AAR Gr v SU 41 - 45. FINISHED: Gr Decisive Victory

[G Felzien]

Turn 38

The blizzards are over. Wow. You know, you really feel that they will go on forever.

The AI finished its blizzard turn with attacks up and down the line. However, the result was reasonable for me. The lines held for the most part. Soooo, I reduced AGN infantry corps to 80% TOE and spent near 500AP on HQ build up down the entire line. Lets see how that plays out.

I did conduct some successful counterattacks in the south recovering some of the river line.

So lets recap since turn 18 when the German general offensive came to an end.

Axis
Total manpower lost: 1,351,493

KIA: 141,232
Captured: 26,849
Disabled: 1,183,412

Guns: 11,571
AFV: 1,001
Aircraft: 848
Trucks: 73,030

SU
Total manpower lost: 1,186,779

KIA: 607,828
Captured: 229,690
Disabled: 939,261

Guns: 14,601
AFV: 3,117
Aircraft: 2113
Trucks: No idea

National figures between turn 19 and 38

Gr:
Manpower: -742,801
Guns: -4,864
AFVs: -4
Aircraft: +523

SU
Manpower: +1,728,630
Guns: +30,967
AFVs: +336
Aircraft: +3579

[G Felzien]

[G Felzien]

[G Felzien]

[G Felzien]

[G Felzien]

[G Felzien]

Turn 39

The was not a single SU attack at the end of turn 38. I began reorganizing the Romanian army. And will be doing the same for the rest of the Axis over then next few turns. The infantry divisions are really depleted. I'll need a few turns to recover. I make some attacks for position but I am uncertain where to begin the '42 offensive. Based on the winter losses, I really need a spectacular '42 campaign to make a real go at '45.

[CharonJr]

Interesting, despite you giving more ground both your and the AIs casualties were higher than at my AAR during those turns.

It seems to me that for some reason (more attacks taking place?) the "deep defense" leads to more losses.

[G Felzien]

Turn 40

More housekeeping. Reviewed all airbases and assigned aircraft from the reserves as necessary. Sent 5 bases to AGC. Reassigned reinforcements to their new HQ units. Cleared a few more SU hexes from the Dnepr's west bank.

[G Felzien]

ORIGINAL: CharonJr

Interesting, despite you giving more ground both your and the AIs casualties were higher than at my AAR during those turns.

It seems to me that for some reason (more attacks taking place?) the "deep defense" leads to more losses.

I took a pounding for sure. I think there might be two reasons for this:

1. Your 41 offensive caused much greater damage than mine. Thus I ended up with more units attacking me.
2. You made much better use of forts. This winter will be different. I will preplan my lines and prepare with forts in the appropriate areas.

I am going to have to kick ass this year.

[G Felzien]

Turn 42

Mud still. Still organizing.

I have a plan. An odd one me thinks.

AGN: Limited advance if any. Panzers to be transfered to AGC.

AGC: A drive SE to the rough 50 miles north of Stalingrad. This will be the north flank cover for AGS.

AGS: Baku. Stalingrad is to be taken indirectly and hopefully cheaply.

There ya have it. I'll worry about how to defend it later. Ideally with AGS objective met the southern flank will be secure and allow AGS to head north.

[G Felzien]

[G Felzien]

[randallw]

That's a big plan for the south; even if you add some help from AGC that's a long way to go, and the Soviet side gets some help from the fresh Caucasus units being activated.

[G Felzien]

Turns 43, 44, 45, 46

Mud. Prepping for the offensive. I think the AI is preparing one of its own too.

Throughout these turns I have made no attacks and yet I am loosing approximately 17,000 men per turn. Anyone know why?

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: GFelz

Turns 43, 44, 45, 46

Mud. Prepping for the offensive. I think the AI is preparing one of its own too.

Throughout these turns I have made no attacks and yet I am loosing approximately 17,000 men per turn. Anyone know why?

That is pretty typical attrition. You'll lose 12-18K every turn no matter what. But if you look, you're probably also getting about that many returning from disablements.

[G Felzien]

Its hughly bold but what the heck!

[G Felzien]

OK... I have a problem.

I have played the '42 offensive three times (till mid July) from the saved T46. Its a mess everytime. The SU is completing a Kursk style defense every time. I managed 8 hexes in and I nver broke through. Also, the AI's use of recon is very good. Very astute. It detects the build ups and shifts forces accordingly. I use the jump map which means that during the SU turn, I can see where the concentrations of SU forces are. Ya I know... considered it spy work, signals intelligence etc. It is amazingly depressing at how many units the AI has! The screen shots you see above is nothing!

Ok, forget my dramatic plans as listed. My new plan is this:

1. I have 4 points of attack designed to spring AGS (already prepared). I will ensure the build up of force stays as is however, all mobile forces will be staged on rail lines.
2. I will wait till June to launch the assault. The line infront of Sumy is the weakest (at the moment). I will stage all reinforcing infantry in the marshes with the OKH HQ.
3. When ready I will rail the infantry to the front (Sumy) and begin breaking the line. I will begin a limited attack in the north with AGN.
4. AGC and AGS will stay static until a) there is a breakthough at Sumy b) enough force is withdrawn for AGC and AGS to breakout.
5. If a hole opens at Sumy, ALL mobile forces will rail to the site, "dash" through and begin encirclements.

I will provide jump map screen shots to demonstrate the AI behavour. It's really something to behold.

BTW, I have to use reinforcing infantry to do the breakout. Existing infantry is simply too weak.

[karonagames]

Existing infantry is simply too weak.

You may have mentioned this earlier in the thread, but have you adjusted the TOE% on the units in quiet/static sectors? This was done historically (AGN reduced to 50%), so that about 40% of the infantry divisions could be bought up to 80%+ TOE.

[G Felzien]

ORIGINAL: BigAnorak

Existing infantry is simply too weak.

You may have mentioned this earlier in the thread, but have you adjusted the TOE% on the units in quiet/static sectors? This was done historically (AGN reduced to 50%), so that about 40% of the infantry divisions could be bought up to 80%+ TOE.

On turn 38 I reduce AGN infantry to 80%. In retrospec that might not have been enough. Then again...