Ketza (CCCP) vrs DAK (Axis) no DAK please

[Ketza]

Well every turn he is not moving east it is a win. Im planning on making life miserable for those Panzers.

Meanwhile up north he moved southeast to skirt the strong river line with 4th Panzer. He could continue to move southeast with them and eventually link up with AGC which may be a concern but that does mean Leningrad should hold.

[Ketza]

Leningrad 10 final - not much change. One counter attack threw back one of his bridgeheads. Some reshuffling.

[Ketza]

In front of Vyazma the battle for the survival of 48th army continues. 30th army brings pressure to bear on the ring around the pocket as the Panzer line collapses.

[Ketza]

Center final - A rather fluid situation with Panzers being surround one turn and the 48th being surrounded the next turn. I may be playing with fire here but its actually a very fun situation and some what historical of what happened in this time period.

[Ketza]

48th hanging tough!

[Ketza]

South 10 final - a few counterattacks made and a short withdrawal made while still screening the river. He has the potential to deal some damage with the gassed up Panzers.

[Ketza]

10 final OOB

[Ketza]

10 Final production - I am not very clear as to whether this is good or bad but there seems to be a rather steady increase in ready/capable divisions so it cant be that bad.

[Flaviusx]

Watch those armaments. That's not much of a reserve left for turn 10. Although you probably don't have as many shells coming back from the deadpile in this game to run down your reserve. The lack of pockets in this game thus far means that a lot of armament points are getting consumed that otherwise wouldn't be. (Especially by the mech divisions. Those things are armament hogs.)

Your artillery is in excellent condition and I would frankly consider dialing down the TOE on that. In your situation, perhaps to 75%.

[Ketza]

If I do not have them on refit would they be using arms? Thanks for your input.

[Flaviusx]

They might still be getting replacements even if not on refit. Particularly the SUs. Adjusting the TOE gives you more control than leaving it to the vagaries of the replacement system.

In the good old days, only the Axis player had to worry about this kind of micromanagement. Those days are gone. The Soviet player is now, if anything, under even more pressure to control TOE and replacements than the Axis player.

Then again, you've got this game pretty much in the bag near as I can tell. But in a tougher match, these are now important considerations.

[Ketza]

I am starting a new game vrs Carnage. Lessons learned from this game will be applied for sure. Thank you.

[Ketza]

11 north start

[Ketza]

11 Northwest - As I thought it would 4th Pz comes barreling southeast.

[Ketza]

The cauldron battle continues in the center. Once again he seals the pocket but his Panzer ring is weak and open for attack.

[Ketza]

11 South - He is across in force along most of the river but Stalin says we are not going to run... yet!

[Ketza]

North final - Front is stagnant except for a limited 18th army push along the Baltic. Switching out divisions from the Svir line for brigades and sending them south to Northwest front.

[Ketza]

Northwest front - 4th Pz is draped in divisions and 8th Panzer and Totenkoff are surrounded. They will break out but 4th Pz now joins the cauldron battle and gets mired in. This puts 3 Panzer armies in battles of attrition instead of battles of manuever. I am sure this is going to bite me in the ass at some point but for now its slowing down his advance to a snails pace.

[Ketza]

Zhukov commits all the center reserves and launches an all out offensive. 4 retreats and one hold push back several Panzer divisions. 18th Panzer actually retreats twice. Panzer losses are heavy. The pocket is reopenedbut he will be able to close it again next turn. Another attack army is brought in under under Zhukovs reserve front.

Turn 12 will be another bloody affair.

[Ketza]

Turn 11 south final - Another major offensive pushes back several Panzer divisions. The Rumanian and Czech divisions are also mauled.