Field Marshal Fogger vs Marshal Fulkerson (again)

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: Nebukadnezar

ORIGINAL: larryfulkerson

Here's the recent Soviet INF losses. Way more than I was anticipating. No more winter attacking for a while. Give the units a
chance to build up their strength again.

You can still attack with anything not containing Rifle Squads like:
- Guards Cavalry
- Guards Infantry
- Guards anything
- Tank Brigades. Check the dark red ones. Most of them have no or close to no Rifle Squads.
Those can be combined with *any* artillery because all of them are on Free Support (at least it was the case in FitE)
Trying to minimize the Rifle Squad losses is a good idea but there is no point in not pursuing your war of attrition.

Good ideas Neb dude. Thanks for pointing that out. I'm doing something like that now anyway but thanks. I'm guessing
that a few judicious attacks, like where I can get three attacking hexes, can still make a difference but the suicide attacks
were draining me of squads.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's how the air war is going right now. The air power meter says the Soviets have air superiority but I'm guessing that's only
because John is holding back, keeping the aircraft grounded. Or something. We'll have to ask him.

[fogger]

Here is my AS report at the start of turn 46

[fogger]

I think that by attacking in the north Larry might be making his first strategic error in the game. As can be seen from the attached picture he is approx 400kms to the east and 350kms from the south east of Leningrad. He has to retake Leningrad before he can take Helsinki. The port at 175 51 is useless to him until he takes the port at 165 49. (We agreed before the game that the only amphibious assaults would be across the Kerch straight and the islands in the Baltic.) To the south east I have nearly built a double line defence. My supply levels are increasing each turn as can be seen by the rail line that is almost at the front line. The terrain is not suitable for rapid advance so any major push in this area can be slowed by the 5 Infantry divisions that I will be receiving over the next couple of turns. But then by moving forces to the north he can no attack me at my weakest point.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the T47 ground combat losses so far. As you can see I've already lost 2/3 of the Army and have little to show for it.
I think I'll stop all the attacking and just rest for a while.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's how the T47 air war is going. I'm still mystified as to why there's not a more robust Axis fighter presence. Previously I
figured that maybe John was holding them back but now I'm not so sure.

The image below the air war display is the pocket area now.

[larryfulkerson]

I zoomed out to get a good look at the front lines now and decided to do a cut and paste of the screengrabs and then zoom out that
picture to get the whole thing in one picture and now it's too small. And the only sizes you can choose with MSPaint is too large and
too small. Sorry about that.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's how the air war is going now-a-days.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the T49 Rifle Squad losses so far: Way too many lost.

[larryfulkerson]

The air war in T50 is very similar to T49 but the AS rating is higher. I guess I have more fighters flying this turn.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the T50 front lines. Same as last turn.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's some of the INF losses as of T50:

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the expected reinforcements for T51:

[Lobster]

Let me see if I understand this. You no longer control Leningrad yet you are getting Leningrad Militia divisions? Isn't there something wrong there? There should be an event withdrawing any militia divisions from the OB if their city is captured. These divisions were drawn from the civilian population of the city. They should also not reconstitute once destroyed. Historically they were either disbanded to create replacements for regular divisions or were made regular divisions themselves.

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: Lobster
Let me see if I understand this. You no longer control Leningrad yet you are getting Leningrad Militia divisions? Isn't there something wrong there? There should be an event withdrawing any militia divisions from the OB if their city is captured. These divisions were drawn from the civilian population of the city. They should also not reconstitute once destroyed. Historically they were either disbanded to create replacements for regular divisions or were made regular divisions themselves.

I agree with all of that Lobster dude. Something else to fix about this scenario. As it is if I don't control the hex they spawn in they
don't spawn in it. Almost as good. As soon as I control the hex again I get 'em if the turn they appear has past.

[fogger]

I have just started on turn 51. The front line for most of the map has not moved much and Larry and I are waiting for the onset of winter. The far north (the attached map) appears at present to be Larry's main effort. If Larry does attack in this area the arrows are his likely routes of advance. I have noticed a number of units being shipped north and 11 units appeared out of the blue this turn. They are in the top circle. I have no idea what is in the area with the question mark. All the lakes in this area will freeze over during winter so Larry can make a deep penetration into this area. That is why I have whited out my positions so that I do not give Larry a free kick. What freezes over will un-freeze come spring and unless Larry can establish a line of supply, any penetration will be cut off and lost in due course.

I think the best Larry can aim for is to cut off the 6 divisions at Onega. However to do that he will expose his left flank to what ever forces I have in the whited out area. We will just have to wait and see what surprises are installed and for whom.

On a side note it is interesting to see the number of hits on this AAR has almost doubled in the past 2 weeks.

Just to give everybody the heads up I will be going on holidays to Norway and England and Wales for a month (12 Feb to 14 March) in about 7 weeks time. (To see the Northern Lights, family and snow.) So during that time the game will come to a stop [>:] but rest assure it will restart upon my return. (Unless I win the game in the next 7 weeks [:D] )

[larryfulkerson]

Okie dokie......it's 23:10 local tucson time and I've received John's moves and watched the replay and then I took a look at the air
war and here's what it said:

[larryfulkerson]

Here's one section of the far north front lines. I'm just now getting my light screen in place for when the rivers freeze over. I'm not
sure that an invasion of the far north is a good idea. I mean just take a look at that terrain and all the good defensive positions
between here and Leningrad. It would take the rest of the war to get from here to there. If it's doable at all. I think maybe I'll just
screen and defend.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's my T51 Rifle Squad losses so far. I'm starting to get alarmed at the extent of my losses. Especially since there's nothing
to show for it. Some of my units are down to 1/2 strength and need to be rested so they can refit.

[fogger]

Here are my Inf losses to the end of turn 51