DLC '44 #2: Korsun Breakout

[nikivdd]

I'll call it the mud scenario .
After a few turns i punched a big enough hole to breakthrough. The challenge lays in keeping your battlegroup together and shield the weaker units with tanks. The majority of russians rushing for the VH's at the beginning is a nice diversion to get my advance going once i broke through but then the mud came and a clash with the remaining russians was unavoidable. Near the end they attacked my flanks again but to no avail.
But what i didn't like is the huge amount of T34-41's (why?is this DLC 44???) and the excessive amount of SPAA units. It just worked on my nerves. I did like the amount of russian planes to keep my planes busy all the time. I didn't lose any units but a lot of strengthpoints. I finished in 17/20 with 1622PP. I chose to fight in Romania.

[Longasc]

7595 Starting Prestige (FM, default core)
6729 after repairs
5702 after upgrades/disbanding units. Replaced the IIIN and IIIM with a Tiger and stuff

WORK IN PROGRESS
Very nice mix of strong Russian units with weaker tanks. The big ISU/SU AT's definitely pack a punch. Also very nice influence of bad weather and terrain (mud - was frozen next turn) on the scenario, simulating the difficulties of Russian winter and terrain very well.

I just broke through with a few tanks and now let's see how I will deal with the Russians who conquered the target area just before me. I lost a Panzer IV H so far.

[Longasc]

Both 1944 scenarios share that they were not too heavy on airpower, I like this more than the 1943 situation where my Stukas couldn't even survive with escorts.

[monkspider]

Both 1944 scenarios share that they were not too heavy on airpower, I like this more than the 1943 situation where my Stukas couldn't even survive with escorts.

I like this better too. It seems that even the Red Air Force has it's limits.

[Longasc]

Down to 488 Prestige, 3 Core slots open, bought 2 Tigers during the scenario and now can't replace losses with high quality units. Mostly lost Panzer IVH.
Very difficult! Taking a break now. The Russian airforce is back, lost a Me109 and a Stuka to mass attacks, also lots of SPAA.

I am around Tiana, the IS-2 that shows up there isn't so much the problem but the constant attacks of lots of units. I have a lot of trouble to survive this. But maybe it gets better in the next turns, I am close to the exit zone.

I am afraid I get clobbered so much that the next scenario will be very difficult as well. I have no idea how to do better even with knowledge of the scenario and would rate it very difficult. Not sure if this is the intended difficulty. The problems arise once you fight for this city behind the river that the Russians take around the time you arrive there.

Edit: On the other hand I have a great hero acquisition rate. The downside is that heroes tend to die quickly. Maybe that's why they are heroes!

[Longasc]

Well, I am shaken, not stirred.

Enemy resistance was very strong, as you see I lost TONS of units. Maybe I should have settled for a minor...

Will try Narva tomorrow, it's said to be easy. I wasted some 6000 Prestige in this scenario, oh my. Maybe I am just out of training.
IMO too difficult, at least for the default core. The gap between imported cores and default is severe at this point.

Lost lots of units and it was quite frustrating. Maybe a good depiction of the course of the war at this point. I am struggling to stay motivated, to be honest!

6 core slots to fill and 69 Prestige at the end of the scenario:

http://s7.directupload.net/file/d/2844/y3pd4s2g_jpg.htm

[monkspider]

You and I should write a new sitcom Longsac, Two Broke Generals.

[Longasc]

I should mention that this scenario is excellent in its portrayal of the actual breakout from the Korsun pocket which ended similarly devastating for the Wehrmacht.
Now that I am playing Narva - which is labeled a "defensive victory" by Wikipedia - I can see that both scenarios work great together. Korsun just throws the player the gauntlet already in scenario 2, but better to get quickly to business than to wait for the final scenarios.

As I am recovering in #3 Narva I think this scenario is OK. I could have played more defensively, after all. I still think some adjustments might be necessary as I was not the only one who screamed havoc.


P.S.: Prestige for transports?

I remember no such thing...!

[pickle]

Came in with the starting core minus a couple of units-mainly the Nashorn. Had some 4000 prestige after upgrades and overstrengths. Managed to take Hill 239 quickly and then drove across the river though my original force was a little light and got mauled by the Russians moving to the river. However, once the bulk of the units got across, it was only a matter of time before the Russians were destroyed and I was able to recapture Uman. It was about this time that a counterattack came out of the NorthWest combined with a weaker one from the Southeast. However, it was too late as I got the required units into the sector. A good scenario but having a meeting force, even if static, would have helped a little and been a little more historical. On the plus side, the scenario did reflect the grinder Korsun was especially on the relief forces. It has been argued Korsun was the final deathblow of the Panzer forces given their heavy losses after having been built back up after the setbacks of 1943. This certainly happened to my panzer forces by the end of the scenario.

[tmgiles1]

Standard core, Lt. level. started w/ 4000 prestige, DV in 14 w/ 1430 prestige left. Lost an infantry unit and a Stug 42.

This was an interesting scenario. I took the hill with no problem then retook Taine and the three surrounding airfields. I defended this area for a while, but decided to make a run for it right as the mud came. It didn't slow me down too much though, and I was able to beat off a southeast counter with two Tigers and an over strength Panther by the last city before sector C. That was cool, because I thought I had it made, then was surprised by a JS-1 and T-34. I didn't really run into to much SPAA, although Soviet air power put up mildly stiff resistance in numbers. They didn't do too much damage though, I was able to operate the Stukas and defend transitory units and others easily. Again, I like the different mission objectives, it makes it more interesting scenario to scenario. You also have to decide whether to go for DV or MV.