Oshawott (Russia) vs. Stef78 (Axis)

[Oshawott]

How can you achieve so much with so small army?

I believe it's one of the reasons why it worked so well. I decided early to stay at 9 million. I never really had any vehicle problems. Better supply means better MP means more attacks means higher morale etc.

[Oshawott]

T128 - North/Center

The Germans are in full retreat now.

[Oshawott]

T128 - South

This is the situation at the beginning of the turn. Stef uses his remaining mobile units to reopen the pocket. However, I have so many units in perfect or near perfect supply that I can simply move around the weak flanks and encircle his remaining mobile forces. The only really difficult combat is against Das Reich because I want to make two separate pockets just to be safe. There doesn't seem to be much left outside the pocket that poses a threat.

For now no more HQ buildups. Probably even for the rest of the game. I need to preserve vehicles.

[Oshawott]

T128 - South after Combats

This is the situation after combat. Pocket is protected by two or three layers.

[Oshawott]

T128 - South

Just to illustrate the breathtaking number of combats.

[Oshawott]

T128 - OOB

[Oshawott]

T128 - Losses

[jwolf]

ORIGINAL: Oshawott

I decided early to stay at 9 million. I never really had any vehicle problems. Better supply means better MP means more attacks means higher morale etc.

Very interesting and commendable of you to have the discipline to stick with this plan, also holding back so many good corps for so long in order to land the big blow. It seems that you always have very strong reserves to bring into the fight whereas Stef has just about run out of any kind of reserve altogether.

[loki100]

ORIGINAL: jwolf

ORIGINAL: Oshawott

I decided early to stay at 9 million. I never really had any vehicle problems. Better supply means better MP means more attacks means higher morale etc.

Very interesting and commendable of you to have the discipline to stick with this plan, also holding back so many good corps for so long in order to land the big blow. It seems that you always have very strong reserves to bring into the fight whereas Stef has just about run out of any kind of reserve altogether.

aye, very much so, it does indicate that there is sense to trying to stick at around 9m as a cap.

Quite surprised at your lack of supply problems, I'd have thought your northern wing would have problems, but I guess in a way Stef has now paid the price for his earlier superb defense ... as you say you are effectively on your rail lines = perfect supply

[swkuh]

This a clinic on how to exploit a strategic opportunity.

Well done.

[Oshawott]

Quite surprised at your lack of supply problems, I'd have thought your northern wing would have problems,

I focused on clearing and rebuilding the rail lines in this area. MP to rail head and hexes to rail head is quite low.

Putting the tanks on rail lines in swamp worked very well. It's very hard to see units in swamp and heavy woods.

[Oshawott]

T129 - North/Center

The Axis has formed another defensive line at Kaunas.

[Oshawott]

T129 - South

This is the situation at the beginning of the turn. The Axis has no more reserves and has to fall back. Most of the mobile troops of AGS are in the pocket.

[Oshawott]

T129 - South

The situation at the end of the turn. The entire pocket has been destroyed in one week. Unfortunately, one of the less realistic aspects of the game. It would probably be better to give the encircled troops beachhead supply until the reach a certain supply threshold (maybe 20%). It would simply not be possible in the real world to kill/capture/destroy 500000 men + 1500 tanks in one week.

For now the Russians are limited by supply. The next turns are dedicated to building rail lines and bringing infantry to the correct locations. I will not advance without infantry support.

[Oshawott]

T129 - Losses

[Oshawott]

T129 - OOB

I have started to disband useless units.

[Flaviusx]

Speechless. Am in awe. You practically destroyed an Army Group here.

[jwolf]

ORIGINAL: Oshawott

I have started to disband useless units.

Can you elaborate? I'd like to know which ones. The naval infantry brigades? (I think they are the ones you can't form into divisions?) Maybe some of the airborne brigades?

I'm still impressed by your careful decision to follow a "less is more" strategy with the overall size of the Red Army. Your careful management has really paid off.

[Oshawott]

Speechless.

To be honest, I'm kind of speechless myself how this game has unfolded.

[Oshawott]

Can you elaborate? I'd like to know which ones.

I disband all sapper battalions, naval brigades and battalion size SUs the AI build when I was forming new armies. I have also disbanded some rifle divisions because I just don't need them. I do this now because I have so many APs and a new front arrives in January. Earlier in the game I already disbanded motorcycle regiments and SAD air fields. I also put at least 30 armor brigades in static mode but I could have disbanded those as well. When the front gets shorter I will probably disband many RR repair brigades. Then there is the question how many air fields one actually needs. I will experiment and try to keep the Red Army as efficient as possible.