Plaid vs Supermax : the remake (no Supermax allowed here)

_Augustus_ · Post by **_Augustus_** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 3:41 pm

Sir,

I'm enjoying your AAR, but I have one request. Would it be possible for you to crop your screenshots in a way they would include the date and turn number or othewise indicate the date in your posts?

In his message Max mentioned some "russian surprise" ready for me

Is there a prize for getting this right?

I'll place my money on Soviet transport armada that covers western and nortwestern shores of Black Sea.

_augustus_

Crazygunner1 · Post by **Crazygunner1** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 8:08 pm

Plaid wrote:It looks to me that Max lost ~6-8 mech for nothing, neither railing them away, not supporting with other troops and forming any reasonable defence. They were just left on the way of my panzers...

It surprizes me somethimes to see how "reckless" max can be, with absolutely little or no respect for losses.....well i guess that is what makes Max playing style so fun, you aither win big or loose big!!! he he he

Plaid · Post by **Plaid** » Sun Jan 02, 2011 3:47 pm

Well, I lost my northern screen again... Its getting really annoying, maybe I should just stop cutting screens, since I lose some of them in the process

Anyway, now I have most of troops and luftwaffe concentrated near Moscow and Leningrad. Soviet defences near Moscow spotted - very weak, but soviets have really lots of fighters ( can see 4) which are almost just as good as mine. City of Pskov captured, siege of Leningrad started. I shall build more german fighters to engage red army airforce succesfully. 1 fighter purchased this turn.

Here I am going to secure Kerch before bad weather.

Annoying partisan spawned directly in Orleans... I deployed some fresh built troops (2 corps and mech) in western germany. Their task will be to destroy this partisans and show Max, that I have good reserves ready for anything

Plaid · Post by **Plaid** » Sun Jan 02, 2011 4:48 pm

All almost over on the east, our final goal is Leningrad.

2 soviet corps were railed to stop us from getting city, but we will try still.

Leading corps can be destroyed, but its not like I don't have other. This number of fighters is really annoying - can't provide escorts for all bomb-raids.

On the south Kerch is close to fall aswell.

Not much interesting elsewhere.

massina_nz · Post by **massina_nz** » Sun Jan 02, 2011 10:12 pm

It seems what Max is doing (lots of Russian FTRs) is what Thommo did to me in a recently completed drawn game. It was very effective in negating the Luftwaffe in Russia. Good luck because I wasn't able to do much about it.

Plaid · Post by **Plaid** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 8:33 am

Its really lots of russian FTR and it seems to be "surprise", mentioned above.

In the north soviet counterattack destroyed my corps and reconnected Leningrad to soviet supply network - so fresh corps was railed in. In return we take Novgorod to prevent further reinforcements being railed here and destroy 2 soviet infantry (1 was badly damaged). City is sieged again, but we can't assault it before spring at best.

In the south another soviet counterattack near Krivoi Rog. They destroyed one minor corps and damaged german one to 1 step. In return we were able to destroy mech and armour. Also area further reinforced. Will it stop them?

In the MED some action around Salonika, where RN and RAF supports greek partisans.

Our goals for summer campaign will be Moscow and Leningrad. I am not sure yet, how to handle this horde of fighters, but russians have almost nothing but them.

ferokapo · Post by **ferokapo** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 11:50 am

Plaid wrote:Its really lots of russian FTR and it seems to be "surprise", mentioned above.

(...)
Our goals for summer campaign will be Moscow and Leningrad. I am not sure yet, how to handle this horde of fighters, but russians have almost nothing but them.

Well, it means the Russians must have neglected ground units. They should not be able to mount a strong offensive in the winter, or build a solid double defense line everywhere, leaving you some opportunities to strike. You must still counter their fighters, though. The only way is to build more of your own, of course. In the winter, don´t let the Soviet fighters engage yours, because you will not deal out a lot of damage. Once you attack in spring, use your fighters to attack ground units or enemy fighters directly. Once you have drawn all enemy fighters out, your bombers can attack with impunity, followed by your ground units. Losses will be heavy on both sides, but it´s still 1942, and you should still be able to grind the Russians down within a few turns: Either they repair their costly fighters and neglect ground units again, or focus on ground units - leaving you with air superiority. Remember, you still have the initiative. The Russians cannot guard all of their front. Choose the spot where their defense is weakest, and don't let them see your build-up. Then, you will enjoy local air superiority during the first attack turn. If this means attacking in the South, so be it. Your goal is to seriously weaken the Russians, destroying lots of units while you can.

Plaid · Post by **Plaid** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 11:16 am

Allies continue to hunt my subs, with no succes this time

Its mostly rest and repairs in soviet union - we also try to escape soviet fighters, which occupied some bases behind my lines.

In the south we are going to capture Kerch next turn - stukas rebased for final assault. Note soviet transports, which will not be able to land, thanks to MUD weather.

Soviets canceled their attack and retreated from Stalino area, so now order for all this troops is to stand ground and look like powerful german frontline.

Same for units near Leningrad and Moscow.

I switched my labs to Aritillery and tank destroyers to maximise flak power of my units against soviet air.

No SW at the end of my turn.

Plaid · Post by **Plaid** » Thu Jan 06, 2011 11:45 am

Nothing happens this turn but my troops failed to take Kerch even with all bomber support. They will have second chance though, because SW didn't start still and the weather in russia is muddy.

USA enters the war and siberian reserves arrived.

We produce new fighter this turn. Plans for 1942 spring are offencive.

Plaid · Post by **Plaid** » Sat Jan 15, 2011 7:14 pm

Finally posting some update here.

This turn was quiet, only noteable event is capture of Kerch.

In Russia we prepare for future SW, which didn't started yet, but it will next turn.

Plaid · Post by **Plaid** » Sat Jan 15, 2011 7:21 pm

Turn was quiet again.

But number of soviet fighters spotted flooding the area near surrounded Vitebsk city. Couple of panzer korps ordered to force this fighters to rebase away.

Plaid · Post by **Plaid** » Sat Jan 15, 2011 7:52 pm

This turn something unexpected happen - Vitebsk garrison linked with russian troops and allowed Max to rail lots of troops to the city.

This sort of *offencive* was the reason, why in GS its impossible to rail into fresh captured city, but here nothing was captured - just link reistablished.

Looks like Kursk also may fall.

Winter going to be hard...

Plaid · Post by **Plaid** » Sat Jan 15, 2011 7:56 pm

Wehrmacht heavily involved in defencive fighting in Russia. But well, it should be all troops Max have.

Our own local offencive started near Rostov, city almost falls. This air bases should be ill-proteced.

In the MED one of allied BBs was a bit overconfident, and now will be destroyed.

Annoying partisan (another!) appeared in Krakow city.

Plaid · Post by **Plaid** » Sat Jan 15, 2011 8:00 pm

More fighting in Russia this turn. Looks like soviet troops are heading for Minsk now. I had to selfkill ZoCed hungarian garrison (attacked full russian unit) to rail fresh german unit into city. We are still going to fight this, despite threat of being surrounded. Our troops are superior in terms of tech, they should hold.

German southern offencive canceled, since some troops gathered around Rostov. Instead more units railed to stand against soviet attacks.

Some airpower around Koenigsberg (fair weather here) ready to support defence of Minsk.

Convoy spotted in northern sea. I was going to attack it, but the ship disappeared one hex away from waypoint. Well, we will attack another one.

In the MED BB finished off and CV heavily damaged, while my own damaged BB escapes to the port.

Plaid · Post by **Plaid** » Sat Jan 15, 2011 8:36 pm

This turn I lost Guderian HQ panzer near Bryansk and Italian BB in the MED, which was destroyed by two british SUBs.

My own airpower allowed me to make positions around Minsk more secure, one Russian corps was destroyed even. Note that soviets suffer heavy casualties, despite winter, since they attack good fortified positions and my infantry have important ground defence upgrade. With this heavy casualties they may have hard times in the summer.

Brest-Litovsk also taken from partisans by hungarian corps.

I had to reassign Rundstedt as new commander in the area, since Guderian is gone for 13 turns.

In the south both of us don't have many forces now. I don't want soviet offencive to start there.

In the MED 2 step CV finished off by fighter and sub.

Crazygunner1 · Post by **Crazygunner1** » Sat Jan 15, 2011 8:52 pm

I hate to say i told you so about railing in troops to Pskov or Vitebsk....just like Max did...

You are right about the losses of the Russians, they are high....but nothing he can´t replace and the coming summer offensive you need atleast 3-4 turns just to "clean" things up from the winter.

You really need to set an objective this coming summer, atleast capture two objectives out of these three Stalingrad, Moscow or Leningrad.

Maybe start planing for a "pincer move" from Smolensk to Novogrod, forget about Leningrad and use the INF you have there to push south to meet your other army coming from the south. To Bryansk you just continue railing in reinforcements to support the attack and hold your line. Make sure when you close the gap to keep contact with the units so he can´t rail out and don´t forget to capture Vitebsk so he got no supply....

Good luck, whatever you plan...

Crazyg

Plaid · Post by **Plaid** » Sat Jan 15, 2011 10:50 pm

Well, Max railed troops to Vitebsk, but what did he achieved, but rail effectiveness loss? He still faced entrenched german troops, ready to fight - units move so slow at SW, that its hard to actually *surprise* anyone... He would achieve same (or better) with just simple frontal attack with numerous air support he can provide (this way soviet troops will get no -10 effectiveness for railing and stay withing commander's range - note they are yellow all the time).

Blathergut · Post by **Blathergut** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 1:18 am

iiiiiiiinteresting

PionUrpo · Post by **PionUrpo** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 5:09 pm

Very interested to see how summer '42 turns out after this.

Any chance to see casualties screen btw? Right before summer offensive perhaps.

And good luck.

Crazygunner1 · Post by **Crazygunner1** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 9:41 pm

Plaid wrote:Well, Max railed troops to Vitebsk, but what did he achieved, but rail effectiveness loss? He still faced entrenched german troops, ready to fight - units move so slow at SW, that its hard to actually *surprise* anyone... He would achieve same (or better) with just simple frontal attack with numerous air support he can provide (this way soviet troops will get no -10 effectiveness for railing and stay withing commander's range - note they are yellow all the time).

Sure...all the things you stated are correct but you say he didn´t achieve anything. On the contrary i would say he has achieved alot. He has interrupted the germans during the winter so you have to spend valuable resources and fuel, that you could have spent on other fronts or the same. Not to mention the losses of a couple of tanks, leader and you are already down below 75% manpower in 42. The losses Russians have taken can easily be replace but the germans can´t, so every unit counts. Like i previously stated you also have to straighten the line to be able to advance further during summer towards your objectives. That will mean a couple of of turns less to achieve your goals for summer 42.

Hitlers order he issued on the eastern front during the first winter to "stand fast on all front" is actually not bad, since you are giving up ground that you later have to retake. But he forgot to consider the losses and germany couldn´t replace them....

Crazyg