RE: Stalingrad to Berlin (No Hfarrish)

RE: Stalingrad to Berlin (No Hfarrish) (Full Version)

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smokindave34 -> RE: Stalingrad to Berlin (No Hfarrish) (10/7/2013 12:59:18 AM)
June '43 AGC - Hfarrish has some of his best units in the Veliki Luki area. The 3rd shock, 2nd guards, and 39th armies are backed up by six breakthrough artillery divisions. I've played enough as the axis to know that the placement of the Soviet artillery divisions will tell you where the Soviet attacks will come from! The II SS Panzer and XXX corps are tasked with holding the Bolsheviks back. This should make for a good battle during the summer! The SS panzer corps arrived with Georg Keppler in command and he has a sub par 5 initiative rating however no matter how many AP's I have I can't seem to replace him. It seems he must be in good favor with the Fuhrer...... Models 9th army also faces off against strong Soviet rifle corps east of Smolensk. Model has the 1st, 5th, and 9th panzer divisions in reserve and they have been supplemented with our new Panther tanks. I'm concerned about 9th armies weak northern flank. These units could be easily pushed back if Hfarrish puts pressure on in this area. Recon did now show any Soviet build up there but I'll keep a close eye on this portion of 9th armies line. A luftwaffe corps digs in at the landbridge area. [image]local://upfiles/27926/6F58FB42C04D46FF9F287630D8B30B29.jpg[/image]

smokindave34 -> RE: Stalingrad to Berlin (No Hfarrish) (10/7/2013 1:01:55 AM)
June '43 2nd panzer army holds the quietest area of the front. There has been little Soviet activity here and recon did not pick up any buildup of Soviet units in this area. [image]local://upfiles/27926/1EA90B56C9184E9CA69684FC3008662C.jpg[/image]

smokindave34 -> RE: Stalingrad to Berlin (No Hfarrish) (10/7/2013 1:06:12 AM)
June '43 The area south of Vornezh has seen the most activity during this game. After the Stalingrad kessel surrendered Hfarrish regrouped and has been pushing methodically west from Vornezh to Rostov. The 17th army was pulled from the Crimea to stiffen the line and together with the 2nd and 4th panzer armies have been digging in along the Oskol river. There is a lot of Soviet arty backed up by mechanized and tank corps andI expect to be pushed hard here during the summer. It will be interesting to see how Hfarrish handles his mobile units. If he pushes his mobile units too far ahead of his infantry I may be able to rough them up pretty good. My armored units still pack a solid punch. The Italians have had enough of the war and are heading back to southern europe...... [image]local://upfiles/27926/13DB60E593754FD38A0C5CBDDB2EC42E.jpg[/image]

smokindave34 -> RE: Stalingrad to Berlin (No Hfarrish) (10/7/2013 1:14:34 AM)
June '43 I decide to give ground in this area of the front. In hindsight I kind of wished I had held my ground here.....as I look at the map I had a solid row of forts. I was concerned that Hfarrish could punch through my lines in the Rostov area and that is why I decided to pull back. I also understand that I have a lot of ground to give in the south and I would much rather fight the Soviets as they advance into open ground. The newly re-constituted 6th army refits and digs in around Stalino. There are a lot of Soviet Guards rifle corps in this area and I suspect Hfarrish is going to make this area the focus of this summer offensive. I see more mobile units in this area than in any other and this makes sense since it is such good "tank country". [image]local://upfiles/27926/73B26F0DBD27428598847A9F7B27CC7A.jpg[/image]

smokindave34 -> RE: Stalingrad to Berlin (No Hfarrish) (10/7/2013 1:16:25 AM)
June '43 The Crimean Army digs in. I don't see much Soviet activity here so I hope this area continues to be quiet. [image]local://upfiles/27926/8FF843DDEE964111B410E28F5EBDAF63.jpg[/image]

smokindave34 -> RE: Stalingrad to Berlin (No Hfarrish) (11/8/2013 6:14:20 PM)
9/30/43 My struggle against Hfarrish and his Bolsheviks continues now into late September. Overall I'm happy with my situation. My OOB and armaments continue to remain high and I'm still holding lines east of the historical lines. Summer is drawing to a close now and I've managed to survive the clear weather without any major Soviet breakthroughs. However with that said the Soviet steamroller is gaining momentum particularly in the south...... Here is the current OOB. [image]local://upfiles/27926/BFD9F6AF2BA0448996DBE7FE9A4F5BA9.jpg[/image]

smokindave34 -> RE: Stalingrad to Berlin (No Hfarrish) (11/8/2013 6:14:52 PM)
And the current production numbers for Germany..... [image]local://upfiles/27926/7E359B189F424B2D96F37D976543B354.jpg[/image]

smokindave34 -> RE: Stalingrad to Berlin (No Hfarrish) (11/8/2013 6:17:00 PM)
9/30/43 For the first time in our game Hfarrish begins to attack the 18th army near Leningrad. I have no reserves in this area and have not had any forces available to build forts in depth so I expect to have to start falling back here as he throws more rifle corps at me. [image]local://upfiles/27926/623D0DA376DC48BE9E5EBFF82E5492DB.jpg[/image]

smokindave34 -> RE: Stalingrad to Berlin (No Hfarrish) (11/8/2013 6:22:05 PM)
9/30/43 16th and 3rd panzer armies. The best Soviet forces north of the Pripyat marshes are in this sector of the front and I have used 3rd panzer and 16armies panzers to slow the progress of the Soviet 1st shock and 18th armies. I've been able to keep some units (the SS divisions) in reserve to help counter the heavy Soviet artillery presence here. As the 18th army gets put under more pressure from the Leningrad front I'll be forced to draw some forces off of this area for support. I think Hfarrish made a mistake by picking this area as the focus of his northern offensive - the terrain really favors the defender. On the other hand it is the shortest route to Berlin. [image]local://upfiles/27926/C71FFF0CD1CA43CC8C0628B7C6BBBE47.jpg[/image]

smokindave34 -> RE: Stalingrad to Berlin (No Hfarrish) (11/8/2013 6:26:43 PM)
9/30/43 AGC Models 9th army and Heinrici's 4th army continue to stand firm against countless Soviet attacks. I have some of the Wehrmacht's best panzers in reserve here to hold the line. Having a chain of command with Model/Heinrici, Von Kluge and then Von Manstein certainly helps the chances of committing reserves to a battle. [image]local://upfiles/27926/DB5DF768BDBA4E639732C5F299695F8C.jpg[/image]

smokindave34 -> RE: Stalingrad to Berlin (No Hfarrish) (11/8/2013 6:30:35 PM)
9/30/43 I'm in trouble near Kursk. 2nd army has been getting hammered by the 3rd Guards and 5th shock armies and Hfarrish has now got me backed up in clear terrain with no forts. The Soviet momentum is really picking up here. Fortunately the weather will soon slow the Soviet progress a bit but will also impact my ability to build fortifications. [image]local://upfiles/27926/8F04397F57AC436ABFAECB2EA5CA9EA7.jpg[/image]

smokindave34 -> RE: Stalingrad to Berlin (No Hfarrish) (11/8/2013 6:34:27 PM)
9/30/43 I'm also in trouble near Stalino. The 1st panzer and 6th armies have been getting pounded for the last 6 weeks and Hfarrish is now moving west a steady 2 hexes per turn. I was able to counterattack this turn along a good portion of the front and rout a few Soviet units (including some of those nasty artillery divisions) but I'm now at the point where I don't have any good terrain/forts to fall back on. Hfarrish has the bulk of his mobile units in this area and I'll have to be careful in how I withdraw here. [image]local://upfiles/27926/FB3D2C7E4A234921AD9EB801429FC238.jpg[/image]

swkuh -> RE: Stalingrad to Berlin (No Hfarrish) (11/9/2013 11:31:02 AM)
Appreciate your analysis of difficult situation. This scenario is one of my favorites vs Sov AI. Can't stop the juggernaut once its rolling, though. Good luck.

smokindave34 -> RE: Stalingrad to Berlin (No Hfarrish) (11/10/2013 11:03:27 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: rrbill Appreciate your analysis of difficult situation. This scenario is one of my favorites vs Sov AI. Can't stop the juggernaut once its rolling, though. Good luck. Thanks rrbill......I enjoy a good defensive battle! How have you done against the Soviet AI? This is my first go at this scenario.

smokindave34 -> RE: Stalingrad to Berlin (No Hfarrish) (11/26/2013 6:34:35 PM)
December 1943 The pace is picking up for the Soviets particularly in the South around Kurks and Orel. AGN and AGC have been able to hold firm however I'm having to transfer units to AGS to try and slow down Hfarrish's winter offensive. Here is the current OOB for 12/2/43... I still have 200K armaments points and 40K men in the pool so I should be able to withstand the increased Soviet momentum for a short time at least. [image]local://upfiles/27926/E8F2CADE07E04B7FBB27CAD797989D5B.jpg[/image]

smokindave34 -> RE: Stalingrad to Berlin (No Hfarrish) (11/26/2013 6:39:55 PM)
AGN - December 1943 Fairly quiet here. Hfarrish admitted to me that he regrets launching an offensive in the Pskov area. The combination of excellent defensive terrain and the arrival of the SS panzer corps slowed him down considerably and he has now transferred most of his mobile units to the south. [image]local://upfiles/27926/D95CBEF48EBE4486AC8C8C2735D3014E.jpg[/image]

smokindave34 -> RE: Stalingrad to Berlin (No Hfarrish) (11/26/2013 6:41:46 PM)
AGC December 1943 Limited attacks against the 9th and 4th armies. Overall I'm very pleased here as this is the shortest route to Berlin. Fortunately Hfarrish hasn't sniffed out that I have a weak Luftwaffe corps holding the line between 3rd panzer and 9th army. [image]local://upfiles/27926/14531288DF734508A07B6063FBAC67A2.jpg[/image]

smokindave34 -> RE: Stalingrad to Berlin (No Hfarrish) (11/26/2013 6:48:23 PM)
AGS December 1943 The Soviets launch a major winter offensive against elements of the 2nd and 8th armies. 4 German divisions are surrounded by mobile forces of the Bolshevik 2nd Guards, 47th, and 56th armies. I count 6 cavalry corps, 2 mechanized corps, and 5 tank corps in this area. The XXXXVIII panzer corps under Herman Balck is transferred to Ferdinand Schorners 2nd army to counter the Soviet operation. Additionally the GD division is en route by rail from Pskov to support 2nd army. I also sent the 2nd Fallschirmjager division to this area (it arrived as a reinforcement last turn). I'm kicking myself for not seeing this coming - recon should have been able to spot this easily! I became complacent during the earlier slow Soviet advance. [image]local://upfiles/27926/C14D0E8AF2A54E9ABE1A80EF38FCEFA0.jpg[/image]

smokindave34 -> RE: Stalingrad to Berlin (No Hfarrish) (11/26/2013 6:53:48 PM)
The XXXVIII panzer corps is able to open an escape corridor for two of the trapped infantry divisions but I don't expect I'll be able to keep them from eventually falling into Soviet captivity. Orel has been designated a fortress city and will be held until the end! At this point in the game I can't hold back any determined Soviet assault - the combination of Guards rifle corps and breakthrough artillery can push back even my best units. I begin a slow wihdrawl west by 2nd and 17th armies. Weather will slow the Soviets more than I will in the open southern terrain. My minor allies continue to build a firewall behind my main lines. My goal for the winter will be to hold the Soviets to the east of the Denpr river...... [image]local://upfiles/27926/4F9100CF8AF743A48DBC64BC6FA0A1BA.jpg[/image]

smokindave34 -> RE: Stalingrad to Berlin (No Hfarrish) (11/26/2013 6:55:57 PM)
AGS - December 1943 The 17th army falls back to ensure its northern flank is not exposed by the recent Soviet offensive. Hfarrish has another blob of mobile unit around Kursk and I'm afraid another breakthrough may be imminent here. I going to send the two mountain divisions to 2nd army next turn since that is where the action is and I'll need their mobility. [image]local://upfiles/27926/03AB391A4BA74145A3762470218F86D3.jpg[/image]

smokindave34 -> RE: Stalingrad to Berlin (No Hfarrish) (11/26/2013 6:59:25 PM)
6th army - December 1943 The 6th and 1st panzer armies hold back determined Soviet attacks. Hfarrish seems to be pushing straight towards D and Z town. I think if he made a strong effort he could break through to the Sea of Azov and pocket some of 6th army. Fortunatley the mobile Soviet units in this area seem to be heading west or northwest at this time. [image]local://upfiles/27926/E3FC412B66C74F51AFECF1F8407D581E.jpg[/image]

loki100 -> RE: Stalingrad to Berlin (No Hfarrish) (11/26/2013 8:10:36 PM)
this continues to be a great read. So different to the usual PBEM situations by this stage of the war

smokindave34 -> RE: Stalingrad to Berlin (No Hfarrish) (12/16/2013 4:27:10 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: loki100 this continues to be a great read. So different to the usual PBEM situations by this stage of the war Thanks Loki100 - I think 80% of the AAR's cover only summer '41. I'm enjoying this scenario a lot.

smokindave34 -> RE: Stalingrad to Berlin (No Hfarrish) (12/16/2013 4:31:35 PM)
February 1944 AGN: The Soviets are on the offensive along the whole front now. The weather is slowing the Soviet steamroller as much as I am at this point in the game. Hfarrish uses the 2nd shock and 8th armies to batter my 18th army in front of Leningrad. This was always a weak spot for me and now the Soviets are consistently pushing me back one to two hexes per turn. The good defensive terrain and the lack of Soviet armored forces (only 1 Tank corps) have helped me make a controlled withdrawal in this sector. [image]local://upfiles/27926/7FA70712380C45F4AA9A7A0EA8AB8E87.jpg[/image]

smokindave34 -> RE: Stalingrad to Berlin (No Hfarrish) (12/16/2013 4:35:47 PM)
February 1944 More AGN: The 16th Army (Model) continues to get hammered by the 1st Shock army east of Pskov. Hfarrish is at the point now where he has pushed me out of most of the favorable terrain and I'll be forced to pull back a portion of 3rd Panzer army to prevent a possible encirclement. XI Corps (Von Schweppenburg) has strong armored units that I hope will slow the Soviet progress such that I can hold my fortified fall back position through the mud turns. [image]local://upfiles/27926/F1D67071E6CB4A7CA9E2F29FBC0816B9.jpg[/image]

smokindave34 -> RE: Stalingrad to Berlin (No Hfarrish) (12/16/2013 4:41:35 PM)
February 1944 AGC: The 9th army continues to hold firm in front of Smolensk thanks in large part to the panzers of XXXIX panzer corps. This is one of the few points left on my line where I have the luxury of keeping some panzers in reserve mode. This situation for Heinrici's 4th army is much worse. Hfarrish has committed strong mobile units to the area between 4th and 2nd armies and is getting closer each turn to a clean breakthrough. The last three turns I have been counterattacking his lead armored units to free my infantry from ZOC locks. I count 7 cavalry, 6 tank, and 5 mechanized corps here. My goal is to keep him of the Dnepr until after the mud turns. I have ground to give so I feel confident about that. LIII corps is loaded with construction units and digs in along the river while 4th and 8th armies fall back. [image]local://upfiles/27926/E56609A6B9AA43718376140FFFC414EF.jpg[/image]

smokindave34 -> RE: Stalingrad to Berlin (No Hfarrish) (12/16/2013 4:44:33 PM)
February 1944 AGC The situation after my moves. The 2nd army lends XXXXVIII panzer corps (Herlein)to counter attack the leading Soviet units. At this stage of the war even Hfarrish's mobile corps don't rout even when they have no retreat path - they keep coming back strong turn after turn! [image]local://upfiles/27926/A260897A4C594BFEBDB9F49305D06DAD.jpg[/image]

smokindave34 -> RE: Stalingrad to Berlin (No Hfarrish) (12/16/2013 4:46:49 PM)
February 1944 17th Army: 17th army also faces a breakthrough by elements of the 3rd Guards army. The one panzer division left in 4th panzer army helps out here and pushes the Soviets back while IV corps falls back. I have ground to give here as well and will fall back one to two hexes per turn until the mud hits. I'm in better shape here than the Germans were historically and that is primarily because I didn't launch my own "Citadel" in the summer but rather conserved my best units to slow the Soviet progress. Not sure if this could have been possible for the actual Wehrmacht as Hitler needed a success on the east front in 1943 for a host of reasons. There were certainly voices in the Wehrmacht who were opposed to Citadel (even Hitler wavered for a time). This may be similar to the 1941 argument that is common on the forum regarding Soviet runaways in the south in '41 - was it politically possible? My own opinion is that it was much more plausible for the Germans to cancel Citadel than for the Russians to run and give up Kiev in '41. [image]local://upfiles/27926/8A22DE08C71F42CDAF98E98D1B8ED27A.jpg[/image]

smokindave34 -> RE: Stalingrad to Berlin (No Hfarrish) (12/16/2013 4:57:50 PM)
February 1944 The Soviets are on the verge of taking back D&Z town. I decide to stand and fight here for three reasons 1) I have solid forts built 2) I have strong armored units and 3) I want to delay a crossing of the river for as long as possible. I know I can't hold this line until mud hits but will try and postpone the inevitable for as long as I can. My allies dig as best they can while the Wehrmacht hold the front line. The Soviet momentum will be fast here during the summer - no fall back lines have been built and lots of open terrain. [image]local://upfiles/27926/83310B9B23E44ED39DE4C0DF8CA3BD53.jpg[/image]

smokindave34 -> RE: Stalingrad to Berlin (No Hfarrish) (12/16/2013 4:58:51 PM)
February 1944 Current OOB [image]local://upfiles/27926/9D927B7C918F4640A02C1DB2AE3A8EC4.jpg[/image]

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