bwheatley
Posts: 3650
Joined: 12/13/2004 Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: BigAnorak While the first turn Lvov mega-pocket looks spectacular, the new air supply rules could mean it is of less long term value to the Axis. My approach to pockets has been to be sure I could eliminate them in one turn so as not to delay the eastward movement of the infantry, and if the pocket is not eliminated, use the minimum of force to clean it up. The Lvov "mega-pocket" can take 3-4 turns to clear up and ties down 6th and 17th armies, now, if the Soviets get air supply in there, this could take even longer. How many AARs have we seen where the Axis players who have used the Lvov gambit have gone on to achieve better than historical results across the whole front before the blizzard hits? Personally I have never used it, and in the 2 published AARs, one vs. the AI and one PBEM against Trey, I formed 2 separate pockets in the south, one small one around Lvov on turn 1 and a much larger one on turn 4-5 in front of Zhitomir (sp) which probably did as much damage as the "mega-pocket" gambit, but crucially allowed the infantry to get further east to support an earlier capture of Kiev. In both cases, I did achieve better than historical results before the blizzard hit, and this was without HQ Buildup, until it became available about T16 of my game the Trey, and helped me get Rostov and Moscow. As noted elsewhere, the Axis has to significantly weaken AGC to pull off the Lvov Gambit, and this too will have medium to longer term consequences. The strategy is not an exploit, it is a choice, and like every choice it has it's consequences. Trying to survive the Lvov pocket in my game with abulbulian i was able to get air resupply in effect for 7 hexes around the airbase. I lost hundreds of bombers doing it. On T3 i was unable to get enough lift to keep the pocket air supplied again. It's not sustainable and the air supply only delayed the inevitable.
_____________________________
-Alpha Tester Carrier Force -Beta Tester ATG - Mod Maintainer (past) for ATG's WAW mod - Mod Maintainer (past) for ATG's GPW mod -Beta Tester WITE -Alpha Tester WITW -Alpha Tester WITE2 -Alpha Tester Wif -Beta Tester Command
|