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Here you can see what I mentioned (the Gorky thing). Low morale units have arrived or are arriving (the icon train). They keep being attached to their original armies as I don't have enough APs. When they are ready and are reassigned to frontline armies I need obviously to pay 1 AP. No workaround.

In fact, yes, there might be one. I could simply send the low morale units let's say 10 hexes minimum away from ennemy units, and behind their army. Perhaps this would be more chaotic, as I should have to micromanage a lot. And above all, the front is already very thin, not sure it's a good idea to weaken the whole thing even more. I mean, if I have to pull back units (as I'm doing with these weak units) I need to bring a replacement.

Anyway, this is what I can expect from random weather in may [8D]

55% = I win
45% = I lose

He can have all the sun and snow he wants in the north [;)]

The weather precluded from any semblance of a post blizzard snow offensive; the multiple turns of mud and extra-blizzard turned out to be a blessing in disguise: no intempestuous attacks during the crap weather means that all of infantry are at >/ their refit targets, and every Panzer/Motorized unit is ~ 100% [:)]

I was actually a bit surpised at how easily the Soviet line melted in front of Rostov; I have reallocated SUs and leaders to my advantage. I will not comment at exactly where I am going, but if this turn is any indication of Soviet resistance, I may not be disappointed.

Marquo [;)]

Dabai dabai, let's lay another criminal minelfield! Now Marquo is sandwiched. Let's hope he steps on a mine on his way out of the AAR [8D]

[center]Turn 47[/center]
[center]7 May 1942[/center]

Well, I don't know if Marquo's strategy, plan is the Yo-Yo strategy [:D] Most important, I don't know if the weather is the cause of the last move. He's redirected most of his panzer hordes in the south to strike a few hexes in the north. The thing is there is mud in the south (and that would have stopped him from crossing the Don) AND clear weather 10 hexes north of the Don, Rostov... So maybe that's why he has redirected his hordes, pocketing 3 rifle divisions in the process. But will he come back to the south and cross the Don, advance towards the Caucasus or is he going to advance towards the north?

Anyway, from the screenshot you can see his infantry is massed as if he wanted to strike in the north, NOT in the south. Time will tell.

One thing is certain, MOST of his panzers are in the south, which means I can more or less safely divert a respectable number of divisions to the Strategic Reserves (I already diverted 3 divisions last turn): from the Northwest, Kalinin, Western and Bryansk fronts. I am thinking about minimum 15 rifle divisions I guess [8D]

In any case, Flavio is indeed correct. This is like a poker game [:)]

Be careful that you do not worship Reserve-Mammon, i.e. that the reserves are kept for their own sake. The important aspect is how you use them.

Anyway this is what I had sent to the deep south last turn. Many of these forces are still on the train. The armies (four) will stay, but most of the tank and cavalry corps + some of the independent rifle divisions might be redirected to the north, to meet the threat there (if I am correct to assume he sill possibly strike there and more or less forget the Caucasus).

ORIGINAL: gingerbread

Be careful that you do not worship Reserve-Mammon, i.e. that the reserves are kept for their own sake. The important aspect is how you use them.

Don't worry. This is economy of forces. The few guys I am keeping at the frontline should be more than enough to face the enemy. I can't see why you should keep more guys. I will never do that. And it is fact (or should I say that's my opinion) that right now I have too many guys in the aforementioned fronts. It was Moscow approaches, I was expecting agressive moves, ergo I had lots of forces. But no threat = I divert guys. They are far better in the rear training and resting.

After all, the enemy infantry without panzers, I don't fear at all. All they can do is pushing me here and there.

Looking like he's going for the encirclement of Southern Front north of Stalino

Any Panzers to the north of that?

No, apparently there is only one pincer. Maybe he's lost the other in some fight over territory [:D]

Hm, May '42 and it's already not fun to be a German, though it will still take some time before the Germans realize this.

He's still not really committing to anything as yet. He can strike in 3 different directions from that location. You may have jumped the gun a bit in the caucusus although they're still on rails and can be diverted elsewhere.

Careful with Southern Front. Its position is indeed precarious.

ORIGINAL: gingerbread

Hm, May '42 and it's already not fun to be a German, though it will still take some time before the Germans realize this.

I hope you are wrong. I think the Germans should prevail (as it should be). Anyway, what makes you think the Germans should be worried? [:)]

Flavius, the thing is I didn't have anything south of the Don, except the 40 Stavka Army (mere 5 miserable divisions). Had this been clear weater and had he striked he would have flooded the area. Anyway, there are still many reserves in the center. Not to mention that parts of the reserves sent to south will be redirected (wait & see). The area N of Stalino is threatened so I will be retreating from that place. And bringing reserves north of this area.

I honestly hope so too, but I don't see a reason for you to be worried.

Sure, the Germans can advance but what can they threaten? Even the loss of Moscow, while unwelcome, would not be a disaster.

ORIGINAL: gingerbread

I honestly hope so too, but I don't see a reason for you to be worried.

Sure, the Germans can advance but what can they threaten? Even the loss of Moscow, while unwelcome, would not be a disaster.

Yes, the loss of Moscow should not be an über catastrophe. All 3 hexes = 90 manpower points. What's that? Less than the 5% of the USSR? Because that's the only thing he would be grabbing. Industry was already evacuated during the summer/autumn.

Anyway the OOB and manpower / armament points. The latter are really increasing. Now above 300k [8D]

This turn I am facing big dilemmas [:)]

I had sent quite many forces to fight (in theory) south of the Don, Rostov to protect the Caucasus approaches. But given that Marquo has striked in the north maybe he is not really interested about the south.

So I am only keeping 3 armies (attached to Caucasus Front): 40, 51 and 60. The 4th Shock is waiting behind these armies. I also keep 2 Tank Corps + 2 cavalry Corps + 2 Independent Guards Divisions. Just in case.

And of course, IF the Caucasus is Marquo's main target I would be shifting more reserves to this place.

I redirected forces which were going to Caucasus area to the north.

In the center recon shows he's concentrated some panzers as well. The problem is, I haven't clearly detected the northern pincer (if there is one). Still, I guess he will try to put these armored hordes to good use. Therefore I am calling the Stavka armies that were staying near Moscow (just in case): the 1st Guards and 4th Shock. 3 Tank and 2 Cavalry Corps are coming as well.

Now all 12 Stavka armies (I had activated another one) are committed, well, in fact waiting behind the front most of them. Well, I send one to the reserve: the 39 Stavka Army. They were in the Northwest Front to avoid a possible encirclement I was expecting. The place is quiet and I guess he won't be trying anything so I pull them back.

I still have 22 ready Stavka Rifle Divisions + 15 Rifle Divisions around Gorky that will be assigned to the Strategic Reserves = 37 Rifle Divisions (many of them Guards).

As I had said above, I will always try to keep 15 divisions aorund Gorky to rotate frontline low morale units.

And In fact there are more rifle divisions digging here and there: Voronezh area, west of Stalingrad. Etc etc. That would easily make 50 rifle divisions.