tyronec (Axis) vs Grognard1812. Grognard welcome.

[Grognard1812]

As of GT 24 the Soviet army OOB is 5.1 million men and almost all the front-line units are at 85 % TOE or higher.
This size of an army should be able to conduct a very successful winter counter-offensive, as we are playing with
normal blizzard rules but with no Soviet combat bonus.

[Grognard1812]

Soviet Strategic plan for the Winter Counter-Offensive

In the North a general advance west is ordered by STAVKA with the aim of recapturing Vladimir (a city worth 1 VP).

[Grognard1812]

In the Voronezh area STAVKA's operational plan is to first capture the city of Ryazan (1 VP) and then link up in a
pincer movement and then capture the city of Tula (3 VP). The city of Lipetsk (1 VP) which is 5 hexes north
of Voronezh is a secondary objective which is to be recaptured by the Soviet forces near Voronezh.

Of note the ice level will be 7 in the Northern weather zone next turn and attacks across the major river won't be
possible until the ice level is 8 or higher (on the second blizzard turn it will be 10).

[Grognard1812]

In the Rostov area STAVKA's operational plans are more ambitious. Initially the city of Voroshilovgrad (1 VP) is
to be captured and then a general offensive is to be conducted to attempt to recapture the tri-cities at Stalino,
which are 5 VP in total. As this turn is mud, next turn the ice level in the Southern zone will only be 3 and only
on the 4th turn of blizzard will the ice level be 8 or higher, as it rises 2 each turn during blizzard. This
means that Deliberate attacks across the major river hexes near Rostov will not be possible until the fourth turn
of blizzard. However local attacks can occur from Rostov as the city is on the northern side of the Don river.

In summary STAVKA's winter counter-offensive is ambitious but if fully successful 12 VP will be recaptured, to
reach 241 only 6 VP are required.

Orders are written and the Soviet army is ready, may the winter counter-offensive begin.

[tyronec]

T25.
Blizzard everywhere as predicted.
Axis withdraw 1-2 hexes everywhere not protected by river lines.

[SparkleyTits]

Good luck to both of you

[Grognard1812]

Soviet Game Turn 25

First turn of blizzard

130 miles east of Tula the 4th Guards Rifle Division leads a successful attack on the 4th Panzer division forcing
the unit to retreat.

[Grognard1812]

No rest for the 4th Panzer division as the unit is then attacked by two mountain divisions forcing another retreat.

This turn the 4th Panzer division lost a total of 3 morale points - 1 for each successful Soviet attack and 1
for being an exposed unit during a blizzard turn.

During blizzard turns, when there is a good chance of success I attack Axis units with the main purpose
being to lower their morale levels. Over 3 months of blizzard turns this should greatly weaken the affected
Axis units if they are continuously attacked.

During GT 25, the Soviet army attacked 29 times, being successful in 22 attacks.

[Grognard1812]

Situation at the end of the turn, east of Tula, the Soviet army advanced about 20 miles west this turn.

[Grognard1812]

Situation at the end of GT 25 east of Moscow, the Soviet army advances towards the city of Vladimir.

[Grognard1812]

And finally the situation in the Rostov area, the Soviet army advances 30 miles west approaching the city of
Voroshilovgrad. Five cavalry corps are leading the advance.

[tyronec]

T26.
Not too many Soviet attacks this turn because I gave up so much ground.
First rout of the Blizzard - we have to celebrate these minor victories as not much else is good!

[Crackaces]

The Flam Pz bn made a difference there! It is clear you had supplies that turn . at least for now .. the flamm Pz converts fuel into firepower and CV ..and those flak units use ammo at a high ROF each time fired.

[Nix77]

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

The Flam Pz bn made a difference there! It is clear you had supplies that turn . at least for now .. the flamm Pz converts fuel into firepower and CV ..and those flak units use ammo at a high ROF each time fired.

I don't think the flammpanzers played that big part there Check the number of men, that cavalry corps is the red one alone across Voronezh river, it's surrounded by 100000 germans. It'd have probably routed with less than half the germans facing it, even in blizzard. Lots of fatigue after a rough attack last round, no room to retreat => run away!

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: Nix77

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

The Flam Pz bn made a difference there! It is clear you had supplies that turn . at least for now .. the flamm Pz converts fuel into firepower and CV ..and those flak units use ammo at a high ROF each time fired.

I don't think the flammpanzers played that big part there Check the number of men, that cavalry corps is the red one alone across Voronezh river, it's surrounded by 100000 germans. It'd have probably routed with less than half the germans facing it, even in blizzard. Lots of fatigue after a rough attack last round, no room to retreat => run away!

I was sort of being silly .. that is using a Flamm Pz SU in a 50:1 rout .. that unit consumes precious fuel at a high rate ..and the flak used lots of ammo .. but 3 AP’s to reassign seams a waiste also ...

[Grognard1812]

Soviet GT 26

Second turn of blizzard

East of Moscow.

The advance towards the city of Vladimir continues.

Two German infantry divisions were routed in the following attack.

[Grognard1812]

Situation east of Moscow at the end of GT 26.

[Grognard1812]

End of GT 26 Rostov area.

In the Rostov area the five soviet cavalry corps cross the Donets river sweeping all German resistance before
them, isolating the three infantry regiments of the 72nd German Infantry division.

[Mamluke]

Wow, the situation is looking good already for the motherland, it seams to me that the axis is trying to protect a strait line of hexes, isn't that stretching too much for a full Blizzard?
One of the many things about Blizzard is that it drastically reduces fort construction speed, inf. Regiments have low construction value, even without enemy contact it felt like it took 3 or 4 turns just to get level 1 fort, disclaimer: this is from memory of game I did over a year ago, so maybe I'm wrong here.

A mechanic that picks my interest for the Soviets for this game, is the improvement of generals, which according to the Manuel is solely dependent on the current year and number of victories, (not sure if there is a difference between attacking and defensive as far as the game engine is concerned).
Can you keep a watchful eye for this please? in the name of science! and the motherland too!

one more question, it seams like a lot of armies are still directly attach to Stavka, is it because all the fronts are overloaded? Is it simply not worth the increase of combat effectiveness attaching to fronts?

[DeletedUser1769703214]

ORIGINAL: Grognard1812

End of GT 26 Rostov area.

In the Rostov area the five soviet cavalry corps cross the Donets river sweeping all German resistance before
them, isolating the three infantry regiments of the 72nd German Infantry division.

German units strength is always being able to retreat in 41 & 42. This turns into a weakness during the winter months if the Soviet player attacks correctly. I can tell you for sure that Gronard1812 knows what to do to take advantage of this