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Axis AI 1.06.03 vs CheerfullyInsane

 
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Axis AI 1.06.03 vs CheerfullyInsane - 2/25/2012 5:32:25 AM   
CheerfullyInsane

 

Posts: 199
Joined: 12/5/2010
From: Birkerod, Denmark
Status: offline 		Ah yes, another AI AAR.
No real reason except that I saw Apollo asking for 'test-games'. Then I started reading larryfulkersons AAR, and he spoke about games he could compare his to, so I figured 'what the hell'
Difficulty set at 110% Axis - 100% Russian, full FOW, Non-random weather.

Only thing is that I'm currently on Turn 12, so the first 11 turns will be zoomed-out maps with perhaps a few comments here and there.
I'm keeping the save-games, so if anyone should require (for some obscure reason) close-ups, losses and what-not just ask, and I'll see what I can do. And although I'm in awe of Larrys animated gifs, I'm still learning to use GIMP (and not doing very well as you'll see) and besides......ani-gifs is quite frankly a bit more work than I'd like.

Anyway, Turn 1
(All screen-shots are taken from the auto-saves and thus BEFORE Russian moves)


No major surprises.
First priority is the conservation of the Red Army. I'll give up ground, factories and my first-born if I can get to the blizzard in decent shape. Anything else is a distant second.

First order of business is start to get the SUs sorted. Every HQ gets set to 0, except the Army HQs (set to 2) and STAVKA (set to 9). The idea being that will get most of the chaff out of the combat-HQs, while still leaving in some arty and sappers to get my 'standard' armies started.
First time I'm starting a game with the new Army CP-limits, so what I'm aiming for is an army consisting of 9 Infantry divisions with 1 RR brigade, 2 sapper Regiments, 3 Artillery Regs, an AT reg., and eventually a PVO AA reg. Each of these armies will be expected to hold a 3-hex front, either 3-deep for delay, or 6 divisons on the line with 3 in reserve in the second line.
Anything armored gets set to STAVKA, and will be moved around to wherever there's a need for them in reserve.
As the armored brigades start pouring in, each army will get 2 and will release the infantry-division with the highest experience back to STAVKA.
All the resulting semi-experienced infantry will then be railed behind the lines to train up for the blizzard.

But all that's in the future....Right now it's RUN!
But as you run, make sure there are ZOCs covering as much of the front as you can.
Oh, and every plane in the VVS starts flapping their way towards the NR. I ain't sending I-16s against Me-109s

_____________________________

"Something is always wrong, Baldrick. The fact that I'm not a millionaire aristocrat with the sexual capacity of a rutting rhino is a constant niggle"
- Edmund Blackadder
Post #: 1
Turn 2 - 2/25/2012 5:41:02 AM   
CheerfullyInsane

 

Posts: 199
Joined: 12/5/2010
From: Birkerod, Denmark
Status: offline

Panzers racing for the Dnepr and Pskov.
There's a shallow line behind the Dnepr and an ad hoc group manning the riverline at Pskov. Neither will hold back a flock of angry lemmings, but it'll make the Germans pay MPs. Delay, delay and more delay.

Most of the reserves are sent to defend the landbridge, with an army sent north to start digging in front of Leningrad.
I know Leningrad usually falls anyway, but it'll certainly fall if troops aren't sent there ASAP. So the center gets only what it absolutely must have, and the rest gets sent north until the Leningrad Front is filled.
The armies assembling in the center will eventually attach to the Reserve Front.
In the south the Germans are having trouble killing all the ants. As always, infantry in front with armor in reserve in the 2nd and 3rd lines.

_____________________________

"Something is always wrong, Baldrick. The fact that I'm not a millionaire aristocrat with the sexual capacity of a rutting rhino is a constant niggle"
- Edmund Blackadder

(in reply to CheerfullyInsane)
Post #: 2
Turn 3 - 2/25/2012 5:50:17 AM   
CheerfullyInsane

 

Posts: 199
Joined: 12/5/2010
From: Birkerod, Denmark
Status: offline

Riga is liberated!
AI is having a little trouble mopping up. It's pretty good at clearing out-right pockets, but these odd units slip through.

Not much else happening, apparently the panzers are refuelling.
Note however that when it discovered the units behind the river at Pskov, it sent units north to explore an end-run around Lake Peipus.
In the south the Romanians go nuts (sorta), and the Southern Front will join the general retreat towards the rivers.
No hurry though.....The Romanians is probably the only thing in the Axis arsenal that I don't fear.
So the south will be the very last to receive infantry reinforcements. But every cavalry unit will eventually end up in that area.

_____________________________

"Something is always wrong, Baldrick. The fact that I'm not a millionaire aristocrat with the sexual capacity of a rutting rhino is a constant niggle"
- Edmund Blackadder

(in reply to CheerfullyInsane)
Post #: 3
Turn 4 - 2/25/2012 6:02:20 AM   
CheerfullyInsane

 

Posts: 199
Joined: 12/5/2010
From: Birkerod, Denmark
Status: offline

PG 4 finds their maps again, and trundles south around Pskov.
PG 2 and 3 seems to have split (more or less) with one looking for a weak spot around Mogilev, and the other trying to punch through the landbridge.
The Finns have joined the party too. I'll withdraw to the No-Attack line at Leningrad, and try and bottle them up in the north. Gotta love a 3-hex front.

NW Front is....uhm....slightly undermanned at present. There are 2 armies assembling behind them, but it'll take a turn or two to get through that crappy terrain.
The center is pushed back, but the line holds. Only problem is that you can delay the panzers with carpet tactics, but anything standing in their way gets pounded flat.
In the south there IS Axis progress, but it is molasses-slow. If any newbie Axis players are reading this: This is what happens if you don't do the Lvov pocket.

_____________________________

"Something is always wrong, Baldrick. The fact that I'm not a millionaire aristocrat with the sexual capacity of a rutting rhino is a constant niggle"
- Edmund Blackadder

(in reply to CheerfullyInsane)
Post #: 4
Turn 5 - 2/25/2012 6:29:01 AM   
CheerfullyInsane

 

Posts: 199
Joined: 12/5/2010
From: Birkerod, Denmark
Status: offline

PG 4 hustles towards Leningrad, but there is now 3 full armies (plus 7th Independent in the north), and they're digging like their lives depended on it.....Which is probably true.
I'll try to hold them at the Luga, and see what happens. Usually it holds for 1-2 turns, and then the AI punches through somewhere, but we'll see.

PG 2 and 3 have joined hands again with predictable results. If I can find enough armor and STAVKA infantry units to establish a triple-line south of the bulge I'll try and hold on to the Dnepr. Otherwise the entire line will shift. I'm far more afraid of having 20 divisions pocketed than losing factories.

In the south.....Well, I'm guessing OKH is a little dissatisfied at this point.
They're trying, but the line is anchored on the Pripet, and there are far too many units to simply overrun.

A little strategic overview:
Leningrad Front will cover from the Baltic to Lake Ilmen along the Luga.
NW Front will take up positions in the Valdai Hills From Ilmen down to around Velikie Luki.
Reserve Front then takes over and covers south down to roughly Smolensk.
The area behind the Pripet will be covered by the Orel MD and assorted airborne brigades.
South of the Pripet is covered by the SW Front.
In the south is the Southern Front (surprisingly enough), and the far south will be covered by a STAVKA army and whatever cavalry I can scrape together. Normally I wouldn't trust cavalry to hold a line, but they're pretty good diggers, and if you stack enough of them behind a river they'll probably hold the Romanians.

Also, with the arrival of the Reserve Front and not least all those glorious APs, it's time for the Grand Reorganization of the Red Army. Almost every leader gets replaced, starting with removing Zhukov from STAVKA.
Then I replace the Front leaders with high Admin guys, and finally the Armies get high Infantry/Initiative leaders.
Also some of the Corps HQs get disbanded. I know it's a waste of APs since they'll get disbanded for free later on, but I can't get a grip on the command situation with all these sub-units swimming around.
Last but not least the VVS starts getting reintroduced to the front.
Basic set-up for a Front is 6 airbases each with 6 airgroup. 2 fighters, 1 Lvl bomber, 2 Tac bomber, and 1 with Recon and the U-2 Tac bombers.
Transports and long-range bombers go to the VVS airbases for partisan supply. Or so I hope.....
Never really got a solid grasp of the air-game, so it's hit'n'miss with the flyboys.

_____________________________

"Something is always wrong, Baldrick. The fact that I'm not a millionaire aristocrat with the sexual capacity of a rutting rhino is a constant niggle"
- Edmund Blackadder

(in reply to CheerfullyInsane)
Post #: 5
RE: Turn 5 - 2/25/2012 1:08:45 PM   
Commanderski


Posts: 927
Joined: 12/12/2010
From: New Hampshire
Status: offline 		I think you need to build up your defensive line in the South. It's fairly sparse near the bottom and the AI may try to take advantage of it.

Also if you haven't done so already turn on Auto save. If the AI takes and abandons Lenningrad, tech support may want those.

(in reply to CheerfullyInsane)
Post #: 6
RE: Turn 5 - 2/25/2012 5:30:05 PM   
CheerfullyInsane

 

Posts: 199
Joined: 12/5/2010
From: Birkerod, Denmark
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Commanderski

I think you need to build up your defensive line in the South. It's fairly sparse near the bottom and the AI may try to take advantage of it.

Also if you haven't done so already turn on Auto save. If the AI takes and abandons Lenningrad, tech support may want those.


Auto-saves are on.
As for the south they will get reinforcements eventually, but they're last in line.
Without the Lvov pocket, you have more than enough troops to conduct a fall-back defense to each river-line.
Only thing that worries me is if the AI tries to outflank the line northwards. The line is anchored on the Pripet, but that's no guarantee.

_____________________________

"Something is always wrong, Baldrick. The fact that I'm not a millionaire aristocrat with the sexual capacity of a rutting rhino is a constant niggle"
- Edmund Blackadder

(in reply to Commanderski)
Post #: 7
Turn 6 - 2/25/2012 5:53:00 PM   
CheerfullyInsane

 

Posts: 199
Joined: 12/5/2010
From: Birkerod, Denmark
Status: offline 		Something a little different this time. Close-ups of different sectors.

North:


PG 4 is closing in, but I doubt they'll have the moxie to cross the Luga without waiting for infantry-support.
There are now 4 more or less complete armies fairly well dug-in with more troops coming every turn.
In the far north the Finns are being held (for the time being) at the 3-hex lines between the lakes.

Center:


PG 2 and 3 have split yet again, one heading north of Smolensk, the other south.
I managed to scrape enough ad hoc units together to create a line behind the river, so I'm holding on to the Dnepr for at least one more turn. Only a question of time though.
And again, the units that are tasked to delay the panzers are paying a heavy toll.

South Center:


PG 1 has turned SE looking for a weak spot. Plenty of those around, but the problem for the AI is trying to kill all these ants. They can't stop him, but neither is he capable of getting a break-through.

Deep South:


A full army takes up positions at Nikolaev to anchor the line. The 3 divisions out front is merely a skirmish screen to buy one more turn for digging for their comrades.
Everybody else pulls back just fast enough to stay out of rifle-shot of the Romanians.

_____________________________

"Something is always wrong, Baldrick. The fact that I'm not a millionaire aristocrat with the sexual capacity of a rutting rhino is a constant niggle"
- Edmund Blackadder

(in reply to CheerfullyInsane)
Post #: 8
RE: Turn 6 - 2/25/2012 6:07:05 PM   
TulliusDetritus


Posts: 5521
Joined: 4/1/2004
From: The Zone™
Status: offline 		LOL

Just for a few seconds I thought the AI itself was writing this AAR!

_____________________________

a nu cheeki breeki iv damke

(in reply to CheerfullyInsane)
Post #: 9
Turn 7 - 2/25/2012 6:15:44 PM   
CheerfullyInsane

 

Posts: 199
Joined: 12/5/2010
From: Birkerod, Denmark
Status: offline

In the north PG 4 is sniffing around the Luga line. There's a couple of Russian armored divisions out in front to act as breakwater and maybe buy one more turn of digging. Only thing that really worries me is whether I'll have the time to dig in around Novgorod. Southern end of that line is pretty weak.

NW Front is decidedly unhappy as the Germans turns their attention onto them. Heavy infantry push towards the Valdai results in a couple of divisions feeling a little alone. OTOH if the AI wants to put its strength up there, I'm not complaining.

Central and Reserve Front decides that Stalin can bugger off and retreats from the Dnepr. Back to the next river-line and try to do it all over again. Further south, Orel MD is taking up positions behind the Dnepr with some airborne having the honor of guarding the swamps

SW Front might be in a little trouble. There's a lot of Germans trying to move around the northern flank, and I can't fall back to the Dnepr just yet as there are no-one there to tie into.

Deep south is business as usual. Odessa is taken, and the scraps of the Red Army continues to fall back to the Yushny Bug. I don't mind giving ground (especially in the south) as long as I control the pace of it.
Besides, you gotta love the terrain down there; 4-5 successive river-lines to fall back on.

_____________________________

"Something is always wrong, Baldrick. The fact that I'm not a millionaire aristocrat with the sexual capacity of a rutting rhino is a constant niggle"
- Edmund Blackadder

(in reply to CheerfullyInsane)
Post #: 10
RE: Turn 6 - 2/25/2012 8:57:08 PM   
CheerfullyInsane

 

Posts: 199
Joined: 12/5/2010
From: Birkerod, Denmark
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

LOL

Just for a few seconds I thought the AI itself was writing this AAR!


You saying my English is THAT bad?

_____________________________

"Something is always wrong, Baldrick. The fact that I'm not a millionaire aristocrat with the sexual capacity of a rutting rhino is a constant niggle"
- Edmund Blackadder

(in reply to TulliusDetritus)
Post #: 11
Turn 8 - 2/25/2012 9:12:06 PM   
CheerfullyInsane

 

Posts: 199
Joined: 12/5/2010
From: Birkerod, Denmark
Status: offline

Up in the north there's the delightful combination of Finnish heads vs. Russian brickwall.
Pretty sure they'll hold, but if they should break there's plenty of forest to fall back through.



Down at the river attacks pushes me out of the swamps. The problem is that if I merely move back in, the troops will have no foxholes. So instead I'm pushing everything I have into the bordering hexes (blue circles). The AI can then either move one hex through the gap, or he'll have to attack my strongest points.
Still a little worried about Novgorod though......



AGC continues to pour on the pressure. Line is still holding, but only just. Smolensk will fall next turn, and the armies in front of the panzers are pretty much shot.



Further pressure is being exerted by AGS. The direct attacks are being absorbed by the carpet enabling me to fall back slowly, but there's a good attempt to outflank along the Pripet.
However, sweeping outflanking moves aren't really suited for swamps.
So I should be able to pull back to the Dnepr where reserve armies are starting to arrive.
Couple of turns more, and there'll be a solid dug-in line behind the river.



Not much in the south aside a lot of horses (and presumably some well-fertilized farms).
They won't hold a German attack, but they should be able to annoy the Romanians.



_____________________________

"Something is always wrong, Baldrick. The fact that I'm not a millionaire aristocrat with the sexual capacity of a rutting rhino is a constant niggle"
- Edmund Blackadder

(in reply to CheerfullyInsane)
Post #: 12
RE: Turn 6 - 2/25/2012 10:06:56 PM   
TulliusDetritus


Posts: 5521
Joined: 4/1/2004
From: The Zone™
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: CheerfullyInsane


quote:

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

LOL

Just for a few seconds I thought the AI itself was writing this AAR!


You saying my English is THAT bad?


No no, I really thought (only for a few seconds eh, otherwise I should be seeking professional help) the AI was writing this stuff. Before I clicked on the thread

Sort of what happened to me like 4 years ago. A cousin of mine was with his wife. They said they were leaving but that they would be back ten minutes later. Then like ten minutes later I see my cousin arriving in his car. In the co-pilot place there was a woman who was NOT his wife... For a few seconds I thought I had been somehow dragged into some parallel universe, sort of Twilight Zone

_____________________________

a nu cheeki breeki iv damke

(in reply to CheerfullyInsane)
Post #: 13
Turn 9 - 2/25/2012 10:14:56 PM   
CheerfullyInsane

 

Posts: 199
Joined: 12/5/2010
From: Birkerod, Denmark
Status: offline

Finns are still trying to get through in the far north, and still getting bloodied.
Not sure why the AI is still attacking given that the odds are declining every time they try.

The AI sees the error of its ways (so to speak) and waits for the infantry to come up before attempting forcing the Luga, but Novgorod falls. Good thing that there are swamp hexes behind the city. Still not worried about the north.

AGC nearly makes it, punching through the poor bloody infantry that has faced them for a month now.
The second PG barely makes a dent though, as the armor in the 3rd line reacts to the call for reserves.
However, I'll still need to fall back to contain the bulge, which in turn will stretch the entire front.
Not sure where I'll find the troops, but we'll see.

South of the Pripet the outflanking maneuver continues to evolve, but there are some problems attached to using Mk IVs in a swamp.
So progress is very slow and I'm pretty confident that once they reach the Dnepr I can hold them, at least for a while.
But just as in the center, the line opposite the massed panzers finally crumbles even if the breakthrough isn't quite there.....
One thing I've noticed is that the AI is very good at getting the breakthroughs, using whatever it can to enlarge the hole. It's less good at using the right units though, showing a tendency to pound away with the panzers, so they're lacking in MPs when the hole occurs.

_____________________________

"Something is always wrong, Baldrick. The fact that I'm not a millionaire aristocrat with the sexual capacity of a rutting rhino is a constant niggle"
- Edmund Blackadder

(in reply to CheerfullyInsane)
Post #: 14
Turn 10 - 2/25/2012 10:46:32 PM   
CheerfullyInsane

 

Posts: 199
Joined: 12/5/2010
From: Birkerod, Denmark
Status: offline 		All in all a pretty quiet turn.



Finns are at it again, but plenty of artillery sends them scurrying.
I know there's a Finnish tradition of Sissi (Sissu?), but there's a fine line between courage in the face of adversity, and just plain boneheaded stupidity.



I'm a little surprised there wasn't full-on attack on the Luga Line. AI settles for clearing the FZ to the west, but nothing else happens.
Strange.....Odds may not be good, but they're not likely to improve either.



AGC is still pounding away at the line, but the fort-levels and armor reserves are making it tough going.
Progress is made, but nothing that even resembles a breakthrough.



Same thing with AGS. The attacks are successful, but they're no danger to the overall situation.


_____________________________

"Something is always wrong, Baldrick. The fact that I'm not a millionaire aristocrat with the sexual capacity of a rutting rhino is a constant niggle"
- Edmund Blackadder

(in reply to CheerfullyInsane)
Post #: 15
RE: Turn 6 - 2/25/2012 10:52:02 PM   
CheerfullyInsane

 

Posts: 199
Joined: 12/5/2010
From: Birkerod, Denmark
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

Then like ten minutes later I see my cousin arriving in his car. In the co-pilot place there was a woman who was NOT his wife... For a few seconds I thought I had been somehow dragged into some parallel universe, sort of Twilight Zone


So the choice is between
a) suddenly finding yourself in a parallel universe, or
b) finding out your cousin has more than one wife......

Not sure which of those options is the less disturbing.

_____________________________

"Something is always wrong, Baldrick. The fact that I'm not a millionaire aristocrat with the sexual capacity of a rutting rhino is a constant niggle"
- Edmund Blackadder

(in reply to TulliusDetritus)
Post #: 16
Turn 11 - 2/25/2012 11:16:07 PM   
CheerfullyInsane

 

Posts: 199
Joined: 12/5/2010
From: Birkerod, Denmark
Status: offline

Absolutely sod-all happening.
Except of course the Finns (and their newly appointed advisor from the Japanese Army) who are doing their own version of Banzai.
I must admit that I'm a little worried that the AI has run out of steam already......
Then again, could just be the gas-tanks are empty.

In any case, I'm not worried about Leningrad. But Moscow is getting kinda close.....

(And this by the way is the last of the save-games. So the rest of the AAR will be real-time, and thus progress at a more sedate pace. )

_____________________________

"Something is always wrong, Baldrick. The fact that I'm not a millionaire aristocrat with the sexual capacity of a rutting rhino is a constant niggle"
- Edmund Blackadder

(in reply to CheerfullyInsane)
Post #: 17
RE: Turn 11 - 2/25/2012 11:55:41 PM   
randallw

 

Posts: 2057
Joined: 9/2/2010
Status: offline 		Looks like the AI could use some more tweaking on deciding when the odds are favorable to attack.

(in reply to CheerfullyInsane)
Post #: 18
RE: Turn 11 - 2/26/2012 1:12:08 AM   
CheerfullyInsane

 

Posts: 199
Joined: 12/5/2010
From: Birkerod, Denmark
Status: offline 		Either that, or a routine to bring extra troops where they're needed.
There are a ton of Finns who apparently are happy to be just glare malevolently across the No Attack Line at Leningrad.

_____________________________

"Something is always wrong, Baldrick. The fact that I'm not a millionaire aristocrat with the sexual capacity of a rutting rhino is a constant niggle"
- Edmund Blackadder

(in reply to randallw)
Post #: 19
Turn 12 - 2/26/2012 1:48:43 AM   
CheerfullyInsane

 

Posts: 199
Joined: 12/5/2010
From: Birkerod, Denmark
Status: offline

The Finns finally get a result in the North. Albeit the result is a Guards unit for me.
Maybe they're trying to wear down the enemy, but I'm pretty sure the Red Army can outlast them. At any rate, I'll need to get some new divisions up there soon so I can cycle the front-line units. They're getting pretty tired up there.



Turns out the AI was merely regrouping, and this time it gets through the line.
There's another group of panzers lurking further north, so I think it's time to shift the line again. No need to get units pocketed right in front of Moscow.



Combined with the AGC push, there's a concentration of armor inching closer to Chernigov. So it's time to leave the northern part of the Dnepr. Top right you can see the reserve army that will take over for the airborne brigades.
Despite repeated attacks, the 219th Infantry Division doggedly holds on to Kiev.



Apparently the Romanians are all members of the Humane Society, and refuse to disturb the horses frolicking in the fields behind the Vyshny Bug.
Well......Either that, or they're just being Romanian.



_____________________________

"Something is always wrong, Baldrick. The fact that I'm not a millionaire aristocrat with the sexual capacity of a rutting rhino is a constant niggle"
- Edmund Blackadder

(in reply to CheerfullyInsane)
Post #: 20
RE: Turn 12 - 2/26/2012 4:34:32 AM   
AFV


Posts: 435
Joined: 12/24/2011
From: Dallas, Texas
Status: offline 		An FYI, you mentioned Gimp, you should be able to do an Edit, Paste, as new layer. Then you can move it around and splice it nicely.

(in reply to CheerfullyInsane)
Post #: 21
RE: Turn 12 - 2/26/2012 6:03:35 AM   
CheerfullyInsane

 

Posts: 199
Joined: 12/5/2010
From: Birkerod, Denmark
Status: offline 		I know.
I'm just not very good at it, hence the occasional earthquakes in Russia.

_____________________________

"Something is always wrong, Baldrick. The fact that I'm not a millionaire aristocrat with the sexual capacity of a rutting rhino is a constant niggle"
- Edmund Blackadder

(in reply to AFV)
Post #: 22
Turn 13 - 2/26/2012 11:17:27 PM   
CheerfullyInsane

 

Posts: 199
Joined: 12/5/2010
From: Birkerod, Denmark
Status: offline 		Apologies for the width of the image. I just plumb forgot to crop it before uploading.



In the north the Finns keep at it, trying to open bunkers with wooden spoons. Same results, and another Guards unit, plus 2 Guard Arty SUs are produced.
It's starting to look like these attacks are 'scripted' into the AI, and when they fail it just loops.
Weird.

Around Leningrad the same swamp-hex gets vacated again. And with all the Germans stacked in the area, it looks like there'll be a full offensive to break the Luga line in the near future.

Center is still the biggest problem. Granted, the attacks get bogged down, but at a horrible cost.
I've already had to insert one of the precious reserve armies to plug the holes, and it looks like I might need 2-3 more to feel safe. Unfortunately I only have one left, and the Leningrad Front is screaming for reinforcements as well. So while I'm happy with the tenacious defence put up so far, the strain is beginning to show.

South-West Front is falling back as slowly as I can make them. Biggest problem is that I lose the precious fort-leves every time I retreat, making the line that more vulnerable next turn.
All is not bad news though as the 219th Infantry (Heroes of the Soviet Union all) manage to hold on to Kiev another week despite heavy and repeated attacks. They're down to 50% strength though, so it's a question of time.

Down south the Romanians are still too busy celebrating the liberation of Bessarabia to push any further east.

_____________________________

"Something is always wrong, Baldrick. The fact that I'm not a millionaire aristocrat with the sexual capacity of a rutting rhino is a constant niggle"
- Edmund Blackadder

(in reply to CheerfullyInsane)
Post #: 23
Turn 14 - 2/26/2012 11:35:48 PM   
CheerfullyInsane

 

Posts: 199
Joined: 12/5/2010
From: Birkerod, Denmark
Status: offline

Okay, this is starting to get ridiculous......
While it's admittedly nice to have your own personal Guard Generator, this can't be WAD.



The assault across the Luga gets underway. Good news is that the Wehrmacht has to use so many units that only a single attack takes place.
Bad news is that I have nothing behind the line aside from a couple of brigades and FZs. I doubt Leningrad will fall before the mud, but whether I can hold it against a snow-offensive is a bit more iffy.



Still intense pressure on the Central/Bryansk Fronts. In and of itself not that troubling, but the front is starting to get stretched to its limit.



Kiev area is really starting to heat up. the 219th Infantry is finally dislodged from Kiev, and if the Germans manage to get over the Dnepr down here, I'm in serious trouble.
There's also more armor lurking east of Chernigov, and that part of the line is being held by nothing but airborne brigades, and whatever units I could scrape together.
Might be time to abandon the Dnepr altogether, but I hate giving up that natural fortress.......

_____________________________

"Something is always wrong, Baldrick. The fact that I'm not a millionaire aristocrat with the sexual capacity of a rutting rhino is a constant niggle"
- Edmund Blackadder

(in reply to CheerfullyInsane)
Post #: 24
Turn 15 Russian moves - 2/27/2012 1:01:00 AM   
CheerfullyInsane

 

Posts: 199
Joined: 12/5/2010
From: Birkerod, Denmark
Status: offline

2 fresh divisions gets up north to relieve the Guards, giving them a chance to rest and refit.
Reserves are sent to Leningrad to disrupt a push towards the city itself. If the AI decided to go east instead, outflanking along Lake Ilmen that's a problem. OTOH I doubt there'll be time before the mud hits.

In the center I decide (albeit reluctanly) to abandon the Dnepr line, and start a general retreat.
In the following turns every spare unit I have will start digging along the No-Retreat line, hopefully getting a head-start on the forts before the main army gets there.
It's going to be fun to see what happens with the Romanians when the opposition disappears.


_____________________________

"Something is always wrong, Baldrick. The fact that I'm not a millionaire aristocrat with the sexual capacity of a rutting rhino is a constant niggle"
- Edmund Blackadder

(in reply to CheerfullyInsane)
Post #: 25
RE: Turn 15 Russian moves - 2/27/2012 6:08:27 AM   
randallw

 

Posts: 2057
Joined: 9/2/2010
Status: offline 		The AI Finns seem to like the tactics used against them, by the Russians back in '39.

(in reply to CheerfullyInsane)
Post #: 26
RE: Turn 15 Russian moves - 2/27/2012 1:40:00 PM   
CheerfullyInsane

 

Posts: 199
Joined: 12/5/2010
From: Birkerod, Denmark
Status: offline 		Yep. Didn't know they had lemmings in Finland.......

You can almost hear the conversation 50 years later:
"Grandfather, what did your unit do since they became Guards?"
"Well, for 3 weeks we stood balls-deep in snow, talking to our artillery...."

_____________________________

"Something is always wrong, Baldrick. The fact that I'm not a millionaire aristocrat with the sexual capacity of a rutting rhino is a constant niggle"
- Edmund Blackadder

(in reply to randallw)
Post #: 27
Turn 16 - 2/27/2012 1:53:40 PM   
CheerfullyInsane

 

Posts: 199
Joined: 12/5/2010
From: Birkerod, Denmark
Status: offline

And the Finns insist on a somewhat gruesome version of Whack-A-Mole.......
Still, two more turns should result in even more Guards.



Leningrad is out of danger for the moment. Looks like the AI is trying dislodge me from Lake Ilmen, but with Mud so close, I should be able to buy enough time.



More pressure from AGC, but the continuous combat since June has depleted the combat-power of the panzers.
I won't be able to hold them completely, but they're not going anywhere far.



Further south things have started hopping. I'm not seriously worried since the pace of the retreat is still set by yours truly, but it does show the importance of fortifications. Even Lvl 2 forts will do much to discourage the kind of maneuver-warfare that the Axis needs.

All in all, things are very much under control as Mud is getting close.


_____________________________

"Something is always wrong, Baldrick. The fact that I'm not a millionaire aristocrat with the sexual capacity of a rutting rhino is a constant niggle"
- Edmund Blackadder

(in reply to CheerfullyInsane)
Post #: 28
Turn 16 Russian moves - 2/27/2012 2:09:36 PM   
CheerfullyInsane

 

Posts: 199
Joined: 12/5/2010
From: Birkerod, Denmark
Status: offline

Not much action on my turn.
A reserve army is sent north to contain the German attack around Ilmen, and everybody else takes a step or two backwards, shuffling units around to get fresh divisions into the line.
In the south the cavalry is being used to screen the main line. While cavalry is very good at exploiting a blizzard breakthrough, I have to have one first. That means infantry, and lots of artillery.
So the infantry divisions gets pulled into second line, hopefully avoiding attacks altogether.
Outside of the screen-shot, there are now 4 full armies refitting and training up east of Moscow. These will eventually get attached to the Volkhov Front, and after they get into combat I'll need to reorganize my lines.
Still far too many STAVKA armies roaming around plugging holes wherever needed.

_____________________________

"Something is always wrong, Baldrick. The fact that I'm not a millionaire aristocrat with the sexual capacity of a rutting rhino is a constant niggle"
- Edmund Blackadder

(in reply to CheerfullyInsane)
Post #: 29
RE: Turn 16 Russian moves - 2/27/2012 2:40:59 PM   
Apollo11


Posts: 24082
Joined: 6/7/2001
From: Zagreb, Croatia
Status: offline 		Hi all,

Did AI ever tried / attempted encirclement in this game?


Leo "Apollo11"

_____________________________



Prior Preparation & Planning Prevents Pathetically Poor Performance!

A & B: WitW, WitE, WbtS, GGWaW, GGWaW2-AWD, HttR, CotA, BftB, CF
P: UV, WitP, WitP-AE

(in reply to CheerfullyInsane)
Post #: 30
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