Time for 43 Upgrades in my Ultimate Playthrough

[goose_2]

Ideas for 43 upgrades. (I am playing on Ultimate Difficulty, on my channel.)
I have 50% experience
50% prestige
5 less turns
enemy has 5 extra strength points

1) Prestige problem. To relieve some of the difficulty I have gotten myself into at this insane difficulty I will reload at the beginning of each scenario until I get either an SE Tiger or Panther so I can sell it until either the last scenario or Prokhorovka, if I feel the extra tank is necessary for that map. Because of this I am hoping to finish 43 with around 30k, but I will spend liberally to try and break these maps. Especially the 6/7 Kursk maps, if they are possible I will spend what is needed to break them. I will be happy ending with 20k, but will try to go for 30k.

2) 2 SE Pz3M’s with +4 att and +5 Att will stay Panzer 3’s until they lose their overstrength and either become Tiger’s or Panther’s. My other 3 SE tanks will all become Tiger’s as soon as possible.

3) Helmut Wernsburger becomes a regular infantry no transport. What do you think?

4) Also, what do you think about taking my newly awarded +1Movement +2 Att 10.5cm arty and upgrade it to a 17cm artillery without a transport and keep him where major movement is not needed. (This is based on Richard Martin’s recent discussion on the game that really got me thinking about soft cap and the need for transports.)

5) I have 4 AT’s.

a) +1 movement 7.5cm Pak stays a PaK and use him when and how I can.

b) StuG 3 F/8, becomes a StuG3G, of course.

c) 3 starred Panzerjaeger becomes a Nashorn, when available. Braccada has illustrated their usefulness and I want to give them a shot.

d) 2 Starred Panzerjaeger becomes an Elephant when available.

e) Do I get another AT, or is 4 enough? I am thinking either of building up another Elephant, or wait for a StuG4 to build up quickly by using it as an artillery, and then upgrading when ready. Thoughts?

6) Artillery upgrades.

a) 2 Sturmpanzers become siG38t(m)’s when they become available. (Why do you use Wespe’s, I find them very lackluster.

b) My +1 Range/+1 Attack 10.5 cm. (Should it become a 2nd Wurfrahmen?)

c) 3 Nebelwerfers, stay Nebelwerfers, but I am considering changing some of my +1 Movement artillery to a Nebelwerfer as they get heroes the fastest.

7) Tanks

a) Heinz Rondorf stays a Flamm, love love love that soft unit shredding.

b) Albert Kerscher will remain a Pz4 for as long as possible, as I want to be cognizant of soft cap, but may buckle around Kursk so I can break the map. (What would you do?) This is the same for my 2 starred +1 Initiative Pz4G, unless I get desperate.

c) +1 Movement KV-1B will stay as is until 44.

I do not see the need for any other tanks.

Strats. I see using 2, but Richard Martin talked about 4 fully decked out strats at 14 strength. No way can soft cap handle that. I would love anyone to give me more details on exactly what you are thinking around this.

9) Tac Bombers

a) Uber Rudel stays a Ju-87D, he is a killer in that Bomber and needs no further enhancements.

b) My +2A/+2D Ju-87D, what do you think about upgrading to the G to increase his effectiveness?

c) My 2 Fighter Bombers are Bf-110G’s and I usually upgrade them to the 410’s to increase their effectiveness, but I have been thinking more about what you have been saying about their limited use, and may consider upgrading to a Junker’s if they lose their overstrength. I am not sure.

10) I believe recons are under utilized by most people, and will continue to help me shine on these later scenarios. If they can be used in their role they can make the difference in scenarios. I will keep them rolling with me, maybe not 2 every scenario, but probably at least 1.


Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to get your thoughts before I attempt to begin to tackle 43.

Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts. Looking forward to your feedback.

[KeldorKatarn]

Hard to give specific advice. 4 AT should be enough. 2 of those should be heavy so 1 Nashorn and 1 Elefant will work out.

StuGs always the newest model.

There should be at least 4 Panthers, 2 tigers. The rest only Panzer IIIs if they have good heroes. Panzer IIIs are becoming massively obsolete.

Infantry almost exclusively HW infantry I'd recommend. normal infantry is becoming increasingly useless. Give them some overstrength, especially if they don'T have good heroes.

Flammpanzer becomes useless soon. It can't hold a position and good HW infantry is just as good at this point. Flamm with a bad roll can make it useless for the rest of the map.

Less focus on bombers. A couple really good ones is all you need. No longer does the Luftwaffe rule the skies so decisive strikes count more than continuous air presence.
Those slots are better invested in decent AA on the ground.

[captainjack]

The standard 43 inf is quite good all rounder with decent ammo and 3 move. Move hero inf is generally best converted to as grenadiers (or maybe a pio), but keep an eye on the ammo as 5 isn't very much in a defensive scenario. You can probably ditch a lot of transport for your infantry if everyone moves 3 or more, but maybe keep some transpot for now.
You already know about artillery backup for the inf and I don't think I can improve on the other advice.
If you had a bit more prestige I'd suggest the HS129 as a possible alternate for the AT stuka, but that's about it. Finally, if you have horse transport available, it's great in snow for lighter guns and cheap too.

[Kawaleria]

Hello

You didnt present an important factor - AA units and fighters....

I think the biggest decision to make from 1943 is an approach to air battle. I strongly rely on my AA units and field only several fighters during a scenario. Up until 1944 i never use Focke Wulf because its to pricey,

Now i am playing Mogilev 44 on Manstein and I only choose to put 2 fighters in it.. AA units are cheap and simply better taking off russian air units.
I even let Russians come back after AA hits because inexperience units can do nothing against me

[faos333]

Hi all, reposting some thoughts of mine from You Tube to Goose, so others can see.
............................................................................................................

Goose my personal thoughts. Ps I have finished the campaign to 45 with various difficulties. Now I am replaying Manstein currently at 1943 Orel. But I have never played the Ultimate.

* Reloading every scenario to get the free SE unit sell it to get cash -good idea definitely agree, although you need to get them in 44.

* Your SE Pz 3Ms convert them to Tigers later on, not in Kharkov 43 (edited).

* Helmut Wernsburger I agree you can delete the transport, adds a lot to soft cap.

* About the +1 Movement +2 Att 10.5cm artillery it depends how many artilleries you have, if have a lot you can afford one artillery to be static, better upgrade to 17cm with no transport, use it static positions like the south area in Kharkov 43, Belgorod and north front in Orel.

* 4 AT’s are enough in my opinion; keep the Pak and the rest all Stug. One of them upgrade to Elephant, the rest to Jagd Tiger towards the end in 45. Nashhorn nice but needs a lot of attention to keep it around.

* Artillery upgrades: ok with SiG38, Wespes are not so bad either. Personally I use Hummels because of extra movement. The artilery with +1 movement, covert it to Nebelwerfer, three or four of them in total. Also 12 artilleries in total by end of 1945.

* Rondorf I do not agree keeping the Flam, it’s a special unit with lots of other possibilities change it to Tiger I. The same applies to Kerscher.

* Level bombers get 4 with 4 stars as R. Martin suggested, two Heinkel. Two Dornier more fuel.

* Tac Bombers Rudel stays with Stuka convert it to G when is available, much better with armour, you are going to need it. Your second Stuka convert to HS 129 more fuel more balanced stats. In total I prefer 5 tactical. The Me 410s not very happy about them they need protection also, convert them if you can afford to Fw 190, Dornier 335 and Arado at the end 1945, much better stats.

* Recons two are enough; usually I use one of them.

* Finally, have faith and patience you are going to need it. Ultimate is an insane operation, although towards the end in 44-45 it is much better to finish the map 5 turns earlier....

[goose_2]

Thanks for all the feedback as it helped immensely. I listened to it all, I did not follow it all, but I really appreciate the detailed responses I received to my various questions.

I started Kharkov 43 this weekend and am 6 days from finishing it.

I do not believe I have optimized this map, but am really enjoying the challenge of blazin a path for others to improve upon.

[faos333]

Goose have you decided on artillery in 43 yet?

I have some second thoughts for you on artillery heroes:
+1 range = K18 17cm
+1 movement = Nebelwerfer 42
+defence = close support artillery like Brumbar, or captured SU 122

Sig 38 vs Hummels: if you are planing to use as close front line support due to their increased defence values, I suggest to use the Hummels they are much better: more ammo, more movement, less cost/prestige over strengths.

Finally on Wurfrahmen, it depends on your types of arty. You might need the Wurfrahmen in maps like Oboyan. In my case I switch units according to maps.

One more question how many arty units you finally planning for?
For example, in my current playthrough in 43, I am going for 3x K18 preferably with +1 range, 3x nebel, 2x Hummel with attack heroes, 2x brumbars with +1 range, 2x SU 122 with. defence heroes. But I also have in excess two Wurfrahmen with 4 stars that I use occasionally. In total Im going for 12 arty units to use in the final Berlin battles.

[captainjack]

Having just finished Kursk south, I think Kawalerei's AA advice would have saved some pain. Luckily I'm trying out a modified equipment file on an easy setting so can afford frequent major repair of my fightèrs - two 3" 85s and two or three T90 Spaags can do serious harm very quickly.
I'm also thinking I should have developed three or four AT instead of just the two. The new Elephant is learing fast but the brand new SE Nashorn is a great favourite with the Soviet tac bombers and may struggle until the next upgrade (SE Jagdpanther I think). Though useful in Prokhorovka they would have done much better at 3 or 4".

[goose_2]

Kursk is going to be crazy on Ultimate. I need to make a video based on all this feedback and detailing my thoughts behind all of my units I have in 43. Based on the feedback and my own analysis I should really upgrade many of my +1 movement artillery to Nebelwerfers. My +1/+1 Range Nebelwerfer is a beast and will easily hit that 3rd hero. In order for more to hit that elusive 3rd hero I need to have them be Nebelwerfer's, the problem is that I have overstrength on them now that I will not just cash out, so I will wait until it is lost through attrition.

Thanks for all the feedback. I will make that detailed video about my current units, as I am ready to start Belgorod, as I playtested the first 2 days with great success that I am ready to put to recording.

I am not 100% sure I can garner a Decisive on that map, but I am hopeful.