Alexor wrote:Ok, this is just some comments and questions about the Whites in the south at the very beginning of the Grand Campaign.
I did the first 4-5 turns a couple of times to try and understand the dynamics.
My first priority is to save my forces as much as possible and not throw the White Elite divisions into massive assault against Red Guards right away.
Keeping that in mind what do you do ? I see 3 choices. I quickly activate the options to raise conscripts and build as much White INF (and a couple of supply) as I can in Azov, then;
1/concentrate all Cossack and White forces in the Kuban and try to mop up all Reds in and around Ekaterinodar and Grozny (with some Cavalry sent north to cut the railroad from Tsaritzyn)
2/concentrate all Cossack and White forces towards Tsarizyn to make sure you take it asap with only a defensive force (new units being created) around Azov to delay the Reds there. Some Cav must sneak behind Reds in the Kuban to destroy as much railroads as possible too.
3/a combination of the 2 above, Whites in the Kuban and Don Cossacks rush to Tsaritzyn to join with the isolated Cossack division up there (these guys will cut the railroad north of Tsaritzyn on turn 2).
This would be my favorite combo so far but the Reds in Tsaritzyn are way too tough for the Krasnov Don army. I'm trying to lure them out of the city with the Cossacks North of them but it doesnt seem to work...Damn the AI is not stupid enough.
Any comments?
OneArmedMexican wrote:. Attack with massed forces under Denikin from the first turn on. The Reds take terrible punishment if you attack them with a strong force.
The aim is: to destroy as much as possible of the Red forces south of Azov.
Take Ekaterinodar, mop up the rests of the Red troops, rest for a turn or two and then send your massed forces against Tsaritzyn (you should just be able to take it before winter comes).
cwegsche wrote:It's no problem to build two corps with your 2.star-generals. Split your forces in those two corps and mop up the red forces to the west and east of your position!
GlobalExplorer wrote:Yes, there is a real chance to annihilate all Red forces south of Tsaritsin and take a huge number of prisoners.
And what about: building a river transport in turn 1, and using the whole Don to transport troops north, to the port of Lipski. It can be used as springboard for an attack to Moscow if Tsaritsin does not fall, as well as a base for cutting off Tsaritsin from the rear.
GlobalExplorer wrote:And what about: building a river transport in turn 1, and using the whole Don to transport troops north, to the port of Lipski. It can be used as springboard for an attack to Moscow if Tsaritsin does not fall, as well as a base for cutting off Tsaritsin from the rear.
Alexor wrote:Transporting your army north along the Don ?! You're crrrazy !!!
Oh wait...that's actually a good idea...hmm...
cwegsche wrote:I just drag them out from the main army and create the two corps. Don't know why it shound not work ... you have an army and a two star general so you can create a subordinate corps. For me it works fine just like it's supposed to work.
Alexor wrote:Oooh...I didnt drag them out of the Krasnov pack first, that must be why I couldnt create corps with them, I'll try that.
Thx !
cwegsche wrote:No problem :-)
I would move out the Army comander from the Cossack Army out first (has higher senority) so that the corps created subordinate to the southern whites Volunteers army ... this army has a much better Commander!
Alexor wrote:Well I thought that there was no choice, that the 2 Cossack 2stars generals had to be under Krasnov command but apparently "cwegsche" (nice name) managed to attach them to Denikin.
I have to try that later today but it wouldn't be very historical...
cwegsche wrote:Don't think so but this would be a great addition. Perhaps you should post this in the "Help to improve RUS" section of the forum!
GlobalExplorer wrote:Tbh, I think this issue has been raised 100 times in previous games, no idea why this has not been adressed by now.
Alexor wrote:Transporting your army north along the Don ?! You're crrrazy !!!
Oh wait...that's actually a good idea...hmm...
GlobalExplorer wrote:Looks like you are right.
So I sat in Lipki and waited for the large reinforcements which were to come from the South, once my additional barges were ready. It all went well until suddenly Trotski appeared in Voronesh, with a huge army. Though I could retreat some part of the division and evacuate them with the new barges, the Don operation ended in a military disaster that accounts for 50% of my losses so far.
Not recommended leure:
Alexor wrote:I love the fact that the AI is playing differently in similar situations. I tried 3 times the first 2 turn with the Whites and every time it was different.
For example, twice I managed to take Astrakhan with a Terek Cossak regiment but the 3rd time someone was waiting for me and I was in Passive Posture...ouch!
caranorn wrote:Some notes:
If you want to recruit additional troops for front line service as the whites early in this scenario go for southern white militia. You have a good number of training officers to train these. Doing so will also require some infantry replacements (as most of those militia upgraded to trained infantry will be lacking elements). That way you can build a substantial infantry force to back up the elite infantry of the three southern white divisions and spare most of the cossack force for other duties (like garrisoning your two early production sites, raiding towards Tsaritsin etc.)...
I'd also go for destroying the isolated bolshevik forces in the Don and Kuban area as soon as possible. Before they can organise they are easy prey and will provide your troops and officers invaluable experience. Just be careful not to lose any of your depleted veteran units. Some of your officers might also be at risk, but I feel it's worthwhile (in destroying those forces I lost three of my division commanders (two of the original infantry division ones plus a substitute), but at the same time I ended up with one 2* promoted to 3*, 2 1* to 2* and a lot of experience to these and others greatly improving their ratings, I could also have promoted other leathers but chose not to for various reasons)). With the Kuban campaign you will also gain access to two strategic cities (which can also become sites to industrialise), open a secure link to the Terek cossacks and any reinforcements from the Caucasian Republics and deny the bolsheviks naval bases for their Don fleet (I believe I may have destroyed it through lack of bases as I also raided towards Lipski with my Cossacks)...
Concerning the lone northern Don Cossack force. I also tried to move it south to the Azov area to link up with Denikin. My plan was to slash and burn as much bolshevik territory as I could along the way, particularly by tearing up the rail tracks both north and south of Tsaritsin. I failed in my primary task as some of the bolsheviks from Tsaritsin managed to block my cossacks and then draw my force into an unequal battle. But while battered, my force escaped back to it's starting positions. But in the meanwhile they and various detachments had captured 3-4 bolshevik settlements, torn up tracks in several locations and kept at least some of the Tsaritsin bolsheviks busy (I saw Stalin with some forces east of Azov, but he never engaged Denikin's army, nor was he able to save any of the Kuban bolsheviks). Then came the year 1919 and the northern Don Cossacks rose up in arms so that I'm considering sending Krasnov north to organise them for the summer of 1919 campaign against Tsaritsin...
So right now my plan for 1919 is to have Krasnov with the northern Don Cossacks strike south and Denikin with the white regulars, trained militia, southern Don Cossacks, some Tereks, Kubans and Caucasians striking north. In the meantime the french and greek expeditions will secure the Crimean which should allow me to send a few additional regulars to Denikin along with direly needed artillery. The North Western whites will try an attack towards Petrograd, but I doubt they will have much success. The forces from Murmansk will probably launch a diversionary attack and simultaneously reinforce Archangelsk. Oh and maybe a force formed around the nucleus of the Terek cossacks will try and capture Astrakan...
P.S.: While manpower and money can at times be short (I often was in the red for money, but several times in 1918 I managed to get a hundred or so and go for more expensive replacements like armoured cars, armoured trains or artillery), I have so far had no problem raising enough replacements to maintain my starting forces and raise new trained militia. By the end of the Kuban campaign of 1918 I could also start increasing my artillery arm (and a third armoured car unit (oh and I accidently bought a gunboat squadron)). Though maybe the people having these problems play with a different attrition set (I left it at default for now as I don't have much time to play these days and just wanted a few fun games to start with)...
Return to “Revolution Under Siege”
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests