Tactics 101: Defending with ZOC

[ncc1701e]

And, testing several times, the first attack result is a hold. Performing a second attack to cross the river, what is important to notice is that the effectiveness of the armor corps is down to 68% after just one turn.

---

ZOC 9.JPG (94.31 KiB) Viewed 2000 times

---

ZOC 10.JPG (128.19 KiB) Viewed 2000 times

[ncc1701e]

And you, how are you defending? Any tips to share?

[canuckgamer]

I was thinking the same thing where every turn you back up one hex so none of your front line units are adjacent to Axis ones. It will be tough to do in the north as Leningrad is only about 14 hexes from the border.

In my current game I had more Russian units and the Germans weaker at the start of the summer of 42 than last game. There was no separation from the Axis units as I thought I was strong enough to turn it in to a slugfest but boy was I ever wrong. Along with dropping a couple of German paratroopers my line in the south around Rostov disappeared in one turn. The mobility of the panzers along with their high experience level makes them lethal and the Russians with their low movement rates can't close holes. If this game turns out like the previous ones I am going to wait to see if there are any significant changes to help the Russians before starting another PBEM.

The impression I get of War Plan is that there doesn't seem to be a turning point where Allied resources start to make a difference. Russia gets clobbered the first two years so it never becomes a two front war facing the Axis.

I am assuming you have had problems surviving with the Russians too or you wouldn't be trying these new tactics.

[ncc1701e]

Yes, same problem to survive with the Russians. So, perhaps this is a skill problem. As such, I am experimenting.

[ncc1701e]

I was thinking the same thing where every turn you back up one hex so none of your front line units are adjacent to Axis ones. It will be tough to do in the north as Leningrad is only about 14 hexes from the border.

In my current game I had more Russian units and the Germans weaker at the start of the summer of 42 than last game. There was no separation from the Axis units as I thought I was strong enough to turn it in to a slugfest but boy was I ever wrong. Along with dropping a couple of German paratroopers my line in the south around Rostov disappeared in one turn. The mobility of the panzers along with their high experience level makes them lethal and the Russians with their low movement rates can't close holes. If this game turns out like the previous ones I am going to wait to see if there are any significant changes to help the Russians before starting another PBEM.

Did you try the following? This is the next thing I would like to experiment.

Since in 1942, you won't be protected by a border obviously. I am planning to split my armies on the frontline to save the maximum from the German summer offensive and put a line of full sized armies two hexes behind.

1942 is still the time for defense. 1943 is the time for attack.

[canuckgamer]

I assume you mean splitting armies to half armies. I thought about that too because once the Germans invade, the Russians can no longer build corps for cannon fodder.

Experience is huge in this game but I don't know how the Russians are expected to gain it. If they survive to 43 they can start attacking but prior to that they lose so many units that they can't gain it from defending.

I think you are correct in trying to leave a hex between your front line and the German front line so that closing to attack eats up op points from Axis units. I also think you bend in the area between Voronezh and Stalingrad with the Don River being where you firm up your defence. The Axis cannot continue to advance north and northeast as there are no rail lines to extend their supply. Basically the front should be consolidated to protect Moscow, Stalingrad and the oil fields while allowing the Axis to advance toward Kuybyshev.

At the same time I think changes are still needed to create more balance in the eastern front. I previously suggested lowering the experience of Axis satellite units and agree with Flavius' suggestion about reverting back to 35% experience for the Russians and increasing their tank and mech movement to 7 at the beginning of 42.

[ncc1701e]

I continue to train playing with ZOC. I am doing a game vs the AI.

Frontline in September 1941:

---

Against the AI - 1.JPG (201.13 KiB) Viewed 1914 times

---

Frontline in June 1942:
In June 1942, my land experience is at 48% and my air experience is at 42%. Putting one hex between you and the enemy indeed limits the number of enemy attacks and I have less encirclements. But again this is against the AI. Will now try in all my PBEM games.

---

Against the AI - 2.JPG (211.59 KiB) Viewed 1914 times

[ncc1701e]

Another case:
Here is the situation at the end of the AI turn.

Four Panzer corps are in position to break my lines next turn. Usually what I would do is to put units in front of them with a double line of units in front of the Panzer corps. And this is a bad idea as we have seen above.

---

Situation 1.JPG (118.65 KiB) Viewed 1901 times

[ncc1701e]

Instead playing with ZOC (remember 2+1 OPs to enter a clear terrain), I would place units to block the progression of the Panzer corps the next turn. And I would remove any units in contact with the enemy units except if there is a river between them.

---

Situation 1 - 1.JPG (169.78 KiB) Viewed 1897 times

---

Situation 1 - 2.JPG (105.12 KiB) Viewed 1897 times

---

My goal is to reach this kind of configuration. Always one hex between my units and the enemy units except on rivers.

---

Situation 1 - 3.JPG (136.18 KiB) Viewed 1897 times

[ncc1701e]

But the Panzer corps will still have 10 - 3 = 7 OPs to attack next turn. So, the next step is to hammer them with air strikes. IL-2 Sturmovik are very good at this. The goal is to obtain the little red arrow on each Panzer corps meaning next turn their OP will be reduced by three.

---

Situation 1 - 4.JPG (149.85 KiB) Viewed 1895 times

---

Situation 1 - 5.JPG (142.61 KiB) Viewed 1895 times

---

And this is it. With 7 OPs per Panzer corps, only 4 OP remain to attack and not much is achieved. Despite a bad situation, no encirclement is possible in this situation the next AI turn.

---

Situation 1 - 6.JPG (165.78 KiB) Viewed 1895 times

[ncc1701e]

First PBEM application:
Now this is time to go live. Last turn, I have retreated one hex in front of the Panzer corps where it was possible. I have also retreated in front of the German infantry. The outcome was only one attack from the infantry corps. And, this turn, I again retreat on the right.

Where there is the river I did not retreat.

Since I don't have the operational depth of Russia, I am obliged to stay in front of the Panzer corps. But, behind, I have setup a new line. Performing ground strikes, the Panzer corps will have 7 OPs next turn.

Let's say they can attack the French mountain infantry and defeat it in one turn. This is 1 OP and to progress 3 OPs. So, they will have only 3 OPs to attack the second line.

---

ZOC defense 0.JPG (154.83 KiB) Viewed 1873 times

[ncc1701e]

And looks like the plan did work. The second line was not attacked because the Panzer corps were out of OPs. Here is the situation when I have started my turn. The first line was indeed destroyed but it tooks longer than I expect and the second line is still there.

---

ZOC defense 01.JPG (160.73 KiB) Viewed 1864 times

[ncc1701e]

End of my turn. On the right, I am withdrawing behind the river and the Maginot line. Still one hex between my line and the German infantry to oblige them to consume 3 OPs to move. Metz is secured.

On the left however, I am obliged to fight to secure Paris. I have no operational depth. But, just imagine what could be the result of this in Russia. I am hammering the leading Panzer corps with my planes as usual to retrieve them with 3 OPs.

---

ZOC defense 02.JPG (154.84 KiB) Viewed 1861 times

[aoffen]

As the German in that game I can vouch for the effectiveness of this strategy - I am getting a bit frustrated. The air strikes on the tanks are particularly annoying. The cost in aircraft for the Brits is high though so hopefully we shall see some long term consequences later.

[ncc1701e]

As the German in that game I can vouch for the effectiveness of this strategy - I am getting a bit frustrated. The air strikes on the tanks are particularly annoying. The cost in aircraft for the Brits is high though so hopefully we shall see some long term consequences later.

Yes and during Barbarossa, I won't use my air force of course. My plan is to use them selectively end of 1941 only.
Regarding UK, I did not use any BEF land units in France. I am too worried of an invasion now with UK.

Compared to my last screenshot, it took two more turns to destroy France. Now this is really end game.

---

End game.JPG (189.32 KiB) Viewed 1818 times

[sveint]

You have learnt a lot since our earlier games! Very good read.

[ncc1701e]

You have learnt a lot since our earlier games! Very good read.

Thanks

[teri21pl]

Sorry this is off topic, but I can't find the graphic mods in the screenshots anywhere, can someone send them to me?

[ncc1701e]

Sorry this is off topic, but I can't find the graphic mods in the screenshots anywhere, can someone send them to me?

It is in this thread:
https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... 0&t=388566

[IslandInland]

Sorry this is off topic, but I can't find the graphic mods in the screenshots anywhere, can someone send them to me?

You can also find it here in the first post:
https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... 6&t=343221

It is Panzer Map and Units Version 118 Version 5. I use a few elements of it myself.