Red Army Resurgent - the Race to Rostov

Please post your after action reports on your battles and campaigns here.

Moderator: Joel Billings

Post Reply
User avatar
Seminole
Posts: 2243
Joined: Thu Jul 28, 2011 12:56 am

Red Army Resurgent - the Race to Rostov

Post by Seminole »

Taking a crack at the Stalingrad scenario where the Reds start with the initiative.

In this game I intended to utilize motorized formations to maximize our efforts to bag the Axis armies and liberate Rostov as rapidly as possible.

Overall opening picture of the Stalingrad sector:

Image

6th Army's flanks are blasted by the Soviet advance, and additionally a pocket is created pinning a reserve panzer division to the west of the main encirclement. The pocket may not be air tight, but we have the space and unity density to envelope any attempts to rescue 6th Army.

Image
"War is never a technical problem only, and if in pursuing technical solutions you neglect the psychological and the political, then the best technical solutions will be worthless." - Hermann Balck
DeletedUser1769703214
Posts: 9319
Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2016 12:26 am

RE: Red Army Resurgent - the Race to Rostov

Post by DeletedUser1769703214 »

Motorized Infantry makes this scenario opening so easy.
User avatar
Seminole
Posts: 2243
Joined: Thu Jul 28, 2011 12:56 am

RE: Red Army Resurgent - the Race to Rostov

Post by Seminole »

ORIGINAL: HardLuckYetAgain

Motorized Infantry makes this scenario opening so easy.

I had some poor rolls, could have done more to fix C3, and focused SUs for the initial attacks to avoid the high delay penalties I suffered. I’ve done the opening where the initial delays are max 1 across the breakthrough.

I think motorized inf should only have 2/3rds regularly motorized infantry MP, with strategic movement on par to allow rear area relocation but reflect lack of training and coordination in scouting and advancing in enemy terrain just because someone handed them truck keys.

Also, if the AP bank is zero units should be demotorized to reflect lack of admin capacity to manage the ad how allocation and maintenance operations for the unmotorIzed formation.
"War is never a technical problem only, and if in pursuing technical solutions you neglect the psychological and the political, then the best technical solutions will be worthless." - Hermann Balck
User avatar
Seminole
Posts: 2243
Joined: Thu Jul 28, 2011 12:56 am

RE: Red Army Resurgent - the Race to Rostov

Post by Seminole »

Farther to the east, and south of the main event a German motorized formation is isolated briefly.

Image

The Road to Baku is likewise a dead end, and the Germans are forced back in a series in attacks.

Image

Where possible the Soviets infiltrate between Axis formations to create additional ZOC friction as they retreat.
The right wing centered on Voronezh is still frozen, but they will begin to unlock next week.
Overview at the end of the turn:

Image
"War is never a technical problem only, and if in pursuing technical solutions you neglect the psychological and the political, then the best technical solutions will be worthless." - Hermann Balck
User avatar
Seminole
Posts: 2243
Joined: Thu Jul 28, 2011 12:56 am

RE: Red Army Resurgent - the Race to Rostov

Post by Seminole »

Starting in the south on the Road to Baku, the Russians pounce and two Guards cavalry corps clear the German's left flank. The Soviets motorize an infantry division and link up with units that had infiltrated from the Caucasus mountains the week prior.
The only mistake down here is that I deliver a final blow to two regiments f 3rd Pzr Div trying to sap their supplies and instead they rout to safety. Wish I had that 'victory' back!

Image

The pocket around Stalingrad is opened, but we reseal it, and the Race to Rostov is underway in earnest!

Image
"War is never a technical problem only, and if in pursuing technical solutions you neglect the psychological and the political, then the best technical solutions will be worthless." - Hermann Balck
User avatar
Seminole
Posts: 2243
Joined: Thu Jul 28, 2011 12:56 am

RE: Red Army Resurgent - the Race to Rostov

Post by Seminole »

Overall map at the end of turn 2:

Image

This game has been idle for over a week now. I fear it ist kaput.
"War is never a technical problem only, and if in pursuing technical solutions you neglect the psychological and the political, then the best technical solutions will be worthless." - Hermann Balck
User avatar
Hardradi
Posts: 836
Joined: Wed Feb 09, 2011 8:16 am
Location: Swan River Colony

RE: Red Army Resurgent - the Race to Rostov

Post by Hardradi »

I was thinking, wow, the AI re-opened the pocket until I read the last sentence.

Interesting that the Pazners were so fragile in the Caucasus. Haven't quite read up what happened there historically at this point.
User avatar
Seminole
Posts: 2243
Joined: Thu Jul 28, 2011 12:56 am

RE: Red Army Resurgent - the Race to Rostov

Post by Seminole »

ORIGINAL: Hardradi

I was thinking, wow, the AI re-opened the pocket until I read the last sentence.

Interesting that the Pazners were so fragile in the Caucasus. Haven't quite read up what happened there historically at this point.

I suspect TOE, the ZOC friction I had on the retreat path, and I’m also pretty sure the relevant HQ was displaced beyond command range prior to attack, made it almost inevitable. .
I was being greedy.
"War is never a technical problem only, and if in pursuing technical solutions you neglect the psychological and the political, then the best technical solutions will be worthless." - Hermann Balck
DeletedUser1769703214
Posts: 9319
Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2016 12:26 am

RE: Red Army Resurgent - the Race to Rostov

Post by DeletedUser1769703214 »

Motorized infantry is making this easy yet again.

Image
Attachments
motoinf.jpg
motoinf.jpg (157.2 KiB) Viewed 719 times
User avatar
Q-Ball
Posts: 7649
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2002 4:43 pm
Location: Chicago, Illinois

RE: Red Army Resurgent - the Race to Rostov

Post by Q-Ball »

I think this is just proving how broken temp motorization is, so thank you for that!

It should never be used, IMO.....
User avatar
Seminole
Posts: 2243
Joined: Thu Jul 28, 2011 12:56 am

RE: Red Army Resurgent - the Race to Rostov

Post by Seminole »

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

I think this is just proving how broken temp motorization is, so thank you for that!

It should never be used, IMO.....

This game was started pursuant to the War Room discussion where we broached how overpowered they are in the current game balance.
"War is never a technical problem only, and if in pursuing technical solutions you neglect the psychological and the political, then the best technical solutions will be worthless." - Hermann Balck
DeletedUser1769703214
Posts: 9319
Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2016 12:26 am

RE: Red Army Resurgent - the Race to Rostov

Post by DeletedUser1769703214 »

ORIGINAL: Seminole

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

I think this is just proving how broken temp motorization is, so thank you for that!

It should never be used, IMO.....

This game was started pursuant to the War Room discussion where we broached how overpowered they are in the current game balance.

Yup, I believe you apologized to your opponent up front too.
DeletedUser1769703214
Posts: 9319
Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2016 12:26 am

RE: Red Army Resurgent - the Race to Rostov

Post by DeletedUser1769703214 »

I had to LOL at this one! They should have ran faster

Image
Attachments
LOL.jpg
LOL.jpg (23.61 KiB) Viewed 720 times
User avatar
Hardradi
Posts: 836
Joined: Wed Feb 09, 2011 8:16 am
Location: Swan River Colony

RE: Red Army Resurgent - the Race to Rostov

Post by Hardradi »

They will be in a bit of dance there if the Germans advance.[:D]
User avatar
Q-Ball
Posts: 7649
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2002 4:43 pm
Location: Chicago, Illinois

RE: Red Army Resurgent - the Race to Rostov

Post by Q-Ball »

ORIGINAL: Seminole

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

I think this is just proving how broken temp motorization is, so thank you for that!

It should never be used, IMO.....

This game was started pursuant to the War Room discussion where we broached how overpowered they are in the current game balance.

Sorry, that was not meant as a snarky comment! I actually did want to see someone exploit this, because you're pointing out why the mechanics of it need to change. I think this shows exactly why.
Post Reply

Return to “After Action Reports”