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Mud in '42 Advice?

 
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Mud in '42 Advice? - 10/5/2016 9:18:59 PM   
Elijah

 

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Starting to get fairly deep in my 1st real GC attempt. I'm starting to get the hang of logistics and the task of managing the huge and somewhat overwhelmed Axis Command and Control. Anyhow, my '41 Operational goals were for the most part completed and GHC is in what I think good shape for a '42 offensive. My main goals were to take Leningrad and the Crimea while pushing far enough forward to threaten Moscow enough that Stavka had to respect the possibility of a try. I didn't manage to take Leningrad entirely before the blizzard but had captured all the Lake ports and freed the Finns to hold Svritsia for us; by Feb they were all out of supplies and the city fell, big win for GHC. While we were not able to take Sevastopol, the rest of the Crimea was taken.

I felt brave and wanted to see if I could brave the full blizzard; I did pretty well having read the guides, fell back for a few weeks. I didn't do a very good job of building any forts, so it got a bit dicey in January. I am really pleased with how the game puts you in historical spots just by the engine and not scripted events; just like in reality I was scrambling to hold AGC as 4th army was buckling and saved by putting Model in charge and last minute rail reinforcements. AGS had managed to take Rostov but didn't have enough German Infantry and things got pretty ugly there too. The Romanians got a Corps surrounded in Rostov but impressively held out 3 weeks (the guards were stuck there too). I lost them all but it felt worthwhile in that it slowed the advance to Stalino as the Panzer Army there I thought could hold out was supported mainly by the Axis Minors which are clearly useless in '41 winter as I found out. They go *splat*. I had to pull out of Stalino or risk losing 1st Panzer which was not my intention. We also lost Orel and barely clung onto Rzhev, Kursk, and Kharkov. I was sure happy when March came as we were close to losing all those cities. Was a thriller and I was glad I didn't take the easy mild winter option as it was good practice.

As soon as snow hits its like the German army was reborn, suddenly I could attack! We focused on cutting off any salients and managed to pocket some divisions. I am trying to bring 4th Panzer army south but its hard, not enough rail pts it seems. The big coup tho was Stavka/the AI neglecting its defenses around Kerch. My Panzers down there had been idle for most of the winter as we couldn't get them any fuel I didn't get the railhead close enough soon enough. But once we finally did get them some fuel in late Feb, there was only a meager Naval Brigade guarding the straits and XIV Panzer and 1st Romanian Mountain managed to clear the strait and force their way to Novorossiysk which seems to me to be a huge victory. I still have to figure out how to properly siege Seva I think but to have a major port already secured should really help an attack to the south.

In any case, if you have made it this far, am I just waiting it out during the Mud, even the Mud/Clear/Mud turns and attacking post June? It seems that is the best plan. What do people normally do during these long Spring Mud periods? And while obviously the #1 Objective is to clear Rostov ASAP, how crucial is it to take Sevastopol if I already have Novo? I also am considering an offensive South of Moscow if possible in summer '42.

< Message edited by Elijah -- 10/5/2016 9:24:37 PM >


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RE: Mud in '42 Advice? - 10/6/2016 3:42:17 AM   
jwolf

 

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Your main goals for the 42 fighting season should be to destroy the Red Army as much as possible and take Moscow. During the spring mud season you can't safely attempt any really big ops, but in most turns the weather will be OK in a few places and you can attack there to beat down the Soviets, maybe pocket a small number of units, and build your infantry's morale back up after the brutal winter.

Once you get dependably good weather in the summer you can pocket your way through the Red Army from south to north and, ultimately, flank Moscow. You have most of the spring to reorganize your army groups and get the strong armies where you want them. Most of the territory south of the Oka is set up well for pocketing the enemy.

In my opinion it's wise to take Sevastopol as that will release several units that otherwise would have to keep watch over the Russian garrison there. I also think it's appropriate from a role playing perspective as both sides historically put a lot of weight to the Crimea.

Oh one other thing -- your top priority offensively should be to take Rostov and nearby cities to trigger the split of AGS into A and B (if you don't have that already). You will have a much better command structure once you get your 4th army group.

(in reply to Elijah)
Post #: 2
RE: Mud in '42 Advice? - 10/6/2016 3:58:53 PM   
sillyflower


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Joined: 8/4/2010
From: Back in Blighty
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Pretty good advice from jwolf.

I personally am not so bothered about Sevastopol as you will have seen from my AAR v BrianG. I always had better things to do tho' it's nice to get and more important to take if you don't clear the Kuban/Caucasus. Now it's isolated since I cut the rail from Baku heading west, I no longer have any troops near it. The defending unit is isolated and isn't going anywhere. If it comes out of the port, it will just be a lot easier to kill.

< Message edited by sillyflower -- 10/6/2016 9:24:24 PM >


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RE: Mud in '42 Advice? - 10/6/2016 5:46:18 PM   
Elijah

 

Posts: 23
Joined: 5/27/2002
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Yes I see now from reading AARs that most experienced Axis players don't bother with it. Great duel with BrianG btw, fun AAR to read.

_____________________________

Part of history is facts. The other part is what we find easier to believe.

Walter Darby Bannard

(in reply to sillyflower)
Post #: 4
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