Slitherine

Any hints on this scenario. How do players approach this one. A bulk your forces attacking in the north and down through the middle, primarily from the south or an even spread of forces across the entire front? I am struggling a bit with scenario, I have very high cultivates.

Artillery is the key to the city

I found this battle to be one of the most difficult and spent a long time on it trying to get a win without too many losses. I had been cultivating a large experienced infantry force since the DLC"s began in expectation of some hard street fighting in Russia and was not dissapointed. I also purchased a second wulfrahmen mobile rocket thrower and a upgraded my cavalry to a second fallschirmjager especially for this scenario. These units along with the close fighting Pz III N and some pioneers are the best troops to tackle this scenario (even though I only had 1 each of the later). You will also need a large contingent of artillery for the job, both mobile and towed. Towed guns provide staying power and offensive barrages in the suburbs, while the mobile ones back up your gains after the initial assault. Try to keep them well supplied although pre barrages are sometimes necessary to knock trenches off future targets, (Fighters are also good at this). The tanks and bombers Generally keep the streets clear of KV's and T-34's while helping mop up weaker or suppressed enemy soldiers.

I deployed equal strength groups in the north and south. The northern group rapidly advance down the road until it reaches the city and then fights its way back up angling to take the 2 northern objectives while some mechanized guns and troops headed directly east across the top to join up. Be careful when you reach last objective, Strong soviet forces there can counterattack and smash your weary forces ruining all your hard work. I never completely defeated these guys but just did what i had too to secure the town and hold the line against them. From memory the northern fighting was tougher but more compacted and close up.
The southern group headed directly east along a low trajectory before eventually fighting up towards the center objectives on a similar angle. Again the bottom eastern corner of the map was never completely cleared as it didn't seem necessary. The southern group sort of joined up with the struggling Italians in the center. They had been kept busy an an attack at the airfields which is best dealt with by strong airpower and a few stragglers so you can keep most forces in the city. The Italians are then best used to hold objectives, bolster your own southern/central army and if necessary be used as cannon fodder. Overall my armies (although deployed in groups) tried to maintain a broad front to the enemy without being too stretched and weakened. I don't like leaving enemies around as i advance and try to keep a clear front as best i can. Some other players may play differently.
You have to advance cautiously through Stalingrad but always with purpose and toward your goals. Don't let sideshow battles drag on and distract or slow your main efforts. Try to finish them quickly. As always take positions and hold in good strength and formation. Its no good taking towns just to lose them, take damage and fight again. We call this turnover in Aussie football, when you lose initiative but its sometimes unavoidable. Its a long tough godforsaken battle but worth a few cheers when you secure the win.

I maintained a very even front on this one, more or less a straight line north to south, until near the very end. I decided to clear the area south of the railroad tracks as I went along, and I think that's a good idea, because otherwise you will be vulnerable to counterattack along a very long flank. Once you close in on the final objectives, you can stop pushing in the south; by then, you will have a much shorter line to defend. Keep armor other than IIINs out of city hexes if you possibly can. I used the Italians to mop up and hold rather than as cannon fodder.

My strategy that has worked best has been like robman's - if one of your groups falls behind, dealing with flank attacks can completely upset your timetable and deployment.

I used three distinct groups - here's how: Of your northern and southern deployment zones, from each 1 each infantry, artillery and armor goes towards the italians. Along with your tactical air, you use them to clear out the partisans. Then those units join the Italians and create a center group. I've played the game multiple times, and this always works well for me, resulting in an even advance, no flank attacks, relatively easy going. Like mentioned, converting the III's you have to IIIN's is very helpful in this scenario. A dozen artillery pieces, all your infantry, air, and then a just a few tanks with each group.

I did an AAR for this. viewtopic.php?f=145&t=32256

hope that helps.

in this scenario (and two to come)

the others players reports are very good

and

PZIIIN & Flammenpanzer are VERY useful with INFs and arty in buildings area (good close defense and go on buildings with def heros) , others tanks are more fragile (even a KV1b/c take some risks). Flammen are red flags for ennemy tanks but very very useful against SMG units

russian tanks are not very active, but be careful in north est area and sud area, few of them are in

two "kampfgruppen north and south" and the frontal zone in front of italians can be neglected

the middle of the scenario is hard (perhaps the hardest of the 3 scenarios but the ruins is dangerous for uncoordinated forces too), few losses are possible, but the situation is better in last time scenario with convergence.

Don't forget a captured KV on center north with the "20 steps conscript unit"

good luck !

Thanks folks, I have traded some of my VI F & Gs for Flammpanzers and IIINs. About to give a new go.

I'd still prefer Pz IVG over IIIN because they both need to be supported by artillery in city hexes, and IVG is useful against both infantry and soviet heavy tanks.

Ah got there DV last turn

goodwood wrote:Ah got there DV last turn

Sehr gut, Herr General! Everything will be much easier from now on!

for my point of view 2 or 3 PZIIIN & IIFlammen - each ! - (green ones) can be added whenever possible and the PZIVs keep their own crew

Through 1942 : extensive use of the two units (keep an eye to the Flammen, not in front of the army)

Then well experimented II & IIIn are uptated by 1943 (some Tigers for exemple...), and all in all before Kursk sequence

It's better for a good reserve & prestige considérations (you will need it later)

robman wrote:

goodwood wrote:Ah got there DV last turn

Sehr gut, Herr General! Everything will be much easier from now on!

hehe!