The Zhukov-less Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux

Post descriptions of your brilliant victories and unfortunate defeats here.

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M60A3TTS
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RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux

Post by M60A3TTS »

Thanks. I'm doing a little better than Dave in his game vs. you, but I largely attribute that to the regular blizzard option we went with.
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RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux

Post by M60A3TTS »

11-17 September 1941 (13th week of the war)

A week of successive calamities result in the worst week of the war over the last two months.

German units in the Leningrad sector are over the Neva. Efforts to provide supply by air to this sector is grossly insufficient to the needs.

In the center, German mobile troops manage to surround two armies of Western Front at Vyazma. General-Armii Pavlov has again failed to manage things properly in his area and now falls back to defend the historic battlefield of Borodino. Meanwhile troops from Kalinin Front take positions further east along the Mozhaysk Line. I travel to this location from 15-17 September to insure energetic preparations are being made for the defense.

Another large grouping of units from Southwestern and Southern Fronts is surrounded at Kharkov. Total men in the combined pockets believed to exceed 500,000. Comrade Stalin is once again raging during evening briefings at the inability of his front commanders to prevent these mass encirclements.

Another 13 heavy industry factories are lost over the last two weeks, reducing our base to a total of 185.

North where Leningrad is now isolated
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Center pocket
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Southern pocket
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RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux

Post by M60A3TTS »

18-24 September 1941 (14th week of the war)

In the north the Germans continue to advance their forces in the vicinity of a now-isolated Leningrad. The city will now almost certainly be taken in a matter of days.

We continue to lose ground in the center as Pavlov’s forces are driven from Borodino.

In the south, Voronezh will soon be a front line city as the Germans are east of the Oskol. Southwestern Front will have to rebuilt along the Don quickly. Many of the units to be sent to the front are the rawest of recruits.
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RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux

Post by loki100 »

ouch, he's producing a series of bruising encirclements and still making progress eastwards ... you must be hoping for mud to relieve the pressure
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RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux

Post by Peltonx »

only good thing about pockets is that slows him down the following turn.

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RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux

Post by HITMAN202 »

M60A, another great AAR !! Pelton is correct (as always) but I want to expand on his point. Reducing a pocket should hamstring the Germans far more (not to add to the "list" of rule changes.) Presently a 30-40 hex pocket can be cleaned out in a single turn. I'm playing A-1 - hard and + 1 defense - and isolated stacks on nonclear terrain can take 2-3 turns to eliminate. I think the Germans faced this dilemma frequently in 1941 around Lake Ilmen.
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RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux

Post by M60A3TTS »

At this particular time, I made a decision to risk losing divisions that would get replaced in order to save industry that would not. Since industry evacuation takes place a turn later, this is now part of my game plan for better or worse.
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RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux

Post by M60A3TTS »

25 September-1 October 1941 (15th week of the war)

This week we have swallowed a most bitter pill; Leningrad has fallen. The State Defense Committee is in a state of agitation over this event but all understand we must continue to fight to whatever end. The general population is shaken by the news of this as our propaganda machine attempts to rally the people and encourage them not to despair.

Our Red Army stands at 4.5 million men, 40,000 guns, 5,400 tanks and 6,700 aircraft. Germany and her allies field a force of 5.5 million men, 3.6 million of them German. We hold a slim lead of 4,000 artillery tubes and slightly over 500 tanks. Our tank losses are truly staggering when one considers we began the war with over 17,000 machines even recognizing that many of these were long overdue for replacement. Only in the air do we outnumber the Luftwaffe by a margin of 2:1. But even there, Germany’s allies can call on another 1,200 aircraft to augment German air forces. Our ground losses to date: 2,510,275 to the Axis 203,000. 32,000 guns lost to their 2,800. 13,800 tanks lost to their 1,500.

Our Heavy Industry base is once again of grave concern. Another 12 factories are lost this week among them 8 in the fallen Leningrad, leaving us with 173. Virtually no room for error remains as we must protect what remains to the uttermost. The Moscow factories are evacuated to the extent our rail capacity allows.

Manpower that has been called up to date from our mobilization centers: 2,081,550

Moscow
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Voronezh
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Rostov
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RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux

Post by loki100 »

ORIGINAL: M60A3TTS

At this particular time, I made a decision to risk losing divisions that would get replaced in order to save industry that would not. Since industry evacuation takes place a turn later, this is now part of my game plan for better or worse.

think you are right, I can't see any way to play under 1.08 other than to constantly look to delay the Germans so you can retain a viable industrial base. Agree with the mindset that (up to a point) the army will return but lost industry is lost for the entire game.
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RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux

Post by Peltonx »

ORIGINAL: HITMAN202

M60A, another great AAR !! Pelton is correct (as always) but I want to expand on his point. Reducing a pocket should hamstring the Germans far more (not to add to the "list" of rule changes.) Presently a 30-40 hex pocket can be cleaned out in a single turn. I'm playing A-1 - hard and + 1 defense - and isolated stacks on nonclear terrain can take 2-3 turns to eliminate. I think the Germans faced this dilemma frequently in 1941 around Lake Ilmen.

This changes with .05.

They retreat easy and don't surrender as easy - if they are getting a good amount of supplies.

pockets can slow down an advance if not planned correctly by GHC.

Once those units are in the "bag" holes open up in Stavka's lines, this is where infantry morale becomes critical for Germany.

Small pockets in my opinion are far better then large, even with new rule set they drop the following turn because you have strong infantry divisions right next to them.

I target high CV stacks as these units are generally full of men with good morale.

This also is a crushing blow to the other players morale as you turn after turn pocket 6-12 of best units, grinding down his army and weaken his lines.

The more he tries to save them the more u pocket the following turn or throwing good money after bad.


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RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux

Post by M60A3TTS »

2-8 October 1941 (16th week of the war)

All eyes are on Moscow as the Germans have reached the outskirts of the western suburbs. There is no room left to retreat south of the capital and units in the area are ordered to defend their positions along the River Moskva to the last man. There is some breathing room to the north as Marshal Timoshenko’s Kalinin Front, formerly Reserve Front, holds ground northwest of Moscow for a distance of some 50-60 miles. It seems if the Germans are to make one last lunge at the capital before the Autumn rains, it will have to come primarily from the south. Accordingly, the strongest available units have been assigned to this sector. General Galitsky of Western Front’s 4th Army holds the key positions here.

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RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux

Post by M60A3TTS »

9-15 October 1941 (17th week of the war)

We have halted the Germans at the gates of Moscow in the last days before the rasputitsa. There should now be a period of a few weeks where we can organize our defenses to challenge an enemy attempt to isolate the capital.

Ground losses to date:
Men: 2,674,124 KIA: 257,563 WIA: 548,760 POW: 1,867,801
Guns: 34,102
AFV: 14,247
SPA&AC: 4,666
Axis losses: 224,000 men 3,200 guns 1,800 tanks 400 SPGs and armor cars.

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RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux

Post by M60A3TTS »

16-22 October 1941 (18th week of the war)

Pouring rain everywhere across the front. The enemy is for the moment paralyzed in the mud and unable or unwilling to launch any offensive action. Badly needed manpower replacements are allowing us to build our rifle divisions and brigades back up. The best estimates from our meteorologists is that this weather will continue for another three weeks or so. A most needed respite!

The Armored Directorate of the Red Army has completed the proposal for the deployment of 24 tank brigades and/or divisions for a winter campaign. It is considered desirable to include the most experienced units that include formerly converted tank divisions. The tank units to be assigned as follows:
2nd Shock Army to be raised within six weeks (6)
3rd Shock Army to be raised within eight weeks (6)
4th Shock Army to be raised within eight weeks (6)
To be all tank initially, later to include motorized formations the following year.

Two combined arms armies to receive 3 brigades each. This will allow us to determine the usefulness of mixing formations of tank and infantry within the same army. One of the combined arms armies (20th /G. Zakharov) will be an established formation. The other will be the new 60th Army that is scheduled to form in four weeks. This will allow us to compare performance.


I'm only deploying enough tank brigades to get some wins accumulated for future guards tank corps. The CVs aren't going to add much to the combat value and tank brigades advancing in blizzard eats more trucks that I will need down the line. By the time summer returns, all the brigades in the rear will be up to 50 experience.
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RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux

Post by M60A3TTS »

23-29 October 1941 (19th week of the war)

Tension is palpable in Moscow as the people realize this relief is only temporary, and that once the temperatures drop sufficiently to allow the Germans to move again, they will no doubt be on the move.

A series of high level meetings take place as considerations must be made as they relate to the resumption of the German offensive as the weather clears. The General Staff is asked by Comrade Stalin whether Moscow can be held. Our response is that if the Germans want it badly enough and do not attempt to cast too wide a net, then it is quite possible for them to surround the capital. Their ground forces lost only a quarter of a million men in the campaign thus far, and their tank forces seem to have suffered little ill effect in driving us back to the positions we hold now. The discussion then moved to a comparison of the Napoleonic campaign. It was mid-September when the French reached the Kremlin but were gone by this time in 1812 having only remained a month. If the Germans choose to stay and fight it out in November, they will be facing exposure to the most severe elements of winter. Further, if they only take our capital and destroy the troops in and immediately around the city, we will be in possession of sufficient forces to strike back and retake Moscow. Subsequently their occupation may be short-lived. Comrade Stalin expressed the view that should we lose Moscow, a recapture of the city within a few weeks would be vital to the survival of the USSR.

An analysis of remaining industry which would potentially be lost in Moscow included arms and vehicle factories, a portion of future Yak-7A production, half our Pe-2R recon aircraft production, a third of our IL-4 and a quarter of our U-2VS production, and all T-40 light tank production.

Voronezh sector
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Southern area
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RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux

Post by M60A3TTS »

30 October-5 November 1941 (20th week of the war)

Government organs are evacuating Moscow and establishing new offices in Kuybyshev. STAVKA headquarters is positioned 40 miles northeast of the capital. Signs of panic in some areas of the capital as some citizens who have the means to get out are doing so.

On 4 November, Comrade Stalin asks when is the latest he can safely leave Moscow should the Germans make their push on the city. I reply 14 November is the best estimate. The following day, Comrade Stalin announces that he has decided to remain in the capital.
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RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux

Post by M60A3TTS »

6-12 November 1941 (21st week of the war)

Comrade Stalin makes a stirring speech to the Soviet people on 7 November. A parade of Red Army units through Red Square followed. Marshal Budyonny who stood next to Stalin during the review was so moved by it all, I thought he might be ready to jump onto one of the tachanka machine-gun carts! State media captured the parade highlights on film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLFIfShr5Qc

A new spirit is in the air. Security forces throughout Moscow restore order and the city evacuations are halted. The Red Army will defend their position to the utmost in the remaining weeks available for German offensive action. The rains have come to an end and the snow accompanied by sub-freezing temperatures have moved in. The Germans will no doubt be on the move within days. The only question remaining is where.

At this critical time, General-Armii Meretskov of the Northwest Front has replaced General-Armii Pavlov as commander of the Western Front. There is little faith that Pavlov will hold back the Germans in front of Moscow. To defend the skies over Moscow, over 1,000 aircraft are assigned to Western Air Command.

Comrade Stalin sends Marshal Budyonny to take over Northwest Front. STAVKA planning focuses on defending Moscow and failing a successful defense, organizing a counteroffensive once the weather becomes extreme. The Germans have very powerful forces outside the capital, so significant resources in the counteroffensive will be required. As part of this we are raising fresh cavalry divisions to augment our forces designated for the offensive. We expect to have 20 cavalry corps operational in 5 armies around the start of the campaign.

North Caucasus Military District was renamed Caucasus Front

Transcaucasus Military District was renamed Transcaucasus Front

The Bureau for Armored Vehicles of the Industrial Council reports on T-34 tank production. We are producing 90 per week i](build limit 70 units/factory)[[/i] at the following locations:
Stalingrad Tractor Factory- 46
Gorky Factory N.92 – 22
Nizhny Tagil Krasnoye Sormovo Factory N.112 – 22
Nizhny Tagil Stalin Ural Tank Factory N.183 – 1 (58% damage)

Moscow
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Voronezh
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Rostov
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Front strength
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Air forces
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RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux

Post by loki100 »

a bit scary, but realistically Dave can only attack for a couple of turns (presume he will pull back before the winter offensive) so you should be safe?
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RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux

Post by M60A3TTS »

13-19 November 1941 (22nd week of the war)

Cold weather has now arrived and the ground sufficiently hardened for the Germans to move again. Their first and most critical opportunity to march on Moscow appears to be squandered. The only significant attacks take place south of the Oka and gain the enemy 20-30 miles. Is it possible our enemy doesn’t have the stomach for a push on the greatest prize of the campaign? If they do not attack next week, the answer will be clear. Contingency planning must now be finalized for our winter counteroffensive that assumes Moscow remains in our possession.
The responsibility for the defense of greater Moscow rests in the hands of three fine infantry commanders.

North Moscow- 4th Army Kuzma Galitsky
West Moscow 31st Army Fyodor Tolbukhin
Moscow 20th Army Georgy Zakharov

It grates on Marshal Kulik who commands the Moscow Military District that it is not his rifle divisions that protect the capital. Comrade Stalin is loyal to his closest friends, but he is not foolish.

Report from General Polkovnik Kirponos on the readiness of Southwestern Front
5th Army- I Fedyuninsky. 7 div 4 bde. Not in a high state of readiness. 5 of 7 rifle divs exp < 25.
6th Army- M. Khozin 7 divs 3 bdes. 4 of 7 divs exp < 32
12th Army- V. Gordov 6 divs 5 bdes all rifle divs exp < 30
26th Army- F. Kostenko 7 divs 4 bdes div exp 5 30’s 2 20’s

Heavy Industry (4) evacuated from Stalingrad

60th Army is activated under General-Maior Issa Pliev. This is the army to receive three tank brigades in addition to several infantry units and Pliev is believed to have the attributes of a good commander of mechanized troops. There is some concern over his administrative and infantry abilities but he will be given the benefit of the doubt for the moment.

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RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux

Post by Peltonx »

I think he is loading his guns for 42.

Oka north the lines will not move until 44 or very late 43.

His play ground is Oka south. Not sure where he copied that from, what CG you playing SD or 260?
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RE: The Zhukov Memoirs - GC41-45 M60 vs smokindave redux

Post by M60A3TTS »

Neither. Standard Game.
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