Multiplayer M60A3TTS & Fulkerson vs Farfarer

[M60A3TTS]

Week 96-100 4/15/43 to 5/14/43

Mud has largely halted all operations as both sides accumulate troops for the coming offensive. It remains to be seen who strikes first.
German tank production has resulted in over 4,200 machines deployed. This will support the 3.9 million men of the Wehrmacht who now face 6.8 million men of the Red Army.


In the area of Southwest Front, the Germans abandoned Gorky which was promptly occupied by 76th Guards Rifle Division of Vostrukhov's 22nd Army. The 22nd Army also continues a rather uncontested advance towards the Volga from the northeast.
The Germans are fortifying the western bank of the Oka in preparation for its defense.



Smolensk in the west changed hands and was returned again to Soviet control.

Southwest of Mogilev, General Vatutin's Bryansk Front has advanced beyond the Drut River towards the Berezina. Ther Red Army stands 100 miles from Minsk.


In the Dnepropetrovsk Region, operations are largely suspended due to the loss of the previously mentioned 9 guards rifle corps and mud. New formations are slowly being raised to replace the lost units.

The biggest news may have come in week 97 when the nineteen week drought in the arms pool finally ended with 25,000 accumulated. By turn 100 it was over 100k. This will allow for some stepped up production in artillery divisions that had been suspended for a while. In Week 97 there were two personnel changes.

N Gusev takes command of 10th Army- Western Front from N Medvedev.
V Glagolev takes command of 50th Army- Bryansk Front from Stepan Chernyak.


April saw Ivan Chernyakhovsky of 2nd Shock Army promoted for the second time this year, now to General-Polkovnik.

[M60A3TTS]

Rodion Malinovsky's Southwestern Front was formed in October 1942 from a variety of battered armies after the German '42 Summer Campaign. The front consists 12 mechanized and 8 tank corps in addition to the 8 breakthrough artillery divisions of 62nd Army.

Their victory/defeat record then compared to May 1943 (note that general's rank reflects that at time of assignment to the front)

1st Shock Army- Gen-May Semyon Krivoshein
Oct 42: 8-29
May 43: 41-43

2nd Shock Army- Gen-Polk Vladmir Kurdyumov replaced by Gen-May Ivan Chernyakhovsky
Oct 42: 18-44
May 43: 59-60

4th Shock Army- Gen-May Mikhail Katukov
Oct 42: 8-30
May 43: 39-40

4th Tank Army- Gen-May Andrei Kravchenko
Oct 42: 1-1
May 43: 44-8

58th Army- Gen-Lt Pavel Batov
Oct 42: 7-33
May 43: 51-44

62nd Army redesignated 1st Artillery Army- Gen-Polk Nikandr Chibisov
Oct 42: 3-16
May 43: 34-18

After its creation, 5th Shock Army under Gen-Lt Fyodor Tolbukhin also fought along side the SW Front and gained a battle record of 29-13 while converting 3 of 4 cavalry corps to guards status.

8th Air Army has also recently formed to support SW Front activities with four mixed air divisions of fighter-bombers and IL-2 tac bombers.

[Peltonx]

Take your time and grind closest to the 41 border.

Strong flanks and several tank armys in reserve behind the push. One 10ish hexes back and the secound 15ish.

Then start grinding forward.

Basicly bunch all your big boys allong 30 or 40 hexes ( no idea how many you have) mech behind and grind forward.

How many men per turn are you getting?

[M60A3TTS]

My active force is growing by about 40,000 per turn the last 10 turns. German forces growing by about 6,000. The limited activity due to the mud has kept casualties down somewhat.

[M60A3TTS]

Week 101-102 5/20/43 to 5/27/43

It is the Axis Forces which take advantage of clear weather along the lower Dnepr by launching their offensive, named Drang Nach Osten III. Four SS divisions lead the attack supported by at least six panzer divisions and push towards Poltava. The Voronezh Front along with two rifle corps and two rifle divisions of the Caucasus Front are initially encircled in an upper and lower pocket along the Dnepr. Three cavalry corps from Vasily Volsky's 65th Army, Southern Front are also caught in the lower pocket,

In the lower pocket, two blocking positions in rough terrain are established to slow the advance of the German divisions over the Dnepr. The forces in the bridgehead in the Dnepropetrovsk area also are ordered to stand fast.

Aggressive action by Red Army units to break both pockets succeeds and in turn isolates three of the German divisions.

Meanwhile, 60 miles south of Gorky at the headquarters of Soutwestern Front, Malinovsky is advised of the transpiring events by the new commander of the Steppe Front, Zhukov. Steppe Front, situated in the Upper Dnepr, has been organized around 1st, 2nd and 3rd Tank Armies and two cavalry armies, the 24th and 5th Shock.

[M60A3TTS]

After Soviet moves

[M60A3TTS]

My recent shortage of arms production got me looking into how exactly is production calculated and in doing my research came across this thread.

tm.asp?m=2945409

In that thread, gradenko_2000 pointed out something interesting related to applying the arms multiplier of 1.3 as compared to the old 2.0. One would have thought that under the old arms calculation if you got a total of X production in 1941, then you got 2X production from 1942-1945 and you would be correct. You would then conclude that with a multiplier of 1.3, you would get 1.3X in 1942-1945. You would be incorrect.

Why is that?

If you understand the details of the above thread, the multiplier is applied to each factory with any fraction/decimal point dropped. So if you have an arms factory with a size of 3, and multiply by 1.3, you get 3.9. Drop the decimal and you're still left with 3. In other words, any Soviet factories, size 1, 2 or 3 never increase their output in the duration of the war. Now if the multiplier had been set to 1.4, then it would calculate out to 3 x 1.4 = 4.2. Drop the decimal and you would get 4, an increase of 33%.

How does that effect things?

Fully 63% of Soviet arms factories (49 of 78) are size 1-3, meaning that almost 2/3 of the Soviet arms factories will never produce more during the entire game, multiplier or no. If you're into numbers and calculate out if every arms factory got out and based on their individual size, your 370 starting factories would be valued at 426 with the 1.3 multiplier against all factories. That is an increase of 16.4% And that is roughly what you get regardless of the factories you lose. So you shouldn't think of Soviet arms production growing by 30% in 1942-1945, it's really closer to half that.

Too bad they didn't make the multiplier 1.4. There are 34 size 3 factories that would increase to a value of 4 each, if that was the case (3 x 1.4 = 4.2, decimal drop to 4) That would add another 8,500 tons of arms per week, if you actually got them all out.

Something to think about.

[Walloc]

ORIGINAL: M60A3TTS

Something to think about.

And some thing to be aware of when u evac HI, Vehicles and Arms factories. It matters how you detail wise evac things. Again one of the things i dont really understand about this game. Why make things needlessly complicated. If u want a production of X make the multiplier X of total.
Not making how u evac stuff a freaking game in it self that only 10% of the player base understands.

This isnt exactly the only place in the game where u complicate stuff in ways that differentiate the player base. My opinion is that this does a disservice to game. Oh well its not first game designer i've met that had a love of non liniar mathematics.

Ops i left my cave,

Rasmus

[M60A3TTS]

WEEK 103-104 6/3/43 to 6/10/43

Georgy Zhukov of Steppe Front is promoted to Marshal. Andrei Kravchenko of 4th Tank Army is promoted to General-Polkovnik.

The Axis offensive across the lower Dnepr succeeds in shattering the Voronezh Front and the southern portion of Bryansk Front. The pocket southeast of Kiev holds the better part of two Soviet armies and is unbreakable. Farther south between Poltava and Dnepropetrovsk, things don't go as planned for Farfarer. While Malinovsky's Southwestern Front headquarters was kept in plain view south of Gorky, all the subordinate armies minus 1st Artillery had been quietly sent by rail to the west in the Spring. These armies took up positions in the woods near Kharkov and were able to launch a counterattack which routed two panzer divisions along with the GrossDeutschland motorized division.

Intelligence has learned that this is forcing a change of plans on the part of the fascists. Casualty figures for the two week period show German operational strength dropping nearly 70,000. Artillery losses about 1,300. Tank strength has also dropped by over 400. Soviet figures show an overall slight increase in these categories.

Arms production shows a surplus for the 8th consecutive week.

[M60A3TTS]

[M60A3TTS]

WEEK 105- 6/17/43

The change in plan by the Axis forces results in the isolation of all Soviet forces along the Upper Dnepr and extending east of Smolensk.


The line of German forces is thin, and some of their units are isolated in turn as the Red Army re-establishes the land link with the Upper Dnepr armies.


Enemy casualty estimates for the last seven days are over 60,000 Germans with over 400 tanks out of action. The Red Army suffers a similar drop in manpower as the Baryshevka Pocket is liquidated. Soviet tank forces suffer only a modest drop of 120 machines.

Ivan Fedyuninsky of the Central Front's 6th Army is promoted to General-Armii.

The arms pool continues to run a surplus of 80k. Manpower pool remains around 1.2 million. The latter figure is interesting because about 228,000 of that is unuseable. The reason for that is the Railroad Construction Brigade. When the Axis forces made their wholesale retreat in the winter of 1941-42, much of the Soviet railroads in the formerly occupied zones were wrecked. It was necessary to repair much of this so that if a retreat by rail was needed, that the tracks would be servicable in the vicinity of the front line units. The answer then was to create many RRCBs for this purpose and then later disband many of them.


Each of these uses 3,000 men. Of these, 2,000 are in 200 labor squads and 1,000 men in 50 support. When they are disbanded, the support units can go back to the pool and later to many different units. However, the labor squad only is found in the RRCB. As a result even when you disband it, the labor squads simply return to the production pool. They cannot go anywhere else, unless you create a new RRCB. So it is important to keep in mind that when creating a RRCB, that 2,000 men effectively are given a wartime waiver from fighting. They can't be recycled into rifle squads for instance. So 2/3 of the manpower in an RRCB is non-recoverable if disbanded. Since the winter of 1941-42, some 95 RRCBs have been disbanded but the manpower associated with the labor squads still remains in the pool.

[gingerbread]

The men from a disbanded labor squad are added to the manpower pool just like the men from a support squad. Their equipment will be stored as such, but it did not cost any ARM so no loss, except for the AP:s.

[veji1]

Sh** ! So this is where the war will be won or lost ! Can the Axix pocket some of those troops and force a retreat giving it more breathing space for 44 onwards or will he pay the price for this folly. Looking forward to the next turns !

[Peltonx]

This is it really M60 you lose this battle its over or you win and start pushing.

[M60A3TTS]

WEEK 106 - 6/24/43

Fascist troops re-establish their isolation of the Upper Dnepr armies. At least nine panzer divisions are identified, along with 4 SS motorized Divisions in the deep German penetration.


Central and Bryansk Fronts continue to hold their westernmost positions, even though fatigue is 40-60% in many units. 2nd Artillery Army of the Central front is shifted east to provide fire support for units trying to break the German ring.

It falls to Marshal Zhukov and his Steppe Front to free the isolated Soviet forces.

Zhukov sends in Bogdanov's 2nd Tank Army north of Dubrovka to break the German line. Steppe Front cavalry units from Rybalko's 24th Army and Tolbukhin's 5th Shock supported by 12th and 13th Guards Tank Corps drive a wedge into the area south of Dubrovka. Three panzer and one motorized divisions are cut off. Taking advantage of the favorable terrain north of Dubrovka, Soviet rifle corps hope to keep the Germans from being able to re-establish their isolation of the Upper Dnepr armies. 1st and 3rd Tank Armies lend their weight to the attacks to throw the panzers back. Increasing numbers of enemy tanks are out of action, over 1,200 in 6 weeks of fighting. The Luftwaffe is also feeling the strain, dropping to 2,150 active aircraft compared to the February peak of 2,750.



Tank Battles

[hfarrish]

It looks like you may have him here...hard to see him re-establishing that pocket - do you have other reserves headed to the sector in case he does?

[hfarrish]

Also - he looks pretty soft at the Southern edge of the pic - any thought of going on the offensive with your troops down there to help seal off his panzers even more?

[M60A3TTS]

WEEK 107 - 7/1/43

The first week of July, and the farfarer keeps his armies on the offensive. North of Dubrovka, SS divisions Leibstandarte and Das Reich attack in a southern direction towards the Desna River. With the help of 6th and 24th Panzer Divisions, they succeed in routing several Soviet rifle divisions and corps.

South of Dubrovka, six panzer divisions drive north and cause heavy casualties among four guards cavalry corps and two tank corps. Soviet forces lose over 20,000 men and 280 vehicles in five battles alone.

Once again the Upper Dnepr armies find themselves isolated.

[M60A3TTS]

WEEK 107 - 7/1/43

With the German forces stretched to their limit at Dubrovka, Southwestern Front counterattacks.

Chernyakhovsky's 2nd Shock Army with support from Rodin's 3rd Tank Army surround and rout 1st, 2nd and 20th Panzer Divisions.


North of Dubrovka at the Desna, the mechanized corps of Batov's 58th Army assisted by 3rd and 4th Tank Armies rout 7th and 23rd Panzer Divisions along with the 2nd SS Motorized Brigade.


Further north, 1st Shock Army drives back the 6th amd 24th Panzer Divisions.


In conjunction with these attacks, the previously isolated 4th and 33rd Armies attack east to drive the Germans further back towards Vyazma. This puts the two SS motorized divisions in a more isolated position, although they will likely break out without too much effort. But with hundreds of German vehicles out of action from battles this week, the German offensive now appears to be at an end.


The Steppe Air Army has been reinforced and can now deliver punishing blows.


Pavel Rotmistrov has been promoted to General-Polkovnik. His 1st Tank Army is expected to be awarded Guards status shortly.

The first three GShAP units appear, equipped with the IL-2M.

[janh]

One of the most interesting AARs to date I think! I hope it continues to the bitter end.

In the short term it seems that the bitter pill could be for the Axis to swallow! Though not really bitter, just a missed chance at Dubrovka to pocket what looks like a 3rd of Soviet strength remaining. As long as his formations get out of the corridor alive, and I guess reserves should be sufficient to help extracting the overextended Panzers, Axis has at least won time with this offensive. It looks very stunning for summer '43, but the previous gains and successes put Axis into a good position here. Can you post some loss and OOB screens?

ORIGINAL: Pelton

Ok I was right and wrong about HVY.

1. The German player can never destory enough hvy like arm to slow HVY production of supplies. Just not possible

BUT

2. Enough hvy can be destoried that not enough supplies are prodused to supply a large army in 42 and 43 during hvy fighting.

Now as far as this game goes manpower being the centeral issue.

Pelton, you speak in riddles... First you say that HI is never an issue, no matter how much is lost to the Axis, yet then you say that losses can lead to Soviet supply shortages in and after 42 during heavy fighting? I guess you meant to say the second, which actually makes sense and showed in a few AARs. I guess it is how it ought to be. However, independent of how much is produced, some of the frontline shortages (and hence, the stop-and-go character of typical, larger scale offensives) ought to originate from limited logistic rates, and not global pool shortages. Aka think of the German winter equipment issues starting October and going thru January 41: it was there, but in warehouses in Poland and such; but supplies, ammo and replacements had been given priority too long.

Force conservation (and hence manpower) are certainly two of the lessons to be learned, and two of the things history taught us. I don't find that surprising. The third thing is the lesson that the war was neither won nor lost for either side in 41, nor so in 42. The long haul in contrast to Hitler's Blitzkrieg plans was inevitable, and ought to have been planned for.