BrianG v Bitburg (open for all)

[BrianG]

Kharkov final.

With rr completed north south, I bring in resting armor into Kharkov proper.

Russians pressing but no threat atm.

[BrianG]

Rostov.

this area is fun.

Rostov line seems good. Russian pressure is now north of units into empty space.

I am trying to hold line, knowing I will have to retreat. I start to count the weeks until March snow. And compare to how many hexes to Stalino from the front.

Cav have multiplied and look ready to pounce

[BrianG]

North of Moscow the Russian Cav has punched a 2 hex hole.

This is enough damage for me to call in reinforcements, morale be damned.

His force North of Moscow looks strong. Good cv's for the Cav units

[BrianG]

The counter attack lineup.

Some units well rested and full of supply.

[BrianG]

attack result

I will also pinch out the Cav penetration which is south of Moscow.

[BrianG]

My defense south is now based upon the 2 red tank divisions at the points. They are in level 4 towns and I have mountain divisions placed besides them.

I will allow the Russian water hoard to bypass my strong point but that's it. No surround and plenty of counterattack.

Unless I feel a cut off is really possible.

This defense will annoy the Russians and use up his precious blizzard turns.

[BrianG]

south final

[BrianG]

South Moscow.

Tula changes hands and Kaluga is threatened.

[BrianG]

North Moscow.

He wants to push me back here.

[BrianG]

Moscow open.

Russians are 30 miles or 24.5km (your choice) from closing the pincers.

Distance and math are not guaranteed correct.

[BrianG]

South open

Another good week of action for the Russian puts heavy pressure of German front.

I contemplate retreat.

[mouse707]

interesting counter attack, with several blizzard turns remaining !

[xhoel]

ORIGINAL: chaos45

Looks like a pretty easy blizzard season so far...figured with the losses you inflicted the soviets wouldn't be capable of much. The issue is the experience gain of only 1 per week without massive combat losses means it takes 3 months for new soviet forces to be somewhat combat capable. Will be a good new fix in the current new beta patch once its stable and the bugs worked out.

For now tho you get an easy chill winter....should set you up nicely for a really good 1942 spring/summer offensive.

Also is very telling of what the Germans can do.....you admit making some mistakes esp with the finnish yet are doing extremely well.....your situation in Moscow area would be much easier with that additional army placed more to the south if the finns had started moving earlier.

I think that's the wrong conclusion to get out of this situation. Since I played Bitburger as well, I can tell you that he is doing better in this game OOB wise and has around 600k more men in the field. The main reason why the blizzard is being so "easy" is that BrianG is giving ground a lot and is avoiding a steadfast defense (save for certain sectors). You can see that Tula was given up without a fight and that by the 1st of January the Soviets are 40 miles from Orel. Soviet pressure is increasing and BrianG would do well to pull back some forces unless he want to risk them getting cut off.

I do agree though that the experience bug hinders the Soviets quite a lot but not to the extent that you say. It is good that it is being fixed however Looking forward to the next updates!

[BrianG]

Down south we see If we can maintain the lines and keep my forward tanks emplacements

[BrianG]

I study Moscow

I really don't want to retreat.

Thus I commit all locale reserves ( all well rested) and commit to break the back of this Russian push.

The Lineup

[BrianG]

And the result.

Cav retreat in wrong direction. Or correct direction depending upon ones perspective.

Good die roll helped.

[BrianG]

Now to deal with a second annoying penetration

the lineup

[BrianG]

And a hold.

I now need to reinforce because I am close to having a hex cut next turn

[BrianG]

final Moscow

[BrianG]

south final

Bitburg is missing chance by not attacking my size 4 town tank hexes. He needs to cause damage on me and drain supply.
Eventually my tanks will become to low in supply and retreat.

His should ignore his casualties. His offensive will stall unless they are moved.