Case Blue Olivier(Axis) vs Keunert

[olivier34]

Keunert and I decided to restart a Case blue long scenario but this time without the dismissal rule. We never know [:D].
It is my second campaign but I have follow the AArs of this forum and it seems that I have to play more cautiously to avoid the soviet counter attacks of the first turn and an amphibious operation in my rear.
We both agree that the german player should not be allowed to strike the soviet airforce on round one. About the weather...hope that I get 20 days of sun like in my first game but I doult it [8D]
Keunert has study the soviet side. I am sure that he has found a lot of things to improve the soviet defense during the first month.
I won't have a lot of time to write this AAR. Here are three screenshots of my first move. I have played less cards than in my first game. All the officers that have the tank drive card available keep their precious pps. I want to use this card to attack retreating soviet forces. It can be devastating.

11Th army
Manstein has launch an attack against the fortified position of Sebastopol with the Hansen LIV corps. (freedom of action card played, my favorite)
Immediatly after that the LIV corps is railed toward Stalino (three arty units with their ammo). One division is sent to Melitopol to guard the coast there. The stukas attached to the 11th army fly north. I will need them to destroy the 5th tank army and the 18th tank soviet tank corps (this one is my nightmare, it can be put in a town just near some of my troops and attack them straight...)

Up North :
2nd army and the 4th panzer move forward and attempt to pocket part of the 40th soviet army and the 21th. The jonction will have to be made with the panzers of the 6th army. By the way, after a day of fight, Von Paulus is dismissed. Erald Raus takes command of this army. When the time will come to defend some part of the front, we may see the return of Von Paulus. [;)]

[olivier34]

28 June, 6th army and 1st panzer sector.

[olivier34]

28 June, 17th army.
It may be possible to drive my panzers in four days just north of Rostov. I like to take this position before the soviets can fortified it. I will have a tank drive card to play the next turn [:D]
IL corps move into the mountains but the soviet 383th stop their advance. [:@]. Anyway, the XIV panzer corps will be in the area the next turn.

[rominet]

Nice.

Don't forgett to give us occasionaly the losses screen, it is my obsession.[:D]

Good idea to dismiss Paulus by Raus, i didn't pay attention to the fact he is rather a defensive commander.

[Blind Sniper]

Keunert and I decided to restart a Case blue long scenario but this time without the dismissal rule. We never know .

That's a pity, it gives a good flavor at the game, maybe it's just me [:)]

We both agree that the german player should not be allowed to strike the soviet airforce on round one.

I think would be enough to allow the air free setup, in this way the Axis player have to recon before made blind attacks.

By the way, after a day of fight, Von Paulus is dismissed.

Wow, how many PPs spent?

You made a good opening turn, maybe in the South you have some weak spot but we all know that a lonely artilley unit is able to stand against a whole division [:D]

Good luck!

[Enigma6584]

Can you give us some screenshots showing the make-up of your infantry divisions and panzer divisions?

[olivier34]

Redcharlie, what do you mean by "make=up" ?
Rominet, I will give you the losses at the start of my fourth turn. Von Paulus dismissal cost me 25 pps...
No dismissal rule Blindsniper but if my prestige goes to 0, I will leave the high command to you .[;)] What do you think ? (about my lonely arty...I wanted Keunert to attack it...of course he didn't...)

30 June;
The soviets have withdraw almost everywhere. Not a single counter attack.

Sebastopol : Another attack conducted this time by Maximilain, XXX corps with the help of a rumanian division. The attack is bloody and fail to take the soviet fortified position east of Sebastopol. Seems that Keunert is sending some ships to evacuate the place. I expect it, that's why I have move the rest of Von Manstein army toward Rostov.

2A and 4st Panzer : Move east. 9th panzer is the spearhead. We discover a huge concentration of tanks in front of us. The 5th tank army. Time to give the "feu vert" to the stukas (they had not fly missions during the first turn). They strike the ennemy. Stary Oskol is very well defended by two infantry tank corps rgts...I take position just north.
I play a defensive card on the 45th division of the LV corps. I really don't know if Keunert will be agressive or not [&:]. Let's be patient.
South, the 23th and 24th panzer were very close to close the pocket ! The 21th army will escape...
The 29th has taken Nowy Oskol. The brige is destroy but will be repair the next turn.

[olivier34]

30 June Center, 6A and 1st panzer.
Moving east. Less battle than in the first turn.
Schweppenburg III corps drive toward Swatovo. I play the tank drive card on the LAH. Very impressive result. A lot of soviet soldiers are killed or captured.
Artemovsk is almost surrounded by the IV corps.

[olivier34]

30 June south
The 11th infantry and the italian cav have been abble to move just near Voroshilovgrad.
The IL corps has advance 10 more kms. The 14th division of the XIV panzer made the jonction with it. (Tank drive again)
Tank drive on the 13th panzer that rush into the soviet lines and is abble to capture a key position just north of Rostov.

(I will have conducted three tank drive attack against soviet retreating troops. The panzers have taken a few losses for devastating results. )

[olivier34]

02 July
Rain on the all front [:@]. Let's have a coffee, think about it and take the best of this fuc... situation [8|].
There are several good points about it : I won't use a lot of oil, my pilots can take a rest, maybe the soviets will be confident and won't retreat this turn, I will play this turn in less an hour...

Up north :

[olivier34]

02 JULY center
I could have launch an attack here with my panzers and try to cross the river south of Swatovo...I cancel this plan because of the weather and concentrate my two corps. Two days for the soviets to entrench here but it won't be enough to stop the crossing. The good point is that the job will be made by the infantry of the XXXX corps. Von Kleist himself will launch the attack of that corps (he will have 22 pps...)

[olivier34]

02 July South. Rostov...
Where is this 18th tank corps ? I was expecting him north but you know what ? He was hidden in Rostov...maybe Keunert has played this reinforcement only at the end of turn 2...but this is unfair. This tank has launch a powerful attack against my 13th panzer...
Now I don't know...[&:]. At first my goal was to slowly turn around Rostov, south of the river (the supply is good there). The arty of Von Manstein LIV corps could be operational in two turns...
Schould I change my plan and move up north the LIV corps ?

[budd]

you know olivier you do AAR's really well. Thanks for taking the time, enjoying it.

[olivier34]

Thanks Budd. I will try to keep this AAR alive until the end...Any thoughts about my strategy ?

[budd]

Strategy advice, well you may not know this but i am a severe operational lightweight and always have been. Any advice i give will likely lead to the rapid destruction of your forces[:D]. I bought this title to once again have a go at trying to be semi-competent operational player. i read yours and others AAR's to learn how you approach these monster scenarios in a competent fashion. Thanks again for the AAR, game on.

[olivier34]

4th of July
Perfect Weather [8D].

Losses at the beginning of the turn (numbers avis/soviet)
Total losses 16 000 / 72 300
Dive bomber 20 / 0
Fighters 35 / 35 match nul [;)]
Level Bombers 25 / 35

Guns 125 / 850
Heavy Tanks 0 / 45
Medium Tanks 140 / 100
Light tanks 20 / 60

Axis Oil : 71 000 down to 57 300

Sebastopol : I don't attack except an air strike against the town.

Up north : Almost a pecfect turn

[olivier34]

4th of July, south of Swatovo
I was expecting more...

[olivier34]

July 6, again heavy rain !
The soviets have withdraw everywhere. Even Voroshilovgrad is empty ! They have withdraw during a clear weather turn and I have to chase them in the mud. Keunert was in trouble up north. This weather gives him an opportunity to build another front...

Situation map :
I have decided to take my chance in front of Rostov. Von Manstein 11th army will try to break the fortifed position that the soviets have built there. Let's say in two turns if the weather permit it [8|]

[rominet]

Bad luck with the weather but that spices the game and you play well.

Thanks for the losses.

I suppose you use Photoshop?

And the AAR would be far better in french [:D]
[;)]

[Enigma6584]

ORIGINAL: olivier34

Redcharlie, what do you mean by "make=up" ?

I'm talking about their specific TO&E. In other words, what type of tanks make up the division? How many guns and what type?