Kharkov 43, any experiences with this mission?

[SSpanzer_slith]

Stuck on this GC mission for about a week. Keep experiencing unacceptable losses. Any tips or tactics for my beloved panzers?
Thanks in advance.

[goose_2]

Convert all SE tanks to Tigers as they do not count against Soft Cap and you should be golden as they are unstoppable

[TSPC37730]

This is a good one & requires a balanced force.

In the south, a handful of units will be needed to guard Kramatorsk. A few tank & armored anti-tank units backed up by artillery should hold off the attackers. A good infantry unit should hold the city itself. You're going to be rushed by a number of units here, but, with a little planning you can bombard the advancing units, counter attack them, & force surrenders for extra prestige. Be mindful of your artillery ammo counts. In some cases, it may be very tempting to take that free shot but the better thing to do will be to resupply.

I believe this is the opening scenario in the '43 campaign. Be sure to upgrade all of your infantry units to the '43 versions - makes a HUGE difference. Picking up some Tiger I's as mentioned above is important too. Remember that they only carry 31 fuel, so, they'll need to find gas stations frequently.

Be very aware of the terrain during your initial advance. There's a lot of hills & if you're not careful, you can end up with strong armored units parked on top of them - making them very vulnerable to attacks by enemy infantry. The AI is often careless here too, and you can deal some serious damage to T34/43's with you own infantry at very low cost to you in terms of prestige. Any infantry you have with heroes or super heroes can be especially handy here. Again, upgrade your infantry units!

Recon is important in this scenario. If you still have the recon Rudel unit, he can play a role here. Upgrade him to a newly available Me 410 & be sure to escort him. You need to keep advancing to capture all of your objectives & you don't want to be ambushed.

As the scenario briefing instructs, avoid crossing the river. Some units will cross & attack, especially over the bridges near Balakliya. This can be contained fairly easily with tanks or StuG III's parked next to the bridge hex. You'll often trigger an ambush and do significant damage. In many cases, attacking the unit on the bridge on your turn will result in it's destruction. Backing up your defending units with an artillery unit can be helpful here too. Of course, the AI will cheerfully attack your artillery unit with air or its own artillery units, so, a little caution is advised. This really isn't too big of a deal, but it is a good opportunity for some of your newer units to collect experience & kills.

You'll face a fair amount of air attacks in this scenario. One good tactic is to look at the map & see which of your units the AI can see. If a unit looks like a visible potential target (especially so with artillery) then try to either park an AA or fighter unit next to it but also just out of spotting range of the enemy. Pe-2's & other air units will regularly blindly stumble into this trap & you can often blunt or outright stop the attack. Great experience for your units too.

I like to leave a few slots undeployed at the start of the scenario. After the first few turns, you can deploy or purchase extra units to fill the empty slots as needed. Although you'll have to deploy your new units at the south end of the map, don't forget that you have rail capacity in this scenario & you can use it to get your new units up to the front much faster than driving there.

Hope this helps & good luck!

[simcc]

Is this the map that starts with snow and a few turns later turns green? Can't really recall the map name hahaha. If it's the mention map then you will have to capture russian officer (BA car). If that's the map then my advice as below

1. The east side of the river is very very strong and do not cross it in the begining, it's a trap to lure you in when the ground is frozen and once you cross suddenly there is a river and no retreat hahaha. Only cross it if you have to and after snow melt.

2. Focus on the west side, a lot of armor pockets but stugs/tiger will help clear them on the west.

3. Middle section my the river, send infantry along that way as there is a lot of hills and Forrest and smg infantry is hiding there somewhere so if panzer go panzer die. Remember to stop the infantry in close terrain as the t34 will rush over river if you leave them expose

4. Paratroopers saves the day. Send them north and start to clean up downwards.

Panzer hit harder than T34 but panzer armor is lower so use tiger to soak up the counter attack, and hit it with you panzer. Just remember do not cross the river unless you are very prepared. I use 2 pioneer, 3 10.5cm (14 strength), 2 88cm to clear the south river town by turn 3, objective is to clear the AA in that area for future assault. Let the snow melt and fallback to hold the river using 88cm AT with arty backing even KV can push thru that. Also remember to destroy that bridge engineer.

On the second town (counting from below) opposite river, twin SE tiger attack from the west bridge. There is some clear area there than tiger can sit on nicely without fear. Becareful as there is a big bunch of armor just right above that town. I also cross into there before snow melt hence once snow melt the tiger is holding everything there and the tight pack means force surrender for prestige, Tiger only fear larger caliber artillery in terms on suppression so all those small caliber artillery won't even tickle you so just rush head on.

I have 2 more SE Tigers supporting my west flank attack, with that pack comes 2 grenadier, 2 strategic, 2 stugs, 2 Wurfrahmen. Beware not to stop in any close terrain as guards 43 is guarding that area and they can kill tiger in close terrain. Center advancing along the river is my elite infantry ie oleh, friedrich etc those very fast on foot infantry. Lastly 2 para send up north and start taking towns downwards.

My style is prior snow melt I knock out any AA on East river and kill everything on west advance. After snow my strategic bomber will focus on east river center town where I park my 2 Tigers earlier and that is my breakthrough area for opposite river. Do not cross at the bottom of the map just too many t34 and terrain do not favour tiger there. Once you have the 3 russian officers use the other capture officers to lure the attackers from entrench position. Don't bring too much air power.

Hope it helps hahaha

[simcc]

Forget to mention you need a recon with 4 sight to be able to successfully attack across river if you plan to cross as you need to systematically knock out russian sight so it's easier for ambush. Most russian unit like conscript, artilery or AA have only 1 sight so they can see you across river hence those massive artillery won't be able to fire at you.

[SSpanzer_slith]

Thanks everyone for the tips&tactics. It is all good advice that I have yet to try in this mission. Will implement immediately and relay results. Thanks again! Onward to Kharkov!

[edahl1980]

Stuck on this GC mission for about a week. Keep experiencing unacceptable losses. Any tips or tactics for my beloved panzers?
Thanks in advance.

Advance with recon and move your armor up and ahead to protect your recon at end of each turn.
Whenever engaging enemies, do as you normally do. Watch out for AA.

[wargovichr]

Look for enemy units FAR left and far right at first. The right along the river is where the strongest counterattack comes from. You must deal with both of these sides before moving up centrally.
Don't get too close to the river with air, many enemy AA...put one or two AA near your troops behind to surprise and protect. Wait out enemy attacks, ambush, back up your units with artillery. Tanks!
Once better weather defrosts river it'll be easier to defend right to the river line at crossing but watch carefully all battle long! Put unit right behind river, let ambush of attacking enemy occur on river crossing hex!
You'll need to clear the approaches to the big city with tanks and arty, then you'll have needed to have moved infantry close to assault the city along with arty used at river crossings. Timing and Planning! Try to hook around behind and kill off/weaken enemy arty and AA around the city.
I think there's a captured unit in far left corner (?).
Tanks in clear ONLY, infantry in defensible city/rough/hills, etc., ONLY, backed by arty
Upgrades to Tigers helps tremendously. Infantry '43, all.
A Stuka tac bomber and air superiority helps...watch the AA! Clear it first. A strategic bomber may help here once AA suppressed/weakened or to suppress an enemy heavy tank (hint, hint).
Their are many BA-64s(five-six?), use some of the earliest to act as your own recon so don't deploy any of your own. You need tanks and arty. Watch the river crossing as you move north...watch for counterattack after counterattack, leave some tanks behind near crossings where you can ambush after ambush. Give your un-starred or one-star Tigers good experience.
Don't forget! You'll need to have planned getting THREE BA-64s down toward the south sector C ON TIME to get MV!

[SSpanzer_slith]

Thanks to all who gave me advice/tips/tactics. I finally was able to get some free time to play this scenario to conclusion. All of the tips helped immensely and I was able to get a DV at turn 19!
I only lost one StuGIII, (which hurt, they are like my favorite children) but it was acceptable considering the monstrous casualties I took during the previous playthroughs. (before the excellent advice)
So thanks all again! Onward to Belgorod!