THE MUD

[HITMAN202]

For each of the three fronts, as you prepare for the mud turns 17-19...

The Russians did not fall back quickly in the south, turns 8-12 and lost a lot surrounded in Leningrad (and on the Volkov). Now it's the start of turn 17 and Russians have almost 3.7 mil casualties with almost 315 divisions (not units) lost.

AGN... Do you continue to push east (Leningrad has fallen and you're across the Volkov) in spite of the impending supply issues ????

AGC... Moscow has fallen, the Soviets are still getting hammered and pockets are being formed, but with difficulty and some failure (and high casualties) against level 2 and some level 1 forts. There are few level 3's and no 4's because the Soviets withdrew (I think unwisely) 4-5 hexes on turns 13 and 14 in fear of a massive Moscow-centered pocket.

I think I can make some significant pockets on turn 17, but will have many units temporarily out of supply (railroad repair is 3 turns behind or so) 5-8 hexes east of the Kremlin. My big worry with this is I have several attacks 2-3 hexes deep into a carpet of forts and am worried with them being hit hard from 3-4 hexes and possibly isolated. Most of these hexes will have 2-3 strong units during the mud turns.


Do I stand pat, clean up the fruits of my labors, and wait to make more pockets during the snow turns , or do I start getting ready to run during the blizzard ???

AGS...Rostov is mine (with a 2 hex buffer zone) with nothing (I mean nothing) within 10-12 hexes of Rostov and I have a Pz unit 16 hexes of Stalingrad. The Soviets hold Voronezh with a good defensive network behind the Don. Do I push east, grabbing space and preparing to hit the Don a few snow turns, or do I get back in supply and get ready to run rabbit during the blizzard ???

[heliodorus04]

I am of the opinion that at least regarding the far north, you're best bet is to hold a line that runs from the Volkhov river to the Valdai hills to Rzhev. The further east you can go, the better in terms of winter retreat distance, but your end-of-retreat line for winter should be there. In my estimation, it tends to be a good way to shorten the line in highly defensible terrain. Every step east of Ladoga lengthens your north-south frontage.

[HITMAN202]

Thanks... My thoughts were to push hard east and use the space gained to fall back to the front/line you described. Even though the Finns are blizzard tolerant, so to speak, limiting their losses by a slow retreat helps later in the game, according to Q-Ball. Stuff like this helps me in making good decisions as I have no game experience. Thanks heliodorous. By the way, what's heliodorus ???? Wikipedia gives thirteen ancient references (including three authors, three saints (one a martyr), three philosophers (one, who in practice, was a witchdoctor) , an ambassador , scientist ,prefect, and playwright ; which one symbolizes you ??? I hope not the martyr or the witchdoctor.

[HITMAN202]

To further reveal my thoughts on AGC and AGS pre-MUD.... with 3.7 X 10 to the 6th casualties and +300 destroyed divisions, it seems like a little risk taking by AGC is in order. It seems that the fewer Soviets on the board during blizzard and winter, the fewer the Axis casualties. Also if the Germans can bag a handful of Soviet divisions during the snow turns (and I have some very threatening advances in the Soviet carpet of forts east of Moscow), the fewer the AP's available to later make strong Soviet units. ????

In terms of AGS, I've gained a lot of space and to gain more only compromise supply and (I think) increases attrition and/or hurts the morale (I think.) Also I see the good Axis players eventually abandon Rostov during the blizzard. Also as the rail supply adavances, opportunities may present themselves to chew on the Soviet bear. So to stop the advance and wait to see what happens seems best.. ????

[heliodorus04]

One thing about the Finns I've started paying more attention to are the units that withdraw.
Lots of Finnish units withdraw. Use those for combat, and use them below the no-attack line for garrisons in Leningrad or holding the line in winter.

"Heliodorus" does not refer to any particular individual in history.
The word in Greek translates to "The gift of the sun." I'm a sun-worshiper.