1.05 PBEM AAR: Another Year at the Front with Field Marshal Noob

[karonagames]

T20: The Crimea.

[karonagames]

T20 OOB:

[JAMiAM]

ORIGINAL: BigAnorak

This might be the report where I get accused of gamesmanship, because I know that Stéphane was a bit miffed that I kept 50+ units coralled in pockets during the mud, and did not force their surrender until November, when they would not come back for free and would cost APs to replace. Obviously I feel it is a legitimate strategy or I would not have done it. All rules have have cut off points that can be used to the advantage of one side or the other.

Well done!

[ComradeP]

In this case, I wouldn't say it's entirely gamey to leave those units alive until November, you had only 1 good weather turn left, after all.

Leaving isolated units behind your lines could also be a very gamey if decent strategy as the Soviets, as the units won't come back until they're destroyed.

I wonder what will happen to isolated units that are scheduled to withdraw.

[karonagames]

T20 Losses. 600k to go on total losses and 300k on the captured number.

[karonagames]

T20: Unit Losses:

[karonagames]

Bob's cautious advance actually suckered the Soviet into staying in range of the Wehrmacht longer than it should have.

I can't claim that it was a deliberate strategy, but my lack of forward motion was usually as a result of moving the panzers laterally to form the pockets that got 20+ units in turns 14,15 and 16, and I obviously missed Kharkov to get 30+ units.

Only time will tell whether this manpower-focussed strategy will pay off and lead to a 1942 campaign that will be the foundation for a minor victory. yes my losses have been heavy, but the higher number in the POWs will produce the hiwis that will replace the combat losses - again it's only a theory.

[KenchiSulla]

Having less then 4.000.000 men at turn 20 stings. If you can pull off a small snow offensive to destroy a few divisions you are looking at maybe a 4.500.000 blizzard offensive..

That is quite an accomplishment..

[Peltonx]

I think looking at the numbers grinding works, but only if the German player has taken enough manpower centers(pts).

James vs Flaviusx worked for GHC because James took far more manpower pts then Big A has(Tula south).

SHC in this game will get and extra 15,000 to 20,000 replasements per turn which will quickly recover his manpower pool and in this game hardly any armament points were lost so the pool will very quickly go positive.

Big A's throey is right, but he needed to removed allot more manpower pts from the russian pool. I am very impressed with him dropping the SHC numbers so low, but these numbers will recover to quickly in the long run.

Going after manpower pts and grinding is best game plan now.

Big A's idea will be tested true or fasle during 42.

Pelton

[karonagames]

Sitrep 28th November 1941

Now all my blizzard defence theories are going to be put to the test! Because of my rustiness and mistakes, my line is 6-8 hexes west of where I would usually like/expect to be. I have not had the chance to dig in anywhere along the front.

I am therefore relying on my linebackers to prevent cavalry and tank brigade breakthroughs, and hope that my continued spoiling attacks during the snow turns have weakened and disrupted the SU enough to prevent a major offensive during the first 4 turns of blizzard. If I haven't, then this will be a long and hard first winter.

The north is reasonably prepared and has continued spoiling attacks:

[karonagames]

T24: I would usually expect to have a 4-6 hex buffer in front of Rzhev and Vyazma so these will fall early.

[karonagames]

T24: I pull back a little near Orel

[karonagames]

T24:

I miss getting Kursk in the snow turns , but I do get Kharkov.

[karonagames]

T24: I have a real struggle to get any sort of defence line organised near Dtown and Ztown. The SS come from the crimea to help out.

[karonagames]

T24: Ztown without the battles.

The bulge in the front near Ztown means the front is 9 hexes longer than I had planned for, and will mean that motorised infantry will have to stay in the front line and not sit in winter quarters, but 90% of my panzer divisions should be nice and snug during the blizzard. Note the number of Routed red army units - it should take some time for them to rejoin the battle.

[karonagames]

T24: in the Crimea the Mountain divs will continue to attack towards Kerch where there are some armaments factories that did not get away - hoorah!!

[karonagames]

T24 OOB: Well I got him under 4m effectives -just.

[karonagames]

T24 losses: My noobiness lost me the equivalent of 2 turns so I was just short of my Casualty and POW targets.

[karonagames]

T24 unit losses: I do get 200+ division equivalents; 60 of which were after November so have to be paid for with APs.

[karonagames]

T24: Reasonable manpower pool plus 175k hiwis ready to rebuild units strength after the blizzard.