RE: Turn 1 - A tale of futility (Full Version)

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Senno -> RE: Turn 1 - A tale of futility (2/27/2011 8:39:36 PM)

I heard that lugers are very popular as souvenirs? Maybe the kitsch shops along the way should stock lugers?



Encircled -> RE: Turn 1 - A tale of futility (2/27/2011 8:41:39 PM)

Maybe some sort of offer?

Buy one Luger, and receive this free Italian M13 tank (one previous owner, slightly fire damaged)?



PeeDeeAitch -> RE: Turn 1 - A tale of futility (2/27/2011 8:44:03 PM)

Actually, my "delaying" plan for when I start the inevitable retreat (Dec, 1941) involves roadside souvenier shops, incorrect AAA maps, restaurants selling overly starchy food so the T-34 drivers get loggy, and long winding side-roads leading to "The Cave of Wonder" that every army will just have to visit.

I am basing these techniques off of memories from family vacations in my youth.



Encircled -> RE: Turn 1 - A tale of futility (2/27/2011 8:46:35 PM)

Different countries, same vacations!




Senno -> RE: Turn 1 - A tale of futility (2/27/2011 8:47:46 PM)

Don't forget to drive your tanks through the hollow tree....

You could confuse their sense of balance at the vertigo house, as well.... Ahh the possibilities....[:D]

quote:

ORIGINAL: Encircled

Different countries, same vacations!




To a veritable T[:D]



PeeDeeAitch -> If good things must end, why do bad things keep going? (3/1/2011 4:06:42 AM)

Turn 3 comes and with it the sudden realization that the Panzers of AGC have no fuel. I knew that I should have invested in the hybrid tanks that get 50 mpg...I wonder if it is too late to surrender?

Oh well, here is a shot from turn 2, Vitebsk taken in an all out blitz. The motorized division here actually dressed up as girl scouts and pretended to sell cookies, when the defenders of the city let them in it was curtains.


[image]local://upfiles/23503/A064218D6D4E451297C3C60A39D4FA7B.jpg[/image]



PeeDeeAitch -> RE: If good things must end, why do bad things keep going? (3/1/2011 4:09:58 AM)

No other good turn 2 shots, the Ministry of Propaganda does not allow any pictures from the Southern Front to be seen for good reason. As mentioned above, turn 2 was interesting. Well, here is one on turn 2 from outside of Pskov. I wish heartily there were more Exxon gas stations along the way.


[image]local://upfiles/23503/B95A26BED9B441F2B521F16537F80C11.jpg[/image]



PeeDeeAitch -> Death, Dispair, and the Failure of Pockets (3/3/2011 12:37:05 AM)

Part 1 - The North

My goal of taking Arkhangelsk has been thwarted by the designers as the map does not go that far. The commander of 4th Panzer Group notified me of this at the end of turn 3 and it sent the men into a funk. So much so that the planned encirclement of Pskov did not come about due to insufficient gas. It took all of turn 4 for things to be righted, and the men still blame me for their plight. I, of course, can never blame me.

Dashes are made into the Baltic states, but since the troops dashing are infantry it is more akin to a speed walker on a treadmill - impressive looking but not likely to reach the far wall anytime soon.

Still, by the opening of Turn 5 Pskov has fallen, and soon Leningrad will declare itself an open city so I might link up with the Finns. That is my plan at least.

At Turn 5 start:


[image]local://upfiles/23503/001EEDB891004762A744B3C582E96C96.jpg[/image]

The astute reader will see that the 18th and 16th armies are both heading for Leningrad. This is just in case the Soviets decide to fight there. I plan to concentrate my armies so that they are easier to surround and destroy when winter comes.



PeeDeeAitch -> RE: Death, Dispair, and the Failure of Pockets (3/3/2011 12:42:38 AM)

Part 2 - The Center

I have a philosophy based on my failures: always plan for the worst so when it the truth comes about and it is doubly bad than you imagined at least you are halfway there.

I do not encircle with the intent of encircling, but rather to make myself feel good for a turn until my opponant gets back to me. Turn 4 saw the attemtp to encircle smolensk with rested tanks. Due to the fact that my opponant actually had a defense, I was forced to keep going further east before closing the ring. The result was apparant to me - the ring would never hold so I planned to make it a two turn effort.

Thus turn 5 started with this:



[image]local://upfiles/23503/1B46E5E4C18E437DB452B25BA4692DFF.jpg[/image]

My plan is simple. Do everything by half measures. My infantry is now hot on the heels of the tanks, and should help reclose this more than wide open ring. A centralized strikeforce can do things, and at least I can say I got 5 hexes from Vyzama by turn 5.

As long as winter holds off until February I feel I can break through on this front.



PeeDeeAitch -> RE: Death, Dispair, and the Failure of Pockets (3/3/2011 12:47:38 AM)

Part 3 - The South

Finally things start to open up. It has been a hard slog here, and I miss not having that panzer corps I sent to center on turn 2. Still, I have history to guide me. I plan to advance on to Kiev with strength and take this city by force in a titantic struggle. My flanks will be ably held along the river by the Romanians and Hungarians. I foresee no problems at all with this sound strategy.

It is deja vu all over again.

Here is the start of turn 5:


[image]local://upfiles/23503/48D32275EA3648A580CA4085A57B629E.jpg[/image]



PeeDeeAitch -> RE: Death, Dispair, and the Failure of Pockets (3/3/2011 12:50:28 AM)

You will note I am not giving out what I plan to do with these forces (other than my Stalingrad on the Dnepr plan in the south), this is purely because I have no plan other than to advance and fail at surrounding things.  I personally think plans are for the weak, a real east front general just improvises an ad hoc temporary reactions to the fluid situation that changes about them.

Oh, if anyone has any extra gas, please sent it to:

East Front Panzers, c/o PDH
1 Main Drive
Somewhere, Russia


thanks!



Senno -> RE: Death, Dispair, and the Failure of Pockets (3/3/2011 1:45:07 AM)

He who advances everywhere advances nowhere. Thus I do believe this is the perfect plan.




PeeDeeAitch -> RE: Death, Dispair, and the Failure of Pockets (3/3/2011 1:57:26 AM)

Zen and the art of Panzer IV maitenance.



PeeDeeAitch -> RE: Death, Dispair, and the Failure of Pockets (3/3/2011 2:52:41 AM)

I am a bit scared here.  My opponent has told me that he is deploying skeleton divisions.  I am a literal-minded person, and I do not like the fact that the Soviets can turn to voodoo to fill out their ranks.  When winter hits and the zombie Alexander Nevsky attacks across the Peipus I am doomed.



CapAndGown -> RE: Death, Dispair, and the Failure of Pockets (3/3/2011 3:18:35 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: PeeDeeAitch

I am a bit scared here.  My opponent has told me that he is deploying skeleton divisions.  I am a literal-minded person, and I do not like the fact that the Soviets can turn to voodoo to fill out their ranks.  When winter hits and the zombie Alexander Nevsky attacks across the Peipus I am doomed.


Just pull out your zombie Nazi's: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ap4TiNIKQJ8

They do especially well in the blizzard I hear.



Mynok -> RE: Death, Dispair, and the Failure of Pockets (3/3/2011 3:56:03 AM)


One trick I've learned is that it is very helpful at the end of your turn when you are moving your Pz corps HQs up to get in range of their constituents, stop them one hex before the place they will end up and do your transport fuel drops. Then move them into the hex with whatever unit they're headed for. They get all the fuel that way. If you drop when they are with a unit, the unit seems to get a lot more of the fuel/supply drop.



PeeDeeAitch -> RE: Death, Dispair, and the Failure of Pockets (3/3/2011 4:08:52 AM)

I think that my problem is the Luftwaffe actually takes "airdrop" literally and sends the jerry cans of fuel plummeting toward my HQs from about 2500 meters up.  Needless to say, this has let to a morale drop.



Keunert -> RE: Death, Dispair, and the Failure of Pockets (3/3/2011 8:00:39 AM)

Wir hier in der Heimat sind in Gedanken bei unseren tapferen Brüdern in den feuchtwarmen Kommandobunkern mit den hässlichen Sekretärinnen. Nur Mut PDH, das Deutsche Volk wird Dich nicht enttäuschen!



Josh -> RE: Death, Dispair, and the Failure of Pockets (3/3/2011 3:18:58 PM)

... hässlichen Sekretärinnen...

yeah it's tough out there...

[img]http://images2.fanpop.com/image/photos/8900000/Helga-allo-allo-bbc-sitcom-8985703-685-856.gif[/img]

(Helga from Allo Allo)



Encircled -> RE: Death, Dispair, and the Failure of Pockets (3/3/2011 7:16:29 PM)

They say that no plan survives its first contact with the enemy, so actually having no plan at all sounds like the way forward.

Plus you can use all those staff officers in your rifle squads when the blizzard arrives



TulliusDetritus -> RE: Death, Dispair, and the Failure of Pockets (3/3/2011 8:49:43 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: cap_and_gown


quote:

ORIGINAL: PeeDeeAitch

I am a bit scared here.  My opponent has told me that he is deploying skeleton divisions.  I am a literal-minded person, and I do not like the fact that the Soviets can turn to voodoo to fill out their ranks.  When winter hits and the zombie Alexander Nevsky attacks across the Peipus I am doomed.


Just pull out your zombie Nazi's: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ap4TiNIKQJ8

They do especially well in the blizzard I hear.


That movie is very original. Not a great movie but at least the concept is er, original [8D] Horror and comedy. And sort of exotic, it's a Norwegian movie. If people haven't seen it, then they should.

PeeDeeAitch, your advance in the center, surrounding Smolensk is a BOLD movement [&o] Let's hope your opponent does not break that ring.



Senno -> RE: Death, Dispair, and the Failure of Pockets (3/3/2011 9:53:17 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: PeeDeeAitch

Part 1 - The North

My goal of taking Arkhangelsk has been thwarted by the designers as the map does not go that far.


Sadly, the same condition applies to Kamchatka...[;)]

Create a few more mountain boys for your visit to the Urals, though. That's only if the drive-ins along the highway in Moscow will serve your unwashed troops, though No baths, no winter clothes, no service... That and the tanks might not fit in the lane, sadly...

The gas stations are self-serve, so no conflict there.[:D]



PeeDeeAitch -> RE: Death, Dispair, and the Failure of Pockets (3/3/2011 10:25:06 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus
PeeDeeAitch, your advance in the center, surrounding Smolensk is a BOLD movement [&o] Let's hope your opponent does not break that ring.


Well, that shows the 1st turn he DID break it, but I re-established it (and I expect him to re-break it)

The panzers are tired in the center, south, north, and west (wait, what west?) anyway, so it is time for the infantry to play catch up.

-edit - I tend to play too boldly, it is a bad habit. I will kill myself attacking or die trying!



PeeDeeAitch -> RE: Death, Dispair, and the Failure of Pockets (3/3/2011 10:26:14 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Senno


quote:

ORIGINAL: PeeDeeAitch

Part 1 - The North

My goal of taking Arkhangelsk has been thwarted by the designers as the map does not go that far.


Sadly, the same condition applies to Kamchatka...[;)]

Create a few more mountain boys for your visit to the Urals, though. That's only if the drive-ins along the highway in Moscow will serve your unwashed troops, though No baths, no winter clothes, no service... That and the tanks might not fit in the lane, sadly...

The gas stations are self-serve, so no conflict there.[:D]


I have send a strongly worded request that all of the german infantry be made mountain infantry before winter - that way the blizzard will not be so bad.



Senno -> RE: Death, Dispair, and the Failure of Pockets (3/3/2011 10:57:31 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: PeeDeeAitch


quote:

ORIGINAL: Senno


quote:

ORIGINAL: PeeDeeAitch

Part 1 - The North

My goal of taking Arkhangelsk has been thwarted by the designers as the map does not go that far.


Sadly, the same condition applies to Kamchatka...[;)]

Create a few more mountain boys for your visit to the Urals, though. That's only if the drive-ins along the highway in Moscow will serve your unwashed troops, though No baths, no winter clothes, no service... That and the tanks might not fit in the lane, sadly...

The gas stations are self-serve, so no conflict there.[:D]


I have send a strongly worded request that all of the german infantry be made mountain infantry before winter - that way the blizzard will not be so bad.


The solution is so obvious. How could we all have missed it? You are a genius![:D]

Nobel Prize for PeeDee!

PS: It appears you sent your Panzer leaders to driver's ed training in Los Angeles. They drive very aggressively, haha.



PeeDeeAitch -> RE: Death, Dispair, and the Failure of Pockets (3/4/2011 12:49:31 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Senno
The solution is so obvious. How could we all have missed it? You are a genius![:D]

Nobel Prize for PeeDee!


I am full of good ideas...or full of it. Whatever.



Pipewrench -> RE: Death, Dispair, and the Failure of Pockets (3/4/2011 1:10:22 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: PeeDeeAitch


quote:

ORIGINAL: Senno


quote:

ORIGINAL: PeeDeeAitch

Part 1 - The North

My goal of taking Arkhangelsk has been thwarted by the designers as the map does not go that far.


Sadly, the same condition applies to Kamchatka...[;)]

Create a few more mountain boys for your visit to the Urals, though. That's only if the drive-ins along the highway in Moscow will serve your unwashed troops, though No baths, no winter clothes, no service... That and the tanks might not fit in the lane, sadly...

The gas stations are self-serve, so no conflict there.[:D]


I have send a strongly worded request that all of the german infantry be made mountain infantry before winter - that way the blizzard will not be so bad.



exclamations and all caps are the way to go. Without these in your messages you will probably be stuck with prophylactics and hip-waders. This is not the protection your troops need at 40 below.



cpt flam -> RE: Death, Dispair, and the Failure of Pockets (3/5/2011 11:24:39 AM)

bad news from spies
turn 6 actually
smolensk has received few supply after some fair combat[:@]



PeeDeeAitch -> RE: Death, Dispair, and the Failure of Pockets (3/5/2011 7:09:31 PM)

Hoist by my own petard!

(I am beginning to suspect that this PeeDeeAitch character is not such a good player)



PeeDeeAitch -> And so July ends with total defeat looming... (3/5/2011 8:13:53 PM)

July was unkind to the Germans. Losses mount, tanks break down, in fits of misplaced optimism frontline units have been burning gasoline in huge bonfires to celebrate the "impending victory." The mood in HQ is pessimistic, plots abound against Oberfeldmarschall-in-chief PDH: on July 24th I noted that my underclothes not only had too much starch in them, they had been sharpened to lethal potential.

Still, I soldier on, I am too dumb to do otherwise.

South - an attempt was made to break up the forces north of Odessa. A grand Uman-style pocket did not hold, but it did force the defenders back. Odessa itself is ready to be assaulted by turn 8 or 9.

Center - my plan to have the Soviets encircle the entire Army Group Center has failed, but the Smolensk "pocket" is not so much a pocket as a sucking death trap that only sees a few units surrender in each turn, as the edges continually resupply. Still, I count this as a victory since I am in charge and I say so.

North - after a turn of rest, the 4th Panzer Group dashes to the Baltic and cuts off several Soviet formations. The Baltic States are in my control. The Finns look like supermen rushing south, but I understand they are terrified of a dashed white line north of Leningrad and they will not cross. With the 18th and 16th Armys helping out, there is a good chance I can stick my neck fully in the noose here and lose all of Army Group North before next spring. Picture of the only good thing that happened by the end of turn 6 will follow.

Losses by the end of turn 6 are approximately 1.3 million Soviets, 140k Germans.


[image]local://upfiles/23503/92A4E98D29B6459FA7B92D1078F8130A.jpg[/image]



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