Slitherine

Welcome to my Red Star AAR. I intend to play on colonel or what is known as the 4th difficulty. I have played on the 3rd difficulty for awhile. Moving up the difficulty will provide a new challenge. Most enemy units will start with 12 strength. One thing I noticed is this campaign has many commanders used by the enemy. The extra stats of these units could provide a challenge.

After the chaos of the Russian Civil War. The Soviet Union is recovering and the Red Army must play its part in advancing the interests of the Soviet Union.



For several years after the 1931 Japanese invasion of Manchuria. Numerous border incidents have occurred between the Imperial Japanese Army and the Red Army. Japanese forces have occupied the Changkufeng Heights near Lake Khan and the Red Army is ordered to launch a swift counter attack.



Our objectives are to simply retake the Changkufeng Heights and deal heavy losses to the Japanese. Substantial soviet forces have been mobilised for this attack, including armoured and aircraft units. Japanese troops are well dug in and experienced. There are 2 enemy commanders in this scenario. 1 in the south on a Type 94 tankette, the other in the north on a Type 91 Sumida.



2 OT-130 are deployed which has pleased the staff officers of the 39th Red Army Rifle Corps. 2 122mm M1938 artillery units are also purchased and deployed.



Soviet forces in the north start their advance and encounter mines. With no engineer units available, the only way to remove these will be by force. Luckily we have brave conscription ready to clear these mines if necessary.



In the south our troops advance on the fortified Japanese positions. To assist us, another bomber unit is deployed.



In the north, the Japanese artillery is bombed by the strategic bomber. The artillery sits on a supply hex, rendering the Japanese artillery ineffective. Our tank units have dealt considerable damage to the enemy. The Type 91 Sumida did have a commander on it but it looks like they can be wounded.

In the south, the Japanese tank is destroyed after being surrounded.



On turn 6 I purchased a Soviet heavy infantry unit and placed in the north. The VP in the south is taken.



The VP in the north is taken.



Our attack has dealt heavy losses to the Japanese. Our last objective is to now capture the final VP on the Changkufeng Heights.



The final VP on the Changkufeng Heights is taken and Japanese resistance is destroyed. With all objectives complete, victory is achieved.

The Lake Khasan replay.

best75 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 21, 2020 6:13 am Welcome to my Red Star AAR. I intend to play on colonel or what is known as the 4th difficulty. I have played on the 3rd difficulty for awhile. Moving up the difficulty will provide a new challenge.

Best, you probably know this, but don't get overconfident with this campaign. Even on higher difficulties, at the beginning (against the Soviets) it may seem quite easy, with many RPs to spare. The Finns are more interesting, but still well manageable - even on level 4 difficulty, you'll have many many RPs in the bank. But watch out for the Germans! If you're in the habit of elite repairing, like me, the German tanks will empty your bank accounts faster than you think...

Thanks for your AAR's. I like to read them.

GabeKnight wrote: ↑Sat Mar 21, 2020 7:56 am

best75 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 21, 2020 6:13 am Welcome to my Red Star AAR. I intend to play on colonel or what is known as the 4th difficulty. I have played on the 3rd difficulty for awhile. Moving up the difficulty will provide a new challenge.

Best, you probably know this, but don't get overconfident with this campaign. Even on higher difficulties, at the beginning (against the Soviets) it may seem quite easy, with many RPs to spare. The Finns are more interesting, but still well manageable - even on level 4 difficulty, you'll have many many RPs in the bank. But watch out for the Germans! If you're in the habit of elite repairing, like me, the German tanks will empty your bank accounts faster than you think...

Thanks for your AAR's. I like to read them.

I will keep those germans in mind.

Khalkhin Gol - Japanese Attack
It seems the Japanese have learned nothing from the border clashes last year and still want to fight. The IJA are attacking along the Khailkin Gol River. The damage dealt by our tanks on the last scenario means we will get a unit of light tanks on scenario 4.



Japanese aircraft are expected to operate. We are advised to deploy fighters.



We must first fend off the attack. The main attacks will come on the northern positions and the centre positions held by troops not under my command. Minor attack will occur on the southern positions. After the northern and southern attacks are defeated, we will take the river positions. Our allies will lose the easternmost VP but they can hold the two remaining VPs with help from my forces.



The majority of our core forces are deployed in the north and centre. The Japanese really have a lot of commanders for this battle. There are no less then 5 commanders on tanks and 3 pilots on aircraft.

While minor infantry attacks are beaten back in the north. The major Japanese attack is underway in the centre, supported by tanks. Forces under my command are on their way to support my allies. Japanese aircraft are appearing in the sky. Luckily I have deployed anti air units.




The easternmost VP held by our allies is lost. Reinforcements are sent to aid our defence.

The Japanese make a concentrated attack on the north and centre positions. The Japanese attack is blunted by our forces. The greatest threat are the main force of Japanese tanks in the centre. A combination of artillery fire and aircraft bombing weakens the Japanese tanks.



The heavy losses dealt to the enemy by my tanks has completed a secondary objective.



Our forces help our allies hold their southern VP, mauling the Japanese units.



After beating a minor attack in the south. The southern forces take the southern bridge. This would be a back and fourth battle as Japanese infantry try to retake the bridge.



The Japanese attack collapses and the rivers are littered with the corpses of the Japanese soldiers.

The collapse of the Japanese attack means focus is now placed on taking the north river bridge.



In the south the bridge has changed control a few times but we have gained secured control of the bridge against the Japanese attack.



The scenario ends in a victory on turn 14.

The Khalkin Gol - Japanese Attack replay.

Specialized training is taken.



Khalkhin Gol - Zhukov's Strike Attack
With reinforcements, the Red Army now launches a major offensive to finally defeat the Japanese forces.



Frontal assaults against the fortified enemy positions will be avoided and we will instead envelope the enemy lines.



The forces under my command will start in the north and south. Both forces will advance towards IJA supply bases and defeat mobile enemy detachments. Once that is done, both forces will link up around and take Nonomhan. Then centre forces under the command of my allies will aid me in wiping out the Japanese forces in the centre.




Both of my pincers begin their advance. In the south the Japanese forces are swept aside while my northern pincer encounters the mobile enemy detachment.

Enemy tanks counter attack in the south.



One of the biggest costs to resources I believe is repairs to air units. This appears to be particularly severe on higher difficulties. To reduce the damage I am deploying units of the 37mm M1939 anti air unit. It only uses 2 land command points and its movement of 2 hexes seem to be able to keep up with my main force. 4 aircrafts are destroyed and I get a fighter ace.



The enemy mobile detachment is defeated and we capture the supply centre.



The southern forces capture a supply centre.



However Japanese forces counter attack to take back the supply centre. Both pincers soon meet and connect.

Nomonhan is captured and the Japanese troops in the centre are out of supply. By now I have already destroyed many Japanese units and only need a few more till 35 are destroyed.



The Japanese attempt a breakout.



35 Japanese units are destroyed and victory is imminent.



In the end a Japanese heavy infantry appears to try to reconnect the supply lines but its too far away and the battle is mostly over.



The Japanese in the Far East are defeated and we can now go to Europe.

The Khalkin Gol - Zhukov's Strike replay.

In Europe, Germany invades Poland. The Poles alliance with France and Britain signals a start of a great conflict.



War economy is taken.



Grodno
The German invasion of Poland is progressing rapidly. As per the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact. The Soviet Union will occupy mainly the eastern half of Poland.



We expect to catch some Polish units off guard, however resistance will grow as we advance. We must move quick to secure all our objectives. The Polish Air Force is not expected to operate. Command agrees to allow a deployment of recon aircraft.



Due to the excellence of armoured forces during the Battle of Lake Khasan, a unit of light T-38 tanks have been added to my core forces.



Sufficient tanks are deployed to complete one of the secondary objectives.



We are having supply issues due to our fast advance. We must secure local supply centres quickly enough so we don't run into supply issues.



My forces are deployed and ready to advance west. Moscow expects this to be a quick and simple affair so my force allocation is smaller then what I usually expect.

Despite a attack on the anti aircraft unit first, we seem to strike the unit of transport trucks. We receive 20 points.



After the 2nd attack, the Polish AA unit surrenders.



Our forces advance rapidly in the first few turns, capturing several cities.



It seems the Poles do not have enough units to garrison all their cities. Lasza is taken without opposition. The northern group heads north to capture the northern cities. The southern group has captured Koclowka and will attack Grodno from the south.



Polish defences are defeated and we approach Grodno.



However a polish cavalry unit cuts off my southern group. Luckily I was able to easily reconnect my supply and destroy the polish cavalry.



Grodno is taken on turn 18 which marks the completion of all my primary objectives. I just completed my objectives in time to complete the secdonary objective and get a new commander.



Our swift advance is successful and soon Poland will be split between us and Germany.

The Grodno replay.

There is large concern of a German attack through Finland which is rather close to Leningrad. Soviet diplomatic efforts have failed and the buffer zone must be secured by force.



The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact specialisation is taken.



Karelia
We are assigned to the vanguard elements of the 7th army and must secure the area quickly before the bulk of the forces arrive.



Here we must quickly advance to the Mannerheim Line where we expect the main enemy defences. The enemy is expected to attempt delaying actions and we will have to watch out for flanking attacks. They have little armoured vehicles, artillery, and aircraft. The Fins have 3 aircrafts, a recon, bomber, and fighter. Finnish fighters are outnumbered but taking them down solely using fighters will cause heavy losses to my airforce. As usual I will weaken them with my anti air first. The bomber and fighter do seem to leave after they get too damaged so I need to make sure I can at least one of them along side the recon for the secondary objective.



My forces are split into 2 advances, mainly split between the forests in the centre.



The initial advance against the Fins goes well and Mustamaki is quickly taken on turn 2.



Further air support and resources are given.



Uusikirkku and Kanneljarvi are the first set of objectives and are well defended. Uusikirkku on the left is taken on turn 7 and Kanneljarvi on turn 8.

As the first set of objectives are cleared, further units from the 7th Army arrive. They will be used to protect against enemy flanking attacks while my main spearheads advance.



A forward airstrip is established to extent the operating range of our aircraft.



The supply lines is connected between the two forces to secure the supply lines.



As the 7th Army reinforcements and my spearheads advance, Finnish infantry are coming out of the forests to attack my units at multiple points. The most of the Finnish infantry seem to be focused on the flanks where the 7th Army reinforcements are meeting them.




Through they ambush and cut off my tank unit. It is just barely saved and the Finnish attacks are beaten back on all points of the front. Allowing my troops to focus on advancing towards the final set of objectives.

The first Finnish aircraft unit which is the bomber is destroyed.



My forces on the west side advance along the road to take Kaukjarvenkyla. Finnish troops coming out of the forest maul my artillery.



Unfortunately other units in the Red Army are not faring as well. The 139th Rifle Division is defeated in the Battle of Tolvajärvi.



Units on the west side advance towards Perkjarvi. While my mobile units are able to move quickly and get around the enemy units, the other units move fairly slow.



Kaukjarvenkyla is taken on turn 24. The 2nd aircraft unit, the recon unit is destroyed in the hangars and the secondary objective is completed.



Perkjarvi is taken on turn 27. The positions are taken and other commanders from the 7th Army can now launch a major assault on the Mannerheim Line.

The Karelia reply.