What?! Seriously?! You are back for more??? Now allowed for Oloren!

[terje439]

Turn 98

Overall
Mud, except in the eastern zone, still not alot of attacks made. 1 USSR attack end in a held result, and our 9 attacks give 2 helds, 5 retreats and 2 surrenders.
Even after spending some 250 points on rearranging my units, some of my armies as well as AGC are overloaded. Could use one more AG, 3 armies and 6 corps right about now.

USSR units in pockets at start of turn
2.

USSR units in pockets at end of turn
2.

Losses
USSR : 108.000 troops, 1.346 guns, 84 AFVs, 310 AC.
Axis : 29.000 troops, 143 guns, 52 AFVs, 20 AC.

USSR units lost
2 rifle divisions.

German units disbanded
None.

Partisans hunted down
5.

German pools
Manpower : 23.824
Vehicles : 188.186
Armaments : 247.127
Hiwi : 1

[terje439]

Turn 99

Overall
the mud is gone in one zone. The Southern one [:D]
Our panzers immediately lash out, and we form a few pockets this turn. All in all things are rather quiet however, and we do not take alot of terrain, but if the weather keeps up, it seems we can keep attacking, as the USSR defences in the south are still quite weak.
A total of 29 attacks resulted in 1 held, 23 retreats, 3 routs, 1 shatter and 1 surrender.
Our attacks also led us next to Stalino, and there we spot the first tank corps. Killing those units would be nice, but the entire Stalino city-complex will have to be surrounded before we deal with it.

USSR units in pockets at start of turn
2.

USSR units in pockets at end of turn
36.

Losses
USSR : 125.000 troops, 1.779 guns, 291 AFVs, 252 AC.
Axis : 28.000 troops, 181 guns, 67 AFVs, 73 AC.

USSR units lost
2 rifle divisions, 1 rifle brigade.

German units disbanded
None.

Partisans hunted down
4.

German pools
Manpower : 20.049
Vehicles : 192.525
Armaments : 269.454
Hiwi : 0
I am still thrilled to see such armaments values at this time. So totally new for me [:D]

[terje439]

Turn 100

Overall
Still clear in the south, but the USSR managed to reopen the pocket, so we need another turn to reseal it, and I am still not sure I will manage to hold it as those rifle corps he has there are strong indeed. We keep pushing east south of Stalino, and that makes me wonder where to go next...
4 USSR attacks gave 3 helds and 1 retreat, while our 29 attacks resulted in 1 held, 19 retreats, 2 routs and 7 surrenders.

USSR units in pockets at start of turn
15.

USSR units in pockets at end of turn
23.

Losses
USSR : 248.000 troops, 3.817 guns, 693 AFVs, 415 AC.
Axis : 32.000 troops, 241 guns, 106 AFVs, 78 AC.

USSR units lost
3 Rifle Corps, 8 Rifle Divisions, 1 Rifle Brigade, 5 Tank Brigades.

German units disbanded
None.

Partisans hunted down
10.

German pools
Manpower : 18.237
Vehicles : 201.320
Armaments : 282.385
Hiwi : 0

Question
The 29th Motorized Division just appeared outside Berlin, and is allready withdrawing. Since I do not recall the "names" of every division I have one the board, is that a division that the USSR have destroyed without me noticing, or does it appear just to disappear?

[Lord_Martin]

Hello! I´ve followed your AAR with interest for a while now,
and learned a lot by doing so.

Right now I wonder how much longer you think you can afford your lines to grow
before you front becomes to thin?

[hfarrish]

Seems to me that the blue line is the only real plausible course of action - it has the double benefit of potentially eliminating a lot more units and securing the Stalino region; the yellow line just seems like overreach, even after your current victories and the red line forces you to campaign across a major river in summer, which given the decline in German infantry strength during this period might be a stretch...it would also leave some very exposed flanks.

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: Lord_Martin

Hello! I´ve followed your AAR with interest for a while now,
and learned a lot by doing so.

Right now I wonder how much longer you think you can afford your lines to grow
before you front becomes to thin?

Hi, thank you, although I am not sure learning from me is the best thing to do [:D]
Actually my lines have gotten (atleast they will soon) aprox 35 hexes shorter with the closing of the southern pocket, so I can extend them a little, but soon the Italians will go away, and besides the USSR offensive strength will grow, so I must think about keeping a few units as reserves. But for now, I think I can extend my lines about 20 hexes with no danger to myself.


Terje

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: hfarrish


Seems to me that the blue line is the only real plausible course of action - it has the double benefit of potentially eliminating a lot more units and securing the Stalino region; the yellow line just seems like overreach, even after your current victories and the red line forces you to campaign across a major river in summer, which given the decline in German infantry strength during this period might be a stretch...it would also leave some very exposed flanks.

Yes, that is where I am currently leaning to be honest. It would be nice to anchor my southern line at Rostov. I might have to look at the ammount of troops I can free up around the map, to check if I can follow the river for a little bit. A major river IS a nice defensive terrain after all...


Terje

[Walloc]

Hi Terje,

As part of ur offensive/defensive planing/risk assesment. i think u should take into account a possible AP crunch. If u arent alrdy.


Kind regards,

Rasmus

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: Walloc

Hi Terje,

As part of ur offensive/defensive planing/risk assesment. i think u should take into account a possible AP crunch. If u arent alrdy.


Kind regards,

Rasmus

Yeah I know, and that is another reason to go for the blue line, as the red one seems like a "port too far" [:'(]


Terje

[Fishbed]

I dont know if it's too late for that, but a limited grind towards Rostov could help you get the A/B army group thing up and running, if it's not over yet. Starting your offensive in this direction with major infantry concentrations would also force your opponent to focus his forces on the wrong axis...

[Scook_99]

Nice game so far, Terje! From what I remember, RHG headquarters are only allowed to have security units attached to them. This is why they are considered of very limited value and better used for manpower for real fighting troops. The only consideration I made was to have the RHG HQs attached to OKH before disbanding.

Things might have changed from what I remember, or I am not remembering correctly, but they might be better used now for a 30,000 man manpower boost to your troopers.

Edit: Minor country headquarters might help, if you haven't thought of that one yet.

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: Fishbed

I dont know if it's too late for that, but a limited grind towards Rostov could help you get the A/B army group thing up and running, if it's not over yet. Starting your offensive in this direction with major infantry concentrations would also force your opponent to focus his forces on the wrong axis...

Yeah I have that in mind as well, although for some reason, I have allready gotten AGA...

Terje

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: Scook_99

Nice game so far, Terje! From what I remember, RHG headquarters are only allowed to have security units attached to them. This is why they are considered of very limited value and better used for manpower for real fighting troops. The only consideration I made was to have the RHG HQs attached to OKH before disbanding.

Things might have changed from what I remember, or I am not remembering correctly, but they might be better used now for a 30,000 man manpower boost to your troopers.

Edit: Minor country headquarters might help, if you haven't thought of that one yet.

Yup, realized that as I tried to place a normal unit into a RHG, did not show up on the list.
Main drawback with minor's HQs are the somewhat incapable leaders, so not sure if it is better to keep a German HQ with a good general somewhat overstacked than to send German Infs into minor's HQs with worse leaders.


Terje

[terje439]

Turn 101

[/i]Overall [/i]
The southern pocket held this turn, as did the smaller ones around Stalino, so we wiped them out.
With mud all across, and the USSR falling back in the Stalino area,we did not follow up, but allowed the panzers to rest for a turn. The only eastwards move we made was into Stalino with an Infantry Division. Only 57 VPs to go now.
In total we launched 13 attacks, scoring 4 retreats and 9 surrenders. A good turn in other words [:)]
I also did something I had not done in a few turn, and looked for reinforcements that have arrived in various corps, and found some goodies, they were reassigned this turn, no need for those StuGs to remain in an inactive HQ.

USSR units in pockets at start of turn
23 (1 HQ).

USSR units in pockets at end of turn
0.

Losses
USSR : 193.000 troops, 2.683 guns, 411 AFVs, 207 AC.
Axis : 26.000 troops, 98 guns, 48 AFVs, 30 AC.

USSR units lost
1 Tank Corps, 12 Rifle Divisions, 1 Cavalry Division, 4 Rifle Brigade, 3 Tank Brigades, 1 Naval Rifle Brigade.

German units disbanded
1 Luftflotte, 1 airbase.

Partisans hunted down
6.

German pools
Manpower : 45.401
Vehicles : 201.156
Armaments : 305.122
Hiwi : 8.449

[Tophat1815]

The blue line drive is your best option with two caveats:

#1) Take Rostov and anchor yourself there,also gaining that extra Army group Hq to help with command point capacity.

#2) Clean out the Crimea so he can't use it as a springboard into your backfield.

Glad you had a chance to rest those panzer divisions this turn! You might see your active tank numbers over 3,000 yet!

Where did you place those Stug battalions?

Some more closeups of the southern action area and Crimea please.

Nice to see you got one of his tank corps..now encircle 2 or 3 infantry corps and those 57 vps might actually be attainable.

How about a screen shot or three of the area facing Moscow? [:D]

"Ever forward".

[Blubel]

1) You don't get an extra army group anymore. You get it in March of 43, if you don't capture Rostov before.

How many manpower points did you capture? What is the soviet replacement situation.

[Tophat1815]

I looked but didn't see,how long have you had Army group A?

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: Tophat1812

The blue line drive is your best option with two caveats:

#1) Take Rostov and anchor yourself there,also gaining that extra Army group Hq to help with command point capacity.

#2) Clean out the Crimea so he can't use it as a springboard into your backfield.

Glad you had a chance to rest those panzer divisions this turn! You might see your active tank numbers over 3,000 yet!

#3) Where did you place those Stug battalions?

#4) Some more closeups of the southern action area and Crimea please.

#5) Nice to see you got one of his tank corps..now encircle 2 or 3 infantry corps and those 57 vps might actually be attainable.

#6) How about a screen shot or three of the area facing Moscow? [:D]

"Ever forward".

1. Yes, I intend to take the city.
2. That depends upon what Brad does, he has 6 filled out Inf Corps there, if those are dug in, that might be hard.
3. So far in AGS from where I will send them to the Divs that needs them the most.
4&6. Will do next turn.
5. Only 2 or 3? [:D]


Terje

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: Blubel

1) You don't get an extra army group anymore. You get it in March of 43, if you don't capture Rostov before.

How many manpower points did you capture? What is the soviet replacement situation.

Aha, guess that was when I got AGA then, no AGB for me then? That sucks.
1192 at T92, guess that places it somewhere between 1250 and 1300 by now then, will post next turn.


Terje

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: Tophat1812

I looked but didn't see,how long have you had Army group A?

Taking Blubel on his word, since March -43 [:D]


Terje