like the C&C penalties were particularly unhelpful to you here...

[Klydon]

TD, you may want to check what is arriving as I belive the 62nd Army will show up (for free) at some point. In fact, you should have several army HQ's showing up here soon I think.

Not sure I would use the tank corps in the initial attack around Moscow like that, especially since it has extra tank sub units. A beefy rifle corps with 2-3 sapper regiments is likely to be more effective, but that is just my opinion.

[TulliusDetritus]

Well, the unit I want to dislodge is an entrenched 3-units stack (German divisions). As I see it, I have to gather everything I have in the area: therefore in theory I can attack maximum from 3 sides (= 9 units + the 3 Artillery Divisions).

Command penalties are then totally inevitable. In any case I can't afford to reassign corps. And even if I did that, I would necessarily be overloading the armies on the attack.

I am using the tank corps because what's the other option left? A rifle division instead of them. The corps is supposed to be more powerful [:)]

And anyway I did a silly thing [:D] Just adjacent to the attacked unit there is a 1-unit stack (fort level 3). I should have attacked them, from 2 sides that is (= 6 units from Moscow hexes, a wild sortie)... Oh well, next turn, I guess.

[TulliusDetritus]

As for Armies HQs, no, I will not get any for free. Well, the 35th Army will arrive as reinforcement, but in february 1944. If I want armies I must buy them.

[M60A3TTS]

ORIGINAL: hfarrish


Looks like the C&C penalties were particularly unhelpful to you here...

It also could have been in part due to fatigue lavels of attacking units, and/or low levels of supplies and ammo.