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Voronezh is the last strategic objective in your sector and the order remains valid.

For future reference, remember to set units not in contact to reserve state in the Crimea to maximize the opportunities for reserve activations. That has been done for you.

Your remaining defense is in line with what is required, although there is a slight gap along the Aidar that needed closing up. That is done also.

In case it is unclear, when I say don't have units south of X, please make sure you follow through. I'll always review the turn before sending it to the Axis and will deal with any gaps in the line.

We will be bringing Sparkley Tits on board to handle the north. Since I can't enable sharing privileges on Hortlund's folder, it may be time to look into creating a brand new one to replace STAVKA and go from there. Hortlund has been online a couple times but hasn't provided any updates, so the current dropbox situation really won't work long term.

Hello comrades I have been ordered by STAVKA to take command of N and NW fronts. I must say what a delightful little holiday we all seem to be having

ORIGINAL: M60A3TTS
For future reference, remember to set units not in contact to reserve state in the Crimea to maximize the opportunities for reserve activations. That has been done for you.

Thanks for reminding me, that is a rookie mistake that should not really have happened.

ORIGINAL: EwaldvonKleist

Memorandum regarding the training of ground and air forces
1) Training of ground forces: According to the manual, units that are in refit mode and more than 10 hexagons away from an enemy unit can gain multiple morale points per turn, while a unit not on refit can only gain a single point per turn. Therefore it makes sense to set every unit in the rear area on refit and to limit the replacements they receive by MAX TOE settings. It is some micromanagement, but a unit can get from 33 morale to 45 morale in 3 turns instead of 10 turns on this way (under ideal circumstances).
In my other multiplyer game, I have set all new units at refit and 20% MAX TOE if they are below 45 morale.
2) MAX TOE: All new units should be set on low MAX TOE in order to reduce the rail capacity cost when transporting them to the front.
3) Air groups training: Air groups have three important stats: (i) Experience (ii) Morale (iii) Fatigue. (i) doesn't grow much in the National Reserve (NR), slightly in missions not involving combat and much in missions involving combat. Even if the mission is a failure, there will be experience gains from my experience. (ii) Increases through successful missions and the sheer fact that a unit is sent to the national reserve. By rotating air groups permanently from the NR to the map and back to the NR you can push the morale up to 80 and more without a single successful mission. Therefore, I suggest to set up training airfields in the rear (kubyshew or so) which are only used to rotate airgroups back and forth between NR and the map to benefit of the auto morale gain. (iii) I like to send all airgroups that start the turn with 20% or 30% to the NR for rest (depending on my mood on this day) to avoid operational losses aka experience and morale loss.

Thats only my take of the air war management. Thanks for the in detail answer you have already given and please explain your reasoning in detail, I am always keen to learn from more experienced players as this is just my experience from one GC.
Regards

1) Shell units generally come back with experience in the mid teens. Generally I don't release reserve armies originally comprised of these units until they reach 30. That is about 15 weeks (30-15) until the army goes to the front. Morale on the other hand is usually 10-15 below NM meaning the unit will reach it's NM before experience hits 30. So the extra morale boost isn't going to be of use by the time the army sees the field. They generally gain +1 in both morale and experience each turn. And when I bump up the max TOE, say from 50-70, they do go on refit. Yes, under present circumstances that 15 week delay may be a luxury we can't soon afford. We'll have to see.

2) Shell units that are unready don't generally pick up much manpower during the supply phase. So not having them on refit is usually adequate unless you really need that unit fully equipped by the end of its journey. They also come out the gate at 20% TOE cap anyways.

3) I regularly morale cycle units to the reserves but in this case over 1/3 of the VVS meets the standard one might normally apply. So the number going back has to be a little less than I would prefer if only to meet our operational needs to some degree.

It's been a rough 11 weeks, and things aren't going to be getting easier in the center, but Marshal Mud gets closer to the front with each passing week.

ORIGINAL: M60A3TTS

v1.00 - November 26, 2010
Prior to December 1941, Soviet rail repair units will not automatically move to rebuild damaged rail lines that are within 5 hexes of an enemy unit.

Actually this is not 100% correct since the 5 hex is not exclusive but inclusive being at the 5 hex. See attached snapshot. So it should read "within 4 hexes" since I'm basing it on my photo.

The effort should not have been made in the first place, as there was no practical hope of saving the industry at Stalino. Instead we doubled down and just made things worse. But that was under the previous management. [;)]

ORIGINAL: M60A3TTS

The effort should not have been made in the first place, as there was no practical hope of saving the industry at Stalino. Instead we doubled down and just made things worse. But that was under the previous management. [;)]

Ya, the old proverb of not throwing good money after bad

STAVKA will issue weekly orders (T12) tomorrow.

Leningrad still holding out.

Zhukov's 16th Army in danger of encirclement but likely to escape with minimal losses.

Kalinin taken by the Germans but subsequently re-captured.

Enemy breaking into the Crimea.

4 September 1941, the 12th week of the war

Administrative notes

Weather clear. 5 weeks of good weather remain before the rainy season begins.

Our evacuation of industry from Tula is complete. Based on what remains, we should have a sufficient industrial base for armaments. Heavy industry will be much more of a constraint, as we are yet to suffer the loss of the Stalino and Leningrad factories. This will negatively impact our ability to supply a large army in the future. On a positive note, with most of what we can evacuate having already been moved, in future weeks we have more rail capacity available to support troop movements.

STAVKA launched two attacks in the area near Mozhaysk with assistance from units of the Moscow Military District and Reserve Front.

Air Situation

Due to the catastrophic losses of now over 14,000 aircraft, it has been decided to pull most of what remains to either the reserves or the Western Air Command. Our remaining airfields will be widely deployed in cover and no air support will be available. This is the only way we have to stop what now amounts to an uncontrollable downward spiral.

The Tank Directorate reports 32 new tank brigades began training within the Volga MD. This now consists of 15,200 men and 35 AFVs.

Intelligence Matters
57th Panzer Corps has entered the fight for Moscow, operating in the Rzhev area.

Enemy rail situation
We see the enemy rail repaired to their gauge with the location of their rail repair units as follows
FBD1 4NW of Pskov
FBD2 2W of Velikie Luki
FBD3 1W of Yelnya
FBD4 1NE of Kirovograd

Based on this, the enemy will still need time to move its remaining panzer corps into the Moscow operations zone. The southernmost 3PzKps by Rostov must currently be starved for fuel. Off rail range 42 in Rostov proper. We must continue to cut enemy panzer spearheads when possible to deny them vital fuel supplies.

ORDERS

Northwestern Direction (S-T)

Attack at least one regiment of the 290th and/or 126th Divisions west of the Volkhov. Maintain a position on the west side if possible since the enemy only has regiments defending.

Move your units on the Valdai in such a way they are not surrounded by the panzer elements now east of Lake Ilmen. This is vital as we cannot send reinforcements to your area for defense.

The city of Kalinin was lost but retaken. Our 56th Tank Division has isolated enemy motor units. Move elements of 20th and 49th Army out of the area the Germans are attempting to pocket.

Western Direction (EvK)

38th Army HQ of Bryansk Front was pulled back to Murom. Several rifle division reinforcements are now assigned to that army for your use in the following week.

34th Army has been transferred to STAVKA. The two rifle divisions of that army were transferred to 10th Army. You can expect a further number of army transfers in the weeks ahead to lessen the administrative burden of the Western Front HQ.

The three divisions of 32nd Army of Western Front are reassigned to other armies, two of which are still assigned to you. The remaining division was found routed in the Moscow area and is assigned to STAVKA’s 28th Army. The empty HQ of 32nd Army has been sent to Shatura for reorganization.

Continue to defend Tula. Two Reserve Front divisions that had temporarily been in garrison there are withdrawn to be sent back to their normal area of responsibility. You must hold the city now.
It does not appear that our trapped units east of Bryansk can be rescued. You may attempt to displace the 2/14th Motorized Division with a combination of hasty and then deliberate attacks from units within the pocket only. No supporting air is available however. If such an attempt is made and were to succeed, further attacks might allow the pocket to be opened from the outside, gaining us time. STAVKA sees little chance of this being successful, but the choice is yours.

You are free to abandon Orel and its immediate area if you think it necessary. A new position east of the Zusha or Mecha river lines will be permitted.

Your overall mission now is two-fold. Defend the area near Tula and preserve your forces. Next week you can expect orders to transfer one army north to the Moscow operations zone.

Southwestern Direction (Lictuel)

The enemy is pushing into the Crimea. Pull back as needed. Sevastopol will need a full garrison of three divisions, and these should have your highest combat values. The two adjacent forts should each receive three units of their own. All other units to withdraw as needed to Ak-Manay (x104 y117). STAVKA has 3 cavalry divisions near Krasnodar in the event we have to reinforce the area near Kerch.

If Orel is abandoned, you will be authorized to leave Kursk. Await further instructions on this subject.

Voronezh remains your only strategic position. It must not fall or be isolated and you must take any and all measures to prevent this.


All commanders must preserve their remaining forces as we have some room to give outside of the Moscow operations area.

Reserve armies are forming in our rear, so you can remain confident that we are mobilizing new formations constantly in order to resist the fascist advances.

If you have questions prior to implementing STAVKA orders, always ask first!

VOROSHILOV

North complete and turn in dropbox for EvK.

Situational report:
Orel has been abandoned. The STAVKA and the Southern Front commander are asked to close the gap between Tula and Voronesh with units of the Southern front, as the frontline had to be shortened in order to thicken up the defence of Moscow.
The STAVKA is also asked to check the orders of the Central Front to avoid major blunders
The counterattack on 2/14th motorized regiment has been executed, but failed unfortunately.
General Leitenant Sokolovsky

STAVKA is releasing what it can spare to the Southwestern Front. A new game file by the same name is added to the folder, so be sure to take the most recent.

Supplemental orders are as follows:

Southwestern Direction (Lictuel)

330th and 338th Rifle Divisions released for your use and are on the rail network by Lipetsk. 21st Rifle Brigade @x108 y71 also released to you.

If possible withdraw Southwestern Front forces to the two lines marked in red.



Advise upon completion.

VOROSHILOV

Understood, will most likely do my turn later this evening

Turn is in the inbox.
Southern and south western front have a gap between them again, this is a result of the fact that South western front redeployed in an attempt to shield its remaining strategic target. Coastal army in the Crimea has begun its retreat. Note to Stavka: there is a single mountain division in Sevastopol that is not part of southern Front, this unit should be transferred to southern front within if possible.

The STAVKA operations briefing to Comrade Stalin was a difficult one. A gap in the lines of Southern and Southwestern Fronts was deemed to be unsatisfactory. STAVKA was instructed by Comrade Stalin to take corrective action and this has been done. In his view this was a case of insufficiently clear orders by the STAVKA, and the commander of the Southwestern Direction not at fault. Comrade Stalin was also vexed to see a cavalry division defending Tula. This was not an adequate garrison and a motorized division replaced it.

Team, please stop all posts to this thread until advised otherwise.

Week 13 is in dropbox with S-T up first.

North done. Center is up.

Does my turn look acceptable to you guys?

ORIGINAL: M60A3TTS

Team, please stop all posts to this thread until advised otherwise.

This directive remains unchanged.