DLC '45 #8 Osterode

[VPaulus]

Please post here your comments about this scenario.

[monkspider]

Osterode
Starting prestige 2600
Ending prestige 560
Marginal victory, turn 20/20
Losses: none (!)

After the unprecedented disaster at Königsberg, as I mentioned in my previous report, my ability to continue the campaign was called into question. You don't just lose a fourth of your army and shrug it off. Fortunately, this battle proved that I was not beaten just yet!

At the start of the battle I had 2600 prestige, and I knew that I had to use it VERY wisely. I spent 1500 on overstrengthing, and then bought a new Jagdtiger and an Ostwind (partially because it is just so much fun to say "ahstvind") and it seemed like a good call because both new units performed well in the battle.

I realized that sacrifices were going to have to be made with such a weakened core. Instead of splitting my group into two battle groups as I would normally do, I only put them all into big one and made a super slow, cautious advance. My strategy paid off however as I lost no units outright and my overall losses were rather light. The first big counterattack was dealt with by luring the heavy armor onto river or close terrain hexes. I only captured the fifth objective on the next-to-last turn, which was the same turn that I ran into the second big counterattack. Luckily the battle ended before I had to deal with them in depth, which was merciful as I could see at least two IS-2s among their ranks.

One advantage of the smaller core is that my luftwaffe had less ground to defend and with a bit of help from my new Ostwind, the Red Air Force was a surprisingly negligible threat.

This an enjoyable and satisfying scenario, and dare I say it, a welcome breather after the slaughter at Königsberg.

[billmv44]

Playing on General, imported core. Prestige 9958.

There was some tough fighting against the Russian counter attack. Fortunately, Ivan only had 2 IS-2s in that force. I was able to defeat his attack and pushed on to the DV on turn 17. Putting all four IS-2s together might be something to consider, rather than spreading them out. The text for the DV didn't make sense. It said, "Even though you didn't punch clear through the Soviet lines, I've been informed that a small relief force has been sent to aid our efforts here. With their help, crossing the Vistula and linking up with our lines shouldn't be too much more trouble." I captured all victory hexes and completely wiped out the enemy. I re-loaded and checked the text for a MV. It just says placeholder. I think the DV text is the MV text and the DV text needs to be loaded.

Otherwise, a fine and interesting scenario.