TopEverest vs Admiral Kamikaze - the rematch

[topeverest]

AS for Russian plans for the 5 turn mud season - - - -

1. evacuating all industry in Stalingrad (70% complete)
2. pull all armor back for refit (complete)
3. Position to hold Stalingrad - Astrakhan line at all costs
4. active recon to confirm that the Caucuses are the campaign target
5. Hope and pray for a better combat season result for the winter

[xxCLASHxx]

As a novice to WITE I have found this AAR absolutely absorbing, really well presented and the battlefield images bring it to life. I have spent two days reading, learning and reading again.

I am a veteran of strategy games including real time like the Total War Series but also back to Second Front and who remembers Battle for Normandy.

Been playing Second Front through a DOS shell so decided to upgrade and chose WITE rather than the other two siblings. This will help me and I wondered if when the time comes is it worth doing an AAR first ever proper game verses the AI?

It would I guess be a real noob fest but most people cming to this title would play AI for some time before PVP.

Anyways great forum, great game with a number of immersive AAR's. I love the way TopEverest takes the advice in his stride even when it is slightly stern Will follow this and other AARs to the end. Now off to re-read the bloomin manual again.

[topeverest]

Thanks - I am a novice to this game for sure. Similar to you, I have been gaming for a very long time. This is a good game. I am a vociferous analytical study, so I always try to figure out game mechanics.

You should do your AAR. More than anything, it helps you critically analyze your play.

ORIGINAL: xxCLASHxx

As a novice to WITE I have found this AAR absolutely absorbing, really well presented and the battlefield images bring it to life. I have spent two days reading, learning and reading again.

I am a veteran of strategy games including real time like the Total War Series but also back to Second Front and who remembers Battle for Normandy.

Been playing Second Front through a DOS shell so decided to upgrade and chose WITE rather than the other two siblings. This will help me and I wondered if when the time comes is it worth doing an AAR first ever proper game verses the AI?

It would I guess be a real noob fest but most people cming to this title would play AI for some time before PVP.

Anyways great forum, great game with a number of immersive AAR's. I love the way TopEverest takes the advice in his stride even when it is slightly stern Will follow this and other AARs to the end. Now off to re-read the bloomin manual again.

[topeverest]

The last turn of Mud arrives.

My armies and air forces were battered and beaten down from the summer campaign. During the mud:
1. I conducted no offensive operations
2. pulled back all armor to refit
3. pulled back and deepened the defense in depth around Tula, east of the Don, and Rostov
4. Pulled as many guard units off the MLR as feasible
5. Rested the air force
6. Spent all AP's on Support Units
7. Moved very few units to get better experience gains
8. Evacuated Stalingrad - all Caucuses factories were already evacuated

[topeverest]

I have spent virtually all available AP's on support units. I made grievous errors earlier in the game by not building out a good compliment of SU's. I am fastidiously attempting to rectify the blunder.

For every army in the summer combat zone, I have built

3 sapppers (regiments mostly)
1 heavy anti tank regiment
3 artillery - mostly BM and large caliber Howitzer
3 AA - mostly PVO

This amounts to all but 26 armies from Moscow and north - which have somewhat less (and some have no SU's)

All Air armies have
3 PVO AA regiments

[topeverest]

Here is the current view

Note the build up I have conducted. I have noticed that SU's materially affect combat outcomes, so I am trying to get better here.

[topeverest]

For the next combat season, my plan is to:

1. build out SU's for the corps (3 max)
a. armor (heavy tank Reg, heavy AT, Sapper Regiment) 37 corps
b. cavalry (tank reg, heavy AT, sapper reg) 20 corps
c. Infantry (tank reg, heavy AT, sapper reg) 30 corps
cost = (20+37+30)*6 (AP's to build 3 units per) = 522 points / 60 = 9 turns. Keeping in mind a few SU's get killed every turn, it will take about 10 turns. or most of the combat season
2. after 1943 build 6 more airbases and 50 new air units - during the next mud season

[topeverest]

Russian goals are straightforward as we enter the winter combat season 42-43.

German armor is massed near Rostov, and there are no other large combat force reserves I identified by recon. I presume the Axis will have a Caucuses / Stalingrad focus for this season. This will be a battle initially largely focused along the rails --- Rostov to Krasnodar and Stalingrad to Krasnodar. I believe that Krasnodar is the initial target because of its oil. I plan to anchor my defenses at Stalingrad and hold armor and guards in reserve as long as possible. Time and distance are my friends at this point. January 43 begins the 1 point soviet morale jump per month.

I plan no offensive operations this season, unless opportunistic.

[xxCLASHxx]

Looking forward to the next map.

[topeverest]

Houston - we have a problem.

That's an understatement!

I've been through hurricanes but this one takes the gold trophy for sure.

--------------------

Winter combat season starts - - -

Germany continues along its same themes from last season albeit muted. There is only one main attack.
1. Main attack as expected is a launch into the Caucuses from the Rostov area. Germany makes slow progress with 6 hexes owned across the Don, mostly between Manych and Sal rivers (5 hexes east of Rostov). The enemy appears to want to cut the Krasnodar Stalingrad rail line as an immediate goal. Russian attritional attacks drive down morale, and heavy Russian air ground attacks occur.
2. Germany continues a minor thrust towards Stalingrad, which makes little progress and suffers withering counterattacks
3. an infantry only attack makes very little progress up against the Don on the north side of Stalingrad. I don't expect progress.
4. German armor attempts a push directly east towards Tambov but takes only one hex. Again, Russian tactics are heavy air bombardment and withering attritional attacks to drive down supply and morale
5. Germany launches an infantry only attack towards Tula and takes only one hex. I don't expect this attack to make progress

[topeverest]

So I am failing to understand command points. Look at the below example.

[topeverest]

And this one is even more perplexing. How do I get to the final number of -6?

[topeverest]

Until I figure out what I am not understanding, I have to defer building out SU's the way I stated. I push SU's into those aremies that had none out of the combat zone.

AND I continue to research...

[M60A3TTS]

Don't count any SUs against the command limit. The only regiments that do are the on-map NKVD units.

On-map costs vs command cap
Bde=1
Div=2
Corps=4

[topeverest]

Thanks sir,

So does that mean that in April 43 Russian army command limit will go up to 21 from 18?

ORIGINAL: M60A3TTS

Don't count any SUs against the command limit. The only regiments that do are the on-map NKVD units.

On-map costs vs command cap
Bde=1
Div=2
Corps=4

[Stelteck]

No they are staying at 18 forever after spring 1942. (Except shock army at 21 and tank army at 15).

But your front limit move up a bit.

[M60A3TTS]

Also important to note is guards armies go to cap of 21. That allows you to get an extra corps in that army to potentially reduce penalty for units from other armies that participate in the same battle.

[topeverest]

Gents - very helpful. I relied too much on an outdated manual.


Now to correct these errors...

[xxCLASHxx]

Been following Harvey on the TV it looks biblical in its devastation. Hope you and family are safe and not too affected.

Looks like Germany is running out of momentum...

Shaun

[topeverest]

Blizzard in 2 turns.

Germany continues along same themes
1. Axis makes attempt to attack in and around Tula. Russia counterattacks and takes back more hexes than it lost in the German turn. Germany does not have the necessary forces in this theater to continue offensive operations
2. Axis continues to push to clear the west side of the Don (east of Boguchar). Three hexes were taken. Russia launches attritional attacks not intended to win hex
3. Axis panzer ball continues to move east on a direct line to Stalingrad. 5 hexes were taken. Russian counterattacks retake 4 hexes in heavy fighting. Note Russian forces did not have any corps or armor
4. Axis main attack is a push 50 miles east of Rostov pushing SE. German forces took 4 hexes, and Russian forces took back 2 hexes in heavy attritional fighting.
5. Crimea is all quiet as is all territory north of tula
6. Russian air forces have found the right mix of missions. 77 lost last turn for 220 Soviet. Credit half of the kills to AA, which I built recently.