Stalin's in the gulag, I'm in charge! II - vs 2ndACR (Axis)

[TulliusDetritus]

I am not good at guessing things, but yes, I suspect a German offensive might be totally impossible [:(]

So what went wrong? I am not sure this game has to be the norm. But I do NOT think other games should be the norm as well (PDH and Tarhunnas amazing summer '42 offensives). The truth is the way the Soviets defended on these games was er... weird (and I am being generous...) [:)]

So what's the reality or the happy medium? That's the answer I would like to know...

I have been thinking (and maybe I should not do that [:D]) that maybe the Soviets should be weak (à la 1941) until perhaps autumn or winter 1942... Yes, I am thinking about the national morale thing, therefore more unready and less experienced units...

I always thought a German offensive in 1942 (limited though) should ALWAYS be possible.

[randallw]

The computer has had no trouble launching a 1942 offensive on me; then again maybe i'm just lousy.

[TulliusDetritus]

I only played 5 or 6 turns vs the Fascist AI so I really don't know what can be achieved in 1942 [:)]

[TulliusDetritus]

[center]Turn 53[/center]
[center]18 june 1942[/center]

2ndACR is jinxed. More mud [&:]

Nothing important to say. I would have skipped this turn but... I have formed my First Guards Rifle Corps. The corps has been formed in the 1st Guards Army. Given that now I have one unit (the corps) instead of three (rifle divisions that formed the corps itself), I have diverted 2 Guards Rifle Divisions (attached to regular armies) to the 1st Guards Army thing [8D] So this army will have 1 Corps + 4 Rifle Divisions. All of them Guards, obviously.

[randallw]

Now instead of a deployment of ants, you have a deployment of red ants.

[Ketza]

ORIGINAL: randallw

Now instead of a deployment of ants, you have a deployment of red ants.

AT least they are not fire ants.

Those who have golfed in Florida and stumbled upon a nest of those know what I am talking about.

[TulliusDetritus]

I never golfed [in Florida or anywhere) but Google was [again] my friend. My "mega-ant" is still more intimidating though... [:D]

[M60A3TTS]

Ah, "THEM!" I loved that movie.

[TulliusDetritus]

[center]Turn 54[/center]
[center]25 june 1942[/center]

Well, 2ndACR keeps pushing near Velikie Luki area. He clearly wants to advance in this area. Not a feint, apparently.

BUT, new strategic decisions...

1) what I called the "second Panzer threat" in the center near Bryansk, might not be a threat after all. I am starting to think that he is NOT going to advance in this area. I have two shock armies behind the front in this area. I think I will pull back one of them and replace it (or maybe not) with a regular Stavka Reserve Army.

2) in the South, I thought he would not be trying anything. But he has concentrated minimum 6 panzer divisions. Soooo, I think I will bring -among others- one Shock Army that was facing the potential threat in the center, mentioned just above that is.

[TulliusDetritus]

Now I have 7.3 million soldiers [:)]

[TulliusDetritus]

Manpower keeps growing... a lot. I have 821k. Is this normal, not a bug? [&:]

Now I have 2 million armaments thing. That has to be a good thing as well.

[TulliusDetritus]

I had shown (last turn) my First Guards Rifle Corps. But that was a mud turn, therefore the attacking CV could not be appreciated: a mere miserable 1 [8D]

So this is how a mega-ant looks like... offensive CV = 11 If I could concentrate 3 in one hex that would make > 30! [X(] 1943, no doubt!

[TulliusDetritus]

So in the south we have a potential threat, as I have said above: 6 Panzer divisions concentrated in the area.

And it looks like hordes of Italians are coming. Good! Along with the Romanians and Hungarians they should form the "steel" flanks if 2ndACR is aiming at Stalingrad. A reasonable plan. Honest! [:D]

[TulliusDetritus]

Good news! In the Velikie Luki area my Tank Corps (1st, 2nd and 3rd) and Cavalry Corps (3rd) had their baptism by fire [8D]

2ndACR had advanced in this area. But just like in the last turn, his right flank was weak: fort = 0. Defensive CV = 10. So I reinforced the 4th Army (Volkhov Front) with the corps mentioned above. It worked. Three German infantry divisions were terrorised for good!

Oh, I will be pulling back the corps, by the way. Fragile, I know. They did their job so well done!

[Klydon]

Yep, hit and run with the Tank corps. Get them some experience, but don't expose them to counter attacks. It doesn't take long for them to become combat effective, so they need to attack and pull back to come back up to strength.

I would check the various pools for the actual amount of manpower you have available. (much of that could be in transit, etc).

If you have that much in the way of armaments, then perhaps it is time to get some artillery support units put together along with some other support units like sappers, etc. Get them started and let them train up a bit and you will have them ready for when you start forming your infantry corps at some point. (Sappers anyway). 

[TulliusDetritus]

"Hit and run", I love that [:D] Yes, no other option left. But what a difference! In 1941 you didn't have these troglodyte's maces! Now the troglodyte may suddenly appear, unleash a blow and [cowardly, of course!] disappear... [8D]

As for the independent artillery units, Flavio said they were a waste of APs. He suggested to wait for divisions instead. The truth is I badly need the few APs I have: I keep creating corps every turn + buying the support units they need.

Now my Armies HQs have plenty of support (around 20). But maybe I will keep buying more support units.

[TulliusDetritus]

This turn I have created a Tank Corps (now I have 16) and... just another mega-ant... [:D] The 2nd Guards Rifle Corps (attached to 3rd Shock Army) is here, ready to terrorize the enemy hordes.

The Corps is in a rough hex with a fort level = 3. Yes, the defensive value is MASSIVE, never seen before! 82... [X(]

[pompack]

Watch your truck status. It is easy to generate a large force of tank corps that cripples your supply situation (as I learned to my sorrow [:(])

[TulliusDetritus]

ORIGINAL: pompack

Watch your truck status. It is easy to generate a large force of tank corps that cripples your supply situation (as I learned to my sorrow [:(])

Flavius confirmed that no matter what, the Soviets will always be short on trucks. If I counted well, I still can form 12 Tank Corps (+ 16 = 28). The remaining brigades are kept as Front reserves (2 each) [:)] I might stop at 20 or 25 or go for the 28 [Corps] [&:]

[Klydon]

Ah.. not independent artillery, but rather support unit artillery is what I meant. The artillery divisions are a ways off yet.

If nothing else, you can sit on those armament points for a bit. Nothing really wrong with that. I just wasn't sure how much you had built up your support units yet or not. My thought is while infantry corps are nasty, infantry corps with 3 support units attached are just down right brutal. [:D]

Tank corps getting puffed up the same way (3 support units) are good as well.

As noted by Pompack, watch your truck situation. Look to get rid of support unit truck hogs (motorcycle regiments come to mind).

You want to leave room for mech corps. They will help protect your tank corps later on when the Red Army rolls and the panzers try to do something about it.