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Avatar47 -> Early Soviet Strategies (1/23/2009 4:49:43 PM)
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What are the best options for the Soviets' first turns in the Kharkov scenario? This short article of mine will explain in layman's terms what can be done, what the options are. In general, the Soviets absolutely need to be aggressive virtually everywhere eary on. Below are the attack-axis' as I see them, with some light analysis. Feel free to comment, to add to, or to criticize!
Soviet Forces attacking from east of Kharkov towards:
->Lipsty
North of Kharkov, this objective is very difficult to grab unless you have a clean breakthrough in the north, and even then, Lipsty should be heavily defended by some/all of the 79th and 294th Infantry divisions. I encourage the Soviet player to try and take this objective however, because german counter-attacks in this area are relatively easier to fend off, and harder to mount. A panzer division in the area will have a lot of territory to defend should you have a breakthrough in the area.
->Chuguyev
SE of Kharkov, also very difficult to grab. The Wehrmacht has 2 Infantry Divs, 297th and 44th, guarding the city surroundings. Some say this is the better alternative to Lipsty, I disagree. Taking the city is difficult, and the 38th Army is not as well endowed as the 28th. By all means put pressure here, but a word of caution when overextending yourself in this area.
->Kharkov
The most difficult of all 3 objectives in the Kharkov area, Kharkov itself. The city will most likely be tenaciously defended from direct assault by the Germans at all costs. Its urban environment makes any artillery strikes ineffective, and that means low odds and heavy casualties for any russian advance. Obviously it is a prize to capture, but more likely than not you won't capture it often. Still, put pressure whereever you can, it is important to spread german forces around as much as possible, so that he'll be weak at least somewhere.
Analysis: IMO, either an attack towards Lipsty or Chuguyev must be done in order to draw off either panzer division and independent 6th Army battallions, as well as a simultaneous attack towards Kharkov itself. Liptsy is probably the better alternative to Chuguyev because of the 'breakthrough' possibility on the northern side of Kharkov. Theoretically, if the Soviets can encircle Kharkov from the north, and link up with a southern thrust, there's a good chance to encircle, and possibly destroy, a good bunch of german units. Although this is the goal, it is most likely never reached in human vs human games. It is still important however to try because the Kharkov assault is needed to take pressure off the more fluid battles around Krasnograd.
Soviet Forces attacking from east of Krasnograd towards:
->Krasnograd
SSG's game should have been called Krasnograd:DoD. Krasnograd should be your main objective in the game as the Soviet player. If taken, hold it at all costs, and you have a great chance of winning the game, especially if you delay the fall of Izyum. Krasnograd is not the easiest to get, but it is infinitely easier than Kharkov, and should be strived for with any and all means. It definitely helps to encircle Krasnogad in your effort to capture it, but a direct assault with small breakthroughs can be enough as well. Your progress around Krasnograd/Lanaya is heavily influenced by whether you choose to devote the 21st and 23rd Tank Corps to this sector.
->Lanaya
Can't take Krasnograd because the Germans pile everything there and the hexes around it? Then take Lanaya, it's a more-than-adequate runner up. 3 Div reinforcements, plus 25pts/turn, not bad. Lanaya is a very exposed location, but its strength is that the Germans can hedgehog there.
->Borki
25vps/turn, should be taken as quickly as possible. It's easy VPs. Once you've take it and formed a line on the south side of the river north of Borki, then you can consider outflanking the German defences south of Kharkov. If the Germans decide to heavily reinforce Borki and the adjacent hexes, then surround them and bypass it. The Wehrmacht can't be everywhere.
->Pereshepino
Easy points, easy to take, very little reason not to. If the Germans (or Rumanians) decide to put up a fight here, it just means you'll have an easier time taking Krasnograd/Lanaya. If you want, send over a couple units towards Dneprepotovsk and at the minimum force the Germans to guard it with forces that are probably needed elsewhere.
->Kharkov
Push north towards Kharkov, with the dream objective being the encirclement and destruction of all German units in and east of Kharkov. Highly unlikely, but if you're having good momentum, by all means press on. Surrounding any panzer divisions like this is golden, because then they are very much movement restricted. Your progress here is somewhat determined by where you devote the 21st and 23rd Tank Corp.
Analysis: Overriding goal for the western prong of this area is to take Krasnograd and/or Lanaya. Make your northern prong there head from Borki to attack Kharkov from the south. The 21st and 23rd Tank Corps can go either North or West, but I would hesitate to split them up into both areas, they are much stronger together. Don't bother attack the Rumanian units on the southern end of this AO, they are usually not worth it unless you can destroy 3+ of them. Your units are needed near Krasnograd instead.
Soviet Forces attacking from south of Izyum towards:
->Slavyansk
Another objective reachable in the first 3 turns, it's capture is the most unlikely of all. There is no reason for the Germans not to defend it early in the game. However, once the assault begins on Barvenkovo, the Germans might have shifted some forces from here to the left/center flank of their main attack and leave the right flank relatively bare (this does happen). You might then be able to mount a quick attack on Slavyansk and surpise him.
Analysis: Better to conserve your forces early on in the South, and keep the option to use your strength here to take Slavyansk later. Most likely, however, you'll end up using them in general defence roles.
General Soviet advice: Always try to imagine what your german opponent will do on his turn. Watch where you leave your troops after attacking. If they can't entrench, then find at least a hex which is partially protected by a river, or in a Forest, or both etc etc etc. Leaving unentrenched units with 3 or 4 sides attackable is not very bright, and will leave you wondering why your opponent is so 'good' and 'lucky'. The Germans get a big tactical shift attacking from 3 sides, while the Soviets need to attack from 4 to get that same shift. Don't use all of your artillery in the first minutes before Close Combat begins. You might need some later on. Try and figure out which units you want to attack before you use your artillery, and then attack that unit with your best/heaviest artillery; this applies very much to the 1st turn. Luck evens out in this game, there are a ton of die rolls from start->finish.
I'll do another article in a short while about the Germans' options in the first turns.
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