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

[STEF78]

ORIGINAL: M60A3TTS

Looking grim for Stelteck. There's too much ground to make up, 26k AFVs or not. He's like 10-12 months behind schedule. He also appears to also have an artillery shortage, with 115k tubes at this stage. Looks like a German victory at the end.

True, he his behind the curve.

Stelteck made a calculation and thinks he will be short of 20 000 points. I will let him develop this point.

From my point of view the final result will depend on his ability to create big pockets ... and my ability to prevent it. I'm really concerned with the weakness of the bulk of my army. I cannot rely anymore on inf units to hold the line. Even a stack of 3 can be moved...

As already said, WITE is a snwoball game.... Let's see how it goes.

[Stelteck]

It is highly probable in my opinion that the bitter end scenario is over victory point wise as soon as moscow fell (assuming leningrad is already taken). But we will see.

[chaos45]

M60- I concur on the lack of artillery....THose artillery divisions and brigades are a huge assistance in helping break strong german positions.

[STEF78]

Turn 141, 24th february 1944

In the far north, the finns aren't anymore able to hold the frontline, they will retreat behind the Volkhov, hoping that spring will arrive soon in order to unfreeze the river.
See also the mech corp circled in blue...



Some ground given in the South and a russian breakthough attempt. Usual heavy counterattacks. I give up Rostov...



A ten miles retreat near Tula. Russian OOB shows no evident sign of weakness. German OOB is slowly decreasing.



The losses, another week with 1200 russian AFV destroyed...

[STEF78]

Turn 142, 2nd march 1944

2 bad news this week.

First in the far north where my units appear far too low to stop russian advance. There are too many guard rifle corps for the finns. Reinforcements are required.



Second place, Crimea. Stelteck has transfered some units from Caucasus and is stronger than expected. Reinforcements are required here too.



In order to free some units, I give ground in the South...



... but fight near Tula in order to defend southern access to Moscow. Pressure is also increasing north of Moscow.



It's finally a low intensity week of fights. Almost holidays!

[HardLuckYetAgain]

Wow, you guys are booking on the turns.

[STEF78]

Not keen enough in English language to be fully sure about the translation.

I guess you are writing about the rythm of play. We are playing a turn every other day, except holidays or heavy real life duty, more on week-end.

It's fine for me and I think for Stelteck. Playing 2 turns per week isn't enough for me as I play only one game at the same time.

[STEF78]

Turn 143, 9th march 1944

Well, I tried a new kind of map to show the global situation and have a closer view of the hot spots... Not clear from my point of view.

Russian offensive continues from lake Ladoga to sea of Azov... I need mud!



Closer view from Crimea...



... reinforcements allow a stabilization of the frontline.



Near Tula, the frontline is broken.



... strong counterattacks as usual but I will retreat on the line prepared South of Kaluga.

[Telemecus]

ORIGINAL: STEF78
Well, I tried a new kind of map to show the global situation and have a closer view of the hot spots... Not clear from my point of view.

I like it

[John B.]

FYI "booking" is american slang for moving rapidly.

[STEF78]

ORIGINAL: John B.

FYI "booking" is american slang for moving rapidly.

Thanks!
At school, I've learnt "Queen Elizabeth" english and at work, american slang isn't the current language [;)]

[leverkuhn]

Congrats to both players and special thanks to STEF for this amazing ongoing report. Keep up the pace! [:)]

[STEF78]

ORIGINAL: leverkuhn

Congrats to both players and special thanks to STEF for this amazing ongoing report. Keep up the pace! [:)]

thanks!

[STEF78]

Turn 144, 16th march 1944

Fierce battles from lake Ladoga to Azov's sea. Axis units are still able to launch strong counterattacks but I'm really waiting for mud!
Another week with 1200 AFV destroyed ... german army under 4M men...



Closer view on Crimea. I had to sent here 2 german corps to stabilize the front



Near Tula I made a wrong move last week and an inf div didn't have enough MP's to retreat.. Stelteck surrounded it but I did my best to give it an extra week of freedom.



And the main battles...

[STEF78]

Turn 145, 23th march 1944

2 weeks before mud... I'm loosing control of the situation in at least two places:
- east of Leningrad
- South east of Kursk

It's also instable near Kalinin and South of Moscow

Leningrad

Situation worsens quickly in the far north. My scheduled line of defence is completely crushed! Reinforcements required here too!



Moscow south

Near Tula, this time it's over. I will loose my first german inf div since the beginning of the game. It will not be the last one [:(]

Another "usual" fight, more than 2000 russian AFV involved in a single battle!



Of course strong counterattacks against russian spearheads



Center

Breakthrough between Kursk and Bielgorod...



... Pzd counterattacks and the front line is restored but far too weak...



Crimea

In crimea nothing new...

[STEF78]

And the losses... 55k men lost on the axis side [:(]



The OOB. Below 4M germans and 8M russians.

[STEF78]

Turn 146, 30th march 1944

Mud required!!!! Bad news all along the fontline.

Nothing good in the north. Soviet steamroll is on...



... some ground given. The finns will fight (alone) for Leningrad.



Another bad news coming from Moscow: 3rd PzSS didn't hold the line.



Kaluga is under russian threat... Manstein with a Pzd and a Pgd didn't succeed in stopping the russian waves.



In the center and the South, it's worse. No comment

[STEF78]

Overview of the frontline after my moves.

Very heavy fights. More than 1750 russian AFV destroyed, almost 100k men lost on russian side. Both OOB are suffering



The main battles

[HardLuckYetAgain]

I don't think you are in bad shape, to be honest. Only around Leningrad but you are set up to absorb what the Soviets have accomplished there. Everywhere else is contained & you have mud coming up.

[STEF78]

ORIGINAL: HardLuckYetAgain

I don't think you are in bad shape, to be honest. Only around Leningrad but you are set up to absorb what the Soviets have accomplished there. Everywhere else is contained & you have mud coming up.

It's spring 1944 and red army is stronger than the axis. Nothing unusual.

In fact, I'm concerned with the quality of russian army. Stelteck built a very mobile one. If he is able to breach my frontline then he will be able to penetrate deeply in my lines and/or create a big encirclement.

He can afford losses I cannot (see below the evolution of both OOB). He has the strength, the mobility and clear weather is coming. On my side I have ground to trade against time and some strong mobile units.

Time will tell...

And last but not least, I played the germans twice past spring 1944 and I always suffered huge losses during this period... I'm not confident!