The Great Patriotic War (STE78 vs 821bobo)

[STEF78]

ORIGINAL: BrianG

You better get a block down toward Baku. That could be fatal If he takes it b/c you can't rail in.

His tanks will go low on fuel soon the further they go. He may have one more good tank. Or not.

Very interesting race (both sides) to Baku

I will try to block his advance toward Baku and do my best to keep the city. 3 rifle corps should be enough....

ORIGINAL: timmyab

Yes Baku is the key. If he gets there first it's probably game set and match. I notice that the rail line to Baku may still be open. It's a long way though even if you have a reserve on rails and if it's open this turn it certainly wont be next. The only other way to reinforce Baku is the port at Guriev or some kind of airlift.

My units in the north are too far to reach Baku in less than 2 turns....

I'm waiting before posting screens of the South after my moves as I'm waiting turn 57 from Bobo

[BrianG]

Is your rr working below the mountains?

And does the line work from Baku up north toward the rr cut heading to Stalingrad?

Working, as in, can you move troops?

Thanks

[STEF78]

ORIGINAL: BrianG

Is your rr working below the mountains?

Yes it works [:)]

And does the line work from Baku up north toward the rr cut heading to Stalingrad?

At this moment, it's still open, but too far [:(]

Working, as in, can you move troops?

The best way to reinforce Baku is:
1) Transfering troops from the Black sea area
2) Using naval transport from the port of Guriev

In fact I also hope he will have to slow down!!

[RKhan]

ORIGINAL: STEF78

Turn 54, 23th june 1942

Je suis un sombre crétin!!! I'm a donkey!!! I should have known that the Pzd/Mot can drive hard during several weeks!

Grozny has fallen! The direct rail line between Krasnodar and Baku is cut and most of my army is close from the Black sea or north of Stalingrad.

And another bad news, the rail between Stalingrad and Astrakhan is also cut.

Bonne chance Comrade. Don't give up!

[obssesednuker]

After that kind of dash, I'm dubious he has any fuel left to do much more moving. Maybe your forces can still fortify the Caucasus mountains?

[STEF78]

ORIGINAL: RKhan

Bonne chance Comrade. Don't give up!

Merci!

I won't give up! I always play to the "bitter" or "happy" end.

See below, 2 "bitter end" AAR as german.

Against Oshawott
tm.asp?m=3607623&mpage=1&key=

And against Schascha (si tu replonges, fais moi signe!)
tm.asp?m=3366529

ORIGINAL: obssesednuker

After that kind of dash, I'm dubious he has any fuel left to do much more moving. Maybe your forces can still fortify the Caucasus mountains?

Of course I will try but as you will see in the next posts, he isn't that much short of petrol.....

[timmyab]

ORIGINAL: STEF78
The best way to reinforce Baku is:
1) Transfering troops from the Black sea area

Phew! I suppose that the rail net down there still works even if cut off from the North because Baku is a supply source. I hadn't realized that, I thought you were doomed
Hopefully in WITE2 this situation would be more serious, assuming the rail net is simulated more realistically.

[STEF78]

ORIGINAL: timmyab

Hopefully in WITE2 this situation would be more serious, assuming the rail net is simulated more realistically.

During WW2, they were using steam locomotives and even if a part of the rail net is isolated, they should be able to keep some mobility....

[timmyab]

Yes there should be some certainly. Ideally capacity would be reduced to an amount that would correspond to the total value of railyards in the cut off area. This could be applied to all areas of the map, not just this case. Probably not worth the coding effort though, hopefully WITE2 will deal with cases like this.

[mogami]

Hi, Is the Axis using that fantasy refuel panzers on the move by air trick?

[821Bobo]

Yes, I am refueling Panzers via air. What is fantasy on 500 Ju-52s being able to deliver some fuel?

[STEF78]

Turn 54, the end

I strnengthen my defences from Voronejh to Stalingrad. I move some units east of Stalingrad.



In the Caucasus, I'm railing as much units as possible to the Baku area. I wonder why all these Inf units in the Caucasus remain frozen [&:]

[shermanny]

You will need more than a handful of rifle corps to hold Baku. I thought, mistakenly, that the Soviets could hold that city in a point defense. The Germans can bring up artillery and load up crack infantry divisions or PzGren with pioneer battalions and bang on in. You will need to hold as many ports on the Caspian as possible for as long as possible so you can transfer guards rifle divisions to Baku area. That will allow you to build Guards rifle corps on the spot.

[STEF78]

ORIGINAL: Shermanny

You will need more than a handful of rifle corps to hold Baku. I thought, mistakenly, that the Soviets could hold that city in a point defense. The Germans can bring up artillery and load up crack infantry divisions or PzGren with pioneer battalions and bang on in. You will need to hold as many ports on the Caspian as possible for as long as possible so you can transfer guards rifle divisions to Baku area. That will allow you to build Guards rifle corps on the spot.

I will use as most as possible natural defences:
1) The city of Makachkala
2) Forest and rough terrain 40 miles South
3) The rough hills 40 miles east
4) The city of Baku

Even with air fuel, his spearhead is now very far from suplly sources. Baku shouldn't fall during the very next weeks.

[BrianG]

From what I see . Baku is safe.

Its over. Take this from my experience. It cant be broken thru without huge pain and time.

Which by the time of attack the German will be too worried about his Northern Caucasus flank.

Supply drops real fast down there and the rr won't be fixed that far for months.

Your frozen units should release but I don't remember the release distance rule.

[STEF78]

Turn 55, 2nd july 1942

I hope BrianG is right and Baku safe... we shall see.

First, great number of promotions early july 1942. Morale in Soviet Army is high!



Near Kaluga, Stavka is on the offensive, german hordes are retreating.



in the center, heavy fights and strong counterattacks! German air losses in this fight are higher than russian's one

[STEF78]

Turn 55, 2nd july 1942

In the South, bad news!

The germans extend their advance east of Stalingrad,cross the Volga and cut the railroad! Note that our line were close to be broken near Voronejh...
Stalingrad is under threat!



On the road to Baku, the german reach Makalachka... The city is still in our hands!

[STEF78]

Turn 56, 9th july 1942

Last week, the situation was clear. We were facing 3 PZG:
- one racing to Baku. They are doing their best and we have lost Makalachka [:(]
- another one attacking Stalingrad
- the third one hammering my defences South of Voronejh

Now it's unclear. The Pzd/Mot facing Stalingrad have retreated 50 miles... Why? For resting and refting of course but with which goal?
- Trying an encirclement of Stalingrad? It's a tough task but they could at least use the clear terrain west of the city
- Trying to cross the "northern" Don and leaving me without any natural defence?
- Trying a raid on Boguchar?

I don't know....[&:]

Even if I have 2 armies of the Volkov Front arriving from the north, I can't be strong everywhere....

[STEF78]

Turn 56, 9th july 1942

I decide to do my best to protect Stalingrad. The City still has all his industries, including 20 vehicle! I also give some space in the South west

[STEF78]

In the South, I'm gathering units to block the road to Baku! Derbent will be the key!