Stormy Battles: Red Storm Review and Discuss

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terminator
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Re: Stormy Battles: Red Storm Review and Discuss

Post by terminator »

sov3_01_Prokhorovka


Defensive tactics = AT support :

sov3_01_Prokhorovka(8.6.0)(7).jpg
sov3_01_Prokhorovka(8.6.0)(7).jpg (692.54 KiB) Viewed 2406 times


Attack tactics = encirclement :

sov3_01_Prokhorovka(8.6.0)(8).jpg
sov3_01_Prokhorovka(8.6.0)(8).jpg (847.83 KiB) Viewed 2406 times
kondi754
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Re: Stormy Battles: Red Storm Review and Discuss

Post by kondi754 »

GabeKnight wrote: Sun Sep 20, 2020 2:09 am
kondi754 wrote: Sat Sep 19, 2020 3:06 pm RE: switchable units

[...] US M10 (also in British service) or M36 tank destroyers, [...]

This has not been taken into account in the game, both of these vehicles do not raise or lower their barrels as they should
Thanks, good idea. I'll consider it for my mod.
It's worth thinking about
M10 was comparable to the SU-76M in terms of artillery stats, but should have slightly better stats in AT mode (British M10 17pdr even batter, like Firefly)
M36 in arty mode can be easily compared to Wespe or M7 Priest
Built as tank destroyers, both of these vehicles were quite decent as medium artillery, using specialized high-explosive shells
And when they sometimes encountered German tanks (which were less and less on the frontline) then could use a whole range of specialized anti-tank ammunition of very high quality, so they were very valuable vehicles for the Allies.
However, in the case of the M10 in US Army in 1944-45 period, this vehicle was no longer intended to be used in its original function, unless the battlefield tactical situation required it
kondi754
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Re: Stormy Battles: Red Storm Review and Discuss

Post by kondi754 »

I wonder how Bagration scn will be rated by players, in my opinion it's the best Bagration I've played so far

The best maps in this DLC for me are Bagration, Debrecen and Seelow Hights
Very good are all missions in Crimea, both scenarios on the Dnieper (Zhitomir, Korsun), Karelia, Baltic, Vistula-Oder op., Berlin
Manchuria is interesting too as a bonus
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Re: Stormy Battles: Red Storm Review and Discuss

Post by bebro »

prestidigitation wrote: Sun Sep 20, 2020 11:50 am The Partisan mission was a fun romp. I left the paratroopers to defend the main position which paid off at the end when a whole horde of Nazis showed up. Fortunately my paratroopers were heavily entrenched and had no trouble holding. I took out one bridge defended by construction troops and another that was empty. The radar station was tough to kill because of all the armored cars and light tanks, but I found it very quickly so I was able to hit it twice to finish the job.

Casualties were high tho. Excited for the Finland mission, it'll be fun having a rematch!
Hehe, wondering if anyone uses his lower rank commanders here. It's a nice way to boost partisan stats, but there's a little risk involved - commanders can end up being "captured" as you're often in foreign terrain..

It works like the "wounded" state, but remains active way longer; can easly go over 30 turns. I know from experience... :mrgreen:
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Re: Stormy Battles: Red Storm Review and Discuss

Post by kondi754 »

I did it, but luckily nothing bad happened. They weren't captured and didn't end up in the Gestapo prison in Minsk :)
prestidigitation
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Re: Stormy Battles: Red Storm Review and Discuss

Post by prestidigitation »

bebro wrote: Sun Sep 20, 2020 3:14 pm
Hehe, wondering if anyone uses his lower rank commanders here. It's a nice way to boost partisan stats, but there's a little risk involved - commanders can end up being "captured" as you're often in foreign terrain..

It works like the "wounded" state, but remains active way longer; can easly go over 30 turns. I know from experience... :mrgreen:
Yeah I used mine, actually my biggest complaint about the mission was having to remove three of the commanders and then play with their giant pictures taking up a huge chunk of screen. Also I accidentally clicked on one and assigned and that meant a reload.
prestidigitation
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Re: Stormy Battles: Red Storm Review and Discuss

Post by prestidigitation »

terminator wrote: Sun Sep 20, 2020 12:04 pm Defensive tactics = AT support
Attack tactics = encirclement
Pretty much, there's not a lot to say beyond those pictures other than remembering to layer in AA and using infantry in rough terrain where they get a combat advantage.
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Re: Stormy Battles: Red Storm Review and Discuss

Post by GabeKnight »

Thanks for the info, Kondi, I'll save the post for later use.
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Re: Stormy Battles: Red Storm Review and Discuss

Post by GabeKnight »

prestidigitation wrote: Sun Sep 20, 2020 7:13 pm ...and then play with their giant pictures taking up a huge chunk of screen. ...
You can click on the "-" sign to reduce their size.

And BTW, Bebro, you should recheck the skinning of the Jap. Tiger tank, it looks weird.
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Re: Stormy Battles: Red Storm Review and Discuss

Post by kondi754 »

kverdon wrote: Sat Sep 19, 2020 3:37 pm
Fortunately there is a way to get around this frustrating change. You can purchase your Core SU-122 and deploy it. You then have to change it from Direct Fire to Arty Mode. You can down downgrade the SU-122 to a SU-76. You then change the SU-76 to AT mode and upgrade it to an SU-85. A bit of a PITA but it does work. You can use the cheat code "#warbonds xxxx" to refund the prestige cost.
It reminded me of Katarina Kasyanowa, woman bomber hero :)
This commander is unattachable from this unit as long as this unit exists
At the beginning of the campaign, it is better to deploy only fighters on the map, because the Germans have a large advantage in the quality of the planes. I mean there's no point in exposing tac bombers to destruction. Then Yak-9T comes out with great stats vs mechanized (hard) targets
So I had to get Katarina shoot down by Luftwaffe in order to attach her to a different type of plane. Later I did it again when during Vistula-Oder scn I finally assigned her to Il-2M3 tac bomber
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Re: Stormy Battles: Red Storm Review and Discuss

Post by bebro »

I'd rather keep an Su-122/152 and buy Su-85/100 anew (or upgrade towed AT). Because SP Arty is IMO absolutely useful esp. as most scns in Red Storm are offensives.

But of course, that is up to individual prefs...
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Re: Stormy Battles: Red Storm Review and Discuss

Post by kondi754 »

bebro wrote: Mon Sep 21, 2020 12:32 pm I'd rather keep an Su-122/152 and buy Su-85/100 anew (or upgrade towed AT). Because SP Arty is IMO absolutely useful esp. as most scns in Red Storm are offensives.

But of course, that is up to individual prefs...
I think that they refunded this operation costs by "warbonds" :wink:
prestidigitation
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Re: Stormy Battles: Red Storm Review and Discuss

Post by prestidigitation »

kondi754 wrote: Mon Sep 21, 2020 11:41 am It reminded me of Katarina Kasyanowa, woman bomber hero :)
This commander is unattachable from this unit as long as this unit exists
At the beginning of the campaign, it is better to deploy only fighters on the map, because the Germans have a large advantage in the quality of the planes. I mean there's no point in exposing tac bombers to destruction. Then Yak-9T comes out with great stats vs mechanized (hard) targets
So I had to get Katarina shoot down by Luftwaffe in order to attach her to a different type of plane. Later I did it again when during Vistula-Oder scn I finally assigned her to Il-2M3 tac bomber
Getting her off that junk plane was a struggle. I've also got her on an IL-2 now doin work.

I've found a good bit of 37mm AA and 3x fighters is usually plenty vs the Germans and I can then use a few planes for strike, even in the 1941 missions. IMO the ability of tacs and strats to hammer priority targets is worth occasionally needing to reinforce them when I make the occasional placement error. The other big advantage of bringing bombers is the ability to bait enemy fighters into an AA trap. A tac is basically catnip, and its much easier to bring down a German fighter when your AA has already given it a few lovetaps.

I will say I tended toward more strats than tacs in the 41 missions because tacs were getting melted while even elite light fighters struggle to to serious damage to strats.

Yak 9T is indeed pretty sick and I've been using it hard as a backup fighter to the La-5 FN. 2 of them and 2 of the La-5 have been my mainstay. I will say I'm confused why the La-7 hasn't shown up for either Bagration or the Peipus seeing as it was well in service during both.

It's weird to me that the Soviets don't get more use out of the P-39 and it gets none of its upgrades, it was a hugely popular dogfighter with excellent performance in the low altitude eastern front battles + it had an enormous 37mm cannon. It'd be interesting if there were caps on the # of each unit you could buy (ex: 1 IS-2, 6 T-34, 4 M4) so that there was a reason to bring something other than the best in class unit in each scenario.
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Re: Stormy Battles: Red Storm Review and Discuss

Post by bebro »

La-7 is available in Baltic 44 for me. It has even a nice red nose :)
kondi754
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Re: Stormy Battles: Red Storm Review and Discuss

Post by kondi754 »

prestidigitation wrote: Mon Sep 21, 2020 2:54 pm
kondi754 wrote: Mon Sep 21, 2020 11:41 am It reminded me of Katarina Kasyanowa, woman bomber hero :)
This commander is unattachable from this unit as long as this unit exists
At the beginning of the campaign, it is better to deploy only fighters on the map, because the Germans have a large advantage in the quality of the planes. I mean there's no point in exposing tac bombers to destruction. Then Yak-9T comes out with great stats vs mechanized (hard) targets
So I had to get Katarina shoot down by Luftwaffe in order to attach her to a different type of plane. Later I did it again when during Vistula-Oder scn I finally assigned her to Il-2M3 tac bomber
Getting her off that junk plane was a struggle. I've also got her on an IL-2 now doin work.

I've found a good bit of 37mm AA and 3x fighters is usually plenty vs the Germans and I can then use a few planes for strike, even in the 1941 missions. IMO the ability of tacs and strats to hammer priority targets is worth occasionally needing to reinforce them when I make the occasional placement error. The other big advantage of bringing bombers is the ability to bait enemy fighters into an AA trap. A tac is basically catnip, and its much easier to bring down a German fighter when your AA has already given it a few lovetaps.

I will say I tended toward more strats than tacs in the 41 missions because tacs were getting melted while even elite light fighters struggle to to serious damage to strats.

Yak 9T is indeed pretty sick and I've been using it hard as a backup fighter to the La-5 FN. 2 of them and 2 of the La-5 have been my mainstay. I will say I'm confused why the La-7 hasn't shown up for either Bagration or the Peipus seeing as it was well in service during both.

It's weird to me that the Soviets don't get more use out of the P-39 and it gets none of its upgrades, it was a hugely popular dogfighter with excellent performance in the low altitude eastern front battles + it had an enormous 37mm cannon. It'd be interesting if there were caps on the # of each unit you could buy (ex: 1 IS-2, 6 T-34, 4 M4) so that there was a reason to bring something other than the best in class unit in each scenario.
RE: tac bombers

Of course, you're right and sometimes I also deployed Il-2 or Pe-2 earlier (I'm not a huge fan of strat bombers) but I have this blonde Russian woman hero for Il-2
But 2x Il-2 in 1941-43 scenarios are too much IMHO :)
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Re: Stormy Battles: Red Storm Review and Discuss

Post by prestidigitation »

Yeah I can agree with that, in 41 two tacs was definitely not viable. Each hit to a tac is, what, 4-6pts of str lost? Very expensive if you have more than one, especially with how good vet is for tacs!

I like strats for their efficiency attacks and durability against light fighters and AA. They're basically flying artillery imo.

Most of the time the Germans have light AA on trucks which is brutal for IL-2 but at best a +0 vs a strat. Strats also have far superior loiter time and usually great air defense. I tend to escort them so they take the first hit (and then I cheapo reinforce them) and the escorting fighter gets a free reaction shot for some chip damage. If the Germans didn't have the occasional heavy fighter lurking in the background they'd be the cheapest way of attacking from the sky!

I've got 2x of the B-25C I picked up and they do work on fortified cities and armor columns.

That said I can totally see how people would prefer alternative approaches. Going heavier on fighters and lighter on AA might let you bring an extra infantry/arty/tank, which might be better given your style of play/preferences.
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Re: Stormy Battles: Red Storm Review and Discuss

Post by kondi754 »

During this DLC (since Bagration) I have 3x 37mm AA (looks like Bofors) without trucks to save CPs for 1 additional inf unit :)
Soviet fighters with AA to support is the most efficient combo against Luftwaffe
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Re: Stormy Battles: Red Storm Review and Discuss

Post by bebro »

So did anybody make it to Berlin yet? :)
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Re: Stormy Battles: Red Storm Review and Discuss

Post by impossible »

headsup: presige is scarce on the 2nd highest difficulty, i run out of it completely by bagration, need to restart and not use elite replacements.
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Re: Stormy Battles: Red Storm Review and Discuss

Post by prestidigitation »

impossible wrote: Tue Sep 22, 2020 5:27 pm headsup: presige is scarce on the 2nd highest difficulty, i run out of it completely by bagration, need to restart and not use elite replacements.
This is the opposite of my experience, I had 2.5k banked by Bagration. You get 50cp a turn, be more careful.
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