Grognard1812 (Soviet) vs Pitaman

[JoeLewis]

Greetings. I had a question about your operational approach in this game. Do you just launch deliberate attacks all up and down the front line every turn, or are you ever trying to mass your mechanized and cavalry corps for a deeper breakthrough behind the German lines?

[Grognard1812]

ORIGINAL: JoeLewis

Greetings. I had a question about your operational approach in this game. Do you just launch deliberate attacks all up and down the front line every turn, or are you ever trying to mass your mechanized and cavalry corps for a deeper breakthrough behind the German lines?

Thanks for asking.

Yes, I am launching deliberate attacks on every hex I can all along the front to create Axis casualties. I am trying to set up the conditions (German Army under 2.5 million troops) for a very powerful Soviet offensive in the summer of 1944 - the final drive towards Berlin.

As background to this strategy, for some reason starting in 1943 the game system doesn't allow the Soviet mechanized units to obtain enough supplies for successful breakthrough attacks. Most turns the Tank Corps have at most 20 to 25 movements points and limited fuel and supplies - I tried increasing the supply levels by reducing the Reserve rail percentage to 5%, relocating unneeded factories and reducing the factory production percentage for armaments to 50% - but there was no noted increase in supplies arriving to Soviet units.

Also my opponent is very experienced and I am hesitant in attempting deep breakthroughs with mechanized Soviet units in 1943 as he still has some very powerful units (such as the SS panzer divisions, GD division and a number of the regular panzer divisions) which could counterattack and pocket a number of the Soviet Tank Corps - risking them being isolated and then being eliminated.

To fix the supply situation in the summer of 1944 I plan on using a lot of HQ buildups for the Soviet Tank Corps - but I am avoiding them now to avoid losing too many supply trucks. I didn't create any mechanized Corps as they use up a very high number of trucks.

[Grognard1812]

Turn 132, blizzard in all 3 Soviet Weather Zones.

The 299th German Infantry Division surrenders.

[Grognard1812]

The liberation of Moscow is imminent, as the Soviet advance continues.

[Grognard1812]

Cherkassy is only 70 miles away, will there be a repeat of the Korsun Pocket in the winter of 1944?

[Grognard1812]

In the Crimea, the German Army has abandoned its forward defenses.

[Grognard1812]

The Soviet Army advances in the Crimea, there are no Axis troops to be seen.

[Grognard1812]

Turn 133, last turn in 1943. Blizzard in all 3 Soviet Weather Zones.

A German Panzer counterattack was successful in allowing the three encircled German Divisions to escape.

[Grognard1812]

The Soviet Army is only 10 miles from the gates of Moscow.

[Grognard1812]

The advance continues towards Gomel against determined German resistance.

[Grognard1812]

The advance continues, but Kiev is still 120 miles away.

[Grognard1812]

The Soviet advance continues across the Dnepr river.

[Grognard1812]

In the Crimea there is no resistance from the Axis Army.

[Grognard1812]

On the last turn in 1943, the Soviet Army recruited 84,837 manpower, the multiplier for manpower will be reduced in 1944.

[Grognard1812]

At the end of 1943, the German Army numbered 2.67 million troops and the Soviet Army numbered 7.5 million troops. The war of attrition continues.

[EwaldvonKleist]

Germany in Moscow late 1943 seems good buth the Oob is terrible. Like completely wrecked. In past aars it was often 1 million more. You should do fine.
One tip, try to always have a unit in contact to the Germans, even if it is only a weak AT brigade. It means more attrition and less fatigue reduction, both is a huge benefit. Atm you seem reluctant to send units forward to uccupy recently freed hexagons.
Oob is so lopsided you need not fear a counteraatack. If it comesy jt will benefit you.

[Grognard1812]

ORIGINAL: EwaldvonKleist

Germany in Moscow late 1943 seems good buth the Oob is terrible. Like completely wrecked. In past aars it was often 1 million more. You should do fine.
One tip, try to always have a unit in contact to the Germans, even if it is only a weak AT brigade. It means more attrition and less fatigue reduction, both is a huge benefit. Atm you seem reluctant to send units forward to uccupy recently freed hexagons.
Oob is so lopsided you need not fear a counteraatack. If it comesy jt will benefit you.

At the beginning of 1944 the Axis still control both Leningrad and Moscow, which is worrisome as it is still a long way to Berlin for the Soviet Army, my opponent had done well in 1942 and 1943. If the Soviet Army is unable to capture Berlin by end of the game I would consider it a German victory. Very few AAR have gone till the spring or summer of 1945.

I have avoided sending single or weak units forward to occupy recently freed hexes in an attempt to try to avoid giving my German opponent too many opportunities to counter-attack and increase the morale and experience levels of his retreating units. Most of the Soviet units (especially the Guards and Corps units) have morale above their national levels as they have been winning most of their combats and rarely retreat (I tend to stack forward hexes with at least 2 Corps or 3 divisions).

[Grognard1812]

The first turn of 1944, blizzard in all weather zones.

The Red Army has finally reached the gates of Moscow after months of intensive combat against determined German defenses.

[Grognard1812]

In the south the rapid advance towards Kirovograd continues.

[Grognard1812]

And in the Crimea the Soviet Army continues its unopposed advance, the liberation of Sevastopol is close.