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Here is a screen shot of the partial front the week before blizzard. Recon has confirmed that the Germans have not built any fortifications in preparation for winter. Apparently OKH has expressed the sentiment that defensive fortifications are unnecessary and unworthy of the German soldier, nor does it does not represent the Germanic people in a sufficinently favorable light. Also, talks of the temperatures falling to 50 degrees below freezing in the coming weeks is the talk of defeatists and traitors within the Reich. Winter clothing will remain in the warehouses as the Soviets are no doubt defeated and will surrender any day now.

hardly to imagine a better start for your offensive, these infiltrations look really promising... Looks like he wanted to save too much (divisions), good luck!

We haven't posted in a while, but the short story is that farfarer fled back to the borders of the Reich. D and Z towns, Kiev and Smolensk were liberated, along with other cities along the Dnepr. The ravaged rail situation behind us meant the need for a bunch of RR brigades and that a futher advance west would be downright deadly in time as the Axis is preparing to come back bigger and badder than ever. Meanwhile, Comrade General Larry and myself prepare a Carpet of Doom for our opponent. With the latest patch, we're bringing a fresh set of Combined Arms Army HQs on line to stay within command limits.

We should hit about 7 million men by March. [:)]

Almost into June and the Axis has decided to focus attacks on the north as the south is rather muddy. Due to the lack of overall fighting for several months, both sides are pretty loaded up.



We have 20 tank and 16 cav corps plus about 515 rifle division equivalents.

This game had been put to bed after Larry transferred his interest to the Pacific (WiTP AE). At the time, I really didn't have much interest of my own in continuing but having been idle a couple months and having had the opportunity to run through some test battles in the last turn (105) from Pelton's game, I asked Farfarer if he wanted to continue. He wants to do so, and therefore we will now resume the conflict.

We are now at Week 51 and the rasputitsa is coming to an end. The OOB from the previous post displays clearly that both sides are well loaded up. The Axis withdrawal far to the west during the blizzard meant relatively few losses for both sides. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

In reviewing the overall situation, there are some issues. Larry left his defenses rather weak in spots. Also he chose to load up armies and fronts with a support level of 3 so there are quite a few ancillary units I'm not sure have a lot of value. I am resetting the support level to zero in the armies and fronts from the northern command (Larry's area) so I can flush those units to STAVKA and re-allocate the resources.

I also noted the fact the Red Army had 131 RR construction brigades and 51 sapper regiments. The main reason for so many RR brigades was the great advance west in blizzard revealed a lot of damaged rail and it needed to get repaired before the Axis once again attacked east. This was quite successful, but now the RR brigades need to be pared down. With 366 AP available, I bit the bullet and disbanded 86 brigades, leaving total of 45. I will be adding at least 100 new sapper regiments later, but I'll ramp them up gradually. They will be used for the existing and new corps SUs as well as for army support.

I'll have to keep a close eye out on the available trucks as only 90 factory points remain. Arms points are a healthy 320 so things should be fine there.

There are 24 motorized brigades assigned to the far eastern MDs and will form 8 mech corps at a later date. I won't build a lot of rifle corps as I did in my gane against Pelton, and am counting on all these rifle divisions to carry the burden of summer. With a much more extensive use of reserves, hopefully we will see some committments with Zhukov in command of STAVKA.

Most armies are being kept at their command limit of 18 or not far over, so at least this game won't require a major reorg in that area. The Voronezh Front has been activated this week.

And so...on with the show.

M60 thanks for restarting. Could you give a bit more detail about why he pulled back to far during the blizzard? Did you capture many divisions, or did he do a pre-emptive retreat?

BTW, what is up with your game with Pelton?

ORIGINAL: M60A3TTS

Almost into June and the Axis has decided to focus attacks on the north as the south is rather muddy. Due to the lack of overall fighting for several months, both sides are pretty loaded up.



We have 20 tank and 16 cav corps plus about 515 rifle division equivalents.

Loaded up!? You're super pimped! [X(]
With such an army, I'd certainly build quite a few Rifle Corps. Something in the order of 20 should not be too much of a problem with an 8+ million army.

ORIGINAL: 76mm

M60 thanks for restarting. Could you give a bit more detail about why he pulled back to far during the blizzard? Did you capture many divisions, or did he do a pre-emptive retreat?

BTW, what is up with your game with Pelton?

I'll start with Pelton's game first. I decided to quit playing it as my initial attacks were stopped cold in many cases by Pelton's mobile reserve committments. Being well east of Kursk and Moscow in June 43, facing an Axis fort carpet several hexes deep, limited reinforcements, and a realization later that I was far too short of sappers led me to conclude there was little to be gained by continuing. Pelton was very understanding of the situation and was fine with us stopping. Since then I've been using the last turn to do some various experiments to see how to crack such a line. I had some success with that, so my game with Farfarer should be better in '43.

Regarding Farfarer's withdrawal, he made no attempt to create a winter fort line of any kind. Why, I'm not sure. That gave him reason to pull back, although I hardly expected him to retreat so far. The payoff here is that a lot of Soviet manpower centers were liberated, allowing the army to grow in numbers. I did surround and destroy a few Axis divisions, but there was far less winter combat than have been displayed in other AARs.

double post

ORIGINAL: glvaca

[Loaded up!? You're super pimped! [X(]
With such an army, I'd certainly build quite a few Rifle Corps. Something in the order of 20 should not be too much of a problem with an 8+ million army.

The thing about early rifle corps is that when you first form them, their headcount will be way above their TO&E. Then in subsequent turns, the manpower will bleed off, turning a 12 CV into a 6-7. Since I have a goodly # of 4 CV units, I will probably sit tight on rifle corps, unless they are needed in a critical situation. In July I will be creating several tank armies as well as ramping up the sapper regiments which will take a chunk of APs.

This will be a summer different from most as it is shaping up. The bulk of Axis armor is in the north, not the south. A drive to capture Moscow once again is in the offing. Meanwhile, Hungarian and Rumanian forces are presenting themselves as an inviting target in the Kiev region. Orders are already being issued for a counterstroke to be delivered by the Voronezh and Southwestern Fronts.

More to come...

I see what you mean concerning Rifle Corps, just started turn 51. Certainly a downside. I'm wondering if their reported thoughness in the defense makes them worthwhile nonetheless?
How do, let's say, 2 divisions compare versus a rifle Corps with both having roughly the same defensive CV?

Personally, I never found weak rifle corps to be particularly good on defense; I'd rather have two RifDivs.

ORIGINAL: glvaca

I see what you mean concerning Rifle Corps, just started turn 51. Certainly a downside. I'm wondering if their reported thoughness in the defense makes them worthwhile nonetheless?
How do, let's say, 2 divisions compare versus a rifle Corps with both having roughly the same defensive CV?

Sorry to disagree with 76mm but I think they were/are useful on my game (summer 1942) [:)] I am pretty certain Moscow is still in my hands because of them. They are harder to dislodge methinks. I had only created 6 Guards Corps though (= 18 guards rifle divisions). Then when I was hard pressed I kept creating them to face the menace (up to 16).

Said this, they are clearly an offensive tool (1943-44-45). Still, they possibly saved my ar** so I am forced to vouch for them. Well, only in Moscow area [:D]

P.S.: for a greater effect stack -as I did- such a corps + 2 rifle divisions... then you will see if your e-enemy dares to attack them [8D]

Actually, TD is right in that if you are actually trying to defend a place (Moscow) instead of just slowing the Germans down, a rifle corps would be better, especially if you stack them.

In the open field though, where you are just trying to prevent a German breakthrough, I'd rather have two rifle divs in separate hexes than one rifle corps. Where possible I would try to have the first line or even two composed of rifle divs with some rifle corps a couple hexes back in reserve. The rifle corps can then move forward to mass to attack during your turn should the opportunity present itself. I would definitely build some rifle corps, just don't overdo it.

In my view the best use of rifle corps in 1942 is to keep them in reserve armies near the front so they can be used to manhandle any panzer divs that do manage a breakthrough.

ORIGINAL: 76mm

In the open field though, where you are just trying to prevent a German breakthrough, I'd rather have two rifle divs in separate hexes than one rifle corps. Where possible I would try to have the first line or even two composed of rifle divs with some rifle corps a couple hexes back in reserve. The rifle corps can then move forward to mass to attack during your turn should the opportunity present itself. I would definitely build some rifle corps, just don't overdo it.

In my view the best use of rifle corps in 1942 is to keep them in reserve armies near the front so they can be used to manhandle any panzer divs that do manage a breakthrough.

Yes, if you keep them in the open you are playing with fire, I guess, unless they are well barricaded behind hordes of rifle divisions.

Note that I did not send a single rifle corps to the south (aka the open).

In my scenario it worked because to take Moscow he was forced to do a frontal assault. Then he tried to advance via the flanks. Which is why I ended up creating up to 16 corps, to protect the flanks that is. A static, defensive (but with lots of potential counter-attacks) and yet effective role.

Good advice. I'm tempted to keep them back, in the open too, to counter attack together with the Cav and Tank Corps. I know it's risky but I don't see any other way of keeping him contained.
I guess when stacking limits start to play, Corps are the way to go, if not, you best stick to divs. Thanks!

Week 52- 11 JUN 42

The Summer German offensive features at least 14 panzer divisions attempting to pocket Soviet troop formations northwest of Moscow. Fortunately the Kalinin-Moscow rail line is intact that allows our troops to be withdrawn safely from the area.
The fortifications in the forward areas have been overrun, and there is not a set of significant forts now in this area.

In the center, the Kalinin, Western and Bryansk Fronts launch selected attacks to keep the Hitlerites off balance.

In the south, the Voronezh, Southwestern, Southern and Caucasus Fronts combine to exert pressure on German and Minor Axis troop formations. There are some German panzer divisions but not enough to cause great concern. With the initiative in our hands here, orders have been issued to drive the Fascists back over the west side of the Dnepr River from Dnepropetrovsk to Kiev. At this time Rokossovsky's 16th, Malinovsky's 9th, and Boldin's 19th Army also have a 40 mile long bridgehead over the west bank of the Dnepr at Dnepropetrovsk.

The Red Army Air Forces are undergoing a significant reorganization to provide uniform aircraft types at specific bases.

Northern Fronts


Central Fronts


Southern Fronts

One small thing, I see you have all your Airborn Brigades still. I found that they can be combined into excellent GD rifle divs. Seems like a waste to keep them as brigs.
I've kept a few just to have some airdrop capability but I don't think I'll use them really.
He just secured one flank for a drive on Moscow. To really have a chance he's going to have to do the same around Smolensk/Vyazma...

ORIGINAL: glvaca

One small thing, I see you have all your Airborn Brigades still. I found that they can be combined into excellent GD rifle divs. Seems like a waste to keep them as brigs.
I've kept a few just to have some airdrop capability but I don't think I'll use them really.
He just secured one flank for a drive on Moscow. To really have a chance he's going to have to do the same around Smolensk/Vyazma...

The airborne brigades are actually good diggers for their size. Some folks prefer to wait for them to become guards airborne divisions, but since they can't form subsequently into something larger, I don't see them as a whole lot better than as guards divisions. I actually have created a couple guards rifle divisions with them, and aren't that close to the guards cap.

Regarding a drive on Moscow, there may be other things he has in mind in the coming weeks.