RE: Maybe a New AAR (Full Version)

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JAMiAM -> RE: Maybe a New AAR (6/13/2011 3:07:34 AM)

The big picture in the South. PDH is still driving east with 11th Army, and I've fallen back to the Dnepr River, abandoning the basin entirely. Near Kremenchug, he has breached the Dnepr, and I've launched heavy counterattacks. More details on those, in the next screenshot.

[image]local://upfiles/10882/7C50E3EC18C442D7B29FAC3B9E7C8ACA.jpg[/image]



JAMiAM -> RE: Maybe a New AAR (6/13/2011 3:08:02 AM)

Here is the close-in shot of the action around Kremenchug. Notice the pending change coloration. I've substantially reduced the bridgehead. Not in any real hope of driving him back across the river (though one Motorized Division fled back across), but more so to attrite the exposed mobile units, and reduce their operational maneuver room within the bridgehead.

[image]local://upfiles/10882/A6D42580519A4860810ED523D11804B4.jpg[/image]



JAMiAM -> RE: Maybe a New AAR (6/13/2011 3:08:13 AM)

The big picture in the North. Saving the best for last, since the battles around Leningrad, shown in detail on the next post's shot, are where things came together almost beyond all hope.

[image]local://upfiles/10882/73B0031DC5754FF6B58C7F873D80F38F.jpg[/image]



JAMiAM -> RE: Maybe a New AAR (6/13/2011 3:08:23 AM)

The detailed shot of the action around Leningrad.

[image]local://upfiles/10882/9743430E86DB4BF08777065EB6A31FF9.jpg[/image]



JAMiAM -> RE: Maybe a New AAR (6/13/2011 3:08:33 AM)

Finally, the losses/OOB shot. I've got PDH down to fewer than active 1300 AFVs.

[image]local://upfiles/10882/B9DFC0F6CC4346CBAC8B2626C542FB1F.jpg[/image]



JAMiAM -> RE: Maybe a New AAR (6/13/2011 4:09:22 AM)

Since PDH went ahead and posted two turns of screenshots and commentary, I'll do the same. That way, we stay synchronized...[;)]

This screenshot shows the big picture in the North.

[image]local://upfiles/10882/CD1C4D0663F3483D808504F76F669A22.jpg[/image]



JAMiAM -> RE: Maybe a New AAR (6/13/2011 4:09:35 AM)

The Center shot

[image]local://upfiles/10882/B94B13A2ED604BA8B764194736D83850.jpg[/image]



JAMiAM -> RE: Maybe a New AAR (6/13/2011 4:09:48 AM)

The big picture in the South.

[image]local://upfiles/10882/16B763F61E574BA094AC97CE538E1E37.jpg[/image]



JAMiAM -> RE: Maybe a New AAR (6/13/2011 4:10:00 AM)

The losses/OOB shot. German active AFV strength is almost the same as last turn. Many of his damaged components are being lost though. This is one reason why I try to keep his mobile force in close contact, or cut off at the end of my turns, so that the damaged pieces are less likely to be repaired in the upcoming logistics phase.

[image]local://upfiles/10882/B2686EAD49E942768FD6DFA1E97FD812.jpg[/image]



JAMiAM -> RE: Maybe a New AAR (6/26/2011 4:03:11 AM)

Since we've already finished turn 15, and PDH is clearly falling behind in his propaganda efforts, I'll just have to pick up the slack...[;)]

Turn 11 was the turn that the hammer dropped. In the Center, the long anticipated thrust by 2nd and 3rd Panzer Groups. supported by the 9th and 4th armies ripped a huge hole in the Soviet lines near Vyazma and the Germans poured through. They reached the Volga bend, near Rzhev, and came within 50 miles of Moscow.

Meanwhile, in the Ukraine, AGS, with its weakened 1st Pz Gp, continued to plow northeast out of the bridgehead over the Dnepr. With Moscow in peril, and the Kiev Salient becoming dangerously exposed, it became time to abandon the old city and fall back. My rail lines in the salient were still well protected, and I was able to evacuate two full armies up to the defense of Moscow, and pulled back the rest of SW Front to provide a flanking concern for 1st Pz Gp's schwerpunkt.

In the north, near Leningrad, it was mostly quiet, as 4th Pz Gp was clearly in need of some rest and refitting. Nevertheless, the German Infantry continued to trudge on, gaining a couple more hexes.

This screen shows some detail around the Center, where all hell broke loose.

[image]local://upfiles/10882/A73B87859374451B9079D7A995A043C6.jpg[/image]



JAMiAM -> RE: Maybe a New AAR (6/26/2011 4:03:25 AM)

The shot of the northern area.

[image]local://upfiles/10882/8EC9AFE2D3724235AA94121702AA3BD9.jpg[/image]



JAMiAM -> RE: Maybe a New AAR (6/26/2011 4:03:36 AM)

This screenshot shows the northern portion of the Ukraine, with the recently abandoned Kiev Salient hanging out like lanced boil on the butt of PDH's schwerpunkt.

Good God! That was a tortured simile...[:D]

[image]local://upfiles/10882/6AB1DEF14A004A91BF5E877C72377CC7.jpg[/image]



JAMiAM -> RE: Maybe a New AAR (6/26/2011 4:03:47 AM)

Here is the shot of the Southern Ukraine. I've still got some Heavy Industry in D-Town, some Armaments and Heavy Industry in Z-Town. He will probably get adjacent to D-Town next turn, so I figure on losing the 3 HI still left there. He probably won't be able to get next to Z-Town for another turn afterwards, so I hope to be able to evacuate the 4 Arm and HI factories the next turn.

[image]local://upfiles/10882/1D202D066ABC43D3A1E5AD485F246524.jpg[/image]



JAMiAM -> RE: Maybe a New AAR (6/26/2011 4:04:00 AM)

This shot shows the Losses/OOB collage.

[image]local://upfiles/10882/15B09CB60182437CBAB8DFED5BFCF1CA.jpg[/image]



JAMiAM -> RE: Maybe a New AAR (6/26/2011 4:04:13 AM)

This space is intentionally left blank, so that I can edit it at a later date and display a dazzlingly brilliant instance of precognition.

Or not.



Encircled -> RE: Maybe a New AAR (6/26/2011 8:04:03 AM)

PDH runs his Panzers into the ground. What might seem crippling to us mere mortals if a slight inconvenience to him.[:)]





Klydon -> RE: Maybe a New AAR (6/26/2011 2:59:04 PM)

Well, to be honest, I think tank attrition for the Germans is up since the last couple of patches. Not saying this is good or bad for the game, just that it appears to be happening. One thing I didn't like, but have not had a chance to follow up on and see is the amount of damage the Russian anti-tank rifles are doing to Pz-III and P-IV. I don't care if it just "damages" them; the issue is I think all damage is treated as the same and not all damaged tanks get fixed. Getting hit by a AT rifle and getting hit by say a 76 mm AT gun are two different things, yet if the tank becomes damaged, the results are the same in the long run. Anti-tank rifles were basically worthless against those types of tanks. (but perfectly fine for shooting up half tracks, Pz-II, etc so they have their uses).

One book I have says the Germans had something like 150 operational tanks on the entire eastern front at the start of March 42. By June, this had swelled to just over 3000. We have not seen anything close to 150 and somehow I suspect that if we did, the Germans are not going to have 3000 tanks come June.



kevini1000 -> RE: Maybe a New AAR (6/26/2011 3:11:44 PM)

I knotice from turn to turn damaged tanks stay with the units and I see none in the repair pools for each tank type. And the Germans only start out building a few tanks a turn anyway.



Klydon -> RE: Maybe a New AAR (6/26/2011 3:26:07 PM)

The tanks do stay there, but if you look at the event log on each turn, it says how many damage tanks were repaired and how many were not repairable (destroyed). 



PeeDeeAitch -> RE: Maybe a New AAR (6/26/2011 4:36:07 PM)

Turn 11

Clear again, ominously so. My plans are sort of fixed. Low on time by a couple of turns, and facing JAMs defenses in the way of Moscow, I turn to "Plan 2" which is to use 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Panzer to complete the right hook farther to the east of where it is attempted normally.

The 2nd and 3rd Panzers strike north into virgin territory - I expect JAM to meet this with reserves and such, but this will open up 4th panzer next turn for a strike across the northern Valdai Hills and possibly bagging units but giving me the last few clear turns to reach the Finns. Bold? No, it is really all I can try now.

2nd and 3rd do their jobs - note that Moscow is still threatened, I might as well make it interesting for JAM.


[image]local://upfiles/23503/11A997E2E42D4A1093DC6CBFE5C4D2DE.gif[/image]



PeeDeeAitch -> RE: Maybe a New AAR (6/26/2011 4:38:29 PM)

Turn 11

A bit of a pocket east of Kiev. JAM tends to hold on too long sometimes, but this is purposeful, I think. My tanks are slowed here (remember I lost 2! turns due to mud in the south), and my desire to make up time has hammered the 1st Panzer. The pocket it weak, that really can't be helped. I see icicles forming on the brim of my hat, as the prospect of wintering west of the Don cities looms...


[image]local://upfiles/23503/971C975786AB410285EDFB76B409A729.gif[/image]



PeeDeeAitch -> RE: Maybe a New AAR (6/26/2011 4:40:46 PM)

Crimea 11

Here, the 11th Army is ready to be sent into the Crimea. I am sort of forced into this, for the same reason as all the other times. I am behind schedule, and sending the 11th toward Stalino would leave both large numbers of rested, refitted, and angry Soviets in my rear and I still would have a hard time reaching that city.

Better to shorten lines and try to remove this threat.


[image]local://upfiles/23503/9E71C019A54D45FFA49DF3D4356B3611.gif[/image]



PeeDeeAitch -> RE: Maybe a New AAR (6/26/2011 4:43:17 PM)

Overall I am far behind schedule, and hurting. It is not just the mud that has hurt me, but my own mistakes. One has to play the Axis with a certain reckless finesse at times, and that has been lacking on my part. Still, the worst is yet to come. Think of the one place I would hate to have mud strike, and in a couple of turns it will.

Yep, for those paying attention, I got mud at about the worst time in all four sectors in the "clear" months...

I see a long winter ahead of me, maybe back in Poland...



Klydon -> RE: Maybe a New AAR (6/26/2011 4:53:42 PM)

Too bad you could not clip that east/west rail line at the top of your salient up north. Sometimes it seems to go that way when stuff is going bad (bad mud rolls, just 1 hex more needed here or there, etc). Hang in there. 



JAMiAM -> RE: Maybe a New AAR (6/26/2011 6:34:25 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Klydon

Too bad you could not clip that east/west rail line at the top of your salient up north. Sometimes it seems to go that way when stuff is going bad (bad mud rolls, just 1 hex more needed here or there, etc). Hang in there. 

You have no idea how ominously prescient that comment is, but that will wait until my next update...[;)]



JAMiAM -> RE: Maybe a New AAR (6/26/2011 6:38:37 PM)

By the way, PDH has the wrong turn numbers on his latest screenshots. Those are from his turn 12. As you can see from my screenshots, and the displayed turn, turn 11 ended with my shots, at the lines shown. His screenshots show his continuation of the offensive, and the breakthrough to Vyshny Volochek.



PeeDeeAitch -> RE: Maybe a New AAR (6/26/2011 7:38:44 PM)

When it rains, it pours...except in this game when it rains it means mud where I don't want it, out of supply units, stalled offensives, and general overal 'bleh.'



JAMiAM -> RE: Maybe a New AAR (6/26/2011 8:50:37 PM)

Which is why he's got the previous shots listed as turn 11. It's either a case of wishful thinking, or an attempt to thoroughly confuse me. Or both. Or neither...[&:]



JAMiAM -> RE: Maybe a New AAR (6/26/2011 8:52:59 PM)

I was originally going to post my screenshots in a different order. I wanted to first do an in-depth analysis of a pocket relief operation - mostly for my own morale boosting. Since it will necessarily run several posts, and the forum default 30 post page break will screw that up, I suppose I will show my less uplifting responses to PDH's brilliant continuation of his offensive near Moscow/Leningrad.

This screenshot shows my turn's ending positions in this region. As you can seen PDH is trying a strong right hook against Leningrad. At this stage 4th Pz Gp is still sitting near Luga licking its wounds, but not for long...

[image]local://upfiles/10882/B946B99A3B7F41DEB1276C04C1244F58.jpg[/image]



JAMiAM -> RE: Maybe a New AAR (6/26/2011 8:53:10 PM)

Due to the page break, I'll post the losses/OOB collage here, though it screws with my sense of propriety (I like posting it as a closing post).

[image]local://upfiles/10882/4367B64BABB9470797D742A8E551F1EA.jpg[/image]



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