The Great Patriotic War (STE78 vs 821bobo)

[chaos45]

19 damaged tho.....Germans held the battlefield to recover the damaged tanks you could look at it that way.

Most tanks arent totally destroyed in combat....its the side that losses the field that usually losses alot of tanks because they cant repair what they no longer have.....I do agree tho, light losses but thats standard in WITE

[STEF78]

even in case of retreat, AFV losses seem very low. 3 recent examples below

[shermanny]

In 1943 you need to form as many guards rifle corps as possible. These eventually move up to high-morale monsters. Give each 3 support units; two sapper regiments and one different. Perhaps an SU, perhaps Hvy Tank, perhaps flamethrower bn. It will depend.

[shermanny]

I expect the Germans can hold the draw, what with lower Soviet morale for 1944 and 1945, higher German morale, and truck shortages that plague the Soviets.

A careful German defender can mix determined stands on one sector, backed by plenty of Panzers, with flexible defense and backpedaling on other sectors. As the Soviets make headway in one sector, the defense can shift emphasis to obstruct the most advanced Soviet sector. If the Germans can avoid getting too much pocketed, by prudent use of reserves and withdrawals, they can remain reasonably strong even into 1945.

[STEF78]

ORIGINAL: Shermanny

In 1943 you need to form as many guards rifle corps as possible. These eventually move up to high-morale monsters. Give each 3 support units; two sapper regiments and one different. Perhaps an SU, perhaps Hvy Tank, perhaps flamethrower bn. It will depend.

I have currently 43 guards rifle corps, all filled with 3 sapper regiments

[STEF78]

ORIGINAL: Shermanny

I expect the Germans can hold the draw, what with lower Soviet morale for 1944 and 1945, higher German morale, and truck shortages that plague the Soviets.

A careful German defender can mix determined stands on one sector, backed by plenty of Panzers, with flexible defense and backpedaling on other sectors. As the Soviets make headway in one sector, the defense can shift emphasis to obstruct the most advanced Soviet sector. If the Germans can avoid getting too much pocketed, by prudent use of reserves and withdrawals, they can remain reasonably strong even into 1945.

Bobo is actually able to fully block 25/30 hexes. A Pzd in level 3 entrenchment is almost impossible to expell at this stage of the war.

[STEF78]

Turn 117, 9th september 1943

Always something new in the russian OOB. At the moment rifle squads are converting to 1943's squads and 76mm field ZIS are replacing 152mm howitzer



The german OOB is above 4M men at the beginning of the turn



In the north, we fell one hex short from an interesting move



In the South, the germans evacuate some salliants and give up eastern Caucasus

[STEF78]

Turn 117, 9th september 1943

And an overview of the whole front. Bryansk and Kursk will be liberated soon. Smolensk will follow

[STEF78]

Turn 118, 16th september 1943

Novgorod

The finns are counterattacking near Leningrad. One third of the finnish army is involved, heavy losses on both sides.



Of course, as I cannot expell the finns, 2 german inf divs are choosen as victims. They aren't cooperative but retreat after 2 attacks.



Center
Central front is blocked by XXXXIth PzK. A Hard nut...

German line is weakening in front of Smolensk, south of Bryansk and south of Kursk



Caucasus

Axis units have disappeared

[ericv]

He has got a lot of armored units on the flanks of that pink front of yours to the southwest of Voronezh, that kind of bulges into his line. The german army is still very powerful, I know it is prudent for the german not to attack anymore at this point, but be careful or you might lose a front.. The same happened to, if i recall correctly Loki100 in 1944 not so long ago.

[STEF78]

ORIGINAL: ericv
He has got a lot of armored units on the flanks of that pink front of yours to the southwest of Voronezh, that kind of bulges into his line. The german army is still very powerful, I know it is prudent for the german not to attack anymore at this point, but be careful or you might lose a front.. The same happened to, if i recall correctly Loki100 in 1944 not so long ago.

Interesting idea but it would be a hard task to achieve an encirclement for the germans. Their mobile units are spread all along the front, my units are well entrenched and even if they can pierce they will be without entrenchment which mean an CV below 20. I doubt it would be enough against strong russian counterattacks.
from my point of view, german salliants are more in danger than mine.

[STEF78]

Turn 119, 23th september 1943

Russian army is more and more powerful while the german one slowly weakens



Novgorod

2 more german divisions worn out



Center

Digging in the german line... and creating more salliants



South

The romanians won't hold the Manych/Don line

[STEF78]

Turn 120, 30th september 1943

Mud season is close now. Always grinding wherever it's possible

Novgorod

2 assaults are required to expell 3 infs in level 3 entrenchment.



Smolensk

Time is difficult for german inf divs in hot spots



Center

An overview of the situation from Smolensk to Boguchar (moves not completed)



Bryansk

A closer view from this area where german line weakens



South

Axis in full retreat

[STEF78]

Turn 121, 7th october 1943

Last week before mud, focus on 2 sectors

Novgorod

Heavy bombers losses...



Center

Mud will be welcome for the germans. Around Bryansk, the german line holds but is becoming very weak.

Kursk is surrounded and will not be rescued if we get mud.

[STEF78]

The evolution of the OOB. German armored units are still strong.

[STEF78]

Russian army is getting stronger month after month. Due to experience, national morale and win/loss ratio, CV is gaining 1 point per month...

[jwolf]

Those top guards corps look very nice. [8D] You should be able to make some good progress once the winter starts.

[821Bobo]

Tell me, winter already started [:D]

[STEF78]

Summer 1943 campaign is over. Russians did substantial progress in the South but only because germans gave up ground.

I think that Bobo managed well to handle this summer.

In june, I was too weak to make substantial damages. When august arrived, my army was stronger and some opportunities were close to appear but at this time Bobo evacuated Caucasus and strongly reinforced the Leningrad area with Mountain Inf and center with Pzd coming from the lower Volga.

The germans are now far below 4M men when russian army is approaching 8.5M...

From my opinion the result of the campaign is
1941 minor russian victory
1942 major german victory
1943 minor german victory

I need a major victory in 1944 in order to avoid a draw or worse

Winter campaign will be decisive!

[STEF78]

Turn 125, 4th november 1943

Mud in october but snow appears early november in southern Russia. We try to cross the Don east of Rostov. Unfortunatly we didn't succeed in creating a 30 miles wide beachhead