GC 41 2ndAcr (G) vs Kelblau (S) No Kelblau

[2ndACR]

I know. But if they want an extreme test, then this is the one we can do. Be fun to see the Russian on the other side of the coin.

[randallw]

You may have noticed he started his own thread on this campaign.  Of course you should keep out of it.[8D]

[2ndACR]

I saw it. I also invited him over here if he wanted. Like I said, we have already discussed a restart once the new patch hits.

[randallw]

Who knew the Eastern Front could have it's own months-long Sitzkrieg? [;)]

[2ndACR]

Turn 57

I think it is almost time to halt the advance. My losses are grievous. I have basically shattered my Panzer Armies. My tank pools have been stripped bare. The 42 Germans just cannot get moving against this defense. I see level 2 forts, but they will be level 3-4 by the time I get to them.

[2ndACR]

Turn 57 Sitrep

[paullus99]

Save yourself the losses & start digging, digging, digging. His troops shouldn't be that experienced & you've got the entrenchment advantage - use the time to rebuild the Panzers & use them as a backstop in case he gets anything going. Without the next blizzard penalties, you should be able to bleed him dry should be launch an offensive of his own.

[2ndACR]

As much as I would prefer to NOT do that. It is about the only thing I can do. There is no way I can grind my way thru those forts. Not with Panzers only. My infantry are basically useless. 9 Div can barely muster during a deliberate attack 500 CV and he shows up with 700 or so. The result is 6500 casualties for me and 1300 for him, and no fort reduction.

So I guess it is dig like there is no tomorrow all across the fort with forts dug in all the way to Berlin. Let him face level 4-5 forts every hex until war ends.

[PeeDeeAitch]

Hell, have him come at your dug in infantry (which will improve over time) and use the rested panzers for a huge backhand blow when it comes time for that.
 
Or give him a tempting "thin spot" to attack, then cut off his spearhead(s).
Or pull back 20 hexes and when he does come for you, smack him and encircle him there if he doesn't come very slowly (if he does, you will be fully entrenched).
 
Might as well have fun.

[Mynok]

It seems patently obvious from numerous AARs that the Germans who begin in 41 will have nothing by 42. Something must be changed if we are to have a semblance of a historical opportunity for the Axis in 42, let alone later. German infantry are being totally screwed by the 41 winter and following changes.

[2ndACR]

Agreed. At least some serious red flags have been raised.

I am not sure what he has in his AAR, even though he offered to let me read it. I know he was never really keen on me pulling back and creating a buffer zone back in the mud season. Sort of ahistorical. But you are right, my guys have been neutered.

[Mynok]

And he's suffered nothing for abandoning vital territories to setup his impregnable line of forts. I really honestly think this is an issue with how devastating the winter is for Axis infantry. Even with an 80% factor on your infantry compared to 41 levels I think the Axis can do something in 42. As it is, they are looking at infantry at 40-50% capabilities at best. While the panzers don't seem to lose as much, they aren't the assault guys. They don't open the holes. That's the infantry and they are totally incapable of doing so in 42 post a 41 winter.

[Q-Ball]

Thanks 2ACR in the interest of science. I would like to see your defensive set-up once your done digging, but it's probably equally impregnible to the 1943 Reds.

It seems the German problems are being addressed in the next patch with regard to morale/experience, which should help the Germans recover. Maybe the problem is heavy fort levels, which grind everything to a halt.

It's very tough to create the perfect balance, because making it too mobile might completely unhinge the system too. But I don't think we want to see WW I here.

[2ndACR]

Correct. The winter just rips the German army apart. You can replace the manpower, slowly, but the current experience hit destroys you.

It is really hard to make the historical gains against a human. Some of that is my fault, pausing to allow rail to close distance, allow infantry to come up. All to preserve my panzer div. And I can live with those. But to have something out of my control destroy my army just sucks the air from me.

[PeeDeeAitch]

The funny thing (well, not funny "ha ha" but funny-ironic) is that a Soviet player in this strategy will most likely lose the game as the German response to the Turtle in winter of 1941 is to pull back, dig in HUGE with regiments in a thick line, and win the game eventually after the most boring series of turns in history...the Turtle DOES start after the Summer advances after all.

[2ndACR]

I will post screen shots of course. I am thinking about my defensive lines right now. I am almost tempted to pull all the way back to my 1941 winter lines (god knows I did not get far from them anyway) and just start digging. Most still have heavy forts already so that gives me a foundation to build on. So that I can have 1 div occupy them and the rest to start digging behind the lines. To keep him honest and all.

Force him to come at me over the major rivers in Summer 43 and face that little evil.

[PeeDeeAitch]

The 2nd winter you don't suffer either, and regiments build forts very fast behind the main line...

[Klydon]

What is also ironic is the German changes to ToE based on the fact that the original 1942 Germans had suffered heavy casualties over the winter, etc. I think one of 2ndACR's reports showed the Germans at 3.7 million strong before he launched his offensive. Granted the Russians were very strong, but the point is I don't think the Germans had nearly this many in the field in 1942.

Back off, dig in on the good stuff and dig in depth big time. If he comes out to play, I would immediately try to nail him in the open where he isn't dug in. Just have to watch your encirclements if you get any since he can probably punch out a single blocker. I would also take the rifles away from the Axis allies (except maybe the Hungarians) and give them shovels to help out in the south.

[2ndACR]

I will suffer, but not like the 1st winter. Yep, they sure do. And that is the current plan. I hate doing it, but I have no choice. Of course, recon showed him doing an advance in the south, so I might just re-direct a bunch of armor down there where he is out of his forts. And beat up on him there. In the meantime, if he wants to test my allies in their level 4 forts, he can feel free. Turn about and all that.

[CavLancer]

All our training is in ambush, retrograde movement, ambush...

You have Russians in the open down south? :drools: