HITMAN202 versus THEPRO's Sean is welcomed ... Sillyflower is allowed.

[HITMAN202]

What do you mean agree ?? I got a double barrel shotgun blast from THEPROS accusing me of being a lazy redneck (Sillyflower that is my interpretation of our e-mail) while Belphegor was casting some pagan spell. Sillyflower implied that I wasn't playing the game, just letting MT and Pelton play via proxy. (MT, Pelton I'm not getting your e-mails, Come on !!)

I'm working on Turn 30. Will post the carnage of T29 later.

[sillyflower]

Ignore him, Gentle Reader. He's as lazy as he is a real redneck and you can find his denials of the latter in earlier posts.

The evidence of his recent European ancestry is in the sophistication of his trash talk.

[sillyflower]

ORIGINAL: sillyflower

The evidence of his recent European ancestry is in the sophistication of his trash talk.

Hmmmm

On reflection, I fear I was wrong and Hitman may be purebred (?inbred) red of neck after all.

[hugh04]

Nine panzer divisions died in a pocket or the 9th panzer division died? Which is it Sillyflower? Enquiring minds want to know.

vandev

[Michael T]

I cannot imagine an Axis player mentally surviving the loss of 9 Pz in one pocket. Therefore I conclude it was the 9th Pz on its own.

[sillyflower]

Sadly Michael assumed correctly. Have corrected the poor post

[sillyflower]

As I could not find any pictures of a wolf on a tank, I revert simply to lowering the tone of the AAR whilst increasing the leg count

[HITMAN202]

[HITMAN202]

TURN 29 ... TURN 29 ... TURN 29 ... TURN 29

The chase continues as I flee to the Polish border .... Stats

By the way, Sillyflower, as I have thought about our last e-mail exchange, the problem with the issue are one's unconscious thoughts and prejudices (not used negatively) mixed with one's experiences and self interpretation(s) of them. If I were being philosophical, one's a prori and a posteriori. Ultimately any true discussion of the issue would require a impossible personal purging of both influences. Is this how a lawyer would help to close the issue (our discussion) ???





Total blizzard casualties ..390 K

Average Infantry morale tad below 75

The 3 army group screen shots...

[HITMAN202]

[HITMAN202]

Progress is slow for Sillyflower AGN. With 4 more turns to Feb, I'm more comfortable. One interesting observation is that THEPROS don't pile up units behind the front line as you see in most AAR's. My recon didn't stretch far back, but you see what I'm talking about. ??? Probably to build morale in spent/new units, ???

[HITMAN202]

Remember, I'm taking the ultra-conservative approach to blizzard and it seems if I had protected against the paradrops as I'm now doing and didn't have the "bad" retreats, I've could have ended the blizzard with very few div losses. When Sillyflower remarked that he was close to Smolensk, I was shocked, Yep !!! Definitely I might have overdone the pullback, but this is my first blizzard and have outlined a safe ultra-conservative approach. MT is shuddering at my play in giving up so much space. Well, we all have to learn.

[HITMAN202]

The key to my retreat is a continuous 3 deep line (where able) consisting of ,,, 1st row divsions/ mountain regiments, 2nd row allies, German regiments, 3 rd row HQ and other noncombat units.

[Michael T]

When I look at your situation in comparison to mine against Kamil it gives me a much needed morale boost. Thanks Hitman [:)]

[HITMAN202]

MT my opinion of blizzard now is that to stand and fight in Dec is suicidal (except extreme AGN.) Modified CV of a single German infantry division(80% TOE) in open terrain averages 6-8 and will be torn apart by hasties. The issue is if you do not keep a 2 hex distance from Soviet forces, isolation will likely occur. And even with that, hexes at the apex of a hex row can be often times be very vulnerable even with a 2 hex separation. I cringed when I saw in your AAR (Kamil's) 3 units stacked' defensively on turn 26 (December) in front of Moscow with the risk of disruption if retreated onto occupied hexes.

Starting Jan the modified CV of the same German infantry division almost doubles (in my "tests") but still very vulnerable to direct attacks.

I think a short coming in the Russian blizzard play I've observed (even THEPROS) is a lack of sggressiveness on the second to last snow turn. Engaging the German front, tempting the Germans with easy attacks on that turn can put a monkey wrench in a planned December retreat .

I wish I had your tactical skills. HEY I'M a HERO (3 stars) NOW. NOT !!!!!

[Michael T]

Blizzard in December is crazy. But you can resist in some places if you are prepared to use all your troops. None can be spared for holidays back in the rear. Certainly fighting in January and beyond is more than feasible. Again you need powerful reserves to hit back. Plus a large pool of AP for leader and units reassignments. Its a risky venture for sure and the result is very bloody either way. I just want it to be over really. Are you motorising stragglers so you can escape the torrent?

[sillyflower]

ORIGINAL: HITMAN202

I think a short coming in the Russian blizzard play I've observed (even THEPROS) is a lack of sggressiveness on the second to last snow turn. Engaging the German front, tempting the Germans with easy attacks on that turn can put a monkey wrench in a planned December retreat .

I'm not a great fan of 'rules' of the 'you must kill X or take Y or do Z attacks' that some promote. This is a wargame not an MMO.

There are a number of (potential or actual downsides for the Russian in what you suggest.

[HITMAN202]

Sillyflower, you know that's my style, to "fixate" on a issue and learn how to adjust later. Like my comment on MT's tactical skills, you have remarkable strategic sense of timing, allocation and preparation I'm learning a lot from. Your're in a class far above me and your chiding is well received. But never-the-less an aggressive second to last winter turn by the Russians (which I have never seen) could be a killer in some situations. My point is that I have never seen it (and would be scared if I faced it.) I think many stud Soviet players would agree (as you seemed to partially assent with.)

Much what I say is to stir the pot, so to speak.

MT I appreciate your comments and insight. We seem to concur in key blizzard issues from the German point of view. I have not needed the technique of motorizing stragglersI as I have universally gotten 10 or more MP's when I needed them (to keep two hex distance ... actually you only need seven, but with other terrain impediments.. not so ...and it surprisingly happens.. I mean you don't plan for it.)).

One reason for this might have been due to me making all div outside 25 MP supply on the first blizzard turn to have +40% supply via air resupply. ??? I don't know ??? As Pelton emphasized repeatedly to me the first 4 turns of blizzard is crucial. I had the MP's to keep the crucial 2 hex separation.

[sillyflower]

Dr H

If you had arranged your affairs so badly that a full on offensive against you in the 2nd turn of snow would be worth it, I would have suggested that you were not worth playing against. Don't think we did not think about it. It would have meant weakening our offensive forces to no commensurate gain.

There were useful steps we took in that turn which you may or may not have noticed. I am not going to tell you what they were now as I've forgotten what they were.

[HITMAN202]

Remember, I started a pull back on turn 2 but what you say , none-the-less, is true. But by tempting the Germans to get a few easy kills or isolate units by advancing aggressively on turn 2, the Ruskies could reap big benefits.