Grand Campaign Haudrauf (Axis) vs. Miller41 (no Miller41 please)

[randallw]

The post blizzard part of 1942 is a very interesting time.  Each side is trying to recover from blizzard period losses, to the point of not being able to launch large attacks.

[CarnageINC]

ORIGINAL: randallw

The post blizzard part of 1942 is a very interesting time.  Each side is trying to recover from blizzard period losses, to the point of not being able to launch large attacks.

Yeah, but it sure does let Miller dig in good and if he's smart he'll dig in also in depth of area too.

[Encircled]

Got to be worth a few spoiling attacks to stop his front line fortifying I'd have thought.

It must be very annoying to have to attempt to cross the Dnepr again, but this time against a much stronger and better organised Soviet army!

[Skacee]

Recently I am reading a book about luftwaffe and VVS in whole russian campaign. They noticed there that after blizzard Wermacht had only 8 divisions able to do normal attack operations and around 40 which could do limited offensive tasks. As seen here the game reflects that very well. What I miss is game ability of luftwaffe attacking bridges and other comunications to prevent reinforcements, which in reality many times helped Germans to succeed. The offensive in Leningrad - for sure there will be huge reinforcements there. I thought that there must be more directions of the attack. The one going to isolate Leningrad - by reaching ports (final one will be Novaya Ladoga) goinig from Novgorod and other going from the bottom of Ilmen over Pola river to Okulovka, Nebolochi and Tikhvin in order to block and keep the reinforcements. Going back with your units before attack in order to move him out of forts is a good trick also. But I agree this is a risky gambit demanding bold attack with (2-)3 Pz armies, because it must be done quickly and with surprise (to keep initative) as well.  1942 is not easy task! Could you anticipate Russians plans?

[randallw]

Bridges basically do not exist in this game.

[ComradeP]

Those equipment problems are odd. Axis production isn't great, but you have "only" around 3500 guns less than at the start of the campaign.

[MrLongleg]

ORIGINAL: ComradeP

Those equipment problems are odd. Axis production isn't great, but you have "only" around 3500 guns less than at the start of the campaign.

Still suffering from it - "Das Reich" only got 4 machine guns in two weeks although refitting in Germany. That sucks big time. My divisions need something to shoot with. Is there any way I can control how armament production works?

[MrLongleg]

Turn 44: 4/16/11

Mud season - so there has been no fighting going on. My infantry divisions are still suffering from armament shortages - machine guns, mortars and artillery pieces are rare.

The big march north continues - I am moving divisions up north 3 or 4 hexes per turn to concentrate more fighting power up there. I also guess that this would be the place for a Russian summer offensive, because from there is the shortest path to Berlin. he has massive reserves in the Smolensk area and is building a second line there. After the mud season I am planning to limited operations Zeus and Odin - see map. The idea is to pockets some units, gain territory and come into a position to threaten Smolensk later in the summer.

In the center Marshall M. is not even following me into the vacated territory. I guess he wants me to attack first. Well - I'd love to see hi launch a big offensive and then cut into his flanks with my Panzers, who are actually slowly recovering - the Panzer divs are now having combat values above 5 already !

My operations won't start before June. And I really hope that he attacks first - would be nice to have something like Kharkov 42 happening to him

[MrLongleg]

"Das Reich" received 4 machine guns in three weeks, still refitting in Germany. At that rate I wil need another 100 weeks until it gets back to its full TOE. Looks like German armament productions is really bad. Is this intended or have I uncovered a bug?

[notenome]

Is Das Reich in refit mode? You can probably check how many machineguns you're building on the production screen. Also setting unit to lower TOE % will free up some elements.

[MrLongleg]

ORIGINAL: notenome

Is Das Reich in refit mode? You can probably check how many machineguns you're building on the production screen. Also setting unit to lower TOE % will free up some elements.

Not only in refit mode, it is refitting in Germany....

[MrLongleg]

It is May 42 - Turn 47

Finally clear weather and I decided to start offensive operations all concentrated on the northern bulge of the red army. All 4 Panzer armies are committed and breaking through level 3 and 4 defenses is very hard. In fact we failed in the northern most attack 4 times involving two infantry corps and a whole Panzer Corps (light woods)

But in three other places we were able to punch small holes in the Russian defense even encircling a stubborn rifle division. Now those penetrations should make all the digged-in units retreat - otherwise they are doomed. And as soon as they leave their forts they are much easier to deal with. But to achieve those tiny holes the German army took more losses than the Russians. Hope that that will change in the next turn. I know he has a lot of reservers to protect Smolensk, so an attack in the south would have been easier - but it does not make sense to advance there and elongating my lines even more. So the northern part is where my 42 campaign will take place. By committing all armored forces there I hope to create enough chaos that will allow me to win back lost terrain and put the hurt on the Red Army.

[cookie monster]

You should blast a 3 hex hole for your panzers to drive thru with infantry.

Those enemy zoc's slow them down to much!!!

[CarnageINC]

ORIGINAL: cookie monster

You should blast a 3 hex hole for your panzers to drive thru with infantry.

Those enemy zoc's slow them down to much!!!

I'm sure he knows this but if you look at the situation of attacking entrenched units and how many ID's he has it probably pretty hard to do that.

Good luck on your summer offensives Haud.

[MrLongleg]

ORIGINAL: cookie monster

You should blast a 3 hex hole for your panzers to drive thru with infantry.

Those enemy zoc's slow them down to much!!!

Smart idea, but unfortunately impossible to implement due to lack of combat value and high level Russian forts all across the line (level 3 and 4). In the north I was not even able to punch 1 one width hole....

[MrLongleg]

ORIGINAL: CarnageINC


Good luck on your summer offensives Haud.

Thanks - I am gonna need it. Soon you will have the Blizzard behind you and hopefully get out of it in better shape than me...

[Encircled]

It will be interesting to see if he stands and fights, as he probably has a pretty ggod idea how badly damaged you are.

If he can fling a load of reserves to stop the breakthroughs, then it could get really interesting

[MrLongleg]

T48: Our spring offensive gains some traction, but losses are high. The southern-most penetration had to be given up. 7th Panzer was even routed - that is a first in this game. Look at the amount of Russian fighting power down there - mostly corps.

[MrLongleg]

T49: I was able to create another pocket around Vitebsk. The one further north holds.

[2ndACR]

I wish my opponent would have attacked during the blizzard, that would have made it some what easier for me to get started again. Right now it is a grind against level 4 forts everywhere.