Grognard1812 (Soviet) vs Pitaman

[Grognard1812]

End of turn. The Soviet Army tries to strengthen the defenses around the Axis breakthrough, and apply pressure to the Axis supply lines by having a single Soviet Tank Corp break into the center of the Axis bulge.

[Grognard1812]

Two Soviet Armies were withdrawn towards Penza to be redeployed further North as part of an offensive against the base of the Axis breakthrough. End of turn.

[Grognard1812]

Turn 82, first week of 1943, Blizzard in all 3 Soviet weather zones.

Start of turn.

A stalemate North of Ryazan, as Soviet forces prevent any further significant expansion of the Panzer bulge North of Ryazan.

German Infantry continues its slow push North between Moscow and Ryazan, which is beginning to worry Stavka.

[Grognard1812]

End of turn, the Soviet Army attempts to build stronger defenses between Moscow and Ryazan.

[Grognard1812]

End of turn. The Red Army advance continues West of Penza.

[Grognard1812]

End of turn. The Relentless push West by the Soviet Army continues West of Saratov.

[Grognard1812]

End of turn between Stalingrad and Rostov. The Axis defenses North of the Don near Rostov continue to hold.

[Grognard1812]

ORIGINAL: mmoaorrke

Thank you....the numbers are very similar to my game though you are 3 months ahead of time and have about 850k more troops. Makes me feel better they are more typical than I thought. I am curious how the numbers will change once you hit 1943! (if you don't mind posting them again when you hit January)

A screenshot of the manpower pool, first week of 1943.

[Grognard1812]

And a screenshot of the weekly manpower production, first week of 1943. On turn 79 it was 100,610 but in 1943 it has dropped to 77,745 due to the change in the multiplier for 1943.

[Grognard1812]

And a screenshot from Turn 84 (I forgot to get one on turn 82, and I am presently completing Turn 85), the German Army numbers 3.46 million troops and the Soviet Army numbers 7.16 million troops.

[Dweomer]

I'm still completely mystified by the German strategy: it is a real pity he is not running an AAR as well on this game.

- I count about 25 mobile German divisions being happily parked in the Salient to Nowhere. As there is no railroad bridge at Ryazan the supply situation is simply impossible. I would probably not attack the base of the salient since the Panzers seem to be so happy up there and if they are forced to be withdrawn they may become useful again. Then again, if you cut off the salient the war is over...
- In the sector between Ryazan and Moscow, the German army is engaged in a WW1 style offensive against stacked Rifle divisions in forts: something else it should avoid at all costs as the casualty ratio is far from favourable. If the offensive goes any further and comes really close to Moscow the Soviets will simply shift in a bunch of Rifle Corps and that will be the end of it.
- In the mean time, there are disasters in the making in the Italian and Hungarian sectors. As soon as a few divisions start routing, there will be a breakthrough that will not be easily contained, as most of the mobile forces are unoccupied elsewhere.

[Grognard1812]

I think the German strategy is to try to capture Moscow in the spring / summer of 1943. Once clear weather starts Axis supply to the Panzer bulge will improve, and by attacking Westward and Northward from the bulge the Soviet supply lines to Moscow can be cut.

Until then my goal is to continue without pause the Soviet offensive from Penza to Rostov in an attempt to create breakthroughs which would force the Axis to reinforce the affected areas reducing the pressure on Moscow.

[Grognard1812]

Blizzard in all Soviet weather zones.

Start of turn, the massed German Infantry Divisions continue to push slowly North towards Moscow.

[Grognard1812]

The Soviet Army tries to improve the defenses between Moscow and Ryazan. End of turn.

[Grognard1812]

End of turn West of Penza, the Soviet Army is attacking and moving West 10 miles (one hex) a week.

[Grognard1812]

East of Voronezh, the Soviet Army attempts to create a breakthrough in the Axis defenses. End of turn.

[Grognard1812]

Turn 84, blizzard in all Soviet weather zones.

Stalemate in the Moscow area. End of turn situation.

[Grognard1812]

The Axis retreats westward towards Voronezh. Start of turn.

[Grognard1812]

With the Soviet Army following the retreating Axis forces. End of turn East of Voronezh.

[Grognard1812]

The Axis are successful in their attempts to hold on to their defenses at the Don River near Rostov. Each turn the Axis Army reoccupies the hexes they had retreated from the previous turn. End of turn.