Sapper222 vs Callistrid (no Sapper222 pls)

[Callistrid]

T13 Center-Moscow

The GHQ abandon his frontal attack against Moscow, and rail several mot/pz divisions sout. I belive he wish to capture the mainland cities, like Kursk, Belgorod... or flanking Moscow from south, and capture Tula.

Since his forces stand in the middle I don't know where will be the german advance.

[Callistrid]

Turn 14

3 turns before mud, but I will loose the south. It's impossible to hold against the full german motozized divisions. 27-29 division, with relative close rail point... Brrrr...

[Callistrid]

T14 Crimea

The germans act with permanent isolation, but attack with high number of MP. Damn, how I hate air supply. Four motorized division can live and fight with full strenght, without supply sources.

20+ division will be encircled next turn.

[Callistrid]

T14 statistic

2700 german tank... 1942 will be ugly. On my side the casulties are average, but my opponent saved to many menpower, and equipment.

With mild winter, my odds are low

[Callistrid]

T15 Full Front

Massive retreat, the german concentrate all his mobile divisions forcing me to retreat, and give up Kharkov.
The german rail lines are close, so no chance to defend the massive bulge around Kharkov.
The bad news, I will loose 10 cavalry divisons, because they are isolated, and that's a real casualty, because I desperately need them during my winter offense.

Nobody cares with the north, and around moscow, the german just attack my wall of steel, but I push them back. 6 attack against 3 stack german infantry division, and only one failed. Not bad... The Reserve Front has the best troops, who's survied the early battles, each them with 55+ average morale.

[Callistrid]

T15 Crimes


I really hate the air supply, and the flip hex system. The isolated german motorized divisions cut my supply line around Feodosya, and encircle 21 soviet divisions. Now both army are cut drom supply sources, but what's really hurt, the port of Yela... whatever, (west part od Crimea) just filp up, because was a turn, when my Caucasus front was encircled, but the town never seen german units. The port is destroyed, and my divisions isolated, like the german's whos are supplied by air.

[Disgruntled Veteran]

Isn't Sevastopol a supply source?

[Callistrid]

Not for the german motorized division near kercs

[charlie0311]

Port at Genichesk??

[Callistrid]

Still destroyed

[Callistrid]

T16 Full Front

On T15 I tought the germans just occupy the empty terrain, and start to fortify their positions. But Sapper222 attack my lines from north and south. However, his panzer spearhead was cut, but the southern part was supplied by air. Because my army is close to the german lines, his concentrated forces threat my full southern front.

But the german must be carefull with his T17 moves. The soviet side with the 1:1=2:1 rule can hit hard on the last summer turn.
Encircled german panzers during the mud turns are really delicious.

[Wuffer]

a lot of games, if not most, are quite predictable. This one is the big exception.

How may times did you have cut his spearheads?

[Callistrid]

The soviets with the 1:1=2:1 rule are really though.
It's easy to break the german panzer spearhead. Without infantry they are soft, but with then they can't advace.

[Callistrid]

T17 before the soviet moves

Here is the frontal situation after german moves on T17. There is a huge bulge west from Kharkow, and I have a vital rail line entering, ans suppling the area.
The german rail lines are close, but I can only start flip back hexes during the mud turn, and there is no significant german forces west from Kharkov. The blue circle are german regiments.

So I must decide a critical decision. Should I enter in the bulge, and expand, or stay and rest during the mud turns.

The german spearheads stand on the two side of the bulge, so If I can't reach all rail lines, one spearhead will be enough to eliminate my full southern fronts. But if I can cut his lines, and encircle the germans the war is won.

High risk, for high price.

So I'm asking the pros about their opinion! What sould be?

[Flaviusx]

I say: do it.

[smokindave34]

I'm no pro but I vote with Flaviusx - go for it!

If you cut his rail line his units in the pincers will be very low on supplies during the mud turns. Also, you will survive even if this gamble doesn't work - he will not.

[Flaviusx]

Even if it fails it will be glorious.

[timmyab]

It looks like a trap to me. I can't think of any reason to leave that bulge there otherwise. You could send a cavalry army West and a force strong enough to hold the pocket open but extract most of it before the snow.
Incidentally, I would have kept a cavalry corps or two within that bulge as it was forming even at the risk of them being isolated and killed. They pose a severe threat to enemy supply lines.

[Flaviusx]

I don't think it's a trap, myself. I think he's being reckless and assuming the Soviet doesn't have the balls to take advantage of an opening like that. Such contempt for the enemy can't be allowed to stand on general principles.

[Callistrid]

I belive the lost SS divisions arrived west from Kursk, so will be impossible to cut the german center front.
Since my rail lines will be safe during mud turns, will be enough to threat, and force the german to reinforce his frontline around the bulge. But those troops will be rumanians, and other useless units.

And I lost most of my cavalry troops during my encircle actions. I have only 21 cavalry divisions, what is a damn low number. With mild winter, the soviet offensive capacity will be less usefull.