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RE: Week 30 - 11/29/2011 8:57:52 AM

randallw

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Losing that Li-2 location could be some trouble. That's the only location they are built.

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Week 31 - 11/29/2011 2:06:48 PM

M60A3TTS

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Week 31- 15.1.42

Onward to victory, under the banner of the Great Lenin! (Ok M60, let's not get too carried away here

)

Orel and Stalino are liberated as the fascists flee westwards. The number of battles drops off significantly as the 2.6 million Axis scum pull back to avoid being crushed by the weight of nearly 6 million gallant Red Army soldiers, sailors of the naval brigades, airmen and partisans.

The Valdai Hills are essentially cleared now.

Men of the Kalinin and Western Fronts have Vyazma firmly in their sights.

Orel-Kursk. 2nd and 3rd Shock Armies may or may not be able to wrest Kursk from the German dogs.

Stalino sector. More Axis retreats in the blinding snow.

Administrative notes: I form 41st Army to put some far away rifle brigades under. 4 guards rifle divisions are formed, total of 34 now along with a third cavalry division.

The Order of Battle. Pelton is recovering his panzer force gradually. But his losses up to the end of his offensive phase probably has him reluctant to commit them until the end of blizzard at least.

< Message edited by M60A3TTS -- 11/29/2011 2:16:01 PM >

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RE: Week 31 - 11/29/2011 3:46:58 PM

traemyn

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Nice AAR!

What Soft Factor setting is enabled on those last 4 screenshots?

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RE: Week 31 - 11/29/2011 4:07:17 PM

M60A3TTS

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Typically I keep soft factors at fuel to keep an eye on nasty panzer and motorized units.

quote:

ORIGINAL: traemyn

Nice AAR!

What Soft Factor setting is enabled on those last 4 screenshots?

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Post #: 124

RE: Week 31 - 11/29/2011 4:34:04 PM

Flaviusx

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Are you going to keep pushing after February? Really would advise against this. I'm not sure you should advance much further in the south, either, the front widens past the Donbas and becomes more difficult to defend. There's no significant terrain features to anchor a line down there until you hit the Dnepr practically. You need to start planning ahead for the March backhand blow.

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RE: Week 31 - 11/29/2011 4:36:35 PM

BletchleyGeek

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34 Guards Rifle divisions?

How many Rifle Divisions do you have M60?

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RE: Week 31 - 11/29/2011 4:38:54 PM

Flaviusx

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He should have somewhere around 400 by now. He can get another 50-75 divisions after combining rifle brigades, which will raise the cap a bit and let him squeeze out a few more guards.

That is, if he can avoid getting a lot of units bagged in March.

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RE: Week 31 - 11/29/2011 6:14:06 PM

M60A3TTS

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Bletchley_Geek

34 Guards Rifle divisions? How many Rifle Divisions do you have M60?

Well actually up to 38 as of Turn 32, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

89 "41B" Rifle Divisions
245 "41C" Rifle Divisions
38 Guards Rifle Divisions
50 "41" Rifle Brigade Division equivalents (149 Bdes)
422 division equivalents...and some mountain divisions and 15 cavalry corps...

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RE: Week 31 - 11/29/2011 6:39:34 PM

M60A3TTS

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Flaviusx

Are you going to keep pushing after February? Really would advise against this. I'm not sure you should advance much further in the south, either, the front widens past the Donbas and becomes more difficult to defend. There's no significant terrain features to anchor a line down there until you hit the Dnepr practically. You need to start planning ahead for the March backhand blow.

The next and last city on my list is Vyazma, just because. I have enough to take it I think. The rest of the army will begin the consolidation and 1942 defense phase. As you say, there's nothing else really worth fighting for, I'm never going to reach the Dnepr during the waning weeks of the offensive and Pelton would just keep retreating long enough to draw me into a trap.

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Post #: 129

RE: Week 31 - 11/29/2011 6:46:02 PM

Flaviusx

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Vyazma is a perfectly reasonable objective and a natural anchor for your line. He will probably give that up without a fight is my guess.

That leaves you with a good defensive position along the classic Rhzev-Vyazma corridor and some breathing room for Moscow. (Which still does matter.) And you can set up a second defensive line along Kaluga-Mozhask-Kalinin. He gave up the Valdai, which is even better, and everything north of that is swamps and forests.

Basically, you've got solid defensive terrain on the northern half of the map going into 42. The southern half, well, that's where things will get dicey.

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RE: Week 31 - 11/29/2011 6:57:35 PM

Q-Ball

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Nice Winter Offensive. I am a fan of staged withdrawls as the Germans, but I don't understand why he gives up good defensive terrain. Make more sense to give up Clear.

While I agree you need to prepare for backhand blow, I would continue to make favorable odds attacks in February. While it hurts to have your formations burnt out a bit, it hurst the Wehrmacht more. You'll cause morale to crumble, and any divisions you push in February aren't worth much for a backhand blow. You can be fried, as long as you both are fried.

I would like to know what Panzer Divisions you have identified in the front. If there are alot you haven't, then that tells you what is fresh, and available, for March. I would also look for the high-morale infantry units, and wonder if those are stashed somewhere. I am thinking 1, 11, 30, 32, 24, 78 Sturm, among others (you can load a campaign game and look at the Infantry that starts at 90 morale; look for those guys. If they are "Hidden", they are probably loading-up for March...)

I can only go on my experience vs. Bletchley Geek, but I had more guys than Pelton does at this stage, and you have more than B-G did. He also has about 400 less tanks than I did. Given these factors, his March offensive will not be as strong.

I agree with Flav though, that you can bet the farm he will look to attack you in the South, partly because he is so behind there. If it's me, I try to pin a bunch of your guys against the Sea of Azov.

< Message edited by Q-Ball -- 11/29/2011 7:31:50 PM >

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RE: Week 31 - 11/29/2011 7:06:48 PM

gingerbread

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quote:

ORIGINAL: M60A3TTS

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bletchley_Geek

34 Guards Rifle divisions? How many Rifle Divisions do you have M60?

Well actually up to 38 as of Turn 32, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

89 "41B" Rifle Divisions
245 "41C" Rifle Divisions
38 Guards Rifle Divisions
50 "41" Rifle Brigade Division equivalents (149 Bdes)
422 division equivalents...and some mountain divisions and 15 cavalry corps...

Is it really 3 Brigades to a Division? I thought it was 2.

In any case, I'd like to know about your vehicle status - in units/needed, pool/needed, repairing and total losses.

< Message edited by gingerbread -- 11/29/2011 7:08:55 PM >

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RE: Week 31 - 11/29/2011 7:16:49 PM

Flaviusx

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You can consolidate brigades into divisions on a 3:1 or 2:1 basis. The former gives you stronger (indeed, probably over TOE) rifle divisions, but fewer of them. I personally go with a 2:1 exchange and fill out the divisions with replacements. 2 strong rifle brigades is pretty close to full TOE anyways. They'll tend to be in the rear and get first shot at replacements.

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RE: Week 31 - 11/29/2011 10:58:55 PM

kevini1000

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The question is does Pelton think that Moscow is important in 1942.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Flaviusx

Vyazma is a perfectly reasonable objective and a natural anchor for your line. He will probably give that up without a fight is my guess.

That leaves you with a good defensive position along the classic Rhzev-Vyazma corridor and some breathing room for Moscow. (Which still does matter.) And you can set up a second defensive line along Kaluga-Mozhask-Kalinin. He gave up the Valdai, which is even better, and everything north of that is swamps and forests.

Basically, you've got solid defensive terrain on the northern half of the map going into 42. The southern half, well, that's where things will get dicey.

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RE: Week 31 - 11/29/2011 11:35:54 PM

sillyflower

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quote:

ORIGINAL: sath

The question is does Pelton think that Moscow is important in 1942.

Not much left ther worth having

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RE: Week 31 - 11/29/2011 11:47:55 PM

Flaviusx

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The fact that half the map is self defending due to terrain is the main point here -- it simplifies the defensive problem.

Moscow still has manpower and is a major rail junction. It would be a tempting target albeit not so much as before without the industry. But it is far more likely that the German will seek the path of least resistance in the south, and that in of itself helps. In 1941 the German can attack anywhere and place the Soviet in a perpetual state of crisis trying to manage the whole front. Half the front is half a crisis.

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RE: Week 31 - 11/30/2011 3:19:26 AM

M60A3TTS

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quote:

ORIGINAL: gingerbread
I'd like to know about your vehicle status - in units/needed, pool/needed, repairing and total losses.

From Week 31

Turn Log

< Message edited by M60A3TTS -- 11/30/2011 3:21:29 AM >

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RE: Week 31 - 11/30/2011 4:01:40 AM

M60A3TTS

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

I would like to know what Panzer Divisions you have identified in the front. If there are alot you haven't, then that tells you what is fresh, and available, for March. I would also look for the high-morale infantry units, and wonder if those are stashed somewhere. I am thinking 1, 11, 30, 32, 24, 78 Sturm, among others (you can load a campaign game and look at the Infantry that starts at 90 morale; look for those guys. If they are "Hidden", they are probably loading-up for March...)

It's hard to really tell because he can be 20 miles away and I can't identify the divisions.
He appears to have good mobile divisions out in the open. This is what I can see close up.

Panzer divisions Kursk to Kharkov
5th, 7th, 8th

Panzer divisions south of Kharkov
6th, 9th, 11th, 13th, 14th

No signs of panzers north of Kursk.

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RE: Week 31 - 11/30/2011 3:37:03 PM

gingerbread

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That's some burn rate of vehicles! 4000/turn and 1000 inflow so 3000, maybe 2750 if counting by 50's. With 6 more blizzard turns and the spring mud, your buffer is shrinking.

Combat needs of course have priority, but after those are met, see if you can do any of:

Airgroups to reserve until needed during the Axis snow offensive
Airbases on or adjacent to repaired rail (but move airgroups before airbases)
Thin your lines between Rzhev and Orel - this is where you have the most guys the furtherest from rail and you are taking attrition on those 3-stacks adjacent to enemy as well

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Week 32 - 12/1/2011 1:16:11 AM

M60A3TTS

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Week 32- 22.1.42

The offensive action has increased in the north, but greatly diminished everywhere else. Pelton clearly means to hold Kursk and Kharkov in the center. In this week Belgorod is liberated. In the far south, the Axis retreat continues, but in this case the Red Army is no longer in pursuit. This is not deterring the partisans, who destroy six rail connections in the area.

Back at Stalingrad, all factories except for the T-34 ones have been evacuated. This will reduce the value of capturing the city.

Administrative notes: Zhukov's Volkhov Front army commanders continue to be the center of attention. 16th Army commander Bagramyan is promoted to Colonel-General and 20th Army commander Tolbukhin is promoted to Lieutenant General. Four guards rifle divisions are formed, 35th through 38th.

Vyazma

Kursk-Belgorod

Stalino

< Message edited by M60A3TTS -- 12/1/2011 1:17:28 AM >

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RE: Week 32 - 12/2/2011 3:25:43 AM

M60A3TTS

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Week 33- 29.1.42

Pelton has issued his no-retreat order. Axis troops are trying to hold all across the front now.
22 attacks are successful across the entire front and 3 are not. The Axis launched 5 attacks all of which were successful.

39th and 40th Guards Rifle Divisions are formed.
I took g-man's advice and sent some air units to the reserve to reduce the truck losses.
Soviet losses now at 3.3 million vs. 1.1 million Axis.

Armaments continue to build up. Week 17 was the low point, with 23,896 in the pool. It is now 409,013.
In tank production, the T-34 plant evacuated from Kharkov will complete recovery in 5 weeks and expand from its current rate of 7. Total production is 81 vehicles per week. The evacuated KV-1 factory from Leningrad and now at Nizhny Tagil has been fully repaired and is producing 11 per week. Total production is 33 per week.

Yyazma

Kursk-Kharkov

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Week 34 - 12/3/2011 6:31:00 PM

M60A3TTS

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Week 34- 5.2.42

Into February now. No screenshots this week as there really isn't anything to show.

Cavalry was the main recipient of guards status this week, with 14th Cav Corps going over to 1st Guards Cav Corps. Now 6 guards cav divisions. Also picked up 41st Guards Rifle Division.

A lot of aircraft arrived at the NR, and next week I am going to upgrade a number of I-16s to Yak-1 regiments.

Currently I am developing a plan for two localized attacks which I hope will continue through blizzard and on into snow. It may at least give Pelton one more thing to think about as he gathers his mobile forces for his own snow offensive. More on Operation Cosmos will be forthcoming.

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RE: Week 34 - 12/3/2011 7:50:26 PM

freeboy

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how dos removing the air ssets to resere interact with truk losss> me= clueless

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RE: Week 34 - 12/3/2011 8:39:14 PM

gingerbread

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Airgroups at an AB generate supply requests that will use trucks to fullfull. If the Airgroup is in NS, no request is generated. But it is minor, far more important to keep AB on or adjacent to functioning rail.

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RE: Week 34 - 12/3/2011 9:32:13 PM

freeboy

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ok.. makes sense.. I was thinking somehow trucks part of the orginization of the airbase... thanks for the quick response!!

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RE: Week 34 - 12/4/2011 4:10:34 PM

kevini1000

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Haven't seen a new Pelton post for a while did a Russian fan boy get him or something :)

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RE: Week 34 - 12/5/2011 3:07:30 AM

M60A3TTS

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Week 35- 12.2.42

A few battles continue in the north where 4th Shock Army is attempting to support units of 23rd Army that are attacking south of Lake Ilmen. South of there, units of Northwest Front are battling east of the Dvina River

Lake Ilmen

Near the Dvina

42nd and 43rd Guards Rifle Divisions were formed this week.

Pelton has 1104 of 1659 panzers operational at this stage, so it will be interesting to see how much he pushes those divisions prior to the summer campaign season. In comparison the Red Army has a little over 1800 T-34s and KV-1s operational.

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Week 36 & 37 - 12/7/2011 4:02:32 AM

M60A3TTS

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Week 36- 19.2.42

Local attacks continue south of Lake Ilmen and along the Dvina.
In the center-south, troop pullbacks are modest.
44th Guards Rifle and 7th Guards Cavalry Divisions form.

Week 37- 26.2.42

Axis air recon is intense as they prepare for the March offensive.
Ten more Soviet attacks take place near Lake Ilmen and the Dvina to the south.
Air units move out of the national Reserve and prepare for the coming Axis attacks. 8,700+ Soviet aircraft are in a ready state.
45th-47th Guards Rifle Divisions form.
Active Soviet manpower now exceeds 6 million.

West of Moscow

Kursk-Orel

South

< Message edited by M60A3TTS -- 12/7/2011 4:03:34 AM >

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Week 38 - 12/8/2011 5:47:15 AM

M60A3TTS

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Week 38- 5.3.42

Pelton launches his best infantry divisions and virtually all his mobile formations north and south of Orel. Southwestern Front has 150,000 men in 17 rifle divisions and 9 brigades caught up in a pocket. He has some very strong infantry divisions holding the northern shoulder of the advance.

Axis troops scored 45 retreats, 3 routs and were held 3 times.

The question here is how far can or will he push during snow? His mobile CVs are in the 6-9 range with the exception of the SS Wiking, Totenkopf, Das Reich and 2nd Panzer which are in the teens.

My thought is he is going to try and flank Moscow from the south again to force my forces west of Moscow to withdraw to the east. That would not be too hard at this moment as there isn't much in his way towards the Oka.

I burn through over half my APs to build 9 rifle divisions and 5 brigades which is half my anticipated losses in the pocket.

48th and 49th Guards Rifle Divisions were formed.

Orel Pocket

< Message edited by M60A3TTS -- 12/8/2011 5:55:28 AM >

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RE: Week 38 - 12/8/2011 6:01:36 AM

sveint

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Scary lack of forts. I'd fall back to Tula-Voronezh? You can afford to lose some territory but you'd better have deep defense of level 2+ forts for the summer.

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Post #: 150