Back in the East STEF78 (Axis) Oshawott (USSR)

SigUp · Post by **SigUp** » Sun Jul 27, 2014 8:04 am

I know that. It's just that I think it's ridiculous that the amount of losses never changes much, no matter whether you are attacking with 400.000, 100.000 or 70.000 men. I never got the feeling that WITE has something along the likes of a stacking penalty. It seems to operate under the principle "the more the better", which is a little bit illogical in my eyes. I mean, if I hit a concentration of 10.000 men with an artillery shell is obviously going to cause more losses, than if I hit 1.000 in the same area. But WITE doesn't seem to consider that.

Flaviusx · Post by **Flaviusx** » Sun Jul 27, 2014 9:21 am

Yes, the combat engine is systematically biased in favor of the attacker in this way.

Ketza · Post by **Ketza** » Sun Jul 27, 2014 12:07 pm

I am guessing this will be a holdover for the western front. Might be ugly in Normandy!

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Sun Jul 27, 2014 5:59 pm

Turn 85, 28th january 1943

Finns always retreating, Pskov threatened...

Briansk

Tactical situation begins to look ugly

Lower Dniepr

Oshawott is heading South where the resistance is the weakiest

Wuffer · Post by **Wuffer** » Sun Jul 27, 2014 9:12 pm

dunno who's thread this is, but how fast could he move forward w/o combat? Infantry and/or mobile units?

I have no clue: supply, trucks, rail repair etc. ... it's a huge army, maybe he's a bit short on vehicles or something else?
And just maybe(!) the German should deny combat and retreat in order to a new line?
As said before this might be stupid, but this looks really no good neither.
And this is the only idea I had since weeks to contain this mess at least a little longer.

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Mon Jul 28, 2014 3:26 am

ORIGINAL: Wuffer

dunno who's thread this is, but how fast could he move forward w/o combat? Infantry and/or mobile units?

I have no clue: supply, trucks, rail repair etc. ... it's a huge army, maybe he's a bit short on vehicles or something else?
And just maybe(!) the German should deny combat and retreat in order to a new line?
As said before this might be stupid, but this looks really no good neither.
And this is the only idea I had since weeks to contain this mess at least a little longer.

It's not a stupid question at all

Regarding logistical points, Oshawott has the answer

At the moment he is able to pick up 3/4 points in the front and advance:
- 1 hex per turn in front of well entrenched and good german/finns units
- 2/3 hexes per turn if i's a weak spot.

He cannot make great moves because it's winter/blizzard and because the german army is still strong

Germans cannot deny combat everywhere. If so, we would be in Berlin summer 1943 and space must be traded against time carefulley and not wasted.

But concerning the retreat, you will have a first answer soon.

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Mon Jul 28, 2014 2:48 pm

Turn 86, 4th febrary 1943

Always Under pressure in Leningrad, Pskov and the lower Dniepr. I need to shorten my lines and avoid any breakthrough in the center.

I give up the Sumy/Briansk salliant

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Tue Jul 29, 2014 4:19 pm

Turn 87, 11th february 1943

The beginning of the end for the finns

Pskov

2 consecutive weeks of assault: the city has finally fallen...

Leningrad

Back to the 1939's border and beyond

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Wed Jul 30, 2014 4:16 pm

Turn 88, 18th February 1942

Heavy pressure in the South. Reinforcements are gathered to build a solid line of defence Nikolaïev/Kirovograd. As usual early 1943, Italians are sacrified

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 5:06 pm

Turn 89, 25th february 1943

Blood and fire in the South but strong reinforcements arrive quickly

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Fri Aug 01, 2014 5:56 pm

Turn 90, 4th march 1943

Poltava

Russians have reached my defensive line. Losses are heavy when units are not well entrenched, especially with 90 enginer value!!!

Krivoi Rog

Still sacrifying italian units.... I know it's gamey but they are going home within a few months... 2nd SS PzK strenghens the defence.

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Sat Aug 02, 2014 6:02 pm

Turn 91, 11th march 1943

Vyborg

Desperate attempt to earn a few more weeks

Krivoi Rog

Heavy fights and able to counterattack in some places. Pzd are low on AFV

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Mon Aug 04, 2014 5:19 am

Turn 92, 18th march 1943

Center

Guns in action, Russians now able to attack at full strength

South

Heavy fights and a good defensive success

Main battles

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Mon Aug 04, 2014 5:39 pm

Turn 93, 25th march 1943

Last turn before mud. Osahwott is a very cautious defender and attacker. As stated in his AAR, I think he should have put more pressure in the South. The front on the Lower Dniepr was not far to collapse and I had to send there 2 Pzk + II PzSS K + several Inf divs to close the hole. But of course it's easier to say than to do.

The Italians and the Rumanians were sacrified to earn time.

Summer 1943 will be much harder, SHC will get MP's and progressively close the morale gap.

I will use all natural defences available (Dniepr, Dvina, Pripyat) and as anyone can notice, there is almost nothing to stop the russians in Krivoi Rog area.. . except my best units [;)]

At the moment, I make some local counerattacks

Center

Oshawott always let a path for his units not to be routed. at this time I placed a Pzd on this hex!

South

2 successfull counerattacks

loki100 · Post by **loki100** » Tue Aug 05, 2014 4:16 am

Given how grim it all looked in the winter offensive, I reckon you've done a great job defensively since then. You've been effective in stalling him and at least giving yourself some space to play with in 1943.

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Tue Aug 05, 2014 5:17 am

ORIGINAL: loki100

Given how grim it all looked in the winter offensive, I reckon you've done a great job defensively since then. You've been effective in stalling him and at least giving yourself some space to play with in 1943.

Thanks. I try to avoid any encirclement and spare my Manpower/morale.

But not sure that defending successfully as GHC during winter 1942/1943 should be considered as exceptional.

I see the growing wave of russian army coming and my ditch will crack during this summer or more surely during winter 1943/1944.

I still believe that this game will end summer 1944.

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Tue Aug 05, 2014 6:53 pm

Turn 100, 13 may 1943

Mud is away and russians will hit hard. A global view of the front. I give up the esatern bank of the Dniepr South of Kiev

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Tue Aug 05, 2014 6:58 pm

Turn 100, 13 may 1943

A closest view of the Dniepr withdrawal

And a bad dice roll, finns surrender...

A good news, my FB are in good shape

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Wed Aug 06, 2014 6:19 am

Turn 101, 20th may 1943

Summer will be long... First overview of the Russian power.

Pskov

Units in clear terrain won't be able to resist. Oshawott clears the surroundings of Pskov

Center

Oshawott methodically destroys my first line of defence. A held can be get in light woods with a full Pzd as reserve

South

Idem, clearing the first line.

Battles

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Thu Aug 07, 2014 10:11 am

Turn 102, 27th may 1943

An overview of the front with the main axes of soviet attacks and my favorite FB now efficient

My counterattacks, not a good deal but absolutely necessary