Back in the East STEF78 (Axis) Oshawott (USSR)

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Wed Jun 04, 2014 3:03 pm

ORIGINAL: bigbaba

attacking out of crim paninsula isn't that easy for the red army. they don't have an intact railroad there if axis had captured crim previously and gave up the area in the blizzard. don't know if that is the case in this game.

if he nwas able to hold crim and therefore has an injtact rail supply there then you have a problem.[:)]

Not taking Odessa during summer was a mistake. But it's done.

Now, when I'm looking at the map, I see a lot of opportunities when 1v1 = 2v1 is over.

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Thu Jun 05, 2014 11:42 am

Turn 32, 22th january 1942

Heavy pressure all along the front. Nothing dramatic but hot situations. Oshawott is keen on calculation. Very few helds despite strong activation system.

Focus on 3 areas

1) Novgorod

It was a good anchor but I have to evacuate the city. SHC is making an important effort to free Leningrad. I'm too weak to take the city, the finns are too strong for him, that's the only way

2) Center - clear terrain

I try to use the cities as anchors. Dangerous game, earning one more turn can cost surrounded units.

3) Odessa / Crimea

He is obviously trying to realize the junction.At a moment I was tempted by a gambit letting him succeed in order to harvest in march or may. But it would be a waste of time. I have other goals for may 1942.

loki100 · Post by **loki100** » Thu Jun 05, 2014 11:51 am

impressed that you are still quite optimistic

I think I'd be hiding behind the sofa by now ...[8D]

Oshawott · Post by **Oshawott** » Thu Jun 05, 2014 6:06 pm

I think I'd be hiding behind the sofa by now

Don't sell the bearskin before killing it. This game has the potential for huge mistakes with drastic consequences. I will wait until 43 before making any predictions.

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Fri Jun 06, 2014 7:01 pm

ORIGINAL: loki100

impressed that you are still quite optimistic

Life is more beautiful when you're optimistic [:)]

I think I'd be hiding behind the sofa by now ...[8D]

I won't!

The game isn't over. I already tried a full defensive game against Schascha and it doesn't work against a good russian player. And I think that Oshawott is a good russian player!

My goals:
- survive to the blizzard, it will be done, we are late february and 1v1 = 2v1 is soon away
- try to get the 260 VC before fall 1942
- if not, get a draw

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Fri Jun 06, 2014 7:04 pm

ORIGINAL: Oshawott

I think I'd be hiding behind the sofa by now

Don't sell the bearskin before killing it. This game has the potential for huge mistakes with drastic consequences. I will wait until 43 before making any predictions.

I don't think that you will make huge mistakes [:(]

And maybe you you have written wolfskin as bear is the symbol of Russia...

Oshawott · Post by **Oshawott** » Fri Jun 06, 2014 7:43 pm

And maybe you you have written wolfskin as bear is the symbol of Russia...

Good point! Technically, however, it would have to be the Eagle. [;)]

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Sat Jun 07, 2014 10:25 am

Turn 33, 29th january 1942

SHC pressure continues.

Focus on 2 sectors:

Kharkov
Oshawott tried an encirclement of the city. Strong counterattacks are required and the city is evacuated.

Odessa
Junction by ground won't occur. Ochakov is taken.

And the view of the german attacks

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Sun Jun 08, 2014 11:03 am

Turn 34, 5th February

Situation is serious for the german army.

1) I spend most of my AP to replace the good leaders dismissed by e-adolf

2) I'm now facing a lot of guards units and in 2 sectors of the front I'm only a punching ball
- between south-Briansk and Kursk
- between Kherson and Zaporoje

3)My armanent pool is at zero for several weeks so even Inf Divs in refit mode don't see their CV climb

4) I pay the price for not taking Odessa during summer. All my reinforcements are sent here

5) In the north, SHC is very close from cutting the vital rail line

Positive points, I'm still able to counterattack

And in real time the game is in march 1942, with my defensive CV climbing!!!

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Sun Jun 08, 2014 2:42 pm

Turn 35, 12 th february 1942

Despite numerous attacks Pskov, Smolensk and Briansk sectors hold.

Fighting retreat in the southern part of the front.

In the extreme South situation becomes chaotic. Lower Dniepr is crossed. Near Kherson I have 3 german divs and nothing valuable South of Zaporoje.

Oshaowott attacks out of Odessa. Fortunatly, 3 divs arrive as reinforcement. I will be able to get the initiative back.

I attack north of Odessa and sacrify a Mot to show him that it is dangerous to be far away from the port.

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 6:28 am

Turn 36, 19th february 1942

I'm taking heavy losses especially in rifle squads. GHC is under 21k german rifle squads ready. At this stage of the game, that's low, too low! And armaments are still at zero.

But we keep on fighting!

Pskov/Novgorod

Heavy fights, but situation seems under control

Smolensk

A single counterattack... successfull

Odessa/Lower Dniepr

Situation not under control. 3 Inf divs initially scheduled for Odessa sent north of Kherson.

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 11:49 am

Turn 37, 26th February 1942

Last turn with 1v1 = 2v1

Always losing ground and suffering heavy losses south of Briansk.

Pskov/Novgorod

Oshawott as lost his momentum in this area. Blizzard campaign almost over here

Extreme south
Zaporoje surrounded and rescued. Dniepropetrovsk Under threat. I don't make the gamble of fighting for both town. Surely an error for Dniepropetrovsk.

Heavy fights on lower Dniepr. Most of my romanians units are "unready"

loki100 · Post by **loki100** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 12:38 pm

good you seem to have stalled the offensive in the north, presume as soon as you can you'll destroy that remaining force in Leningrad?

I know you are capable of a superb 1942 campaign, but if you can rescue anything from the wreckage of this offensive that will be incredible [8D]

Wuffer · Post by **Wuffer** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 12:56 pm

ORIGINAL: loki100

I know you are capable of a superb 1942 campaign, but if you can rescue anything from the wreckage of this offensive that will be incredible [8D]

Thought exactly the same - forget about the eagle, he's dead, time for le coq gaulois.

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 1:22 pm

ORIGINAL: loki100

good you seem to have stalled the offensive in the north, presume as soon as you can you'll destroy that remaining force in Leningrad?

Leningrad will be cleared in March or May

I know you are capable of a superb 1942 campaign, but if you can rescue anything from the wreckage of this offensive that will be incredible [8D]

Frogmarc and Oshawott aren't the same type of player. He won't let me travel through his lines without reacting.

But with clear weather, I wil recover my CV's and above all my mobility. He cannot be strong everywhere

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 1:23 pm

ORIGINAL: Wuffer

ORIGINAL: loki100

I know you are capable of a superb 1942 campaign, but if you can rescue anything from the wreckage of this offensive that will be incredible [8D]

Thought exactly the same - forget about the eagle, he's dead, time for le coq gaulois.

Le coq gaulois has lost some feathers but he is still alive!

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 1:39 pm

Turn 38, 5th march 1942

A global overview of the 1941/1942 blizzard campaign. It'been very intense. Another time, thank you Morvael for this option.

Blue lines represent the german strong positions. Note that SHC has withdrawn from exposed positions.

At the end of the blizzard, SHC is close from 7M men. It's a high level.

I'm very low on tanks but it has no importance. Still zero on german armaments.

Let's refit and earn some morale now. Next step, may 1942!

Oshawott · Post by **Oshawott** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 5:03 pm

Cool map! Very interesting to visualize the progress during blizzard.

North and Center have been incredibly tough. Without 1=2 I would have not been able to advance as far and the offensive would have probably stalled very early.

There is very little the Axis player can do in the Southwest and South even with reduced blizzard. The only hope is to defend the light urban hexes.

Your defense was very interesting and skillful. Without the 1=2 rule you would have caused the Russians massive losses in men and morale.

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Tue Jun 10, 2014 5:07 pm

ORIGINAL: Oshawott

North and Center have been incredibly tough. Without 1=2 I would have not been able to advance as far and the offensive would have probably stalled very early.

1v1 = 2v1 should be optional, or at least only occur in december in order for the russian to be able to breech the line

The same for HQBU. It's too powerfull for the germans in 1941. Their effects should be mitigated.

There is very little the Axis player can do in the Southwest and South even with reduced blizzard. The only hope is to defend the light urban hexes.

In fact you used a very different strategy than my previous opponents. They were all focused on encirclement. You did/tried only half a dozen (2 north of Smolensk, 2 close from Zaporoje et Dniepropetrovsk, 2 at Kursk/Karkhov)

On the other part, my rifle squads were badly beaten.

We shall see if it was the right strategy. I think that destroying german units is a good deal. They come back with a 50 morale and it's very difficult to get them back to 70.

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Tue Jun 10, 2014 5:56 pm

Turn 39, 12th march 1942

Not strong enough for a major counterattack

Main activity in the north where I try (with the help of Oshawott) to reduce the bulge

In Odessa, he evacutes (with my help) the area