Blizzard is too damn strong. Axis needs to run up the score and get way ahead of things in 41 to deal with it. The same logistical ease for the offense that helps them during the summer turns around and bites them in the ass in the winter. You have to trash the rail net way far back to counter this. And the blizzard effects are much too global and undifferentiated. It shouldn't be so severe everywhere and to the same degree. Morale hit is too high, imo.
But don't expect any of this too change until WITE2, there's simply too many things that need changing here, it's not a matter of an easy tweak or two.
STAVKA WAR DIARIES III- Farewell to Barbarossa
Moderators: Joel Billings, Sabre21
RE: STAVKA WAR DIARIES III- Farewell to Barbarossa (no smokindave34)
WitE Alpha Tester
RE: STAVKA WAR DIARIES III- Farewell to Barbarossa (no smokindave34)
I do agree that blizzard should be toned down. That said, before someone offers to deliver the eulogy for smokindave, I'd offer up a couple observations:
1. This land grab works both ways. What I gain in blizzard I can easily lose in the summer.
2. Dave has made an effort to deny me battlefield wins. The results have been pretty darn good, as we're into February and I haven't generated a single guards division or corps. Nobody has done that before in my games that have gone into 1942.
3. Dave will start the summer campaign with the largest army and air force that I've gone up against because he avoided battlefield losses in '41. He's sure to have many of his panzers at 15-20+ CV initially.
I'm not saying Dave will be slaughtering the Red Army come summer, it will be 7-7.5 million strong with plenty of manpower reserves and armaments. But I'm not ready to write off my opponent yet.
1. This land grab works both ways. What I gain in blizzard I can easily lose in the summer.
2. Dave has made an effort to deny me battlefield wins. The results have been pretty darn good, as we're into February and I haven't generated a single guards division or corps. Nobody has done that before in my games that have gone into 1942.
3. Dave will start the summer campaign with the largest army and air force that I've gone up against because he avoided battlefield losses in '41. He's sure to have many of his panzers at 15-20+ CV initially.
I'm not saying Dave will be slaughtering the Red Army come summer, it will be 7-7.5 million strong with plenty of manpower reserves and armaments. But I'm not ready to write off my opponent yet.
RE: STAVKA WAR DIARIES III- Farewell to Barbarossa (no smokindave34)
The Donbas Offensive
The first step in this offensive was to liberate Stalino-Gorlovka-Makeevka. There was no real resistance.
Meanwhile Southern Front marched towards Kharkov
The city fell without opposition four weeks into the winter offensive.
The advance continued with Axis troops retreating to the west.
And towards the towns of Dnepropetovsk-Zaporozhye
The Donbas Offensive reached all its goals by the end of blizzard.
Order of Battle Week 34
The first step in this offensive was to liberate Stalino-Gorlovka-Makeevka. There was no real resistance.
Meanwhile Southern Front marched towards Kharkov
The city fell without opposition four weeks into the winter offensive.
The advance continued with Axis troops retreating to the west.
And towards the towns of Dnepropetovsk-Zaporozhye
The Donbas Offensive reached all its goals by the end of blizzard.
Order of Battle Week 34
RE: STAVKA WAR DIARIES III- Farewell to Barbarossa (no smokindave34)
We are through March, April and now into mid-May. I'll provide updates to that later. For now, the thread is open to Dave so he can read and make comments if he likes.
RE: STAVKA WAR DIARIES III- Farewell to Barbarossa (no smokindave34)
Spring 1942
The Spring of 1942 started with the Red Army just outside the city of Leningrad and in control of the eastern portion of Estonia.
Northwest and Kalinin Fronts defended on a line running in a northwest to southeast direction.
Western and Bryansk Fronts held positions west of the Dnepr.
STAVKA and divisions of Southwestern Front were dug in on or just east of the Dnepr.
Southern and Caucasus Fronts completed the defensive line to the sea.
In May, the forces of Germany and her allies prepared for operations in the north...
Center
and South
The Spring of 1942 started with the Red Army just outside the city of Leningrad and in control of the eastern portion of Estonia.
Northwest and Kalinin Fronts defended on a line running in a northwest to southeast direction.
Western and Bryansk Fronts held positions west of the Dnepr.
STAVKA and divisions of Southwestern Front were dug in on or just east of the Dnepr.
Southern and Caucasus Fronts completed the defensive line to the sea.
In May, the forces of Germany and her allies prepared for operations in the north...
Center
and South
RE: STAVKA WAR DIARIES III- Farewell to Barbarossa (no smokindave34)
WEEK 47 - May 7, 1942
in the north, German advances forced back units of the Volkhov Front, that sought to avoid entrapment.
Near Vitebsk, the defensive lines held more firmly.
In Belarus, Soviet troops evacuated Gomel as panzers operated in the area.
OOB
Production
in the north, German advances forced back units of the Volkhov Front, that sought to avoid entrapment.
Near Vitebsk, the defensive lines held more firmly.
In Belarus, Soviet troops evacuated Gomel as panzers operated in the area.
OOB
Production
RE: STAVKA WAR DIARIES III- Farewell to Barbarossa (no smokindave34)
WEEK 51 - June 4, 1942
Troops of the Leningrad Front supported by 39th Army, 55th Army, 1st Shock Army and artillery prepare to attack the Finns
In the area around Pskov, the Germans completed occupying territory formerly controlled by the Red Army.
In the Gomel-Mogilev sector, strong German formations pushed Soviet troops farther from the Dnepr.
In the south, several divisions were encircled and trapped at Zaporozhye.
Troops of the Leningrad Front supported by 39th Army, 55th Army, 1st Shock Army and artillery prepare to attack the Finns
In the area around Pskov, the Germans completed occupying territory formerly controlled by the Red Army.
In the Gomel-Mogilev sector, strong German formations pushed Soviet troops farther from the Dnepr.
In the south, several divisions were encircled and trapped at Zaporozhye.
RE: STAVKA WAR DIARIES III- Farewell to Barbarossa (no smokindave34)
WEEK 54 - June 25, 1942
The one area of the front where the Red Army planned to be on the offensive was against the Finns. Operations would prove a slow and painful process with the defenders fortified in the heavy woods.
The summer of '42 began and with it the Axis offensive. In the Vitebsk-Mogilev-Smolensk area, the Germans pushed forward against units defending along the Dnepr.
3rd Shock Army participated in counterattacks in the immediate area.
Farther south near Sumy, the Germans had more success by breaking through the Soviet lines that did not benefit from terrain advantages compared with areas farther north.
At the same time, additional German forces pushed the Red Army back, threatening a massive encirclement.
This situation required a pullback to Kharkov.
The one area of the front where the Red Army planned to be on the offensive was against the Finns. Operations would prove a slow and painful process with the defenders fortified in the heavy woods.
The summer of '42 began and with it the Axis offensive. In the Vitebsk-Mogilev-Smolensk area, the Germans pushed forward against units defending along the Dnepr.
3rd Shock Army participated in counterattacks in the immediate area.
Farther south near Sumy, the Germans had more success by breaking through the Soviet lines that did not benefit from terrain advantages compared with areas farther north.
At the same time, additional German forces pushed the Red Army back, threatening a massive encirclement.
This situation required a pullback to Kharkov.
RE: STAVKA WAR DIARIES III- Farewell to Barbarossa (no smokindave34)
Week 55 OOB
Week 55 Production
The AI chooses commanders of tank armies by something other than mechanized ratings as it should. Some personnel changes were required at the start of July when four such armies were created.
The Red Air Force received it's first upgrades of La-5 fighter planes. They were sent to one of the more successful air divisions, the 43rd IAD.
Week 55 Production
The AI chooses commanders of tank armies by something other than mechanized ratings as it should. Some personnel changes were required at the start of July when four such armies were created.
The Red Air Force received it's first upgrades of La-5 fighter planes. They were sent to one of the more successful air divisions, the 43rd IAD.
RE: STAVKA WAR DIARIES III- Farewell to Barbarossa (no smokindave34)
Just curious - did you guys end this one once the new patch came out or are things still ongoing?
RE: STAVKA WAR DIARIES III- Farewell to Barbarossa (no smokindave34)
The game is ongoing. We're heading into the winter of 1942-43, but I don't know when I'll have time to do an update. It's been a less aggressive game on the part of the Axis compared to the one with Mehring who has thrown his all into Fall Blau.
RE: STAVKA WAR DIARIES III- Farewell to Barbarossa (no smokindave34)
WEEK 86 - Feb 4, 1943
Fast forward to the winter of 42-43.
Dave did some breaking out into the south in the Caucasus but then retreated. The Red Army is moving back towards Rostov.
Much of the lines are locked down with strong German divisions in fortified positions. Soviet attacks are limited because many corps don't have the strength to do a significant # of winter attacks.
Fast forward to the winter of 42-43.
Dave did some breaking out into the south in the Caucasus but then retreated. The Red Army is moving back towards Rostov.
Much of the lines are locked down with strong German divisions in fortified positions. Soviet attacks are limited because many corps don't have the strength to do a significant # of winter attacks.
RE: STAVKA WAR DIARIES III- Farewell to Barbarossa (no smokindave34)
Leningrad
Western, Bryansk, Voronezh Fronts
Sumy-Kursk region
Kharkov
Stalingrad
Rostov
OOB
Losses
Production
Western, Bryansk, Voronezh Fronts
Sumy-Kursk region
Kharkov
Stalingrad
Rostov
OOB
Losses
Production
RE: STAVKA WAR DIARIES III- Farewell to Barbarossa (no smokindave34)
In March, the Finns decided to leave the great city of Leningrad garrisoned by two coastal brigades. A surprise attack by several rifle corps supported by the 3rd Artillery Army overwhelmed the Finns. The birthplace of the revolution breathes free once more! This now opens up a second front against the Finns.
RE: STAVKA WAR DIARIES III- Farewell to Barbarossa (no smokindave34)
By early April with marginal weather, the move against the Finns continued.
In the south, the Germans abandon Rostov. Red Army forces advance to the west.
In the south, the Germans abandon Rostov. Red Army forces advance to the west.
RE: STAVKA WAR DIARIES III- Farewell to Barbarossa (no smokindave34)
Waiting for Citadel
With over 5,000 tanks available to the German Army, their summer offensive is fully expected when the weather turns clear. The question remains where the attack will come from.
At the end of May on Turn 102, here are some numbers in the game with smokindave. I will compare them to the same turn as the one I had against Pelton. First # set is Dave's game and the second the game with Pelton.
Manpower: 8.9 mil sov vs. 4.2 mil ger - 7.2 mil vs. 3.8 mil
manpower cities towns and manpower pool 2793/1.6 mil - 2063/.084 mil
arms pool: 995k - 991k
vehicle production 140 - 113
artillery: 141k vs. 41k - 113k vs. 38k
tanks 10.7k vs. 5k - 13k vs. 3.5k
aircraft: 16k vs. 3k (8k in Nat Rsv) - 16.9k vs. 2.9k (5.6k in Nat. Rsv.)
mechanized corps 10 - 11
tank corps 24 - 28
rifle corps 100 - 53
artillery/rocket divisions 27 - 37
sapper regiments 490 - 62
tank regiments 10 - 121 (dave's game regiments restricted to guards heavy tank regiments)
tank battalions 7 - 2 (dave's game battalions restricted to flame tank battalions)
AA regiments 70 - 16
artillery and rocket regiments 235 - 180
Rifle Corps
The Red Army has deployed approximately one hundred rifle corps. Another fifty will be formed in 1943-44. These corps are supported in some cases by sappers and a few with 42a AT regiments.
Red Army Mechanization Plan
The Red Army mechanization plan is 90% complete, with 10 mechanized, 24 tank and 19 cavalry corps in 13 armies. There are 4 additional mechanized corps to deploy, but that will not take place until the Fall.
Artillery
There are three artillery armies, each containing eight artillery divisions and one rocket division. Support units are six light rocket regiments. A fourth artillery army will be fielded by July. That will complete the artillery deployments.
Air forces
Only a few MiG-3s and LaGG3s remain deployed in air bases with a group available in reserve. Most fighter and fighter bombers fielded are Yak-1, Yak-9 and La-5 types.
Tactical bombers of the Front Air Armies consist mainly of the various Ilyushin types. The Long Range Air Command also predominantly flies IL-2s. There are two air transport bases that currently deploy no aircraft. Various C-47 and LI-2 regiments remain in reserve.
With over 5,000 tanks available to the German Army, their summer offensive is fully expected when the weather turns clear. The question remains where the attack will come from.
At the end of May on Turn 102, here are some numbers in the game with smokindave. I will compare them to the same turn as the one I had against Pelton. First # set is Dave's game and the second the game with Pelton.
Manpower: 8.9 mil sov vs. 4.2 mil ger - 7.2 mil vs. 3.8 mil
manpower cities towns and manpower pool 2793/1.6 mil - 2063/.084 mil
arms pool: 995k - 991k
vehicle production 140 - 113
artillery: 141k vs. 41k - 113k vs. 38k
tanks 10.7k vs. 5k - 13k vs. 3.5k
aircraft: 16k vs. 3k (8k in Nat Rsv) - 16.9k vs. 2.9k (5.6k in Nat. Rsv.)
mechanized corps 10 - 11
tank corps 24 - 28
rifle corps 100 - 53
artillery/rocket divisions 27 - 37
sapper regiments 490 - 62
tank regiments 10 - 121 (dave's game regiments restricted to guards heavy tank regiments)
tank battalions 7 - 2 (dave's game battalions restricted to flame tank battalions)
AA regiments 70 - 16
artillery and rocket regiments 235 - 180
Rifle Corps
The Red Army has deployed approximately one hundred rifle corps. Another fifty will be formed in 1943-44. These corps are supported in some cases by sappers and a few with 42a AT regiments.
Red Army Mechanization Plan
The Red Army mechanization plan is 90% complete, with 10 mechanized, 24 tank and 19 cavalry corps in 13 armies. There are 4 additional mechanized corps to deploy, but that will not take place until the Fall.
Artillery
There are three artillery armies, each containing eight artillery divisions and one rocket division. Support units are six light rocket regiments. A fourth artillery army will be fielded by July. That will complete the artillery deployments.
Air forces
Only a few MiG-3s and LaGG3s remain deployed in air bases with a group available in reserve. Most fighter and fighter bombers fielded are Yak-1, Yak-9 and La-5 types.
Tactical bombers of the Front Air Armies consist mainly of the various Ilyushin types. The Long Range Air Command also predominantly flies IL-2s. There are two air transport bases that currently deploy no aircraft. Various C-47 and LI-2 regiments remain in reserve.
RE: STAVKA WAR DIARIES III- Farewell to Barbarossa (no smokindave34)
Volkhov and Northwest Fronts
Kalinin and Western Fronts
Bryansk and Voronezh Fronts
Transcaucasus and Central Fronts
Southern and North Caucasus Fronts
Kalinin and Western Fronts
Bryansk and Voronezh Fronts
Transcaucasus and Central Fronts
Southern and North Caucasus Fronts
RE: STAVKA WAR DIARIES III- Farewell to Barbarossa (no smokindave34)
On the week of June 17 and the weather clear, the Axis struck at Ivan Tyulenev's North Caucasus Front. A break in the encirclement was created and airbases brought in to attempt a resupply of the pocket. The following week brought mud and multiple air transport regiments from OSNAZ and TBAB bases brought supplies into the pocket. The airdrops still did not prevent the isolated defenders in their heavily fortified positions from being annihilated during the third week of attacks. Following their success, the Axis troops pulled back and it fell on STAVKA to rebuild the shattered front.
One small consolation for the Red Army was the liberation of the great city of Kharkov.
One small consolation for the Red Army was the liberation of the great city of Kharkov.
RE: STAVKA WAR DIARIES III- Farewell to Barbarossa (no smokindave34)
Vyborg Strategic Offensive
For the Red Army Summer campaign, the STAVKA reviewed the overall situation and identified several objectives for the Red Army.
The designated strategic objective for the summer would be to knock Finland from the war, thereby releasing the Leningrad Front for action against the Wehrmacht. The STAVKA released 55th Army to Markian Popov's Leningrad Front and added three additional armies for the offensive to take Vyborg. They were Pavel Rybalko's 3rd Shock Army with two mechanized and two tank corps, Konstantin Rokossovsky's 33rd Army of four cavalry corps, and 3rd Artillery Army with eight artillery and one rocket division.
The 55th and 33rd Armies would attack from the east at the same time the main attacking force in the Karelian Peninsula drove north towards Vyborg. The three rifle armies advancing to the north were the 7th Independent, 28th and 32nd Armies. 3rd Shock would attempt a breakthrough if possible to outmaneuver the Finnish rifle divisions and brigades.
A key objective of the offensive was not only to knock Finland out of the war, but to do it quickly- within two months. This would provide several additional weeks for the redeployed Leningrad Front to engage German forces.
For the Red Army Summer campaign, the STAVKA reviewed the overall situation and identified several objectives for the Red Army.
The designated strategic objective for the summer would be to knock Finland from the war, thereby releasing the Leningrad Front for action against the Wehrmacht. The STAVKA released 55th Army to Markian Popov's Leningrad Front and added three additional armies for the offensive to take Vyborg. They were Pavel Rybalko's 3rd Shock Army with two mechanized and two tank corps, Konstantin Rokossovsky's 33rd Army of four cavalry corps, and 3rd Artillery Army with eight artillery and one rocket division.
The 55th and 33rd Armies would attack from the east at the same time the main attacking force in the Karelian Peninsula drove north towards Vyborg. The three rifle armies advancing to the north were the 7th Independent, 28th and 32nd Armies. 3rd Shock would attempt a breakthrough if possible to outmaneuver the Finnish rifle divisions and brigades.
A key objective of the offensive was not only to knock Finland out of the war, but to do it quickly- within two months. This would provide several additional weeks for the redeployed Leningrad Front to engage German forces.