The Zhukov-less Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux
Moderators: Joel Billings, Sabre21
RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux
Nice breakthrough that turn looks like he will have trouble blocking it without falling back.
RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux
3-9 June 1943 (103rd week of the war)
The offensive in the Moscow area continues. The enemy has brought up their best division, Grossdeutschland to the area.
Our troops advance to the outskirts of Tula and close up to the northern bank of the Don.
In the area of Boguchar, north of the Don the enemy pulls back. South of the Don strong defenses block our forces there from an easy advance.
Enemy air losses on the ground approach 1,300 aircraft as the pounding of their airfields continue by our sturmovik regiments.
4th Guards Army commander, General-Polkovnik Nikolai Vatutin, was promoted to General Armii.
Moscow
Tula
Don North
Don South
air losses
The offensive in the Moscow area continues. The enemy has brought up their best division, Grossdeutschland to the area.
Our troops advance to the outskirts of Tula and close up to the northern bank of the Don.
In the area of Boguchar, north of the Don the enemy pulls back. South of the Don strong defenses block our forces there from an easy advance.
Enemy air losses on the ground approach 1,300 aircraft as the pounding of their airfields continue by our sturmovik regiments.
4th Guards Army commander, General-Polkovnik Nikolai Vatutin, was promoted to General Armii.
Moscow
Tula
Don North
Don South
air losses
RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux
10-16 June 1943 (104th week of the war)
Mud again for this last week before summer begins. Western, Voronezh and Central Fronts under the command of Generals Tyulenev, Shevaldin and Kirponos finalize plans for the main summer stroke designed to re-take Tula, Lipetsk and Voronezh. A toehold over the Don near the town of Kurkino will be expanded and the enemy cleared to the River Mecha. This in conjunction with attacks north and directly south of Tula should force the Fascist withdrawal from the city. Attacks in the southern direction along the west bank of the River Voronezh will force the enemy to abandon Lipetsk and eventually the city of Voronezh itself.
Southern, Steppe, and North Caucasus Fronts under Generals Kurdyumov, Meretskov and Marshal Shaposhnikov will attempt to push back the enemy, re-take Boguchar and advance to the River Aidar.
Tula-Lipetsk front lines w/o troops
ground losses
OOB
Mud again for this last week before summer begins. Western, Voronezh and Central Fronts under the command of Generals Tyulenev, Shevaldin and Kirponos finalize plans for the main summer stroke designed to re-take Tula, Lipetsk and Voronezh. A toehold over the Don near the town of Kurkino will be expanded and the enemy cleared to the River Mecha. This in conjunction with attacks north and directly south of Tula should force the Fascist withdrawal from the city. Attacks in the southern direction along the west bank of the River Voronezh will force the enemy to abandon Lipetsk and eventually the city of Voronezh itself.
Southern, Steppe, and North Caucasus Fronts under Generals Kurdyumov, Meretskov and Marshal Shaposhnikov will attempt to push back the enemy, re-take Boguchar and advance to the River Aidar.
Tula-Lipetsk front lines w/o troops
ground losses
OOB
RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux
good to see you are finally making progress
are you still running into endless reserve reactions?
are you still running into endless reserve reactions?
RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux
The progress I have made so far is largely a result of Dave choosing to give ground during these alternate clear-mud turns. It virtually eliminates the risk of getting cut off with little chance of relief.
Reserve activations happen for virtually every panzer, panzergrenadier or motorized unit during each turn. They have activated in some cases three times. Whether they win or lose, their particular losses seem negligible. I've won battles where a panzer division reserve activates and it loses a dozen afvs. You can see the afv count on the OOB. He has over 7,000. It becomes a depressing thought.
The success of the Moscow operation was largely a result of my airbase attacks under the house rule of 3 max per turn. I stripped him of his recon which enabled me to slip the cav and tank army into the area unnoticed. Under .05 that will be much harder since only units with 0% air miles flown will be able to bomb airbases. I told Dave I would have zero interest in patching up during the summer '43 portion of the game. The multiple airbase attacks is one of the few "fun" elements left in the game for the Soviet player to this point. But apparently it's OP. [8|]
Reserve activations happen for virtually every panzer, panzergrenadier or motorized unit during each turn. They have activated in some cases three times. Whether they win or lose, their particular losses seem negligible. I've won battles where a panzer division reserve activates and it loses a dozen afvs. You can see the afv count on the OOB. He has over 7,000. It becomes a depressing thought.
The success of the Moscow operation was largely a result of my airbase attacks under the house rule of 3 max per turn. I stripped him of his recon which enabled me to slip the cav and tank army into the area unnoticed. Under .05 that will be much harder since only units with 0% air miles flown will be able to bomb airbases. I told Dave I would have zero interest in patching up during the summer '43 portion of the game. The multiple airbase attacks is one of the few "fun" elements left in the game for the Soviet player to this point. But apparently it's OP. [8|]
RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux
ORIGINAL: M60A3TTS
...
The success of the Moscow operation was largely a result of my airbase attacks under the house rule of 3 max per turn. I stripped him of his recon which enabled me to slip the cav and tank army into the area unnoticed. Under .05 that will be much harder since only units with 0% air miles flown will be able to bomb airbases. I told Dave I would have zero interest in patching up during the summer '43 portion of the game. The multiple airbase attacks is one of the few "fun" elements left in the game for the Soviet player to this point. But apparently it's OP. [8|]
aye that is not a change I'm looking forward to. Most games seem to cope well with the usual 3 attacks per airbase rule and if people don't want that degree of constraint its up to them. For what is worth, I'd agree to x per airbase and no more than y per turn if my opponent was really worried.
It *may* be ok if the promised improvement to air interception works, if so I suspect that from mid-42 onwards the Luftwaffe will get a hammering if it goes into an area of significant Soviet fighter strength unless it too has concentrated. So unescorted, 'just fishing', recon missions will lead to significant reduction in axis capacity.
RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux
The airbase attack reduction is just plain dumb...It means no-one will do an air campaign at all as you need the soviet bombers to soften ground ground targets before attacks. Its the main reason I get successful attacks against Pelton is my ground attacks from my air units per turn.
Once they make it ground attack or airbase attack no-one will airbase attack.
Once they make it ground attack or airbase attack no-one will airbase attack.
RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux
17-23 June 1943 (105th week of the war)
Further advances in the area of the Northwest Front are largely checked by the presence of the German 41st Tank Corps.
Near Tula, the 78th Sturm Division is pushed back in the area southeast of the city while progress is difficult to the northwest. Infantry divisions in this area are backed by armored troops of the German 46th Tank Corps. To the southeast, additional troops of the Voronezh Front manage to expand positions on the western bank of the Don. In the area of Lipetsk, STAVKA tank forces assist the Voronezh Front in pushing back elements of two German tank corps, the 24th and 56th.
In the Boguchar area, German tank forces which a year before would be slicing through weak Red Army Divisions, are now holding back numerous corps from multiple Red Army fronts.
2nd Guards Army commander, General-Polkovnik Vladimir Kurasov, was promoted to General Armii
7th Guards Army commander, General-Polkovnik Ivan Konev, was promoted to General Armii.
63rd Army of Steppe Front was renamed 6th Guards Army
16th Army of Southern Front was renamed 7th Guards Army
41st Army, STAVKA cavalry, was renamed 8th Guards Army
OOB
Northwest Front
Tula
Voronezh
Boguchar
Further advances in the area of the Northwest Front are largely checked by the presence of the German 41st Tank Corps.
Near Tula, the 78th Sturm Division is pushed back in the area southeast of the city while progress is difficult to the northwest. Infantry divisions in this area are backed by armored troops of the German 46th Tank Corps. To the southeast, additional troops of the Voronezh Front manage to expand positions on the western bank of the Don. In the area of Lipetsk, STAVKA tank forces assist the Voronezh Front in pushing back elements of two German tank corps, the 24th and 56th.
In the Boguchar area, German tank forces which a year before would be slicing through weak Red Army Divisions, are now holding back numerous corps from multiple Red Army fronts.
2nd Guards Army commander, General-Polkovnik Vladimir Kurasov, was promoted to General Armii
7th Guards Army commander, General-Polkovnik Ivan Konev, was promoted to General Armii.
63rd Army of Steppe Front was renamed 6th Guards Army
16th Army of Southern Front was renamed 7th Guards Army
41st Army, STAVKA cavalry, was renamed 8th Guards Army
OOB
Northwest Front
Tula
Voronezh
Boguchar
RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux
24-30 June 1943 (106th week of the war)
Elements of the German 2nd SS Tank Corps appear in the Moscow area. They will pose a major problem as the Red Army attempts to gain ground here.
In the immediate area around Tula, little progress is made. Between Tula and Lipetsk, more units of the Voronezh Front are able to cross over the Don. Units of the Voronezh and Central Fronts are closing in around Lipetsk.
Southern and Steppe Fronts are close to cutting off Boguchar.
Moscow
Tula-Lipetsk
Boguchar
ground losses
Elements of the German 2nd SS Tank Corps appear in the Moscow area. They will pose a major problem as the Red Army attempts to gain ground here.
In the immediate area around Tula, little progress is made. Between Tula and Lipetsk, more units of the Voronezh Front are able to cross over the Don. Units of the Voronezh and Central Fronts are closing in around Lipetsk.
Southern and Steppe Fronts are close to cutting off Boguchar.
Moscow
Tula-Lipetsk
Boguchar
ground losses
RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux
1-14 July 1943 (107th & 108th weeks of the war)
Lipetsk is liberated by elements of units led by General Armii Vatutin, General Maior Lelyushenko, General Maior Badanov, and General Leitenant Aviatsii Rudenko. General Maior of Tank Troops Pavel Rotmistrov has been promoted to General Leitenant.
Still little progress in the immediate vicinity of Tula, but to the southeast, troops have reached the River Mecha. In the immediate area near Lipetsk, several German divisions are encircled.
Red Army aviation continues to hammer at the enemy airfields. Axis losses are now over 2,100 on the ground. At the same time with these strikes are the loss of Soviet recon aircraft which cannot be sustained indefinitely.
53rd Army commander, General-Leitenant Vasily Chuikov, was promoted to General-Polkovnik
5th Shock Army commander, General-Leitenant Rodion Malinovsky, was promoted to General-Polkovnik
Volkhov Front commander, General-Leitenant Pavel Artemev, was dismissed, replaced by Comrade Stalin's faithful friend, Marshal Sovetskogo Soiuza Voroshilov.
Moscow
Tula
Near Lipetsk
OOB
Lipetsk is liberated by elements of units led by General Armii Vatutin, General Maior Lelyushenko, General Maior Badanov, and General Leitenant Aviatsii Rudenko. General Maior of Tank Troops Pavel Rotmistrov has been promoted to General Leitenant.
Still little progress in the immediate vicinity of Tula, but to the southeast, troops have reached the River Mecha. In the immediate area near Lipetsk, several German divisions are encircled.
Red Army aviation continues to hammer at the enemy airfields. Axis losses are now over 2,100 on the ground. At the same time with these strikes are the loss of Soviet recon aircraft which cannot be sustained indefinitely.
53rd Army commander, General-Leitenant Vasily Chuikov, was promoted to General-Polkovnik
5th Shock Army commander, General-Leitenant Rodion Malinovsky, was promoted to General-Polkovnik
Volkhov Front commander, General-Leitenant Pavel Artemev, was dismissed, replaced by Comrade Stalin's faithful friend, Marshal Sovetskogo Soiuza Voroshilov.
Moscow
Tula
Near Lipetsk
OOB
RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux
15-21 July 1943 (109th week of the war)
Little movement in the Moscow area due to the additional German forces brought into the area.
Near Tula, the advance is making some headway southeast of Tula as enemy forces in the vicinity are surrounded by our tank troops.
Near Lipetsk, the enemy breaks the pocket which is then re-sealed. Only three divisions are now encircled in this area.
At Boguchar, General Armii Konev's troops liberate the city. Northwest of this area, a new toehold is established by Red Army cavalry south of the Don.
Moscow
Tula
Boguchar taken
Little movement in the Moscow area due to the additional German forces brought into the area.
Near Tula, the advance is making some headway southeast of Tula as enemy forces in the vicinity are surrounded by our tank troops.
Near Lipetsk, the enemy breaks the pocket which is then re-sealed. Only three divisions are now encircled in this area.
At Boguchar, General Armii Konev's troops liberate the city. Northwest of this area, a new toehold is established by Red Army cavalry south of the Don.
Moscow
Tula
Boguchar taken
RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux
at least you seem to be finally stretching his defences. If he can only stop you dead at Moscow by committing heavily then you must have advantages elsewhere ... good to see some small pockets emerging
RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux
The pockets are nice to get but are something of an illusion. He can break them open without too much effort given the strength of his units. And the pockets are only created by leaving my tank, cav and mech forces open to counterattack. Each of those losses on my part means a lot of burning tanks and in sum eats up most of my weekly AFV production. But there aren't a lot of choices here if I am to make any progress at all to the west.
RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux
22-28 July 1943 (110th week of the war)
In the Tula area, our troops continue to try to push west and force the fascists to abandon the city. Chernyakhovsky’s 3rd Shock, the most powerful army-sized group in the Red Army has been switched away from Lipetsk area to support the effort south of Tula. Although formally under Southern Front, 3rd Shock is regularly moved under STAVKA orders to areas that require a strong and mobile offensive force.
In the Moscow sector, things have largely come to a standstill. Around Boguchar, territory is gained only in small increments and always at a substantial cost.
Airfield attacks continue to punish the Luftwaffe. For the first time in the war, Axis losses on the ground exceed Soviet losses 2,574 to 2,419.
Rear Area Services report that Red Army units required 79,268 tons of supplies vs. 217,847 tons available. All war production consumed 41.2% of supplies produced by heavy industry. This is only slightly above plan of 40% and will be corrected in the coming weeks.
In the Tula area, our troops continue to try to push west and force the fascists to abandon the city. Chernyakhovsky’s 3rd Shock, the most powerful army-sized group in the Red Army has been switched away from Lipetsk area to support the effort south of Tula. Although formally under Southern Front, 3rd Shock is regularly moved under STAVKA orders to areas that require a strong and mobile offensive force.
In the Moscow sector, things have largely come to a standstill. Around Boguchar, territory is gained only in small increments and always at a substantial cost.
Airfield attacks continue to punish the Luftwaffe. For the first time in the war, Axis losses on the ground exceed Soviet losses 2,574 to 2,419.
Rear Area Services report that Red Army units required 79,268 tons of supplies vs. 217,847 tons available. All war production consumed 41.2% of supplies produced by heavy industry. This is only slightly above plan of 40% and will be corrected in the coming weeks.
RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux
29 July – 4 August 1943 (111th week of the war)
North of Tula, sufficient Red Army forces are now in place to force the enemy from the city.
In the Moscow and Boguchar areas, fighting continues in a few areas but the situation is close to static.
General Armii Nikolai Vatutin replaced General Leitenant Trifon Shevaldin as commander of the Voronezh Front.
9th Army commander, General-Maior Pavel Belov, was promoted to General-Leitenant.
So far in 1943 a total of 2,271,860 men have been drawn into the military services. Since the start of the war the total is 10,896,945.
North of Tula, sufficient Red Army forces are now in place to force the enemy from the city.
In the Moscow and Boguchar areas, fighting continues in a few areas but the situation is close to static.
General Armii Nikolai Vatutin replaced General Leitenant Trifon Shevaldin as commander of the Voronezh Front.
9th Army commander, General-Maior Pavel Belov, was promoted to General-Leitenant.
So far in 1943 a total of 2,271,860 men have been drawn into the military services. Since the start of the war the total is 10,896,945.
RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux
5-11 August 1943 (112th week of the war)
Italy has surrendered!
Tula has been liberated by Kuzma Galitsky's 4th Army!
General Maior Andrei Grechko and General Leitenant Pavel Kurochkin with supporting artillery units of Marshal Kulik and General Maior Kirichenko and General Leitenant Aviatsii Naumenko liberate Kaluga!
All is quiet in the north, but Comrade Stalin has not forgotten the defeat of Red Army units in this area months ago. New planning is in the works.
For the second consecutive week, a front commander was replaced as General Polkovnik Mikhail Kirponos turned over command of the Central Front to General Armii Ivan Konev.
As a result of his contribution in the liberation of Tula, combined with his overall performance as commander of the 3rd Shock Army, Ivan Chernyakhovsky was promoted to General Armii.
The Red Army now includes 120 rifle corps, 154 rifle divisions and 52 rifle brigades. This together is 540 rifle division equivalents. Nearly 8 ½ million troops are in the field supported by over 133,000 artillery, 10,800 fighting vehicles and nearly 12,000 aircraft.
The Red Army truck fleet consists of over 340,000 vehicles. There are 44,000 vehicles under repair. Approximately 64,500 additional vehicles are required but this is still 82.1% of total need.
North
Moscow
Tula
Boguchar
Production
Italy has surrendered!
Tula has been liberated by Kuzma Galitsky's 4th Army!
General Maior Andrei Grechko and General Leitenant Pavel Kurochkin with supporting artillery units of Marshal Kulik and General Maior Kirichenko and General Leitenant Aviatsii Naumenko liberate Kaluga!
All is quiet in the north, but Comrade Stalin has not forgotten the defeat of Red Army units in this area months ago. New planning is in the works.
For the second consecutive week, a front commander was replaced as General Polkovnik Mikhail Kirponos turned over command of the Central Front to General Armii Ivan Konev.
As a result of his contribution in the liberation of Tula, combined with his overall performance as commander of the 3rd Shock Army, Ivan Chernyakhovsky was promoted to General Armii.
The Red Army now includes 120 rifle corps, 154 rifle divisions and 52 rifle brigades. This together is 540 rifle division equivalents. Nearly 8 ½ million troops are in the field supported by over 133,000 artillery, 10,800 fighting vehicles and nearly 12,000 aircraft.
The Red Army truck fleet consists of over 340,000 vehicles. There are 44,000 vehicles under repair. Approximately 64,500 additional vehicles are required but this is still 82.1% of total need.
North
Moscow
Tula
Boguchar
Production
RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux
12-18 August 1943 (113th week of the war)
20th Army of the Kalinin Front along with armor and cavalry of Southwestern Front arrive in the area behind the Leningrad Front for a new operation. The tank and cavalry forces in particular position themselves in heavily wooded areas a considerable distance from the prying eyes of the Luftwaffe recon units.
Southwest of Tula, the push is on for Orel.
Near Boguchar, slow progress continues.
20th Army of the Kalinin Front along with armor and cavalry of Southwestern Front arrive in the area behind the Leningrad Front for a new operation. The tank and cavalry forces in particular position themselves in heavily wooded areas a considerable distance from the prying eyes of the Luftwaffe recon units.
Southwest of Tula, the push is on for Orel.
Near Boguchar, slow progress continues.
RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux
19-25 August 1943 (114th week of the war)
The northern offensive begins, with STAVKA well aware of the difficulties posed by armored vehicle movement in this area. The Germans surely are discounting an attack in this region for the same reason.
Advances continue slowly in the Orel region.
Heavy German armor concentrations in the Boguchar area continue to make any real progress almost impossible.
60 air regiments of the VVS were disbanded. 340 regiments remain. 261 are active and 79 in National Reserve
F 14
FB 151
TB 105
LB 30
TR 15
REC 25
3rd Army commander, General-Leitenant Vasily Kuznetsov, was promoted to General-Polkovnik.
Northern offensive
Moscow
Orel
Boguchar
OOB
The northern offensive begins, with STAVKA well aware of the difficulties posed by armored vehicle movement in this area. The Germans surely are discounting an attack in this region for the same reason.
Advances continue slowly in the Orel region.
Heavy German armor concentrations in the Boguchar area continue to make any real progress almost impossible.
60 air regiments of the VVS were disbanded. 340 regiments remain. 261 are active and 79 in National Reserve
F 14
FB 151
TB 105
LB 30
TR 15
REC 25
3rd Army commander, General-Leitenant Vasily Kuznetsov, was promoted to General-Polkovnik.
Northern offensive
Moscow
Orel
Boguchar
OOB
RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux
ORIGINAL: M60A3TTS
The northern offensive begins, with STAVKA well aware of the difficulties posed by armored vehicle movement in this area. The Germans surely are discounting an attack in this region for the same reason.
...
good idea, while at first you don't threaten much of importance here, there is always the risk of the Finns being knocked out the war, so should make him spread out his reserves etc?
RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux
ORIGINAL: loki100
ORIGINAL: M60A3TTS
The northern offensive begins, with STAVKA well aware of the difficulties posed by armored vehicle movement in this area. The Germans surely are discounting an attack in this region for the same reason.
...
good idea, while at first you don't threaten much of importance here, there is always the risk of the Finns being knocked out the war, so should make him spread out his reserves etc?
His line will start to crack Dec 43 to Jan 44
Its really all about summer 44 and if he has enough space to trade and if you can pocket enough units
Beta Tester WitW & WitE