Matrix Games Forums

Turn 122, 14 October 1943

First turn of mud.

Non random weather so Schascha advances his units just before the mud

I was clearly behind the curve mid 1942 but now I'm on the average



I'm rather satisfied with this summer campaign. I've retreated 1 to 3 hexes near Minsk, 3 to 5 near Cherkassy. And above all my army is in good shape.



Next step, winter 1943/1944

Turn 126, 11 November 1943

Winter is coming! (Stark)

After some turns of mud, activity is back. First 2 successfull counterattacks around Minsk

.

And the I decide to give ground Around Minsk



I give also ground in South Ukraine but I keep the contact souuth of Kiev. I expect that Schascha will hit at this point.

Turn 127, 18 november 1943

Air losses GHC 109 SHC 515

Schascha is now able to attack on 4 points of the front at the same time.

Focus on the Minsk sector. In order to get a retreat against 3 rifle corps, I have to engage more than 1000 AFV



Sustainable at the moment.

Turn 130, 9th december 1943

Same axis of attacks but Schascha insists South of Minsk. He has several 3 rifle corps stacked in woods. It's too strong for my Mot /Pzd counterattacks. In Ukraine I blocked him except in the extreme South around Nikolaïev.

Our fight looks like Italy 1943. In order to give an in depth perspective, I post 2 maps of the front. For the moment he is gaining ground with pain.





And my OOB is declining slowly but surely

Turn 132, 23 december 1943

Air losses, GHC 84, SHC 339

In the South, Nikolaïev is lost (my defence wasn't optimal). Of course I counterattack but in several places of the front it's a race between SHC advance and the digging of fortifications

Turn 133, 30 december 1943

At least will survive 1943.... but now Schascha is able to attack on 5 points of the front (north Minsk Minsk, north Kiev, Kiev and Nikolaïev)

Air losses GHC 70 SHC 241

Focus on the Minsk sector, I lose 3 hexes and I'm lucky with my counterattack.

,

Turn 134, 6th january 1944

New year, new perspectives.

5 zones of attack for the SHC

1) North ok Kiev

I was surprised that Schascha opened a new theater of fight. My forces here were light and didn't offer a serious resistance



I had to call 2 pzd/mot to break the spearhead. 2 assaults were needed. With some reinforcement situation seems under control



2) Cherkassy

Heroic resistance from the 17th pzd against 390k men and almost 10k guns!!



3) Nikolaiev
No picture, situation Under control

Turn 134, 6th january 1944

4) Dvina

Here Schascha is facing the LVIth pz corps. The line will hold. It must hold!!!! I have no fort belt behind!!



5) Minsk

This sector is my main concern. Obviously, Schascha has concentrated here a bulk of high quality troops.



And I got a held with a poor 1.5/1 despite I engaged 1200 AFV!!! This sector will be the priority in term of reinforcement.

Turn 134, 6th january 1944

Last point, now my national morale is 60, which is low.

But curiously, the russian front army as a morale well above. It's of course true for pz and mot but also for the majority of my Infs. Below are the lowest german inf Div. The one with 60 is a recently arrived.

I will do, my best to keep morale above 70.

Turn 135, 13 january 1944

error 99 more than 20 times... unable to load this game....

air losses GHC 73, SHC 215

Situation around Cherkassy and Nikolaïev is under control

Near Kiev, the line is holding



In the Dvina sector, I've got good results too




But near Miinsk, Schascha keeps gaining ground. I have to attack with 1600 AFV to gain a retreat...



And at the moment my OOB looks good (I received some reinforcements)

Turn 136, 20 January 1944

Turn after turn, I feel less and less confident

1) Schascha is able to add each turn new axes of attack
2) My reserve activation doesn't prevent retreat anymore (Schascha often gets odds over 3/1)
3) My counterattacks are less and less successfull
4) For the first time of the game, I'm waiting for the mud

Below the main axes of SHC attacks

Turn 137, 27 january 1944

Tank corps are really strong opponents. Near Kiev, I failed twice to get a retreat result



In front of Minsk, Schascha is now able to get a retreat against very strong stacks

Turn 138, 3 february 1944

Schascha continues to progress in several parts of the front. No good news...

1) Dvina

I'm unable to get a retreat against his tank corps...



2) Minsk

Schascha gets a 3.7/1 against a good stack attacked from only 2 sides



3) Kiev

Another failing counterattack, despite 900+ AFV



4) Nikolaiev

3 hexes lost in one turn and another tank/mech stack appearing

Morvael made a post about last patch. It will not help me

tm.asp?m=3428726

ORIGINAL: morvael

With the new patch there is a penalty when you attach units to a "too high" HQ.

If the direct HQ of a non-HQ unit is an Army HQ then +2 is added to roll range (so a Random(10)<leader's skill becomes Random(12)<leader's skill).
If the direct HQ of a non-HQ unit is an Army Group/Front/MD HQ then +4 is added.
If the direct HQ of a non-HQ unit is a High Command HQ then +6 is added.



So you need to keep those Soviet Corps HQ for the first two turns, in June 1941. Also, it wouldn't be wise to disband German Corps HQs late in the war.

Turn 139, 10 february 1944

I have more and more the impression to face a hydra. I cut one tentacle and 2 others appear.

1) Dvina

SHC is now facing troops with low entrenchment. It allows him to gain 2 hexes in a row.



2) Minsk

It's my record since the beginning of the game 1889 AFV engaged in a single fight... It works.



3) Kiev

I don't understand this result??? I thought it would be an easy win.



4) Nikolaiev

2 good results here

Turn 139, 10 february 1944

The recent evolution isn't good

I don't understand this result??? I thought it would be an easy win.

Probably because it's swamp. I've seen some crazy results for swamp combat.

ORIGINAL: Bozo_the_Clown

I don't understand this result??? I thought it would be an easy win.

Probably because it's swamp. I've seen some crazy results for swamp combat.

It's swamp but ice level is 10, I thought it would be seen as a clear hex

It looks like swamp is treated like heavy woods on ice level 4 or higher. At least according to the movement point chart in the manual. And the defense modifier for swamp and heavy woods is the same too.

Turn 140, 17 february 1944

Not a good turn, I'm loosing ground in several parts of the front. Quiet sectors are north dvina, north pripyat and central Ukraine.

As I need fresh units in dvina ans Minsk sector, I shorten my lines in the north. It's a pity but I need it.



In the dvina sector I launch a lucky counterattack



Near Minsk, Schacha is able to get a 5.2/1 against a good stack (2 pzd, 1 inf) with level 3 entrenchment. Not a good news.



West of Kiev , I get a little pleasure against the 2nd tank corps with 2 wins