Stalingrad, the Docks, and the Ruins

Battle Reports & After Action Reports (AAR's)

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Kaiser
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Stalingrad, the Docks, and the Ruins

Post by Kaiser »

Played on FM since 1939.
My Core going in:
Infantry x8
Tanks x13 (includes 5 captured)
Recon x1
Anti-tank x1
Artillery x6
88 x1
Fighters x6
Stukas x3
Fighter/Bomber x1
Bombers x4

Storming Stalingrad
I was warned by High Command of partisan attacks from the west so my first order was to pull the Italians back to guard the rear and destroy the partisans. I drove two spearheads into the city. I quickly learned an important lesson when my veteran 15th Fallschirmjaher was KIA to the south after be swarmed by hordes of Russian SMG and Conscripts; the formations must be held tight with armour and infantry backed up my artillery and my flanks must be guarded at all times. The Red Air Force offered little resistance and weather was on my side allowing my powerful Luftwaffe to bomb with impunity. This was the 2nd hardest scenario of the three. DV 21/24.

The Docks
I expected this one to be tough. I sold 3 of my unused captured tanks and my Bruckenpionere for enough prestige to over strength all of my units to the max. Again the Red Air Force was no match and my new Fw190A knocked enemy fighters out the sky with ease. My Stukas and Bombers destroyed countless Conscripts in their landing crafts before they could make it to the docks. Meanwhile, my two battle groups pushed through the city with ease. I could have won on turn 15 but decided to go for the prestige and experience. This was the easiest of the three. I took all hexes but two for a DV 22/22.

The Ruins
This one, this one was tough and lots of fun to play. I decided to follow orders and fight. It was the longest time I’d ever spent studying a tactical map before a battle. I come to the following conclusions:
1. Gumrak to the west currently held by the Italians was likely to be overrun and there was nothing I could do about it. (I was right)
2. My air field guarded by the Italians was in danger. I needed to secure another airfield. The Russians had one to the north and one to the south. The southern airfield sat behind a VH and was likely heavily guarded. (I was right again)
3. If I tried to be at all places my forces would be spread too thin leaving my flanks would be exposed and I would probably lose a lot of units.

I needed a strategy, and then it occurred to me. I decided to call it the ‘Mushroom’ strategy. Instead of pushing towards the VH south, I decided to mass my forces and push north, taking the airfield and wiping out any chance of the Russians attacking me from behind. Then I would mushroom out my forces, sweeping down, recapturing Gumrak and taking all VH. The question was, would I have enough time? This is my battle map; Blue, Green, and then Orange.

Image

Fighting was tough! So many Russians! But I kept my formations and made my way through the ruins wiping out all enemy resistance. Again, the Red Air Force was no match and my Stukas and Bombers took a heavy toll. Though, I was caught off guard on occasion as enemy aircraft would fly in from off the screen, didn’t expect that, and would sometimes catch a Stuka unescorted. They suffered some damage but thankfully no loses. As I approached the final VH in the SW corner of the map with the airfield, the fighting intensified. The Russian threw everything they had at me and pinned down some of my forces. I lost a new Stug IIIF/8 and unfortunately, I lost my elite 14* 10th Gebirasjager. They were swarmed by hordes of Russian infantry and lost. They will be missed. I managed a DV 21/24. If I played the map again, I would use the same strategy but try to better coordinate the timing of my forces meeting for the final VH.

Highest Award
1st JU87D – 2,674 kills – Nov 08 1942
Knights Cross with Oak leaves, Swords and Diamonds
deadtorius
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Re: Stalingrad, the Docks, and the Ruins

Post by deadtorius »

Thanks for posting the ruins map and ideas, just finished it myself Blah!!!
Seems like the entire Russian Army suddenly shows up all in the last 10 turns and started attacking me all over the map. I had to pull out with major losses in the SW corner myself couldn't hold it any longer. Enemy air is not much of a bother I agree, but my poor Stukas were only getting 1 or 2 hits on the enemy tanks :? After the battle I viewed the map and saw that I could have just occupied 3/4 of the Eastern side of the map since it was almost all vacant, and I had managed to destroy the enemy that was swarming me on that side. I also went after the northern airfield and was able to both hold the original airfield and took the NW one back again. I think next time I will try your idea, clear East then move West.
DerTroof
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Re: Stalingrad, the Docks, and the Ruins

Post by DerTroof »

Thanks for this thread, it was helpful ... but you had far more success in Stalingrad than me! I was only able to get minor victories on Storming and the Docks, and decided to risk the Fuhrer's wrath by eschewing the Ruins and running for the Don. That was an interesting Wassigny-type scenario where you have to escort at least 7 Hungarian units to the western edge. Anyway I was able to score a decisive on that, so now I think I will have enough prestige to get my core back up to TO&E. I'm 7 units down! Losses include a veteran 88 with extra movement bonus (very valuable unit), a veteran SS infantry, an FJ, a mobile AT and a captured Russian tank, not to mention recon units - I often lose 1 or 2 of those.

By the time I reached the docks, I couldn't risk dividing my force. I kept most of my German core in the northwest corner and stormed along the top of the board, which allowed me to link up with the extra AA and AT units guarding the suburban airfields and keep my flank shielded. Once I neared the docks I swung south. This allowed my air to both support my troops while still hammering the troop ferries. I then fought along the docks while I drove for Pavlov's House from the rear. (Eventually took it, but lost a green infantry unit in the process.) The problem with this strategy is that it doesn't leave much time to capture the southeastern VHs, but as I said I was playing for the MV at this point.

Next time I'll try your plan!
Zhivago
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Re: Stalingrad, the Docks, and the Ruins

Post by Zhivago »

Just a few unsolicited playing tips based on my experience with the DLC 42 Stalingrad scenarios...

You have to have lots of supporting artillery in Stalingrad...it's the key to the scenario. The most valuable units in the street fighting are the close-support arty units like the StugIIIB, the StuH 42, captured Russian SU-122's, and the wurfrahmen/soft-target artillery. If you jump into a Russian city hex without an arty piece behind you, the Russian AI is going to send its infantry forces to dislodge you. The only thing that usually keeps them from doing this is having an arty piece behind you. That usually makes them think twice about attacking--but not always. Using supporting artillery this way forces you to take the objectives more methodically. It is a slower-pace, strategy heavy game. No swift flanking maneuvers like out in the open fields on other non-city based scenarios.

Also, I tend to try and have a 20-25% of my core made up of infantry units--grenadiers and pioneers mostly. These are the guys that will win the day for you in the city. With the fall/winter weather changes in the Stalingrad scenarios, a core with an over-heavy compliment of air units will not be as effective because they may only be able to fly in 60 to 70 percent of the available turns, while infantry and arty units can fight no matter what the weather is.
kokkorhekkus
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Re: Stalingrad, the Docks, and the Ruins

Post by kokkorhekkus »

PZIIIN and PZII Flammen are VERY useful in the 3 stalingrad "building ficghts" scenarios too...

the flammen have 6 close defense value and ignore like ENGs entrenchment levels

I have 3 of each and they gain lot of experience in 1942 campaign...for updates them with tigers and panthers just before kursk secenarios...

have fine days
hmshood
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Re: Stalingrad, the Docks, and the Ruins

Post by hmshood »

Nothing works...too many Russians...they come at you from almost every direction...I recall Custer's last words..."where did all those arrows come from?"...
hmshood
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Re: Stalingrad, the Docks, and the Ruins

Post by hmshood »

now doing replay...wish me luck....am gonna' list'n to forum folks advice and make some changes to initial deployment on "Docks" scenario...

hmshood
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Re: Stalingrad, the Docks, and the Ruins

Post by hmshood »

Did the Northern route thingie...sent most of Core units "along top of the map"... then attacked south...plopped most of my Air close to river to thwart them dudes from swimming over....everything seemed to be working...till a combined infantry-armored counter blow blew away my holding forces in the center...now attempting to retrieve situation....sending reinforcements.....it don't look good...then I just noticed the weather indicator shows the possibility of SNOW...oh crap...


hmshood
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Re: Stalingrad, the Docks, and the Ruins

Post by hmshood »

lost TWO Core units...and a mess'a of the Italian dudes went down fighting....squeaked by with a MV .

Battle Groups depleted...it appears OKW has ordered me to "Hold Stalingrad"....about 5000 prestige left...

North Core fighting south was interesting strategy...did not need 5 fighters....should have 2-3 more 110's or *87's....too many barges slipped across...

one really gets a feel of how things went...kuddo's to the designers....

hmshood
Akopian
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Re: Stalingrad, the Docks, and the Ruins

Post by Akopian »

When I first played the ruins, I bought a ton of green paratroopers and motorbike guys, used my good tanks and artillery, had fighters and strat bombers but did not use many. I abandoned the East side of the map, cleared everything around the Italians, then swept around both south and north flanks and retook the east side to end it all. It seems as though when I gave up all that ground on the east side the AI got confused and stopped advancing there. So I was pretty much attacking pockets from the "wrong" direction. There were lots of losses amongst the new units, but they did pretty well.
SSLConf_hanjar
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Re: Stalingrad, the Docks, and the Ruins

Post by SSLConf_hanjar »

Hi, guys, I'm playing Panzer Corps for 4 months and I think I'm doing it pretty well.
Now I'm stucked on Stalingrad Docks, I spent all my prestige and my units are near extinction.
Any tips for tactics, since I don't have experience with street fightings? BTW, my units are mostly Panzer IV G tanks, a lot of 15 and 17 mm artillery and grenadiers and infantry.
Thanks in advance
MartyWard
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Re: Stalingrad, the Docks, and the Ruins

Post by MartyWard »

hanjar wrote:Hi, guys, I'm playing Panzer Corps for 4 months and I think I'm doing it pretty well.
Now I'm stucked on Stalingrad Docks, I spent all my prestige and my units are near extinction.
Any tips for tactics, since I don't have experience with street fightings? BTW, my units are mostly Panzer IV G tanks, a lot of 15 and 17 mm artillery and grenadiers and infantry.
Thanks in advance
My advice is to take it slow, keep your artillery close to your infantry, keep your tanks in the streets, use the Italians to absorb the inevitable counter attacks if possible and try to sink as many units coming across the river as you can.
For what it's worth you can take a loss in that scenario and not have the campaign end. Sometimes trying for victory leads to defeat later. I'm no great player and the BEST I ever got in this one was an MV and at a high cost. The next two scenarios aren't any easier so ....... good luck!
ThorHa
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Re: Stalingrad, the Docks, and the Ruins

Post by ThorHa »

@Hanjar:

Key to DV the Stalingrad scenarios is the perception of the Soviet SMG infantry. Put simply - get an infantry in range of 2 of these without artillery protection and your infantry is toast.

That means no advance without artillery cover, except your recon made sure there are no SMG units in range. Keep tanks on the open streets, except for Flamms or IIINs.

And use the Italian units as baits. Their normal infantry is so bad that it works as a magnet for Soviet units. Expose one or 2 of these, backed by at least 2 artillery each, and watch the fascinating move of Soviet self sacrifice. Not deliberately but by accident I had an occurrence where in the south of Stalingrad docks 4 Soviet infantry where shot to rubble and I had 3 artillery pieces without ammo.

One last word to your artillery choice - not good for street fighting. 15 and 17 are good against hard targets, but both worse than the StuG III b or the 10,5 cm against soft targets, because they simply have a lower Rate of Fire ROF (number of shots relative to strength) than the smaller guns, thus less chances for suppression.

And in order to prevent the last minute reserves of the Soviets at the rail station to become a problem, field at least 2 overstrength level bombers to sink the reinforcements on the Volga.

But whatever you do, rule number 1 - never move any unit to the frontline without artillery cover. There is only one exception - the Pz III N with its Close Defense of 4. But these attract enemy tanks in return. Rule number 2 - the relation of infantry and artillery should be 1:1, if not even more arty. Rule number 3 - re-ammo your arty when down to 2 remaining shots. You always need that reserve defensively.

If you get used to the different pace and approach of street fighting, Stalingrad itself is rather easy in both scenarios.

Regards,
Thorsten Haupts
captainjack
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Re: Stalingrad, the Docks, and the Ruins

Post by captainjack »

It's hard to improve on Thorsten's advice. For any of the Stalingrad scenarios, you wants lots of artillery that is kept well stocked with ammunition. Infantry with spotting and defence heroes, artillery with move heroes help but my easiest wins have involved fielding all of my infantry (over 13 units last time - but I did have three or four SE infantry...), a few tanks for blocking open areas, and lots of artillery - probably 1 per infantry unit.

I have started keeping 10.5cm artillery for the extra ammo and the higher ROF which are useful well into 43 and extremely helpful here. One or two 17cm are handy for weakening forts and armour (especially as I tend to upgrade to these when arty gets a decent attack hero), but not too many as the low ammo keeps running out.

The other good tip I have taken up is to convert any artillery with range heroes to 21cm nebelwerfers. They are cheaper and have more ammo than the half track nebelwerfer. With 2 range they seem to get exposed to harm a bit too much, but with range 3 the excellent soft attack and higher ROF makes them better than any other artillery to prepare SMG infantry for the pioneers or grenadiers, and they can suppress infantry attacks very well.

Finally those captured shermans have CD 3 reasonable SA and HA and tolerable defence. They can be handy as blocking units that can clear out suppressed units to supplement the Panzer 3N. (Also there's not much else they are good for and you probably won't be too upset if they get destroyed)
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Re: Stalingrad, the Docks, and the Ruins

Post by captainjack »

Just got MV storming Stalingrad, and DV in the docks.

I probably could have done with another one or two artillery, but otherwise I followed my own advice reasonably well. The most useful units were the Stug 3b and 10.5cm artillery because of the ammo capacity. The nebelwerfer was effective, but that and the Italian mobile arty kept needing reloading so often it was driving me nuts. As I had a reasonable amount of prestige I upgraded the italian infantry to Berseglieri when it was convenient.

I lost one 3* Grenadier with +1 Attack which was mildly disappointing, but it is hard to survive five SMG units and a KV1 when your supporting artillery has only two shots left...

And I was right - the loss of the Sherman (in Storming Stalingrad) didn't upset me. And it was quite useful up until two T34s and a T26 had a go at it.
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Re: Stalingrad, the Docks, and the Ruins

Post by SSLConf_hanjar »

Thank you, guys, for your useful advices. I will try Stalingrad Docks again ASAP
jkombae
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Re: Stalingrad, the Docks, and the Ruins

Post by jkombae »

Maybe two additional advices might help:
- Mass attacks are usually initiated right after moving to a VH. To avoid surrenders better wait for 1 turn and prepare/ fan out your flanks before entering VHs.

Especially for The Docks:
- Not to thin out your southern front, concentrate on the section that leads to the VHs in the south. The very southern flank can be covered by Italian units supported with one artillery, one gernadier and one AT unit. You can even move slowly forwards if you support the Italians a little. It should be possible to reach the southern VH quite early and you are able to reinfoce the Italians and make up some ground for extra prestige.
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Re: Stalingrad, the Docks, and the Ruins

Post by Scholomancer »

Storming & Docks:

On the Colonel level at least, the Italians if properly supported and interlaced with German units are pretty helpful. They're always good for knocking off that almost dead unit, and for drawing attacks away from your core. From what I can recall, their replacements are cheap as well. I played this time around with 12 infantry, 3 Sturmpanzer and 3 Wurfrahmen. The slower movement of infantry plus the low ammo count on the mobile arty counts forces you to engage in step-by-step positional warfare which actually helps a lot with these street-fighting scenarios, and the turn length is generous enough to allow you to be cautious

I had three combined German-Italian battlegroups each of 6-7 infantry, 3 artillery, and 1-2 tanks, usually the IIINs or weaker types. I had my strongest tanks working up the clear hex laneways chasing tanks, sealing off blocks or otherwise acting as forward screens against any Soviet advance.

At this point the Soviets don't have anything that can dismantle a high exp IV, KV-B or -C on a clear hex in one turn. By keeping to the clear hexes between the blocks, you slow any reinforcements and counterattacks and also have a crack at the AT and arty in the rear positions, which allows the infantry take fewer losses. Tanks always seem to pick up Scouting bonuses so you also have an idea of what's ahead.

In terms of setbacks, there were MANY times the excellent move rate of the Wurhrafmen saved the day to backstop a threatened (usually Italian) infantry unit. I've also noticed that the capturing VHs will trigger a counterattack, so I've usually had enough of a tank screen in place before taking the hex.

I also noticed my bombers were completely tied up on the barge runs, but I didn't miss them for the city fighting. With amount of AA I uncovered it probably saved me a lot of prestige! Will remember that for the next time I'm attacking into a city, and save the slots for more arty and infantry.
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Re: Stalingrad, the Docks, and the Ruins

Post by SSLConf_hanjar »

I've managed to get MV, but with very much of casualties and prestige loss. Now I'm trying to escape Stalingrad. Thanks for useful advices!
Update:
Since I've been unsatisfied with my performance in all 3 Stalingrad scenarios played so far (Storming,Docks and Escape), I have started again from Storming Stalingrad. I have lost this scenario (i think there is a bug in winning criteria, MV - capture 6 objectives, DV- capture all objectives(i.e. 6)?), but I've saved all my units and my prestige. Now I'm playing Stalingrad Docks according to your instructions, guys, and after 4-5 turns it's going pretty well. I'm really optimistic now. Thanks again for your useful tips!
wargovichr
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Re: Stalingrad, the Docks, and the Ruins

Post by wargovichr »

Docks:
A useful successful strategy is a northern based** one utilizing the northern airfields and their AA guns. You need to shuttle maybe two Fw190As ( a lot of fuel for hang time over river)) and a naval bomber or two (He-177 if you got 'em) across this safe zone out to the river Volga where you can sink** the crossing Russians. The anti-tank guns can be one-spaced slowly southward. Later on the 88AA can be one-spaced southward as anti-tank too to aid in the inevitable sudden counterattack (Russian tanks) that strikes out from the dock area.
Concentrate your initial deployment** to the north half** of the map where you can concentrate/mass** your infantry/artillery force. Preserve those Italians behind some of your panzers--they are very useful for clean-up duty.
Progress from the northern half...east then south. The northern airfields**** will come in very handy for refuel/refit your tac bombers helping in the city and to "cycle" your naval bombers back out over the Volga.
Always always keep your panzers on clear terrain.
Watch for the captured Russian recon unit near northeast coast that will be very useful to spot those nasty Russian AAs along the coast ahead of time.
You may or may not get to the far south, but remember to focus** on the objective cities as end game approaches.
Keep your Volga bombing units away** from the nasty Russian AA nested near the city coast. You can take them out with pleasure as your infantry/artillery offensive heads east and south.
Be careful in last few turns** that you have the right mix of troops to get that last southern most major objective.
By your command
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