Gnikam eht ni retsasid - Oloren USSR, Terje Axis. Oloren now permitted.

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: Blubel

No. The men and armaments are to important for the Germans. Disband them if the enemy is near.

Thank you, as I thought then.

Terje

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: Walloc
Hi Terje,

Dont wait until the last snow turn to run. U need space between the two of u or u will get slaugthered. Tho not totally similar to my first pbem game where i played russian. Its not that far from. German waited until last turn before blizzard to run so i caught up with him easily. He lost around 44 inf regs, around another full 15 inf divs, in all with regs about 5 mot divs and a 3 Pz divs IIRC. If ur opponent knows what he is doing u got no chance. Sorry, but all u can do in that case is run and u need space between ya to keep him from catching up. It will leave u far back yes i know, but the german summer 42 offensive in our game is extremly limited and i can sorta attack where he isnt strong. At leased enough to cause him casulties he cant afford long term, while i can.

Kind regards,

Rasmus

Thank you Rasmus, have started to run in some areas allready [:)]

Terje

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: CheerfullyInsane

Terje,

Any chance of a pic of the far south?
That's where I love to attack in the Blizzard, lots of open ground for the cavalry, and usually thinly held by the Germans.

As requested. See post below [:)]


Terje

[terje439]

Turn 24

Overall
We kill of some USSR units that we trapped last turn, and then start a careful march westwards. Next time it is time to run for real on all fronts. That being said, we still launch oppertunity attacks, a total of 25 attacks are made, scoring 1 held, 19 retreats, 2 routs, 1 shatter, 2 surrenders.

Losses
USSR : 55.000 troops, 806 guns, 11 AFVs, 99 AC.
Axis : 35.000 troops, 253 guns, 69 AFVs, 62 AC.

Units destroyed
4 infantry divisions and 1 sapper regiments surrender to our forces this turn.

Pools
Manpower : 66.876
Vehicle : 146.021
Armaments : 103.470
Hiwi : 99.844

Pest Control
1 partisan pops up and is swiftly chased away. The whack-a-mole game is on for sure.

Concerns
I fear what is about to happen. I think I might in be for a rough time.

[Schmart]

I think you can maximize your city garrisons. It looks like you are using full German SEC Divs in many places. Break them into Regts. Many cities only need two SEC Regts, and most usually only need one, which will allow you to use the larger Rum and Hun SEC Bdes for larger cities that need them. You can then free up all those regular combat units (even if they are Allied troops) from garrison duty and send them to the front or use them for digging.

Just from a quick look at your last map, with some careful shuffeling of garrisons, you should be able to easily free up the Hun Mtn Bde in Rovno, Slovak SEC Div in Kirovograd (despite being labeled SEC, this is a unit that has the size and morale to be used at the front until 1943), the It Div in Krivoi Rog, the Slovak Mot Div in Kiev, and the Rum Inf Divs in Kiev, Odessa, and Cherkassy all for front line duties.

Off the top of my head, Rovno, Proskurov, Kishinev, Vinnitsa, Zhitomir, Krivoi Rog, Kirovograd, Cherkassy, and Nikolaev (just to name what I can see on your last map) all can be garrisoned by only one German SEC Regt each.

You will get enough SEC units to cover everything over time. You can temporarily get away with some cities not having 100% garrison. Don't panic. Keep a few Rum Cav Bdes on hand to knock down the partisans until SEC reinforcements arrive.

[Schmart]

I also see a lot of your Axis Allied units not attached to Army HQs. Since you have a lot of APs, it may be worthwhile to attach things to Army HQs, especially German HQs if you have the capacity. Also, it looks like you have a Hun Arm Div still attached to 2nd Hun Army, which is way back in Hungary and will provide no support at all for the Div.

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: Schmart

I think you can maximize your city garrisons. It looks like you are using full German SEC Divs in many places. Break them into Regts. Many cities only need two SEC Regts, and most usually only need one, which will allow you to use the larger Rum and Hun SEC Bdes for larger cities that need them. You can then free up all those regular combat units (even if they are Allied troops) from garrison duty and send them to the front or use them for digging.

Just from a quick look at your last map, with some careful shuffeling of garrisons, you should be able to easily free up the Hun Mtn Bde in Rovno, Slovak SEC Div in Kirovograd (despite being labeled SEC, this is a unit that has the size and morale to be used at the front until 1943), the It Div in Krivoi Rog, the Slovak Mot Div in Kiev, and the Rum Inf Divs in Kiev, Odessa, and Cherkassy all for front line duties.

Off the top of my head, Rovno, Proskurov, Kishinev, Vinnitsa, Zhitomir, Krivoi Rog, Kirovograd, Cherkassy, and Nikolaev (just to name what I can see on your last map) all can be garrisoned by only one German SEC Regt each.

You will get enough SEC units to cover everything over time. You can temporarily get away with some cities not having 100% garrison. Don't panic. Keep a few Rum Cav Bdes on hand to knock down the partisans until SEC reinforcements arrive.

Another good tip. Too bad I saw it now and not before I did my turn.
This does however leave a question in my mind, what is the button to see garrison "levels" again?


Terje

[terje439]

Turn 25 aka introduction of Sir Robin

Overall
We start pulling back, and no attacks are made this turn. Winter "level" is 7, so only our mountain units are really combatworthy at this time. The USSR make one attack and score a surrender.

Losses
USSR : 34.000 troops, 134 guns, 7 AFVs, 51 AC.
Axis : 27.000 troops, 90 guns, 33 AFVs, 26 AC.

Units destroyed
The USSR manage to sneak past our line and destroy a fortified zone this turn.

Pools
Manpower : 75.163
Vehicle : 141.665
Armaments : 103.250
Hiwi : 101.999

Pest control
4 partisans are chased down.

Concerns
Can I run far enough and fast enough?

[terje439]

Turn 26

Disclaimer
Do not have alot of spare time atm, so this one too will be without a picture.

Overall
As feared we are not able to do a complete Sir Robin, but instead have to gradually fall back. This again allows the USSR to conduct some attacks, and the first Rumanian unit routs. All in all the USSR launch 29 attacks for 6 held, 21 retreat, 1 rout, 1 surrender (a fort zone I missed when disbanding some of them).

Losses
USSR : 51.000 troops, 276 guns, 256 AFVs, 87 AC.
Axis : 95.000 troops, 427 guns, 59 AFVs, 3 AC.

Pools
Manpower : 69.925
Vehicle : 140.533
Armaments : 112.093
Hiwi : 102.383

Pest control
5 partisans are routed this turn.

[karonagames]

21 retreats is fine. In the bad old days it could be 60+. These days 45 retreats means the Red army is having a good winter; 30 or less is "easily" survivable by the Wehrmacht.

[CheerfullyInsane]

ORIGINAL: terje439
This does however leave a question in my mind, what is the button to see garrison "levels" again?

Shift+K
Oh, and Shift+H displays all the hot-keys for you. [:D]

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: BigAnorak

21 retreats is fine. In the bad old days it could be 60+. These days 45 retreats means the Red army is having a good winter; 30 or less is "easily" survivable by the Wehrmacht.

True, but less is better [:D]


Terje

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: CheerfullyInsane

ORIGINAL: terje439
This does however leave a question in my mind, what is the button to see garrison "levels" again?

Shift+K
Oh, and Shift+H displays all the hot-keys for you. [:D]

Thank you [&o]

Terje

[terje439]

Turn 27

Overall
We manage to take a few steps back in most areas, as well as get out of the attempted pocket the USSR tried to form around 4 of our divisions. The USSR make 41 attacks, scoring 9 held, 31 retreats and 1 rout. We only make one attack, and score 1 retreat. As long as our divisions do not get cut off, we should be able to keep moving backwards and avoid any big disaster this winter. Guess we will have to make the disasters later on.

Losses
USSR : 61.000 troops, 440 guns, 138 AFVs, 66 AC.
Axis : 119.000 troops, 588 guns, 98 AFVs, 9 AC.

Pools
Manpower : 67.441
Vehicle : 142.014
Armaments : 120.021
Hiwi : 102.671

Pest control
1 partisan unit is chased away, while we are unable to reach the last one. Nevertheless units are sent out to take care of it next turn.

[Tophat1815]

Whats the map positioning look like at the moment?

Are your panzer divisions on rail lines? In cities? or back in Germany?

Your losses don't look horrific at all so don't loose heart on that score. You have destroyed almost 13,000 soviet tanks which is fairly good.

Smaller and more numerous pockets in 42'...........

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: Tophat1812

1. Whats the map positioning look like at the moment?

2. Are your panzer divisions on rail lines? In cities? or back in Germany?

3. Your losses don't look horrific at all so don't loose heart on that score. You have destroyed almost 13,000 soviet tanks which is fairly good.

4. Smaller and more numerous pockets in 42'...........

1. Big map coming up in the post below.
2. Most are now are back in Poland/Germany in cities.
3. But neither does the USSR losses (see OOB below)
4. Hehe guess I will have to write that down on a post-it and place it on my screen [:)]

Terje

[terje439]

Turn 28

Overall
I am more than a little concerned at the moment. What turn does the Blizzard end? (I can look it up, but I am betting someone here knows it by heart). The USSR manage no less than 56 attacks this turn since my centre is blocking me from retreating as much as I would like each turn. In the end the USSR result shows 1 scouted, 13 held, 42 retreat.

Losses
USSR : 54.000 troops, 600 guns, 200 AFVs, 21 AC.
Axis : 128.000 troops, 704 guns, 30 AFVs, 18 AC.

Pools
Manpower : 66.699
Vehicle : 141.822
Armaments : 129.493
Hiwi : 102.884

Pest control
5 partisans are forced to retreat this turn.

[karonagames]

The Blizzard lasts 13 turns, but you only suffer major attrition losses during The first 4 turns. Personally I have never agreed with the retreating strategy, and have always stood fast and forced the Soviets to fight for every hex. I only ever withdraw from hexes that can be attacked from 4 sides. I have never started the Summer of 1942 weaker than historically.

If you really don't feel confident that you can prevent cavalry/tank brigade breakthroughs then running away may work.

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: BigAnorak

The Blizzard lasts 13 turns, but you only suffer major attrition losses during The first 4 turns. Personally I have never agreed with the retreating strategy, and have always stood fast and forced the Soviets to fight for every hex. I only ever withdraw from hexes that can be attacked from 4 sides. I have never started the Summer of 1942 weaker than historically.

If you really don't feel confident that you can prevent cavalry/tank brigade breakthroughs then running away may work.

I think that for this peticular game the Sir Robin is my best option, and my opponent has confirmed that it is preventing him from using his best units to attack with. My problem is that I did not bag enough USSR units during -41, and as a result everywhere I make a stand, I am in danger of being cut off. I will rather fall back some hexes per turn, get the USSR away from their fortline, and launch a renewed attack when the blizzard effects are gone.
Then again, I am a master of making disasters for my armies, so could very well be a poor choice by me [:D]


Terje

[terje439]

Turn 29

Overall
The USSR keep pushing and we keep falling back. As usual the need to extract troops means I cannot fall back as much as I would like, but it is better than being cut off. We launch 2 attacks, scoring 1 held (Rumanians....) and 1 retreat. The USSR manage 46 attacks, scoring 11 held, 32 retreats and 3 routs (again...Rumanians...). A slight concern - where did my Hiwis go?? (see under the Pools tab).

Losses
USSR : 70.000 troops, 476 guns, 195 AFVs, 89 AC.
Axis : 107.000 troops, 607 guns, 65 AFVs, 3 AC.

Pools
Manpower : 69.396
Vehicle : 139.047
Armamanets : 115.652
Hiwi : 14

Pest control
3 partisans are chased away.