GC 76mm (Sov) vs Ketza (Ketza Welcome)

[Klydon]

Just a note that it helps if you have fortification levels on when you screen shot. [;)]

To be honest, you have him in some serious trouble in the Orel/Kursk area. I would be looking to shove the kitchen sink in there. It is rare the Russians can cut off and destroy German units in 1941/42, but you have a really good shot with the larger pocket. At the very least you force the Germans to do something they hate to do and that is attack during the blizzard in the open to try to save those guys. He already has his mountain units committed to the defense south of Kharkov, so he can't use those either.

While he may have some Germans stacked with those Rumanians, the Rumanians are basically worthless in blizzard and it doesn't take much to send them packing. The Germans won't hold much either being broken down into regiments. I am not suggesting "attack there now", but I would absolutely plan on it as a second stage offense after that river gets frozen nice and hard. He won't get jack out of that river line and once you get rolling that way, he is going to be in trouble.

He is in serious trouble from just south of Moscow and down. Keep your foot on his throat there and don't give him a break. You stand to cause a lot of casualties and regain a tremendous amount of territory.

[Q-Ball]

That is very, very bad for the Germans. I predict this game could end pretty soon, because that is big-time bad.

Pocket #2, that's 8 divisions, and they are toast. I don't see how he could extract them. You think that pocket is weak? I can't tell what's under your Army HQ unit, but even if that's not a combat unit, you should be able to easily re-establish. Those divisions are lost.

Pocket #1 can be broken, but there is a good chance you can re-establish that, and the longer he hangs around trying to extract those 4 divisions, the longer he risks even more. That's a bad situation. I wish I could see north of that pocket.

Around Kharkov, one division there is toast, the one furthest north. It can likely only move one-hex next turn, which isn't good enough given the spearheads in the rear. The most prudent thing there is to abandon that unit, and pull everyone else out, given the mass of units I think I can see to the south. Tough call to leave a man (or a division) behind.

That's at least 9 divisions conservatively, 13 with a small amount of luck, and another 6 or so if he makes a mistake, like trying to hold his ground.

This is a German disaster. Yet another game falling apart in the winter. The right thing to do from a game standpoint is go all-in in this region, and step on his throat. Hopefully that won't end the game, but I wonder if it will.

[TulliusDetritus]

Mwhahahaha! Davai Tovarich! [&o]

In theory pocket 2 should be dead meat. But there's a mere infantry brigade covering the west of the pocket. It could be reopened on next turn. BUT if he does that (the rescue thing) I very much suspect you would be bagging the rescuers too... so that would make 9 units + x rescuers

Pocket 1 might not work. Too close to safety.

[76mm]

Thanks for the feedback comrades. It will take me a few turns to get more troops down there in significant numbers, but maybe that's what I should do. I should have had more troops in reserve in the first place, but I didn't expect this kind of success here, so most of my reserves where positioned closer to Stalino or by Moscow.

Klydon, usually I turn on fortifications for screenshots, but in this region, there aren't any, since he's already been pulling back for the last few turns.

[76mm]

Q-Ball, here is the situation north of Orel:


In this area he has been pulling back 1-2 hexes per turn, so it has been harder for me to launch many attacks, but I think things are about to get ugly here as well, because I've got quite a few good troops, and just need to try harder to get the tanks and cav in the gaps...

[TulliusDetritus]

76mm, the case is you CAN smell the blood. So yes, you have to divert forces to this place (I would send a respectable horde). Destroying German units IS a must on 1941 (and of course a lot of fun [:D]). Unless Moscow and Stalino are about to fall, divert forces, make sure your white sharks won't be disappointed [:)]

[76mm]

Comrades, heeding your advice to throw all available troops into the breach, the Stavka has decided to commit the following troops immediately, with additional troops arriving in coming days, These armies are a rag-tag collection of raw recruits and troops more familiar with the shovel than the rifle, but they would have to do, as there were precious few choices in these desperate times.



In addition, as the Stavka meeting concluded, Comrade Zhukov approached me with an unusual request--to be relieved of his command of the prestigious Southwest Front. He assured me that if I gave him command of our last army, our best army, he would mount a bold operation that could end the war. As he traced his plans on the wall-mounted maps in Stavka HQ, I nodded my approval. The next two weeks would be decisive...

[Q-Ball]

it won't end the war, but will probably end the GAME. Throw everything in there, because I doubt he'll recover.

For good measure, hit the Romanians on the Dnepr; that's a weak spot. The River is a non-factor now, and the Romanians really suffer. I'm surprised you haven't attacked them.

[76mm]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

it won't end the war, but will probably end the GAME. Throw everything in there, because I doubt he'll recover.

Heh, that's what I meant. I call it a negotiated peace.

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball
For good measure, hit the Romanians on the Dnepr; that's a weak spot. The River is a non-factor now, and the Romanians really suffer. I'm surprised you haven't attacked them.

I'm VERY thin along the river, and it takes me a LONG time to move troops over there, especially the western end of the Lower Dnepr. I'm "racing" over there now, but things are really very slow. Being able to ship troops to the port west of the Crimea would be a huge help, but this does not seem possible from Kerch, for instance. Kind of frustrating.

[76mm]

In general I should have started positioning troops for the southern offensive much earlier. Even now I'm really being hurt by the lack of tank and cav units.

[Klydon]

Refit is your friend for those troops coming in, especially if they have good leadership. [:)]

If you didn't already, you may want to form up some RR construction guys in the HQs in the area. You have some damaged track here and there, but it looks like if you fix a hex here or there, it would help a lot. Getting a rail line going again to the Crimea would be big so you can move some troops over to put some pressure on those Rumanians.

[TulliusDetritus]

Oh, and don't forget part of the rescuers are Motorized Divisions. Not as scary and dangerous as their Panzer chums. So that's good news for you. And bad news for your opponent. Good luck... and good HUNT! [:)]

[76mm]

ORIGINAL: Klydon

If you didn't already, you may want to form up some RR construction guys in the HQs in the area. You have some damaged track here and there, but it looks like if you fix a hex here or there, it would help a lot. Getting a rail line going again to the Crimea would be big so you can move some troops over to put some pressure on those Rumanians.

I am well aware of the utility of that rail line, that was the main objective for my blizzard offensive! I want to heavily reinforce and fortify that whole area, because I don't see how he can mount any kind of southern offensive (ie, towards Stalingrad or Baku) without at least corking me into the Crimea. I also expect to lock down the North by the spring, so that will only really leave the center to really worry about next season. At least that's the plan...

Almost all of my armies have at least two RRCBs, but since I can't direct them, they are taking their own sweet time, and they are very slow in the blizzard. Morever, they can only work from the East, because there is no railhead on the Crimea side. I'm afraid the blizzard will be long gone before the rail is repaired!

[Aussiematto]

Stunning... I love what you've done to the Axis in the south! The advice about throwing in the whole lot to exploit is perfect operational art -- I predict doom for the Axis.

As a side note on the Finns - one problem with the Finns is the lack of morale. There's not a lot to be gained up there strategically, so it's a no brainer to avoid attacking. (blizzard fear?)

[76mm]

Yeah, I have no intention of attacking the Finns, but was pretty afraid of them after the fall of Lgrad. In retrospect I think I overcommitted up there, but in any event I don't see him making much progress up there, ever.

One more question about the Finns--do they start to withdraw at some point? If he loses some Finnish troops, that nice quiet sector could be ripe for a surprise attack at some point...

[karonagames]

One more question about the Finns--do they start to withdraw at some point? If he loses some Finnish troops, that nice quiet sector could be ripe for a surprise attack at some point...

I'll double check the exact withdrawals - there is a fair bit of coming and going for the Finns, but I would guess he will have about 1 corps less in 1942 compared to 1941

[76mm]

ORIGINAL: BigAnorak

...I would guess he will have about 1 corps less in 1942 compared to 1941

So a bit less, which helps, but nothing dramatic...or actually, now that I think about it, I guess those Finnish corps are pretty big, I mean, I think the Finns only have 3 or 4 corps, right? And I need to check the Finn deactivation rule, I think if I capture Narva and Vyborg, or something, they might all go home? Dreaming for now, but that would be fun!

[76mm]

ORIGINAL: majeloz

There's not a lot to be gained up there strategically, so it's a no brainer to avoid attacking. (blizzard fear?)

I misunderstood you initially, but now I understand that you're saying that it is a no brainer for the FINNS not to attack, but I don't understand this...

First, there is a great deal to be gained strategically, by occupying the entrance to the Sonkovo Corridor--see my previous post. Come spring you could park a couple of Panzer armies there (mainly hidden by the dense woods), and Moscow could fall quickly.

Second, what else are you going to do with the Finns? I don't see what the German gains by just having them sit there, and he can't use them in any other way, so why not attack? Of course now any attack would probably be doomed, but right after the fall of Lgrad, before I dug in, he could have pushed me around pretty easily.

[76mm]

Hi there comrades, sorry for the break but Ketza was travelling and then I was. Just finished Turn 30. To summarize, he did a good job pulling out his isolated units, but his problems are hardly over. Here are some screenshots:


I think his whole line NW of Bryansk is about to collapse unless he reinforces it soon, although he seems to have some panzers in reserve...he will need them! Otherwise, I'm continuing to extend the line. Given that I've got more units, I figure the longer the line, the better--in the bottom of this picture until he can form a solid line his problems will continue. I figure he can either attack my cav/tank units piercing his line, or retreat, but can't do both very well. Will be interesting to see what he does, and I expect more units are on the way (my recon is almost non-existent as usual).

In the OKK area, as mentioned, he pulled his troops out of isolation, but he still has issues:


I imagine that he is desperately pulling units from other parts of the line to create line, but that will simply weaken other parts of the line, so hopefully I'll be able to take advantage. If he doesn't abandon Kharkov this turn, I will be launching attacks on both flanks next turn to isolate it, in addition to the deep run. I have lots more tank brigades on the way, they are surprisingly useful.

Finally, the South:

Here hs has been retreating a hex every turn, so it has been hard to come to grips with him.

One major question: For some reason, this turn, I was either unable to launch a lot of attacks, or only maybe one unit in a stack would attack, giving me terrible odds...is there some special attack cost for the Sovs during the blizzard? Even infantry units with more than 6 MP could not deliberate attack, often they could not even hasty attack. Any idea what I'm doing wrong?

[karonagames]

Are the units unready? They can only attack if they start the turn adjacent to an enemy unit.