41-45GC:1.05.28 M60A3TTS (Sov) v Pelton (Axis)
Moderators: Joel Billings, Sabre21
RE: Week 30
Losing that Li-2 location could be some trouble. That's the only location they are built.
Week 31
Week 31- 15.1.42
Onward to victory, under the banner of the Great Lenin! (Ok M60, let's not get too carried away here [;)])
Orel and Stalino are liberated as the fascists flee westwards. The number of battles drops off significantly as the 2.6 million Axis scum pull back to avoid being crushed by the weight of nearly 6 million gallant Red Army soldiers, sailors of the naval brigades, airmen and partisans.
The Valdai Hills are essentially cleared now.
Men of the Kalinin and Western Fronts have Vyazma firmly in their sights.
Orel-Kursk. 2nd and 3rd Shock Armies may or may not be able to wrest Kursk from the German dogs.
Stalino sector. More Axis retreats in the blinding snow.
Administrative notes: I form 41st Army to put some far away rifle brigades under. 4 guards rifle divisions are formed, total of 34 now along with a third cavalry division.
The Order of Battle. Pelton is recovering his panzer force gradually. But his losses up to the end of his offensive phase probably has him reluctant to commit them until the end of blizzard at least.
Onward to victory, under the banner of the Great Lenin! (Ok M60, let's not get too carried away here [;)])
Orel and Stalino are liberated as the fascists flee westwards. The number of battles drops off significantly as the 2.6 million Axis scum pull back to avoid being crushed by the weight of nearly 6 million gallant Red Army soldiers, sailors of the naval brigades, airmen and partisans.
The Valdai Hills are essentially cleared now.
Men of the Kalinin and Western Fronts have Vyazma firmly in their sights.
Orel-Kursk. 2nd and 3rd Shock Armies may or may not be able to wrest Kursk from the German dogs.
Stalino sector. More Axis retreats in the blinding snow.
Administrative notes: I form 41st Army to put some far away rifle brigades under. 4 guards rifle divisions are formed, total of 34 now along with a third cavalry division.
The Order of Battle. Pelton is recovering his panzer force gradually. But his losses up to the end of his offensive phase probably has him reluctant to commit them until the end of blizzard at least.
RE: Week 31
Nice AAR!
What Soft Factor setting is enabled on those last 4 screenshots?
What Soft Factor setting is enabled on those last 4 screenshots?
RE: Week 31
Typically I keep soft factors at fuel to keep an eye on nasty panzer and motorized units.
ORIGINAL: traemyn
Nice AAR!
What Soft Factor setting is enabled on those last 4 screenshots?
RE: Week 31
Are you going to keep pushing after February? Really would advise against this. I'm not sure you should advance much further in the south, either, the front widens past the Donbas and becomes more difficult to defend. There's no significant terrain features to anchor a line down there until you hit the Dnepr practically. You need to start planning ahead for the March backhand blow.
WitE Alpha Tester
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BletchleyGeek
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RE: Week 31
34 Guards Rifle divisions? [X(] How many Rifle Divisions do you have M60?
RE: Week 31
He should have somewhere around 400 by now. He can get another 50-75 divisions after combining rifle brigades, which will raise the cap a bit and let him squeeze out a few more guards.
That is, if he can avoid getting a lot of units bagged in March.
That is, if he can avoid getting a lot of units bagged in March.
WitE Alpha Tester
RE: Week 31
ORIGINAL: Bletchley_Geek
34 Guards Rifle divisions? [X(] How many Rifle Divisions do you have M60?
Well actually up to 38 as of Turn 32, but I'm getting ahead of myself. [:)]
89 "41B" Rifle Divisions
245 "41C" Rifle Divisions
38 Guards Rifle Divisions
50 "41" Rifle Brigade Division equivalents (149 Bdes)
422 division equivalents...and some mountain divisions and 15 cavalry corps...
RE: Week 31
ORIGINAL: Flaviusx
Are you going to keep pushing after February? Really would advise against this. I'm not sure you should advance much further in the south, either, the front widens past the Donbas and becomes more difficult to defend. There's no significant terrain features to anchor a line down there until you hit the Dnepr practically. You need to start planning ahead for the March backhand blow.
The next and last city on my list is Vyazma, just because. I have enough to take it I think. The rest of the army will begin the consolidation and 1942 defense phase. As you say, there's nothing else really worth fighting for, I'm never going to reach the Dnepr during the waning weeks of the offensive and Pelton would just keep retreating long enough to draw me into a trap.
RE: Week 31
Vyazma is a perfectly reasonable objective and a natural anchor for your line. He will probably give that up without a fight is my guess.
That leaves you with a good defensive position along the classic Rhzev-Vyazma corridor and some breathing room for Moscow. (Which still does matter.) And you can set up a second defensive line along Kaluga-Mozhask-Kalinin. He gave up the Valdai, which is even better, and everything north of that is swamps and forests.
Basically, you've got solid defensive terrain on the northern half of the map going into 42. The southern half, well, that's where things will get dicey.
That leaves you with a good defensive position along the classic Rhzev-Vyazma corridor and some breathing room for Moscow. (Which still does matter.) And you can set up a second defensive line along Kaluga-Mozhask-Kalinin. He gave up the Valdai, which is even better, and everything north of that is swamps and forests.
Basically, you've got solid defensive terrain on the northern half of the map going into 42. The southern half, well, that's where things will get dicey.
WitE Alpha Tester
RE: Week 31
Nice Winter Offensive. I am a fan of staged withdrawls as the Germans, but I don't understand why he gives up good defensive terrain. Make more sense to give up Clear.
While I agree you need to prepare for backhand blow, I would continue to make favorable odds attacks in February. While it hurts to have your formations burnt out a bit, it hurst the Wehrmacht more. You'll cause morale to crumble, and any divisions you push in February aren't worth much for a backhand blow. You can be fried, as long as you both are fried.
I would like to know what Panzer Divisions you have identified in the front. If there are alot you haven't, then that tells you what is fresh, and available, for March. I would also look for the high-morale infantry units, and wonder if those are stashed somewhere. I am thinking 1, 11, 30, 32, 24, 78 Sturm, among others (you can load a campaign game and look at the Infantry that starts at 90 morale; look for those guys. If they are "Hidden", they are probably loading-up for March...)
I can only go on my experience vs. Bletchley Geek, but I had more guys than Pelton does at this stage, and you have more than B-G did. He also has about 400 less tanks than I did. Given these factors, his March offensive will not be as strong.
I agree with Flav though, that you can bet the farm he will look to attack you in the South, partly because he is so behind there. If it's me, I try to pin a bunch of your guys against the Sea of Azov.
While I agree you need to prepare for backhand blow, I would continue to make favorable odds attacks in February. While it hurts to have your formations burnt out a bit, it hurst the Wehrmacht more. You'll cause morale to crumble, and any divisions you push in February aren't worth much for a backhand blow. You can be fried, as long as you both are fried.
I would like to know what Panzer Divisions you have identified in the front. If there are alot you haven't, then that tells you what is fresh, and available, for March. I would also look for the high-morale infantry units, and wonder if those are stashed somewhere. I am thinking 1, 11, 30, 32, 24, 78 Sturm, among others (you can load a campaign game and look at the Infantry that starts at 90 morale; look for those guys. If they are "Hidden", they are probably loading-up for March...)
I can only go on my experience vs. Bletchley Geek, but I had more guys than Pelton does at this stage, and you have more than B-G did. He also has about 400 less tanks than I did. Given these factors, his March offensive will not be as strong.
I agree with Flav though, that you can bet the farm he will look to attack you in the South, partly because he is so behind there. If it's me, I try to pin a bunch of your guys against the Sea of Azov.
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gingerbread
- Posts: 3075
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- Location: Sweden
RE: Week 31
ORIGINAL: M60A3TTS
ORIGINAL: Bletchley_Geek
34 Guards Rifle divisions? [X(] How many Rifle Divisions do you have M60?
Well actually up to 38 as of Turn 32, but I'm getting ahead of myself. [:)]
89 "41B" Rifle Divisions
245 "41C" Rifle Divisions
38 Guards Rifle Divisions
50 "41" Rifle Brigade Division equivalents (149 Bdes)
422 division equivalents...and some mountain divisions and 15 cavalry corps...
Is it really 3 Brigades to a Division? I thought it was 2.
In any case, I'd like to know about your vehicle status - in units/needed, pool/needed, repairing and total losses.
RE: Week 31
You can consolidate brigades into divisions on a 3:1 or 2:1 basis. The former gives you stronger (indeed, probably over TOE) rifle divisions, but fewer of them. I personally go with a 2:1 exchange and fill out the divisions with replacements. 2 strong rifle brigades is pretty close to full TOE anyways. They'll tend to be in the rear and get first shot at replacements.
WitE Alpha Tester
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kevini1000
- Posts: 438
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RE: Week 31
The question is does Pelton think that Moscow is important in 1942.
ORIGINAL: Flaviusx
Vyazma is a perfectly reasonable objective and a natural anchor for your line. He will probably give that up without a fight is my guess.
That leaves you with a good defensive position along the classic Rhzev-Vyazma corridor and some breathing room for Moscow. (Which still does matter.) And you can set up a second defensive line along Kaluga-Mozhask-Kalinin. He gave up the Valdai, which is even better, and everything north of that is swamps and forests.
Basically, you've got solid defensive terrain on the northern half of the map going into 42. The southern half, well, that's where things will get dicey.
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sillyflower
- Posts: 3509
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- Location: Back in Blighty
RE: Week 31
Not much left ther worth having[;)]ORIGINAL: sath
The question is does Pelton think that Moscow is important in 1942.
web exchange
Post: I am always fearful that when I put this game down on the table and people see the box-art they will think I am some kind of neo-Nazi
Reply: They already know you're a gamer. What other shame can possibly compare?
Post: I am always fearful that when I put this game down on the table and people see the box-art they will think I am some kind of neo-Nazi
Reply: They already know you're a gamer. What other shame can possibly compare?
RE: Week 31
The fact that half the map is self defending due to terrain is the main point here -- it simplifies the defensive problem.
Moscow still has manpower and is a major rail junction. It would be a tempting target albeit not so much as before without the industry. But it is far more likely that the German will seek the path of least resistance in the south, and that in of itself helps. In 1941 the German can attack anywhere and place the Soviet in a perpetual state of crisis trying to manage the whole front. Half the front is half a crisis.
Moscow still has manpower and is a major rail junction. It would be a tempting target albeit not so much as before without the industry. But it is far more likely that the German will seek the path of least resistance in the south, and that in of itself helps. In 1941 the German can attack anywhere and place the Soviet in a perpetual state of crisis trying to manage the whole front. Half the front is half a crisis.
WitE Alpha Tester
RE: Week 31
ORIGINAL: gingerbread
I'd like to know about your vehicle status - in units/needed, pool/needed, repairing and total losses.
From Week 31
Turn Log
RE: Week 31
ORIGINAL: Q-Ball
I would like to know what Panzer Divisions you have identified in the front. If there are alot you haven't, then that tells you what is fresh, and available, for March. I would also look for the high-morale infantry units, and wonder if those are stashed somewhere. I am thinking 1, 11, 30, 32, 24, 78 Sturm, among others (you can load a campaign game and look at the Infantry that starts at 90 morale; look for those guys. If they are "Hidden", they are probably loading-up for March...)
It's hard to really tell because he can be 20 miles away and I can't identify the divisions.
He appears to have good mobile divisions out in the open. This is what I can see close up.
Panzer divisions Kursk to Kharkov
5th, 7th, 8th
Panzer divisions south of Kharkov
6th, 9th, 11th, 13th, 14th
No signs of panzers north of Kursk.
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gingerbread
- Posts: 3075
- Joined: Thu Jan 04, 2007 1:25 am
- Location: Sweden
RE: Week 31
That's some burn rate of vehicles! 4000/turn and 1000 inflow so 3000, maybe 2750 if counting by 50's. With 6 more blizzard turns and the spring mud, your buffer is shrinking.
Combat needs of course have priority, but after those are met, see if you can do any of:
Airgroups to reserve until needed during the Axis snow offensive
Airbases on or adjacent to repaired rail (but move airgroups before airbases)
Thin your lines between Rzhev and Orel - this is where you have the most guys the furtherest from rail and you are taking attrition on those 3-stacks adjacent to enemy as well
Combat needs of course have priority, but after those are met, see if you can do any of:
Airgroups to reserve until needed during the Axis snow offensive
Airbases on or adjacent to repaired rail (but move airgroups before airbases)
Thin your lines between Rzhev and Orel - this is where you have the most guys the furtherest from rail and you are taking attrition on those 3-stacks adjacent to enemy as well
Week 32
Week 32- 22.1.42
The offensive action has increased in the north, but greatly diminished everywhere else. Pelton clearly means to hold Kursk and Kharkov in the center. In this week Belgorod is liberated. In the far south, the Axis retreat continues, but in this case the Red Army is no longer in pursuit. This is not deterring the partisans, who destroy six rail connections in the area.
Back at Stalingrad, all factories except for the T-34 ones have been evacuated. This will reduce the value of capturing the city.
Administrative notes: Zhukov's Volkhov Front army commanders continue to be the center of attention. 16th Army commander Bagramyan is promoted to Colonel-General and 20th Army commander Tolbukhin is promoted to Lieutenant General. Four guards rifle divisions are formed, 35th through 38th.
Vyazma
Kursk-Belgorod
Stalino
The offensive action has increased in the north, but greatly diminished everywhere else. Pelton clearly means to hold Kursk and Kharkov in the center. In this week Belgorod is liberated. In the far south, the Axis retreat continues, but in this case the Red Army is no longer in pursuit. This is not deterring the partisans, who destroy six rail connections in the area.
Back at Stalingrad, all factories except for the T-34 ones have been evacuated. This will reduce the value of capturing the city.
Administrative notes: Zhukov's Volkhov Front army commanders continue to be the center of attention. 16th Army commander Bagramyan is promoted to Colonel-General and 20th Army commander Tolbukhin is promoted to Lieutenant General. Four guards rifle divisions are formed, 35th through 38th.
Vyazma
Kursk-Belgorod
Stalino