Stalin's in the gulag, I'm in charge! II - vs 2ndACR (Axis)

[TulliusDetritus]

ORIGINAL: cookie monster

Are you gonna disband any corps hq's?

There's 80+ of them. Mine disbanded on mass at turn 5.

I was pissed at losing 4 mountain divs to shattering, you may want to save them for Odessa or the Crimea or 2nd/3rd line duty.

BTW construction troops attached to fortified regions dont help them to dig. My bug report was answered with 'This is a known issue, and should...be fixed'.

I disbanded about 17 SAD airbases (they contain 5000 men plus 300-700 vehicles) cos my manpower got tight. I was running out every turn.

I was usually placing 250,000 men in the refit segment into the front line.

After SAD disbands I got an extra 130,000 men allocated.

Are you gonna use the motorised divisions, or place them STATIC?

They can be made static, you will get lots of AP plus they upgrade to rifle divs around turn 10 and can be reactivated cheaply.

Get a unit digging at any city and any piece of rough ground you can find.

Never allow a unit to fortify an unimportant hex around Leningrad/Moscow. The civilians will help the occupied hexes.

I've already disbanded some Corps HQs: especially those that were in dangerous places. On my other game on turn 4 or 5 I had disbanded all of them.

I like the mountain divisions. I think they have more morale and experience. I will NOT let them die for nothing. Rifle divisions, ok, but the mountain guys have to survive.

As for the Fortified Regions I only use them to dig far in the rear. When the enemy appears (Sire Chaos never appeared [:D]) I disband them. They dig, they don't fight [8D] Perhaps I will be building some of them near Moscow and Leningrad.

As for refit, I did not use it on my other game [X(] I will have to pay attention to that now!

The motorized divisions will fight if I need them. They are cannon fodder, just like everyone else [:)] I keep them as fighting units.

Yes, I always garrison the medium and big cities.

I don't disband air bases though. I really didn't pay attention to the air war on my other game. Remember that SINGLE pilot flying whilst I was slaughtering the AGN divisions? [:D]

[cookie monster]

Refits good for getting divs from 70% to 100% TOE.

I disbanded SAD airbases,AT brigades,Cav Corps HQ just to reclaim manpower.

The mountain divs dont come back once destroyed unlike rifle/motorised/tanks.

I wrote this http://witewiki.com/index.php/Organise_ ... port_units its the best way of clearing su's from corps cheaply

[TulliusDetritus]

Thanks for the link [:)]

In fact I haven't said all I have done on this turn. So here I go:

HQs:
STAVKA support level: 9
ALL the other HQs: 0

I want all the HQs to kick everything out to STAVKA. Once it's done (1 or 2 turns) I will start buying support units. I 100% micromanage this thing. The priority number ONE? ALL the STAVKA armies in the Center (last screenshot) get Construction Bns (they help your troops to dig [;)]). That's the first thing I assign. Then artillery, etc.

Air Forces:
I have sent all the planes to the National Reserve. I will re-depoly them again on the next turns I want to micro-manage this thing too [:)]

Zhukov has not been appointed yet as Boss-in-Chief of the Western Front. The HQ is way too close to enemy Panzers... I don't want them to scare this HQ away and kill my Top Ace Zhukov! So I will wait one more turn. The HQ will be then 100% safe.

[cookie monster]

Build RR Brigades there still construction troops and have a construction value of 40 whereas the CB's const value is 10. They both cost the same after all.

Bomb Ploesti oilfields with long range bombers, the airbases start in the Crimea.

Then tell us the results.

That'll irritate him![:D]

[TulliusDetritus]

My opponent has sent the turn. It's way too late and I'm going to sleep: 3 AM.

Either I am a moron (and therefore haven't understood anything) or he is a kamikaze [:D] I can (and will do that) cut off er the 80% (yes, you read it well) of his 4 Panzer Armies! Is this normal?? Part of his isolated AGN Panzers will be at 8 or 10 hexes of friendly controlled hexes. What the f...! Is this a "normal" German strategy (after all vs Sire Chaos nothing was normal)?

Shouldn't this hurt the Panzers or the airdrop thing will make these kessel irrelevant? [&:]

[Senno]

Yes, that's normal. He should be closing in on Pskov, generally. His supplies start off with extra supplies on normal. so he will be in good shape to free them and pocket your forces if you get them cut off. I wouldn't recommend that you get to far forward, as he will pocket you right up.

That's if you are presenting your historical defense, though. I think a checkerboard defense is to jam them up at every step.

Air drops help, but aren't a panacea, in any case.

I will now only read his AAR for enjoyment, and tell him "he's the man" but leave out comment, haha. Not that he wants my help...

My "help" such as it is will be for you during this fine game.

[randallw]

It seems that 2ACR let the computer handle the 1st turn air attacks.

I think the 1st turn shock penalty hurts only portions of the map for the Sovs, and the mount. divisions are out of that area; they aren't necessarily better, they just don't get punched in the groin with the penalty.  Unless I read the manual incorrectly.

[alfonso]

I will be watching this closely, for learning purposes. As I have no much experience, anything I could say should be taken as "thinking aloud" and not as advice.

During turn 1 as Soviets, it is not my priority to cut off the German sperheads, because I think they are over-stocked at the beginning of the game, and being this turn shorter (only half a week), I think it can be almost irrelevant from the supply point of view whether they are isolated or no.

But...
in turn 2 I would take any chance to cut off. I did it in my own game and my opponent said in his email with Turn Axis 3: "Wow...Im learning alot here. Dont underestimate a human opponent ", so I understood the supply situation was affected (severely?)

Maybe doing so you can steal some precious MP, and perhaps when Turn 3 arrives you are still holding Vitebsk and Mogilev (I do not know where is you enemy now at turn 2). According to the "Road to Minsk" scenario (which I think is a useful guide), if in turn 3 the Soviet has Vitebsk and Mogilev, he is doing fine.

And yes, I agree with Cookie, it seems better to "buy" RR Brigades than Construction Battalions. Despite their railroad names, they are fine building forts. They cost 1 AP too, and construct much better. They use more manpower, though. But as Flavius says, the best Red weapon is the spade.

[TulliusDetritus]

ORIGINAL: Senno

Yes, that's normal. He should be closing in on Pskov, generally. His supplies start off with extra supplies on normal. so he will be in good shape to free them and pocket your forces if you get them cut off. I wouldn't recommend that you get to far forward, as he will pocket you right up.

Senno, I still don't get it [:)] 1) they will be cut off 2) the territory behind them will be mine 3) his infantry can't catch up either, too early.

The only ones that can encircle me are precisely these units that I will be cutting off [&:] I mean, they will NOT be advancing this turn towards Pskov, Mogilev, Vitebsk (the territory around AND behind them is mine). That or I haven't understood anything, really [8D]

[alfonso]

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

ORIGINAL: Senno

Yes, that's normal. He should be closing in on Pskov, generally. His supplies start off with extra supplies on normal. so he will be in good shape to free them and pocket your forces if you get them cut off. I wouldn't recommend that you get to far forward, as he will pocket you right up.

Senno, I still don't get it [:)] 1) they will be cut off 2) the territory behind them will be mine 3) his infantry can't catch up either, too early.

The only ones that can encircle me are precisely these units that I will be cutting off [&:] I mean, they will NOT be advancing this turn towards Pskov, Mogilev, Vitebsk (the territory around AND behind them is mine). That or I haven't understood anything, really [8D]

Well, an isolated unit is not frozen, if you are referring to that. It can be moved. It can advance. But with low efectivity (less MP, less morale). Sorry if I have not understood you. Have you got a screenshot?

[cookie monster]

He'll have some MP's on an isolated Panzer.

Whenever you get an opportunity cut them off. It takes time to fortify Leningrad.

[TulliusDetritus]

ORIGINAL: alfonso
Well, an isolated unit is not frozen, if you are referring to that. It can be moved. It can advance. But with low efectivity (less MP, less morale). Sorry if I have not understood you. Have you got a screenshot?

I know they can move [:)] But the point is: if the territory behind them will be MINE what's the point if he keeps advancing? [&:] NO supplies and fuel, and that's gold for Panzers [8D]

ORIGINAL: alfonso
During turn 1 as Soviets, it is not my priority to cut off the German sperheads, because I think they are over-stocked at the beginning of the game, and being this turn shorter (only half a week), I think it can be almost irrelevant from the supply point of view whether they are isolated or no.

I hadn't thought about that [:D]

But...
in turn 2 I would take any chance to cut off. I did it in my own game and my opponent said in his email with Turn Axis 3: "Wow...Im learning alot here. Dont underestimate a human opponent ", so I understood the supply situation was affected (severely?)

Hehehe, good to know [&o] As I said I can cut off like the 80% of his Panzer Armies. So my assumption was not that wild: he might be some sort of kamikaze after all? [:D]

And yes, I agree with Cookie, it seems better to "buy" RR Brigades than Construction Battalions. Despite their railroad names, they are fine building forts. They cost 1 AP too, and construct much better. They use more manpower, though. But as Flavius says, the best Red weapon is the spade.

Alright, I will go after the Brigades, thank you both [8D]

ORIGINAL: randallw
It seems that 2ACR let the computer handle the 1st turn air attacks.

I think the 1st turn shock penalty hurts only portions of the map for the Sovs, and the mount. divisions are out of that area; they aren't necessarily better, they just don't get punched in the groin with the penalty. Unless I read the manual incorrectly.

Randall, I was surprised about the relatively light air losses, or the last patches have toned them down? Maybe the AI did the job, as you say.

[TulliusDetritus]

[center]Turn 2[/center]
[center]26 june 1941[/center]

Alright [8D]

The Northwest Front.

[TulliusDetritus]

Western Front

[TulliusDetritus]

Southwestern Front. Given that he finally formed the pocket, here I am in survival mode: I MUST cut off his units YES or YES [:D]

[TulliusDetritus]

And finally the Southern Front [8D]

[timmyab]

I'd cut him off if I were you.Not so important turn 1, but from turn 2 on it becomes vital for the Germans not to expose their flanks.If he's as exposed as your comments suggest then his objectives could quickly change from capturing Moscow to saving his panzer army.It can really happen that quickly to an unwary Axis player at this stage of the game.The air supply will help him, but not that much.
Can you post a screen?

Edit - Oh, I see you have.

[TulliusDetritus]

Am I a kamikaze yes or not? [&:]

Timmyab, no I hadn't pasted any screenshot yet. Thanks for the advice [&o]
EDIT: oops, yes I had, sorry.

[mmarquo]

In the Sw you can reestablish supply, get out of isolation and isolate him with 2 simple moves - but do not forget that isolation/supply is reecalcualted when/if he acts duing his turn, so he will break out and be in pretty good shape during his turn. It is good to "glom" his panzers - place them in a ZOC.
 
Encircling and causing surrender requires patience - at least 2 moves; here you have bought at least one extra move. 

[cookie monster]

Its looking good to cut off some units. That'll slow him down and give more time until the Leningrad PM Divisions begin to arrive.

I just garrisoned Odessa with 2 Divs and the Airborne Corps HQ. They took 6 German divisions to be defeated. The forts were at level 4.

They took massive double retreat attrition though on the 'naval evacuation rout'. I didn't wanna waste the Coastal Army on it. This HQ is commanding the Crimean entrance defenders.

Are you gonna allow reinforcements to your Cavalry? I only allow a few to become 100% TOE. They are useful for re-making contact with pocketed defenders. Plus they can deliberate attack and then get back to their forts.

You must bomb Ploesti and tell us all the results!