Due to the relative strength of the two sides currently, which has reached turn 40, certain things need to remain confidential even now. This thread will try and remain within three turns of Axis reporting which is currently the case, 26 and 23 respectively. Obviously the great time and effort required to document their ground and air campaign makes for a slower report time. The rather sparse nature of our reporting will be taken care of later as more of a fill-in-the-blanks recap. I will address three points within the continuing air campaign.
Light tank production has been impaired. We have tank brigades in the Urals without any light tanks. But those units haven't been selected for any sort of role. They simply sit in the rear and gain experience. Up at the front, we have numerous tank brigades with most or all of their light tanks. This is not a difficult thing to do when managing the resupply effort. So are we impacted by the bombing of light tank factories? Not particularly. We may feel the shortage down the road, but as many a child has been told on a long drive, "we're not there yet".
Repeated Axis reports comment on how many of this type or that type of aircraft have not been produced. Those figures may be accurate, but won't be confirmed here. The estimate of such things is work for an accountant. Our ground commanders are working towards objectives set by the STAVKA whether there is a Red Air Force flying or not. During this blizzard offensive, we accomplished a certain number of things without many planes so that when our air force is truly needed in summer, it will be there. Before summer begins, our Yak-1 factories will be at full production. Because they aren't in January is hardly a crisis in the making. The Red Air Force is going to grow despite the best efforts of our opponent, and with equipment that is game-changing. Specifically those are the Yak-7B, La-5 and Yak-1B. With the arrival of these types, we will regain control of the air.
Factories are being sent to the Urals as they become threatened by air or ground forces. To do anything otherwise would be foolish. If factories leave Stalingrad now, it isn't because some aircraft are dropping a few bombs, it is because the city will be a key target of any summer Axis ground offensive. The large scale evacuation is a multi-week process and makes sense to do while things are relatively stable during the blizzard period. In seventeen weeks after a 100% evacuation, factories resume full production. If we are going to lose "x" number of arms or vehicles or tanks, it makes sense to pay the cost sooner rather than later.
STAVKA - 8 player multiplayer Soviet thread
Moderators: Joel Billings, Sabre21
RE: STAVKA - 8 player multiplayer Soviet thread
Week 27
In the north between Staraya Russa and Torzhok, the army advances with a relatively small number of battles taking place.
An analysis of the Axis forces north of Moscow shows them in forts with defensive values multiplied by three to ten times. It is clear even at this early stage that any progress here will be limited. Without the prospect of a significant advance here, any thought of re-taking Moscow is quickly evaporating.
South of Moscow down to Tula, the existing Axis strongpoints as well as the placement of key mountain divisions shows similar difficulties ahead. The point to be made here is that the STAVKA as well as regional commander come to this realization sooner rather than later and agree that the strategic objective in this area must be re-evaluated.
In the area of Voronezh and to the south, the defenses are not quite so formidable so many attacks take place. With the benefit of hindsight, more cavalry in this area would have been very helpful. They will be shifted here from the north as the advance continues.
When the Red Army is held, losses are brutal.
Even in victory, some combat results seem like major wins for the Axis.
Still, the order to attack does not just come with the mark of the STAVKA. It is the order of Comrade Stalin himself, and the Red Army will see it carried out no matter what the cost. In recognition of the heroic efforts of our soldiers, Stalin has awarded guards banners to three rifle divisions this week.
In the north between Staraya Russa and Torzhok, the army advances with a relatively small number of battles taking place.
An analysis of the Axis forces north of Moscow shows them in forts with defensive values multiplied by three to ten times. It is clear even at this early stage that any progress here will be limited. Without the prospect of a significant advance here, any thought of re-taking Moscow is quickly evaporating.
South of Moscow down to Tula, the existing Axis strongpoints as well as the placement of key mountain divisions shows similar difficulties ahead. The point to be made here is that the STAVKA as well as regional commander come to this realization sooner rather than later and agree that the strategic objective in this area must be re-evaluated.
In the area of Voronezh and to the south, the defenses are not quite so formidable so many attacks take place. With the benefit of hindsight, more cavalry in this area would have been very helpful. They will be shifted here from the north as the advance continues.
When the Red Army is held, losses are brutal.
Even in victory, some combat results seem like major wins for the Axis.
Still, the order to attack does not just come with the mark of the STAVKA. It is the order of Comrade Stalin himself, and the Red Army will see it carried out no matter what the cost. In recognition of the heroic efforts of our soldiers, Stalin has awarded guards banners to three rifle divisions this week.
RE: STAVKA - 8 player multiplayer Soviet thread
Week 28
The final week of 1941 has arrived and the Red Army remains on the offensive. Another dozen divisions now proudly carry the designation of guards rifle.
In the north, a portion of the Valdai Hills is under our control and elements of Vatutin’s 20th Army are close to the objective of Staraya Russa. Batov’s 52nd Army and Tsvetaev’s 54th Army are outside Torzhok and Kalinin respectively. Neither city can be stormed at this stage.
In the area north and south of Moscow, a handful of attacks gain ground, but nothing that will threaten the Germans occupying Moscow. South of the Oka and east of Tula, we advance but face counterattacks in this area.
At the area west of Lipetsk-Voronezh, Southwestern Front makes progress.
General Leitenant Ivan Bagramyan of our 12th Army is gaining victories at an impressive rate, although casualties are admittedly quite heavy.
Further attacks are taking place in the south and Voroshilovgrad is a frontline city.
The Germans also reappear at Sevastopol, the city their propaganda claims they weren’t looking to capture earlier. They certainly will not capture it in the immediate future.
A word about Red Army organization. In our shock armies, we are looking for commanders that can handle both cavalry and tank troops. General Maior Lelyushenko of 1st Shock Army has the qualities that the High Command deems necessary. In 2nd Shock Army, General Maior Gorbatov does not quite have the necessary experience handling tank troops, so his army command is supplemented by a corps level command consisting of six tank brigades and designated by the name of its commander, Mechanized Group Katukov.
The final week of 1941 has arrived and the Red Army remains on the offensive. Another dozen divisions now proudly carry the designation of guards rifle.
In the north, a portion of the Valdai Hills is under our control and elements of Vatutin’s 20th Army are close to the objective of Staraya Russa. Batov’s 52nd Army and Tsvetaev’s 54th Army are outside Torzhok and Kalinin respectively. Neither city can be stormed at this stage.
In the area north and south of Moscow, a handful of attacks gain ground, but nothing that will threaten the Germans occupying Moscow. South of the Oka and east of Tula, we advance but face counterattacks in this area.
At the area west of Lipetsk-Voronezh, Southwestern Front makes progress.
General Leitenant Ivan Bagramyan of our 12th Army is gaining victories at an impressive rate, although casualties are admittedly quite heavy.
Further attacks are taking place in the south and Voroshilovgrad is a frontline city.
The Germans also reappear at Sevastopol, the city their propaganda claims they weren’t looking to capture earlier. They certainly will not capture it in the immediate future.
A word about Red Army organization. In our shock armies, we are looking for commanders that can handle both cavalry and tank troops. General Maior Lelyushenko of 1st Shock Army has the qualities that the High Command deems necessary. In 2nd Shock Army, General Maior Gorbatov does not quite have the necessary experience handling tank troops, so his army command is supplemented by a corps level command consisting of six tank brigades and designated by the name of its commander, Mechanized Group Katukov.
RE: STAVKA - 8 player multiplayer Soviet thread
Week 29
After some deliberation, Stalin has decided to replace the Red Army Chief of Staff Marshal Voroshilov with Marshal Semyon Timoshenko (who would also be me). This comes after the recommendation of Voroshilov to give up any further attempt to re-take Moscow at this time. Several cavalry corps are in the process of re-deploying elsewhere. Meanwhile the rifle divisions in the Moscow sector go over to the defensive.
There are substantially fewer attacks this week while some ground is gained in places. Here is the area of Southwestern Front.
With high fatigue comes high losses. Here is our most costly victory of the week.
After some deliberation, Stalin has decided to replace the Red Army Chief of Staff Marshal Voroshilov with Marshal Semyon Timoshenko (who would also be me). This comes after the recommendation of Voroshilov to give up any further attempt to re-take Moscow at this time. Several cavalry corps are in the process of re-deploying elsewhere. Meanwhile the rifle divisions in the Moscow sector go over to the defensive.
There are substantially fewer attacks this week while some ground is gained in places. Here is the area of Southwestern Front.
With high fatigue comes high losses. Here is our most costly victory of the week.
RE: STAVKA - 8 player multiplayer Soviet thread
Week 30
8-14 January 1942
The OOB. In all categories, our numbers are rising.
Newly awarded guards banners go out to the infantry and now cavalry too!
The performance Ivan Bagramyan's 12th Army is recognized by Comrade Stalin. 1st Guards Army will inspire others to more victories!
Back and forth fighting north of Tula as German reserves are committed. Farther south resistance is weaker.
Attacks by our brave troops of the Northwest and Volkhov Fronts in the north yields a bit of ground and victories.
German propaganda continues to tout their air campaign. The efforts against our T-34 factories were noted. No shortages here as you will see.
8-14 January 1942
The OOB. In all categories, our numbers are rising.
Newly awarded guards banners go out to the infantry and now cavalry too!
The performance Ivan Bagramyan's 12th Army is recognized by Comrade Stalin. 1st Guards Army will inspire others to more victories!
Back and forth fighting north of Tula as German reserves are committed. Farther south resistance is weaker.
Attacks by our brave troops of the Northwest and Volkhov Fronts in the north yields a bit of ground and victories.
German propaganda continues to tout their air campaign. The efforts against our T-34 factories were noted. No shortages here as you will see.
RE: STAVKA - 8 player multiplayer Soviet thread
Armaments Production Increases 35% In Two Weeks!
The industrial base of the USSR continues to show a strong recovery. The implements of war are being turned out by our factories at an ever-increasing rate that will in time turn the course of the war.
The industrial base of the USSR continues to show a strong recovery. The implements of war are being turned out by our factories at an ever-increasing rate that will in time turn the course of the war.
RE: STAVKA - 8 player multiplayer Soviet thread
New Aircraft From America
The American P-40E fighter-bomber has begun to arrive in our country to aid in eradicating the Fascist menace in the air.
The American P-40E fighter-bomber has begun to arrive in our country to aid in eradicating the Fascist menace in the air.
RE: STAVKA - 8 player multiplayer Soviet thread
Don't ask me what is up with this _slith on my user name. Apparently there is some conflict within username of the Slitherine system and I had to do this in able to log in to update my game.
RE: STAVKA - 8 player multiplayer Soviet thread
- Attachments
-
- Unpronounceable.jpg (195.85 KiB) Viewed 314 times
Wargamers Discord https://discord.gg/U6DcDxT
RE: STAVKA - 8 player multiplayer Soviet thread
Open a ticket with support to get it changed.ORIGINAL: M60A3TTS_slith
Don't ask me what is up with this _slith on my user name. Apparently there is some conflict within username of the Slitherine system and I had to do this in able to log in to update my game.
RE: STAVKA - 8 player multiplayer Soviet thread
Week 31
15-21 January 1942
German reinforcements are returning from the field hospitals and making it increasingly difficult for success in the north.
Attacks continue along the front from Tula to Voronezh. The German troops in the area find opportunities to counterattack here.
In the south where they have deliberately thinned their forces out, more success from our brave troops and few responses from the enemy other than retreat.
Ten rifle divisions were awarded the guards title this week. The makings of a professional Red Army continue.
15-21 January 1942
German reinforcements are returning from the field hospitals and making it increasingly difficult for success in the north.
Attacks continue along the front from Tula to Voronezh. The German troops in the area find opportunities to counterattack here.
In the south where they have deliberately thinned their forces out, more success from our brave troops and few responses from the enemy other than retreat.
Ten rifle divisions were awarded the guards title this week. The makings of a professional Red Army continue.
RE: STAVKA - 8 player multiplayer Soviet thread
Week 32
22-28 January 1942
The defenses in the north are now such that further attacks here have ceased. No report to make in this area.
In the area of Tula, a renewed series of attacks take place across the line.
In the south, fresh forces from the Transcaucasus Front have arrived in conjunction with reinforcing tank troops from the Volga Military District.
Not wanting to have to answer to their Fuhrer for failing to hold a major city, their southern commander manages to find some Rumanian lackey to take blame.
Troops of General Leitenant Ivan Boldin's 19th Army liberate Voroshilovgrad!
22-28 January 1942
The defenses in the north are now such that further attacks here have ceased. No report to make in this area.
In the area of Tula, a renewed series of attacks take place across the line.
In the south, fresh forces from the Transcaucasus Front have arrived in conjunction with reinforcing tank troops from the Volga Military District.
Not wanting to have to answer to their Fuhrer for failing to hold a major city, their southern commander manages to find some Rumanian lackey to take blame.
Troops of General Leitenant Ivan Boldin's 19th Army liberate Voroshilovgrad!
RE: STAVKA - 8 player multiplayer Soviet thread
From the diary of General Maior Konstantin Konstantinovich Rokossovsky, Commander of 40th Army (Cavalry):
27 January 1942
The trains that have brought us to the area of Southwestern Front crossed the Don at 00:50 this morning. By 03:20 our 9th cavalry corps along with its commander General Lopatin and myself were pulling into the railhead at Khokhol. There we were met by members of the military council of General Bagramyan’s 1st Guards Army. The situation in this area remained largely unchanged from our last reports. German air reconnaissance had been active earlier this week, so our presence would not remain a secret for long. The Hungarians still held this portion of the front, with German 29th Infantry Corps to the southwest. This marked what appeared to be the northern boundary of the German 6th Army. We have only three days until operations begin here, so we must bring our usual efficiency to bear in offloading our troops and getting them into their assembly areas. Our Chief of Staff, General Lobachev, will no doubt see it is done properly.
27 January 1942
The trains that have brought us to the area of Southwestern Front crossed the Don at 00:50 this morning. By 03:20 our 9th cavalry corps along with its commander General Lopatin and myself were pulling into the railhead at Khokhol. There we were met by members of the military council of General Bagramyan’s 1st Guards Army. The situation in this area remained largely unchanged from our last reports. German air reconnaissance had been active earlier this week, so our presence would not remain a secret for long. The Hungarians still held this portion of the front, with German 29th Infantry Corps to the southwest. This marked what appeared to be the northern boundary of the German 6th Army. We have only three days until operations begin here, so we must bring our usual efficiency to bear in offloading our troops and getting them into their assembly areas. Our Chief of Staff, General Lobachev, will no doubt see it is done properly.
RE: STAVKA - 8 player multiplayer Soviet thread
General Nikolai Lobachev(sky) will employ non-Euclidean geometry to position the troops, thus confusing the poor Germans who continue to believe that parallel lines never meet.ORIGINAL: M60A3TTS
From the diary of General Maior Konstantin Konstantinovich Rokossovsky, Commander of 40th Army (Cavalry):
27 January 1942
The trains that have brought us to the area of Southwestern Front crossed the Don at 00:50 this morning. By 03:20 our 9th cavalry corps along with its commander General Lopatin and myself were pulling into the railhead at Khokhol. There we were met by members of the military council of General Bagramyan’s 1st Guards Army. The situation in this area remained largely unchanged from our last reports. German air reconnaissance had been active earlier this week, so our presence would not remain a secret for long. The Hungarians still held this portion of the front, with German 29th Infantry Corps to the southwest. This marked what appeared to be the northern boundary of the German 6th Army. We have only three days until operations begin here, so we must bring our usual efficiency to bear in offloading our troops and getting them into their assembly areas. Our Chief of Staff, General Lobachev, will no doubt see it is done properly.
- Attachments
-
- lobach.jpg (49.16 KiB) Viewed 314 times
-
EwaldvonKleist
- Posts: 2410
- Joined: Thu Apr 14, 2016 3:58 pm
- Location: Berlin, Germany
RE: STAVKA - 8 player multiplayer Soviet thread
I fear the Germans also have a few specialists for that Zorch, for example General Riemann.
The Library of Gary Grigsby's War in the East resources.
Do you want total war? Guide for WitE players
WitE2&RtW3 tester
Do you want total war? Guide for WitE players
WitE2&RtW3 tester
RE: STAVKA - 8 player multiplayer Soviet thread
Fear not! Hitler has banned all non-euclidean geometry as decadent and illusory. Such political interference in science would never happen in the USSR. Now if comrade Stalin could only get those lazy scientists to develop a U2 with jet engines.ORIGINAL: EwaldvonKleist
I fear the Germans also have a few specialists for that Zorch, for example General Riemann.
- Attachments
-
- u2.jpg (9.99 KiB) Viewed 315 times
RE: STAVKA - 8 player multiplayer Soviet thread
ORIGINAL: EwaldvonKleist
I fear the Germans also have a few specialists for that Zorch, for example General Riemann.
And the "discoverer" of modern non-Euclidean geometry was Gauss? A German too?
ORIGINAL: Zorch
Now if comrade Stalin could only get those lazy scientists to develop a U2 with jet engines.
Good luck with the Euclidean navigation - literally the flat earth conspiracy?
Wargamers Discord https://discord.gg/U6DcDxT
RE: STAVKA - 8 player multiplayer Soviet thread
Scientist August Mobius has prepared a cunning trap for the Bolshevik swine. A small strip of land has been subtly altered to fold back on itself.
- Attachments
-
- MobiusJoshDif.jpg (85.98 KiB) Viewed 314 times
-
EwaldvonKleist
- Posts: 2410
- Joined: Thu Apr 14, 2016 3:58 pm
- Location: Berlin, Germany
RE: STAVKA - 8 player multiplayer Soviet thread
That will surely cause some soldiers to march to death. Not to speak of the huge tank and truck attrition caused by units on an endless journey.
On the plus side, Soviet physicians are working hard to find a shortcut to Berlin. Project name wormhole, though the final name will be for sure something more glorious:
On the plus side, Soviet physicians are working hard to find a shortcut to Berlin. Project name wormhole, though the final name will be for sure something more glorious:
The Library of Gary Grigsby's War in the East resources.
Do you want total war? Guide for WitE players
WitE2&RtW3 tester
Do you want total war? Guide for WitE players
WitE2&RtW3 tester
RE: STAVKA - 8 player multiplayer Soviet thread
ORIGINAL: Zorch
Scientist August Mobius has prepared a cunning trap for the Bolshevik swine. A small strip of land has been subtly altered to fold back on itself.
The great Johnny Ball made books about this for little kids - hence my first mobius strip was a strip of paper folded back on itself and sellotaped together at the end while I was at primary school. And then to quote Johnny Ball.
Great fun for kids, small and big like me.
Indeed I now use the models as an abtract way of decribing how to place airbases - and go on about all the time to SparkleyT who nods so I know he gets it all! [:D]
- Attachments
-
- MobiusStrip.jpg (14.44 KiB) Viewed 314 times
Wargamers Discord https://discord.gg/U6DcDxT