Red Star AAR

[GabeKnight]

Thanks, Best, I enjoy reading them. Two questions, though:

1) I see no tanks in your core. Only those little things. Why no T28's? Yeah sure, slow, esp. in forests, but incredibly effective against infantry in open terrain. I've kept two of them throughout the campaign in my core forces.
2) The trees look funny in your screenshots. Glowing somehow. Is that an effect of the screenshots or is it like this for you always?

Looks like this for me (and others)

Screenshot 88.jpg (854.66 KiB) Viewed 3956 times

[best75]

Thanks, Best, I enjoy reading them. Two questions, though:

1) I see no tanks in your core. Only those little things. Why no T28's? Yeah sure, slow, esp. in forests, but incredibly effective against infantry in open terrain. I've kept two of them throughout the campaign in my core forces.
2) The trees look funny in your screenshots. Glowing somehow. Is that an effect of the screenshots or is it like this for you always?

1. I thought about upgrading but I rather wait till Barbarossa when new tanks come. I am sticking with my current tanks for now.
2. The trees in winter is currently like that ingame for me. I am not sure whats causing it, I tried to reset my settings but there is no change.

[best75]

Summa 39
The pin is for the completion of the secondary objective in the last scenario which allows more auxiliary air support in 1940. Other commanders have launched a attack on the Mannerheim Line but they have suffered a huge defeat and we must now rectify the situation.



The Finns are still fighting against the remaining soviet troops at the Mannerheim Line. These troops will soon fall and the Finns will launch a counter attack. Our task is to organise a defence, deal enough casualties to the Finns and hold key points in the area.

Of particular concern is the Finnish Air Ace. While we certainly have the numbers, the Finnish Air Ace has a much better combat ability then our own air units and will maul my fighters in combat.



My forces are deployed around these 3 key pints. The 4th key point in the rear is far enough too be of no worry. While all 3 of these points are attacked, the heaviest attack comes on the north-western point, just in front of the Mannerheim Line.



The Finns starts first and after the first turn the Soviet troops at the Mannerheim Line are eliminated. Several of the most forward units are taken out of combat to rebuild



The Finnish fighter ace and shows his skill by wounding my own fighter ace



2 heavy artillery units are deployed near the rear area. The leftmost one can soon enter firing range of the Finns attacking the south-west point but the rightmost one will need several turns to move north into firing range.

[best75]

Finnish infantry attack the north east and south west key points. These Finnish infantry are often destroyed by focusing my artillery and subsequent attack by my units.




When the first attack on the Mannerheim Line collapsed, the Finns were able to retrieve several of our tanks and are putting them to use against us.


The Finnish Fighter Ace fights hard and I was able to reduce the unit to 1 strength point and the Fighter Ace was knocked off the unit. Unfortunately he flew away and will replenish his strength. I must wait for the next chance to get him. The Finns have poured more units into attacking the north-west point but luckily reinforcements are available.



Finnish attack on the north-west point is particularly hard. They even damage some of my vulnerable units.



The Finnish Fighter Ace unit comes back for a 2nd round and this time I destroy the unit. It took particular effort as I had to use my 2 anti air units and focus my fighters. At this point the Finnish attack on the north-west point has mostly been broken.

[best75]

Our defensive mission is a success. The Finns have failed to take any of the key point while also taking heavy casualties in the process. With preparations ongoing, another attack on the Mannerheim Line can eventually begin.

[best75]

The Summa 39 replay.

[best75]

Summa 40
After weeks of preparations we are now ready to launch a 2nd attempt to break the Mannerheim Line. We can expect further air support due to the establishment of air superiority over Karelia last year.



Due to the weather we are unable to deploy any aircrafts for now.



We are tasked to make a breakthrough at Summa. We also need to secure our flanks we need to the key points west of out positions.



My forces are deployed in 3 main groups. 1 will immediately assault the Mannerheim Line, the 2nd will capture Keskikyla before joining the main assault on the Mannerheim Line, and the 3rd will focus on taking Kuolemajarvi and Muurila in the west.




The Mannerheim Line will be taken down from the east. The Mannerheim Line is heavily fortified with many bunkers and even some AT guns.



While my infantry slowly moves through the forests in the south, Finnish ski infantry and fortifications are encountered near Kuolemajarvi.

[best75]

The snowfall ends and we can now deploy our aircrafts.



Further air units are released.



Our tank units cause extensive damage to the Finns. My units are taking apart the Mannerheim Line from the east side. Supported by bombing runs, the troops marching on Keskikyla have captured the city from the Finnish garrison. They can now mop up the remainder of the units in the east and help the troops assaulting the Mannerheim Line.



In the south, more conscripts arrive from the north to support the taking of Kuolemajarvi.



As our troops approach Summa, Finnish Ski infantry launch a counter attack. Concentrated artillery fire and subsequent attacks force them back.

[best75]

Despite heavy casualties to our conscripts, Kuolemajarvi is taken. Finnish bunkers near Kuolemajarvi can be bypassed and now full focus can be placed on taking Muurila.



After much fighting, the Finnish defences north of Summa are destroyed and Summa is taken. We now simply have to destroy the remaining major bunkers near Summa and the Mannerheim Line will be broken.



Muurila is captured. Our flanks are now secured and Georgy Zhukov joins us as a commander.



The last of the major fortifications near Summa are destroyed. The Mannerheim Line is now broken. We have now one last battle to conclude this Winter War.

[best75]

The Summa 40 replay.

[patrickwlindsey]

really enjoying this, looking forward to the upcoming installments.

[best75]

really enjoying this, looking forward to the upcoming installments.

Thank you

[best75]

Viipuri
After breaking the Mannerheim Line. We now aim to seize Viipuri. We will advance on a fairly broad front.



Moscow is confident taking Viipuri will force the Finns to accept our demands in return for peace. In addition we need to secure the wider area by taking other key points. The Finns will mobiles everything they have to deny us a victory, they may even deploy their rare armoured vehicles.



As a result of earlier success, we have been given a additional bomber unit.



As a result of earlier defeats suffered by other Red Army commanders. Finnish troops are able to field some former Red Army equipment.



Red Army troops are deployed along the frontline and ready to advance.




Finnish infantry are encountered in many of the forests. Meanwhile aircraft spot the enemy tanks north of Honkaniemi. These tanks will launch a counter attack. I am careful to advance my infantry and avoid getting them wiped out.

[best75]

The Finnish tanks attack and maul my soviet infantry unit but they live and my anti tank gun can assist. Now the Finnish tanks are in range I can focus my artillery on them. The Finnish Air Force are out in force, as usual I will wear them down with my anti air first before engaging them with my own aircraft.



Eventually the Finnish tanks are worn down and can now be easily damaged.



The Finnish armoured counter attack is defeated and my troops continue to advance. A Finnish counter attack is in progress on the west and east sides.



Honkaniemi and Kamara are taken. Now full focus can be placed on taking Viipuri. Troops from the east now move west to aid in taking Viipuri.



Finnish troops in front of Viipuri are being pushed back and are suffering heavy losses.

[best75]

My troops are now fully focus on advancing towards Viipuri. I will destroy the group of Finnish troops east of Viipuri first. The artillery unit is of particular concern because of the Finnish artillery hero boosting its stats.




The Finnish troops east of Viipuri are defeated and the main attack on Viipuri can begin. Viipuri is heavily guarded by anti tank guns, anti aircraft guns, and a Finnish infantry with a hero.



After much bombardment, the Finnish infantry holding Viipuri is worn down and are pushed out and Viipuri is taken. The success enables us to end the war on our terms. Large territories have been ceded to us. We can now enjoy some rest.

[best75]

The Viipuri replay.

[bebro]

Thx for the AAR, very nice to read

FWIW, I also wondered about the look of forest hexes in FOW. In your pics it looks as if the ground is in FOW, but not the trees on top. It's fine though when I run one of your replays on my comp tho.

Do you use any specifically unusual hardware combi?

[best75]

Thx for the AAR, very nice to read

FWIW, I also wondered about the look of forest hexes in FOW. In your pics it looks as if the ground is in FOW, but not the trees on top. It's fine though when I run one of your replays on my comp tho.

Do you use any specifically unusual hardware combi?

I don't think theres anything too unusual. I play on a imac computer with the following specs.
Processor 2.7 GHz Intel Core i5
Memory 8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3
Graphics NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M 512 MB

[best75]

The unthinkable has happened. Germany, having gained supremacy over much of Europe has turned their attention towards the Soviet Union. Germany has broken the non agression pact and is advancing all along the frontlines. We are facing the largest military invasion in history and prevailing will require us to defend the motherland with everything we have.



The Female Factory Labor specialisation is taken.



Raseiniai
In the early days of the invasion, our core forces are stationed in Lithuania near Raseiniai.



My forces must stop the German 4th Panzer Group from advancing into Lithuania. This is expected to be costly, the enemy has veteran tank forces and infantry. German Luftflotte 1 is also in the area and enemy air presence is expected.



It has been quite a while since our forces has last seen combat and many new equipment are available. The cost of equipping my core forces with new equipment such as yak fighters is costly but I have a stockpile of RP.



As a result of completing the secondary objective of destroying the Finnish tans in the last scenario. A unit of KV-1 tanks is given to my command.



The current Red Army forces are in a dire position. Heavy losses have already been suffered by forward units due to enemy air strikes. My core forces are deployed along the frontline and will focus on protecting the 3 secondary objectives.

[best75]

Not only do we face Germany their axis allies have also declared war on us.



The German advance is fierce. The Germans move first so I have no chance yo pull back any of the forward units. In the opening turns several soviet forward units are destroyed while my forces try to form a defensive line. The Luftwaffe is also out in force, this isn't any easier then fighting the Finnish Airforce and I will try to rely on my anti air units to prevent fighter casualties.



The initial defence is successful and all secondary objectives are held. In addition the armoured reinforcements from the rear have joined the battle. I will continue to maintain my defence in the centre. The biggest concern of holding a defence this forward is being in the range of the German long range artillery but I find it too risky to reorganise my defence further back. Backed by artillery and anti tank units, my defence does seem to hold fairly well.




As the defence continues, 2 infantry units are joining the battle.



In the south the first German tank unit is destroyed.



More dire news comes from the front. Finland has joined the war against us to retake territory they lost during the Winter War. Forcing significant Red Army forces to be diverted north.