2by3+

[ledo]

Yes I meant western front units north of Moscow. I did however assign Stavka units directly around Moscow to armies, which is my bad, I assumed they were for the defense of Moscow, and I want them getting the benefits of Zhukov on the Western Front. I'm not sure if I screwed anything up there. As far as support units I was just worried about using AP.

Ill finish up and pass on the save tonight. Do I put it in the dropbox? I think I got the naming conventions for the saves down so that shouldn't be a problem.

Edit: Thought I screwed up the turn order, but that was just me having a mental blank. Will submit turn tonight.

[Neogodhobo]

You didnt screw up anything. Every STAVKA reinforcement going to center is yours to take.


Yeah for the turn order, the South was done first because of a skiing trip from our southern commander ( lucky bastard )

but yeah we will be waiting your turn, and yes, put it in the dropbox. Then Doctorking will be able to do his.

[ledo]

Yeah so I have screwed it up, I think. I might have to re-do my moves, i'll check when I get home tonight. Luckily, with so few units I don't have that many moves to do so that's an upside. The Soviets have to take every advantage they have in this grim situation. But seriously, it might help me anyway for my first soviet turn in terms of reorganization to do it again, it's not like I did any attacks. The ground bombing is going to be a tad tedious though.

[Neogodhobo]

Strictly forbidden to do turns a second time. Well just have to roll with it, its not the end of the world.

[ledo]

Oh i see but I did my turn off the SupComDone turn, because I thought it started with centre. Otherwise I'd leave it for sure. Sorry for the confusion, I didn't realise South was going to go first, I downloaded the turn almost as soon as you posted it and only went back to the dropbox when I was done.

[Neogodhobo]

ok, well yeah do your turn from the south file.

[Kratsch]

Sorry for the confusion.

You were right in that your should go ahead of me, was just to avoid a week delay y me being sine yesterday.

From next time onwards, all back to normal.

[thedoctorking]

OK, so am I up now with only northern in my jurisdiction again?

[ledo]

Hi doctorking, no I have to do my turn, sorry I screwed up the turn order. My bad. You can do your turn first if you want though.

[thedoctorking]

No, please go ahead. I'll take my turn after you.

PM when ready.

[Neogodhobo]

No one screwed up the turn's order.

Its Commander, Central, North, South.

South was done first as a one time only thing. Its now Central and then North.

[Kratsch]

Gents,

Just spent some time reading the 8 player team game, and in particular the strategic air war!

We should take note in both directions:
Leave a few fighter equipped air bases near important factories in our back

And

Are there maybe some interesting German factories WE can bomb to reduce some critical stuff, e.g. panzer III OR iV or some planes?
Even trying this a few times forces them at least to station some of their valuable fighter far back just in case we try this again.

Dear Comrade Air Commander, is this worth having a look at?

[Neogodhobo]

To: Marshal Kratsch
From : Stalin

I have read your request to STAVKA to send bombers in the rear lines, I personally think this is a bad idea, but since you brought up the topic, we will run an experimental mission with the bombers at your disposition.
When you will be able to, send some bombers wherever you want, and take note of how many Germans intercept you ( if any ) and take notes of casualties taken. Run a couple of mission like this and come back to me with the numbers.
At the end of our turn, before I do my last one, you will be conducting those mission if you can.

Good Luck Marshal.

[Kratsch]

Comrade, yes, your wish is my command.

The only bombers suitable I think are the Il-4 from memory given their range; not sure if others have the range to reach Berlin etc. Not sure if I have any, but. I will use them to that regard as per your wishes.

Should we also park one airbase each next to our important factories in the backfield, with each say 2-3 units of otherwise obsolete I-type fighters on them?

I think we should have enough airbases for that.

We would need a list of which factories to guard, sir.

[Neogodhobo]

Yes to all of that. I am unsure as to witch factories we should protect more, make an assembly and discuss of this with the other Marshals and we will apply what comes out of it.

Also

NEW ORDER OF THE DAY

Starting next turn:
I want every single division to hit every German troops in front of them. Do not advance and capture territory if gains are made. Hold your defensive position as much as you can, but attack the enemy as much as you can as well. I want us to be relentless. I want the Germans to consume their supplies like fire, I want to destroy at least 1 tank or vehicle per attack, per division, per turn. Those attacks will be to put a strain on the enemy. Attack not only once, but as much as you can, 4 times if you can. The more we get the Germans to consume their supplies and get broken/destroyed vehicles, the better we are off.

[Kratsch]

Comrades,
It appears that the enemy is susceptible to fire off all their ammo at the first waves of attacks, leaving little for later on. While we have lots of volunteers who are happily giving their lives, using a small token rifle brigade or alike for the first few attacks might absorb most of their fire, which means that the main subsequent attacks suffer much less, leaving us more men to keep attacking the fascists!

The only risk is the NVKD seeing lots of ‘lost battles’, and firing promising new generals,

Uuraahhhhh!

[ledo]

I don't mind doing this. And I can see the logic of it in terms of our supply lines being shorter. However, I don't think we get resupplied before the Germans have their turn, while they do. I think this should be a tactic while the Germans reorganize their lines between offensives, but not on the turn before an expected offensive. Otherwise, after Germans resupply during their supply phase, we may end up being the ones at a disadvantage.

One adjustment to this tactic could be using AT brigades or rifle brigades in a stack of three (with the other two having the majority of the combined CV) along the line to use up their ammo. But we should probably limit this to formations we can recognize are not already fully supplied, and thus the attacks are likely to keep them under 100% on the following turn. Taking a 100% unit down to 80% will probably still see them at 100% ammo by the start of their next turn, while we will be at reduced levels.

Sorry for the delay on my turn by the way, a lot of work just came in, I might need one more day. If the commanders of the other two fronts could highlight any cities that are in critical danger of being captured (and a timeline) I can work out which factory evacuations are the most urgent. Currently I have Moscow, Tula and Bryansk all possibly having adjacent units within three weeks, and potentially captured or surrounded within the next 4-6 weeks. Hopefully we'll hold out longer, but this is a likely scenario.

[Neogodhobo]

Ledo, if you do not get any answer by the time you are ready to finalize your turn, just do with whatever you think should be done. You seem to have a good grasp on the whole factory evac mechanic.


Also, I was looking at this whole situation near the pripyet marshes and maybe it would be a good idea to send some division to try to cut out the German supply and cause a little bit of chaos, this will, in turn, take away some of their troops for the assault on Moscow, maybe they will think we are trying a huge rescue operation behind enemy lines for that pocket we have there and put the attention somewhere else than on Moscow for the time being. I dont think they kept any reserve units in there, and you will most likely encounter very small resistance. Maybe you could try to get some Air recon in there and prepare an attack.

Your task would be to capture Misnk and Mogilev ( shown in Black ). And then retreat back to your own position (shown in red)
Since we are on the defensive, this is only a suggestion. It is up to you, if you want to try that or not.

[ledo]

Interesting. I'll take a look, but I think they're running their rail line from Vitebsk, based on looking at their units and the changes in range to rail as I move around. Still it might cause some chaos, and I can displace an airbase possibly.

[Neogodhobo]

Yeha its up to you, but by all means possible, try not to loose any division doing that