OKH Plan 1942 - Alpha AAR

[PyleDriver]

Ah the trap was set, anyone see it coming? Mackensen's III PzC struck north, Schweppenburg's XL PzC struck south, look at the pocket...Sweet huh...lol...I really love this game...

[PyleDriver]

Heres a level 4 zoom to give you a better understanding in the south central...It's pretty, huh...

[wmcalpine]

Jon,

I counted 28 units in the large pocket and 2 in the small pocket, with at least 5 corps in them. Do you consider this a large pocket in your experience in the game?

If the pockets are reduced, cound you give us an idea what in in those two pockets in terms of Soviet equipment lost/captured and number of men that surrender?

Thank you

Bill

[PyleDriver]

Well Bill the last pocket netted over 170k. Not sure of the equipment. I have to eat up troops and equipment to beat this "Bear". They just produce so much at this stage in the war I have no choice but to go straight at them. If not, by next year it's a lost cause...To answer your question I'll see if I can get close in numbers, alot escape...

[PyleDriver]

This will freak you out, that double envelope by the 6th and 1st PzA was planned on day one...lol...Got to think outside the box...

[Apollo11]

HI all,

ORIGINAL: PyleDriver

Heres a level 4 zoom to give you a better understanding in the south central...It's pretty, huh...

Nice one Jon! [:)]


Leo "Apollo11"

[PyleDriver]

Good morning Russia...On the northern salient Model's 9th Army is cleaning up the rear and pressing to close the gap...

[PyleDriver]

This is my man, Armin his XXXIX PzC, he's a very good leader, so I'm going to throw him what he needs to get out of the swamp. I brough 2 divisions and a mot brigade from 18th Army (yellow) and drew the 18th mot (light blue) out of the line. The 225th Inf (red) took their place and next week and all the boys are joining the fun...

[PyleDriver]

Last post of turn 3. This is a level 4 ss of the north. You can see why Armin's Corps is being activated next turm and reinforced now...BTW thanks Leo, he's a tester, great tester, he's not a jocky like me, but it feels good knowing my peers are watching...Stand in "awh" soon guys Moscow will be mine...lol..

[latosusi]

Heh, what a bulge!

[Captain B]

Just how soviets do you intend to cut off with that bulge? Could you post a ss using the zoomed out shot of the north and draw your arrows to show us what you plan to do next turn and then what actually happened? I think it would give a good impression of planned vs achieved and how the AI reacts to your next blitzkrieg move.

Thanks.

ps...how many weeks til you take moscow? 2-3? Been to Moscow, food stinks. so just stick to the wine and vodka[:D]

[PyleDriver]

Hell you guys kill me...lol...It's like asking for the end of the movie at the start...Wait it will come, I have 14 turns to do this, its only turn three...

[Zorch]

You could repeat this pincer strategy ad infinitum, and the AI will never wise up, unlike a human.

[PyleDriver]

No, and sorry no one could have seen the hit coming I just gave on the AI, not even you....The Germans could have done so much in 42 If they stayed near railheads...

[freeboy]

railheads..
looks like a plan... they are the new HIGH GROUND... I am so please that supplies and unit cohesion/ rest/recovery are modeled so well, this looks like a great pbem game!
thanks agin for takign the time to post pix!

[SGHunt]

ORIGINAL: PyleDriver

No, and sorry no one could have seen the hit coming I just gave on the AI, not even you....

Dear Pyle

Couldn' let that go! [:)]

I for one spotted it starting to develop when you posted the (Level 4?) Zoom Out SS on page 3 of this thread - although not before! Before that I had wondered what 1 Pz Army (if that's the Red one) was doing clawing away at the Soviet line without much strategic intent, or so it appeared. Then when 6th Army started to turn south (when I had thought all its efforts were supporting the Hoth's Northern thrust) it became clear that a serious pocket could be formed.

So - you keep nipping out chunks of the line, eliminating them whilst consolidating the new bulge, regrouping the armour and doing it again. General movement is towards Moscow but this serious, regular attrition is vital to prevent the Soviets building up huge reserves?

Your losses are fairly light so far? Fatigue?

S

[PyleDriver]

Ah a smart guy, I love it...Yes, had to do it, Its all about eating up troops and equipment now...

[ComradeP]

I'm still wondering why you're not trying to create a pocket by going north from Rzhev and south-east from the Demjansk bulge. You're actually attacking towards the west now, and you're moving armoured and motorized forces away from Moscow instead of towards it.

As to pockets: I think I agree with Zorch. I have yet to see an AI in a wargame that can't be pulled into a trap with relative ease: pull back from a part of the line, creating a bulge shaped area facing your side of the front (so a bulge to the west), with strong armoured/motorized forces at the flanks. Let the AI move into the bulge, trap the AI units next turn with the forces at the flanks. Repeat at your leisure. A human player won't fall for that trick, but the AI usually will.

[Hard Sarge]

well, would say, you havn't seen this game yet, in 41, it can be fun, it can turn into a battle of the pockets, while you are trying to force yours, the AI is trying to form it's own, and if you don't pay attention, you may end up getting your lead forces cut off, and encircled instead

and, over all, your plan/idea, is worthless to the battle, you are not gaining anything, but getting some troops killed, you do, get into a time limit type deal, you only have so much time, to get the job done, or your going to be facing, more and more

but, overall, you just got to take our word for it, for now

(one of my games (again in 41) the AI German had encircled a large Russian Army around Kiev, and I encircled his circle, then it was a nasty battle of me, trying to break his lines to open a path to my trapped troops, while "he" tried to break my lines, to get to his trapped troops (of course, if it wasn't for weather, lack of supplies, and extended line, none of this would of happened) and it was great fun, basicly, neither pocket got out with much)

[Zovs]

The AI is smarter then you think in this game.

Of course we have been playing on challenging, I have not yet seen the need to go to Hard yet, and while testing my wife can hear me using such words as "you bastard!" and when she looks she sees me cursing my monitor over this game as the AI commits Pz., Pz.G., and Inf.Div. to defend his lines as I brutally assault them in snow and ice....

And if challenging and hard at not enough you can always try the impossible level.