Trippin' the Trappen

[LiquidSky]

As promised...I give you a damage report:

This deals with infantry only:

Top Graph is INFLICTED CASUALTIES



Bottom Graph is SUSTAINED CASULTIES

I would like to say it is mostly Axis minors, but alas...probably only 15% are.

[LiquidSky]

TURN 9


Wow....his reply to turn 8 was massive counterattacking. The 1st SS alone repelled 4 divisions inflicting 1800 infantry and 600 cavalry casualties at the cost of 400 SS. But two panzer divisions were pushed back...including the 14th in the north Salient that had opened up a hole. He must not be suffering any command failures this turn!


In the Crimea, the Hungarians and Romanians push on taking all hexes adjacent to Kerch. 3 Waves of attacks from the Hungarians, including the first use of 3 nebelwerfers, fail to dislodge the two militia holding the city. (The rest were evacuated by the Russians). Casualties were light on both sides however due to the lack of firepower of the milita and the fortifications of the city.

The Rumanians launch two assaults to take the next two hexes adjacent to the heavy urban and light urban hexes of Sevastopol suffering massive casualties. The attack was staged using the least amount of troops possible to fufill a battlestack as it was only supposed to make the defenders use up supply faster, and was preceded by a 6 artillery brigade barrage of both hexes. (each). I will post the Axis spirit levels next turn.

The Salient....as the front is getting shorter, more of my units are freed, allowing me to send the rest of III Panzer Korp to the north, while the rest of 1st Panzer Army in the south continues it's slow push north.

[LiquidSky]

Turn 11: June 1, 1942.

Turn 10 was mud, so not much happened...other then the Russians trying to crawl a hex or two to safety.

In the Crimea, the Rumanians elimate the last units holding Sevastopol. With the HQ evacuated, they had no source of supply, and were easy to defeat. During the mud turn, Kerch fell as it was only guarded by two weakened milita. Now the Hungarian/Italians march dutifully up the rail line, while waiting a chance to board a train for the main front.

Rumanian Spirit level: 58
Hungarian Spirit level: 54
Italian Spirit level: 61

The Axis Minors took a fair bit of losses (except the Italians) but were able to take both Sevastopol (on time) and Kerch (needed to play more time card). With the luftwaffe no longer needed to assist them, it transfers during the mud turn and this turn for the main front.



In the far north, Berlin orders the capture of a small town on the front, so my troops dutifully comply, despite the front being rather thin up there.

It appears that the faster mechanized forces that were in the Kharkov salient have managed to escape out, but there are two rifle divisions doomed to be pocketed, and a couple more that may still be caught. The SS divisions (now stacked together) pushed north 20 km, while 3rd Panzer covers the estern flank. The 14th and 16th Panzer manage only to push forward 10km, so the whole III Panzer Korp is stacked in one hex, trying to push towards Kupyansk

Da Map!






Losses so far have been 53.6K infantry and about 300 tanks.
Losses inflicted on the russians, however have been around 177.5k infantry.

[LiquidSky]

Bah....Turn 12. Mud again. Thats it for the salient, the russians have retreated out. I managed to surround and kill 6000 riflemen. The rest of the turn was me moving forward to keep a front line.

Looking at my forces I realize I need a fair bit of infantry and a large number of guns....so I am disbanding the coastal regiments, and replacing them with Ersatz Infantry (up to 8 or 9 now). They only cost command points from OKH/2 Army/6 Army.

I am also disbanding my Nebelwerfers for the trucks/infantry (now that they are used up), and a large number of my artillery. I also played an infantry card for the first time. I would rather my infantry all have the ability to fire artillery then the roving bands of army artillery, although I still need a few for the battle at Rostov.

Partisans are popping up all over the place..Like Daisies! So instead of railing my minor axis to the front, they seem to be running around putting down the outbreaks. (3 partisans over the last 4 turns). The latest one is only a few hexes from OKH.

[Keunert]

Why are you disbanding Nebelwerfer and artillery? i have no clue why you would do that?

[LiquidSky]

My front line troops are lacking in guns/men. The nebelwerfers are one-shot items..useful about once a month as they dont seem to get very many replacements without playing the nebelwerfer card....so I can use the men/trucks elsewhere. As for the artillery..the same artillery is in the infantry divisions, and I would rather have the strength on the front lines. If each unit holds 500 infantry and 150 trucks, I will gain 6000 infantry and 1800 trucks if I disband 12 of them (and keep 2).

I find I only use the independent artillery to attack Sevastopol and Rostov...so I am disbanding them. I will keep a couple for Rostov, and perhaps for Stalingrad later...

The Russians ran, and the salient is no more.....no doubt he will begin to back up one or two hexes a turn towards Voronezh, limiting my ability to attack him.

TURN 13: June 5th, 1942. Weather Clear.

I follow the Russian retreat, and my armour concentrates for an attack (if he doesnt keep retreating). I lose my first objective for 2 prestige, and gain the trio of Millerowo, Rostov, and Voronezh. In a previous game, I concentrated on Millerowo and Rostov, and ignored Voronezh...I find that the Russians can plug up Voronezh too easily, whereas they cannot prevent me from getting beside Rostov. And Millerowo is a writeoff.

Anyways, the final position after my turn:

[Keunert]

Artillery in infantry units supports infantry combat as far as i know it but it will not help you preparing an attack. reducing readiness and entrenchment is very important but without artillery you will not be able to do this?

[LiquidSky]

Ahhh...I won't be without artillery..the artillery will be in the infantry divisions, including the artillery regiment. So I will still be bombarding. My problem is that the infantry regimental artillery is a bit weak along my front, so I am going to do this to bolster them. They will be good enough for bombarding Russians in clear hexes, and can be bunched to bombard a fixed position...(if I dont just outflank it).

You are right though when it comes to Rostov..I will probably miss it there....

[LiquidSky]

Turn 14: June 7, 1942 Weather is MUD.

The weather gods hate me...we have been alternating clear and mud for a while now. Mud on turn 4, 10, 12, and 14 so far. To top it off, yet another partisan pops on the map. I play an ambition card as I am certain he will continue to retreat. I don't bother moving up to the front line, as I want to play another ambition card next turn, and might get an empty russian city on the front line. [:D]

I also cancel any plans for the armour, and I am going to reposition it to a front that isnt retreating (much)...or use where my next ambition card demands it.

So..here is the frontline:

[LiquidSky]

Turn 15 June 9th, 1942. Weather is Clear

He retreats even farther in the north. My opponent is a firm believer in straight lines. I will have to pitch him a curve.

I notice some fortifications going up around Rostov...I may bypass it this game, and send my armour for Voronezh...or maybe push past Rostov and surround it. Havent decided yet, but then Berlin isnt asking me to take any of my objectives until early July.

So all I do is push up to the front...after playing another Ambition card. My prestige is currently 23, and I am hoping to net two of the three majors to add 6 more. As well, my minor objectives should get me a couple more points. So I am doing okay.

Here is the map:

[LiquidSky]

Turn 16: June 11, 1942. Weather: Clear

Again, the Russians retreat from the middle of the map up to the top. I pursue. After having my first air attack bloodly repulsed by 4 enemy fighter groups, I attack three different cities near the front with fighter sweeps, shooting down many Russian 'fighters'. I now have 295 fighters to his 500. I am going to have to actively try and reduce his airforce, as it can be quite annoying on intercept duty.

Using one of his leaders cards, he has been fortifying the front city hexes in Rostov. Which pretty much means I have to bypass the city...and take it from behind. Guess that means I will have to take Voronezh, so I will have to fill my 5th Army HQ and its three empty Corp HQ's with the new reinforcements arriving and use it to strike along the northern rail-line. I think I will use 1st Panzer Army to strike along the rail-line to Millerowo. Once there I can either swing it north to help 5th Army, or keep going for Stalingrad.

I wont bother with the screenshot as my frontline is a bit of a mess until I get all the units up to the front...and I don't want my opponent to know where my armour is [:'(]

[LiquidSky]

Turn 17: June 13, 1942 Weather: Yucky. I seem to be living up to my alias, LiquidSky

The russians chose not to retreat this turn, but I am unable to take any advantage of it, as the weather is poor. So I use the turn to further organize my armies for the coming campaign. New reinforcements are showing up, including a panzer division (11th) and a motorized, so I start attaching them to the 5th Army (I should rename it to the 4th Panzer army), and it's three corps. With only 100 staff apiece, though, it will be a while before I activate them for combat. To help them along I buy another Staff card.

Prestige is up to 25, as another evacuated Russian city fell to my advancing troops to the delight of Berlin. Medals for all!

[LiquidSky]

Turn 18: June 15, 1942. Weather: Clear

The Russians shuffle back a hex almost everywhere except the middle of the map. I attack towards Voroshisomethinggrad and eventually Millerowo.





A strong panzer corp will soon be in position to assist them for the drive to Millerowo.

In the south, the axis minors about half the axis minors have arrived (all the Italians and most of the Hungarians). When the Rumanians eventually show up, I will start the offensive towards Rostov..which looks to be fully fortified.

More air battles which mostly favour me. It really appears that the russians have spread their airforce out along the whole front, so it annoys me if I try to fly bombing missions without fighter cover. And I use up my fighters trying to find and suppress his airforce. I may have to suspend all bombing missions until the fighters have chased/destroyed his airplanes.

[LiquidSky]

Rostov Fortifications:





One thing I notice about TrappenJagd as opposed to Case Blue, is that it seems that both sides benefit. The Russians gain a larger army, and have time to prepare things like fortifying Rostov. In return, the Germans gain more time to take Sevastopol, and can launch Case Blue much earlier, but with lesser forces. As well..it appears that my army is much more damaged then it would be at the start of Case Blue, however, I still get a fair number of replacement points.

Because of the increasing political point value of the replacement cards, it seems to be a wash with the extra political points you receive.

[LiquidSky]

Turn 19: June 17, 1942 Weather: Clear

Why those sneaky ruskies. The 5th Tank Army launches an attack in the far north, pushing a hex or two forward into my thin lines. Unknown to him, however, is the 5th army, forming in Kursk and the cities in front of Kursk. A Panzer Corp and 4 infantry divisions race into the front lines. The rest of my army reaches the front line (minus those slow Rumanians) and set up positions for the up coming offensive: Case Blue.





A lone russian sub fleet, sitting off of Kerch is bombed, and the Rumanian Destroyer fleet finishes it off, before heading back into port.

The air war continues to heat up, as russian air units behind the 5th tank army are strafed. I also play the fighter card, only getting 20 fw-190a's. Only 10 more (cards) to rebuild to full strength [:(]

The last partisan on the map is finally killed. Hopefully I can have some peace and quiet so I can rail my rumanians to Operation RumBalls. (tba)

[LiquidSky]

Turn 20: June 19, 1942. Weather: Clear

A few more skirmishes in the air with the Russian air force, and it appears that most of it has fled farther back. Two more cities fall for 3 prestige total, so my gamble in playing ambition has paid off. In the Crimea, the russian sub I sunk last turn has been avenged by having the entire Black Sea fleet blockade the port my navy (minus transports) is in. And sink about half of them. With no chance of escape, I am certain the rest will follow next turn. I refuse to use air to bombard his fleet as it is would only hurt my bombers for units that I dont worry about. He cant damage me with his navy, and he is smart enough not to try an invasion when I have units in every port on the coast. (and I would put him out of supply with my airforce anyways)

I play another fighter card and this time get 30 fw190a's.

After catching up to the russians, I decide for Raus in 1st Panzer Army to play Freedom of Action on the III Panzer Corp. This allows them to breach the front. III corp then plays a speed card on the 16th Panzer divison, allowing it to exploit one hex in. With no sign of Russians immediately behind the breach, I hope that this will turn into something good.






17th army and 11th army with XIV Panzer Corp put weight on his front line towards Millerowo.

The axis minors look to be guarding the southern flank along Rostov..which surely they can do, right? I mean, what could go wrong with minor axis guarding a flank along a major russian city...and a river. Its the perfect job for them! Really...

[LiquidSky]

I meant to post this as well...its the current figures of infantry, medium tanks, fighters, and dive bombers. There is a recent spike due to the arrival of several infantry and mechanized forces (like 4th Panzer Army), but you can see that the luftwaffe campaign is working, although at a cost.



I am pleased to note that the amount of our infantry has finally exceeded that of the Russians!

[LiquidSky]

Turn 21: June 21, 1942. Weather Marvelous, simply Marvelous!

After a turn of wholesale russian retreating, I follow and push up to the line. Beginning to see a pattern here? No sign of the 5th Tank army after its brief appearance in the north...it must be hiding behind Voronezh.

I notice that supply is getting a bit low north of Rostov due to the lack of roads/rail. I will have to be carefull in my swing around the city. I wonder if I will be able to draw supply over the open terrain, and over the river to get behind Rostov.

[LiquidSky]

Turn 21: June 23, 1942 Weather still clear.

Another city falls giving me more prestige....up to 30 now. I can probably afford to not take Voronezh/Rostov and just take Millerowo...but I do think Voronezh will fall..despite his recent fortifications there.

Despite falling back a couple of hexes in the north, I was able to pierce his line and push in...using a speed card. If the Russians had not retreated, I would have pocketed a lot of units in one turn. Rivers are the best defence to this, as it takes practically all my AP's to attack or cross a river in a zoc. But out in the open, I can move a panzer division 2 hexes, attack and exploit one more hex afterwards.





In the south, I continue to screen Rostov with Axis minors and push the Germans further east, before I try and swing them over the river south. All the stugs are attached to my Italians to give them a better defence, and some offensive capability.

[LiquidSky]

A closer picture of the Voronezh front.

I had three failed attacks from the 24th pz, 16th mot, and 1st SS reg (with pz div), although I did chew up his divisions badly. I hope to be able to break him before he reaches the river line at Voronezh, so I am pushing hard.