How to lose the war - PDH vs Cpt Flam

[PeeDeeAitch]

ORIGINAL: 76mm

Holy crap...

And actually those probably are also trackless wastes, but at least trackless wastes through the steppe, so not completely implausible!

I think it may not work out, but sometimes I like to just do something that is a "oh wow" sort of attack.

[PeeDeeAitch]

ORIGINAL: BigAnorak

I think the Soviet remedial defence classes will need to be reactivated. Where was the Alamo/reserve/training/digging line?

At times the defense has been top notch, but in turns after I do one of my "interesting moves" it seems to take time to settle down. One aspect I always try for is to unhinge my opponent so they are unsure as to my axis (or axes) of attack, what I plan to do, and just what the hell I am up to.

I like to think sometimes my opponent opens his turn with an "Oh crap!" moment - that impact the rest of the turn at least I think.

[karonagames]

Yep, this would be a real stomach turner - reminds me of some of the 1943 turns I got from Flavio, so Soviet players should note they will get the chance to do this to the Axis.

[PeeDeeAitch]

Turn 14

I love the smell of mud in the air, it smells like...wait, I hate mud. Stupid mud is coming fast, I need to order waders for everyone and put those boot-scrapers next to the front doors of all the foxholes. Tanks will be equipped with snorkels so if they hit a really deep spot of mud they can wade through, men are told to only stay on the paved roads, which I am sure we shall find sometime. Other than that, it is up to me to advance as best I can because I don't know what else to do.

North -

The northern success slows after Leningrad's fall due to my opponent not playing fair and actually defending stuff. The Finns race to catch up to the front - which I am pushing forward. Mannerheim has informed me of a dashed line south of Leningrad that they will not cross, some sort of superstition. I would love to spread them out, but at least one sector will stand firm, be cut off as the rest of the line collapses, and surrender with honors come the blizzard!

[PeeDeeAitch]

Moscow

Here the 4th Panzer has joined the 3rd in some sort of Lego-like congomeration of a giant Panzer Group. They push toward Moscow slowly, forcing the Soviets to send reinforcements here or risk losing the capital. Maybe if I am lucky, lots of railroad is also being used to evacuate factories. I doubt I will take it, but if I don't it is ok - I hear Moscow is nasty in the winter and that is the last place I want to be then!

[PeeDeeAitch]

The South

Here I have pocketed many millions of Soviets...well, we shall see how many. The Black Sea ports have been cut, and I will have a few turns to reduce the pocket before that giant sucking sound that is mud strikes me. This may put the Soviets over 3.5 million casualties, many of them surrendered. Kharkov is approached, and should fall, Kursk should also right before mud. Overall nice progress here. I have thought of giving my generals medals, but I like them too much and instead all the Knights Crosses with Oak Leaves, Swords, Diamonds and rather garish sapphire Turnips shall be awarded to me.

[PeeDeeAitch]

Crimea

Von Schobert didn't land his plane in a minefield, so he is still in charge here. Unless heavily reinforced, Sevastopol will fall next turn. I want to be in Kerch by mud. We shall see...

[PeeDeeAitch]

Boring Stuff 1

Here are losses as of the start of 15

[PeeDeeAitch]

Boring stuff 2

Here are units destroyed. This will go up this turn due to the pocket. I was shooting for 100% of all Soviet units destroyed, but my opponent did not want to cooperate and he still has an army.

[PeeDeeAitch]

Boring Stuff C

Order of Battle, start of turn 15. As you can see there are a lot of numbers here that don't mean a lot, just things since the Soviets will have 300 million men, 200k airplanes, and 50k tanks under arms by March of 1942.

[76mm]

Moscow is indeed fairly nasty in the Winter, summer is much much nicer!

I have to say that your AAR is a depressing read for a Sov player...

[PeeDeeAitch]

I try to lighten the atmosphere! More "take my wife please!" jokes needed?

[Manstein63]

Remind me never to play against you as I don't think my ego could take it. A true master at work[&o]. However I do have some sympathy with your opponent as must be wondering what the hell has happened.
Manstein63

[jzardos]

How did this game get so out of hand for the Soviet player? From what I can tell it's just a result of a huge discrepancy in skill levels. No offense here, but I haven't seen any brilliance from the Soviet player as I've seen in some other AARs. I would be in the same Soviet situation as I'm new to game as well. So when Moscow is taken does that give a auto victory for axis? Maybe the Soviet player can surrender at any time? I'd like to see how PeeDeeAitch would fair against a skilled Soviet opponent. Once again, not trying to offend anybody as just my observations.

[krupp_88mm]

i don't care what the historians say or the game models, if Moscow Leningrad and Sevastopol fell in 1941 the war fro Russia would be lost

[76mm]

The defender had better booby-trap Moscow ASAP so that PDH is too skeered to enter. Worked against Hitler at Leningrad from what I hear...

[PeeDeeAitch]

I don't think Moscow is going to fall, it would take a lot of resources that I don't have. However, the threat that it will fall opens up other regions for me.

[jzardos]

Will the game end when Moscow - Leningrad - Sevastopol is in axis hands?

I though I remember something about auto victory?

[PeeDeeAitch]

Nope, if I were to take Moscow I would be about 3/4 of the way to auto-victory in points, I think.

[PeeDeeAitch]

Turn 15 sent, and now the wait.  I have a cunning plan for winter, but I need to advance my lines about 1200 miles to the east for it to be totally practical.  The devil is in the details.  Failing that I plan a two-part winter plan: 1) Take massive losses as I try to hold everywhere, and 2) Retreat back to the Oder.
 
I think that if I phase from part 1 to part 2 I shall be able to weather the upcoming storm.