1943 campaign / Kurk

[fcam1387]

Hi guys

Wondering whether it's possible to sever the Kursk salient in turn 1 / turn 2. Has anyone ever done this? What is the typical outcome?

Thanks

[EwaldvonKleist]

Asked the same myself

[Aditia]

A few years ago I played the first 15 or so turns of this against a human.

I didn't even get close. We restarted the game after a few turns as cancelling Zitadelle seemed like the only option.

Also, in history, the prep of the Kursk offensive was sent to Stalin by Ultra, and it is one of the ones he actually trusted, so that is why the Soviets were able to prepare for the offensive so long.

[gmtello]

I have done it a few times. Main advance from the south and in the north only three or four hexes. In turn one isolated and in turn two you have to consolídate

[gmtello]

Even if u destroy 600000 men in the pocket. The strenght of the russian army is brutal

[Aditia]

Oh yeah, that's another thing. The forces committed to Zitadelle are kind of needed to hold the line...

[VANorm]

I would like to try a scenario where as the German I could skip Zitadelle, and see how well my non-depleted mobile defense could hold off the Russians. I don't see a scenario in anywhere where I can pick things up in Summer 1943 - is there one somewhere I've missed?

[morvael]

Try "1943-45 Campaign"
It starts just before Zitadelle, so you can withdraw panzers and see what happens. However AI may be passive, being afraid of your strength. Best played against human.

[VANorm]

Yes, exactly.

Thanks.

[Farfarer61]

You can get a more open game if you use the editor to Unfreeze all German units, Before you too excited the Axis start woefully short of trucks, so attack along rail lines only with FBDs keeping supply lines as short as possible.

[Aditia]

ORIGINAL: Farfarer

You can get a more open game if you use the editor to Unfreeze all German units, Before you too excited the Axis start woefully short of trucks, so attack along rail lines only with FBDs keeping supply lines as short as possible.

I don't really think the 43-45 setup allows for any useful German offensive, however limited in scope, as that will just help the Soviet player to activate units, but its been years since I played that for a bunch of turns so I can be off the mark here.

If I remember correctly, the only attacks that I did was to clear contested hexes to hold on to the Dnepr bend and Kharkov for as long as possible.