Frozen frogs! Stef78 (axis) Stelteck (Russia) - Stelteck welcome

[STEF78]

Some attacks in the South but nothing worrying



But due to fights and blizzard some TOE are suffering



And see below effects of blizzard on a unit not involved in fights

[STEF78]

Turn 29, 1st january 1942

Worst part of blizard is over, russian offensive continues around Moscow. Mytisch has Fallen and Russian cav corps bypass Kaluga.



2 major counter offensives:
- Lyubesky is reconquered for the 3rd time!
- Russian spearhead is cut off South of Kaluga

[Stelteck]

Stavka was quite ambitious for this winter offensive. 2 majors push supported by cavalry were planned north and south of moscow to take the city in pincer, while infantry pushed in the center.

This plan was really ambitious. The push were planned quite far away from moscow to avoid the main german defensives, but the blizzard limit mobility and make my troops, even cavalry corps, really slow.

In the north, the Kalinin front, commanded by timochenko attacked though difficult terrains in very hard conditions. Progress was very slow at a cost of ten of thousands of casualties, with nothing significant achieve in the month.

The south pincer, managed by the bryansk front, under the command of a new raising star of the soviet army just promoted to General Potolnik (Not sûre to remember its name, probably vatutin), was initially very successfull and broke the german line !!! Unfortunately blizzard slowed the progress behind ennemy line and the german army just counter attacked the breach !!!

Finally, it is the center infantry offensive that provide for now the best strategic results, as the road to moscow have been reopened with heavy looses for the german panzer divisions that defend the area. Looses are really heavy for the soviet too, but it is worth it in this case.
Double or tripple attack in a fortified hex are very effective, as ennemy ammunitions are often depleted for the second wave of 100% fresh soviet troops. The only issue is that i have to transfert all division command at each assaut so it cost me 10 to 20 AP a turn only to attack in the area.

Others parts of the front got the memo of the general offensive, but lack of troops and preparation made these actions in december mostly useless, men dying for no reasons.

[STEF78]

Turn 30, 8th january 1942

Most actions are now concentrated around Moscow and my ring progressively disappears....



Some counerattacks failed. Moscow will get supply [:(]

[Stelteck]

I finally managed to switch the division defending moscow, those TOE was down to 40% and unready after a long siege.

[STEF78]

Turn 31, 15 january 1941

This time it's clear, blizzard's russian offensive is over.



In the center russian troops are cautiously retreating. I won't need to use my Pzk set in reserve east of Kursk.

[

[STEF78]

In the South, my line is strong



We successfully counterattack

[STEF78]

Some action around Moscow.

Near kalinin, we clear the approach of Kalinin



Kaluga is strongly held by 2 Pzd. Ground south of the city has no value.



Podolsk holds ...

[

... but Mytischi cannot be reconquered

[HardLuckYetAgain]

I don't see good things happening to Moscow for the Soviets.

[timmyab]

Looking really grim for the Soviets here, full blown retreats in Jan 42 are never a good sign.
If it's bitter end he may be able to grind out some kind of result otherwise it should be over barring a major error. If sudden death it could even be over by April.

[Stelteck]

It was already an exploit to be able to defend moscow in 1941, exploit that i cannot take credit as it was mostly due to partisan rampage [:D]

Neverless luck is a skill so i consider my defense of moscow as masterfully skilled and i'am quite confident for the future if i keep being so lucky, even if 1942 is also not a good year for the soviet union, as 1941.

[bigbaba]

if you re- take moscow in 1942 he will suffer even higher Manpower loses there.

would be nice btw to see the loses Screen after the december Blizzard Phase.

[Stelteck]

ORIGINAL: timmyab
Looking really grim for the Soviets here, full blown retreats in Jan 42 are never a good sign.

Offensive in useless parts of the front was costing me tenths of thousands men each turn for no interesting results (even very few german looses) so i prefered to stopped wasting my precious men and micro management time.

I kept pushing around moscow but it is the position where the ennemy is the strongest so result is mixed.

I choosed to attack during winter where it was the most interesting for strategic point of view, around moscow. But the ennemy was of course strongly defended it.
I may have choosen to attack abandoned part of the front such as in front of voronev, for less strategic value but with more chance to get tactical results. A great tactical debate to have.

[EwaldvonKleist]

ORIGINAL: Stelteck

It was already an exploit to be able to defend moscow in 1941, exploit that i cannot take credit as it was mostly due to partisan rampage [:D]

Neverless luck is a skill so i consider my defense of moscow as masterfully skilled and i'am quite confident for the future if i keep being so lucky, even if 1942 is also not a good year for the soviet union, as 1941.

If luck is the norm, it becomes skill. You had partisan luck with Pelton as well, so....

[STEF78]

ORIGINAL: bigbaba

would be nice btw to see the loses Screen after the december Blizzard Phase.

The OOB and the losses on 22th january 1942. Pretty satisfied with my inf losses, far below 1M

[HardLuckYetAgain]

ORIGINAL: STEF78

ORIGINAL: HardLuckYetAgain


Did you garrison all of your cities here?

Of course I did! I know the damages that partisans can inflict in 1941....

I went back through your snapshots from turn 4 up to the partisan attack. I don't see many garrisons in your cities all the time on the snapshots. Were these snapshots before you garrisoned the cities? I just notice on multiple turns the cities aren't garrisoned especially turn 6 with many cities open. Am I missing something?

[STEF78]

ORIGINAL: HardLuckYetAgain

... Am I missing something?

I don't take the pictures at the end of the turn.
My sequence of play is (almost) always the same:
- rapid wiew on the front to see if any disaster has happened
- checking log events (arrival, withdrawal, promotions, trucks...)
- close review of the front from north to South,
- picture of soviet attacks
- move of FBD and hunting of partisans
- recon
- thinking about what could be done
- tactical air attacks
- ground moves and attacks ... always from north to South (why?)
- pictures of german attacks
- check (unfrozen)units from west to east
- rail moves from units arriving in Axis countries and garrison cities
- check distance to HQ
- change status of units (refit, ready), reserve is done after unit move
- air supply
- create/disband forts (if needed)
- check new leaders
- last check of the frontline
- picture of losses, OOB
- end of turn

[STEF78]

Turn 32, 22th january 1942

low intensity fights this week.

So a general view of the front at the opening of the turn. In the center, I keep my units in the entrenchemnts. They are happy of this decision.

See the level of trucks. Blizzard is a harsh season for motor pool.



In the South, I decide to resume the offensive



Some (non decisive) fights South of Kaluga

[STEF78]

Turn 33, 29th january 1942

January is ending and the russians are on the defensive on most parts of the front. They keep their efforts around Moscow and try to secure the city. Not successfull right now! A 88CV is a hard nut.

[HardLuckYetAgain]

ORIGINAL: STEF78

Turn 33, 29th january 1942

January is ending and the russians are on the defensive on most parts of the front. They keep their efforts around Moscow and try to secure the city. Not successfull right now! A 88CV is a hard nut.

Even with the +1 Soviet combat attacking the 88CV unit has a very slim chance of succeeding. Congrats to him if he moves it & if he does move the 88CV unit then what? The Russians move into the clear hex, hmmmm not good.

Moscows fate is sealed (Or should be soon), time to salvage what you can if you are the Soviets (i.e. getting the guards out).