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This is a thread where I will share updates on my ongoing game in the RtC tournament final, where I am playing as Axis. As the game is not yet complete, the commentary provided here will be a few turns delayed. For the specific game settings, please refer to the tournament forum. One key aspect to note is that no temporary motorization is allowed for either side.

These are the initial Axis moves in the game. Prior to the tournament, I dedicated some time to refining and perfecting this T1 opening, which has proven effective in earlier rounds.

The primary objectives are to establish a solid pocket west of Salsk and make significant progress towards Krasnodar and Maikop. It is crucial to closely monitor Soviet cavalry units, as they have the potential to disrupt my strategy if not properly addressed.

My aim is to apply consistent pressure on the cavalry by attacking them and constraining their mobility. Some of them got routed and one is trapped in the pocket, but take note of the division that has retreated west to the sea shore. It is vital to ensure that it remains contained and is unable to infiltrate my supply lines in the coming turns.

After the opening move, my opponent has yet to throw any curveballs my way. On the northern side, the pocket holds and I begin reducing it. Surely, there's no way a pesky cavalry could cause any issues here, right?
Meanwhile, in the south, I effortlessly capture Krasnodar and Maikop. I'm also oh-so-close to claiming Novorossyisk and, to block potential resupply, I've strategically deployed a lot of bombers onto newly expanded air bases in the Crimean peninsula to run non-stop naval interdiction. The Soviets couldn't possibly put up a fight to deny me that sweet victory...

My opponent generously offers up a guards rifle division without any apparent downside, and, being the gracious competitor that I am, I gladly pocket it.

Impressive progress!!! Do you feel like your opponent has Sir Robined away to make a stand at the decisive VP locations or do you think you have done so much damage on T1 that he just can't put up any determined resistance?

If it doesn't breach OpSec would be interested to hear your plans for eventual victory, this seems like a tough scenario for Axis to win on?

Sammy5IsAlive wrote: Tue Apr 18, 2023 9:24 pm Impressive progress!!! Do you feel like your opponent has Sir Robined away to make a stand at the decisive VP locations or do you think you have done so much damage on T1 that he just can't put up any determined resistance?

If it doesn't breach OpSec would be interested to hear your plans for eventual victory, this seems like a tough scenario for Axis to win on?

Thanks for the praise! I believe that many players tend to pull back when confronted with an aggressive T1 move like mine. My opponent could have attempted a more assertive stand on the Kuban river, but that might have led to losing the units involved. As for my plan, I'll persist in applying pressure, hoping to penetrate through most of the river lines before my rival's defense solidifies. If that doesn't pan out, I'll need to hit the brakes and invest some quality time devising a full-scale assault – fingers crossed I don't trip over my own cleverness in the process!

T3 sitrep: Up north, there's a wee bit of a catastrophe as the Soviets have outsmarted me and opened the pocket. Can you locate the elusive cavalry division?

Down south, we have some fresh rifle divisions arriving to guard Novorossiysk. With the challenging terrain, I have zero confidence in my regiments pushing them back. To add insult to injury, my forces are now even more limited since 14th Panzer suddenly decided to go on nice vacation in the lovely riverside town of Stalingrad instead.

Let's start moving. In the Novorossiysk region, my motorized regiments sneak their way through enemy lines like a band of thieves. They manage to snatch the port of Gelendzhik and tiptoe to the edges of Novorossiysk and Temryuk. Alas, the there are some wary defenders in Temryuk, so unlocking Operation Bluecher will take some actual work.
Meanwhile, up north, I managed to re-close the pocket, but a couple of German divisions are stuck here now. Here's hoping they won't be too missed on the drive to Grozny.

And in the center, where resistance is confusingly absent, it's full steam ahead! My forces effortlessly capture the Kalus river line and the rugged terrain around Stavropol. One daring Panzer regiment even crosses the Kuma river, managing to put a ZOC lock on a Soviet division chilling in Mineralnye Vody. But surely, the Soviets wouldn't dream of launching a counter-attack just yet, right?

Thanks for posting the AAR. Will you post the mirror match too?

EwaldvonKleist wrote: Sun Apr 23, 2023 8:27 pm Thanks for posting the AAR. Will you post the mirror match too?

Thanks a bunch for always being so supportive about my AARs – you're the best! Now, about that mirror game where I play Soviet, as much as I appreciate your excitement, I've got to say it might not be the most thrilling bout to chat about. You see, things have taken a bit of a predictable turn there, and well, your old buddy here seems to be doing alright. So, let's maintain the intrigue by concentrating on the more gripping games instead.

As fate would have it, the Soviets strike back like a stirred hornet's nest. Malinovsky outwits my "brilliant" tactics, sending my oh-so-gallant Panzer regiment retreating across the river, nursing their wounds from the significant losses they suffered. However, in Novorossiysk, I manage to exact some sweet revenge! The bypassed rifle divisions attempt to fall back on the city, but they're ZOC locked and moving like a sloth in quicksand. The heavily reinforced 4th Mountain Division dashes past them, and with some help from naval interdiction, swoops into the city in a dazzling coup de main. The remaining Soviet forces in the area are left trapped like fish in a barrel. Up north, the resealed pocket finally succumbs to my "expert" handling, but there's no denying the cavernous gap in my northern flank, all thanks to the divisions that had to remain behind. A cunningly placed cavalry division could really make me regret my choices and cause chaos in my rear area. But hey, who doesn't enjoy a bit of risk-taking? I'll just have to accept this peril, courtesy of my earlier goof in letting the pocket open.

In the center, my main force bulldozes through the lightly guarded Kuma line and zips eastward across the undefended Gor'kaya Balka like a rocket-propelled cheetah. The Soviets are left with only the Terek river to shield the all-important objectives of Grozny and Ordhonikidze. They'd better reinforce that river line strongly next turn, or things could get rather unpleasant. If I manage to establish any significant bridgehead, stopping an Axis victory in this scenario will be pretty hard with the number of turns remaining.

Meanwhile, in the far south, I've finally stumbled upon the elusive cavalry division that had retreated west on T1. It was lurking deep in the swamps, eagerly awaiting its chance to sabotage my supply lines. Luckily, my security regiments seem to have a knack for rooting out trouble in these inaccessible areas.

It appears the Grossdeutschland Division has also been bitten by the Stalingrad travel bug and will be jaunting off to that picturesque riverside location next turn. As a farewell gesture, they kindly clear the eastern side of the Kerch straits, setting the stage for a bunch of Romanian divisions to cross over as part of Operation Bluecher. High command says there's nothing wrong with replacing elite German troops in the line with Romanians, and I must defer to their superior risk management. I sure hope Paulus feels the same way.

T5 update

Malinovsky, ever persistent, took another swing at me, but his efforts amounted to nothing more than a futile attempt to shift a stubborn stack of two regiments. Nevertheless, his 18th Army packs quite a punch.
As we kick off with the initial situation after air recon, it becomes clear the Soviets have fortified the Terek river line. Faced with several possible approaches, I find myself in a strategic conundrum. I could continue my eastward push, but crossing the double rivers with my limited MPs seems daunting. Alternatively, I could merely advance to the river line and wait for the infantry to catch up; however, this strategy risks allowing the half dozen divisions near Georgievsk to fall back and reinforce the Terek river line, creating a more formidable defense.

And then I spot it — a glaring weak spot in the Soviet line at Mozdok, where they've chosen to defend on the wrong side of the river. Surely, it's tempting with Mozdok's railyard and airfield, but it's also a tantalizing target for my Panzer divisions, which would otherwise struggle attacking across the river. When in doubt, I make it my mantra to strike the enemy where they're weakest.
Driving headfirst into Mozdok, I commit two reinforced Panzer divisions to a deliberate attack, hoping to push the rifle division back several hexes rather than just one — which would only place it in a stronger defensive position behind the river. My gamble pays off as the 51st rifle division suffers heavy losses and retreats a full four hexes.
With the river now open, SS Wiking forges ahead to find Ordzhonikidze defended by nothing more than its frozen, unentrenched garrison. The victory point location crumbles under our advance.

After routing the 51st rifle division for good, I maneuver the regiments of the 16th Motorized Division behind the western rifle divisions. As Malinovsky's army boasts some impressive forces, I'm hesitant to close the pocket around them, doubting the 16th Moto regiments could hold the line against such a mighty adversary.
Instead, I opt to ZOC lock them. The motorized regiments claim the rough terrain the Soviets might use to escape, and a small advance from the west creates a bottleneck, potentially slowing down any retreat. With luck, I can establish a solid pocket around them next turn.
In the Krasnodar area, I wrap up pocket cleanup, corner the elusive swamp cavalry, and usher the Operation Bluecher forces across the straits.
It appears the game is slipping out of the Soviets' grasp at this point. Grozny is practically on the front line, and given their heavy commitments at Tuapse and Georgievsk, I have serious doubts they possess a formidable force to defend it. Once Grozny topples, the only remaining question will be the scale of the impending German triumph.

Turn 6 update

Here's the initial situation in the Grozny area after air recon: the ZOC lock around Malinovsky's army has held, and it seems I can transform it into a pocket. South of Grozny, the area appears to be lightly defended, and once again, the Soviets are positioned on the wrong side of the river.

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How can the Germans capitalize on this? It's crucial to consider where the enemy might retreat after an attack, and I want to prevent them from retreating behind the river. Last turn's solution of a heavy attack to force a multi-hex retreat may not be as effective. If the northern division retreats two or three hexes, it will still end up behind the river in a strong defensive position.

It's time to deploy another tactical tool: infiltration. By slipping a unit through the gap in the enemy line, the Germans can influence the direction of the Soviet retreat, as they'll attempt to avoid retreating through an enemy Zone of Control. I have a Panzer regiment capable of crossing the river with a decent number of movement points remaining. According to air recon, the only Soviet unit on the other side of the river is an HQ, so this should work well.

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The Panzer regiment reaches a position where it can establish a ZOC lock (marked in blue on the map) on the Soviet lines of retreat, together with an infantry regiment further north. As anticipated, after being attacked, the Soviet 89th rifle division retreats north along the path marked in red, evading the ZOC lock.

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This enables me to attack the 61st rifle division, which retreats southward, away from the onslaught. The gap in the enemy line is now open.

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As I advance multiple divisions through the gap, it becomes clear that I can use SS Wiking to encircle Grozny this turn. To create the most secure pocket possible, I'll need to put some thought into it.

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The next map shows the situation around Grozny, with the securely locked pocket. To strengthen the pocket, I took a few key steps: two Wiking regiments, low on fuel and ammo, received air supplies via the newly captured airfield at Gudermes. Each regiment was also reinforced by an assault gun battalion, significantly increasing its combat value. Additionally, the Soviets will need to spend a decent number of MPs just to reach these two regiments, which could make organizing a deliberate attack difficult or even impossible. The regiment northeast of Grozny will require a move across the river into the ZOC, while the regiment east of Grozny will necessitate a move into Axis-controlled territory. Even if the Soviets successfully attack one of these regiments, the large attacking force is likely to be stuck due to high MP expenditure and may find itself surrounded next turn.

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In the Maikop area, I'm currently on the defensive. A Soviet rifle division emerged from the mountain passes, only to be heavily attacked and routed. Further east, it appears the Soviets are attempting to defend Mikoyan-Shahar to deny access to Mount Elbrus. However, I'm not overly concerned, as these Soviet troops will struggle to secure much, if any, supply on the north side of the mountains. I'll let them wither and attack at an opportune time. The Mount Elbrus bonus doesn't diminish and can be claimed as late as the last turn of the scenario.

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Lastly, an overall map at the end of the turn shows my pleasing advance, suggesting I may have a shot at Makhachkala in the near future. The Soviets still seem strangely hesitant to commit units that could threaten my overextended northern flank. However, the weakness on that flank is now significantly reduced.

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K62 wrote: Mon Apr 24, 2023 2:24 am

EwaldvonKleist wrote: Sun Apr 23, 2023 8:27 pm Thanks for posting the AAR. Will you post the mirror match too?

Thanks a bunch for always being so supportive about my AARs – you're the best! Now, about that mirror game where I play Soviet, as much as I appreciate your excitement, I've got to say it might not be the most thrilling bout to chat about. You see, things have taken a bit of a predictable turn there, and well, your old buddy here seems to be doing alright. So, let's maintain the intrigue by concentrating on the more gripping games instead.

You are an excellent player with very precise operations&pockets and I like your style of AAR very much, so it is easy to be supportive

Some raiding with cavalry on your long flanks by the Soviets would occupy more resources than it costs them imho. To stop a small raid typically requires a relatively big force by the defender, while stopping bigger forces requires a small force, relatively seen. IIRC Clausewitz also has a few paragraphs describing this dynamic.
Otherwise this looks very good for you, I don't know the scenario but given the relative OOBs and the newly formed pockets, the Soviets will have a very hard time forming a strong line on the Caspian Sea in time.

EwaldvonKleist wrote: Tue May 02, 2023 2:37 pm You are an excellent player with very precise operations&pockets and I like your style of AAR very much, so it is easy to be supportive

Some raiding with cavalry on your long flanks by the Soviets would occupy more resources than it costs them imho. To stop a small raid typically requires a relatively big force by the defender, while stopping bigger forces requires a small force, relatively seen. IIRC Clausewitz also has a few paragraphs describing this dynamic.
Otherwise this looks very good for you, I don't know the scenario but given the relative OOBs and the newly formed pockets, the Soviets will have a very hard time forming a strong line on the Caspian Sea in time.

Hey there! Thanks for the awesome feedback and kind words about my AARs – it really means a lot to me!

I have to say, I totally agree with you on the raiding point. After playing this scenario a few times, it's becoming pretty clear that perfect play from both sides would likely lead to a minor Axis victory by capturing Grozny.

But it's pretty much impossible for both sides to play perfectly, so mistakes are bound to happen. As Clausewitz highlights in his analysis, being on the defensive can be more forgiving of those errors. In this scenario, just as in GC41, the Axis, as the attacking side, can really feel the pain if they slip up.

That's where the importance of the Soviets capitalizing on those errors comes in. If they don't seize the opportunity, it's as if the Axis never made a mistake in the first place. This is where cavalry, with its high mobility, becomes such a crucial tool for the Soviets. It allows them to quickly respond to and exploit any Axis missteps, keeping the game more balanced and challenging for both sides.

Thanks again for your insights and for always being so supportive. I love our little strategy chats!

Turn 7 update

In the Grozny area, the Soviets launch counter-attacks against two of the SS Wiking regiments, but the regiments hold their ground successfully. This situation leaves several Guards divisions and brigades vulnerable to being encircled. Additionally, the Soviet flanks are exposed, allowing me to advance unopposed and reach the Caspian Sea along a broad front. The southern part of the advance approaches the gates of Makhachkala, while the northern part covers half the remaining distance to Astrakhan in a single move.

In the west, near Maikop, another division emerges from the mountain passes only to be pushed back with substantial losses. The forces attempting to hold Mikoyan-Shahar are compressed into a smaller area, with a modest commitment of force, primarily consisting of Romanian cavalry.

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With the pockets securely held, I begin the task of clearing them. The Soviets suffer significant ground losses this turn.

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A glance at the order of battle screenshot reveals that the Soviets are notably outnumbered in most aspects.

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Finally, the air war's loss ratio has also been highly favorable to the Axis forces so far.

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