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hooooper_slith -> RE: A tale of three cities: Soviets on the brink of defeat (hooooper vs Bomazz) (1/28/2013 1:36:35 PM)
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Hmm, well I'm sure you're right, but at this point the main difference between a guard unit and a regular is that it's coloured red.
Anyhow, it's too late because the Germans have struck. A stunning blow, and quite unexpected (giving the lie to the often repeated view that it's impossible to achieve strategic surprise in this game). I had expected something of the sort from Bomazz, but I admit I wasn't expecting him to slice through 60 miles of prepared defences with with quite this apparent ease.
He has, of course used the northern riverline as a defence against a flank attack, advanced to Vorenezh to flip control and make it harder to reach the weakest part of the pocket's defence, and has staked out the Slovakians as a sacrifice to relieving efforts to the south. All in all a powerful first blow, and if it is successful Bomazz will have many options (although my money would be on a semi-historical drive to the south, aimed at the Caucusus.
What comfort can the Soviets draw from this attack? Well, firstly he has assaulted a straight stretch of line, which is the hardest operation to pull off, geometrically speaking. Secondly, he has used about 30 Panzer and motorised divisions in the attack. Presumably there is another couple of corp elsewhere performing defensive functions, but essentially that's it. So, I know where all the dangerous formations lie, and I don't have to fear another attack elsewhere and I can at last concentrate my mobile units (rail-mobile that is). Thirdly, the area is well supplied with intact rail lines. Fourthly, that river to the north of the attack provides a means of preventing the bulge from moving north, allowing greater concentration to the east and south. Fifthly, there may be other areas of the line where I can make a counter thrust. The Axis are weak to the south of Kharkov, but I can hardly advance there - Crimea Front may soon be bolting for the east. Konev's North Western front, however, has a favourable concentration of forces, as well as some armour in reserve. A push south is definitely indicated, although this does raise tricky issues of allocating resources, and infantry corp, between the defending and the attacking sectors.
Anyhow, here's the situation map:
[image]local://upfiles/43294/3BB9243792F6449F8C3BB7C17D2A5027.jpg[/image]
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