Final Days of the Reich - StB Rosencrantus (Axis) vs Tyronec (SU)

[Rosencrantus]

This is a Stalingrad to Berlin Campaign.

Server game with enhanced TB on with the condition that I report the transfers I make using enhanced TB.

At the beginning we agreed to only have one motorised unit per turn. However around turn 4 we agreed along with only one unit per turn, to also limit temporary motorised units to movement and attacking only from friendly controlled hexes. This is what I think the best option and balance is for this feature as I like to think about temp motorisation as a means of non-strategic transport. This is because leg infantry aren't trained to use vehicles in combat and them only being able to attack from a friendly hex can represent them just leaving their trucks far away for pick up and acting as normal leg infantry again.

[Rosencrantus]

T1

I open the turn and the pocket around Stalingrad is sealed shut. I move units from the vicinity and the motorised units from Khalkhuta to prevent any further exploitation from Soviet units. My general plan to survive the Soviet winter offensive is to hold my positions as long as possible to prevent Tyronec from claiming the +6 bonus VPs that are scattered across the south.

[Rosencrantus]

Was considering pulling the Romanian units back behind the river, but then they would be placed in clear terrain within deliberate attack of Soviet infantry, no forts, in bad weather, and with no AT weapons against all the Soviet armor nearby. I decided the only real use I would have for these weak units is to have them hold down the forts and stall for reinforcements to the Stalingrad region.

I also pulled weak units further into the Stalingrad pocket as they were overexposed.

[Rosencrantus]

Strategy is the same in the Caucasus. I'm going to hold on as long as possible to deny bonus VPs at Maikop and Krasnodar.

I launch counterattacks (forgot to turn on the battle filter for the first turns when I took the pictures oops) on exposed soviet units crossing the river, send a small amount of reinforcements and withdraw units onto the rough terrain for more defensive CV.

[Rosencrantus]

Seems like tyronec is using the units that were originally slated for Op. Mars for an attack near Orel. I send my mobile reserves to this area and I try to take advantage of his redeployment and cut-off three Soviet divisions to try and straighten the line.

[Rosencrantus]

Tyronec also takes Velikie Luki. A troubling development as this rail junction opens up more supply for his units to attack and potentially destroy the Rzhev salient. Although he has deployed units elsewhere, this will for sure become a problem later on in the campaign.

The city of Rzhev (worth 10 VPs) and Vyazma are also part of a rail system that the Soviets must capture in order to push for Smolensk and further into AGC.

I cut off over extended mechanized units in hopes of securing their surrender next turn.

[Rosencrantus]

In AGN, the front is static and a withdrawal is begun from Demyansk to free up needed divisions. Demyansk itself holds no rail lines and has very little strategic value.

[Rosencrantus]

The 9th Army has been set to assault along with the 2nd panzer army. The fireman has also been sent to contain the Soviet offensive near Velikie Luki.

[Rosencrantus]

T2

Just going to start T2 and perhaps finish it before I go to bed. The next few turns I was in a hurry to finish so they won't be very long or as in depth until around T7.

Not suprisingly, the Romanian divisions have been encircled. I reopen the pocket to delay their surrender but don't bother trying to evacuate them out. They'll just get slaughtered by the soviet armoured formations as these divisions have literally 0 AT weapons. They should hold out for a few more turns as the triple stack of Romanian infantry divisions have a combined defensive CV of 16.

Reinforcements arrived to this sector of the front and counter attacks were made with 1st Slovak Motorised Division, 22 and 6 Pz on exposed Soviet divisions to inflict losses and most importantly, set there CPP to 0.

Now that I am on turn 8, with hindsight I should've just gotten some of those units out. I left them there because I wanted to slow down Tyronec's advance but as you'll see in the next few turns my assumption that he was going to continue pressing towards the Don and Rostov was incorrect.

[Rosencrantus]

Caucasus:

The units in the north have been unfrozen and begin to advance. Additional reinforcements have been sent to take the river line and stop the advance.

Since last turn as well, two panzer regiments have also been trapped where highlighted. Wiking division along with 23 Pz relive them and they are recombined back to the 3 Pz division.

[Rosencrantus]

Soviets breach the line near Orel, however they are repulsed with a counter attack.

The pocket was also reopened and I suffered heavy losses. At least I took some CPP from his units that were redeployed from Op. Mars.

Additional reinforcements arrived to the Orel sector.

[Rosencrantus]

Velikie Luki:

The pocket has been reopened and I reseal it. Counter attacks have been launched towards VL.

[Rosencrantus]

Withdrawal from Demyansk is continuing. Units previously propping up the salient are already being sent to critical sectors of the front.

[Rosencrantus]

T3

Don:

Romanian pocket is sealed but reopened again.

22 Pz and 6 Pz Division trash weak Soviet divisions. Was considering attempting a breakout with 6th Army, but they are too weak just as they were in real life. If the breakout attempt fails then Stalingrad will fall significantly earlier than it did historically and Tyronec will get all those sweet bonus VPs.

[Rosencrantus]

Just a battle report from one of panzer division attacking soviet units. Most of the battles were nowhere as dominating as this one but it gives you an idea of what Germany can still do in 42/43 in the right conditions.

By the way, does anyone know how in M60s AAR he managed to put more than one image in a post? Does it have to do with how many total posts you have?

[Rosencrantus]

Soviets build up near the Italians. Additional units are sent to reinforce them. I am hoping that with a CV of 14 the Romanians can hedgehog long enough (though I definitely don't have the armoured reserve or enough spare transports to relive them) to help with the situation.

[Rosencrantus]

Orel:

Soviets launch attacks near Orel but only grab a hex. Are thrown out with a single counter attack. Somehow I forgot to take an image of this part of the front, but it basically looked exactly the same as the Orel picture from T2.

Ground losses:

Nothing much to note here except the very high AFV losses. Only 279 AFVs were lost during my action phase - too many, but for the other 295, I hope I manage to recover them.

[Rosencrantus]

Air Losses:

The war in the air was intense this turn, though if this loss ratio continues, I'll win the air war through attrition.

[carlkay58]

To get multiple shots in one post the usual technique that I know of is to use Paint or someother image editor to combine the shots into a single image.

[loki100]

I think Tyrone tends to create a composite image of his text and pictures and then posts it as a single image.

I tend to use a paid for image website, upload to there and link. But that also fits with some paid work I do so that covers the annual subscription etc