Matrix Games Forums

I think this is a critical issue in German strategy and there has been little discussion on it in this forum. It's hard to accurately estimate, but i think 50-60 % of total Axis casualties are the result of attrition in the first 17 turns, slightly more during the turns of mud/snow, and over 80% during the blizzrd.


1) Obviously being adjacent to Soviet units is a bigger cost than one hex away. The benefits of extra movement points when starting a turn next to a Soviet unit, particularly the German infantry, seem to be far less than the casualities saved by keeping space twix the two. I think this is true even if fewer infantry have the ability to make two attacks (due to the cost of the extra movement point(s) to close to attack.) Yea or nay ????

2)Does attrition increase due to the type of terrain occupied ???

3)Obviously attrition is great when a unit is out of supply (even more when isolated), but is it proportionatley less as the unit is closer to it's HQ and even less when that HQ is closer to the railnet ???

4)Does attrition increase with MP's expended ??

5)Does attrition increase when stacked with other units ???

6)Is attrition less as the % of supply is greater ???

7)Are there specific things that the Axis can do to decrease the attrition during the horrors of the blizzard ???

Hitman's asked some interesting ?'s. Hope those who know can answer for the lazy types like me that push tokens around.
But here are my naive guesses:

1. Contact w/enemy should increse attrition. 2nd attack in one cycle should increase attrition, although battle algorithms are the dominant factors.
2. Certainly should, like those undamaged cities and shun those exposed mountains & swamps.
3. Location to HQs & their services should mitigate attrition; proportionally, maybe not linear, etc.
4. Some MPs used represent support unit assignments and HQs changes that should not affect attrition. (Are there others?)
5. What would force density do? Think there's a lot of room in a 10x10 mile space for everyone's billets.
6. Should be.
7. Run to the cities, fortesses, or any fortified zone. Make sure that no unnecessary movements take place. Or, as Adolph ordered, "Stille stand!"

Never really challenged the attrition losses for either side, but would expect that Soviets are worse in early years.

Great questions. Hope one who knows answers.

in the 17 first turns i will rather think to 80 per cent at least for attrition
during blizzard it will be less due to retreat after combat (except if you retreat to avoid )
when i play soviet, allways i will keep contact as you said to keep attrition high
effectively rrbill russians are real worse ( even greater for airplanes) [&:]

One question I have wondered is attrition dependent on the size/manpower/CV of a unit you are next to. In another words, for example, for a German division would there be any difference in attrition if they were next to a Soviet brigade vs a Soviet division vs a Soviet corp, all other things being equal.

Atrition is the lazy way to "balance" the game.

During blizzard if possible I keep refit off during december and january. Vs weak to average SHC blizzard O this saves allot of the atrition loses.

Now vs a good to great SHC O this back fires.

So generally I will turn it off for a turn or 2 and see if the other guy knows how to exploit cav. If not I leave it off if he does then I will be forsed to turn it on and commit everything to keep a disaster from happening.

The other very huge thing is static mode, ASAP get 1 to 3 infantry AG's into static mode in the north. This will save GHC about 5k to 10k per turn during 42 summer. Thats an extra 150k ish troops or loses that can be suffered or it can keep GHC on the offensive into early to mid 1943.

during 41 there is little one can do as GHC to lower atrition losses.

The atrition loses to tanks are mostly based on movement. These numbers were tweaked up allot back in the day to help off set exploits used by MT (airfield supply heads,muling and over stockpiling of corp HQ's) and others.