From Russia with love, STEF78 vs Beekeeper

MattFL · Post by **MattFL** » Wed Aug 26, 2015 11:11 pm

Assuming that is your turn start (or close to it), I'm surprised you can't break that encirclement. The HQ stacked 6=9 and 5=6 infantry seem vulnerable... Of course, you could just end up getting more units encircled, but I think the delay in reducing the pocket is worth it.

chaos45 · Post by **chaos45** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 12:07 am

Without CAV corps being in the area the move to the Germans would make it to where most of his units couldnt do a full attack. One hex of German control is typically 5 MP for most Soviet units...then you still need 6 to attack. Its why CAV corps are a must as a rested CAV corps will usually start the turn with 20+ MP and if you have been successful with Guard CAV corps they can hit 60-70 Morale in 1942 and only cost 4 MP to enter German hexes.

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 3:05 am

ORIGINAL: mattp

Assuming that is your turn start (or close to it), I'm surprised you can't break that encirclement. The HQ stacked 6=9 and 5=6 infantry seem vulnerable... Of course, you could just end up getting more units encircled, but I think the delay in reducing the pocket is worth it.

Of course I thought about it!

moving the CV6 is useless
moving the CV9 requires to attack with at least CV18 (it was impossible) and being able to move on of the units in the Pocket just behind. I already moved some units in the Pocket before taking the picture and hadn't enough MP to come behind the CV9.

And don't forget that we are playing random weather... maybe next turn will be clear and I don't want to loose another 10/15 units!

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 3:06 am

ORIGINAL: chaos45

Without CAV corps being in the area the move to the Germans would make it to where most of his units couldnt do a full attack. One hex of German control is typically 5 MP for most Soviet units...then you still need 6 to attack. Its why CAV corps are a must as a rested CAV corps will usually start the turn with 20+ MP and if you have been successful with Guard CAV corps they can hit 60-70 Morale in 1942 and only cost 4 MP to enter German hexes.

+1

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Sat Aug 29, 2015 10:46 am

Situation after my moves

loki100 · Post by **loki100** » Sat Aug 29, 2015 10:50 am

that was a nasty first bite out of your army ... ouch [;)]

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Sat Aug 29, 2015 10:56 am

Turn 40, 19th march 1942

Random weather! Mud in march on the majority of the battlefield

But somme of his units are not in the mud and he pushes to the Don. He obviously wants to cross it till it is frozen (picture after my moves)

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Sat Aug 29, 2015 11:07 am

ORIGINAL: loki100

that was a nasty first bite out of your army ... ouch [;)]

there will be others encirclements for sure, Beekeeper is an aggressive player.
But it's always difficult to choose between fighting and retreating.
I could run to the Volga and fight on the northern Oka bank but I prefer doing it in september 1942 than in May 1942

MattFL · Post by **MattFL** » Sat Aug 29, 2015 6:29 pm

Ahh, I hadn't noticed that the units inside had already moved. Otherwise in my exp it would have been worth making the 1:1 (or slightly greater) attack to try to break the pocket simply because of the size of the pocket. The extra turn is key in allowing dig time at the next line...

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Sun Aug 30, 2015 7:36 am

ORIGINAL: mattp

Ahh, I hadn't noticed that the units inside had already moved. Otherwise in my exp it would have been worth making the 1:1 (or slightly greater) attack to try to break the pocket simply because of the size of the pocket. The extra turn is key in allowing dig time at the next line...

You're right but random weather gives me headaches!

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Sun Aug 30, 2015 7:51 am

Turn 41, 26th march 1942

Snow is back, the Pocket is cleared and Beekeeper advances to the Don. Normally next turn is mud, so the river shouldn't be crossed.

And a global view of the OOB with the minor axis allies

The evolution over the last turns, Soviet army has a strong ability to recover! The encirclement cost me 4 weeks of reinforcement

chaos45 · Post by **chaos45** » Sun Aug 30, 2015 2:53 pm

You will find AP is what really restricts the Soviet Army. Manpower and Armaments wont be massive issues unless you take truly massive losses. Even then if you cant form new units you wont have anything to fill up with manpower/armaments.

I pretty much burn my armaments up every turn but its not lessening my armies ability to build up my artillery divisions are filling to 90% during the 2 turns of formation and thats with building 2-3 per week.

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Mon Aug 31, 2015 4:31 pm

Turn 42, 2nd april 1942

It should be mud and it's... SNOW [:(]

Of course Beekeeper takes advantage of this situation. He crosses the Don with several Pzd

Should I stay or should I go? I bet on mud for the next turn and decide to counterattack with all units available. And my Cav corps are gathering in this area.

MattFL · Post by **MattFL** » Mon Aug 31, 2015 4:58 pm

That's one brave beekeeper putting his fate in the hands of the Slovakian Mobile Division.

Rosseau · Post by **Rosseau** » Mon Aug 31, 2015 8:19 pm

Great insights here for newer players. And random weather seems a good option.

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Tue Sep 01, 2015 2:46 am

ORIGINAL: mattp

That's one brave beekeeper putting his fate in the hands of the Slovakian Mobile Division.

It wasn't that optimistic.

He obviously thought that he could achieve encirclement. He got 2 held results on his southern pincer that prevented the Pocket to be closed and gave enough MP and strength to my Mountain Div in the Pocket to push twice the slovakian unit.

It's his way of playing, he is always all in for attack.

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Tue Sep 01, 2015 2:51 am

ORIGINAL: rosseau

Great insights here for newer players. And random weather seems a good option.

Thanks!

Random weather is a bonus as it gives a lot of uncerntainty. My first look when opening a turn is the weather screen, except when the screen opens with a hole in my front... I know that it's clear or snow!

chaos45 · Post by **chaos45** » Tue Sep 01, 2015 9:12 am

If its mud he could be in for some trouble but if thats your final moves even in mud he can probably rescue most if not all of his units. As even with the mud reductions a 1 CV unit can be moved.

STEF78 · Post by **STEF78** » Tue Sep 01, 2015 4:04 pm

Turn 43, 9th april 1942

Chaos45 was right, Beekeeper reopened the Pocket despite of mud.

I attacked the Pzd with CV1, it retreated and lost 50 AFV

Peltonx · Post by **Peltonx** » Tue Sep 01, 2015 8:30 pm

he is across the major river now and it is only April so a clear turn is possible also.

He is in a good position be carefull