I'll keep this in a similair format to some of the other reports I've seen.
Played on Colonel level
Belgrade
Powerful core it seems, good experience and overstrength and more of a varied mix than i would usually use.
1 SturmPanzer bought, left the other slot free at this point to see how the oppostion developed.
DV on turn 12/14
Losses: 1xPanzer Mk4 SE dead
This was a cautious press forward with spread out panzers leading the way. Entreched oppostion wasnt too bothersome for most of the game, but I got a little too carefree in pressing forward with my lead units. A counterattack by a T-26 and 2 cavalry previously undetected, plus a nearby infantry unit cost me a SE Panzer! One of the auxilliary cavalry units was also killed on the western outskirts of Belgrade also, but the other was kept safely back.
The auxilliary cavalry were actually surprisingly useful, and probably saw more combat than most of my motorised infantry that game due to there mobility.
Belgrade was fairly easy to take with a heavy artillery use.
Despite an annoying unit spam around the last objective city (Obrenovac) in the SW for 3 turns, this was a fairly straightforward scenario, and an enjoyable opener.
Kashor73 DLC 41 feedback
Moderators: Slitherine Core, The Lordz, Panzer Corps Moderators, Panzer Corps Design
Metaxas Line
Starting force:
2xInf 2xGren 1xMntn 1xPioneer 2xPzIII 3xPzIV 1xPzIII SE 1xSdFkz231 1xPanzerjaeger 1x10.5 TowedArt 1x15 TowedAre 1xNblwf 1xStugIIIB 1xSturmPanzer 1XFlak88 3xBf109f 2xJu87R 1xBf110d 1xHe112H2
3296 Prestige after reinforcement.
DV on turn 11/14.
Losses: 1xSdFkz231 1xAux Bulgarian Cavalry
This was a slow steady grind SE across the map. The 3 overstrength valentine tank units caught me by surprise and delayed me somewhat. The RAF units were wiped out, though the Mosquito bomber proved tough to bring down.
I didn't commit hard enough to pushing into the eastern portion of the map in retrospect, so didnt leave enough time to take the eastern most cities defended by British paras among other units. Bulgarian troops tied down some forces but couldnt make any real headway, after loosing a cavalry unit very early on.
Given my low losses at that point, I ended the scenario with DV with 3 turns to go rather risk squandering prestige against entrenched enemies.
Starting force:
2xInf 2xGren 1xMntn 1xPioneer 2xPzIII 3xPzIV 1xPzIII SE 1xSdFkz231 1xPanzerjaeger 1x10.5 TowedArt 1x15 TowedAre 1xNblwf 1xStugIIIB 1xSturmPanzer 1XFlak88 3xBf109f 2xJu87R 1xBf110d 1xHe112H2
3296 Prestige after reinforcement.
DV on turn 11/14.
Losses: 1xSdFkz231 1xAux Bulgarian Cavalry
This was a slow steady grind SE across the map. The 3 overstrength valentine tank units caught me by surprise and delayed me somewhat. The RAF units were wiped out, though the Mosquito bomber proved tough to bring down.
I didn't commit hard enough to pushing into the eastern portion of the map in retrospect, so didnt leave enough time to take the eastern most cities defended by British paras among other units. Bulgarian troops tied down some forces but couldnt make any real headway, after loosing a cavalry unit very early on.
Given my low losses at that point, I ended the scenario with DV with 3 turns to go rather risk squandering prestige against entrenched enemies.
Crete Airborne
Starting force:
2xInf 2xGren 1xMntn 1xPioneer 2xPzIIIG 4xPzIVE 1xPzIIIG SE 1xPzIVE SE 1xSdFkz232 1xPanzerjaeger 1x10.5 TowedArt 1x15 TowedAre 1xNblwf 1xStugIIIB 1xSturmPanzer 1XFlak88 3xBf109f 2xJu87R 1xBf110d 1xHe112H2
2799 Prestige after reinforcement.
Losses: Flak88 killed.
I started with a mix of artillery, tanks and infantry in each drop zone. While my remaining units raced for the shore. Early turns were spent chipping away at the enemy but keeping in tight around my artillery, while the naval portion of the forces charged for the coast line in the west and mid portions of the island.
Destroyers formed a barrier to the Royal navy, who generally seemed happy to blast the escorts apart. Strategic bomber tipped the scales fortunately, decimating a cruiser every 2 turns.
Real danger was in the east portion of the map, where 1 cruiser stayed in close providing naval fire, combined with armour and infantry attacks to leave my artillery (Nerbelwerfer and SturmPanzer) hanging on by a thread for a couple of turns.
Only annoyance was loosing a strength 8 Flak88 unit on the last turn to an infantry attack.
Nice change of pace to have to the setup. This certainly seemed easier than the naval version, which I also tried afterwards, where loosing some units to the royal navy seems very likely during your landing, while the AI can block your landing points and shoot your transports while you search for a safe spot.
Starting force:
2xInf 2xGren 1xMntn 1xPioneer 2xPzIIIG 4xPzIVE 1xPzIIIG SE 1xPzIVE SE 1xSdFkz232 1xPanzerjaeger 1x10.5 TowedArt 1x15 TowedAre 1xNblwf 1xStugIIIB 1xSturmPanzer 1XFlak88 3xBf109f 2xJu87R 1xBf110d 1xHe112H2
2799 Prestige after reinforcement.
Losses: Flak88 killed.
I started with a mix of artillery, tanks and infantry in each drop zone. While my remaining units raced for the shore. Early turns were spent chipping away at the enemy but keeping in tight around my artillery, while the naval portion of the forces charged for the coast line in the west and mid portions of the island.
Destroyers formed a barrier to the Royal navy, who generally seemed happy to blast the escorts apart. Strategic bomber tipped the scales fortunately, decimating a cruiser every 2 turns.
Real danger was in the east portion of the map, where 1 cruiser stayed in close providing naval fire, combined with armour and infantry attacks to leave my artillery (Nerbelwerfer and SturmPanzer) hanging on by a thread for a couple of turns.
Only annoyance was loosing a strength 8 Flak88 unit on the last turn to an infantry attack.
Nice change of pace to have to the setup. This certainly seemed easier than the naval version, which I also tried afterwards, where loosing some units to the royal navy seems very likely during your landing, while the AI can block your landing points and shoot your transports while you search for a safe spot.
Minsk
2xInf 2xGren 1xMntn 1xPioneer 2xPzIIIG 4xPzIVE 1xPzIIIG SE 1xPzIVE SE 1xSdFkz232 1xPanzerjaeger 1x10.5 TowedArt 1x15 TowedAre 1xNblwf 1xStugIIIB 1xSturmPanzer 1XFlak88 3xBf109f 2xJu87R 1xBf110d 1xHe112H2
1792 Prestige after reinforcement
DV 17/20
Losses 1x 1xSdFkz232 1xSturmPanzer
The unarmed level bombers were interesting as scouts, but in retrospect I guess I should have re-armed them straight away and started to surpress cities.
The Brest fortress kept a number of my troops pinned close to it, chipping away at surrounding forces but unwilling to move adjacent to the fort. I may have left the auxilliary railway gun that appears in scenario unused for a turn, since there wasnt any notification it had arrived. Perhaps a message popup similair to the one used when new equipment is available, should trigger when this unit arrives?
Finding the T-34 was a pleasant bonus and proved handy since it ran into an undetected tank/infantry force SE of Brest as I was about to leave the city. This kept the rest of my beseiging army busy for several more turns.
For the rest of the army this was a fairly constant blitz.
Nice introduction to the russian forces, and to the toughness of the KV heavy tanks (and there lack of ammo).
2xInf 2xGren 1xMntn 1xPioneer 2xPzIIIG 4xPzIVE 1xPzIIIG SE 1xPzIVE SE 1xSdFkz232 1xPanzerjaeger 1x10.5 TowedArt 1x15 TowedAre 1xNblwf 1xStugIIIB 1xSturmPanzer 1XFlak88 3xBf109f 2xJu87R 1xBf110d 1xHe112H2
1792 Prestige after reinforcement
DV 17/20
Losses 1x 1xSdFkz232 1xSturmPanzer
The unarmed level bombers were interesting as scouts, but in retrospect I guess I should have re-armed them straight away and started to surpress cities.
The Brest fortress kept a number of my troops pinned close to it, chipping away at surrounding forces but unwilling to move adjacent to the fort. I may have left the auxilliary railway gun that appears in scenario unused for a turn, since there wasnt any notification it had arrived. Perhaps a message popup similair to the one used when new equipment is available, should trigger when this unit arrives?
Finding the T-34 was a pleasant bonus and proved handy since it ran into an undetected tank/infantry force SE of Brest as I was about to leave the city. This kept the rest of my beseiging army busy for several more turns.
For the rest of the army this was a fairly constant blitz.
Nice introduction to the russian forces, and to the toughness of the KV heavy tanks (and there lack of ammo).
Smolensk
Core: 2xInf 2xGren 1xMntn 1xPioneer 1xFallscirmjager 2xPzIIIH 5xPzIVF 2xPzIIIH SE 1xPzIVF SE 1xT-34 1xSdFkz232 1xPanzerjaeger 1x10.5 TowedArt 1x15 TowedArt 1xNblwf 1xStugIIIB 1xSturmPanzer 1XFlak88 4xBf109f 2xJu87R 1xBf110d 1xHe112H2
1 fighter unused this scenario.
2213 Prestige after reinforcement
DV 19/20
Losses : 1xMntn
The soviet air power was still a little greater in this scenario than I expected, and I suspect i should have kept the fourth fighter in my deployment. Katyusha rocket artillery made heavy appearances here, but my panzers could all but ignore them thankfully in open engagements due to there low HA.
Advances were paused by several counterattacks which was a nice change of pace for the AI, forcing panzers to be used to screen halftrack equipped units.
My southern force with the auxilliary bridge engineer was unable to join the assault in smolensk being too slow in tidying up the minor towns en route. Fortunately my northern force was able to deploy enough artillery and airpower to overpower the defenders in time.
Core: 2xInf 2xGren 1xMntn 1xPioneer 1xFallscirmjager 2xPzIIIH 5xPzIVF 2xPzIIIH SE 1xPzIVF SE 1xT-34 1xSdFkz232 1xPanzerjaeger 1x10.5 TowedArt 1x15 TowedArt 1xNblwf 1xStugIIIB 1xSturmPanzer 1XFlak88 4xBf109f 2xJu87R 1xBf110d 1xHe112H2
1 fighter unused this scenario.
2213 Prestige after reinforcement
DV 19/20
Losses : 1xMntn
The soviet air power was still a little greater in this scenario than I expected, and I suspect i should have kept the fourth fighter in my deployment. Katyusha rocket artillery made heavy appearances here, but my panzers could all but ignore them thankfully in open engagements due to there low HA.
Advances were paused by several counterattacks which was a nice change of pace for the AI, forcing panzers to be used to screen halftrack equipped units.
My southern force with the auxilliary bridge engineer was unable to join the assault in smolensk being too slow in tidying up the minor towns en route. Fortunately my northern force was able to deploy enough artillery and airpower to overpower the defenders in time.
Zhitomir
2xInf 2xGren 1xPioneer 1x Fallscirmjager 2xPzIIIH 5xPzIVF 2xPzIIIH SE 2xPzIVF SE 1xT-34 1xSdFkz232 1xPanzerjaeger 1x10.5cm TowedArt 1x15cm TowedArt 1xNblwf 1xStugIIIB 1xSturmPanzer 1XFlak88 4xBf109f 2xJu87R 1xBf110d 1xHe112H2
3290 Prestige after reinforcement
DV 18/20
Losses : 1x Fallscirmjager 1xSdFkz232 1xPanzerjaeger 1xFlak88
My paratroopers were shot down in a single attack from the 15 strength fighter unit, sloppy play by me; perhaps If I used more paras, I'd have made more of an effort to keep them escorted.
Here the effects of fighting in heavily wooded areas was really felt. I consistently had to weigh the option of keeping pressure on damaged Soviet units, against risking moving panzers into wooded areas. it was paticularly evident in the region over the river around Katyuzhanka. The few conscripts and AA gun there held me up for a long time, and with powerful infantry and tank forces coming up from Kiev were able to inflict heavy casulaties in dead and especially wounded units. I took the last victory location early to avoid being ground down any more by the Kiev forces, and taking the city seemed unlikely.
2xInf 2xGren 1xPioneer 1x Fallscirmjager 2xPzIIIH 5xPzIVF 2xPzIIIH SE 2xPzIVF SE 1xT-34 1xSdFkz232 1xPanzerjaeger 1x10.5cm TowedArt 1x15cm TowedArt 1xNblwf 1xStugIIIB 1xSturmPanzer 1XFlak88 4xBf109f 2xJu87R 1xBf110d 1xHe112H2
3290 Prestige after reinforcement
DV 18/20
Losses : 1x Fallscirmjager 1xSdFkz232 1xPanzerjaeger 1xFlak88
My paratroopers were shot down in a single attack from the 15 strength fighter unit, sloppy play by me; perhaps If I used more paras, I'd have made more of an effort to keep them escorted.
Here the effects of fighting in heavily wooded areas was really felt. I consistently had to weigh the option of keeping pressure on damaged Soviet units, against risking moving panzers into wooded areas. it was paticularly evident in the region over the river around Katyuzhanka. The few conscripts and AA gun there held me up for a long time, and with powerful infantry and tank forces coming up from Kiev were able to inflict heavy casulaties in dead and especially wounded units. I took the last victory location early to avoid being ground down any more by the Kiev forces, and taking the city seemed unlikely.
Zhurivkva
2xInf 2xGren 2xPioneer 2xPzIIIH 6xPzIVF 2xPzIIIH SE 2xPzIVF SE 1xT-34 1xSdFkz232 1x10.5cm TowedArt 1x15cm TowedArt 1xNblwf 1xStugIIIB 1xSturmPanzer 5xBf109f 2xJu87R 1xBf110d 1xHe112H2
2035 Prestige after reinforcement
DV 17/18
Losses: 2xSdFkz232 1xInf 1xAux Bridge Engineer
Heavy tank attacks from the south and east drew my armour into a viscous slugfest, usually heralded by my hapless recon unit being blasted to oblivion. I made steady progress south, pushing tanks around cities to screen the motorized infantry and artillery moving up to jump off positions.
I left only light forces near Kiev, and took the town on Scevchenkove near the outskirts while another soviet counterattack developed near Sokyrntsi in the SE of the map drawing in most of my airpower to blunt it.
I then 'took a peek' at Kiev, and promptly was set upon by 2 KV heavy tanks. Fortunately they moved into city and forest hexes, 2 sucessful close assaults by infantry later, things then looked a lot better. As they ran low on ammo and the soviet forces in the east were ground down I decided to delay taking my last objective hex, swung forces west and took all the Kiev city hexes, (and several others in a fruitless search for easter egg units).
2xInf 2xGren 2xPioneer 2xPzIIIH 6xPzIVF 2xPzIIIH SE 2xPzIVF SE 1xT-34 1xSdFkz232 1x10.5cm TowedArt 1x15cm TowedArt 1xNblwf 1xStugIIIB 1xSturmPanzer 5xBf109f 2xJu87R 1xBf110d 1xHe112H2
2035 Prestige after reinforcement
DV 17/18
Losses: 2xSdFkz232 1xInf 1xAux Bridge Engineer
Heavy tank attacks from the south and east drew my armour into a viscous slugfest, usually heralded by my hapless recon unit being blasted to oblivion. I made steady progress south, pushing tanks around cities to screen the motorized infantry and artillery moving up to jump off positions.
I left only light forces near Kiev, and took the town on Scevchenkove near the outskirts while another soviet counterattack developed near Sokyrntsi in the SE of the map drawing in most of my airpower to blunt it.
I then 'took a peek' at Kiev, and promptly was set upon by 2 KV heavy tanks. Fortunately they moved into city and forest hexes, 2 sucessful close assaults by infantry later, things then looked a lot better. As they ran low on ammo and the soviet forces in the east were ground down I decided to delay taking my last objective hex, swung forces west and took all the Kiev city hexes, (and several others in a fruitless search for easter egg units).
Zholotonosha
1xInf 2xGren 3xPioneer 2xPzIIIH 6xPzIVF 2xPzIIIH SE 2xPzIVF SE 1xT-34 1xSdFkz232 1x10.5cm TowedArt 1x15cm TowedArt 1xNblwf 1xStugIIIB 1xSturmPanzer 5xBf109f 2xJu87R 1xBf110d 1xHe112H2
2738 Prestige ater reinforcement
DV 14/17
Losses 1xSdFkz232 1xInf 1xPzIVF 2x Aux AT gun
I sent a small force west early on to take the defensive positions east of Kiev, Soviet tank and infantry forces however streamed out agressively, and forced me to divert more forces to blunt and then roll them back into Kiev. KV tanks in the open were a far tougher nut to crack. I was able to push south with the bulk of my army and sent Italian forces not guarding bridges at Kiev from the south once the armoured units left the city
This felt a lot easier than the previous 2 Kiev scenarios, despite the losses I suffered from sending too week a western force, all objectives and all of Kiev occupied well within time.
1xInf 2xGren 3xPioneer 2xPzIIIH 6xPzIVF 2xPzIIIH SE 2xPzIVF SE 1xT-34 1xSdFkz232 1x10.5cm TowedArt 1x15cm TowedArt 1xNblwf 1xStugIIIB 1xSturmPanzer 5xBf109f 2xJu87R 1xBf110d 1xHe112H2
2738 Prestige ater reinforcement
DV 14/17
Losses 1xSdFkz232 1xInf 1xPzIVF 2x Aux AT gun
I sent a small force west early on to take the defensive positions east of Kiev, Soviet tank and infantry forces however streamed out agressively, and forced me to divert more forces to blunt and then roll them back into Kiev. KV tanks in the open were a far tougher nut to crack. I was able to push south with the bulk of my army and sent Italian forces not guarding bridges at Kiev from the south once the armoured units left the city
This felt a lot easier than the previous 2 Kiev scenarios, despite the losses I suffered from sending too week a western force, all objectives and all of Kiev occupied well within time.
Vyazma
2xGren 3xPioneer 2xPzIIIJ 6xPzIVF 2xPzIIIJ SE 2xPzIVF SE 1xT-34 1xSdFkz232 1x10.5cm TowedArt 1x15cm TowedArt 1xNblwf 1xStugIIIB 1xSturmPanzer 1xWurfrahmen 5xBf109f 2xJu87R 1xBf110d 1xHe112H2
2696 Prestige after reinforcement
Minor victory
Losses 1xSdFkz232 1x Pioneer 1x 10.5 Towed Art
And then it rained..
Split my forces into 2 even groups looping north and south, kept a Nerbelwrfer and a Grenadier guarding the river crossing.
Heavy attacks in the north prevented all of my troops from looping through onto Vyazma, and dense forest slowed the southern force. Eventually I began to build pressure from both sides, running one of the KV tanks out of ammo, and keeping it that way as it was ground down.
The attacks in the north really brought home the numeric superiority of the Soviets, I had to consistenly evacuate badly damage or out of ammo units to the west to prevent them being concentrated on, and it kept a chunk of my northern force tied up instead of helping to assault Vyazma. My StugIIIB in the north proved its worth here in helping keep this force alive, and was just able to survive when its screening forces were pused back. Fate wasn't so kind to the longer ranged 10.5cm artillery in the south.
Mud was constant aggravation and then disaster struck as a counterattack in the south retook Ugra, and more critically the airfield to the south. The only airfield close enough it turned out for some of my air units to refuel at. Frantic air attacks and assault by nearby units over 2 turns retook the airfield just before 2 air units would have crashed through to lack of fuel, but more time had been lost.
It was turn 14 before I finally cleared all of Vyazma, and getting a DV seemed pretty doubtful... and then the rain and mud returned.
I was able to take Mozhaysk as my units formed a huge traffic jam along the road, brushing aside the defenders along with 2 more towns beyond and 2 more to the south; but the panzers were bogged down about 3 hexes short of Moscow, and would likely have needed a few more turns to get infantry and artillery in place and unlimbered for a final assault. (Though the i never got a look at what was actually in the city hex)
This really brings home the weather, too much mud and you really struggle to bring your forces to bear.
Better weather to allow more airpower use, and an earlier decision to 'peel off' units from Vzayma once the it was clear it was going to fall, or a unit or two kept around Ugra might have allowed me to take the Moscow hex in time.
Prestige fell below 1000 for the first time during the game (in fact I suspect it had rarely dipped below 2000 before), heavier spending due to losses in earlier campaigns could really have hit me here.
All in all this was still enjoyable, fighting in mud isn't 'fun' as such, but it was a reality of the Russian front.
2xGren 3xPioneer 2xPzIIIJ 6xPzIVF 2xPzIIIJ SE 2xPzIVF SE 1xT-34 1xSdFkz232 1x10.5cm TowedArt 1x15cm TowedArt 1xNblwf 1xStugIIIB 1xSturmPanzer 1xWurfrahmen 5xBf109f 2xJu87R 1xBf110d 1xHe112H2
2696 Prestige after reinforcement
Minor victory
Losses 1xSdFkz232 1x Pioneer 1x 10.5 Towed Art
And then it rained..
Split my forces into 2 even groups looping north and south, kept a Nerbelwrfer and a Grenadier guarding the river crossing.
Heavy attacks in the north prevented all of my troops from looping through onto Vyazma, and dense forest slowed the southern force. Eventually I began to build pressure from both sides, running one of the KV tanks out of ammo, and keeping it that way as it was ground down.
The attacks in the north really brought home the numeric superiority of the Soviets, I had to consistenly evacuate badly damage or out of ammo units to the west to prevent them being concentrated on, and it kept a chunk of my northern force tied up instead of helping to assault Vyazma. My StugIIIB in the north proved its worth here in helping keep this force alive, and was just able to survive when its screening forces were pused back. Fate wasn't so kind to the longer ranged 10.5cm artillery in the south.
Mud was constant aggravation and then disaster struck as a counterattack in the south retook Ugra, and more critically the airfield to the south. The only airfield close enough it turned out for some of my air units to refuel at. Frantic air attacks and assault by nearby units over 2 turns retook the airfield just before 2 air units would have crashed through to lack of fuel, but more time had been lost.
It was turn 14 before I finally cleared all of Vyazma, and getting a DV seemed pretty doubtful... and then the rain and mud returned.
I was able to take Mozhaysk as my units formed a huge traffic jam along the road, brushing aside the defenders along with 2 more towns beyond and 2 more to the south; but the panzers were bogged down about 3 hexes short of Moscow, and would likely have needed a few more turns to get infantry and artillery in place and unlimbered for a final assault. (Though the i never got a look at what was actually in the city hex)
This really brings home the weather, too much mud and you really struggle to bring your forces to bear.
Better weather to allow more airpower use, and an earlier decision to 'peel off' units from Vzayma once the it was clear it was going to fall, or a unit or two kept around Ugra might have allowed me to take the Moscow hex in time.
Prestige fell below 1000 for the first time during the game (in fact I suspect it had rarely dipped below 2000 before), heavier spending due to losses in earlier campaigns could really have hit me here.
All in all this was still enjoyable, fighting in mud isn't 'fun' as such, but it was a reality of the Russian front.
Demyansk Pocket
Starting force:
2xGren 4xPioneer 2xPzIIIJ/1 6xPzIVF 2xPzIIIJ/1 SE 2xPzIVF SE 1xT-34 1xSdFkz232 2x15cm TowedArt 1xNblwf 1xStugIIIB 1xSturmPanzer 1xWurfrahmen 5xBf109f 2xJu87D 1xBf110d 1xHe112H2
2226 Prestige after reinforcement.
DV on turn 16/20.
Losses: 1xSdFkz231 (It's a tradition!)
A defensive hedgehog scenario, which makes a nice change of pace from the usual blitzkrieg in 1941. I hunkered down with mixed tank and infantry along the east and south east enrtenchments, backed up the 6 various types of artillery I had. With extra tank units ready to plug gaps, or deployed to the south and west 'just in case'.
First turn saw a series of surprise encounters for the Soviet airforce as they rushed my airfields, it was a massacre with 3 or 4 units wiped out after my first turn. Heavy infantry/tank attacks in the north and south east were thrown against my forces, but heavy artillery and air attacks stopped them cold.
I sent out occasional counterattacks after damaged units, or if I could force attacks on artillery or AA units. Used artillery before attacking but kept position for most of the battle.
I switched some artillery and formed a new line to the south when my scout revealed a new armoured force approaching, by the time the KV led force deployed there was a solid wall ready to meet it.
There was very little threat in the end, as the computer didnt have enough artillery to unhinge my defence. Several Soviet units surrendered due to the vast bottlenecks they threw themselves at. Air attacks were piecemeal and always seemed to come within range of the auxilliary AA units. With less artillery, or a more weakened core at the start though I guess this could have been more dangerous.
By the games end i was reduced to about 800 prestige, but my units were in very good condition, many being overstrength as there was ample time to build them up while waiting for the next round of attacks.
The only confusion came from the supply planes, I half expected them to disappear once I had moved them onto the airfield, instead they remained the whole battle. Which meant towards the end I was occasionally keeping fighters with them in case of ari attack. I didn't experience any attempts to shoot down the transports, but then the AI rarely attacks escorted planes, so this perhaps isn't surprising.
An enjoyable end scenario all in all.
Starting force:
2xGren 4xPioneer 2xPzIIIJ/1 6xPzIVF 2xPzIIIJ/1 SE 2xPzIVF SE 1xT-34 1xSdFkz232 2x15cm TowedArt 1xNblwf 1xStugIIIB 1xSturmPanzer 1xWurfrahmen 5xBf109f 2xJu87D 1xBf110d 1xHe112H2
2226 Prestige after reinforcement.
DV on turn 16/20.
Losses: 1xSdFkz231 (It's a tradition!)
A defensive hedgehog scenario, which makes a nice change of pace from the usual blitzkrieg in 1941. I hunkered down with mixed tank and infantry along the east and south east enrtenchments, backed up the 6 various types of artillery I had. With extra tank units ready to plug gaps, or deployed to the south and west 'just in case'.
First turn saw a series of surprise encounters for the Soviet airforce as they rushed my airfields, it was a massacre with 3 or 4 units wiped out after my first turn. Heavy infantry/tank attacks in the north and south east were thrown against my forces, but heavy artillery and air attacks stopped them cold.
I sent out occasional counterattacks after damaged units, or if I could force attacks on artillery or AA units. Used artillery before attacking but kept position for most of the battle.
I switched some artillery and formed a new line to the south when my scout revealed a new armoured force approaching, by the time the KV led force deployed there was a solid wall ready to meet it.
There was very little threat in the end, as the computer didnt have enough artillery to unhinge my defence. Several Soviet units surrendered due to the vast bottlenecks they threw themselves at. Air attacks were piecemeal and always seemed to come within range of the auxilliary AA units. With less artillery, or a more weakened core at the start though I guess this could have been more dangerous.
By the games end i was reduced to about 800 prestige, but my units were in very good condition, many being overstrength as there was ample time to build them up while waiting for the next round of attacks.
The only confusion came from the supply planes, I half expected them to disappear once I had moved them onto the airfield, instead they remained the whole battle. Which meant towards the end I was occasionally keeping fighters with them in case of ari attack. I didn't experience any attempts to shoot down the transports, but then the AI rarely attacks escorted planes, so this perhaps isn't surprising.
An enjoyable end scenario all in all.
Last edited by kashor73 on Fri Nov 11, 2011 9:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Very interesting feedback, thanks for the full report!
A few quick comments:
I'm glad to see your prestige is at a comfortable a level. It's not SUPER high, (HEINZ!!) but you're not crippled and starving either. Dipping down to 800 in Demyansk is pretty close to the danger zone though.
As for mud... yes it's quite unfun, even if it is historical. This has been adjusted:
Reduced chance of Rain on Vyazma by 20% (50 down to 30)
Also on Demyansk, just because its a defensive scenario, that doesnt mean it should be brutal and core crippling (sup bagration).
Lastly, sometimes you BOLD the units in your roster, why is that?
A few quick comments:
I'm glad to see your prestige is at a comfortable a level. It's not SUPER high, (HEINZ!!) but you're not crippled and starving either. Dipping down to 800 in Demyansk is pretty close to the danger zone though.
As for mud... yes it's quite unfun, even if it is historical. This has been adjusted:
Reduced chance of Rain on Vyazma by 20% (50 down to 30)
Also on Demyansk, just because its a defensive scenario, that doesnt mean it should be brutal and core crippling (sup bagration).
Lastly, sometimes you BOLD the units in your roster, why is that?
