The Red Menace (Topeverest vs Admiral Kamikaze)

[topeverest]

This past turn was relatively dark for the ruskies. The Grey Menace chewed up the northern armies in blockbusting fashion from the west, forcing me to with withdrawal from Leningrad, except for some straggling units. While I still hold it, she is sure to be gone next turn. I searched the AAR's for an example of a successful holding of the city, but I couldn't find one. It really matters not, because it is his, and won fairly, notwithstanding my green nature. I am continuing my strategic plan of defending behind rivers in depth to gain maximum defensive value, counterattacking where feasible on exposed German units, moving as many factories as I can, and trying to stay out of a panzer ball breakout.

While I have been successful in saving all movable industry up to this point, I never should have tried to do that. I should have focused on a strategy that saves the highest percentage of at risk factories. In any event, I am where I am. Learning mistake number 100 at this point. There are 84 Armament, 33 heavy industry, and 41 vehicle factories currently at risk. I have successfully moved all at risk special factories (yak's tanks, etc). Lastly, I spent at least an hour trying to right size my armies, but I still need one more turn to realign fronts.

This turn, like any turn there will be chances for the enemy to break out, and by winter, I fully expect to lose Moscow. For sure I will not stay in a pincer. I am following a path to leave new units to build and the rushing them by rail to the front. There are three full armies that should arrive in the Moscow area next turn, assuming he doesn't breakout.

[topeverest]

Very disappointing for me. I thought I would put up a better fight, but I clearly didn't prepare correctly. Had I dug in differently, I would have been in a position for a siege that would have at least slowed down the Germans. About all I can say is that I saved some units, which is small consolation.

[topeverest]

The enemy has been throwing himself at the entrenchments west of Moscow and gradually sliding his strength to the south, looking for an opening. No 2 pronged pincer movement is in play. I have bolstered as much as I can with local troops, and three armies worth of troops will arrive on trains next turn. I never can predict exactly what my enemy will do, but both he has stated that he has outstretched his supply line and what movement intelligence I get suggests units are getting fewer MP's. perhaps I can use that to somewhat of an advantage. If he is going to breakout, it will be in the southwest of Moscow. Just have to wait and see.

Certainly I am learning things not to do the next time around. That is for sure.

[topeverest]

In the south, where my unit density is better, and I have the luxury of fighting behind rivers and making local counterattacks sting, the withdrawal is orderly, and the enemy is making modest progress. There is a general active front of about 20 hexes starting due west of Kharkov and heading south to Krivoi Rog, but it is not continuous, and he has concentrated his armor towards Kharkov.

I have fewer worries down here. It's mainly about holding long enough to get as many of the needed factories away. For the nest time I play, I need to make a list of all factories and make a schedule. My best guess haphazard approach, while approaching historic uncertainty is no way to play a game!

I'll say this, the crises management needed in the starting summer and fall is well beyond the old Russian Front and other Barbarossa games.

[topeverest]

This is where if I were in my younger gaming days, I would restart, but my esteemed opponent and I want to play it through. It is the only time I will encounter historical uncertainty manifested in unfamiliarity with the gaming system. The first ten turns have been quite an education, and I am sure the next will be just as infuriating. I am expecting to lose Moscow before fall, but I am hoping I can stop the enemy in the north. My initial plans are to counterattack Moscow if I lose it, and in the north below the Fins if I don't. In any event, still another ten turns to worry about before then - and a dozen other crises to manage.

[Tom Hunter]

If I can stick with it vs Saper222 you can stay in this. You may lose Moscow, or maybe not, but over all your situation is pretty good. Mud in six turns, mostly you just need to stay alive until then, and I don't think that is in question.

[SigUp]

I'm repeating myself, but nevertheless. I think you can do a better job allocating your forces. You are far too strong in the South, while too weak at Moscow. In 1941 the Soviet have to prioritize certain sectors, even if that means losing some others. You tried to defend everything and in that process you'll perhaps lose Moscow, in addition to Leningrad and the Ukraine. But as Tom said, nothing is lost yet.

[loki100]

You didn't need to abandon Leningrad so totally, an army left in decent forts would have given you a decent delay or distraction.

I now reckon those hills are more important than the Luga as a key defense point - but make sure you really have strong stacks down along the Volkhov.

In general, as with SigUp, I'd say pull stuff out the Ukraine. You've done well with factory evacuations so far and its better to lose Kharkov than it is to lose Moscow. If I read your front colours correctly, you have W Front too far south, bring that up and do a general shuffle to keep some sort of front. Accept weak spots where its easier to cope with a deep breakthrough (such as south of Kursk).

[topeverest]

Mud reared its ugly head and bogged down German advances in some places, and in general the Germans made only minor advances. Ironically, The Germans did not close the Leningrad corridor. To take the advise offered, I pushed in a few more divisions to slow him down and generally be painful. I am fortifying the Volkov line. Around Moscow, the enemy made direct assaults with poor results. A new spearhead has appeared to the north of Moscow, so the pincer play may be on. The thirty plus divisions I promised would arrive at Moscow did in fact arrive, and the sector has another 20 divisions available to it. SO far those divisions are staying as a mobile strategic reserve. Further south the mud prevented any meaningful action, since I had retreated the prior turn.

I relocated 10 armament points from Dnepropetrovsk. I also shifted forces north from the south, and reorganized armies further, though I still cant seem to get it done. I am finding the whole admin thing keeping armies cohesive quite difficult. Vehicles are 205K vs 112K needed. I think I have figured out that keeping as HQ and air many units as possible on rails helps with the whole matter.

What are thoughts on commander replacements? Also, I have found that I have too many units to remain in guideline for command points. Am I missing something here?

[topeverest]

A view of the partial reinvestment. Crises seems to have passed for the moment

[topeverest]

Some concentration of force towards Kalinin

[topeverest]

Little movement on the Moscow line, but 40 plus Russian divisions moved into the area. Still two areas to shore up.
Turn will see how much progress will be made. prob will move more reinforcements in. No action further south due
weather.

[Tom Hunter]

Shuffle North, consider railing and army or two to Moscow even if you have to lose some factories. Read Walloc's guide to decide what to sacrifice. Believe it or not you have your opponent well in hand.

[topeverest]

Again, thanks for the assists.

The first turn in September saw the Russian reinforcement weight around Moscow grind the german advance to a halt. In the north, the Russian sacrifices at Leningrad were almost consumed, but it will take one more turn to complete that. The beaten Leningrad and northern armies retreated across the Volkov, but I probably will still get pushed back somewhat further, though I am no too worries about it. The main German success this past turn west of Dnepropetrovsk. He captured Krivoi rog and three heavy industry. This is his first factory capture of any kind, but it wont be his last. It was a pincer attack that barely failed to close, and about 20 Russian units managed to get out. I am trying to continue to retreat in good order in that area, but further german progress in that theater is assured. I think only the winter will close that down. Sevastapol will be cut off from the north next turn.

[topeverest]

A select number of Russian counterattacks were successful around Moscow, but only in the clear. I feel better about the prospects of keeping the city. Aside, I still seem tobe unable to keep army boundaries clean. Perhaps when the maneuver winds down.

[topeverest]

As advised, I have continued to strip forces from this theater to bolster around Moscow. The enemy will make progress here. I am trying as much defense in depth as possible and to retreat in good order.

[topeverest]

If I build a brigade, it seems to become a distinct unit, that I cannot push back into an army, etc. Can I build for example and AT unit and then push it back into an HQ (off map.)

I don't know how to build sappers? They aren't available when I shift B

Is sequential attacking effective? for example, attack a hex to or three times as softening attacks and then the main attack?

[loki100]

ORIGINAL: topeverest

If I build a brigade, it seems to become a distinct unit, that I cannot push back into an army, etc. Can I build for example and AT unit and then push it back into an HQ (off map.)

I don't know how to build sappers? They aren't available when I shift B

Is sequential attacking effective? for example, attack a hex to or three times as softening attacks and then the main attack?

You build Soviet SUs from the army HQ screen

Early war, the only time I'd attack in sequence is if I was really sure my opponent had units set to reserve - that way you trigger their intervention when it doesn't matter. From 43 on you can assume this will be the case and some small diversionary attacks are a good idea. Otherwise in 41-2 I'd go for mass, you just want as many men in combat as you can manage, that will shift the combat odds in your favour - but pre-attack bombing is often a good idea.

[topeverest]

Germany decided to abandon Moscow as a target, finished off Leningrad, and pooled his armor to the drive for Stalino and Rostov. A few pincer attempts were all either thwarted by counterattack, or resolved through general withdrawal. 3 or so guaranteed good weather turns before the mud season, and all focus seems to be on the booty around Stalino. So far, the enemy has captured or is adjacent of about 10 heavy industry. Nothing else has been captured. So far, I am staying out in front of the most of it. That said, the enemy is pushing hard in the south. Hopefully my defense in depth will keep the advance to 3-5 hexes per turn.

I feel guardedly good about holding Moscow and limiting advances in the north to a few more hexrows. I have ceased bringing units to the front, allowing them to fully replace for a yet to be decided winter offensive. I am in the process of manually upgrading air units for winter offensive and general purposes. Which airframes are worth upgrading to? Any thoughts?

My admin points are 28 but I did manage to get all the armies setup and mostly into fronts, even if there are a few armies to move and many fronts have too many points in them. Is this common?

[topeverest]

And the map. Looks a bit more organized I hope.