FITE: '41 Winter Offensive Onwards

[Jdub]

This game of FITE was started against my opponent, Willie quite some time ago and we are now on turn 80. I am playing as the Russians and he is playing as Germans.

Here is an overview of the Frontlines before the start of the Russian winter offensive (turn 50):

[Jdub]

This shot shows the forces allocated for my winter offensive. The units seen gathering north of the Malochnaya River are elements of the 1st 3rd and 4th shock armies mixed in with some tank brigades and gurads divisions.

Originally, my plan was to attack through the Dnieper bend towards Kherson and force the Germans to withdraw from their positions in the north part of the Crimea peninsula. At the last second however, I decided that instead, these forces should be moved to the frontline south of Zaporozhe and the goals of the offensive be switched to an all out assault on Army Group South with the goals of A) pushing the Germans away from the key industrial cities of Stalino, Voroshilovgrad and Rostov and B) recapturing the city of Kharkov.

[Jdub]

Here's a shot of the front around Stalino. Because of poor planning on my part, this front isn't really prepared to go on the offensive.

[Jdub]

Although the main offensive against the Wehrmacht occured in the south, a slow moving ww1 style battle of attrition was occuring simultaneously in the north.

Heres a shot from Kursk going north to the Plavsk bulge.

[Jdub]

And here's a shot of the area around Moscow. Most units here are at half strength and totally exhausted from combat during November.

[Jdub]

The offensive begins!
Near Zaporozhe, my forces drive north. Already, some gaps have opened up in the German line.

[notenome]

Ah holiday break, and with it, comes a fresh slew of FITE AARs. Tis the campaign season.

[larryfulkerson]

Good AAR. Thanks for posting it. Um...I found an HQ unit on the front lines. Are you sure that's necessary. There's some support squads in HQ unit that are vital for supply maintenance and if they go the supply system can't work efficiently for those units supplied by that HQ unit. At least that's my understanding. What's underneath that HQ unit anyway?

[Jdub]

I have been noticing that my opponent likes to do this a lot. I am still trying to figure out why but my best guess is that he is using them to try shore up the weak spots in the line.

[Jdub]

Here's the shot around Moscow. Instead of showing arrows, I've decided to show the hexes that have been gained by the Red Army this turn. Overall, progress is going quite well considering that most of these divisions have less than half of their rifle squads remaining.

Around Moscow, I have began to gather a reserve which as of right now is composed of the 43rd army.

[Jdub]

On to the second turn of the offensive.

In the Dnieper bend, I have made good progress south of Vasilyikovka and Gaps are beginning to appear in the German line. Willie is still building his reserves and waiting for the right time to commit them.

[Jdub]

I have decided to not show many shots of the moscow sector for now as there isn't much action that goes on there until later.

Here is the third turn of the offensive in the area around the Dnieper bend, not much territory was gained this turn. I was beginning to worry that the Third Shock army which had been forced to go into reorganization after heavy fighting the previous week, was going to ruin the whole offensive.

[loveman2]

The soviet winter offensive has gone and summer of 42 is here and all that was gained by comrade Stalin is now back to where he began. A huge offensive is well under way and general Manstein is making progress towards Sevastopol while army group south is a few kilometres from Stalino[X(]

[philturco]

Good deal
Thanks for this great AAR. I'm very interested in this game especially when it gets beyond the first winter. Its simply great to see FITE played into 42.

[Da_Huge_D]

One question: Why do you use minimize losses when defending? I personally use ignore losses, and works far better. When playing as Soviets, you should sacrifice a lot etc. You have lots of armies to use, and good number of replacements.

[Jdub]

I think I'm going to be posting a few more images so I can wrap up the soviet winter '41 offensive and start posting some images of what is happening during Case Blau.

Here is the situation by the end of turn 55. In the south, the Germans retreated from the massive salient that had formed by the end of the mud season. In the Dnieper bend area, Several Romanian and German units were encircled and in the process of being reduced.

[Jdub]

Here's a closeup of what is going on down in the south by the end of turn 55. The Red army attacks are making fair progress and it looks like a large group of Axis soldiers may be encircled.

[Jdub]

Here is the situation two turns later at the end of turn 57. I was frustrated by the fact that most of the troops that were in danger of encirclement in the south escaped. However, I still managed to encircle an estimated 5 divisions.

The situation in the center has stayed relatively the same. My worn out troops around Moscow are unable to advance against rested full strength German troops in the area.

I will start with a shot of the entire front:

[Jdub]

Here's a shot of the area around Stalino where most of the action has been seen this winter. Several small pockets of Germans and Axis minors have been created. The Germans have brought in reserves and have rallied. All that remains is for me to mop up rear areas, fix the rails and form my troops back into a stable line.

[Jdub]

Here's how the whole front looked by turn 60 (the end of my winter offensive). In the south, my forces have finished clearing the rear pockets of Axis troops. Most divisions are still understrength and not ready for battle.

From now on in the AAR, instead of explaining everything that is happening across the entire front turn by turn, I'm going to take some time focusing exclusively on the different battles that took place in the span of time between the end of the Russian winter offensive and the beginning of Case Blau.