Dog Fight - Ostkreig Tournament Round 2

[Dog Soldier]

Epilogue

Even though I got my infantry out of the Chir bridgehead before they could be cut off, they moved so slowly in the deep snow and steep hillsides, it took me the whole game to get any of them far enough south to help hold the Axis western flank. This forced me to have to feed stronger units from the 11th PD into the western flank defense when I really needed them to crush the Sulatskiy bridgehead. Other wise the Axis western flank would have been vaporized in about three turns.

It would seem possible to hold the northern VP hex, since there is a supply point and the pocket can really only be successfully attacked on three sides through bad terrain and mines. The southern side of the Axis Chir bridgehead is protected by the river. A Russian crossing there could be severely punished. The Axis player should be grateful if the Russians try to attack the Axis Chir bridgehead in force to attempt a quick liquidation. That means less troops south of the river allowing the 11th PD more freedom. And freedom of action for the 11th PD means big trouble for the Russians. Note, that for most of the battle RickyB made moves to cause the 11th PD force to react to him. The best the Axis can do then is make the Russians very uncomfortable with that decision. I was a little too focused on reducing the Russian Sulatskiy bridgehead. Making the 11th PD react to Russian thrusts can be like having a wolf by the ears, you do not like the position your in, but you dare not let go.
(Thomas Jefferson)

The 11th PD infantry, without the aid of the armor could not reduce the Russian Sulatskiy bridgehead and take the 250 VP hex. The PzGr were simply blasted into a high state of fatigue by the Soviet artillery.

I did have a success of sorts. The Russian cavalry never played a significant role in this battle. I did not have to use many troops to hold them in a small bridgehead until the final turns when it no longer mattered.

I think that if the optional rule for Quality Fatigue Modifier were turned on the Germans would stand a better chance. As it stands in this game, the Russians simply overwhelmed the Axis defense by firepower and assault. The Axis attack on the Sulatskiy bridgehead ran out of gas in the face of withering Soviet artillery. Fatigue was the Axis downfall. My army is just worn out in the end.

One thing for players to take note. RickyB assaulted with his T-34 units when on the attack more than using them in a direct fire role. The speed, even in bad ground conditions is the best factor for the T-34. Their high movement factors means you can get them where you want them. A defender has to cover a wide part of the front when T-34s are near in strength with extra units due to the T-34’s ability to choose where to fight. Their assault factor is what gets the job done. Many PzC players waste their armor assets in direct fire attacks. The Axis artillery, anti-tank guns and armor will chew up T34s every time in a shoot out. Russian players need to use their artillery and sometimes the infantry to disrupt the Axis units. Then run the Axis troops over with the T-34 units. This tactic works very well. Just be careful where your Russian tanks end up at the end of the turn.

A well played game by Mr RickyB. Like the Peanuts character Snoopy, I am sitting on my dog house shouting "Curse you Red Baron!"
There is always the next time we cross swords.....

Dog Soldier