STAVKA - 8 player multiplayer Soviet thread

[EwaldvonKleist]

It is in the Gulag.

[Zorch]

Henceforth, the quantity of (one more than two) shall not be used, mentioned, or otherwise employed.
No more troikas, trios, or triumvirates. All planes with (one more than two) engines are grounded.

[M60A3TTS]

Week 33
29 January-4 February 1942

Attacks continue south of the Oka with renewed intensity. STAVKA commits Rokossovsky's 40th Army into the area of Bagramyan's 1st Guards to exert increased pressure in this sector.



From the diary of General Maior Konstantin Konstantinovich Rokossovsky, Commander of 40th Army (Cavalry):

1 February 1942

Our four cavalry corps were now in open ground and able to give the German 29th Corps a push westwards. We threaten the rail junction at Kastorno and no doubt the fascists would have to bring any reinforcements coming from the south a more westerly route via Kursk. Our troops continue to show amazing resilience under less than ideal weather conditions.

[Zorch]

All hail the victorious Red Army!

In other news, the number '3' has been rehabilitated in the Motherland's great hour of need and assigned to a punishment battalion.

[M60A3TTS]

40th Cavalry Army and its commanders

[M60A3TTS]

Week 34
5-11 February 1942

40th Army forces 1st Hungarian Cavalry Brigade back from the town of Gorshechnoe as cavalry corps of 4th Army join in with attacks on Rokossovsky's left flank. The Red Army also continues active offensive operations in the Tula-Orel area.

[M60A3TTS]

Week 35
12-18 February 1942

Only three weeks of blizzard remain, and offensive operations are greatly curtailed. Some rest is needed for our troops that have been on the attack for many weeks.




In the Karelia area, the German 10th Panzer Division is trying to make some noise prior to being sent westwards. The needed troops are deployed to keep this area under control.




Our 40th Army has cause for celebration as three of the four cavalry corps are awarded coveted guards banners by order of Comrade Stalin. Konstantin Konstantinovich Rokossovsky is a cause for worry within the German High command for good reason.

[M60A3TTS]

Weeks 36&37
19 Feb-4 March 1942

The severe winter weather at last comes to an end with little fighting initiated by either side.

The northern area has our troops in possession of a part of the Valdai Hills which was a part of the plan for our winter ops.




South of the Oka River, more progress in the area of Tula-Orel would have been preferable, but the forces initially committed to the Moscow area arrived too late to have any real influence on our results here.




In the area covered by Southwestern and Southern Fronts, our units finished up fairly close to their expected halt line, the Oskol River.




The VVS is back in the field for the month of March. We will now see what plans the Axis has for the weather leading up to the Spring rasputitsa.

[M60A3TTS]

Week 38
5-11 March 1942

With the blizzard over, the Axis launch many attacks south of the Oka. The German propaganda machine will no doubt show their advancing soldiers. What they will not show are the casualties taken as they advance under the fire of our guns.

[M60A3TTS]

Now that March has arrived, the VVS returns to the field. It is expected that losses will be beyond what we would like, but it is now necessary to assist the ground forces.

Axis air recon activity amounts to 515 sorties. Some areas are under intense study such as these.



Our air losses this week include 248 fighters and fighter bombers out of a total loss of 364 Soviet aircraft.




While these are significant, it is worth keeping in mind that in the four weeks of August 1941, the VVS lost over a thousand planes each week. Twenty eight percent of the current VVS fighter force remains I-type aircraft. A modernization program for many of these will soon be underway. Also, once we have the tools to limit the range of some of our aircraft so as to provide more effective base defense, things should markedly improve. Finally, the month of April with rain forecast will allow us to build up our inventories once again.

[M60A3TTS]

As we close out week 38, it is worth noting that German armor has been spotted lurking opposite Southern Front. The 9th, 18th, 19th and 37th Armies are deployed forward while 12th, 29th and 47th Armies provide an additional defensive layer.

[Zorch]

How do you appraise the strategic situation? Are you willing to share your appreciation of enemy capabilities and intentions?

[M60A3TTS]

They have the intention and capability to push us far to the east in order to secure victory. How they are going to try and accomplish that is something you would have to ask them.

We have to be smart as to when we offer battle. There are fewer attacks now than in the December-January time frame because combat losses become more costly in terms of manpower that we need to build up. It so happens that the number of battles we wanted to win have already been won. Our air forces still rebuild and will continue to do so all the way up to the start of summer.

[EwaldvonKleist]

ORIGINAL: Zorch

How do you appraise the strategic situation? Are you willing to share your appreciation of enemy capabilities and intentions?

The Axis side has gambled that the war against the USSR can be won in 1941. But neither have they reached goals in 1941 in terms of captured land (A-A line), nor did the fall of a few cities cause the collapse of a state hold together by the distinct consciousness for the historic mission it has to fulfil.

We expect the Axis side, from the soldiers on the frontline to their suppressors in the high command, to be unsettled and worried about the future. The regular changes in the Axis front commands show how hard the strain of holding the army together is on the officer corps.

The workers in the combines of Detroit, Pittsburgh and the area east of the Ural labour around the clock, providing the Red Army with all it needs and proving the Axis propaganda of a war winning plan based on strategic planning to be wishful thinking.

[M60A3TTS]

The Germans are again on the move. Opening attacks by 49th Mountain Corps and 52nd Infantry Corps cut into the 37th Army under General-Leitenant Vasily Gordov. Behind them are the 3rd, 14th and 48th Panzer Corps of 1st Panzer Army. They attack along a narrow, 30 mile front, pushing the rifle divisions back while taking casualties each step of the way. Eventually the pressure is too much to overcome and the panzers are through 37th Army. Behind 37th Army is the 47th Army of General-Maior Filipp Zhmachenko. It too is taken on by the panzer formations and the town of Rossosh is captured by 3rd Panzer Corps of Erhard Raus. The 48th Panzer Corps of Josef Harpe is able to follow up on this sucess by crossing the River Don. 25th Motorized Division and SS Das Reich are able to push troops of 5th Army from the town of Pavlovsk.

STAVKA reacts immediately, ordering Zhmachenko to counterattack 9th Panzer Division and cut off the narrow supply route of 1st Panzer Army. The attack by Zhmachenko is successful as reinforcements rush towards the German penetration. 1st Guards Army of Ivan Bagramyan and 40th Cavalry Army of Konstantin Rokossovsky move in from the northern flank. A collection of units from various commands move in from the south in order to lock down the penetration.

[xhoel]

Really great way of writing, I am really enjoying the reports, keep up the good work!

[M60A3TTS]

Axis attacks take place across the front south of the Oka all the way to the area between Belgorod and Boguchar. The main focus remains the penetration by 1st Panzer Army. A correction is noted as in the previous week, 1st Panzer Army was thought to be led by von Kleist. Subsequent battle reports shows it led by J. Lemelsen. Initial battles attempt to widen the narrow 10 mile corridor. 49th Mountain Corps is able to make good progress against rifle divisions of Zhmachenko’s 47th Army.



Against Fedyuninsky’s 5th Army his regular rifle divisions give ground while 20th and 28th Guards Divisions briefly hold off their attackers.



Rokossovsky’s cavalry go into action, fighting hundreds of German vehicles in a see-saw set of battles. 22nd Panzer Division reports quite a few vehicles lost.



Bagramyan’s 1st Guards Army ties down 7th and 9th Panzer Divisions in addition to 20th Motorized Division in one battle.



The Axis has been asking where the air war is. This week it is on top of the 12th and 16th Panzer Divisions as IL-2 strike aircraft assist Bagramyan supported by guards cavalry of 3rd and 4th Shock Armies in a second battle that leaves the fascists fleeing the field with dozens of German tanks left burning in the frozen fields.



At the conclusion of this week’s battles, the 25th Motorized Division and SS Das Reich Division find themselves alone on the east bank of the Don. Forces of Bagramyan and Rokossovsky establish a 20 mile deep cordon between 1st Panzer Army and their two trapped divisions.

[EwaldvonKleist]

While the Red Army fiercely counterattacks the Axis bridgehead over the Don, Soviet aircraft engineer Oleg Antonov completes design of a glider capablele of carrying a light tank into battle. Will the air landing tank corps be the next revolution in combined arms warfare?

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: EwaldvonKleist

While the Red Army fiercely counterattacks the Axis bridgehead over the Don, Soviet aircraft engineer Oleg Antonov completes design of a glider capablele of carrying a light tank into battle. Will the air landing tank corps be the next revolution in combined arms warfare?

Ah, but can it take off again?

Is not to worry. Werner von Braun is working feverishly on the Rocket Powered Assault Gun.

[M60A3TTS]

Update on this game.

Two people including myself have decided to drop from the team. The remaining two will decide if they want to continue and recruit some new players for the Soviet side.

It was a entertaining and challenging game for over a year and the team definitely made great strides in turning a losing side into a competitive one. Even the air war was showing the makings of a turnaround, although others are free to voice their opinions on that. Thanks to the Axis team for all the efforts they made to keep the game going, especially with all the constant command changes. Such is the way of a multiplayer game.