RE: Stalin's fired, I'm in charge! III 1/2- Tullius (Soviet) vs Marquo (Axis) (Full Version)

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TulliusDetritus -> RE: Stalin's fired, I'm in charge! III 1/2- Tullius (Soviet) vs Marquo (Axis) (11/20/2011 3:25:05 PM)

Turn 31
15 January 1942

A small update. Now the 55% of the Blizzard Massacres is done. But I prefer to think I still have the 45% of it (6 turns)! [sm=00000055.gif]

First of all, Marquo hasn't been lucky yet: no snow at all, only blizzard [:)] But he hasn't allowed me to swallow some of his units [sm=00000612.gif]

In fact my plan was based on two assumptions:

1) he would try to hold ground
2) the new rules would make attacks more complicated

1) proved to be false: he ran away (chicken!) leaving some buffer hexes. 2) was false too. I am making lots of attacks (I did not expect it). As I said above (the ruthless thug thing) I merely attack every single enemy unit, as long as I had 1:1 (december) and 2:1 (january). An exception: you actually CAN attack against the odds when you are massing minimum 4 rifle divisions vs 1 single enemy division.

So in fact I more or less threw overboard the "plan" and simply started chasing him. Another thing I did: I had around 60 rifle divisions as reserves. I was sending to the front like 5 or 6 each turn. Now I will be sending all of them to make sure they see combat before the end of the offensive. If Marquo expects less attacks he might be utterly wrong. I am using a "waves" approach. On the last 4 turns of the blizzard all the Red Army will be pushing hard. I will have plenty of time to recover until summer [;)]

And yes, everyone is massed at the frontline. Come snow... *poof* ... they will vanish behind the front. I must not allow Marquo to create a big mess during the snow turns [;)] For sure he wants some revenge...

As for the OOB, the Red Army is stuck at 6 million. Losses have to be severe but I really don't care (as long as I don't break the army). 6 million are still a lot of men. And the many attacks should pay dividends: I expect to harvest lots of Guards and if I am not mistaken each German defeat = loss of morale = less dangerous enemy come snow, spring etc.

[image]local://upfiles/11562/D4EC79481E8B4FCB848E7EF427BF75B8.jpg[/image]



TulliusDetritus -> RE: Stalin's fired, I'm in charge! III 1/2- Tullius (Soviet) vs Marquo (Axis) (11/20/2011 4:05:44 PM)

And now the paranoid thing [:D] I haven't wasted my time. I have started the future defensive lines, behind the front. As I had said, not a single rifle brigade fights during the blizzard. They DIG (along with fortified regions). In fact I have created this turn 3 rifle brigades and plan to create maybe 20. To me, the defensive lines behind the front are a PRIORITY (and that's exactly what the Soviets did by the way).

Anyway, the circle on the screenshot around Moscow is small. In fact the carpet covers a much bigger area.

And given that I am of course a sick bastard I suspect I will end up creating more fortified lines, strongpoints. What you see is simply a minimum.

[image]local://upfiles/11562/E9CD795D20BB42E28D46F6C697BE9D57.jpg[/image]



TulliusDetritus -> RE: Stalin's fired, I'm in charge! III 1/2- Tullius (Soviet) vs Marquo (Axis) (11/20/2011 5:26:19 PM)

Anyway, the losses (half blizzard then). If I am not mistaken, I am more or less losing what was lost during the real thing [8D]

EDITED: errata, sorry. The German losses are 486.000 men, NOT 521.000

[image]local://upfiles/11562/A47D5926E31B4B4CBE3C3937EB5E5B4D.jpg[/image]



M60A3TTS -> RE: Stalin's fired, I'm in charge! III 1/2- Tullius (Soviet) vs Marquo (Axis) (11/20/2011 5:51:15 PM)

Good for you on the paranoid thing. These games where the Axis have a very successful '42 offensive seems in large part due to the Soviet player not having a game plan other than count on a carpet in defense. Against a good Axis player, that can be a risky strategy.

The latest version of the CRT definitely seems to swing casualty figures in the Axis favor, at least to this stage. As a result it seems they're having no difficulty filling the divisional rosters come Spring, and that isn't what really happened historically. But I suppose some need the play balance. [;)]



TulliusDetritus -> RE: Stalin's fired, I'm in charge! III 1/2- Tullius (Soviet) vs Marquo (Axis) (11/20/2011 5:57:58 PM)

M60, I will be exactly doing what I did on my other game [:)] A thin frontline + tons of successive defensive lines + LOTS of Strategic Reserves (around 100 rifle / mountain divisions) + Tank and Cavalry Cops.



TulliusDetritus -> RE: Stalin's fired, I'm in charge! III 1/2- Tullius (Soviet) vs Marquo (Axis) (11/20/2011 6:00:50 PM)

I'm talking about this (from my last game, AAR):

quote:

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

The many Reserve Armies near Moscow, ready to be sent to critical places [8D]

Oh, the regular armies have 4 Rifle Divisions each. The Shock and Guards have minimum 5 Guards Rifle Divisions. And yes, all the HQs have PLENTY of support [;)]

[image]local://upfiles/11562/6DA4CB7D8B534E4E92F6C86ED289C0A7.jpg[/image]




TulliusDetritus -> RE: Stalin's fired, I'm in charge! III 1/2- Tullius (Soviet) vs Marquo (Axis) (11/20/2011 6:01:50 PM)

And this [8D] You can see the armies. But these were not the only rifle divisions (reserves). I had 40 rifle divisions directly attached to Stavka. More reserves that is.

quote:

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

Reserve Armies behind the Western and Byransk Fronts:

[image]local://upfiles/11562/A755C1FB3854446399F0649B74C5A62D.jpg[/image]




TulliusDetritus -> RE: Stalin's fired, I'm in charge! III 1/2- Tullius (Soviet) vs Marquo (Axis) (11/26/2011 9:37:51 PM)

Well, Marquo is allowed to read this AAR until the Achtung Minen thing (see below). So if you see him here you know why. We are currently playing the turn 34 (I am waiting for the turn). I will update this AAR thing on turn 37 (last turn of the Blizzard Massacres). I managed to force 55 retreats the last turn. Serves him right! HAHA [8D]

[image]local://upfiles/11562/35B0940329C447E79A5C0EDB3AF072B6.jpg[/image]



mmarquo -> RE: Stalin's fired, I'm in charge! III 1/2- Tullius (Soviet) vs Marquo (Axis) (11/27/2011 3:29:27 AM)

TD,

Your AAR is a thing of beauty- please read mine if you will but after Sunday Eingang Verboten. My strategy was to destroy as many Soviet units as possible - not necessarily to simply inflict casualties; I also tried with limited succes to bag armaments. For sure I wanted Leningrad, Kharkov and Stalino - acheived; and Rostov but failed. Moscow was a second thought but became very attractive when I determined how relatively easy it is was to take the fortified hexes. I was pushing very close and would have had warm winter quarters but mud and premature blizzards ended that; no matter I still prefer random weather.

Come the blizzard: I was going to stand in my forts but they were overrun too easily; I quickly realized that rough, swamp and forest terrains are as good if not better than forts in the open. Standing fast in the open is just plain stupid so I headed for the forests - and this has really worked well. In front of Moscow TD has made minimal progress and Rhzev has not fallen and neither has Kharkov. I quickly gave up Stalino because there is no good terran around it to defend.

I am quite pleased at the state of my armee this first week of February: since the beginning I set the TOE of infantry to 80% and most are at 65 - 75%. The state of my armor and where they are is a state secret but all is more than well. However it will noted that this turn my luck finally turned for the better with snow in the Ukraine and west of Moscow. Armored and infantry reserves struck very hard: 48 frontline Soviet units routed, and the snout of the bear cut off near Kharkov. I have no doubt that the Soviet army will have it's hands more than full in 1942 and 1943; 1944 will decide this affair.




mmarquo -> Southern Revenge (11/27/2011 3:39:10 AM)

Southern Revenge - across the entire front 48 Soviet units are blown off the frontline and routed in the first respite from the blizzard. 15 routed divisions are shown here as the Southern Wing start to buckle.

[image]local://upfiles/1355/A8D1BAACB984400D8291263C077D8112.jpg[/image]



mmarquo -> Kharkov Barbecue (11/27/2011 3:49:05 AM)

West of Kharkov the snout of the Soviet blizzard juggernaut is cut off and the Landsers rejoice; "Here Comes ther Sun" by the Beatles becomes the most popular song heard on the German radio. 9 more routed Soivet units are in evidence; one of the 5 cut off units appears. to be a cursed cavalry corps. Yes, this affair will be decided in 1944/45/


[image]local://upfiles/1355/3B6D87852F2046FA9C641F1D1FC4427A.jpg[/image]



TulliusDetritus -> RE: Kharkov Barbecue (11/27/2011 1:57:07 PM)

As you can see, Marquo has finally been lucky: snow. He has put his forces to good use and trashed my units.

He's also mentioned two important things. Soviet or German, it's the same, you can't be strong everywhere. If you spread the forces you will be necessarily weak everywhere. Marquo decided to RESIST in Moscow area, therefore that's where he massed his forces. In most hexes he has 2-units stacks (German DIVISIONS). In other words, he is almost untouchable. Therefore he is necessarily weak in many other places: he is keeping weak regiments which I am obviously trashing every single turn. And this of course makes me think he wants Moscow [;)]

The second thing he's mentioned: he has preserved the panzers. He kept them behind the front so I only could trash them exactly three times [:(] This of course means his dangerous units will be ready to strike...

As for his pocket near Karkhov, the "dinner" + some chums will try to hug some fascist units and then swallow them if he does not pay attention and I am extra lucky [sm=innocent0001.gif]

[image]local://upfiles/11562/587254E8E82448DB98CAB1FCEBA31DD4.jpg[/image]



TulliusDetritus -> RE: Kharkov Barbecue (11/28/2011 2:33:08 PM)

A little update because there is something I had never seen before [:D]

Hmm, maybe it was in october. The 239 Motorized Division appeared in the eastern edge of the map. I did not really pay attention to the unit (more cannon fodder on my book and it would be soon disbanded by the game), I simply railed it west. It ended up being attached to Southwestern Front 5th Army. The thing is I had noticed the MPs were rather big. This turn I managed to make some holes in German front and guess what... this "mighty" division has advanced behind the enemy frontline à la Panzer [:D] Never saw that before!

Not really expecting to kill any units though. In fact, I don't care if this mighty unit is finally trashed and destroyed (at least I am having a laugh). Simply surprised that I was able to do this kind of maneuver.

Overall, Marquo's maneuver during snow has FINALLY allowed me to trash some armored units he was keeping behind the front. Thanks mate! [sm=00000622.gif]

[image]local://upfiles/11562/18354269EFFD41B0A33EC9ADBA599F1D.jpg[/image]



TulliusDetritus -> RE: Kharkov Barbecue (12/2/2011 1:40:57 PM)

Turn 37
26 February 1942

Well, blizzard 98,97% done [8D] I will be making some more attacks though, there are still some potential victims on sight. In fact, on last turn I took the foot off the pedal, well, sort of: only 45 attacks, of which 34 retreats.

I am quite happy with the offensive. Most goals (if not all) were achieved [:)]

But first of all... the toll the scummy Axis and heroic Soviets had to pay. Quite historical losses if I am not mistaken.

[image]local://upfiles/11562/3CE295DB4855463B9ACB1E4F6F06E9BF.jpg[/image]



TulliusDetritus -> RE: Kharkov Barbecue (12/2/2011 1:57:43 PM)

And now the harvest! In fact it is not complete. I should be harvesting more Guards on the next turns.

Sooooo, I had started the Blizzard Massacres (turn 25) with only one miserable Guards Rifle Division. The many attacks (or should I say retreats) I made during the offensive paid indeed dividends!

Now I've got [sm=Cool-049.gif]

1) 1 Guards Army (former 20 army)
2) 42 Guards Rifle Divisions
3) 6 Guards Cavalry Corps (or 16 Guards Cavalry Divisions; on december I had created 10 Cavalry Corps)
4) 2 Guards Mountain Divisions: couldn't I form a Guards Corps with them?

And the candidates. I should be getting (+7 difference victories / defeats):

1) 12 Guards Rifle Divisions

[image]local://upfiles/11562/0816C7A9300E42EB88F85008F042676A.jpg[/image]



TulliusDetritus -> RE: Kharkov Barbecue (12/2/2011 3:09:58 PM)

And the land grabbed [8D]

Basically in the north I recaptured the Valdai Hills. In the center Marquo really wanted to stay near Moscow. Just like pre 1.05 2-units stacks (German DIVISIONS) in fort level 2 hexes and good defensive terrain are simply INVULNERABLE. 9 Rifle Divisions (therefore attacking from 3 hexes) will NOT dislodge them. So pay attention, German players [;)]

In the south I basically pushed him. Here he also wanted to keep Kharkov. Which he did.

[image]local://upfiles/11562/4373BD35D1104F5C951E6D2857C03B91.jpg[/image]



TulliusDetritus -> RE: Kharkov Barbecue (12/2/2011 3:45:25 PM)

The heroes of the 239 Motorized Division. Marquo trashed and routed it, but they survived to tell the tale. This division will be inmediately pulled back and attached to Stavka. It will be a very interesting strategic reserve. I should put its > 40 MPs to good use during the German summer offensive. Mark, watch your back, you will meet them again! [sm=00000612.gif]

[image]local://upfiles/11562/9272D00C028D4FA1B5DFF018CE15D96C.jpg[/image]



TulliusDetritus -> RE: Kharkov Barbecue (12/2/2011 3:49:09 PM)

Anyways, the OOB. I started the offensive with 6 million. I finish it with that same number of men.

[image]local://upfiles/11562/066CC8CAC29E42B281B56A39CB04173E.jpg[/image]



TulliusDetritus -> RE: Kharkov Barbecue (12/2/2011 4:04:31 PM)

Oh, and Crimea. I had said:

quote:

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

I plan to massively attack the poor romanians blocking my advance. No matter the losses, I hope to dislodge them. I will make a deliberate attack with the 3-units stack. If it doen't work, they will retreat to make room for the guys behind them (another 3-units stack)... who will do another deliberate attack (same turn). The Romanians are not supposed to hold these attacks.


I was right [:D] The second echelon was not needed as the Romanians fled after the first deliberate attack. Chickens!

But I was way too optimistic. I had even thought that maybe I could get Sevastopol. The fact is I haven't advanced a lot. Still, this area has been an excellent "training field". Ask the terrorised Romanians; and some Germans too, they also got some stick. Eh...! They dared block my advance! [:D]

[image]local://upfiles/11562/2E55467856FB4950B118347385551562.jpg[/image]



TulliusDetritus -> RE: Kharkov Barbecue (12/2/2011 4:15:57 PM)

What else can I add?

I haven't used the Tank Brigades at all. And I am talking about attacks. Only the rifle divisions and cavalry corps were massed and then used to strike the e-enemy. I wanted overwhelming odds (always), and this, tank brigades don't give you. I also wanted Guards DIVISIONS.

Maybe this is a strategic mistake (I will need to earn many victories if I want Tank GUARDS Corps), but hmm, I still prefer it.

I used the tank brigades to zoc the enemies that my long arm could not trash though. When Marquo was running away that is.



M60A3TTS -> RE: Kharkov Barbecue (12/2/2011 4:22:33 PM)

Well done! How many victories does 1st Guards Army have credit for?



TulliusDetritus -> RE: Kharkov Barbecue (12/2/2011 4:44:39 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: M60A3TTS

Well done! How many victories does 1st Guards Army have credit for?


Well, I have no idea about the rule [:)] I got this army on turn 27. Hmm, it's the only army that had MORE victories than defeats. The difference was + 21.

[image]local://upfiles/11562/29040F5BFE2845F8B62BC9FF77CA7AF6.jpg[/image]



TulliusDetritus -> RE: Kharkov Barbecue (12/2/2011 4:47:19 PM)

Yes, I think it's about about a positive difference between victories and defeats. And perhaps you need a minimum of victories as well. Too lazy to check the manual [:)]

[image]local://upfiles/11562/1E1205D0D7BD441CA424721B2AD07FE8.jpg[/image]



TulliusDetritus -> RE: Kharkov Barbecue (12/2/2011 6:17:41 PM)

Finally, this is how the front looks like now on turn 37. I haven't moved / attacked anything yet. I will be 1) pulling back MANY units and 2) attacking some weak units in areas where the panzers are NOT an inminent threat.

[image]local://upfiles/11562/67A2AD31504E4814ACB41CBCEFDDE8F3.jpg[/image]



TulliusDetritus -> RE: Kharkov Barbecue (12/2/2011 6:18:29 PM)

The center:

[image]local://upfiles/11562/7C5990C736854AF4ABCD030CAEEE4459.jpg[/image]



TulliusDetritus -> RE: Kharkov Barbecue (12/2/2011 6:19:30 PM)

And the last one, the south that is:

[image]local://upfiles/11562/809A3FD15A14422CB0BE1ADC5AB6CFA1.jpg[/image]



TulliusDetritus -> RE: Kharkov Barbecue (12/2/2011 6:31:53 PM)

Oh, the jewel of the crown aka Moscow. Dig dig dig!

I will be sending one rifle division to each Moscow city hex on this turn. If I see Marquo tries anything I will send an extra Rifle division to each hex (two divisions in each hex that is) [8D]

[image]local://upfiles/11562/0CCA6908108D449E8F914EB224A39961.jpg[/image]



TulliusDetritus -> RE: Kharkov Barbecue (12/2/2011 7:39:44 PM)

Anyway, as for the enemy snow offensive... hehehe... don't forget we are using RANDOM weather [;)]

Weather during march:

Possibility of snow: 40%
Possibility of blizzard: 40% [sm=innocent0001.gif]
Possibility of mud: 20% [sm=innocent0001.gif][sm=innocent0001.gif]

During the Blitzkrieg, I had used a Whermacht voodoo doll I just had bought via Amazon [:D] I put it to good use and got 3 mud turns. I suggested Mark to do the same and buy his own Soviet voodoo doll --to get a lot of clear weather during the blitzkrieg and snow during the blizzard-- but I very much suspect he was tricked... My doll was an authentic Made in Haiti thing. Marquo's was certainly a fake Made in China... er, whatever! I need again the doll. Mud and blizzard in march, it's ALL I'm asking! [8D]



Flaviusx -> RE: Kharkov Barbecue (12/2/2011 7:50:41 PM)

You have a guards army already? Impressive. I never see those this early.




TulliusDetritus -> RE: Kharkov Barbecue (12/2/2011 8:20:59 PM)

Flavius, it is merely pure luck [&:] I never look at the victories / defeats thing. These two last turns I did (I wanted to know exactly how many guards I would be harvesting). From my screenshot we can see this army (former 20 Army, fighting since turn 3 in the center) has 86 victories. The next army with more victories bagged has only 30 victories... There's an enormous difference between #1 and #2, ergo pure coincidence and luck. I also got a guards army vs 2ndACR (during the blizzard offensive, just like now). If I remember correctly it was an army attached to either the Southwestern or Southern Fronts. Surprising (or again a lot of luck) given that I am always weak down south.



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