Operation Typhoon: MrBendy vs Cpt Cruft (game over: Soviet Marginal)
Moderators: JAMiAM, ralphtricky
RE: Turn 4
Very entertaining, lads. Good luck, Cruft. [:D]
To repeat history in a game is to be predictable.
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Captain Cruft
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Turn 5
Turn 5
Luck? Who needs luck? LOL. Yes, me! [;)]
There is little to report after turn 5. Guderian's spearhead has reached Orel, where the fearsome resident 1-1 NKVD garrison awaits.
I won't be posting any maps for a while, since they give too much intel to the enemy. Maybe when I have time to do an edit job to blank out sensitive areas ...
Luck? Who needs luck? LOL. Yes, me! [;)]
There is little to report after turn 5. Guderian's spearhead has reached Orel, where the fearsome resident 1-1 NKVD garrison awaits.
I won't be posting any maps for a while, since they give too much intel to the enemy. Maybe when I have time to do an edit job to blank out sensitive areas ...
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Captain Cruft
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Turn 6
Turn 6
The brave NKVD hold out at Orel against about half a panzer division. Wow!
Unfortunately, their comrades at Kursk did not do so well and have been summarily evaporated.
Things are still very desperate for the Soviets. However, one thing which gives me hope is that German command seems to insist on every single pocket being hoovered up, regardless of size. Which might just buy me that little extra bit of time.
The brave NKVD hold out at Orel against about half a panzer division. Wow!
Unfortunately, their comrades at Kursk did not do so well and have been summarily evaporated.
Things are still very desperate for the Soviets. However, one thing which gives me hope is that German command seems to insist on every single pocket being hoovered up, regardless of size. Which might just buy me that little extra bit of time.
RE: Turn 6
Germany upto end Turn 7
The German commanders nervously look to the gathering rainclouds in the sky. The advance is going well, but not quick enough. Guderian has now driven well past Orel, and captured Kursk. The drive northeast will resume, but most of the units are looking tired, and supplies are running short.
Weichs is STILL mopping up troops past Bryansk, and needed assistance from some of Guderians' Panzer units. Whilst this has taken time, he should now be able to support the main drive.
The Luftwaffe did well this turn. Particular focus against the airfields at Uzlovaga - 240 enemy killed for 60 of my own. I feel the luftwaffe will be key if the Soviets find reserves to counterattack.
In the north Hoepner finally cleared Spas-Demansk, and now stands poised to either swing north or north-east.
I probably have only a couple more turns to make a real difference here...
The German commanders nervously look to the gathering rainclouds in the sky. The advance is going well, but not quick enough. Guderian has now driven well past Orel, and captured Kursk. The drive northeast will resume, but most of the units are looking tired, and supplies are running short.
Weichs is STILL mopping up troops past Bryansk, and needed assistance from some of Guderians' Panzer units. Whilst this has taken time, he should now be able to support the main drive.
The Luftwaffe did well this turn. Particular focus against the airfields at Uzlovaga - 240 enemy killed for 60 of my own. I feel the luftwaffe will be key if the Soviets find reserves to counterattack.
In the north Hoepner finally cleared Spas-Demansk, and now stands poised to either swing north or north-east.
I probably have only a couple more turns to make a real difference here...
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Captain Cruft
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RE: Turn 6
Turn 7
Things remain exceedingly dire. Orel has fallen and now the panzer spearheads are only about two turns away from Tula.
One small consolation. Contrary to the blatant German propaganda previously reported, our brave, patriotic and un-trained air force pilots had a very good turn in the air:
Things remain exceedingly dire. Orel has fallen and now the panzer spearheads are only about two turns away from Tula.
One small consolation. Contrary to the blatant German propaganda previously reported, our brave, patriotic and un-trained air force pilots had a very good turn in the air:
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Industrial
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RE: Turn 6
ORIGINAL: Captain Cruft
One small consolation. Contrary to the blatant German propaganda previously reported, our brave, patriotic and un-trained air force pilots had a very good turn in the air:
Uh, you DO know that the air report is quite inaccurate, don't you? [;)] The air force is notorious for bragging, so only your own losses are correct, while the (predicted) enemy losses should be divided by 3 to come closer to the real results [:D]
"The conventional army loses if it does not win. The guerrilla wins if he does not lose."
Henry Alfred Kissinger
<--- aka: Kraut
Henry Alfred Kissinger
<--- aka: Kraut
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Captain Cruft
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RE: Turn 6
Yep I did know that. My purpose was merely to show that the air battle is not completely one-sided [:)]
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Captain Cruft
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Turn 8
Turn 8
Well I under-estimated just how quickly the Germans could make it to Tula. Cavalry units have been spotted around 20km from this strategic location. Strategic meaning that the Soviets get a -5 supply stockpile reduction should the Germans occupy it ...
On the bright side, I have received the first of many scheduled re-inforcements, in the form of the 20th Army. They are now hurrying towards the front. Unfortunately, due to my hurry, I completely forgot to realise that I could have entrained the units. Therefore they are travelling by road and suffering supply and readiness losses as a result.
Oh well, you live and learn ... [:)]
On the "event front", we have now gone into "mud mode", meaning that supply only extends 2 hexes from railheads, as opposed to the norm of 8 hexes. This should in theory be an advantage for the Soviets, since all my forces that were far from rail lines have been exterminated. LOL.
Well I under-estimated just how quickly the Germans could make it to Tula. Cavalry units have been spotted around 20km from this strategic location. Strategic meaning that the Soviets get a -5 supply stockpile reduction should the Germans occupy it ...
On the bright side, I have received the first of many scheduled re-inforcements, in the form of the 20th Army. They are now hurrying towards the front. Unfortunately, due to my hurry, I completely forgot to realise that I could have entrained the units. Therefore they are travelling by road and suffering supply and readiness losses as a result.
Oh well, you live and learn ... [:)]
On the "event front", we have now gone into "mud mode", meaning that supply only extends 2 hexes from railheads, as opposed to the norm of 8 hexes. This should in theory be an advantage for the Soviets, since all my forces that were far from rail lines have been exterminated. LOL.
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Captain Cruft
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Turn 9
Turn 9
Tula holds
Well I managed to get the afore-mentioned 20th Army to Tula, to help out the 5th Gds Cav Corps, who had been dug in there for some time.
The town holds, and we have even driven some of the hordes of enemy recon units back! I notice that most of the evil fascists are in yellow or orange status, some are even red. Perhaps there is hope after all ...
Elsewhere, the one remaining part of my original front line is now under serious assault. This is in the Vyazma area. I am being a bit cheeky here and trying to pocket part of the 11th Pz Div, which had broken through right up to the top map edge. I figure that if the brave heroes of the Motherland are going to die they might as well make a fight of it. Sitting in Fortified mode against these Germans doesn't seem to do much good anyway.
Most pleasingly, I got my first evaporation this turn. A battered tank brigade in the "Vyazma woods" area attacked an adjacent pesky Krad unit for the hell of it. To my surprise and delight I not only got an over-run but the motorbike boys completely disappeared! [:D]
From this, and the action around Tula, I would guess that MrBendy likes to split his recon units up to cover more ground ...
Tula holds
Well I managed to get the afore-mentioned 20th Army to Tula, to help out the 5th Gds Cav Corps, who had been dug in there for some time.
The town holds, and we have even driven some of the hordes of enemy recon units back! I notice that most of the evil fascists are in yellow or orange status, some are even red. Perhaps there is hope after all ...
Elsewhere, the one remaining part of my original front line is now under serious assault. This is in the Vyazma area. I am being a bit cheeky here and trying to pocket part of the 11th Pz Div, which had broken through right up to the top map edge. I figure that if the brave heroes of the Motherland are going to die they might as well make a fight of it. Sitting in Fortified mode against these Germans doesn't seem to do much good anyway.
Most pleasingly, I got my first evaporation this turn. A battered tank brigade in the "Vyazma woods" area attacked an adjacent pesky Krad unit for the hell of it. To my surprise and delight I not only got an over-run but the motorbike boys completely disappeared! [:D]
From this, and the action around Tula, I would guess that MrBendy likes to split his recon units up to cover more ground ...
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Captain Cruft
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RE: Turn 9
Turn 11
I'm not sure what happened to turn 10, oh well ...
Little change really - the mud is definitely slowing the Germans down.
Tula continues to hold out, despite some of the defending units getting beaten up pretty badly. I have also noticed some recon elements attempting to surround me to the north-east. However, since I am blocking the road and rail in this area and these units are probably in at least orange state I'm not too worried.
Things around Vyazma and to the west are pretty chaotic. I keep trying to counter-attack against the weak recon and arty units, just to confuse things and threaten counter-encirclement.
The only new point worth mentioning is that German elements are now approaching the Kaluga area, which is a fortified line in the centre of the map about the same distance from Moscow as Tula. Let's see if my brave boys there can do as well as the guys at Tula. If they can, then I might start to get vaguely optimistic about not losing this game ...
Here is a heavily-censored map showing the front-line areas.
I'm not sure what happened to turn 10, oh well ...
Little change really - the mud is definitely slowing the Germans down.
Tula continues to hold out, despite some of the defending units getting beaten up pretty badly. I have also noticed some recon elements attempting to surround me to the north-east. However, since I am blocking the road and rail in this area and these units are probably in at least orange state I'm not too worried.
Things around Vyazma and to the west are pretty chaotic. I keep trying to counter-attack against the weak recon and arty units, just to confuse things and threaten counter-encirclement.
The only new point worth mentioning is that German elements are now approaching the Kaluga area, which is a fortified line in the centre of the map about the same distance from Moscow as Tula. Let's see if my brave boys there can do as well as the guys at Tula. If they can, then I might start to get vaguely optimistic about not losing this game ...
Here is a heavily-censored map showing the front-line areas.
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Captain Cruft
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Pictures
BTW, if anyone is curious about how I do the really artistic graphics (lol), I just use Irfanview. This is a freeware graphic manipulation program. What I like about it is ease of use and it's not too complicated. Ideal for these AAR maps and stuff.
You can find it at http://www.irfanview.com
You can find it at http://www.irfanview.com
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Captain Cruft
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- Location: England
Turn 12
Turn 12
Much the same. The battles around Tula and in the Vyazma area rage on ...
Soviet reinforcements are starting to arrive every turn now. I really like en-training them and moving them off towards the front. The rail movement was one of the things that sold me on this game. Easily pleased, I know ... [;)]
Much the same. The battles around Tula and in the Vyazma area rage on ...
Soviet reinforcements are starting to arrive every turn now. I really like en-training them and moving them off towards the front. The rail movement was one of the things that sold me on this game. Easily pleased, I know ... [;)]
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Captain Cruft
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Turn 14
Turn 14
See map below. The Germans are going flat out to get to Moscow, regardless of their supply state.
Tula still holds but is now cut-off. I tried to counter-attack this turn to relieve the town but it didn't work. Mostly due to the Luftwaffe I think.
On the plus side, the Voronezh Front has initiated a small counter-attack, which you can see towards the bottom right of the picture. There do not seem to be many Germans in this area ...
See map below. The Germans are going flat out to get to Moscow, regardless of their supply state.
Tula still holds but is now cut-off. I tried to counter-attack this turn to relieve the town but it didn't work. Mostly due to the Luftwaffe I think.
On the plus side, the Voronezh Front has initiated a small counter-attack, which you can see towards the bottom right of the picture. There do not seem to be many Germans in this area ...
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Captain Cruft
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Turn 15
Turn 15
There is no let up in the fighting. Vyazma and Kaluga fall easily to the tired Germans, but Tula still holds out! The town was surrounded when I opened the turn but my brave troops have counter-attacked and a corridor is now open again.
In the south-west, where you can see a clump of red and blue units in the last picture, I even managed to evaporate a German infantry unit with another attack.
MrBendy really is going hell for leather in his attempt to get to Moscow. Any hole in my lines is found and exploited. However, just about all of these far-flung German units are in red status. So ... we will have to see what happens [:)]
There is no let up in the fighting. Vyazma and Kaluga fall easily to the tired Germans, but Tula still holds out! The town was surrounded when I opened the turn but my brave troops have counter-attacked and a corridor is now open again.
In the south-west, where you can see a clump of red and blue units in the last picture, I even managed to evaporate a German infantry unit with another attack.
MrBendy really is going hell for leather in his attempt to get to Moscow. Any hole in my lines is found and exploited. However, just about all of these far-flung German units are in red status. So ... we will have to see what happens [:)]
RE: Turn 15
Sorry it has been a while since my last update.
Status as at16 November 1941.
This is the high point of the German offensive. Things are likely to get significantly worse from here on in. The Wehrmacht is exhausted, but finally last turn Tula fell, hopefully hitting Soviet supply hard, and certainly a morale tonic for the tired troops.
In the North Kluge took Vyazma some turns ago, and with Hoepner is now mopping up and about to turn east. Units had already been fed around the back of the Soviet 30th and 32 armies, and whatever happens I dont see any collapse for the forces here.
In the center a small force managed to penetrate through the largely undefended outer fortification ring, and get all the way to Alekxin. However this force is in very bad shape, and attacks have been minimal at best.
In the upper south Guderian's main thrust took Tula as reported. Some Panzer units had already bypassed the town, and cut the road and rail links further north at Serpukhov, but have now hit a real brick wall.
South of that is a big empty wilderness, with security forces holding key towns. I have a fear that some big force is being assembled there, and I will need to take that into account.
One really good point for me is the shape of the luftwaffe, which is generally green. However in taking Tula I committed all of my Ju-87 squadrons, and they paid a heavy price. The Heinkels, Dorniers and Ju-88s are not nearly so usefull in the combat support role, and interdiction is not really as usefull this close to Moscow.
The units generally are getting messy and unlinked. This turn I need to consolidate and reform, and start to deal with the possibility of going over to the defensive soon
Status as at16 November 1941.
This is the high point of the German offensive. Things are likely to get significantly worse from here on in. The Wehrmacht is exhausted, but finally last turn Tula fell, hopefully hitting Soviet supply hard, and certainly a morale tonic for the tired troops.
In the North Kluge took Vyazma some turns ago, and with Hoepner is now mopping up and about to turn east. Units had already been fed around the back of the Soviet 30th and 32 armies, and whatever happens I dont see any collapse for the forces here.
In the center a small force managed to penetrate through the largely undefended outer fortification ring, and get all the way to Alekxin. However this force is in very bad shape, and attacks have been minimal at best.
In the upper south Guderian's main thrust took Tula as reported. Some Panzer units had already bypassed the town, and cut the road and rail links further north at Serpukhov, but have now hit a real brick wall.
South of that is a big empty wilderness, with security forces holding key towns. I have a fear that some big force is being assembled there, and I will need to take that into account.
One really good point for me is the shape of the luftwaffe, which is generally green. However in taking Tula I committed all of my Ju-87 squadrons, and they paid a heavy price. The Heinkels, Dorniers and Ju-88s are not nearly so usefull in the combat support role, and interdiction is not really as usefull this close to Moscow.
The units generally are getting messy and unlinked. This turn I need to consolidate and reform, and start to deal with the possibility of going over to the defensive soon
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Captain Cruft
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Turn 17
Turn 17
Yes I think we may have reached a turning point. The Germans were observed to be heading backwards in some areas this turn and Moscow looks to be totally out of reach for them.
Below is the current overview map. On it you can see part of the "big force" in the south which MrBendy alluded to. Portions of the 10th Army are approaching Kursk (worth 5 VPs).
As of now Moscow and Voronezh are the only objectives remaining in Soviet hands, and the score says "Draw". Force Penalties are about even and low in number. Therefore, it looks like I need to re-take at least a couple of towns to get a marginal victory. I think it's going to be tough ... [;)]
Yes I think we may have reached a turning point. The Germans were observed to be heading backwards in some areas this turn and Moscow looks to be totally out of reach for them.
Below is the current overview map. On it you can see part of the "big force" in the south which MrBendy alluded to. Portions of the 10th Army are approaching Kursk (worth 5 VPs).
As of now Moscow and Voronezh are the only objectives remaining in Soviet hands, and the score says "Draw". Force Penalties are about even and low in number. Therefore, it looks like I need to re-take at least a couple of towns to get a marginal victory. I think it's going to be tough ... [;)]
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Captain Cruft
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Turn 18
Turn 18
Things are definitely getting better for the Ruskies.
The single German infantry unit at Kursk is surrounded. You can see some frantic reinforcements coming down the road from the north-east but they didn't make it. I have also decided to take a look at Yelets, the other objective town in the southern region. As you can see ... [:D]
Things are definitely getting better for the Ruskies.
The single German infantry unit at Kursk is surrounded. You can see some frantic reinforcements coming down the road from the north-east but they didn't make it. I have also decided to take a look at Yelets, the other objective town in the southern region. As you can see ... [:D]
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RE: Turn 18
Axis Turn 19 23/11/1941.
Grim faces at the staff briefing this morning. Not only has the advance around Tula slowed to a crawl, but the 338th Infantry regiment radio'd a huge mass of Soviet Tanks and Infantry (reported to be surrounding the town of Kursk. Added to this is the extreme cold settling over the front.
The southern sector is look bleak, the scratch units sent to relieve Kursk not getting there in time. Only one bright spot however - the Fuehrer had insisted Guderian rest a single 'firebrigade' division in the event of an unexpected counterattack. Fortunatly this unit is at Orel, just north of Kursk, and the unit also happens to be the fully rested, fully supplied SS Das Reich division. Will it be enough? An attack on the northwest sector combined with a breakout attempt is ordered.
Hitler instructs Guderian to switch to the defensive; units are to be rested and resuppliedif at all possible, particularly around Tula. Further north Kluge continues to roll up the Soviets around Gzhatks.
Results; the breakout at Kursk succeeded, but only by abondoning the town. And now with an angry 10th Army against the SS Das Reich (and some scratch infantry), the southern sector is going to be very intersting over the next few turns.
Grim faces at the staff briefing this morning. Not only has the advance around Tula slowed to a crawl, but the 338th Infantry regiment radio'd a huge mass of Soviet Tanks and Infantry (reported to be surrounding the town of Kursk. Added to this is the extreme cold settling over the front.
The southern sector is look bleak, the scratch units sent to relieve Kursk not getting there in time. Only one bright spot however - the Fuehrer had insisted Guderian rest a single 'firebrigade' division in the event of an unexpected counterattack. Fortunatly this unit is at Orel, just north of Kursk, and the unit also happens to be the fully rested, fully supplied SS Das Reich division. Will it be enough? An attack on the northwest sector combined with a breakout attempt is ordered.
Hitler instructs Guderian to switch to the defensive; units are to be rested and resuppliedif at all possible, particularly around Tula. Further north Kluge continues to roll up the Soviets around Gzhatks.
Results; the breakout at Kursk succeeded, but only by abondoning the town. And now with an angry 10th Army against the SS Das Reich (and some scratch infantry), the southern sector is going to be very intersting over the next few turns.
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Captain Cruft
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Turn 19
Turn 19
Indeed, even with the just arrived Das Reich division the Sovs look to have an advantage in the southern sector.
As reported Kursk has returned to its rightful owners, and we have also despatched a SEC unit which had wandered into our path. This has not changed the verdict from "Draw" though. I think I will need to re-take one or more of the higher value objectives in the northern area. Which might be difficult, considering the numerous Germans can use the entrenchments we built earlier.
However, on the plus side it does appear that the Germans have finally given up any hopes of reaching Moscow. It looks like they will now attempt to form some sort of defensive line based on Tula and extending north-west from there.
Time to release the hounds methinks [;)] Only 6 turns left now ...
Indeed, even with the just arrived Das Reich division the Sovs look to have an advantage in the southern sector.
As reported Kursk has returned to its rightful owners, and we have also despatched a SEC unit which had wandered into our path. This has not changed the verdict from "Draw" though. I think I will need to re-take one or more of the higher value objectives in the northern area. Which might be difficult, considering the numerous Germans can use the entrenchments we built earlier.
However, on the plus side it does appear that the Germans have finally given up any hopes of reaching Moscow. It looks like they will now attempt to form some sort of defensive line based on Tula and extending north-west from there.
Time to release the hounds methinks [;)] Only 6 turns left now ...