SS Core run through 39 to 45?

[milliethedog]

Hi TSPC,
After this I am going to do 42/43 west etc, I have only played these a couple of times, a long time ago so it will be the closest thing to a "blind " for me. I did not find the start of the 42/43 DLC much fun, not being able to deploy your core and small "police" actions but I am going to play with this SS core from 41 or 42, can't remember which one I can use (there is the wine again!) but first I have to finish in Berlin !!

Martin

[TSPC37730]

Hi TSPC,
After this I am going to do 42/43 west etc, I have only played these a couple of times, a long time ago so it will be the closest thing to a "blind " for me. I did not find the start of the 42/43 DLC much fun, not being able to deploy your core and small "police" actions but I am going to play with this SS core from 41 or 42, can't remember which one I can use (there is the wine again!) but first I have to finish in Berlin !!

Martin

Best of luck in the west. Prestige is really a challenge there. You'll get a variety of captured equipment that you can use. I recommend upgrading some of it & selling the rest for whatever you can get. You'll need every nickel. No spoilers other than that...

[milliethedog]

Hi TSPC, I will take your advice, I do normally hang on to captured equipment, but in my last couple of campaigns I have started to sell it soon after I capture it. I Disband it then buy new, I never upgrade to German as the point hit is too high,

Martin

[milliethedog]

The Long War
Kursk from the south
Kursk Armoury

Field marshal Level, Starting Points 45660
After Replenishment and re-enforcements 43944 points

Core
7x SS GebirgsJager 43 and SDkfz 250/251,
1x SS MG 42 and SDkfz 250
1x T34/41(r)
2x KV 85 (r) Captured during the game
18x SS Tiger I
5x SS 17cm K18's and SDkfz 7's
3x SS 21cm MRS and SDkfz 7's
1x Su 122 (r)
4x SS Sig 33
4x Fw 190A
1x Bf 109G
4x Ju 87G
1x Ju 87B Recon
2x Me 410A
3x Ju 188A

3 kamf groups for this game, The West and centre groups aim for Kursk while the Eastern Kamf is tasked with clearing the Right Flank. so here we go 1

Kamf 1, Takes Spasskoye and clears all units around before attacking Zhuravlino, and Pryamitsyno. They then cross the Seym River to take the Depot at 9/15, Starkovo and its air field. then attack the depot at 11/12. At this point the kamf split, some lay siege to Kursk from the West joining kamf 2 attacking Kursk from the South. The rest of the kamf head north to finish of the soviet troops. They attack and take Kromskayo, then Bol'shoye Zhirovo and its air field.

Kamf 2, Heads straight north clearing the battlefield, on route they take Chermoshnoye and then Depot at 14/20 before laying siege to Kursk from the south. After Kursk falls they move north taking Isken, Zhernovers, and finally Budanovka and its air field.

Kamf 3. Task is to clear the right wing, they start by taking Lyubitskoye and then send a tiger across the Seym River at 20/19 to take the Key Airfield at 22/18. The rest of the kamf force a crossing at Polevaya, then they move on to take Basedino, the depot at 23/12 and then Vinnikovo and lastly Geemyachka.

I got a DV after 15/16 turns and ended on 44142 points. Only 200 points more than I started with but I got 2x KV85 (r) as captured units. Thoughout this game my 4 Ju87's and 2 Me 410's smashed Russian tanks in advance of the main body, clearing the path for the tigers.

Martin.

[milliethedog]

The Long War
Kursk from the south
Prchkorovka

Field marshal Level, Starting Points 44742
After Replenishment and re-enforcements 435142 points

Core
7x SS GebirgsJager 43 and SDkfz 250/251,
1x SS MG 42 and SDkfz 250
1x T34/41(r)
2x KV 85 (r)
18x SS Tiger I
5x SS 17cm K18's and SDkfz 7's
3x SS 21cm MRS and SDkfz 7's
1x Su 122 (r)
4x SS Sig 33
1x SS Flak 36 and tractor purchased at start of game.
4x Fw 190A
1x Bf 109G
4x Ju 87G
1x Ju 87B Recon
2x Me 410A
3x Ju 188A

3 kamf groups for this game, The North, centre and southern.

Kamf 1, The Northen Kamf clears everything and takes Kartashyovka and its airfield, then Andreevka. a small group splinters of to take and hold Berezovka. When the central Kamf catches up they cross the Psel river to tackle the soviet tank charges, to take the airfield at 34/3 and join the siege of Prohkorovka.

Kamf 2, starts clearing the battlefield to Luchki, then turns north to take Belenikino and the airfield, They then hold against the attacks from soviet armour in the woods, before clearing hill 247 and attacking with Kamf 1 Prohkorovka.

Kamf 3.starts by holding against the attacks from the woods trying to take my airfield. they then force a crossing over the Donets River at 38/29. After holding back a soviet armoured counter attack, they move on the airfield at 30/31. After resupply they attack and take Maloyablonovo. They clear everything up to the airfield at 42/13, withstanding counter attacks.

I got a DV after 22/22 turns and ended on 43999 points. . Thoughout this game my 4 Ju87's and 2 Me 410's smashed Russian tanks in advance of the main body, clearing the path for the tigers, but this time I suffered a lot of damage to my airforces from SpAAgs and Fighters, the extra aux Tiger and Me 109 were very handy in this game, shame I could not keep them

Martin.

[TSPC37730]

I got a DV after 22/22 turns and ended on 43999 points. . Thoughout this game my 4 Ju87's and 2 Me 410's smashed Russian tanks in advance of the main body, clearing the path for the tigers, but this time I suffered a lot of damage to my airforces from SpAAgs and Fighters, the extra aux Tiger and Me 109 were very handy in this game, shame I could not keep them.

Indeed, the auxilary units in this scenario are some of the best ones you can play with.

Overall, this is one of my favorite scenarios. Fun, but also challenging. There's a variety of ways to approach it. You can divide up your attacking force, or make one concentrated push from the west. Lastly, I particularly enjoy the extra slots you're allowed to use.

[milliethedog]

The Long War
Kursk from the south
Dnipropetrovsk
Field marshal Level, Starting Points 44799
After Replenishment and re-enforcements 41817 points Nearly 3000 points to refit (no upgrades done)

Core
7x SS GebirgsJager 43 and SDkfz 250/251,
1x SS MG 42 and SDkfz 250
2x T34/41(r) inc 1 captured during the game,
2x KV 85 (r)
18x SS Tiger I
5x SS 17cm K18's and SDkfz 7's
3x SS 21cm MRS and SDkfz 7's
1x Su 122 (r)
4x SS Sig 33
1x SS Flak 36 and tractor
4x Fw 190A
1x Bf 109G
4x Ju 87G
1x Ju 87B Recon
2x Me 410A
3x Ju 188A

A very easy game for a change, you need to be careful as you can easily finish in 5 turns if you take the flags back that fall on your side of the Dnieper, this triggers a Dv before you get a chance to capture all flags and find the bonus T34.

Kamf 1, Just 2 Arty and a tiger plus aux AA and bunker hold Dniprodzerzhnsk stopping any crossing of the river while forcing a number of units to surrender.

Kamf 2. Tiger and Aux infantry hold the crossing at 16/12.

Kamf 3. A tiger and Arty unit along with Aux AA, AT and Bunker hold this crossing at 22/11

All the northern crossings of the Dnieper river hold though out the game, they become the anvil that the rest of the core swing around the Russians from the south in huge circle supported by Ju87's and Me 410's smashing all before and taking all flags and capturing a T34.

kamf 4, The main core retake Zholanove, then Kam'yave and its airfield. Using airpower and tanks they clear the German side of the Dnieper, lastly they take Zaporozhye but do not capture the flag just leave a unit to guard until the last turn while the rest of the kamf clear the map! Varvar'vka and its airfield fall, then Verbove,Starolozuavtka, Oleksandrivkaand airfield and lastly before crossing the Samara river to clear the north bank. The soviet counter attack was smashed before it even started, just leaving mopping up and flag taking.

I got a DV after 18/18 turns and ended on 42422 points. A very easy game.

Martin.

[milliethedog]

The Long War
Kursk from the south
Kremenchug
Field marshal Level, Starting Points 42822
After Replenishment and re-enforcements 42023 points

Core
7x SS GebirgsJager 43 and SDkfz 250/251,
1x SS MG 42 and SDkfz 250
2x T34/41(r)
2x KV 85 (r)
18x SS Tiger I
5x SS 17cm K18's and SDkfz 7's
3x SS 21cm MRS and SDkfz 7's
1x Su 122 (r)
4x SS Sig 33
1x SS Flak 36 and tractor
4x Fw 190A
1x Bf 109G
4x Ju 87G
1x Ju 87B Recon
2x Me 410A
3x Ju 188A

A straight forward Defend and then out flank game. Another 4 kamf game! I sit tight and do not try to attack the Russian Guns, I dig in and wait for them to attack except in the very south.

Kamf 1, Just 2 Arty 2x tiger plus 2x infantry hold the ports of Velyka,Svitlovodsk and the town of Podorozhnje against any units that arrive ashore. after about 10 turns all but 1 of the units join Kamf 2 to cross the river.

Kamf 2. Tigers and Arty combos hold all the crossings on the Dnieper at 15/13,18/15,22/16, 26/18,27/18 and 29/20. Once they are joined by the bulk of Kamf 1, they cross the river to take the attack to the Russians.

Kamf 3. 6x Tiger, 3x Arty and 2 infantry cross the Dnieper at 36/25 and clear the area and take Shevchenky and its airfield. Once the AA units have been destroyed my Ju87's run riot over the soviet armour in the area. The Kamf re-take Svitohirs'ke, Ozero and airfield, Kirove, Pidhora, Lishchynivka and AF then lastly Butenky and its AF.

Kamf 2, eventually crosses the river to join k3 in clearing the North bank capturing the remaining towns and flags.

kamf 4, is an flying Kamf ! 3x Ju 188's 2x Me 410's and fighters attack the troop transports as they cross the sea, kamf 1 finishes off anything that survives the crossing. After they destroying the shipping they set about helping the units that have crossed by attacking flags changing them to neutral so they are unable to re-enforce these towns and bases.

I got a DV after 18/18 turns and ended on 42822 points. A very straight forward game with the twist of the troop transports.

Martin.

[shawkhan2]

I would ask you to post replays to better illustrate your AARs.

[milliethedog]

Hi Shawkhan2,
I cannot open to watch the replays that others post, so the chances that I could post my own currently are Nil..... Unless someone can post the "Dummies Guide to Posting and receiving" so if anyone out there Knows then post away. I will post my next run through that way, Prob West 42/43 once I finish this run through.

Martin

[milliethedog]

The Long War
Last Game of 43
Kiev 43
Field marshal Level, Starting Points 43222
After Replenishment and re-enforcements 42958 points However I scrapped 2x Su122, 2x T34/41, 1x Sherman M4 and 2x KV85's for the points.

Core
7x SS GebirgsJager 43 and SDkfz 250/251,
1x SS MG 42 and SDkfz 250
2x T34/41(r) Disbanded for points
2x KV 85 (r) Disbanded for points
18x SS Tiger I
5x SS 17cm K18's and SDkfz 7's
3x SS 21cm MRS and SDkfz 7's
1x Su 122 (r) Disbanded for points
4x SS Sig 33
1x SS Flak 36 and tractor
4x Fw 190A
1x Bf 109G
4x Ju 87G
1x Ju 87B Recon
2x Me 410A
3x Ju 188A

This was a 2 part game, Defend Kiev in the North, while attack, attack, attack in the south, firstly to take back everything lost to the Russian Para's, then smash all armour, crossing the Dnieper River to clear the Eastern bank, then join the Northern kamf to finish off the rest. My airforce had a hard time in this game, AA and SpAAg's caused real damage in this game while the Yak 9D's scored a lot of hits on my Fw190's as they were destroyed, Need those Me 262's soon !

Kamf 1, 7 Tigers, 2 infantry, 5 Arty and AA hold Kiev against waves of soviet armour and infantry. however once the southern kamfs cross the Dnieper and get close to K1 they attack and take Shevchenkove, Rudnya, Semypolky, Kobyzhcha and then in the last few turns Makivka and Monastyryshche and its AF.

Kamf 2. 4 Arty, 2 infantry and 3 tigers retake Hrebinky, Velykopolovets'ke, Bila Tserkva, Ostriv, Rokytne, the AF at 22/30 and finally Stepantsi before merging with K3 when crossing the Dnieper.

Kamf 3. 8Tigers, 3 Arty, 1 Aux AA firstly hold the crossing at 19/19, then they battle to take back the ground lost to the Russian Para's, before destroying the re-enforcing/re leaving Soviet Armour. They retake Kaharlyk, vasyliv, Kozyn and its AF, then Uzyn and Kaniv.

Kamf 2 and k3 cross the Dnieper using the 4 crossings and clear the north bank eventually clear all the soviet forces after joining up with K1 in the north.


I got a DV after 16/22 turns and ended on 43431 points. A very costly game on my Airforce, no losses but plenty of damage. I am glad 43 is over !

Martin.

[milliethedog]

The Long War
1944 The Core at the start

Field marshal Level, Starting Points 43631
After Replenishment and re-enforcements 39898 points

28th SS Gebirasjager(39) 2 star 1 Hero Attack +2 Initiative +3
48th SS Gebirasjager 2 star 1 Hero Spotting +1 Initiative +2 defence +2
48th SS Gebirasjager 2 star 1 Hero Attack +2 Initiative +3 defence +2 both have the same number?
2nd SS Gebirasjager 4 star 3 Hero Attack +3 Initiative +3 defence +1 Movement +3
6th SS Gebirasjager 4 star 2 Hero Attack +4
4th SS Gebirasjager 3 star 1 Hero Attack +2
5th SS Gebirasjager 3 star 2 Hero Initiative+1 Spotting+1
35th SS MG 42 3 star 1 Hero initiative +3 Movement +2

15th SS Tiger 4 star 2 Hero Attack +1 Defence +1
16th SS Tiger 4 star 2 Hero Attack +1 Defence +3
7th SS Tiger 3 star 2 Hero Defence +1 Spotting +1
1st SS Tiger 3 star 2 Hero Attack +2 Defence +2 Initiative +2
23rd SS Tiger 3 star 2 Hero Defence +3
43rd SS Tiger 3 star 2 Hero Defence +3
22nd SS Tiger 3 star 2 Hero Attack +2 Defence +3
34th SS Tiger 3 star 1 Hero Defence +1
29th SS Tiger 3 star 2 Hero Defence +2
19th SS Tiger 3 star 2 Hero Attack +2 Defence +2
17th SS Tiger 4 star 2 Hero Attack +5 Defence +2 Spotting +2
28th SS Tiger 2 star 1 Hero Attack +1 Defence +1 Initiative +2 Movement +1 Spotting +1
55th SS Tiger 3 star 1 Hero Attack +1
20th SS Tiger 4 star 2 Hero Initiative +1 Movement +1
31st SS Tiger 3 star 2 Hero Defence +3 Movement +1
24th SS Tiger 4 star 2 Hero Defence +2 Movement +1
3rd SS Tiger 4 star 2 Hero Attack +3
47th SS Tiger 2 star 1 Hero Defence +1
39th SS Panther A 0 star 0 hero


26th SS 17cm K18 5 star 2 Hero Range +1 Attack +1
12th SS 17cm K18 4 star 2 Hero Attack +3 Range +1
25th SS 17cm K18 4 star 1 Hero Range +1 Defence +1
40th SS 17cm K18 4 star 1 Hero Attack +2
11th SS 17cm K18 4 star 2 Hero Range +1 Attack +1
41st SS 21cm K18 4 star 1 Hero Movement +1
21st SS 21cm K18 4 star 2 Hero Attack +1 Movement +1
39th SS 21cm K18 4 star 1 Hero Movement +1

14th SS Sig 33 4 star 1 Hero Movement +1
60th SS Sig 33 3 star 0 Hero
13th SS Sig 33 4 star 1 Hero Movement +1
61st SS Sig 33 3 star 0 Hero

50th 88mm Flak 36 0 star 0 Hero

31st Bf 109G 2 star 1 Hero Attack +3 Defence -2 Initiative +3
10th Fw 190A 4 star 2 Hero Defence +1 Spotting +1
18th Fw 190A 4 star 1 Hero Attack +2 Defence +1 Initiative +2
30th Fw 190A 4 star 1 Hero Attack +3 Defence -2 Initiative +2
9th Fw 190A 4 star 3 Hero defence +4 Initiative +1

Recon Flight 1 star 1Hero Attack -5 Defence -2 Spotting +2
8th Ju 87D 5 star 3 Hero Attack +4 Defence +3
27th Ju 87D 5 star 3 Hero Attack +5 Defence +1
Rudel Ju 87D 4 star 3 Hero Attack +11 Defence +9 Movement +2
18th Ju 87D 5 star 3 Hero Attack +2 Movement +1

25th ME410A 5 star 3 Hero Attack +3 Initiative +6 Defence +1
38th ME410A 4 star 1 Hero Attack +2

33rd Ju 188 2 star
44th Ju 188 2 star
32nd Ju 188 2 star



Now to Fight in 1944......

Martin

[milliethedog]

Hi all
Here is the current Kills Totals up to the end of 1943

1943 casualties.jpg (109.89 KiB) Viewed 5188 times

Martin

[milliethedog]

The Long War
First game of 44
Korsun pocket
Field marshal Level, Starting Points 43631
After Replenishment and re-enforcements 39898 points

Core
7x SS GebirgsJager 43 and SDkfz 250/251,
1x WH Gebirgsjager 43 and SDkfz 251 awarded during the game, Defence +3 Initiative +2 Movement +1
1x SS MG 42 and SDkfz 250
1x Panther A awarded at start of the game
18x SS Tiger I
1x WH Tiger awarded during the game. Defence +4 Initiative +2 Spotting +1
5x SS 17cm K18's and SDkfz 7's
3x SS 21cm MRS and SDkfz 7's
4x SS Sig 33
1x SS Flak 36 and tractor
4x Fw 190A
1x Bf 109G
4x Ju 87G
1x Ju 87B Recon
2x Me 410A
3x Ju 188A

I played this game as I would normally do, I circled the wagons and soaked up the attacks, then I split into 4 Kamf to start taking back the capyured towns and flags, I fought right through the map and captured the last flag on 20/20. I was really pleased with myself and then I moved to the next game Korsun Breakout. It cost me 4000+ points to repair the damage to my troops. 10% of my total prestige ! at this rate I would not complete 44 far less 45 as I still needed Me 262's and some Tiger II's to win.

I went back and re read the intro to the Korsun Pocket and noticed that a DV was for 4 resupply units to land, no mention of the Flags on the battle field, so I thought that I would play it all again but this time just doing the minimum to survive and land 4 resupply units. I again circled the wagons, this time very tighly. I was hit hard again by the mass of Soviet Aircraft until I managed to destroy them. Yak 9D's cost me most of my damage followed by the odd raid again nicking a few hits until they were eliminated. The rest of my core sat tight behind 12 units of Arty, suffering the odd hit against the Tigers or a ranged hit against my Arty. on turn 15 I got my DV with the 4th resupply unit arriving over its airfield. I recaptured almost nothing other than the flags that my WH Tiger and WH infantry took (awarded during the game) on the way to join the main core.

I got a DV after 15/2 turns and ended on 40579 points. When I refitted for the next game Korsun breakout I used 1980 points ! saving over 2000+ points so being honest I have gone with this 2nd run though and saved the points, Yes it goes against my normal approach but points are points!

Martin.

[TSPC37730]

You have to be very careful with your prestige going forward. Tank vs tank combat, air attacks & sheer numbers will cause widespread and costly damage to the units you deploy. Your prestige total will probably start to trend downward from here as you refit your units at the end of each scenario. The high costs of the late armor & air units will be the source of most of your pain.

Wherever possible, take a page out of Goose's book & force surrenders to collect prestige if it won't cost you more in losses. You can use your strong & high range artillery units to cause suppression to make this easier. Good luck!

[shawkhan2]

If you are playing with the soft cap in place, there is no way you are getting any worthwhile prestige from VP hexes anyway.
What is your soft cap percentage at the beginning of the battle? With all the SE Tigers you are fielding it must be around 20%?

I am currently doing my second play through with SE units for much of my core but limit high cost Tigers to just SE units. My soft cap generally starts a battle at 60% then gradually rises close to 100% as the battle continues. This is mostly because I overstrength units to at least 12 then only replace up to 10 as the battle progresses. At the start of 1944 I currently have over 100k prestige. In my first playthrough with all SE tanks I was under 30k prestige at this point. Softcap makes a huge difference. Up to 1943 I never overstrengthed any units so collected full prestige up to then.

I have replays available of some of the 1943 battles if anyone is interested. In Kiev 43, for instance, the last 1943 battle, I was able to destroy over a dozen IS Is and capture all VP hexes.

Of course I have been playing this game since it came out and have thoroughly studied Deducter's videos of how to play.

[milliethedog]

Hi Shawkan2, where do you get the soft cap % from, I have no idea what mine is or how it changes during the game. let me know how to check and I will let you know what they were .

thanks
Martin

[Cerberus51]

Hi Shawkan2, where do you get the soft cap % from, I have no idea what mine is or how it changes during the game. let me know how to check and I will let you know what they were .

thanks
Martin

Assuming you are using the 1.30 version, hover your mouse pointer on the symbol to the right of your prestige total (upper right of the panel) and you will get a tooltip showing the prestige total and a softcap percentage. That % is how much of the normal prestige for flags you are actually getting.

[milliethedog]

Hi Cerberus51,
Thanks for that , I have just checked and on turn 1, 9 and last 15 it says the same, "Prestige per turn 0, Soft cap 20%" so if I understand correctly I am getting 1/5th of the prestige for flags that I should get, or is that the norm for Field marshal? Nice to know the game I have played for years can still teach me new things.

Martin.

[Cerberus51]

You are getting 1/5th of whatever is the normal amount of prestige for flags that you would get for the difficulty level you are playing.

It is possible to mod the soft cap off or to increase the figure for the average value of units in your core at which it starts to bite.