Scenario: The Destruction of Southwestern Front vs Sov AI (Completed)

[jlbhung]

Turn 12 – Action Phase (Part 2)

Screenshot is as at end of Action Phase, highlights include –

1. Despite marching in full speed, many infantry from 2A and 6A (those in black circles, which were involved in the Desna pocket last turn) had yet to arrive at the frontline.

2. In the north, 1PzG (red units) and 2PzG (light blue units) sealed a pocket with maybe >20 soviet units isolated (red circle).

3. South of Zaporozhye, infantry crossed the Dnepr River (white dashed line).

4. The Perekop fort was taken (blue circle). Axis should be able to enter Crimea next turn.

T12 Action 2 End.jpg (652.39 KiB) Viewed 2362 times

[jlbhung]

Turn 12 – Use of Panzer/Armored Units in Combat

While only 5 battles were fought this turn, one of them involved 2 panzer divisions. This battle (see the red arrow) was fought to open a route for another panzer division to get into a position that close the northern pocket (the blue arrow shows the route taken by the 4th Panzer Division).

Before the battle, I was expecting a lot of AFV losses. Luckily the two defending Soviet divisions were very weak, with less than 9k men for two divisions. As a result, the losses of Axis were minimal and the defender routed.

T12 Action 3 Pz.jpg (369.21 KiB) Viewed 2361 times

[jlbhung]

Turn 12 – Victory Points

Five turns passed since the last comprehensive update on statistics and supply situation. It should be time for another comprehensive update. First the Victory Points – apart from Sevastopol and Rostov, other VP cities are already occupied by Axis (cities in red box). I have some confidence in taking Sevastopol but Rostov may be beyond my reach.

T12 Stat1 VP.jpg (100.99 KiB) Viewed 2323 times

[jlbhung]

Turn 12 – OOB and Losses

At end of Turn 12 Axis Action Phase, Axis has nearly 2.3 million troops on map, which doubles the 1.1 million troops of Soviet.

The following table compares the Soviet losses at Turn 7 (last comprehensive report on figures) and Turn 12:

T12 Losses-Sov.jpg (42.26 KiB) Viewed 2267 times

It suggests that in terms of reduction in Soviet military power, the progress in the past 5 turns was not as good as in the previous turns.

Comparatively, Axis losses are light:

T12 Losses-Axis.jpg (35.01 KiB) Viewed 2267 times

[Edit: 2 text tables above replaced by images]

Apart from direct losses, about 30% of German AFVs are damaged (only 1,430 of the 2,034 AFVs are in good shape, see the figures in red box). As I try to minimize panzer/armored units in direct attacks, most of the damaged AFVs likely came from wear and tear.
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T12 Stat2 OOB-Losses.jpg (319.93 KiB) Viewed 2319 times

[jlbhung]

Turn 12 – Replacement Pool

Screenshot shows the Production Screen. On the right-hand side, while ammo level is ok, the levels of supplies, fuel and vehicles in units are all slightly below need (see red box).

On the left-hand side, German aircrafts in use are enclosed in white boxes. Comparing those negative figures enclosed in green, and figures of aircrafts in pool (enclosed in blue), the situation of German aircrafts’ replacement pool can be said to be very satisfactory.

T12 Stat3 Prod.jpg (275.18 KiB) Viewed 2312 times

[jlbhung]

Turn 12 - Freight

Overall speaking, more freights are still being delivered to ground units than need (14k supplies rec’d compares to 9k needed - see white box). However, individually three armies were already receiving insufficient supplies (2A, 11A, 3RumA, see the figures enclosed in red).

T12 Stat4 Freight.jpg (172.35 KiB) Viewed 2311 times

[jlbhung]

Turn 12 – Supply Network

Finally, screenshot of the rail and depots network that supplies the 2.3 million Axis forces. Some points worth mentioning -

1. Overall, supply lines from units to depots are quite long.

2. For the upper half map area, I plan to limit any push to the East in view of the supply limitation. Furthermore, there is no more unoccupied VP city target in that area.

3. In the South, some units have to resort to depots at Kishinev and Tiraspol (marked G and H in screenshot) far behind the frontline for supply. The port Nikolaev (marked F) seems unable to meet the demand of frontline units. I don’t know if shipping capability is the limiting factor (Axis only have 5 cargo ships in the Black Sea).

4. Initially Axis spent several turns of effort to repair the rail link to the town Kovel and built a depot there, with the intention to better support fighting in the Pripyat Marshes area. However, the depot quickly became irrelevant after the fall of Zhitomir and Kiev. With hindsight, the effort may better be spent to improve rail network in the South.
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T12 Stat5 Supply Network 80.jpg (1.09 MiB) Viewed 2306 times

[jlbhung]

Turn 12 – Further Refinement to the Supply Network

Apart from the main task of repairing rail link along the dual track rail as indicated by the white arrow, to refine the supply network the followings are also planned –

(a) three depots (see red circles and arrows) are to be built along the northern shore of the Dnepr River, together with the necessary rail link. The intention is to at least remove the MP cost of crossing the major river for supply trucks from units in the North;

(b) two depots (see black circles and arrows) are to be built in the southern part of the Dnepr Bend area, to supplement the port Nikolaev to supply Axis troops in the South.
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T12 Depot Dev.jpg (336.24 KiB) Viewed 2304 times

[jlbhung]

Turn 13 – Recon and Planning

This turn, Axis lost 9 recon aircrafts flying 6 Recon Air Directives.

Screenshot shows the situation after air recon and ground scout (by moving some land units to the frontline, though with no enemy hex taken/flipped). Highlights/plans include –

1. No air recon was conducted in the northern frontline (black dotted box). As explained earlier, due to supply limitation and lack of unoccupied VP cities, there is no plan for Axis troops to advance further in the North.

2. To reduce the northern pocket as far as possible.

3. In the Centre, infantry will help to create openings to allow 1PzG units to form a pocket (along the white arrows from north and south).

4. To capture both the ports Osipenko and Genichesk (blue cirles), so as to trap soviet units on the shore of the Sea of Azov between the two ports.

5. To push into Crimea.
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T13 Recon and Planning.jpg (442.86 KiB) Viewed 2255 times

[jlbhung]

Turn 13 – Action Phase (Part 1)

Starting with the South, overwhelming power (final CV ratio both >20) was deployed to -

(a) clear the way for Italian troops to take the port Genichesk; and

(b) break into Crimea.
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T13 Action 1 South.jpg (434.31 KiB) Viewed 2252 times

[jlbhung]

Turn 13 – Action Phase (Part 2)

Turning to the North, 22 isolated Soviet divisions (smaller units not counted) surrendered, leaving only 2 units still defending Kursk.
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T13 Action 2 North.jpg (303.22 KiB) Viewed 2246 times

[jlbhung]

Turn 13 – Action Phase (Part 3)

In the Centre, three pockets were formed –

1. More than 20 Soviet units isolated and the city Zaporozhye surrounded (see red circle, let us call this the “Zaporozhye Pocket”).

2. After Axis took both the Osipenko and Genichesk ports, some 15 Soviet units were isolated along the Molochna river (see blue circle), with the shore of the Sea of Azov forming the southeastern edge of the pocket (I would call it the “Azov Shore Pocket”).

3. A mini-pocket for a very brave Soviet AT-brigade (the black circle), which penetrated the Axis line.

With the formation of the Zaporozhye Pocket and Azov Shore Pocket this turn, together with the pocket in the North last turn, the plan formulated at the beginning of Turn 11 were somehow realized (see the dotted lines with arrows in the screenshot of this earlier post https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... 4#p4964144.
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T13 Action 3 Centre.jpg (361.87 KiB) Viewed 2227 times

[jlbhung]

Turn 13 – Battles This Turn

A total of 29 battles were fought in the Axis Action Phase. I managed to avoid using panzer/armored units in all of them.

In the battles fought to create openings, the Soviet defenders turned out to be weaker than expected - many rifle divisions had some 6k men only (e.g. battles (a)-(c) in the screenshot below). In the most extreme case, 2 Soviet divisions together had less than 8k men (battle (d)).

Battle (e) is also of interest. In the air, 22 German fighters tried to intercept 22 bombers and 23 escorts, but only 1 Soviet bomber was destroyed. It appeared that at times German Luftwaffe may also underperform.
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The attachment T13 Action 4 Battles.jpg is no longer available

[jlbhung]

Turn 14 – Air Recon and Planning

Raining season arrived. Some hexes became light mud (light brown hexes) - map mod used can be found here https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=5034215.

Air Recon was confined to the area leading to the two remaining VP cities, namely Rostov (red circle at the eastern edge) and Sevastopol (blue circle at the southern edge). 5 Recon Air Directives lost 5 recon aircrafts.

Apart from advancing towards the two VP cities, the major tasks for Axis troops are to reduce the pockets (those enclosed by black dots in the screenshot and Kursk, outside the screenshot to the north).
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T14 Air Recon and Planning.jpg (324.8 KiB) Viewed 2083 times

[jlbhung]

Effect of Light Mud

As raining is to stay, I take out the Manual to refresh myself on the effects of light mud on CV and MP (I am not familiar with light mud, which is a concept not in WitE1) –
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T14 Light Mud.jpg (48.61 KiB) Viewed 2081 times

[jlbhung]

Turn 14 – Action Phase (Part 1)

Screenshot shows the end of Action Phase in the North. Several highlights –

1. Infantry of 2A and 6A largely took over the frontline from motorized units (black dotted line). There were only very slight changes in the frontline.

2. Kursk was taken, with 2 defending rifle divisions surrendered (red circle).

3. Elements of 2A and 2PzG are scheduled to leave (those counters with orange outline). One corps of 2A already left this turn. Another infantry corps will leave next turn. Most units of the 2PzG will depart on Turn 16.
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T14 Action 1 North.jpg (383.44 KiB) Viewed 2077 times

[jlbhung]

Turn 14 – Action Phase (Part 2)

In the Centre –

1. The Zaporozhye Pocket (the red box) was reduced to two hexes, the city Zaporozhye and a neighboring hex, surrounded by Rumanian troops. Soviet lost 17 divisions (smaller units not counted) in the pocket.

2. The Azov Shore Pocket (the blue circle) was reduced in half by size, but only 1 Soviet division surrendered.

3. Bridgehead on the eastern bank of the Torets River was expanded (white circle with while solid arrow).

4. 1PzG advanced to the new Soviet frontline, reached Stalino and crossed the Kalmius River at several locations (black lines and arrows).

Screenshot’s lower right-hand corner is a table showing total soviet units destroyed this turn. In summary, 20 soviet divisions (not counting smaller units) surrendered in various pockets.
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T14 Action 2 Centre.jpg (475.79 KiB) Viewed 2075 times

[jlbhung]

Turn 14 – Action Phase (Part 3)

Crimea

In the South, Axis troops entered Crimea in mass (see screenshot). Two Soviet Rifle Divisions and a Fort were isolated at the northeastern entrance of Crimea.

Axis force committed to Crimea included –
(a) German 11 and 54 Corps;
(b) Rumanian V Corps; and
(c) Italian Expeditionary Corps.
Altogether there were more than 270k men, 29k guns and 150 AFVs.

Use of Panzer/Armored Units in Combat

While there were also many battles fought, this turn I succeeded in avoiding using panzer/armored units in attack.
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T14 Action 3 Crimea.jpg (255.06 KiB) Viewed 2072 times

[jlbhung]

Turn 15 – Plan to Isolate Sevastopol

This scenario will end at the beginning of Turn 18. There are only 3 action turns left. To facilitate the capture of Sevastopol, it is desirable to isolate the city this turn, leaving two turns for ground attack.

The plan for isolation consists of –

(a) cutting the land supply by securing the black dashed line; and

(b) blocking the two ports Sevastopol and Yalta (red circles) by naval patrol.

To ensure success of naval patrol, four full-strength German bomber regiments (total 120 aircrafts) are assigned to this task (see the details at bottom of screenshot). Of course, the two Rumanian Naval Recon Squadrons will also join (total strength at 19 aircrafts).

I just note that He111H-6 bombers can carry 4 mines compared to He111H-3’s 2 mines (see white box at bottom). As there are 30 He111H-6 in replacement pool, I should have upgraded another regiment of He111H-3 to He111H-6 earlier.

Naval Patrol setting is at upper right-hand corner of the screenshot. Compared to the blocking of Odessa, the strike num was decreased from 5 to 4 (red arrow). I worry that 5 strikes per day may cause too much fatigue.
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T15 Crimea Plan.jpg (443.34 KiB) Viewed 1997 times

[jlbhung]

Turn 15 – Air Results and Planning

Similar to last turn, recon missions were flown in the southern half of the map only. 6 Recon Air Directives lost 7 recon aircrafts. As to the 2 Naval Patrol Directives, 2 bombers and 8 escorts were lost. Almost all were operational losses.

Screenshot shows results of air missions and actions planned for this turn, highlights from South to North –

1. Naval patrols succeeded in blocking Sevastopol and Yalta (water hexes in green box were lightened).

2. Rumanian troops will be responsible for taking control of hexes along the black dashed line, to isolate land supply route of Sevastopol.

3. German troops will take position to prepare for attacking Sevastopol next turn (blue arrow).

4. To reduce the various pockets (red circles) – northeastern entrance of Crimea (4a), the Azov Shore Pocket (4b) and the Zaporozhye Pocket (4c).

5. Troops of 1PzG are to move towards Rostov (white line and arrow).

6. Units of 2PzG will depart next turn (those counters with orange outline within the black dotted square). Later in Action Phase, I will explore whether they can be put to any good use this turn.
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T15 Air Results and Action Planning.jpg (425.5 KiB) Viewed 1994 times