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Am thinking there must be a benefit in these sort of attacks or my opponent wouldn't be doing them, what is it ?

Experience gain and ammo/fatigue drain

If there was a whole bunch of them, you'd think they were trying to run up your fatigue and burn up your ammo before launching the big attack. Each attack increases the MP cost for the next one by 1, so you can rapidly make an attack impossible, but with a bunch of Rifle Corps with 12 MP attacking a big bad defensive stack, it can be useful to run up about five tank brigades and make a series of 1:999 attacks before launching the main effort. This is particularly useful in 1941 when Soviet infantry attacking German armor have very low likelihood of success unless the Germans are really run down.

your fuel tanks showed bright green. Was trying to tap it down a bit before a nice clear May first turn northern zone (based on forecast and see below). Your supply dropped to red from orange instead.

Someone needs to analyze your mud offensive with mech. The only justification should be total mauling of your trucks but ... somehow I don't think that is happening. You have moved well, and often. [;)]

and April snow. My forecast agent will not be heard from again.

Burns off your ammo and fuel and causes fatigue...yes you slaughter the attackers but it can have its uses. Ive never been a huge fan of them but some soviet players like to use burn off attack a lot.....I usually like men/manpower to try and rebuild the soviet army/build more CV.

They work best in the 1941/42 winter is the only time I would really use them a lot as the soviets...as the german resupply is very low so you can often just run them out of bullets.

Burns off your ammo and fuel and causes fatigue...yes you slaughter the attackers but it can have its uses. Ive never been a huge fan of them but some soviet players like to use burn off attack a lot.....I usually like men/manpower to try and rebuild the soviet army/build more CV.

They work best in the 1941/42 winter is the only time I would really use them a lot as the soviets...as the german resupply is very low so you can often just run them out of bullets.

the unit ended up so weak i think it will displace at the end of the turn and i will have no zoc on his panzers.

I think one could reasonably justify burning German INFANTRY MP by fatiguing them with attacks, especially far away from supply. For armor it doesn't make too much sense, would rather use the MP to build forts.

ORIGINAL: eskuche

I think one could reasonably justify burning German INFANTRY MP by fatiguing them with attacks, especially far away from supply. For armor it doesn't make too much sense, would rather use the MP to build forts.

Usually the Soaking Attacks tactic was to burn up ammo until the low ammo penalty came in for the final real attack. That was particularly effective against armoured units before because of their use of ammo.

ORIGINAL: tyronec

Am thinking there must be a benefit in these sort of attacks or my opponent wouldn't be doing them, what is it ?

This one example is benefitting you as the German player very well. Not only is he using a Division he has Zhukov in charge of Stavka. Do tell him to continue.

If the Soviet wants to be effective in having an affect then the Soviet player should have used "non" divisions and preferably Armor brigades with infantry brigades a close second in use against the Germans. Start the first couple of attacks with infantry brigades then follow up with Armor. Or just go all armor brigades. If done correctly you can have the desired affect. Using Divisions is going to lead to astronomical losses to the Soviets, using brigades will keep casualties within check. 2nd never have a commander like Zhukov in Stavka when doing a great many soak off attacks. Just a caveat you need to know what to look for to use this tactic too to get the most bang for the buck. If you don't know what that is then don't use this tactic.

just to be clear.

This attacker has about 800 men 20 art, and if retreated was barely going 2 hexes. Very weak.

Sometimes these attacks on forward tanks cause lots of damage tanks. this was not one of those.

I used to do more soaks but that was a very long time ago.

And something (some unit) had to try and stop this Tyronec panzer ball. 'blizzard snow mud & rain, does not cause any pause".

ORIGINAL: BrianG

just to be clear.

This attacker has about 800 men 20 art, and if retreated was barely going 2 hexes. Very weak.

Sometimes these attacks on forward tanks cause lots of damage tanks. this was not one of those.

I used to do more soaks but that was a very long time ago.

And something (some unit) had to try and stop this Tyronec panzer ball. 'blizzard snow mud & rain, does not cause any pause".

It is evident from the picture the Soviet unit is very weak. When you say "sometimes these attacks on forward tanks cause lots of damage tanks" do you know when that happens? I can tell you but that spoils the fun in figuring it out for yourself. Or of course you can have the forum tell you and save you the trouble. Once you have that recipe you smack the German PZ's around with the soak off attacks. This tactic works very well during the blizzard of 41 if the Germans have tanks on the front line.

On your last statement I can only tell you not to lose units needlessly. You are going to have a very rough summer 42 coming up. Plus try not to lose the Caucasus completely. If Tryronic manages that feat he will free up a lot of German units for 43.