Adventures in Russia

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: cpt flam
My OKH is in Riga, this give me 2 airbases for bombers in the north
4th Army near Minsk with 4 airbases
AGS near Kiev with 2 airbases

That sounds great. Good spots for an airdrome. I was using Warsaw for a while
because of all the airfields there but discovered that when the front line moves
east Warsaw is too far west to be useful. I like to keep the fighters right up on
the front line's edge and the bombers not too far behind the lines. I like to be
able to reach out pretty far into the Soviet backfield.

What turn are you on now?

[700851McCall]

ORIGINAL: larryfulkerson

ORIGINAL: 700851McCall
I've got OKH back in the Wolfs Lair. It just seemed to be the right location, historically.

I have wondered if Leningrad had actually fallen would they have moved up to there and built a new compound and bunkers, to be a bit closer to the front? Do you think there is any benefit to bringing it up to the airfields? I suppose there must be a supply bonus but it seemed just a little too gamey to use it like that.

OKH is an HQ unit like any other and can do HQ kinds of things wherever it's parked so yeah it would help out the aircraft to refit faster and give a supply boost. I would park it at Wolfs Lair but I don't know where that is. In some mountain range somewhere I think. I can't imagine them moving OKH to Leningrad if it had fallen. I don't know why they would want to do that. For the grins?

The 'Wolf's Lair' is here, just south of Koenigsberg:



The one in the mountains is 'The Eagle's Nest' (they always had these cool names for some reason) which is in Bavaria and not on the map. Hitler never used it.

[larryfulkerson]

Down south near Kharkov I've discovered a hole in the Soviet lines and I'm driving
units through it to see what we can find out. There may be a way to cur off some
Soviet units from their supply somehow. I'll keep you in the loop as to what happens.

[larryfulkerson]

WTF? The Soviet Winter Offensive has started already. It's early and I'm
not prepared for it completely. I've got units out of position and the arty isn't
fully rested yet. This is going to be interesting. I'll keep you in the loop.

[larryfulkerson]

This bulge started as a simple hole in the Soviet lines and I've driven some recon
units out further than is safe and I'm not finding any Soviet units. I'm wondering
how I can use this to my advantage. I'm wondering where all the Soviet units are.
With the SWO going on I'm wondering if I should pull back to safety and forgo
these adventures. Or see how it develops and maybe push more people out there and
go for the river crossings and road intersections and see what happens.

[700851McCall]

The Soviets are very weak in the centre there east of Kharkov for along time. But I found there was not really advantage to be had from it due to the state of supply and the fact that there are no worthwhile objectives in that sector. Sure, you can advance and bulge out your lines but that just stretches a thin force even further for no gain.

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: 700851McCall
The Soviets are very weak in the centre there east of Kharkov for along time. But I found there was not really advantage to be had from it due to the state of supply and the fact that there are no worthwhile objectives in that sector. Sure, you can advance and bulge out your lines but that just stretches a thin force even further for no gain.

I think you're right and thanks for saying so. What you say makes sense and really, with the SWO going
on this maybe not be the best time to go exploring. The Soviets have a shock of 120 for 10 turns and
the Axiss has a shock of 90 for five turns and I need to concentrate on defending what I've got already.
I have a feeling that I'm going to have a rough time this winter.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the T49 front lines before I have moved anybody.

[larryfulkerson]

I gave a suicide mission to the recon element of the 20th Panzer division and he drove
south skirting known Soviet positions and cut the supply lines to a medium group of
Soviet units. I expect a response from Elmer about this and I'm not sure I'm ready
for it. This should be interesting.

[larryfulkerson]

There's a spot near Staraya Russa that sees a sharp bend in the front lines and I've
been trying to fold it back on itself and surround some of them and kill them. But
more Soviet units have shown up and now we have proper formal front lines. So I've
been trying to push them back to the little river that runs near there so I can have
a natural defensive terrain feature to work in my behalf but so far no Soviet units
are moving. I'm going to have to wait until the SWO is over for sure. I've
decided that getting the objectives and victory points is okie dokie I'm really
after the Soviet units themselves. I want to clean the map of Soviet units if I can.

[larryfulkerson]

I've got an MP unit that volunteered to go out into no-man's land and blow a bridge
for the Furerer and he did, he succeeded. He did so well it was decided to leave
him out there, converting roads and rails and blowing bridges, preferably north and
south to cut off the supply to the Soviet units. Maybe if I give them a distraction
they won't attack so much on the front lines. Not to mention the hassle a blown bridge
is for your supply flow.

[TPOO]

ORIGINAL: larryfulkerson

I've got an MP unit that volunteered to go out into no-man's land and blow a bridge
for the Furerer and he did, he succeeded. He did so well it was decided to leave
him out there, converting roads and rails and blowing bridges, preferably north and
south to cut off the supply to the Soviet units. Maybe if I give them a distraction
they won't attack so much on the front lines. Not to mention the hassle a blown bridge
is for your supply flow.

I guess I will have to find an answer in the next update for this kind of unrealistic use of units especially in an overextended supply situation. May have to restrict ant units from converting hexes by house rule or a suggestion that Steve gave me to prevent these types of units from doing this. It frustrates me and Steve that we have to do this but this is just unrealistic. I know in other games these types of units cannot convert hexes or delete supply of their opponent.
I was almost ready for a new and better version of the scenario but there is more work to do now that I should not have to do. Oh well.

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: TPOO

ORIGINAL: larryfulkerson
I've got an MP unit that volunteered to go out into no-man's land and blow a bridge
for the Furerer and he did, he succeeded. He did so well it was decided to leave
him out there, converting roads and rails and blowing bridges, preferably north and
south to cut off the supply to the Soviet units. Maybe if I give them a distraction
they won't attack so much on the front lines. Not to mention the hassle a blown bridge
is for your supply flow.

I guess I will have to find an answer in the next update for this kind of unrealistic use of units especially in an overextended supply situation. May have to restrict ant units from converting hexes by house rule or a suggestion that Steve gave me to prevent these types of units from doing this. It frustrates me and Steve that we have to do this but this is just unrealistic. I know in other games these types of units cannot convert hexes or delete supply of their opponent.

I was almost ready for a new and better version of the scenario but there is more work to do now that I should not have to do. Oh well.

Hey there Rick dude. Thanks for posting your opinion on my use of my units. I'm confused about what it is that has convinced you that what I did was "unrealistic". I've seen Elmer do things like this I grant you but that doesn't necessarily make it an "unrealistic" move. Special forces unit do things like this all the time. Is that it?...that it was an MP unit instead of some special forces? You don't understand my motive I think. These people volunteered for a suicide mission in that they needed to get there, blow the bridge, and return without losing anybody. They did that and they were so successful in that one task that it was determined appropriate to "throw them away" on aother bridge further east. It is expected that they will get killed. That was part of the original plan. Is that "unrealistic"? You might be surprised to find out what Ninja Warriors will agree to do if you give them enough hashish.

[larryfulkerson]

This is the front lines before I have moved anybody in T51:

[larryfulkerson]

Near Staraya Russa there's a bend in the front lines and the north-facing front line
is starting to crumble so I need to evacuate the people to the east of the holes
appearing in the lines. To not evacuate them would get them cut off and destroyed
so it's important. Somehow those people in the crumbling part of the line need to
hold the path open until the last man is away to safety. I'm not sure that can be
done.

[gliz2]

Try dividing those fortified infantry units (preferably into 3) and try establishing flanks that could hold until main elements (Pz or Pz SS Div?) withdraw. I mean you'll get 5-6 "extra" units which could provide cover for extra 2-4 hexes
Just to clarify, you should take just 1/3 of each "light blue" infantry. Thus you maintain the existing line and can fill in the gaps in the corridor.

I started using the dividing units technique extensively once I discover how effective it can be

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: gliz2
Try dividing those fortified infantry units (preferably into 3) and try establishing flanks that could hold until main elements (Pz or Pz SS Div?) withdraw. I mean you'll get 5-6 "extra" units which could provide cover for extra 2-4 hexes
Just to clarify, you should take just 1/3 of each "light blue" infantry. Thus you maintain the existing line and can fill in the gaps in the corridor.

I started using the dividing units technique extensively once I discover how effective it can be

Hey there gliz2 dude. Thanks a lot for posting this great idea. I like it. Instantly have more units to cover more ground. Wait, won't they be so weak that they can't hold their own ground in the front lines? What has your experience been, because it sounds like you're using them that way. I'll have to try it out and see. Thanks for the tip.

[gliz2]

What is really worring is that gap between you lines west and north of your bulge. You must reinforce it.
First try to orginze Pz Div withdrawal as a whole. This would neatly serve to cunter the threat in that gap. Split them Inf units and put them in the same hexes with Pz Divs units in contact with the enemy then try withdrawing them (it's a kind of game, they might fail to disengage).
Secondly use some of the leftovers from dividing to immediately cover that gap west of the bulge.
Thirdly put some unit(s) on that hex with the unit still in transport. It will be the last defence line and point of exit. Also very good chokehold to stop pursuing Soviet units.

I wish you luck and hope you'll be able to get out most of your troops

PS. Your defence in the bulge are quite strong. By taking 1/3 of them you increas a risk of them collapsimg but not by large. I cannot see the strenght of Soviets which are in immediate contact with your units but I wage they mostly will hold.

PS2. The withdrawal should be achieved in 1-2 turns. It has to be quick so you could reestablish your line of defence.

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: gliz2
What is really worring is that gap between you lines west and north of your bulge. You must reinforce it. First try to orginze Pz Div withdrawal as a whole. This would neatly serve to cunter the threat in that gap. Split them Inf units and put them in the same hexes with Pz Divs units in contact with the enemy then try withdrawing them (it's a kind of game, they might fail to disengage).

Secondly use some of the leftovers from dividing to immediately cover that gap west of the bulge.
Thirdly put some unit(s) on that hex with the unit still in transport. It will be the last defence line and point of exit. Also very good chokehold to stop pursuing Soviet units.

I wish you luck and hope you'll be able to get out most of your troops

PS. Your defence in the bulge are quite strong. By taking 1/3 of them you increas a risk of them collapsimg but not by large. I cannot see the strenght of Soviets which are in immediate contact with your units but I wage they mostly will hold.

PS2. The withdrawal should be achieved in 1-2 turns. It has to be quick so you could reestablish your line of defence.

Gliz2 dude, I really appreciate your help. I'll see what I can do and I'll keep you in the loop.

[MikeJ19]

Larry,

You must be a great commander to have MPs volunteer to go behind enemy lines like that. I wish my troops respected me like that.

Good luck stopping the Soviet offensive.