Grognard1812 (Soviet) vs Pitaman

[Grognard1812]

End of turn, the Soviet Army retreats again to avoid a large pocket, drawing the Axis Army further away from their supply sources.

[Grognard1812]

West of Stalingrad is a quiet sector, allowing the Soviet Army to transfer some troops further North to contain the Axis breakthrough there.

[Grognard1812]

Quiet in the Rostov sector. A potential area for a Soviet counter-offensive in the winter of 1942-1943.

[Dweomer]

ORIGINAL: Grognard1812

ORIGINAL: Dweomer

"End of turn in the Rostov area - very quiet sector - no German Panzer or Motorized divisions in this area, the chance of an Axis breakthrough here is minimal. "

So why isn't your vast array of Guard divisions attacking the Italians and Rumanians?

Given that all of the German Panzers are in one spot, and you have a large army, shouldn't you be counterattacking in spots where they are not? It seems to me (but I'm not very experienced) you are just reacting to his moves and allowing him to concentrate.

Be like water making its way through cracks - Bruce Lee

My main focus in 1942 is to survive the year without any major troop loses due to large pockets. I think that the Soviet Army is still too weak in 1942 to start large offenses which could turn into opportunities for the Axis to create large pockets. Once we get into the summer of 1943, things will be different. Presently the majority of the Soviet mechanized forces are in the area where the Panzers are, in an attempt to try to contain the Axis breakthroughs, and wear down the German Panzer and Motorized divisions.

I'm completely mystified with what your opponent is trying to achieve. He seems to be pushing into the giant vacuum of the endless Russian steppes, neither gaining critical terrain/resources, nor creating vast encirclements. It's almost like he *wants* to waste time driving his panzerball around, which must be consuming trucks like crazy.

Maybe some grandiose Moscow-by-the-backdoor (but mud season is not that far away)?

Can you show the army sizes?

"We're on a road to nowhere, come on inside,
Takin' that ride to nowhere, we'll take that ride" -- Talking Heads

[Grognard1812]

I'm completely mystified with what your opponent is trying to achieve. He seems to be pushing into the giant vacuum of the endless Russian steppes, neither gaining critical terrain/resources, nor creating vast encirclements. It's almost like he *wants* to waste time driving his panzerball around, which must be consuming trucks like crazy.

Maybe some grandiose Moscow-by-the-backdoor (but mud season is not that far away)?

Can you show the army sizes?

"We're on a road to nowhere, come on inside,
Takin' that ride to nowhere, we'll take that ride" -- Talking Heads

[/quote]

I think my opponent has been trying to create very large pockets, but has been unable to do so due to the fact that the Soviet Army keeps retreating further North. Also by forcing the Soviet Army to keep retreating North it reduces the risk of the Soviets creating a pocket around Stalingrad in the winter of 42 - 43.

On Turn 67 the Soviet Army numbered 7.2 million troops while the German Army numbered 3.5 million troops.

[Grognard1812]

The large mass of German Panzer and Motorized units again breakthrough North of Penza but this time the Soviet Army counter-attacks cutting off more than 20 German Panzer and Motorized Divisions in a large pocket. These pocketed units won't be getting any supplies (except by air) next turn - hopefully this will slow down the Panzerball. Situation end of turn.

[Grognard1812]

With most of the German mechanized units pocketed further North, the Soviet Army in the Rostov area crosses the Don River and attack the Axis Allies in the area making good progress. Situation end of turn.

[Grognard1812]

The Soviet Army in the Stalingrad area also takes the opportunity to cross the Don River and attack the Axis units West of the Don. The Red Army advances with high spirits.

[chaos45]

game should be a Soviet show from here on out....even if he probably will get the tank ball out....by the time it is re-supplied its almost mud...and 1943 changes the CV odds in soviets favor enough to end German adventures.

[Sammy5IsAlive]

ORIGINAL: chaos45

game should be a Soviet show from here on out....even if he probably will get the tank ball out....by the time it is re-supplied its almost mud...and 1943 changes the CV odds in soviets favor enough to end German adventures.

I'd be interested to see where the rail lines are at - the Soviets may well have a big advantage in terms of interior lines and getting troops to the 'neck' of the pocket. Plus they'll have the last non-mud turn. With 7+ million Soviets in the field and no real threats elsewhere to pin that strength down I could easily see the majority of that panzerball getting wiped out

To be honest flicking back through the AAR and the respective OOBs the Germans have been relying on snookers since the end of blizzard.

That's not to downplay the good stuff Grognard has done since that point in terms of avoiding those traps and waiting patiently for the right moment to go on the offensive - it's been very nicely played IMO.

[Seminole]

Can someone describe how the beta version supply system handles these situations?
Do pocketed units get supply from any HQs that may be in the pocket?

Not trying to sidetrack this AAR, but not sure where to find the best description for how the supply model works now. I just read references to 'trucks don't matter in '41' and don't understand why and what has changed.

[Grognard1812]

The large pocket of German Panzer and Motorized divisions was broken by the German Army, opening a supply corridor for the encircled Axis units. Situation beginning of turn.

[Grognard1812]

But the Soviet Army was able to close the pocket again. A second turn of no supplies for the encircled German Panzer and Motorized Divisions.

[Grognard1812]

In the Stalingrad sector, the Soviet Army returned to their defenses on the Eastern bank of the Don River. Air reconnaissance had uncovered that a large number of German Infantry divisions were being moved South to assist the Axis allies, and Stavka decided to be cautious. Preparations continued for a winter counter-offensive.

[BrianG]

That Penza corner is a tough area to crack.

even in my other Russian disasters, the Russians seems to be able to hold Penza.

The Germans need to retreat and get out of dodge.

[Grognard1812]

Start of Turn 68, the German Army reopened the pocket.

[Grognard1812]

But this time the Soviet Army was unable to create the pocket again. End of turn situation.

[Grognard1812]

The Soviet garrison at Tula is in danger of being encircled next turn. Situation at the Start of the turn.

[Grognard1812]

The German Infantry Division blocking their escape was attacked and forced to retreat, and the Garrison at Tula was then able to successfully escape an encirclement next turn.

[Grognard1812]

Between Penza and Saransk the large mass of German Panzer and Motorized divisions retreated South. Their weather service must have advised them that next week was the beginning of the mud season.