I'm having a blast with this game !

[Tzar007]

Well, I'm at turn 9 playing the Germans, and I can tell all I'm having a blast playing this game. I'm playing with Historical AOs, Computer +, and normal supply and reinforcements.

It is tough. Around Kharkov, my 3rd and 23rd Panzer are in a grim situation. I could not prevent the Soviets from breaking through the western suburbs of the city and they completely surrounded the city on the 5th day of operations. Von Paulus of the 6th Army is learning what it means to be encircled 6 months before Stalingrad...It is currently a stalemate though: I'm not strong enough to force a breakout from the beleaguered city, and the Soviets aren't strong enough to finish the job and capture Kharkov. I tried a relief operation coming from the west using divisions attached to Army Group South, and it ended in utter disaster, with most regiments wiped out. Ah well....The only hope of 6th Army now is for 1st Panzer Army to eventually reach them.

Speaking of 1st Panzer army, I just captured Izyum this turn (and got Barenkovo on the 5th or 6th turn). It's going well enough, 1st Panzer has been moving like a steamroller all along. But the damn AI is wise: I spotted lots of movement NW of Izyum. I suspect the AI is just reinforcing its front line to prevent 1st Panzer to break through to 51st Corps (which is also cutoff in Chugaya) and eventually to 6th Army. This is going to be rough.

In the SW, Dnepropretovsk almost got captured by Soviet cavalry units. The SS Viking popped up as reinforcements just in time to stop them in their tracks. Now the SS Viking is progressing north towards Krasnograd. That city got captured by the enemy quite early in the game (I was really overwhelmed in the 8th Korps area), but in a daring coup by a sole German regiment, I just got the city back. I'm crossing my fingers I will be able to hold on it until SS Viking comes in.

The Romanians are also on the move towards Krasnograd.

This is CHALLENGING and FUN ! [:D]

[EisenHammer]

Yeah…the AI is scary in this one. I'm barely holding on to Kharkov as the Germans on turn six. Beware of the the Red Army Artillery It's a real killer.

[Gregor_SSG]

Thanks for the report, I'm happy to hear that you're having fun, even if the battle isn't going exactly to plan. Hopefully the German southern offensive and your reserve forces will rescue the situation. Historically the Russians were very concerned about the ability of the Germans to react rapidly. The Russian plan was assemble overwhelming force and seize their objectives so quickly that the more distant German formations would be unable to intervene in time.Unfortunately, at that stage of the war they didn't really have the command capabilities or the right sort of forces to do the job demanded of them. Missing the existence of the two panzer divisions in Kharkov itself didn't help the cause either.

Gregor

[Toby42]

I'm just curious, Do both sides have an opportunity to win this scenario? I'm still on the fence with this one!!!

[EisenHammer]

[font="times new roman"]It looks like the Russian are winning in the game that I'm having now ( I'm playing the Germans). So I would say yes… both sides have an opportunity to win this scenario.[/font]

[Gregor_SSG]

ORIGINAL: Treale

I'm just curious, Do both sides have an opportunity to win this scenario? I'm still on the fence with this one!!!

For the Russians, taking either Kharkov or Krasnograd, and avoiding complete disaster thereafter, should be enough for victory.

Gregor