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

[TulliusDetritus]

I haven't moved yet (but I am sharpening the butcher knife eh), here you can see what he dared to do! [:D]

[TulliusDetritus]

The south (or Operation Crazy Anatoly) first. As I suspected it was rather easy here. Still, some armored units are behind the German frontline so Marquo should be planning some sort of revenge.

Still, the Tank & Shock Army and the artillery divisions did their job so fair enough [8D]

In fact I think I will bring the 58th Stavka Army. The other last reserve army (32nd) will go to the north (next posts). And that means all the reserve armies will be 100% committed.

[TulliusDetritus]

The center (aka Operation Crazy Ivan), oh well... a carnage [:D]

[TulliusDetritus]

And finally the north or Operation Crazy Dmitri. Only two attacks. Cavalry that just had arrived (with 6 MPs left ) helped to kick the enemies out.

You can see a swarm of units (cavalry divisions and tank brigades). I will not, repeat, NOT reassign them to other commands. I need all the few APs I have. I won't waste them here up north. Attack & try to infiltrate, command penalties or not. So be it [;)]

The thing is the Finns are way too weak so these attacks should succeed. Yes or yes.

[TulliusDetritus]

And the general situation up north. Marquo has deployed many armored unis at the frontline. Advancing is going to be a problem, if not a mere pipe dream. But I will keep pushing in the north. Either he reinforces that part or what can stop me (far from railheads or not)?

My prediction is that he will a) strike with the panzers in the northern tip or 2) he will send some German units to make his position stronger.

But as long as a) and b) are not true I will keep pushing. Simply... to have a good laugh (after all it's the only place where I more or less have the upper hand, so let me enjoy!) [:D]

Oh, on next turn the 32nd Army will from two Rifle Corps.

[randallw]

All those swamps and heavy forest hexes are bad for tank fightin' [:'(]

[TulliusDetritus]

[center]Turn 106[/center]
[center]24 June 1943[/center]

Oh well, finally something worth mentioning! [8D]

Revenge starts rite now!

P.S.: geez! I thought I would never be uploading again the bears & girl pic from hell! About time!

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[TulliusDetritus]

Me hordes busted two holes N of Voronezh and bang... two tank armies advanced. I know he will certainly counter-attack, but still, there is NOTHING behind these trapped enemy units (I used the recon planes to death). There are armored hordes to the north and south. I'm certain he will gather them.

He will possibly isolate the 5=5 tank corps you see on the screenshot.

But I am massing forces here as well (61st Army and the tank army I had in the south: Operation Crazy Anatoly; and of course artillery divisions) to strike again on next turn.

One thing is certain: there will NOT be German fortified hexes in this place... [;)] So the better...

[sillyflower]

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus



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Well, if the Germans finally do teach you to drink tea properly (after you have paid the proper taxes on it of course), the means by which they achieve that improvement in your manners will have been justified.

[TulliusDetritus]

Tea!!?? *grabs the PPshina* Not a chance! Coffee guy here! Until I die [8D]

[TulliusDetritus]

Anyways, in the south, as I had suspected, he used his armored units and trashed the 5th Tank Army.

We can count 4 Pz Divisions + 1 Mot Division...

Plus the armored hordes he's dispatched to protect the Finns, Leningrad approaches (6 Pz Divisions at least + a couple a Mot divisions)...

That means...

This dozen of powerful units are NOT in the vicinity of the enemy units I would love to annihilate

So let's see what he can muster!

edit: pre Soviet moves

[TulliusDetritus]

South, end. The two reserve armies helped to trash one panzer division + one motorized division. So far he's preserving his mobile units therefore only his infantry is getting some stick (which they 120% deserve, by the way). And we can't have that! So I'm happy if the turtle shows its head!

I also predict he will strike again... or... will he send some of these hordes to help the enemy units I plan to annihilate? [:D]

[TulliusDetritus]

And in the center (or main operation Crazy Ivan) grinding continues. In fact the enemy units I am trying to encircle are almost outside of the offensive area. But... opportunity appeared and of course I have to take it.

It is clear that he has massed his forces in the main area. Plus the powerful units he is diverting to other fronts (north and south) that inevitably leads to weak spots.

By the way, I think I will send one of the shock armies (fighting some miles up north in the main offenive) to Tamboy area. Maybe I will even send two. The blood in the water...

[TulliusDetritus]

And finally up north. It is clear that I won't be advancing towards the Volkhovo hex thing. His armored units in swamp hexes give him way too strong defensive CVs. And of course I will NOT bring more units.

As I had said, the primitive plan was simply to have a good laugh (no kidding [:D]). But of course... cause => consequence (which I did not bother to consider [:D]). And the "consequence" here is half a dozen powerful mobile units that could be in more dangerous places! Like er... west of Tamboy, where I'm hoping to swallow some units.

So for all I care these armored hordes can stay in the north. So I better keep the tank army and the two Stavka reserve armies here.

[randallw]

I also used to believe that city is named Tamboy, but it may actually be Tambov.

[Klydon]

Interesting that he has quite a few SS divisions broken down. I would think the day of breaking down motorized/panzer forces would be past in terms of either having them in the line or using them as reserves.

Pound away Mr Russian; it is what you do best. [:D]

[smokindave34]

Also keep in mind that those SS units will be transferred from the east front soon. If you can push through in that area to a point where there are no forts you may be able to make some serious progress. The other advantage you will have is that Marquo will have to re-deploy his already thin panzers to that area.

[TulliusDetritus]

Oops, you're indeed correct, Randall. It's Tambov. Now just let's hope there will be a Tambov Chainsaw Massacre! And many others for that matter!

Klydon, yes, I have to keep charging like a bull [:D]

Smokindave, thanks for this SS units transfered thing. Perhaps I should open a fresh scenario and check the Axis scheduled withdrawals! June 1943... Operation Husky will soon start -the mini second front that is...

Anyway I think Marquo (he hasn't sent the turn yet: he's carefully thinking & preparing his revenge, no doubt [:D]) will strike back and reinforce this part of the front. But this should weaken other parts of the front. In theory.

[Wuffer]

hmmm, maybe you should give him the illusion he could just contain the mess instead of pulling back? ))
IMHO he is seriously overextended - did he have a second line?

[TulliusDetritus]

ORIGINAL: Wuffer
hmmm, maybe you should give him the illusion he could just contain the mess instead of pulling back? ))
IMHO he is seriously overextended - did he have a second line?

The thing is I want him to pull back or I will never get to Berlin [:)] Oh well, perhaps I will never get there, but as I had said I am assuming / pretending I "can".

Anyway, he possibly thinks he can more or less contain my hordes. And maybe he is correct.

No, no proper second line where I striked. The battle icons (of the screenshot) show units already trashed (first line). Retrashed that is [:D]

Let's see what can (or cannot) be done on the next turns though [8D]