Soviet Corps on Zhukov Difficulty

Battle Reports & After Action Reports (AAR's)

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braccada
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Soviet Corps on Zhukov Difficulty

Post by braccada »

Finally it is time for Soviet Corps! This will be done on Zhukov difficulty and a live streamed blind run again. Watch out for the stream at YouTube Gaming: https://goo.gl/qRlKBN

As always feedback and comments are welcome!
  • Battle of Khalkhin Gol: The Empire of Japan has been active in its plans for expansion. This has not affected us directly, until now. Their advance on our eastern border must be stopped.
  • Soviet Invasion of Poland: Comrade Stalin has entered into a pact with the Germans, and we will both attack and split Poland. However, forcing Poland to fight a war on two fronts gives a tactical advantage.
  • Winter War: Comrade Stalin's attention has turned to our neighbor Finland. It is clear that such an action will not be accepted by the League of Nations, nor will it be an easy victory.
  • Bialystok Minsk: We have some intelligence reports which suggest that the Germans may be planning an attack. If true it would constitute an act of war. My orders are to progress to Minsk and strenghten our borders. If Fritz betrays us, they cannot be allowed to reach Moscow. The fate of Mother Russia is in my hands once again.
  • Battle of Smolensk: Again, we find ourselves forming a defensive position. My orders are to defend Smolensk against the advancing German forces.
  • Silver Fox: We have received word that the Finnish forces have joined with the Germans. Together they have attacked the port of Murmansk.
  • Battle of Moscow: The treacherous Huns have arrived at the gates of Moscow. This is very serious for us, and I have been tasked with the defence of the city.
  • Rzhev-Vyazma Offensive: We have just received word that a number of our paratroopers have been cut off by German forces. They will only have a limited amount of time before being caught so I must be quick. My orders are simple: complete the objectives and save these men.
  • Second Battle of Kharkov: After our success at pushing the Germans back from Moscow, Comrade Stalin commands that we expand our strategic advantage. We are about to start our counter offensive, and we must move quickly in order to suprise them.
  • Battle of the Caucasus: I am to perform an orderly retrat. Our reinforcements are on the Eastren front keeping an eye on the Japanse, so they will take time to get here. My orders are simple. Do anything to slow the enemy down.
  • Stalingrad:Stalingrad is under attack! My orders are to adopt a defensive position and to hold key locations within the city.
  • Operation Uranus: I am expected to form a two-pincer attack and encircle General Paulus's Army in Stalingrad. Or intelligence is still working to set my objectives, for now I must move quickly.
  • Operation Saturn: After my success in Operation Uranus, orders have come in to exploit this victory with a winter campaign to smash the enemy in the Caucasus.
  • Battle of Kursk: We will meet the German forces at the village of Prokhorocka. My objective is to destroy as many of their tanks as possible.
  • Battle of the Dnieper: The German forces are located on the far side of the Dnieper River. My orders are to advance on this river and establish a bridgehead across it. I suspect that will not be easy.
  • Korsun-Cherkassy Pocket: Our primary goal is now envelopment. My orders are simply to encircle the enemy forces so that their ammunition and fuel supplies cannot be maintained.
  • Crimean Offensive: It has come as a great shock that the Germans are holding the Crimea. It is an area of great importance to our nation and they must be taught a lesson.
  • Operation Bagration: This may be the most important battle so far, and I am playing a vital role. I will have to complete a set of objectives and use partisan units to disrupt enemy communications.
  • Battle of Romania: Comrade Stalin has ordered that we reclaim the Moldavian SSR and open a path to the Balkans.
  • Battle of Debrecen: War has reached Hungary. We will be fighting both the Huns and the Hungariens. With the Romanians on our side, they have provided some auxiliary units.
  • Battle of Budapest: We need to act quickly. Half of the battleground is located within an urban environment and the other half is in the open plains.
  • Battle of the Seelow Hights: Our forces arrived at the last fortified line before Berlin. There is a large plain which stands between the German capital and us.
  • Battle of Berlin: This Battle will see the end of the Germans. It will not be easy as this will be an urban battle, but it has to be done.
  • Battle of Western Europe: Now that the Western Allies are at their weakest, we will destroy these capitalist pigs. Our forces have a stronghold near the Elbe River. My orders are to hold a defensive position on this river.
Last edited by braccada on Sat May 05, 2018 3:24 pm, edited 19 times in total.
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braccada
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Battle of Khalkhin Gol

Post by braccada »

20 August 1939
The Empire of Japan has been active in its plans for expansion. This has not affected us directly, until now. Their advance on our eastern border must be stopped.
My primary objective is to capture the central bridge over the Khalkha River.

https://youtu.be/aYDaBiTam1s
Last edited by braccada on Mon Jul 09, 2018 7:35 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Soviet Invasion of Poland

Post by braccada »

17 September 1939
Comrade Stalin has entered into a pact with the Germans, and we will both attack and split Poland. That does not mean our two nations are friends. However, forcing Poland to fight a war on two fronts gives a tactical advantage.
My objectives are to take the cities of Tarnopol and Stanislawow. Moreover I am ordered to take out the regional Polish command center and watch out for enemy movements in the area south of the Prut River.

https://youtu.be/FXC1g65L0aM
Last edited by braccada on Mon Jul 09, 2018 7:35 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Winter War

Post by braccada »

30 November 1939
Comrade Stalin's attention has turned to our neighbor Finland. It is clear that such an action will not be accepted by the League of Nations, nor will it be an easy victory.
My orders are to lead this attack. Advancing troops on such terrain will be slow and we must exercise great care, as they are experienced hunters. Even worse, our intelligence suggests that heavy snow is expected.

https://youtu.be/Pc12jwz28To
Last edited by braccada on Mon Jul 09, 2018 7:35 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Soviet Corps on Zhukov Difficulty

Post by goose_2 »

4 posts in one day from Braccada

You must really be enjoying Soviet Corps.

The next one is a doozy. ;)
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Re: Soviet Corps on Zhukov Difficulty

Post by braccada »

Just trying to catch up with keeping my threads up to date :) But yes I am enjoying it a lot. Soviet Corps that is.
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Bialystok Minsk

Post by braccada »

22 June 1941 (Watch Part 1)
We have some intelligence reports which suggest that the Germans may be planning an attack. If true it would constitute an act of war. My orders are to progress to Minsk and strenghten our borders. If Fritz betrays us, they cannot be allowed to reach Moscow. The fate of Mother Russia is in my hands once again.

9 July 1941 (Watch Part 2)
I have succeeded in completing all of my orders. It seems even Comrade Stalin is taking notice of me now. If that is a good thing, remains to be seen. Anyways no time to rest, my forces are ordered to Smolensk to hold another line.
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Battle of Smolensk

Post by braccada »

6 July 1941 (Watch Part 1)
Again, we find ourselves forming a defensive position. My orders are to defend Smolensk against the advancing German forces. It is mandatory that we hold Smolensk and if this falls, the battle is over. Our reconnaissance operatives tell us that the Fritz has a surveillance aircraft taking pictures of our defenses. The tactical bomber is camouflaged, destroying it will be a significant victory for Mother Russia.

6 July 1941 (Watch Part 2)
Second attempt to defend Smolensk. This time I plan to dash to the southern bridges and hold at all costs!

23 July 1941 (Watch Part 3)
The German offensive has been stopped for know and I am sent to the Arctic to participate in a special operation codenamed "Silver Fox".
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Re: Battle of Smolensk

Post by verstaubtgesicht »

braccada wrote:6 July 1941 (Watch Part 1)
6 July 1941 (Watch Part 2)
Second attempt to defend Smolensk. This time I plan to dash to the southern bridges and hold at all costs!
Why not just cut your losses on the first playthrough, maybe end up with a loss in the scenario, and move on? Would it be possible to just do it like in real life, incur loss(es) in 1941 and still recover and win later on?
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Re: Soviet Corps on Zhukov Difficulty

Post by braccada »

I think it is hard to recover from losses on Zhukov. It kind of snowballs. I tried that in the Afrika Korps playthrough and finally had to give in and go back to 2nd offensive where I did not get the additional Italian units. I could not do it without them and a loss on many missions ends the campaign. So there is not much fun in that. In Soviet Corps I did not look at the campaign tree and do not know if there even is a losing path or you simply get executed by Stalin :)

However next time I will try to stay in the game and battle it out. I simply got disheartened by the number of German units :)
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Re: Soviet Corps on Zhukov Difficulty

Post by verstaubtgesicht »

braccada wrote:I think it is hard to recover from losses on Zhukov. It kind of snowballs. I tried that in the Afrika Korps playthrough and finally had to give in and go back to 2nd offensive where I did not get the additional Italian units. I could not do it without them and a loss on many missions ends the campaign. So there is not much fun in that. In Soviet Corps I did not look at the campaign tree and do not know if there even is a losing path or you simply get executed by Stalin :)

However next time I will try to stay in the game and battle it out. I simply got disheartened by the number of German units :)
You are probably right, I was just wondering. There are probably "must wins" where a game changing reward is given (your example of missing extra units without a victory), and just vanilla losses, which one might be able to survive. Granted, Zhukov/Rommel level makes it that much harder, although for me this is the easiest of the three "uber-levels". After the new game rules, I can't even do Manstein/Rokossovsky where the enemy has everything 15 str. (it was barely possible in the GC before).

One thing is for sure - in real life comrade Koba would not be thrilled with a loss performance. However, the game designers were kind enough to let you play further, although a loss or a partial victory does not give you a chance to do the Silver Fox before Moscow, so less experience.
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Re: Soviet Corps on Zhukov Difficulty

Post by braccada »

Rommel is the easiest for sure. Manstein and Guderian where hard enough in the Wehrmacht campaign, which I know very well. So I do not dare to use them for a blind attempt here :)
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Silver Fox

Post by braccada »

1 September 1941 - We have received word that the Finnish forces have joined with the Germans. Together they have attacked the port of Murmansk. This is of vital strategic importance to us as we have a number of ships designated to land and unload at this harbor. My oders are tp provide protection, by holding Murmansk, as this cargo is unloaded.

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Battle of Moscow

Post by braccada »

2 October 1941 (Watch Part 1)
The treacherous Huns have arrived at the gates of Moscow. This is very serious for us, and I have been tasked with the defence of the city. The good news is that their forces have been severely delayed by heavy rains. We have reports of their trucks getting stuck in mud, and they appear not to be fully prepared for the long winter ahead. My orders are simple. I have to defend Moscow at all costs. A loss here will spell an end to the war for us.

19 October 1941 (Watch Part 2)
Wave after wave of Germans soldiers bring our defenses to the limit. Fortunately fresh units and equipment arrive just in time and with our renewed might Moscow should be able to hold out until the mud stops any movement.
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Rzhev-Vyazma Offensive

Post by braccada »

7 January 1942
We have just received word that a number of our paratroopers have been cut off by German forces. They will only have a limited amount of time before being caught so I must be quick. My orders are simple: complete the objectives and save these men.



20 January 1942
We managed to save our paratroopers and took all objectives on time. But there is no time to rest. I am ordered to Kharkov and will leave immediately.

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Second Battle of Kharkov

Post by braccada »

12 May 1942 - After our success at pushing the Germans back from Moscow, Comrade Stalin commands that we expand our strategic advantage. We are about to start our counter offensive, and we must move quickly in order to suprise them. Whatever happens, we have to expect heavy resistance. Beside my objectives I have to escort a disguised Commissar to Kharkov. I do not know what his mission might be. Better not to ask too many questions...



29 May 1942 - I was able to aid the commissar in carrying out his important work, Kharkov is under control and the German counter attack has been smashed. This constitutes a decisive victory and as a reward I am allowed to choose my next assignment.

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Re: Soviet Corps on Zhukov Difficulty

Post by TSPC37730 »

I watched your replay of Rzhev-Vyazma. I noticed that you had the German background music on & not the Russian. How did you do that?
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Re: Soviet Corps on Zhukov Difficulty

Post by braccada »

If the main menu you can switch between campaigns. This changes not only the layout but apparentely also the sound recources (at least sometimes). That's why the voice acting in the briefing does not work in some of the videos.
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Battle of the Caucasus

Post by braccada »

1 August 1942 (Watch Part 1)
I am to perform an orderly retrat. Our reinforcements are on the Eastren front keeping an eye on the Japanse, so they will take time to get here. My orders are simple. Do anything to slow the enemy down. There are a number of pumping stations that should be destroyed. Engineer sabotage units will have to get to the stations in order to set up explosives. Our intelligence reports that to the rear, Chechen forces are preparing an insurgency, supported by German agents. So I must stay vigilant.

21 August 1942 (Watch Part 2)
I managed to not only slow down the Germans but completely bring them to a halt. With their panzer army destroyed we might even be able to push back. Maybe I should not have destroyed those pumping station. But oh well, orders are orders...

8 September 1942 (Watch Part 3)
The pumping stations are destroyed, just like the German tank group. Yet there is another crisis I am sent to. I must ready my men to march for Stalingrad.
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Battle of Stalingrad

Post by braccada »

20 September 1942 (Watch Part 1)
Stalingrad is under attack! My orders are to adopt a defensive position and to hold key locations within the city. If we destroy enough German units here, that might still turn out to be major triumph in the end.

28 September 1942 (Watch Part 2)
We are getting pushed back into the city by the constant onslought of German forces. The front is holding to and so far we manage a fluid defense. Artillery fire from the city, entrenched infantry positions and tanks roaming the outskirts of Stalingrad make the German pay a heavy prize for each meter the push forward.

8 October 1942 (Watch Part 3)
The completion of my objective and the destruction of so many of the enemy's units means that this victory can be considered a triumph. Next up is Operation Uranus which again requires my personal attention.
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