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Wow, this is looking like a disaster for the axis.

ORIGINAL: Priapus1

Wow, this is looking like a disaster for the axis.

Or a glorious opportunity for the Axis come May/June. That line in the south won't be easy to hold. It's probably a good dozen hexes longer than I'd be looking to hold, and this is only partly offset by terrain.

We'll find out if the Axis player knows how to put together a proper panzer ball to go wrecking with.

I have a theory that the Axis player should more or less allow the armies from Odessa to expand as far as they want to. The more armies the Soviet player piles in and the further they go the greater the slaughter come the Spring.
I think all the Soviet player has to do in this game now is to avoid large scale losses during the Summer and we'll see a steamroller starting sometime in the second half of 42.

ORIGINAL: timmyab

I have a theory that the Axis player should more or less allow the armies from Odessa to expand as far as they want to. The more armies the Soviet player piles in and the further they go the greater the slaughter come the Spring.
I think all the Soviet player has to do in this game now is to avoid large scale losses during the Summer and we'll see a steamroller starting sometime in the second half of 42.

Your first point is right and I hesitated before denying the opportunity for the soviet to rescue Odessa by ground. But then I looked at the number of german Inf divs available and at their shape. I couldn't afford a 15 more hexes long front.

Oshawott won the 2 first sets of the game, even if the blizzard was more equilibrated. Let's see if I can breakthrough in May.

He has built a different way of 1942's defence than my previous opponents. the first line is strong, the we have a line hex free then a second line.

ORIGINAL: STEF78
He has built a different way of 1942's defence than my previous opponents. the first line is strong, the we have a line hex free then a second line.

That's the kind of line I was building in my game as well. I don't believe in ant carpet defense.

Yes it's good defensive technique. Ant carpets can be manipulated by experienced German players. One of the problems is that units can be easily forced to rout once you start to bite into the carpet.
When I was still playing the Soviet side my standard defense technique was a strong front line, say 2 rifle divisions in a level 2 or 3 fort with an even stronger second line (MLR) and a gap between them. The MLR should only be stack two high wherever possible. The gap should have forts maintained if possible so that retreating front line units will need to be whacked hard again. Behind the MLR you create strong points wherever suitable to catch any breakthroughs with brigades covering vital points behind that. If necessary, like in front of Moscow this can be stepped up to a three line defense.

ORIGINAL: STEF78
Your first point is right and I hesitated before denying the opportunity for the soviet to rescue Odessa by ground.

Like I say this is purely theory and it could be a disastrous mistake but I would allow the link up if the Soviet player insisted and sever it in the Spring. In fact I'd let him wander around the Ukraine virtually unmolested during the Winter. (that's the theory anyway)[:D]

I lean towards a two division defense in the front. Partly to reduce attrition losses, which can get kind of high if you go full out with a frontal defense.

But I agree that a pure ant defense can too easily be wrecked. Even in the rear you should try to place strongpoints (again with 2 units) here and there to impede a breakthrough, particularly if the terrain is good.

All very interesting comments. I started with stacks of three after blizzard to build fortifications as quickly as possible. I am not sure yet how many defensive lines I will build. I agree with the the two division defense. Carpet defense is just an invitation to build up morale.

He is doing the same by the way. I can already tell where he will NOT attack come June but I will remain cautious.

Odessa is now (T40) mostly evacuated. Three units remain in the city with a CV of 57. It was a nice distraction with some good combat back and forth. Linking to the main front would have been interesting because the supply situation for the troops coming from Crimea would have been so much better. But it all takes too much time and I wasn't even able to hold Oshakov.

I doubt I will hold the lower Dnepr. I like all the swamp hexes I occupy right now but there is one very weak spot where he could just hammer through during clear weather.

Watch out for supply range from Crimea and Odessa. It's only 25 MP or something, because it's port supply and repairing rail does not extend it (besides giving lower supply movement cost).

Watch out for supply range from Crimea and Odessa. It's only 25 MP or something, because it's port supply and repairing rail does not extend it (besides giving lower supply movement cost).

Thanks, I just reread this in the manual. 1 MP is added per hex for port supply.

T33 - North

Another failed attack on Leningrad. These guys are amazing.

I do make some progress but it is fort after fort and bad terrain after bad terrain. Naturally I go were there is the least resistance and that is southwest of Pskov. But there is no operational goal here. Just trying to cause damage.

T33 - Center

I'm hitting a second defense line of level 2 forts.

T33 - Southwest

Great progress in this sector. I take Kursk, Belgorod and Kharkov. These were the main objectives of the blizzard campaign in this sector. Everything else now is gravy.

Many counterattacks this turn because I pushed forward with many tank brigades and they all got beaten back or routed.

I actually did an HQ buildup of one of my cavalry corps just to see how this will effect the battle. Most likely a dumb idea.

T33 - South

He is retreating faster now. I continue to hit the Romanians and they practically always rout but don't shatter. I already occupied many of the swamp hexes east of the Dnepr.

T33 - Odessa

He takes back Oshakov and the three units there are routed. Instead going east I push west. I even supply a tank brigade by air just to cause some mischief. This is actually the first time I have done an offensive supply drop in this game.

I also land another army HQ and several additional divisions.

T33 - Morale

A list of my cavalry and infantry sorted by morale.

T33 - Data

Armament points still inching up.

T34 - North

Progress but mainly in the wrong direction. A nasty Held result due to reserve activation. Totenkopf division is too tough.

T34 - Center

26 and 27 CV hexes with reserve activations. Not much progress in this sector and another nasty Held result. An entire Panzer division gets activated.

T34 - Southwest

Attack across the entire front. The HQ buildup of my Cav Corps was pointless.