StB tyronec (Soviet) vs Rosencrantus.

[tyronec]

Start of the turn.
Axis have broken both pockets and trashed a lot of Tank and Mech Corps, they really don't have much defensive CV plus the GS helps.
Will see what I can do to renew the attack this turn.

[gingerbread]

Would be interesting if you could do some 2 hex artillery bombardments with the latest patches to test the mid game effect of he new mechanics from the Soviet side.

Don't let it ruin your game, though it looks like there is some margin before that happens.

[tyronec]

Not much happening in the North and Center, I did 4 attacks and won 3. Trying a follow up with a stack of Corps with the Central Front but am just expecting them to get trashed for their efforts.

All the action is around Rostov. Made a new two hex incursion further North. It is the follow up attacks that do the damage, my attacks on front line entrenched division sized units are averaging around a 5:1 or so loss ratio no matter what odds I attack with or if I use only Guards. At that rate Axis are winning the attrition war.
In this case I got some follow up attacks which do well, but am not managing that often.

Have isolated three stacks of units again but they will all get out, am expecting to lose some motorised units here and Axis look to have been able to pull in more Panzers to prop up the line.

[tyronec]

Would be interesting if you could do some 2 hex artillery bombardments with the latest patches to test the mid game effect of he new mechanics from the Soviet side.

Don't let it ruin your game, though it looks like there is some margin before that happens.

I don't have many artillery divisions, made the decision not to build more until the SU's filled up but that doesn't seem to be happening very fast.

[tyronec]

We start again after waiting for the recent patch.

North - all quiet, just one Soviet attack near Smolensk.

Central Front - take one hex and push into the gap, Axis had left a hex open after their counter attack last turn presumably because it would have had no fort. The rest of the front line is on 3's. This all allowed the push through.

Rostov. Axis had counter attacked and pocketed 7 Corps. I relieve 6 of them but they are in a sorry state and if they don't rout out next turn they may be lost. In return I make two good size pockets, probably neither will hold but it will slow them down. Hard to tell how all this is going to pan out, it could end up being a disaster for the Soviets OR I might just manage to do OK out of it.

Black Sea - trash some Romanian units.

Stalingrad still holds out, have not bothered attacking. I don't know if it would fall if attacked or if that would just improve their morale.

Air war. What a disaster. Had my fighters in position to intercept GS and they just got trashed, about 500 for maybe 10 in A2A combat.

[tyronec]

Lenningrad. Have been shifting and building Guard Corps here over the past few turns and launch the offensive to break out from the City and cut the Axis corridor. Was confident there would be no Luftwaffe in the area so was free to use GS.

North Western have shifted to the area below L. Ilmen where there are just regiments on the front line and begin their offensive. Will see how much land I can grab before Axis redeploy. Plus attacking here will reduce the immediate shift to the Lenningrad area.

Western Front. My spearhead from last turn got trashed, my best general with three elite Corps decided to have an off day and drop by a factor of 10 - though Axis had a lot of reserves and was likely to lose anyway.
The attacks go OK and open up to a 3 hex wide bulge. The main benefit is am now not facing level 3 forts with every attack.

Odessa. All the action is here. Axis killed one Corps and repocketed the other 6 with 3 more caught in the bag. Both pockets from last turn broken.
My counter attacks are secure enough and reopen the pocket. Have also resealed the two pockets from last turn, a bit better now. And reopening the pocket have caught a few units against the sea. That will not hold, best result for me would be to get my trapped Corps away.
So 3 pockets. The Northern one might hold. The Center one probably won't. The Southern has the Soviets more in trouble than Axis.

Caucasus. Pretty quiet, have pocketed a couple of small units that were guarding the Axis Northern flank.

Loss ratio OK this turn, better than ususl.

[Jango32]

Odessa? Surely STAVKA means to say Stalino.

[tyronec]

Odessa? Surely STAVKA means to say Stalino.

Odessa is my internal name for Rostov....

[tyronec]

Start of T28.

Lenningrad. No reaction from Axis, can maybe make some prograss towards pinching off the units that are cutting off Lenningrad.

L. Ilmen. Some Axis reserves arrive, should still be able to take a hex or two.

Orel area. No counterattacks against the Western Front. Instead Axis have made an incursion just to the North. Think I should be able to shield this OK and it is not cutting any important rail lines. I may be judging this wrong but am glad to see them expending some offensive effort where it doesn't look important.

Rostov. Axis have broken all three pockets, which is disappointing. The Northern one I should be able to reseal. Central one can hopefully reseal and force the incumbents back to their original position. The Southern one they have routed away all my exposed Mech Corps, so am glad about that and looks like I have just lost the one Corps from this whole excursion.
There was one odd attack which the Soviets are listed as winning but the defender displaced (and was not routed or depleted) to another hex.
Overall the Axis units in this area look to be getting worn down while I am shipping in another half a dozen fresh divisions each turn, so there may still be the possibility of getting something out of it.

The small pocket in the South is broken, will see if I can herd them northwards.

[tyronec]

Lenningrad. Reasonable progress and one hex short of making a pocket. Should have had some mobile units up here. Some hope of opening up the route to Lenningrad but by no means certain. Have GS on so all the air losses came from up here, Axis have some fighters but not their best.

L Ilmen. Am across the river in force, but Axis will likely block the incursion off now. Is more of a diversionary effort and to tie down some of their reserves than anything else.

Orel. Lots of excitment. The Axis incursion last turn was just flipping hexes, there were no units there. Further south manage to make a breakthrough - the first two battles were heavy going but then things opened up. Have pocketed about 20 divisions, of course it will not hold but it disrupts Axis supply and movement for next turn. Had a go at taking Bryansk but it was garrisoned unfortunately. have quite a few exposed units, this incursion will likely cost me some of them.

Rostov. Reseal the northern and central pockets, doing some herding in the process which inflicts some heavy losses. Both pockets will likely be broken but as long as I can keep remaking them Axis are going to suffer.

Cacausus. Herd those two units again and hopefully have them sealed off this time, all depends on whether Axis have any remotely powerful mobile units around as my units are all weak. My two Southern groups link up at last.

Overall a good turn and satisfactory loss ratio during the Soviet phase. Now to see what the Axis counter attack will do.

[tyronec]

Lenningrad. The siege is broken as Axis pull back. Am probably not going to make much progress here any more or it is going to be very slow.

L. Ilmen. No progress, just a couple of attacks. Am better positioned to attack and follow up next turn , possibly...

Orel. Axis had of course broken the pocket but don't have enough strength to pocket my lead units. So pull them back and build out the bulge in the Axis line. Battles go much better here with some Axis units fatigued and not in fortifications. Lots of good wins and none with massive casualties on the Soviet side. Am hoping this means the line of forts is seriously broken and can continue with attacks against unfortified units turn after turn, but Axis may be able to restructure their line or launch a counterattack.

Rostov. Same as last turn. Axis break the two pockets, Soviets herd them back into position and reseal them. One division routed out during the herding but otherwise all went well.

Cacausus. Finally a pocket holds and can kill a couple of small units. Also make progress along the coast and get some routs against the Allies.

Stalingrad. Take one of the two remaining hexes. Will have to wait a while for the next one.

Air war. The VVS is truly outclassed, even in a 20:1 dogfight they get shot to bits !

Losses for the Soviet turn are in my favor, I think for the first time in this game - and that is without the surrendered units.

[tyronec]

Lenningrad. Have pocketed a couple of divisions that were slow to pull back.

L. Ilmen to V-L. Just 3 attacks picking on weak hexes, which all win. This is really just a pinning operation as Axis are strong enough to block progress but not defend the whole front.

[tyronec]

Orel/Kursk. Axis made a few counter attacks but nothing serious. Have isolated about 15 divisions again around Orel. On the Southern boundary of the bulge am getting in some good attacks with Axis no longer being in fortified hexes. The problem is all the rail lines go through Orel or Kursk so I need to clear one of them to advance much further, but the defences are far too strong. Maybe if I can keep doing damage around Orel or get behind Kursk then Axis will be forced to pull back and let me have the rail line. But it is dangerous because there is always the threat of a counter attack.

[tyronec]

Rostov. The central pocket held so kill those units. The Northern one was broken so we herd them back and reseal.
The problem here is Axis have a good river line to defend. They pushed back my incursion West of Rostov so counter attack and get across again. If that hex can hold should be able to expand and push on to the next river.

In the South just squeezing into the Taman penninsula. Not much here worth taking any more.

[tyronec]

The air war continues to be a disaster, itf the Axis fighters are there the shoot the VVS down in swarms. Guess I should have been doing more to micro manage my fighter force but I don't have any enthusiasm for it.

Overall another good loss ratio for the turn in the ground war.

Axis have gained another Infantry Div and Panzer div through TB control.

[Iam5not8]

Rosencratus played quite agressively at the beginning of the campaign.

A few (game) months later, what is the impact ? Was that worthfukll in your opinion ?

[tyronec]

Rosencratus played quite agressively at the beginning of the campaign.

A few (game) months later, what is the impact ? Was that worthfukll in your opinion ?

I don't think he was that aggressive early on, no attempt to take Lenningrad or relieve Stalingrad.
He made one pocket attempt which didn't work out, but it was very close. Otherwise a moderate level of counter attacks against weakened Soviet units which I think is good use of resources.

What he has done is be tenacious about holding on to ground. That has cost him a few pocketed units recently. As Axis I would be retreating earlier but which approach is better am not sure - maybe hold onto all ground unless you are going to be pocketed !

[tyronec]

Lenningrad. Just a couple of attacks, am not going to make much progress here but it is a good place to use up the VVS as supplies are good.

L. Ilmen to V-L. Again just a few attacks to keep Axis tied down, have shifted the foucus a little South to avoid the Pz division in Reserve.

[tyronec]

Orel/Kursk. Make the Orel pocket again, those units have to be suffering now. The Axs defence line to the West is a bit thin so can pocket a stack before a stack before retreating it and kill some extra Panzers. Manage a couple of mini pockets too. Am not attacking all out, lots of units building up CPP and guarding the rear area.

[tyronec]

Rostov. Pocket from last turn held so eliminate that. Axis don't attack my stack across the river so manage a major breakout and have created 4 pockets in the process. Maybe none will hold but am thinking Axis units are getting seriously worn down here. Will see if they can counter attack and create the damage that they did last time.

Taman. Closing in on Krasnovar though my units are badly worn dow.