From Russia with love, STEF78 vs Beekeeper

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Mon Aug 17, 2015 5:45 pm

New campaign!

This time I'm playing the russians and it's the first time that I will reach 1942 with this side. The other games were won (4) or lost (1) before the mud.

So I'm a low experienced russian player.

My opponent, Beekeeper, is a russian [&:] and a very agressive player.

We play mild blizzard, random weather and I agree restrictions on the use of paratroopers.

I will begin the AAR in December 1941.

Beekeeper played the traditional Lvov Pocket and drived hard to Leningrad in the north. During the 17th first turns, we had only a turn of mud

We had a lot of fights and multiple encirclements around Stalino. I lost the city because of a clear turn during the mud period.

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Mon Aug 17, 2015 5:56 pm

Turn 27, 18th december 1941

Even with mild blizzard, december 1941 is a very pleasant period for the russians.

I'm able to counter attack all along the front. Beekeeper gives ground in the South. Rostov is no more under threat.

My 4 goals for the blizzatd:
- create a buffer in front of Moscow
- Inflict as much losses as possible to his Inf divs
- Create the maximum of guards units
- Create a 7 M red army

The northern part of the front after my moves.

And the South

schascha · Post by **schascha** » Mon Aug 17, 2015 5:57 pm

Good luck Stef.

I'll follow this AAR with great interest

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Mon Aug 17, 2015 5:59 pm

ORIGINAL: schascha

Good luck Stef.

I'll follow this AAR with great interest

Thanks!

loki100 · Post by **loki100** » Mon Aug 17, 2015 6:54 pm

should be interesting, looks like you have a pretty well balanced game at this stage

MishaTX · Post by **MishaTX** » Tue Aug 18, 2015 3:40 am

I'd say you're in a pretty good situation as the Soviets. Your lines (with the exception of Leningrad which, in my opinion, is un-holdable if the Germans really want it) are as good or mostly better than the historical situation, so you did a damn good job. Now comes surviving '42 without paying so much for it that you can't come back, but it's looking very promising to me.

Then again, I've seen the Germans come back with some pretty early "summer" offensives in the spring due to mild winter, so we'll see. But I definitely think that you've done well so far. Should be very interesting to follow, which I intend to!

swkuh · Post by **swkuh** » Tue Aug 18, 2015 10:52 am

Looks like a great AAR, thanks for showing it. Will be a follower!

Especially like your assessments of strategy.

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Tue Aug 18, 2015 3:34 pm

ORIGINAL: loki100

should be interesting, looks like you have a pretty well balanced game at this stage

At this stage it's ok but I'm worried with the coming spring

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Tue Aug 18, 2015 3:35 pm

ORIGINAL: MishaTX

Then again, I've seen the Germans come back with some pretty early "summer" offensives in the spring due to mild winter, so we'll see.

agreed!

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Tue Aug 18, 2015 3:40 pm

ORIGINAL: rrbill

Looks like a great AAR, thanks for showing it. Will be a follower!

Especially like your assessments of strategy.

Thanks
I will try to share my strategical aims with the community, even if the game is several turns ahead of the AAR

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Tue Aug 18, 2015 3:59 pm

Turn 32, 22th january 1942

Heavy fights during the last weeks. In January GHC recovers some strength and I must be more careful in order to prevent successfull counterattacks.

2 hot spots:

Rjev/Vyazma

Evry hex gained in january can be decisive in the next summer

Stalino

He only has some good units here and I think that I can take the city

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Tue Aug 18, 2015 4:04 pm

The evolution of the OOB isn't good enough on my point of view. He kept most of his Pzd away from the fights.

I will be less aggressive during the next week and focuse on the creation of rifle brigades

chaos45 · Post by **chaos45** » Tue Aug 18, 2015 4:27 pm

STEF- is a point in the early part of the game where a bunch of soviet equipment upgrades happen. During that several weeks your OOB will stagnate some due to lots of manpower being in tranist back and forth for the equipment changes. Think it happens over January/FEB as I remember being frustrated by lack of OOB growth as well and noticed a ton of old squads getting moved to the pools- like thousands of squads.

The OOB system decides once JAN 42 hits decides all units need to dump their 1939 squad types and in mass all those squads start changing out. It really hampers Soviet field strength for alittle while.

schascha · Post by **schascha** » Tue Aug 18, 2015 5:27 pm

I thought this upgrad begins on december

chaos45 · Post by **chaos45** » Tue Aug 18, 2015 5:59 pm

could be, but either way it keeps your force from growing much while all the changes are happening.

swkuh · Post by **swkuh** » Wed Aug 19, 2015 6:49 am

@STEF78:

What did Beekeeper do to take L'grad (apparently) so easily? Coup de main, or siege, etc. Did you give it up?

Would appreciate any thought.

chaos45 · Post by **chaos45** » Wed Aug 19, 2015 9:31 am

Ehh against a determined German attack Leningrad is impossible to hold in the current version of the game. Its a failing in the system is how I see it. Look at AARs unless the German player really messes up their assault with AGN Leningrad falls in pretty much every single game. Most of the time in 1941 and if not in 1941 then in spring of 42.

swkuh · Post by **swkuh** » Wed Aug 19, 2015 9:45 am

@chaos45: Thanks your thought.

I'm currently doing Campaign '42, Axis, playing "difficult" balance, and game starts with a strong Soviet line across the isthmus that isn't going to be defeated with available forces. So, bombing the small port to the right on the isthmus is the plan. BTW, do I need to bomb the L'grad port itself? its a biggie, but it borders water that is under Axis oversight.

Sorry, don't mean to hijack Stef78's ARR, but questions might interest others. BTW, Campaign '41, L'grad falls in my play.

chaos45 · Post by **chaos45** » Wed Aug 19, 2015 9:52 am

Sent you a PM on leningrad.

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Wed Aug 19, 2015 2:41 pm

ORIGINAL: chaos45

Ehh against a determined German attack Leningrad is impossible to hold in the current version of the game. Its a failing in the system is how I see it. Look at AARs unless the German player really messes up their assault with AGN Leningrad falls in pretty much every single game. Most of the time in 1941 and if not in 1941 then in spring of 42.

I did it the classical way
Pskov turn 2 then west Luga
Turn 6/10 pushing east with Pzd/Mot/Inf and taking the 2 rough hex Southwest of Leningrad
Leningrad isolated turn 13
Neva crossed turn 15
Osinovets taken turn 17
One clear weather turn during mud and the beachhead supply is cut too
Leningrad and Pushkin fall end november