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Battle for Kharkow 1942 scenario

Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 3:27 pm
by Emx77
Is it even possible to recreate anything similar to historical outcome in Battle for Kharkow 1942 scenario (DttD pack)? IMO, it is not. Axis player is sentenced to loose here (although in reality it was significant Axis victory). Maybe I'm wrong but is there any Axis player which can inflict losses of 277K men, 2K Guns, 1.25K tanks and 0.5K aircrafts in 2 turns of clear weather (Axis has 5 turns but three are during mud)? If that is possible, then how?

This is best outcome which I achieved playing on normal against Soviet AI (minor victory for Soviets):

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As you may see I recreated Barvenkovo pocket but failed to destroy it due to a lack of time.

RE: Battle for Kharkow 1942 scenario

Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 3:33 pm
by loki100
well I'm playing a PBEM just now and have sent the Soviet turn 5 orders to my opponent.

so far, I can't see anything historical happening as I've managed to find enough for a decent sustained offensive and create defensive belts in a few critical areas - but he has 2 turns so I'm not counting my chickens yet.

think the mud, with its impact on CV is too brutal in the confines of the scenario?

RE: Battle for Kharkow 1942 scenario

Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 4:19 pm
by Emx77
ORIGINAL: loki100

well I'm playing a PBEM just now and have sent the Soviet turn 5 orders to my opponent.

so far, I can't see anything historical happening as I've managed to find enough for a decent sustained offensive and create defensive belts in a few critical areas - but he has 2 turns so I'm not counting my chickens yet.

think the mud, with its impact on CV is too brutal in the confines of the scenario?

Yes, the mud is highly restrictive for Axis to do anything serious. Again, if you are playing with historical weather, your opponent in total has only 2 clear weather turns to cut through two strong defensive belts, reinforce and boost outer pocket defense against strong Soviet counterattacks and eliminate pocketed units. Two turns are not nearly enough to do all of this against AI, let alone decent human player.

RE: Battle for Kharkow 1942 scenario

Posted: Fri May 24, 2013 4:25 am
by KenchiSulla
Hi Emir,

No matter what the game tells you, this seems to be your victory..


RE: Battle for Kharkow 1942 scenario

Posted: Fri May 24, 2013 5:14 am
by EisenHammer
It is possible you just have to be really aggressive as the Germans.



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RE: Battle for Kharkow 1942 scenario

Posted: Fri May 24, 2013 5:15 am
by EisenHammer
Victory screen.

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RE: Battle for Kharkow 1942 scenario

Posted: Fri May 24, 2013 8:37 am
by Emx77
@EisenHammer, this is impressive. Can you give a short description about how did you achieve this in such a short period of time? Is this against AI or PBEM?

I still think it should be much more easier for Axis to win this scenario. Maybe the time scale is not right. I have feeling this scenario would be much more appropriate for 1 day/turn than 1 week/turn scale.

RE: Battle for Kharkow 1942 scenario

Posted: Fri May 24, 2013 12:03 pm
by EisenHammer
ORIGINAL: Emir Agic

@EisenHammer, this is impressive. Can you give a short description about how did you achieve this in such a short period of time? Is this against AI or PBEM?

It was against the AI set on normal.
It all about the German first game turn. The battle will most likely be won or lost depending how well you do on this turn.
On the first German turn you should be able to cut off the Russian in the Barvenkovo salient by attacking with the two Pz Div from the north and the two Pz Div and the Mot Div from the south. Remember to attack with the Infantry Div first and then with the Pz Div. After that it is mostly just waiting for the next clear weather turn to finish off the pocket.

RE: Battle for Kharkow 1942 scenario

Posted: Fri May 24, 2013 12:11 pm
by EisenHammer
ORIGINAL: Emir Agic
Maybe the time scale is not right. I have feeling this scenario would be much more appropriate for 1 day/turn than 1 week/turn scale.

I agree weekly turns do not go very well with this scenario as it stretches the time length way too far for the 2nd battle of Kharkov which ended on May 29 but this scenario ends on June 23 or something just before operation Blau.

I guess... one way to look at it is that it a combination of the 2nd battle of Kharkov and operation Wilhelm and Fridericus. Also there is way to many mud turns.