Matrix Games Forums

ORIGINAL: Stelteck

Moscow was encercled despite the arrival of cavalry corps and guard rifle divisions. Sad.

I was hoping to keep the town supplied until mud.

I "NEVER" defend key hexes with calvary, even Cav Corps. Plus they were more than likely fatigued a bit arriving in the hex from movement.

Cavalry men are snob [:D]

I would it have done the same way than Stelteck. He got a 700 MCV which is very strong at this stage of the war.

Mud will make the game quiet during some weeks. Time to have a look on the first monthes of the campaign.

1) I always pay for the 4 turns lost in summer 1941 due to partisan activity. Without that I would have taken Moscow in november and March would have seen more ambitious operations.

2) Stelteck doesn't defend everywhere and is focused on key areas. He doesn't give ground easily. It's a good strategy but difficult to handle in summer 1942 when Pzk's get full mobility back.

3) Stelteck is using efficiently his AP's. Attacks are well coordinated. Cav corps were created as soon as possible.

4) Moscow is taken and will not be lost before end 1943. Good point.

5) Crimea is still in russian hands. Is it worth to attack it directly? Time will tell.

6) We are playing "Bitter end". So I have 2 strategies for summer 1942: Taking all the cities on the list (Voronejh, Sevastopol, Rostov, Stalingrad....). Baku cannot be taken unless the soviet player makes major mistakes, or destroying as much russian units as possible. On the long term, the second strategy is the best one.

7) And this point is for HardLuckYetAgain [;)], +1 is fun to play!

Thanks Stephane, the game is really interesting and fun.

I was quite lucky with the partisan rampage during 1941, but i would probably be in really bad shape without it, and it created a really fun and intense battle of moscow. Thanks partisans. Maybe 4 turns of partisan madness shall be mandatory in all games [:'(]

Now end spring 1942 is the most dangerous time ever for the soviet.
First, it is mind crushing, i have more than 600/700 units to move and manage each turn. So many (bad) units [X(] . I also prevent myself to merge rifle and airbone brigade into division because i need tons of units to handle second line fortification. So even more units.
If i have to do gross mistakes, it will probably be now.

Second, german troops are always very strong, are well supplied and now i have so much things and troops to loose. I'am preparing myself to a lot of bad news in this summer 1942. The good news is that if my army is smaller it will be easier to manage [:'(]

ORIGINAL: Stelteck

Thanks Stephane, the game is really interesting and fun.

+1

I was quite lucky with the partisan rampage during 1941, but i would probably be in really bad shape without it, and it created a really fun and intense battle of moscow. Thanks partisans. Maybe 4 turns of partisan madness shall be mandatory in all games [:'(]

Your plans for the blizzard were too ambitious (the pincer around Moscow) but it gave effectively and intense and fun battle.

Now end spring 1942 is the most dangerous time ever for the soviet.
First, it is mind crushing, i have more than 600/700 units to move and manage each turn. So many (bad) units [X(] . I also prevent myself to merge rifle and airbone brigade into division because i need tons of units to handle second line fortification. So even more units.
If i have to do gross mistakes, it will probably be now.

You're right, even a bad rifle inf have a ZOC, even a week rifle brigade can be used to build forts in the rear.

Second, german troops are always very strong, are well supplied and now i have so much things and troops to loose. I'am preparing myself to a lot of bad news in this summer 1942. The good news is that if my army is smaller it will be easier to manage [:'(]

Summer 1942 is difficult for the russian player but even if you suffer heavy losses, you will be on the offensive from end 1942/mid 1943. It will only depend on our relative skill.

You are right my winter offensive was far too ambitious. I tried to achieve strategic result during the winter and was very reluctant to attack in insignificant area.
In fact i realize the blizzard is more a way to build guard units and cause some damage than changing the course of the war. I was willing to defend moscow but it was not really possible.

Maybe i should have sent my cavalry in weak part of the front like in front of Voronev. But i'am sûre you had some reserve just in case [8D]

game is looking interesting, think the Germans have a solid edge going into 1942 campaign season as they already have some very advanced positions to start from.

ORIGINAL: STEF78


7) And this point is for HardLuckYetAgain [;)], +1 is fun to play!

You are welcome Stef


I hope to soon have the Soviet side of the story of defending both Leningrad and Moscow using my Soviet strategy. (the forums conventional wisdom has been to give up Leningrad easily doing a fighting withdrawl, I don't. I make people fight for Leningrad starting "One hex West of Pskov") I currently have 5 games as the Soviets still in progress with 11 already completed using this strategy (A total of 16 total games in all) 14 of those games have progressed the same way with 2 of the games in progress too early to tell(only turn 1 & 2 at the moment on these two games)

ORIGINAL: HardLuckYetAgain
I hope to soon have the Soviet side of the story of defending both Leningrad and Moscow using my Soviet strategy. (the forums conventional wisdom has been to give up Leningrad easily doing a fighting withdrawl, I don't. I make people fight for Leningrad starting "One hex West of Pskov") I currently have 5 games as the Soviets still in progress with 11 already completed using this strategy (A total of 16 total games in all) 14 of those games have progressed the same way with 2 of the games in progress too early to tell(only turn 1 & 2 at the moment on these two games)

If i remember well our game, as german you completely ignored and bypass Pskov rushing straight to moscow.

Did you tried your new defensive soviet strategy ... against yourself ? [:D] [:'(]

ORIGINAL: Stelteck

You are right my winter offensive was far too ambitious. I tried to achieve strategic result during the winter and was very reluctant to attack in insignificant area.
In fact i realize the blizzard is more a way to build guard units and cause some damage than changing the course of the war. I was willing to defend moscow but it was not really possible.

Maybe i should have sent my cavalry in weak part of the front like in front of Voronev. But i'am sûre you had some reserve just in case [8D]

I'm curious Stelteck, what did you build during the winter preparing for the coming German offense in the Spring? Both normal units and support units.

ORIGINAL: Stelteck

ORIGINAL: HardLuckYetAgain
I hope to soon have the Soviet side of the story of defending both Leningrad and Moscow using my Soviet strategy. (the forums conventional wisdom has been to give up Leningrad easily doing a fighting withdrawl, I don't. I make people fight for Leningrad starting "One hex West of Pskov") I currently have 5 games as the Soviets still in progress with 11 already completed using this strategy (A total of 16 total games in all) 14 of those games have progressed the same way with 2 of the games in progress too early to tell(only turn 1 & 2 at the moment on these two games)

If i remember well our game, as german you completely ignored and bypass Pskov rushing straight to moscow.

Did you tried your new defensive soviet strategy ... against yourself ? [:D] [:'(]

Bypassed Pskov til turn 6 when units from the south cut it off in our game. But no I havent played myself, Im afraid to loose on one side or the other and I don't like loosing ;-P

ORIGINAL: HardLuckYetAgain

ORIGINAL: STEF78


7) And this point is for HardLuckYetAgain [;)], +1 is fun to play!

You are welcome Stef

I hope to soon have the Soviet side of the story of defending both Leningrad and Moscow using my Soviet strategy.

There's an old Wendy's commercial with the then famous line, "where's the beef?"

We're still waiting.

ORIGINAL: HardLuckYetAgain
I hope to soon have the Soviet side of the story of defending both Leningrad and Moscow using my Soviet strategy.

I can not tell you how much I would love to be the one to ruin your little statistic

ORIGINAL: HardLuckYetAgain
I'm curious Stelteck, what did you build during the winter preparing for the coming German offense in the Spring? Both normal units and support units.

I did not think i did something special.

I created support units (mostly sapper regiment, AT regiment, PVO AA regiment, rocket regiment) but as there is little feedback of the support units efficiency, i do not really know if it is worth it.

I'am disappointed by sappers regiments in army HQ so i'am removing them currently to put them in corps. They do not dig in army HQ and are useless during battle to inflict looses to the ennemy, although they have some CV.
I created some tank bataillon, but it was a bad idea in 1941 because they need mostly light tanks and i had no light tanks. They are only beginning to be usefull now in 1942 with T-70/T-60.

I created some rifle brigades. Tried cavalry division but 65 points the cavalry corps is currently too expensive for me. Maybe later when it will worth 35 points.

Not much creation as i do not have a lots of spare AP points. i'am trying to have good chain of command with no overloading and it cost me a lots of AP especially on offensive.

I had some army HQ who did 3* (6 to 9) divisions attack with zero overloading in the same turn.

I also created 40 UVS Airsquad, because i had no IL-2 production in 1941 due to heroic factory transfert of the IL-2 plants, so the UVS was my main tactical bomber in 1941.

ORIGINAL: M60A3TTS

ORIGINAL: HardLuckYetAgain

ORIGINAL: STEF78


7) And this point is for HardLuckYetAgain [;)], +1 is fun to play!

You are welcome Stef

I hope to soon have the Soviet side of the story of defending both Leningrad and Moscow using my Soviet strategy.

There's an old Wendy's commercial with the then famous line, "where's the beef?"

We're still waiting.

I know I took on more games & I apologize for that. You just have to be patient.

ORIGINAL: Dinglir

ORIGINAL: HardLuckYetAgain
I hope to soon have the Soviet side of the story of defending both Leningrad and Moscow using my Soviet strategy.

I can not tell you how much I would love to be the one to ruin your little statistic

I'm sure someone will & I hope that someone is you

I love trying different things to see what works and what doesnt. If what I try doesnt work I try something else. I chalk it up as a learning experience.

Secret data from soviet side :

The most important tank of the war is... THE T-26 !!!! [:D]

Still used in 20 units. And the tanks i'am lacking the most is the light tanks, because all TOE use them and need tons of them.



And the most useless tank massive production is..... The T-34. I do not have enough TOE to use them, even if i try to built new units. (Tank units use mostly light tanks until middle 1942, and still a lot of light tanks until end 1943 [:@])
I evacuated the T-34 factory of karkov intact for no real reason... [:(]

Because of this, the only important land lease is the M3 stuart. All others are useless.
Matilda II should be considered as heavy tank instead of medium. It was really a heavyweight.
Valentine III would be very good... as light tank instead of medium. It was a lightweight tank.



In the air, the most important fighter plane is ... Who care they all do the job and lend lease provide very good planes too.
In fact the most important plane is the IL-2 tactical bomber, and i had no production in 1941 because i wrongly choose to evacuate the T-34 factory of karkov instead of the IL-2 factory.



Total production : AA and HI perfect. Could have lost some more. In the current state of the game, the main limitation is always manpower every date, and in 1941 light tanks and tactical bombers.

ORIGINAL: Stelteck

Secret data from soviet side :

I evacuated the T-34 factory of karkov intact for no real reason... [:(]

9 times out of 10 I evacuate just one point of this factory because by the time you need full capacity it should be back up to full strength in production.

Matilda II should be considered as heavy tank instead of medium. It was really a heavyweight. Valentine III would be very good... as light tank instead of medium. It was a lightweight tank.

I might say that the Matilda II was heavily armored but sported a 2 lb main gun. When I think of "heavy tanks" I think bigger guns too -- 76mm and greater ..
Thus maybe the compromise of medium [8D]