Matrix Games Forums

Turn 36. February 19 1942.

One more turn of Blizzard (2 for the Soviets). A closeup of the Moscow area. Will we be able to hold Moscow? I am running some risks here, but I think it will be possible. I think it is worth the risk of being surrounded to keep Moscow. If the Soviets take it, it will be very hard to recapture it.

Do not give up a single foot of Russian ground without a fight!

I think thats what Hitler said to General Friedrich Wilhelm Ernst Paulus, oh sorry Generalfeldmarschall Friedrich Wilhelm Ernst Paulus when he asked Hitler about retreating from Stalingrad.

I hope moscow turns out better then Stalingrad.

Pelton

ORIGINAL: Pelton

Do not give up a single foot of Russian ground without a fight!

I think thats what Hitler said to General Friedrich Wilhelm Ernst Paulus, oh sorry Generalfeldmarschall Friedrich Wilhelm Ernst Paulus when he asked Hitler about retreating from Stalingrad.

I hope moscow turns out better then Stalingrad.

Pelton

He shouldn't be able to surround it in one turn, and if he manages it in the last turn of blizzard, I should be able to counterattack in snow and reestablish communications. (I hope I don't have to regret that asessment.)

ORIGINAL: Pelton

Do not give up a single foot of Russian ground without a fight!

I think thats what Hitler said to General Friedrich Wilhelm Ernst Paulus, oh sorry Generalfeldmarschall Friedrich Wilhelm Ernst Paulus when he asked Hitler about retreating from Stalingrad.

I hope moscow turns out better then Stalingrad.

Pelton

I wouldn't make too much fun of all stand fast orders. According to Colonel Glantz (who is definitely more qualified to comment on this stuff than most people) the stand fast order in the winter of 1941 pretty much saved the German Army from destruction.

Tarhunnas, I'd really hate to give you a bad advice but maybe you are not strong enough to conduct an offensive. I just can speak from my limited experience [:)]

On my game the Germans were trashed. A lot. NO offensive during the snow turns. I would say the Germans have been MORE trashed on your game. Therefore my inevitable conclusion is: I can't see how you will attack.

I am not saying "do not attack" (maybe I am wrong and you CAN do that after all). But risking some German divisions and thinking that you can help them (with offensive moves) is maybe adventurism.

Take this advice with a grain of salt [:)]

His panzers are in worse shape but I'm not sure his infantry is. Infantry rules.

In my single player campaign the computer ( as Axis ) was able to get divisions to join the defensive battles during the blizzard more often than I would have liked. [:'(]  It seemed to happen more often than it did in my previous campaign, multiple patches earlier.  Do you have a lot of resting divisions in reserve mode?

I have been experimenting with reserves, and sometimes they join the battles, which usually turns them into bloody failures for the Soviets with like 3000 Soviets dead for 47 Germans. I am not sure about how often they join a battle. I asked Q-Ball how he experienced it, and he said they did make a difference but only occasionally.

I would say, if a unit has nothing better to do, it might just as well be in reserve mode. Caution though if it is occupying a vital anti-breaktrough position, as it might become routed if the battle is lost.

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

Tarhunnas, I'd really hate to give you a bad advice but maybe you are not strong enough to conduct an offensive. I just can speak from my limited experience [:)]

On my game the Germans were trashed. A lot. NO offensive during the snow turns. I would say the Germans have been MORE trashed on your game. Therefore my inevitable conclusion is: I can't see how you will attack.

I am not saying "do not attack" (maybe I am wrong and you CAN do that after all). But risking some German divisions and thinking that you can help them (with offensive moves) is maybe adventurism.

Take this advice with a grain of salt [:)]

You're a doom-monger TD! [;)]

Here, see me rescuing surrounded Zaporozhye in BLIZZARD! I fel confident I can do the same at Moscow in snow.

The Moscow area fter German moves turn 37. I feel pretty confident Moscow will hold.

Here is the north after German moves turn 37. The finns have just pulled back, no reason to be in exposed positions after their little private winter offensive.

Note Soviet bulge at Vyshni Volochek.

ORIGINAL: Tarhunnas

ORIGINAL: Scook_99

Hang on there! From your last casualty list I see a total of 500,000 killed and captured, relatively light losses overall. You will recovery quickly, and we expect you to do your duty! The Fatherland is counting on you!

Thanks, but I think You're mistaken. My overall losses are 1.7 million.

Yes, but you can get disabled back to the front, they aren't dead yet! Frostbite is no excuse for the Fuhrer.

Losses after Soviet turn. This is the final tally for the Blizzard.

Turn 38. Snow!

I launch a number of attacks, all successful, against Soviet units that have overextended themselves. Partly out of frustration and a desire for revenge, but they serve to throw the Soviets out of some of their ill-gotten gains during the winter before they can dig in. Here is an attack on the Moscow front.

I found that as a German player it was completely possible to counterattack breakthrus of the line through out all of the blizzard. It actually got tougher by Feb 42 because both sides are pretty worn down by then and German reserves are pretty much exhausted.
 
As for Q-Ball making as many attacks as he did, he pretty much conserved his armament points like Midas with gold. On average as a Soviet player, I typically am able to make around 50 or so attacks per turn. But then I don't disband many units plus I build up my arty su's. By not building any heavy arty su's and disbanding all the other armament heavy su's and brigades, he was able to funnel that manpower and armament points into his rifle divisions making them all that more durable. I don't remember his win to loss ratio though, typically I see about a one third failure rate.

Yeah, I think both sides are pretty tired, but now is a good time for some return shots before Q-Ball gets his guys rested up and dug in. Both sides will likely welcome mud as a break in order to rest up and regroup. I want to say he was higher than 70% as far as a success rate, but I don't know that for sure. 

Top notch AAR! Give him hell now that winters over.

Here is a map with the front before Blizzard and the current frontline in red. I lost a whole lot of cities. Moscow was saved by a whisker.

Turn 39. March 12 1942. Snow.

Overview of front.

Local offensives are going on to recapture Kalinin, Kaluga and Zaporozhye. Also the the shoulders of the Moscow bulge are being widened.

Hi all,

ORIGINAL: Tarhunnas

Here is a map with the front before Blizzard and the current frontline in red. I lost a whole lot of cities. Moscow was saved by a whisker.

It is not that bad (and as bad for Germans ans many predicted)! [:)]


The summer 1942 will be very very exciting!


Leo "Apollo11"