RE: Maybe a New AAR

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

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RE: Maybe a New AAR - 6/26/2011 8:53:22 PM

JAMiAM

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As a change of pace, I'll post an analysis of a Soviet pocket relief operation. Against competent and aggressive Axis players, the Soviet player will be left with many cases of opening their turns to find pockets of various sizes being left out of supply at the start of their turn. Due to the IGO-UGO nature of the game, and the rules concerning units surrendering, rather than routing, it is a general goal of the Axis (and later Soviet) player to first isolate the pocketed units, and then attack them the next turn in order to maximize permanent losses by capture.

Conversely, the player on the receiving end of this needs to be able to relieve these pockets, if only temporarily, since this immediately resets the OOS flag on the pocketed units, and allows this cycle to be perpetuated. Theoretically, of course. Practically, these "moving pocket" battles will generally only go on for a couple of turns, given the proper execution by a competent player. However, should such a player ignore his flanks and drive on, he can often find his own mobile units counterpocketed and left low on supplies, fuel, and replacements, leading to an ever downward spiraling of his units effectiveness. This screenshots shows the positions at the start of my turn, of the Soviet forces pocketed in the Northern Ukraine.

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RE: Maybe a New AAR - 6/26/2011 8:53:33 PM

JAMiAM

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This shot shows the battle locations, and recon. It was taken at the end of the turn, so it is a bit "messy". However, it shows how much recon I run in some areas. If I need to know where the enemy is, I NEED to know, and I will fly dozens of missions in small areas, hundreds over the whole map. Cleaner shots will follow with more details.

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RE: Maybe a New AAR - 6/26/2011 8:53:44 PM

JAMiAM

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Out of sequence, but a cleaner shot of the planning stages of the relief operation.

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RE: Maybe a New AAR - 6/26/2011 8:53:56 PM

JAMiAM

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This shot shows the combat results against the three German divisions I attacked. I didn't need to attack them to relieve the pocket, but in doing so, I can grind them down just a bit more, and keep them too weak to get to Kharkov before I can finish evacuating my industry there. At least that's the plan.

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RE: Maybe a New AAR - 6/26/2011 8:54:07 PM

JAMiAM

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Here's a cleaner shot of the positions at the end of my turn. See that one German Pz Division? It's at a 1 CV! Other German mobile units are ranging between 2 and 4 CVs. We're really having a furball down here, with heavy losses on both sides due to the fluid nature of the battle.

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RE: Maybe a New AAR - 6/26/2011 8:54:19 PM

JAMiAM

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The final shot in this turn's sequence is the big picture in the South.

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RE: Maybe a New AAR - 6/26/2011 9:41:16 PM

SoliInvictus202

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thanks a lot for such an extensive explanation - for someone like me who comes from the military but has just started his first PBEM this weekend such explanatory maps really help a lot in understand on how to deal with certain situations that never came up when playing against the AI! - it especially took me some time to grasp the turn length and the different options that come with the "IGO-UGO" system...

thanks a lot to both of you for sharing your thoughts on your ongoing game!

< Message edited by SoliInvictus202 -- 6/26/2011 9:44:36 PM >

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Post #: 157

RE: Maybe a New AAR - 7/9/2011 1:45:29 AM

PeeDeeAitch

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Turn 13 - the calm before the stromboli.

Things have gone bad, my play has compounded the weather problems and I am in a fix. In the north the Leningrad offensive is not going well, but I am playing around with bombing the port of Osinovets (on Ladoga 2 hexes to the east of NW Leningrad), the main supply of the cut off troops. I have no idea if the port bombing can lower supply, but I can try. Extra bombers are called in for this, and the port is damaged about 1/3 in the first turn.

Note, the 18th Army is slowly expanding the bridgehead but always is in striking range of Leningrad if the bombing works. Flexibility in using your armies allows a multi-line approach, especially when you have blown most of your chances like mine. Taking Leningrad might yield a bunch of captures and freeing up the Finns cannot be underestimated.

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Post #: 158

RE: Maybe a New AAR - 7/9/2011 1:49:27 AM

PeeDeeAitch

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Right Hook 13

Well, I have to say that looking back it was a good plan on paper. Here the 2nd and 3rd Panzers have driven for what they are worth...and the 4th panzer, all rested on rail lines for about 5 turns jumps into the fray. The Pola is crossed, the northern Valdai are threatened, and it seems that all could be right in the world. 3 panzer groups, even as shot as mine, can create a lot of havoc.

In the wake of the 3rd and 2nd advances, the Soviets have scrambled to place troops to defend Moscow, but with only 3-5 hexes to go, massed German infantry begins to smash forward.

All in all it seems to be working on turn 13. Of course, there hasn't been mud in this region yet, but what are the odds that I would get mud here now? Especially since it struck on the best turn every other time. Of course, we all know the answer to this...

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Post #: 159

RE: Maybe a New AAR - 7/9/2011 1:52:13 AM

PeeDeeAitch

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Poor commander - poor results.

JAM already explained how he broke the pocket the turn before. I try to make things right here, but due to too few infantry I am forced to reform the pocket with some regiments. You can all see the end of this one. Had I had more movement, I would have done both lines of cicumvallation and contravallation, but it didn't work out. I would pay. The astute can see where JAM will break this one.

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"The torment of precautions often exceeds the dangers to be avoided. It is sometimes better to abandon one's self to destiny."

- Call me PDH

- WitE noob tester

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Post #: 160

RE: Maybe a New AAR - 7/9/2011 1:56:39 AM

PeeDeeAitch

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Crimea 13

Here, again, things are closest to being on track. Al lthe corps of the 11th Army assault the lines only a couple of turns late. Again, stacks of three german infantry in 1941 with support can smash almost any stack. JAM's defenses are breached. While costly, in the next 4 turns most of the Crimea can be at least made less habitable. If he doesn't hold tenaciously (I rather doubt this, given the nature of JAM), I will clear it and defend. If not, the digging in begins in earnest.

Note to German players - it is not in your best interest to stack up the mighty German infantry too much in 1941, but when you do so, make it count. There is a psychological victory when a level 3 or 4 fort gets blown away, do not underestimate this. The best of the Germans in 1941 can do far more than go face to face with the Soviets, they can wipe the floor with them.

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"The torment of precautions often exceeds the dangers to be avoided. It is sometimes better to abandon one's self to destiny."

- Call me PDH

- WitE noob tester

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RE: Maybe a New AAR - 7/9/2011 1:58:48 AM

PeeDeeAitch

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I am old enough and grumpy enough to admit that I have made a lot of mistakes in this game. However, at this point I did feel like some of my plans might pay off. I expected the Dnepr pocket to take at least a couple more turns to firm up, but the north seemed to have great potential.

It was not the weather that stymied me in this game, it is JAM. My own incompetance has made things worse, but that is alright. I feel that someone learning needs measures of success and loss to truly understand what it is they are doing. I am firmly in the latter camp in this game!

_____________________________

"The torment of precautions often exceeds the dangers to be avoided. It is sometimes better to abandon one's self to destiny."

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Post #: 162

RE: Maybe a New AAR - 8/1/2011 12:24:09 AM

JAMiAM

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Starting from the bottom, up.

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RE: Maybe a New AAR - 8/1/2011 12:24:20 AM

JAMiAM

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Here is a picture with some details about the second relief of the North Ukrainian pocket.

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RE: Maybe a New AAR - 8/1/2011 12:24:33 AM

JAMiAM

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The "big picture" in the South.

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RE: Maybe a New AAR - 8/1/2011 12:24:46 AM

JAMiAM

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The "big picture" in the Center.

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RE: Maybe a New AAR - 8/1/2011 12:24:59 AM

JAMiAM

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The northern pocket, with a slight tear in it, that the tailor neglected to sew up...

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RE: Maybe a New AAR - 8/1/2011 12:25:14 AM

JAMiAM

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Leningrad looks safe, but looks can be deceiving...

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RE: Maybe a New AAR - 8/1/2011 12:25:27 AM

JAMiAM

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The losses and OOB shot.

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RE: Maybe a New AAR - 8/20/2011 10:54:22 PM

PeeDeeAitch

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Turn 14 - The Good, the Not so good, and the Really kinda Ugly

Opening 14 gave me a pause, the bad kind when I see mud where I don't want it and run around the apartment screaming. My girlfriend says I care about the envelopes too much, but that is my style anyway...

The right hook/4th Panzer pincer ends with a thud. Mud in the region means again (yes, AGAIN) that I lose all momentum and I am borked. At this point the probing of 3rd Panzer means they are in danger of being killed, they are weak and out of supply, and if that old 1:1/2:1 magic takes hold, the forward elements could surrender!

I pull back what little I can, spin the prayer wheels and hope...

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"The torment of precautions often exceeds the dangers to be avoided. It is sometimes better to abandon one's self to destiny."

- Call me PDH

- WitE noob tester

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Post #: 170

RE: Maybe a New AAR - 8/20/2011 10:57:38 PM

PeeDeeAitch

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14 North

The only good to come from this is the bombing of Osinovets is having a decided effect. 55% damaged means that in a turn or two they will not be able to support the troops in the ithmus, and then it will be like taking candy from a reasonably fit, but kind of tired, and maybe a bit shagged from too much partying Soviet.

For those who play with the house rule of only 1 bombing in a city per turn, I would suggest ammending it to not cover port attacks - the German can and should use these as a good method of harming Soviet naval supply. Well, it worked for me at least...

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"The torment of precautions often exceeds the dangers to be avoided. It is sometimes better to abandon one's self to destiny."

- Call me PDH

- WitE noob tester

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Post #: 171

RE: Maybe a New AAR - 8/20/2011 10:59:53 PM

PeeDeeAitch

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Turn 14, the "Kiev Pocket"

Well, here the folly of losses have meant that closing this pocket has become a 3 turn affair. By the teens in turns, I usually expect pockets to take 2 turns to close, 3 turns means I am being an idiot. Playing against someone who gets the game as the Soviets means my approach has cost me.

Still, by the 3rd turn the pocket seems better sealed.

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_____________________________

"The torment of precautions often exceeds the dangers to be avoided. It is sometimes better to abandon one's self to destiny."

- Call me PDH

- WitE noob tester

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Post #: 172

RE: Maybe a New AAR - 8/20/2011 11:01:22 PM

PeeDeeAitch

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Crimea 14

The 11th Army rampages into the peninsula, caution to the wind...I forget that I am playing JAM and that a coastal rush might be bad, but for the moment all seems good!

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"The torment of precautions often exceeds the dangers to be avoided. It is sometimes better to abandon one's self to destiny."

- Call me PDH

- WitE noob tester

(in reply to PeeDeeAitch)

Post #: 173

RE: Maybe a New AAR - 8/20/2011 11:04:15 PM

PeeDeeAitch

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The mud on 14 in the north meant that my plans for the campaign season ended with a whimper and not a bang. Any hope of taking another 10-20 units (I am always hopeful!) died there, and by the time I hit "end turn" it seemed as if there was a 50/50 chance of an even odds loss of a tank division or two.

I cannot blame the weather in this game other than turn 4, which unhinged a lot, but this is just one more example of that old navy adage concerning fortune changes (edited for those of weaker constitutions) "that is when the ice cream turned to crap."

There has been a lot of crap I helped facilitate in this game so far...

_____________________________

"The torment of precautions often exceeds the dangers to be avoided. It is sometimes better to abandon one's self to destiny."

- Call me PDH

- WitE noob tester

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Post #: 174

RE: Maybe a New AAR - 8/20/2011 11:37:40 PM

JAMiAM

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PDH has recently been admitted to that League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, the WITE playtesters. Since he's now able to get his hands on the newest beta version that we're testing out, we're going to be restarting our game using the latest and the greatest. Expect him in Moscow by turn 8.

Anyhow, I told him that the condition for a restart was for us to finish up our AAR, so I'm not sure how organized we will be here. We had actually completed through my turn 20, when the decision was made to restart. That said, the next few turns of presentations here may just be a jumbled mess - much like our game was...