RE: Panzer Bubbles - A Study of the Mis-Employment of Armor (Full Version)

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



Message

Senno -> RE: Panzer Bubbles - A Study of the Mis-Employment of Armor (3/13/2011 7:53:09 AM)

I look at this game when I want to feel good. I can forget my own pathetic advance, haha.

I imagine PDH with his goggles on streaming over the Caucasus. Not a care in the world, just him and his panzers

Then I imagine turning him into Elie Wiesel...[;)]

But I digress....



cpt flam -> RE: Panzer Bubbles - A Study of the Mis-Employment of Armor (3/13/2011 12:48:58 PM)

really not so fun being in front[:@]
trying to change a little my "strategy"[&:]
I fear a HQ build-up in front of Moscow by Pz corps
2/3 made from this bloody "bad" weather next turn



PeeDeeAitch -> RE: Panzer Bubbles - A Study of the Mis-Employment of Armor (3/13/2011 6:35:04 PM)

I don't normally talk strategy here, because I don't use it. However, sometimes I have delusions of competence and I try to get funky. The Crimea on turn 12 is an example of this. The reason I will explain it here is that (in an almost zen-like way) it doesn't matter if my opponent knows this is a piece of strategy - his reaction dictates which path I take.

The Perekop Ithmus has been breached by the 11th Army. It is poised to strike deep into the Crimea and threaten Sevastopol and perhaps even make it to Kerch. However, it is also outside of the Crimea still, and able to move toward Stalino rapidly in the month until mud. It presents a solid threat to either, and the reaction that comes will help what I do. If the approaches to Stalino are heavily reinforced, then the Crimea will be mine (maybe even a venture into the Kuban), if the Crimea is shored up I will head with the 11th Army to Stalino.

Either course benefits me. Stalino will fall easier if he fights for the Crimea. The Romanian mountain corps will block the Crimea along with a heavy line of entrenchments and the near worthless rest of the romanians. While it is nice to have the Romanian mountain units further east, the Crimea has been a problem in winter games for players - so the strength of "winter-proof" brigades here plus entrenchments will likely at worst slow this down.

If he gives me the Crimea, then I don't have to worry about the far south collapsing in winter - I have plenty of troops to garrison the Crimea (ports especially), and a mountain brigade plus a few romanian divisions can hold Kerch short of a natural disaster. Stalino will be a harder slog and I will have to advance less in the Don region, but I can rest easier knowing that I won't be outflanked in the far south.


[image]local://upfiles/23503/FD32B0297ACF427E8B027441732CEC59.jpg[/image]



PeeDeeAitch -> RE: Panzer Bubbles - A Study of the Mis-Employment of Armor (3/13/2011 9:19:33 PM)

From now on no choosing opponents who have a life. We need to clone Oleg so it only takes the enemy 5 minutes to send back a turn!



randallw -> RE: Panzer Bubbles - A Study of the Mis-Employment of Armor (3/14/2011 1:06:42 AM)

I think you mean to create more clones of Oleg.



Josh -> RE: Panzer Bubbles - A Study of the Mis-Employment of Armor (3/14/2011 10:01:15 AM)

Oleg is a clone? Taking 5 minutes to return a GC turn? Cool!



Keunert -> RE: Panzer Bubbles - A Study of the Mis-Employment of Armor (3/14/2011 10:25:29 AM)

how could you possibly expect a reliable opponent if play against soviets?



PeeDeeAitch -> RE: Panzer Bubbles - A Study of the Mis-Employment of Armor (3/16/2011 4:45:39 PM)

Updates! Updates! Updates! I was out Monday evening and most of Tuesday, but now I have returned to the real world of fake gaming and I shall update as I might today.

Some teasers:

The worlds longest snatch and grab as Stalino et al are taken by hungry SS troops.
4th Panzer joins 3rd Panzer and is 30 miles from Moscow
Leningrad falls.
Crimea blitz starts.
Romanians still suck.



Mynok -> RE: Panzer Bubbles - A Study of the Mis-Employment of Armor (3/16/2011 4:51:57 PM)


Of course Leningrad falls...you isolated it.



PeeDeeAitch -> RE: Panzer Bubbles - A Study of the Mis-Employment of Armor (3/16/2011 4:57:13 PM)

The Stalino Dash

Well, it is turn 13, and I was facing a crisis of overconfidence. I had eliminated the Kiev pocket (perhaps 400-500k men), and Leningrad was on its last legs. The options were simple - rested 1st and 2nd Panzer Groups had been sitting around after Kiev drinking champagne and eating lobster tails, and they needed to do something. The obvious was a dash toward Moscow with 2nd, but there are a lot of troops to the south there, checkerboarded and chess-pieced, entrenched and actually armed with weapons and stuff now.

Instead, Heinz and Kleist went the unexpected direction, driving between Dnepropetrovsk and Kharkov straight to Stalino. 2nd opened the holes, 1st had two divisions mak it to the three cities there - capturing some factories, cutting rails (though there are still ports to the south) and generally causing mayhem. I want to winter a bit to the east of Stalino, so I needed to grab these - plus it might open up Kharkov to the north (along Black Sea I assume Capt Flam will have to pull back - the panzer threat could make another massive pocket here...)

Overall very fun, and I hope an "oh crap" moment for my opponant.


[image]local://upfiles/23503/B37574C92F334AD2B702D203EAFD58AC.jpg[/image]



PeeDeeAitch -> RE: Panzer Bubbles - A Study of the Mis-Employment of Armor (3/16/2011 4:57:41 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Mynok


Of course Leningrad falls...you isolated it.


Pfft, those were headlines.



PeeDeeAitch -> RE: Panzer Bubbles - A Study of the Mis-Employment of Armor (3/16/2011 5:00:42 PM)

Crimea

Here I am still playing around - I never have a strategy, and here is the same. I just like to drive my units around conquering stuff, so the purple horde is now smashing through the Crimea to make my southern flank secure.


[image]local://upfiles/23503/09606D4C56804175BEF4F03387D041F8.jpg[/image]



karonagames -> RE: Panzer Bubbles - A Study of the Mis-Employment of Armor (3/16/2011 5:13:32 PM)

Oh dear - more 200 mile advances - very gamey.[:D]



PeeDeeAitch -> RE: Panzer Bubbles - A Study of the Mis-Employment of Armor (3/16/2011 5:53:02 PM)

Luckily I didn't advance through trackless wastes.



karonagames -> RE: Panzer Bubbles - A Study of the Mis-Employment of Armor (3/16/2011 6:04:26 PM)

Seriously though we were worried that the changes to morale would make this rate of advance harder to achieve, but the SS boys you used could obviously advance further than the lower morale units.

I assuming this is without HQ buildup. If you had used it you could have been in Rostov!



PeeDeeAitch -> RE: Panzer Bubbles - A Study of the Mis-Employment of Armor (3/16/2011 6:19:02 PM)

2nd Panzer used buildup - 1st had air supply and a couple of turns waiting. The lower morale units (one of the "higher teens" panzer divisions is only 72 morale I think) did go slower.



76mm -> RE: Panzer Bubbles - A Study of the Mis-Employment of Armor (3/16/2011 8:09:38 PM)

Holy crap...

And actually those probably are also trackless wastes, but at least trackless wastes through the steppe, so not completely implausible!



karonagames -> RE: Panzer Bubbles - A Study of the Mis-Employment of Armor (3/16/2011 8:54:44 PM)

I think the Soviet remedial defence classes will need to be reactivated. Where was the Alamo/reserve/training/digging line?



Klydon -> RE: Panzer Bubbles - A Study of the Mis-Employment of Armor (3/16/2011 9:12:51 PM)

The Crimea seems somewhat devoid of units. Too bad you didn't have a motorized/armored unit there or you may have been able to drive all the way to Sevastopol for a beach party. ;)



PeeDeeAitch -> RE: Panzer Bubbles - A Study of the Mis-Employment of Armor (3/16/2011 9:20:12 PM)

On previous turns there was a unit in Sevastopol, so I expect one there now, however, 4-6 full strength 1941 divisions will set that right...



PeeDeeAitch -> RE: Panzer Bubbles - A Study of the Mis-Employment of Armor (3/16/2011 9:21:02 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: 76mm

Holy crap...

And actually those probably are also trackless wastes, but at least trackless wastes through the steppe, so not completely implausible!


I think it may not work out, but sometimes I like to just do something that is a "oh wow" sort of attack.



PeeDeeAitch -> RE: Panzer Bubbles - A Study of the Mis-Employment of Armor (3/16/2011 9:27:32 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: BigAnorak

I think the Soviet remedial defence classes will need to be reactivated. Where was the Alamo/reserve/training/digging line?


At times the defense has been top notch, but in turns after I do one of my "interesting moves" it seems to take time to settle down. One aspect I always try for is to unhinge my opponent so they are unsure as to my axis (or axes) of attack, what I plan to do, and just what the hell I am up to.

I like to think sometimes my opponent opens his turn with an "Oh crap!" moment - that impact the rest of the turn at least I think.



karonagames -> RE: Panzer Bubbles - A Study of the Mis-Employment of Armor (3/16/2011 9:32:02 PM)

Yep, this would be a real stomach turner - reminds me of some of the 1943 turns I got from Flavio, so Soviet players should note they will get the chance to do this to the Axis.



PeeDeeAitch -> RE: Panzer Bubbles - A Study of the Mis-Employment of Armor (3/17/2011 2:50:37 PM)

Turn 14

I love the smell of mud in the air, it smells like...wait, I hate mud. Stupid mud is coming fast, I need to order waders for everyone and put those boot-scrapers next to the front doors of all the foxholes. Tanks will be equipped with snorkels so if they hit a really deep spot of mud they can wade through, men are told to only stay on the paved roads, which I am sure we shall find sometime. Other than that, it is up to me to advance as best I can because I don't know what else to do.

North -

The northern success slows after Leningrad's fall due to my opponent not playing fair and actually defending stuff. The Finns race to catch up to the front - which I am pushing forward. Mannerheim has informed me of a dashed line south of Leningrad that they will not cross, some sort of superstition. I would love to spread them out, but at least one sector will stand firm, be cut off as the rest of the line collapses, and surrender with honors come the blizzard!

[image]local://upfiles/23503/434B5435C02241AF99F702217BAF9E2F.jpg[/image]



PeeDeeAitch -> RE: Panzer Bubbles - A Study of the Mis-Employment of Armor (3/17/2011 2:54:11 PM)

Moscow

Here the 4th Panzer has joined the 3rd in some sort of Lego-like congomeration of a giant Panzer Group. They push toward Moscow slowly, forcing the Soviets to send reinforcements here or risk losing the capital. Maybe if I am lucky, lots of railroad is also being used to evacuate factories. I doubt I will take it, but if I don't it is ok - I hear Moscow is nasty in the winter and that is the last place I want to be then!



[image]local://upfiles/23503/D44C777ECD45498092BADBFBB174A66F.jpg[/image]



PeeDeeAitch -> RE: Panzer Bubbles - A Study of the Mis-Employment of Armor (3/17/2011 2:59:18 PM)

The South

Here I have pocketed many millions of Soviets...well, we shall see how many. The Black Sea ports have been cut, and I will have a few turns to reduce the pocket before that giant sucking sound that is mud strikes me. This may put the Soviets over 3.5 million casualties, many of them surrendered. Kharkov is approached, and should fall, Kursk should also right before mud. Overall nice progress here. I have thought of giving my generals medals, but I like them too much and instead all the Knights Crosses with Oak Leaves, Swords, Diamonds and rather garish sapphire Turnips shall be awarded to me.





[image]local://upfiles/23503/FC7E337251EC4C0AAF900ADF7E86997B.jpg[/image]



PeeDeeAitch -> RE: Panzer Bubbles - A Study of the Mis-Employment of Armor (3/17/2011 3:01:18 PM)

Crimea

Von Schobert didn't land his plane in a minefield, so he is still in charge here. Unless heavily reinforced, Sevastopol will fall next turn. I want to be in Kerch by mud. We shall see...

[image]local://upfiles/23503/6908F7E6B18E4DAA98E519F7F99EE7DA.jpg[/image]



PeeDeeAitch -> RE: Panzer Bubbles - A Study of the Mis-Employment of Armor (3/17/2011 3:08:23 PM)

Boring Stuff 1

Here are losses as of the start of 15


[image]local://upfiles/23503/AD9DB27B84324F37B22FB2F4381E1A63.jpg[/image]



PeeDeeAitch -> RE: Panzer Bubbles - A Study of the Mis-Employment of Armor (3/17/2011 3:09:36 PM)

Boring stuff 2

Here are units destroyed. This will go up this turn due to the pocket. I was shooting for 100% of all Soviet units destroyed, but my opponent did not want to cooperate and he still has an army.


[image]local://upfiles/23503/C30ADC2118D843FF804D8E51D6153E0F.jpg[/image]



PeeDeeAitch -> RE: Panzer Bubbles - A Study of the Mis-Employment of Armor (3/17/2011 3:12:14 PM)

Boring Stuff C

Order of Battle, start of turn 15. As you can see there are a lot of numbers here that don't mean a lot, just things since the Soviets will have 300 million men, 200k airplanes, and 50k tanks under arms by March of 1942.



[image]local://upfiles/23503/6298C62E0C444D7DB68368465085F337.jpg[/image]



Page: <<   < prev  3 4 [5] 6 7   next >   >>

Valid CSS!




Forum Software © ASPPlayground.NET Advanced Edition 2.4.5 ANSI
0.7180176