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All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> Gary Grigsby's War in the East Series >> After Action Reports >> Yazma

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Yazma - 6/6/2018 3:35:03 PM

topeverest

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Here was my northernmost attack in poor terrain but lightly defended. The result was good progress towards Smolensk.

I need to expect another big planned withdrawal soon.

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Andy M

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Tactics - 6/6/2018 4:54:13 PM

topeverest

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If I didn't say it before, I am looking to bypass 1-3 enemy hexes per turn and either force the enemy to counterattack & risk more troops to release those trapped - or give up those troops to their fate.

This hopefully will thin the enemy MLR or force him to change to defense in depth - which in turn will make me change tactics again...

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Andy M

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RE: Tactics - 6/6/2018 5:07:20 PM

SparkleyTits

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It looks like you are starting to take some ground now and I would definitely continue to do so as a priority

Nibbling at the giant with mini pockets is great if done nice and early but I think at this point you will do best by moving as quickly as you possibly can or you might end up wasting precious time if you get drawn into small death struggles and delayed because of it

Keep your FBD's running at full speed towards Berlin with as little delays as absolutely possible and make sure you have enough RR to fix the rest as you go

Godspeed comrade!

(in reply to topeverest)

Post #: 603

Air Losses - 6/6/2018 7:48:36 PM

topeverest

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Turns out I got 300 enemy planes on the ground...

6 Russian losses to every 5 German excluding the ground losses

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< Message edited by topeverest -- 6/6/2018 7:49:43 PM >

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Andy M

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Post #: 604

RE: Tactics - 6/6/2018 8:07:26 PM

topeverest

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Thanks

I agree that going fast is the vital success quotient if I am to have any chance at Berlin. I am a big fan of using math.
It is an average of 85 hexes to berlin from where the MLR is now. Three combat seasons to accomplish = 30 hex requirement per season to get to Moscow.
But can I do it is the question.

The odds clearly are in Germany's favor, but I wont stop trying to be sure.

quote:

ORIGINAL: SparkleyTits

It looks like you are starting to take some ground now and I would definitely continue to do so as a priority

Nibbling at the giant with mini pockets is great if done nice and early but I think at this point you will do best by moving as quickly as you possibly can or you might end up wasting precious time if you get drawn into small death struggles and delayed because of it

Keep your FBD's running at full speed towards Berlin with as little delays as absolutely possible and make sure you have enough RR to fix the rest as you go

Godspeed comrade!

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Andy M

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Post #: 605

Turn 158 June 22, 1944 - 6/11/2018 1:43:45 AM

topeverest

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VP - 198 ---- Kalinin and Poltava crossed threshold to Axis Minor Victory (Satiristical golf claps in background)
Trucks - 175 / (190) ---- DRADT
AP build - 1 infantry corps and sapper regiments for infantry corps that don't yet have them

As expected Germany executed a planned withdrawal from Torzuk near Moscow to the Ingulets river at the gulf of Odessa. Retreats ranged from a few to a half dozen hexes and generally speaking was to behind rivers / the next defensive line. As a result, there was far less combat this turn than in prior turns.

1. Germany launches counterattacks to save most of the at risk units. Only 5 divisions will be captured. I thought I would get 12. Leave it to me to continue to underestimate my esteemed opponent.
2. At the Ingulets river, Russian forces pushed lingering Axis troops across the river and setup for an attack planned for next turn. near the headwaters of the Ingulets, Russian forces manage to push a toehold across the river.
3. At Sumy, Germany effectively uses its armor and breaks out most of the at risk units. Russians continue to push due west another 4-5 hexes in heavy combat along the rail to Kiew, which is around 12 hexes away now.
4. Between Yazma and Rzev, armor and cavalry elements again break the enemy line and push closer to Smolensk.
5. Heavy air to air combat over the major battlefields continue in attritional form. Russian tactics are ground attack and ground support concentrating on units after knocked out of forts / to include ground forces attack too.
6. Rail engineers pushed 4 hexes west but still I am negative on trucks, but I hope to get to Kiev before stopping. I put 2 of the four engineers on the line from Kharkov to Kiev. I also have 102 rail engineers attached to armies and fronts. I hope to shore up this problem in about 4 turns, which is about the time I hope to be across from Kiev.

Aside - it is foreseeable that the enemy will retreat behind the Dneper at Kiev soon. Not this turn, but probably within 3-4 turns. At that point, I will have to make a decision about how to concentrate / if to move south of the river or turn north for Minsc. That will be a good problem to have.

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< Message edited by topeverest -- 6/11/2018 1:50:56 AM >

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Pic Snap - 6/11/2018 2:08:24 AM

topeverest

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Not a whole lot can change in one turn. Here is a simplified view.

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Andy M

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Production - 6/11/2018 2:19:14 AM

topeverest

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Looks good here

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< Message edited by topeverest -- 6/11/2018 2:20:29 AM >

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Stgrengths - 6/11/2018 2:21:13 AM

topeverest

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Note I have not spent anything on front commanders since 43

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< Message edited by topeverest -- 6/11/2018 2:22:42 AM >

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Andy M

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FRONT Commanders - 6/11/2018 2:23:39 AM

topeverest

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Here is a look at the commanders - a couple could be replaced if I can scrape up the points

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< Message edited by topeverest -- 6/11/2018 2:30:15 AM >

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ARMY Commanders - 6/11/2018 2:36:45 AM

topeverest

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Some winners here too...

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< Message edited by topeverest -- 6/11/2018 2:37:06 AM >

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Andy M

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Turn 159 - June 29, 1944 - 6/28/2018 5:03:13 PM

topeverest

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The glacial pace continues and its may fault.

VP = 197 (+1 - Yazma falls)
Trucks = 162 / (167)
AP = built sapper regiments for most of remaining infantry corps without them. Take one more turn to complete.

Turn Results
men losses 97K German / 57K Soviet (4 Axis units captured)
AFV losses 287G / 1018R
Plane losses 523G / 576R

Germany executes another minor planned retreat 2-3 hexes to the next river system in the central and southern fronts. Germany falls behind the Desna east of Cherkassy. Fighting at the Psel west of Poltava.

1. Russians decide to idle the northernmost attack temporarily as a measure to keep trucks positive. 3 tank armies, three cavalry armies, and 2 infantry armies have moved back to rails and begun refitting. I hope to be able to use them again in July.
2. Russians attempt to surround Krivoi Rog and fail, then turn attention to finish crossing the Ingulets river
3. Russians push a five hex wide path 3-4 hexes closer to Kiev along the Kiev Kursk rail line. Major enemy armor presence there. Heavy air attacks

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Andy M

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Rail / Trucks - 6/28/2018 5:19:40 PM

topeverest

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Here is the reason for my idling units - and my plan for rectification.

I will bring idled armies back on as trucks return to positive.

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< Message edited by topeverest -- 6/28/2018 5:22:19 PM >

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Combat map - 6/28/2018 5:49:56 PM

topeverest

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Here is a view of July Objectives and map of active sectors

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< Message edited by topeverest -- 6/28/2018 5:50:22 PM >

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Andy M

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RE: Combat map - 6/28/2018 10:12:23 PM

M60A3TTS

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You seem to have some good generals without a lot of battles fought, considering how late the game is. Not sure where you've exiled them to.

Bobkin 26
Chistyakov 61
Rokossovsky 64
Bagramyan 73
Zakharov 86

And please stop spending AP on more units. A new units takes months to be of use and you need to be making progress now. Spend APs on getting the right leaders where they need to be. The payoff there is immediate.

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RE: Combat map - 7/2/2018 5:22:26 PM

redrum68

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Just wanted to say this is a great read especially for a new player like me. I asked myself many of the same questions and run into the same challenges that you highlight throughout this AAR. Feel like some of the game concepts have some nice guides and are easier to pick up like land forces, combat, supply, etc but things like air forces, spending AP, truck management, support units, etc are much more difficult to get a good grasp on. Cheers to seeing this one to the end!

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Post #: 616

Turn 160 - 7/7/2018 4:59:01 PM

topeverest

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VP 196 (+1) Krivoi Rog falls (56% damaged)
Trucks 172 / (186)
APs - replace 3 air army and two armor army commanders. All air commanders air rating are at least 6. All armor commanders mech rating at least 5. Plan to work the infantry ratings next. Aside - will have to decide where commanders are great at both mech and infantry where to place them...more on that in ensuing turns

Turn results
Men 51K G / 60K R
AFV 183 G / 610 R (58 StugIII and 274 T34M1942 (mostly cavalry losses))
Air 435 G / 581 R

Germany continues to strategy of minimizing bulges in line and commences a couple minor retreats in the south. Ais now has the bulk of its armor forces committed to the defense of Kiev

Russians remain true to their advance paths as cited before / along certain rail paths

1. Soviets continue the push to Kiev driving 2-4 hexes towards Kiev on a 6 hex front.
2. Reds punch a small hole across Desna east of Chernigov
3. Reds push up to Krivograd but do not take the city in heavy fighting
4. At the Gulf of Odessa, Reds push to Nicolev but don't take the city. That said, 12 axis divisions are trapped against the gulf. Enemy will have to counterattack to get them out.

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< Message edited by topeverest -- 7/7/2018 5:26:53 PM >

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Andy M

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RE: Turn 160 - 7/7/2018 5:17:41 PM

topeverest

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Here is the front as of 160

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< Message edited by topeverest -- 7/7/2018 5:18:02 PM >

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Enemy armor concentration - 7/7/2018 5:20:04 PM

topeverest

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15 of the enemy mech / armor / SS divisions are in the Kiev defense

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Air Commanders Finalized - 7/7/2018 5:27:24 PM

topeverest

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I don't believe there is more to do here. note the three changes...

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Armor Commnaders - 7/7/2018 5:28:54 PM

topeverest

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And here is the armor view.

10 armor armies have lower mech points and should be replaced with commanders that have amror.

Aside - also note the bad job I did in building the right number of armor armies. Next game hope to get it right

Yellow are targeted for switch to Armor armies in next few turns - gonna find out if I can remove and reassign a commander in the same turn...

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< Message edited by topeverest -- 7/7/2018 5:56:53 PM >

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Andy M

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High command - 7/7/2018 5:51:51 PM

topeverest

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Here are the fronts and STAVKA

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< Message edited by topeverest -- 7/7/2018 5:52:08 PM >

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Unassigned commanders - 7/7/2018 5:54:32 PM

topeverest

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These are the remaining unassigned commanders sorted by infantry rating. ( 6 or higher)

Like to see all the important commands at 6 rating or better. but that will take time.

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< Message edited by topeverest -- 7/7/2018 5:55:43 PM >

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Andy M

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RE: Combat map - 7/7/2018 5:57:47 PM

topeverest

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moved on to switching commanders - thanks...

quote:

ORIGINAL: M60A3TTS

You seem to have some good generals without a lot of battles fought, considering how late the game is. Not sure where you've exiled them to.

Bobkin 26
Chistyakov 61
Rokossovsky 64
Bagramyan 73
Zakharov 86

And please stop spending AP on more units. A new units takes months to be of use and you need to be making progress now. Spend APs on getting the right leaders where they need to be. The payoff there is immediate.

_____________________________

Andy M

(in reply to M60A3TTS)

Post #: 624

RE: Combat map - 7/7/2018 5:58:41 PM

topeverest

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Thanks for the kind words. I am learning as I am going.

quote:

ORIGINAL: redrum68

Just wanted to say this is a great read especially for a new player like me. I asked myself many of the same questions and run into the same challenges that you highlight throughout this AAR. Feel like some of the game concepts have some nice guides and are easier to pick up like land forces, combat, supply, etc but things like air forces, spending AP, truck management, support units, etc are much more difficult to get a good grasp on. Cheers to seeing this one to the end!

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Andy M

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Post #: 625

Turn 162 July 20, 1944 - 7/22/2018 11:22:48 PM

topeverest

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VP - 194 (recent capture Nickolaev)
Trucks 166 / 163 (finally positive again!)
AP use - continue to move high mech ability commanders to armies that have armor

Turn results
Casualties 39K G / 48K R
AFV 139 G / 627 R
Air 223 G / 483 R

Over the last two turns, the Germans have continued to execute minor planned retreats to the next local river rather than face a turn of Russian onslaught in the open.

1. Russians mass two armies and take Nickolaev, and then test the Bug defenses, punching one small toehold across the river. Further north, the Axis abandon the Ingul river defense in many locations for locations west. The appear to be going for the next river system but stopped short enough but again retreated far enough that I could not attack them with any hope of success
2. Reds fail to pinch Kirovograd, and when that fails, the armor in the area drives NW of Cherkassy, threatening to surround its garrison. further east, German Dnepr defenders on a hill have been surrounded. It is unclear if he will try to get them free
3. Germany retreats behind the Dnepr / Desna and have a fortified defense. There is no easy way across the rivers except a major forcing attempt, which the reds are planning to execute next turn. A couple of hexes of the Desna have been breached already.
4. Since trucks have gone positive, I am unleashing my idled armies next turn in a bid for Smolensk and Minsk

Aside - Obviously the national morale settings have changed since the rules were made. I am curious where they will end.

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< Message edited by topeverest -- 7/22/2018 11:24:45 PM >

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Andy M

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Rail - 7/22/2018 11:25:37 PM

topeverest

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SO the situation here is a bit better now. the rail lines are in far better locations.

here are the locations of the rail heads for the 4 controllable RR units.

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< Message edited by topeverest -- 7/22/2018 11:34:01 PM >

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Andy M

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August Plans - 7/22/2018 11:47:33 PM

topeverest

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As always I remain flexible and will take what the enemy gives me.

As a general plan...
1 - open up a northern attack with the idled armies drive for Smolensk
2. Pinch the Desna defense
3. Holding attacks on Kiev while attack the vulnerable strategic salient 100 miles to the south. Push west from that salient
4. Push as far towards the Romanian frontier past Odessa as feasible
5. Continue to replace up commanders until I have the best mix available

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< Message edited by topeverest -- 7/22/2018 11:50:59 PM >

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Andy M

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Checkpoint - 7/23/2018 12:05:36 AM

topeverest

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There are either 10 or 11 turns left of the summer campaign - It is time for some aspirational goals, since I have reached my season goal of Kiev already.

The Main thrust through Kursk to Kiev has pushed 26 hexes
The secondary thrust to Odessa and lower Ukraine has pushed an average of 12-13 hexes over much tougher terrain

I am opening up a northern battle with hopes of pushing far enough that Army Group North evacuates vast territories including potentially leaving Finland to defend Leningrad

The main thrust south of the Priypets ideally I would like to drive to the Goryn river west of Vinnitsa

The secondary push towards Romania I hope to get get within 6 or so hexes of the border.

Even if I make these objectives the next two seasons are unlikely to get me to Berlin, except on the very last turn

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turn 163, July 27, 1944 - 7/31/2018 11:54:54 AM

topeverest

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VP - 193 (East Kiev falls)
Trucks 168 / 164
AP use - finished mech army commander changes - moving on to infantry commanders. Will post mix when complete

Germany changes tactics, not executing minor retreats to straighten his line. Commies concentrate on the local salient and pocket a total of 8 enemy divisions across the map.

1. Russians unleash the idled armies in a push to Smolensk, making 5 hexes the first turn
2. Reds commit 4 armies to expand the bridgehead across the Desna and Sudost rivers east of Gomel
3. 4 Russian armies and 5 artillery divisions clear out East Kiev
4. Major Red effort below the Dnepr between Cherkassy and Kirovograd with both cities being surrounded
5. The Bug river is forced at the Gulf of Odessa

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Andy M

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Post #: 630