Disaster in the making. Oloren (axis) vs Terje (USSR)

[terje439]

True, but none are available [:(]

Terje

[Flaviusx]

You can stop this. Just pile on the big boys near Moscow. Practice economy of force measures in quiet parts of the front, and concentrate your corps level formations in the Moscow area. He's got all his panzers here, you can thin out things elsewhere.

Rifle corps in particular will raise the butcher's bill for him. Let the panzers immolate themselves trying to shift these guys. Load them up with AT, sappers, and perhaps tank regiments. Go nuts on rifle corps, they are panzer killers. And they can counterattack as well.

This is why you need to go all in on corps on Jan 1 1943. Stockpile a ton of APs and do mass conversions the moment the cost drops to 10 APs. You have to get ahead of the curve. Even in 1942 it is worth building them in limited numbers if they are guards.

You may want to put some stuff on static just to raise more APs. Static sucks for the Soviets, and should be avoided if at all possible, but this is an emergency.

[M60A3TTS]

This has been something of a game of chicken, where these diversionary attacks have been intended to draw his units off elsewhere, and force him to abandon the Moscow offensive. This really hasn't worked because it was too clear to your opponent that the units defending before Moscow could be driven back. I agree that you really need to recall those corps to defend the capital.

[sillyflower]

ORIGINAL: terje439

True, but none are available [:(]

Terje

They are -they are simply elsewhere + not making a difference.

[terje439]

Turn 91

Overall
The Axis are repelled in their one attempt to attack into Moscow, and instead seem to try to circle the city. In total the Axis launch 13 attacks, scoring 1 held, 9 retreats and 3 routs. Our own attacks this turn are somewhat disappointing with 5 held and 3 retreats. Operation Common Sense is undertaken with heavy heart this turn.
A total of 214.000 workers report to the manpower pool this turn, ending it at 6675. Our vehicle pool increases by 2.000 and ends at 103.000. The only thing we have plenty of, is armaments, as the pool ends this turn at 927.000.

Units
I disband a fortified area outside Moscow to allow another corps to enter the stack, and order the formation of 2 new Guards Rifle Corps and 4 "normal" Rifle Corps this turn. Formation of tank corps are temporarily halted as the cost is twice that of a rifle corps and their strength is at best on par with my rifle corps at the moment.
Due to heavy losses, our units report a net growth of 92.000 soldiers this turn.

Partisans
My sole part of comfort still does it job. 13 sabotague actions this turn and 11 supply drops. With 7 partisan units forced to retreat by Axis attacks, we are left with 22 units at the end of our turn.

Operation Common Sense
Any Guard Corps in the north is pulled back from the frontline and ordered towards Moscow, the same in the south. From the south we also move some "ordinary" rifle corps north towards Moscow. I am slightly concerned about this move as a single rout in the south now could mean disaster. I simply lost too many corps sized units during the summer.

Worries
I am too eager to do something offensive. Same symptom that causes me to lose my carriers in witp:ae. Got to learn to be less hasty...

[Peltonx]

As Flaviusx has pointed out in more then one AAR many russian players are not experienced in managing their resoures from 42 on.

Some players take the advice of veterans who have been through many 42-43 campaigns and other do not.

As a German only player I can tell very quickly if a russian player has ever gotten into 42 or not.

I am still amazed at how poeple just do not leason to good sound advice from veteran players.

I might not agree with some of what Flaviusx thinks, but when it comes to tactics as a Russian player I have his full respect. I am just perplexed on thread after thread his advise is ignored?

I am just as perplexed that he keeps giving it.

Pelton

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: Pelton

1. As Flaviusx has pointed out in more then one AAR many russian players are not experienced in managing their resoures from 42 on.

2. I am still amazed at how poeple just do not leason to good sound advice from veteran players.

3. I might not agree with some of what Flaviusx thinks, but when it comes to tactics as a Russian player I have his full respect. I am just perplexed on thread after thread his advise is ignored?

4. I am just as perplexed that he keeps giving it.

Pelton

1. How can I be since before this I only played one game as the Axis against easy AI
2. That is what I try to, but at the same time, alot of experienced players say alot of different things [;)]
3. I think I am currently doing what he and others adviced?
4, And I am grateful [:)]

Terje

[Peltonx]

[/quote]

1. How can I be since before this I only played one game as the Axis against easy AI
2. That is what I try to, but at the same time, alot of experienced players say alot of different things [;)]
3. I think I am currently doing what he and others adviced?
4, And I am grateful [:)]

Terje
[/quote]

Your doing very good for first game.

My bad I did not know this was your first go as Russian. I saw all them there Gold stars by your name and figured you been playing wite for a while.

Pelton

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: Pelton
My bad I did not know this was your first go as Russian. I saw all them there Gold stars by your name and figured you been playing wite for a while.

Pelton

Nah, bought it a little while ago, played it once, went pbem.
Been on the matrixgames forum for quite a few years by now and in a few beta tests, so that is why all the stars [:)]

Terje

[terje439]

Turn 92

Overall
The Axis have slowed down, and it seems clear they will attempt to circle Moscow. That should be difficult for them, and it should drain their reserves as they need to keep the corridor safe. The Axis launch 9 attacks for a result of 8 retreats and 1 rout this turn. We also launch 9 attacks, but the score is 3 held and 6 retreats. One of the held results is really annoying as it has got to be due to bad rolls on our side and a good one on the Axis side. Oh well, nothing I can do about that.
Losses are reported as 37.000 to 120.000 this turn, slightly more then 3:1 in the Axis favour. Although I have agreed to move as much as possible to the Moscow sector, I still need to retain some corps in the south, and these guys are doing a good job, killing about 5.000 Germans each turn while losing about the same, so they will remain (in fact they need to remain if I am to have any sort of defence down there).
A total of 209.000 workers report to the manpower pool this turn, ending it at 3623. Looking at my units and their current TOE, most of my units are actually in good shape, most are at 80+ %, with the ones that have just retreated and routed somewhere in the 30-40% range. The highest TOE is held by one of my partisans with a staggering 224% [X(]

Units
I create 1 Guards Rifle Corps and 3 Rifle Corps. Also trying to heed the advice that if I build them, they will come, I also build 2 breakthrough artillery divisions this turn. Also noteworthy is that for the first time in a long time, no new airfield is handed to us, and I have started to use some of the spare ones.
Again since we experience heavy losses, our forces grow by less than 100.000. The tally for this turn is a growth of 93.000 soldiers

Partisans
These guys deliver once more. No less than 22 sabotague actions this turn is an outstanding result. 13 supply drops is also what I consider Good+. Even when the Axis force 10 of our guys to retreat this turn, we are still left with 24 active units as the turn ends.

Operation Common Sense
More and more corps are closing in on Moscow. The question I now ponder is when/if I will have to admit defeat, I really do not want to lose those corps that are defending Moscow. I must watch carefully so the Axis do not bag them all.

Operation CanWe
I would like to get to a position where I can muster some 10 corps to spare which could be used to threathen the rear of the attempted encirclement of Moscow, but I fear that is still not doable for another 5-10 turns at best.

Worries
To quote Bilbo from Lord of the Rings; "I feel like too little butter spread out over too much bread", the result of the horrendous losses during the summer.

[M60A3TTS]

What support units if any are you putting in the rifle corps?

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: M60A3TTS

What support units if any are you putting in the rifle corps?

It depends, usually some tank regiments of various sorts. I would have liked more sappers etc, but I do not have any such squads in my pool, they build awfully slow it seems.


Terje

[Flaviusx]

Yeah, you have to get a head start on the sapper regiments. I build something like a 50+ of them during the first blizzard/rasputitsa, and make sure that each and every corps, regardless of type, gets one. Indeed, the first blizzard is a good time to stockpile on SUs generally. You won't have many demands on your admin points during that period. That way, when you're finally able to crank out corps, their supporting SUs will be waiting for them and ready to go.

If you armament point situation is good, consider dialing up a bunch of AT regiments. These won't hit your truck pool the way the tank regiments do.

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: Flaviusx

If you armament point situation is good, consider dialing up a bunch of AT regiments. These won't hit your truck pool the way the tank regiments do.

Nice to know, thank you for that [:)]

Terje

[terje439]

Turn 93

Apology
In a hurry, so this one is kinda quickly made.

Overall
Gentlemen, the SS has arrived. In force. And they are allready making our lives miserable. The Axis almost closes the circle around Moscow, and will close it next turn, but I hope I will be strong enough to reopen it. Time is quickly running out.
The Axis launch 16 attacks this turn, scoring 2 held, 9 retreats and 4 routs. We on the other hand only launch 6 attacks, scoring 3 retreats and 3 held. This turn it is one of the retreats that annoy me, with a modified post battle CV ratio of 39.4 : 1 I had hoped for a rout...
Losses ammount to 33.000 and 116.000 this turn, and we have yet another turn with a net troop growth below 100.000.
Our vehicle pool grew by 7.000 this turn, to 110.000. With a mere 212.000 workers reporting to the manpower pool, it ends at 6043.

Units
I destroyed one fortified area, and built 5 rifle corps and 2 Guards Airborne Divisions. The net growth is 97.000.

Partisans
An ok turn for our partisans. 8 sabotague actions and 13 drops this turn. The Axis force 10 of our units to retreat, this leaves us with 17 active units at the end of the turn.

Operation Common Sense
Well our forces are arriving, I hope they are enough...

Worries
One guess...

[Flaviusx]

Just keep piling on corps and slug it out with the panzers. They won't be dug in -- and don't let them get dug in. Grind him to pieces.

[terje439]

Turn 94

Overall
I never thought I would curse the arrival of mud untill I was on the offense, but now I do. The mud might very well have cost me Moscow...
I order all available forces to attack SS Wiking, but to no avail, those guys fought valiantly, I'll give them that despite the fact that they might be my undoing. 17 attacks in all were launched against this lone unit, it did not do alot of good I am afraid, and we only scored 17 helds. The Axis performed two attacks, scoring a rout and a retreat. Losses are low howver, with 31.000 Axis troops killed to our 94.000.
Only a total of 203.000 workers reported to the manpower pool this turn, and the pool ends up at 4128.

Units
I form 5 rifle corps and order the construction of 3 mechanized brigades this turn. From now on, I fear I might need to focus on building infantry divisions again, since if Moscow falls, that will free up alot of German troops. Things are scary at the moment.
Our forces grew by 103.000 soldiers despite all our head on assaults on SS Wiking.

Partisans
9 sabotage actions and 19 supply drops is "ok+" and "superb" respectively. With only 3 Axis attacks on our partisans, we are left with 22 active units on the map. With so many drops this turn, it will be interesting to see what happens next turn.

Operation Common Sense
Well my units are more or less in place, but the mud seems to doom Moscow.

Worries
Will the mud hold long enough so that something might be saved in Moscow?

[Flaviusx]

Only thing that I can think of air resupply to keep it from being isolated. But I'm guessing you don't have any airbases in the pocket.

I hope you evacuated the factories.

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: Flaviusx

Only thing that I can think of air resupply to keep it from being isolated. But I'm guessing you don't have any airbases in the pocket.

I hope you evacuated the factories.

I have one airfield in the pocket actually. More by chance than by deliberate planning though. Yes, the factories have been moved.

Terje

[terje439]

having just recieved the next turn, I must update my last reply.
I HAD an airfield in the pocket [:D]

Terje