OKH Plan 1942 - Alpha AAR

[Captain B]

I like the way that the AI made a cohesive line far enough away from the front to give some of the troops time to regroup before they can be hit hard, and left enough armor to threaten a relief of the pocket you have there. Hard to tell what exactly the SU (AI) has under the armor stack, but I like it...counterattacks well, reforms lines, now to see it on the true offense would be awesome...so when do we think we might get an AAR with a SU player for Barbarossa or the German player in 44?

I agree, this is not your WIR AI, it is almost scary smart....can you say "Good morning, HAL"?. I'm not going to turn my back on it!

[PyleDriver]

In the north, Model's 9th army sent 3 mech units across the river, while reducing the pocket. This should cause the Soviets to pull needed reserves from elsewhere. Kalinin's lost would be a huge blow...

[SGHunt]

Great to see you back in the saddle!

It's fascinating to see the evolution of the game in real time, as it were, and the variety of possible responses of both the player and the AI.

The number of fixed units (ie the lack of transport)is starting to become a significant problem now, it seems, just as you need to start a near general offensive up and down the whole line, bar Leningrad I guess.

[PyleDriver]

Hoth is still on the move rolling the line north. Not many atacks by him as he occupies vacated areas. The 4th PzA is in position now to move on Tula. The 2nd army moved to Hoth's right in order, and 2 more divisions are on the way to support the flank. 2nd PzA moved a PzD around, to force a retreat of the remaing forces near Orel...This is a level 3 ss...

[PyleDriver]

Well its Aug 1st 42, I have cracked the lines and have Model's 9th army pressing the north and Hoth 4th PzA pressing the south...And theres still is Kliest's 1st PzA. The Soviets are going to have to draw reserves from his front to slow the threat on Moscow. So where will he go?...lol...I love this game...

[PyleDriver]

Well then theres Kliest's 1st PzA, hum...He's a key at drawing troops away fom the goal. Which is Moscow. They didn't like that there was a bridgehead across the Don, and packed the area hard. The left was hit hard so one PzC will attack north on the west bank, the other will expand the bridgehead...Kliest did thin out his command, which was needed. VI Rum Corps was transfered to AGS and XLIV corps transfered to 17th army...He's now a lean, mean, fighting machine. C&C (command and control) guys. It's a huge part of this game. I spent most of my AP's this turn on cutting the fat here...This is a (BAR)...Lets see what happens....

[PyleDriver]

Kliest pressed the flanks. It was hard fighting. XL PzC struck north along the banks. 29th MD reached the rail crossing but there spent. Counters will make this short lived...Mac's III PzC did put another PzD accross the Don...Agian Kliest's job is to roll the line north also, on Hoth's right if and when he crosses the Don...The Soviets cant afford to keep this much power in front of 1st PzA...

[PyleDriver]

Heres a bigger view (voom 4) of what I want 1st PzA to do...If and when they break the Don, there rolling north...

[SGHunt]

Voronezh from the rear, it seems?   This was as you posted/predicted after it was retaken some weeks ago (in game turns).  

What do you use for flank cover?   I am really impressed with the redeployment that has given Hoth freedom of movement to go North, but you have run out of men for Kleist, no?

[PyleDriver]

Well 2nd PzA, as Hoth moves north, will then cover the right north of 2nd army...This is classic military roll the line stuff...Trust me it's pretty. Then Kliest is going to perform a second roll of the line...lol...Another note, I have half the trucks I need for my active units, so railheads and distance from them are importiant at this point, so notice my repair units, it's big, no its huge...

[paullus99]

How are you doing with losses? Think you'll be able to maintain the momentum until winter?

[PyleDriver]

Losses are alot higher than I'd like. The rest is the real question, can I keep this power rolling into Moscow?...Hum, guess thats why we play the game...

[PyleDriver]

Rostov, it was to be in my hands by now. Reports are the Soviets have fires elsewhere and have lifted the attacks on 11th armys flank, Manstien moved on that flank to secure his left this week. 13th PzD rested agian, preparing to spring into action next week...

[PyleDriver]

Some early reports. LIX transfered to 2nd Army and two of their divisions are waiting to be unloaded. Thats making it a real army (9 inf, 1 mot brigade). It should hold up 4th PzA's right well... The Soviets withdrew in order and formed there lines nicely. I had very few counter attacks hit me this week. Thank god I needed the rest...

[PyleDriver]

Well in the north I activated the bad boys, Totenkopf SS. Armin's XXXIX PzC will love the help... You may wonder why not just activate them all? I can't, theres only so many (AP's) you get a turn (50). I cost me 21 to get Tot rolling...The AP level is in the top right under the motor pool. Then theres the balance act of to many units, to few trucks...

[lparkh]

This is the first mention of activation points I've caught (a search on "activation" and "points" didn't turn up anything either). Would you mind speaking to how they are earned and on what basis used up (i.e. what costs more).
THanks for AAR,
Lin

[PyleDriver]

Kliest's 1st PzA agian had tough fighting. Mackensen's III PzC after a armor battle has his corps across the Don. Schweppenburg's XL PzC battled agian to retake the rail approch accross the Don, looking at Svobda. This is a must. If taken, Kliest will have the supply to make all hell break loose in the rear.

[PyleDriver]

lparkh, please refer your questions to the Q&A post...Were in a flow here, and its getting good...I won't answer tech questions here, S&T only please...Thanks...

[ComradeP]

PyleDriver: are you going to try a pincer movement in the direction of Tambov with 4th Panzer Army and 1st Panzer Army or are both going to travel north without assistance from eachother, with 1st Panzer Army receiving assistance from the two regular/infantry armies between it and 4th Panzer Army?

[PyleDriver]

Alot from here on is shooting of the hip. The party is in Moscow, and I'm behind in my timetable. So lets see what happens... Rostov is the thorn in my side right now. I need the city under my control, theres a T-34 factory there, and it will anchor my southern flank...