East Prussia '14 - 2nd Masurian Lakes Central Powers AAR

[ComradeP]

110 years after the battle, panther421 and I will play the 2nd Masurian Lakes campaign scenario. I'll be playing as the Central Powers.

The campaign scenario has 118 turns and starts on the 7th of February 1915 in STORM conditions.



The weather. There will probably be more than 1 day with STORM conditions. I expect ground conditions to be mostly Mud or Snow. We might see some Soft conditions towards the end of the scenario.

Visibility is also likely to vary greatly, due to the minimum visibility of 1 and maximum visibility of 3 or 4 on most days.

During Mud, Snow and Frozen conditions, only A or B quality infantry units can move and assault when not in T-mode moving along a road due to the 150% MP cost modifier. I have two B quality brigades and 1 B quality division, the Russians have none.

The MP cost modifier doesn't apply to T-mode movement along a primary road, though movement across bridges is currently bugged as the MP modifier is applied. WDS is aware of this and the issue will be fixed in one of the next updates.

All infantry units, regardless of quality, can also only move 2 hexes on Clear terrain during Mud, Snow and Frozen conditions due to the effective 9 MP movement cost.

Mounted cavalry remains mobile as its MP costs are only modified by 130%. As MP costs are rounded down, that results in an effective 7 MP cost on Clear terrain when mounted. Depending on Speed and Quality ratings, cavalry can move 3-4 hexes.

Both sides suffer from a 20% Frozen penalty when conditions are Frozen.

From the manual:

Frozen Penalty
Depending on the game and the scenario, it is possible for one side or the other to be given a Frozen Penalty from 0 to 100%,
defined by Parameter Data.

When this penalty value is nonzero, then the following effects apply to the specified side during Frozen turns only:
• The defense value of units in non Urban (Village, Town, City, and Industrial) hexes is reduced by the Frozen Penalty.

• The defense value of units in Urban (Village, Town, City, and Industrial) hexes is reduced by half the Frozen Penalty.

• The attack value and assault value of units is reduced by half the Frozen Penalty.

• The movement allowance of vehicle units is reduced by twice the Frozen Penalty.

Supply:

Global Supply is 60 for the Central Powers and 30 for the Russians. My edge of the map supply sources have a value of 70, and the Russian edge of the map supply sources have a value of 30. My frontline Local Supply is pretty good even during the STORM, but the Russians have 10 or less Local Supply at the front.



The sides have a rough parity in numbers.

Starting with the opposition, the Russians have 5 regular C Quality and 7 reserve D Quality infantry divisions.

It's worth noting that the Russian MG units are no longer rated as -1 Quality level compared to the infantry units, so regular MG companies are now C Quality and reservist MG companies D Quality. Field artillery remains -1 Quality below the infantry units, so D/E Quality for regular/reserve.

The Russians have 2 D Quality cavalry divisions in the north and a D Quality cavalry brigade in the south, as well as Corps-level Cossack sotnias.

In terms of infantry, I have 2 C Quality regular infantry divisions, 1 C Quality old-style Reserve division, 6 D Quality new-style Reserve divisions with 9 battalions and indirect fire artillery, 1 B Quality infantry division, 2 B Quality infantry brigades (one Garde and one regular), 2 D Quality Landwehr divisions and two mixed C/D Quality Ersatz/Landwehr divisions. I also have 1 B Quality cavalry division and 1 C Quality cavalry brigade.

The best Russian units are in the central part of the map, east of the Masurian Lakes. The flanks are held by reservists and cavalry. Most of the units are Fixed until the 10th of February, with the units on the flank releasing on the 8th (south and non-frontline battalions in the central part of the map) or 9th (north) of February. My units in the north are mostly Fixed until the 8th of February. Landwehr Division Königsberg is Fixed for the duration.

Germany infantry battalions have +1 Assault value compared to 1914 due to the introduction of the Stielhandgranate.

What complicates matters in terms of C&C for both sides are the units not assigned to a Corps HQ. 8. Armee HQ is in the south, so the Landwehr HQ's and 3. RD HQ will be Detached for most of the game as they can't be re-assigned to 10. Armee.

Initial dispositions. Both sides occupy TRENCH and BUNKER positions in the central part of the map. The Russians also occupy TRENCH/BUNKER positions at Johannisburg south of the Spirdingsee.



Reinforcements will arrive on the 9th of February on the Russian flank at Shaki.





The newly formed 10. Armee faces the right flank of 10th Army at Gumbinnen. Without being able to move and assault, I'm not sure what my reservists will be able to accomplish, but they'll mostly be advancing unopposed initially. I expect that the Russians will pull back immediately.

Hauptreserve Königsberg will march north to Gumbinnen.





The 2 Landwehr Divisions will keep tabs on the Russians in the area, they should only be used for a limited amount of fighting.

3. RD will march north to Gumbinnen.





I'll try to outflank the 1st Separate Cavalry Brigade and the opening day where it is Fixed should allow me to threaten its position on the 8th. Crossing the Pisa might be a complicated affair. Thankfully, the Reserve divisions have bridging assets.

2. ID and IB 5. will try to outflank the Russian position at Johannisburg. It's a strong position, behind the Pisa river and TRENCH/BUNKER hexes.

[ComradeP]

The high value objectives are located on the primary road to Kovno and the Osowiec-Grodno primary road, but I'll probably need to destroy a number of Russian units to win as well. I hope I can turn both Russian flanks early on, forcing the Russians into the central part of the map.

The limited mobility, for both sides, makes it difficult to advance or withdraw quickly when not using primary roads. The primary road network is quite extensive, so it will be difficult to catch the Russians. If the Russians withdraw into the forest east of Suwalki and Augustow, I might run out of time. Moving and assaulting in Forest hexes is impossible regardless of ground conditions.

I need 8000 points to win and capturing every objective on the map, an unlikely event, would give me 7500 points. The Russians also have an exit objective at Kovno to model the retreat of III Army Corps to that fortress city.

[ComradeP]

Turn 9, 06:00 8th of February 1915, Snow conditions.

For those unfamiliar with the TOC series, the grey rectangles on the map are obstacles. The first time a unit enters a hex with obstacles, entering the hex uses all MP's. When an obstacles hex has been penetrated, entering it costs 1/4 MP's+regular movement cost for Deployed units. The costs for units in T-mode is the regular terrain MP cost of the hex. Road movement isn't possible. In other words, entering a Clear hex costs 9 MP's in Snow conditions when in T-mode and 6+9=15 MP's for a Deployed unit with 24 MP's.



The OOB structure allowed me to reassign Landwehr Division Königsberg, as well as other formations, to 10. Armee. Upon the release of 10. Armee, Landwehr Division Königsberg was released as well. It won't be Fixed for the duration after all.

I'll change the deployment around Gumbinnen slightly. Hauptreserve Königsberg will attack the 56th Infantry Division in the area north of Gumbinnen, together with 76. RD and 77. RD.

3. RD, Landwehr Division Königsberg and 75. RD will attack 56th Infantry Division from the area east of Gumbinnen.



A brigade of Landwehr Division Jacobi is now at Darkehmen, where bridge engineers from 3. RD are still packing up their bridge.

Landwehr Division Einem is taking up position in front of 64th Infantry Division.

The Landwehr will only keep an eye on the Russians unless they can attack at really favourable odds.



1.5 infantry division needs to move through a single forest hex when heading south near Johannisburg, which will take some time at a rate of 3 battalions per turn.

Various cavalry squadrons are about to skirmish with the 1st Separate Cavalry Brigade. I hope I can take out most of it before it can escape across the Pisa river.

[ComradeP]

Due to the limited movement each turn, I'll post 06:00 screenshots only for the moment instead of 06:00 and 12:00 screenshots.

Turn 17, 06:00 9th of February 1915



Reinforcements arrive from the north. After crossing the river at Shaki, 31. ID will head towards Naumiestis. 1. KD and GB 5. will head south-east towards the Kovno-Mariampol road.

42. ID will attack the northernmost brigade of 1st Cavalry Division and will hopefully be able to take out some units. It will then move south to cut the Pillkallen-Naumiestis road.



78. RD will head towards Stallupönen and will try to nudge the two Russian cavalry divisions around Pillkallen away from 56th Infantry Division.

Several III Army Corps Cossack sotnias around Kussen have been released on the previous day and I'd like to take them out of possible.

3 divisions and parts of others are in place to launch an attack on 56th Infantry Division.

An MG stack with MG units from 76. and 77. RD will fire on the Russian units in and around Brakupönen as cavalry squadrons probe the Russian flank. I expect that the Russians will withdraw immediately.

Hauptreserve Königsberg will attack the Russian units north-east of Gumbinnen.

Landwehr Division Königsberg will attack the Russian units east of Gumbinnen together with 3. RD. The frontline is currently too narrow to deploy 75. RD at the front. The attack should turn the right flank of 73rd Infantry Division as well.

Whether any Russian infantry battalions can be encircled will depend on how quickly I can turn the flank and get to Stallupönen. The Russian MG units from 56th Infantry Division should be doomed, and the field guns will at the least suffer serious losses while retreating.



Landwehr Divisions Jacobi and Einem remain out of Russian LOS for the moment. The Russian units in front of them have not been released yet.



IB 5., 2. ID and 8. Armee HQ slowly move south-east through the woods.

1st Separate Cavalry Brigade is in trouble. 3 cavalry squadrons are currently not pocketed, the other 9 are gone or will soon be gone. some infantry battalions from 79. RD will help the various cavalry squadrons mop up the encircled units.

KB. 3 has a Kürassier regiment, which is slower than the Russian cavalry. I haven't decided yet whether KB. 3 will chase the remaining cavalry squadrons back across the Szkwa in an attempt to pocket them or will only mop up the remaining units.

Field guns from 79. and 80. RD fire on two battalions of 57th Infantry Division across the river, trying to make their position untenable so my units can use the bridge to cross the Pisa.

[ComradeP]

Turn 25, 06:00 10th of February 1915, Snow conditions.

Visibility improved to 3 hexes. Screenshots taken after air recon at Johannisburg and north of Eydtkuhnen.



Though the Russians lost some cavalry squadrons, it looks like I won't be able to pocket any infantry battalions in the north for the moment.

Good progress overall. Assaulting mounted cavalry while in T-mode automatically leads to the defender retreating unless the assaulting unit becomes Disrupted, but two stacks were assaulted by mounted cavalry. One stack lost 300 Men and the other 150 Men. Painful, but on my next turn I took out some of the cavalry squadrons involved. Direct fire also caused most of the cavalry next to my infantry battalions to become Disrupted.

31. ID has 15 infantry battalions. The reinforced brigade will move around the river, the other brigade will move towards Naumiestis.

If any Russian units in Naumiestis stay in place for about a day, they're dead. I doubt it will happen.

One brigade from 42. ID will also screen Naumiestis from the west, the rest of the division will move towards Eydtkuhnen.



The opportunity fire from moving adjacent to enemy units is slowly nibbling away at my units, which can't return fire. The poor Russian supply situation limits direct fire losses, but I'm not looking forward to walking into MG and field gun stacks on the primary roads later on. The good news is that 56th Infantry Division has lost all of its MG's.

The 68th Infantry Division to the east has no field guns.



Now that the Landwehr can spot the forward Russian positions, some of which are empty, it's clear that the 28th Infantry Division was released yesterday and is withdrawing. Landwehr Division Jacobi will slowly move after the Russians. The units in front of Landwehr Division Einem are still Fixed, but 10th Army starts rolling for release on the Russian phase of this turn.



Several Russian battalions have moved south from Johannisburg and the line at Johannisburg moved back behind another river. That's a sensible move, and it's also the reason why 1.5 division is making such an elaborate flanking manoeuvrer. The cavalry of 2. ID will move adjacent to the ford this turn. Several infantry battalions will move to the light bridge at Königstahl (which Horse movement units can't use).

The good news is that 1st Separate Cavalry Brigade will be destroyed except for 1 squadron that escaped earlier and is probably behind the Pisa now.

XL. Reservekorps (that should be XXXX. Reservekorps, I believe) will slowly push 57th Infantry Division back towards Kolno. I might send 2. ID's cavalry in behind them, I haven't decided yet. If there's an entire Russian brigade in the area, the units will be able to keep the cavalry from the Reserve divisions and KB 3. from flanking them in these weather conditions, so sending 2. ID's cavalry south might be necessary to pocket them. I don't think I could realistically encircle the units around Johannisburg due to the good primary road network that the Russians can use to retreat.

Looking at the losses, you'll see what I mean with slowly mounting losses from opportunity fire. A lot of the Russian losses are permanent, which is good.

[parmenio]

Been a bit busy recently so I'm only just spotting this but another great AAR thread - interesting to me because I've been using this very scenario to test some FWWC stuff this past week.

[ComradeP]

Thanks Andy, hopefully you'll enjoy the remainder of the AAR as well.

It's good to see that people still read the AAR's. I can see the views increasing, but there were no replies to any of the posts from the previous AAR or this one until yours.

[Plain Ian]

Thanks Andy, hopefully you'll enjoy the remainder of the AAR as well.

It's good to see that people still read the AAR's. I can see the views increasing, but there were no replies to any of the posts from the previous AAR or this one until yours.

I think lot of people are watching.
You post plenty of maps but sometimes I get lost working out if your text comments refer to maps above or below. I actually have the 1914 east front game so can dive in to work out things.
A few arrows on map would help but yes I realise that means photo shop land which is pretty time consuming. Keeping a Pbem going And an AAR going is hard enough.

However it's your comments on strategy and the game system which keep me coming back to see how it's progressing.

Keep up the good work Comrade.

PS my game of 4.05 Scheldt tougher now since you fixed the bug of T mode units not being allowed to combine and automatically become deployed. As Snoopy would say curses to you Red Baron!

[ComradeP]

The text applies to the image above it. The text after the turn number and date and after the description of what can be seen in the final image might be a general summary of what happened during a turn, or just additional comments.

I realize the screenshots are primitive in terms of there being no markings. Arrows would be simple to add with Paint, but at the start of a game day or halfway through it, I am not always sure where a unit will end up when I write the AAR. For this AAR, I tend to post the 06:00 screenshot after completing that turn, so what will happen during the rest of the game day is still a mystery. That's why I mention enemy units or locations, as a general indication of where I'll send the units.

[ComradeP]

Turn 33, 06:00 11th of February 1915, Snow conditions.

Still Snow conditions, visibility is also still 2 after it dropped from 3 to 2 halfway through the previous day.



As expected, my opponent sensed trouble when units appeared north of Naumiestis and most of the brigade from 68th Infantry Division pulled back. I could've blocked their path with the cavalry from 31. ID, but didn't do so for two reasons.

First, it would've been risky if the units from 1st Cavalry Division that pulled back towards Naumiestis were still around. Second, my opponent being unaware of units on his flank has its own advantages and I'm fairly confident my cavalry units from 1. KD can catch the retreating units if they retreat towards Mariampol. GB 5. can mop them up afterwards.

Most of 1. KD will capture the 1000 VP objective and will move towards Mariumpol, ideally taking out more units of 1st Cavalry Division along the way.

A Kürassier regiment will move towards Pilvishki. It made contact with a Cossack sotnia from 1st Cavalry Division at the end of the previous day, but the Russian unit is now gone.

The other Kürassier regiment (the unit in Vitakio Ruda) is moving after the rest of 1. KD. Though it has 26 MP's, it's still trailing behind the Uhlan and Dragoner units with 33 MP's, mostly due to all the streams in the area. It tends to be a few MP's short of being able to cross it, when other cavalry units can do so. Tradition beats practicality again.

As shock units, Hussars are better due to having a higher movement rate and only a slightly lower Assault value (8 instead of 9, or 32 instead of 36 when mounted). There are no German Hussar units in the scenario.

Though numerous squadrons and sotnias were lost during rearguard actions, each Russian cavalry division has 24 squadrons/sotnias, so destroying them takes time if the various cavalry regiments are deployed as individual squadrons/sotnias.



Crude arrows show where the various formations will go after untangling themselves from the traffic jam at Stallupönen.

Hauptreserve Königsberg moved west again and will now move south until it meets the northern brigade of Landwehr Division Jacobi. The initial skirmishes made it clear that Disrupted units from the Ersatz brigade can't keep up with the brigade HQ with its command radius of 1 if there are enemy units around, due to MP costs being tripled when moving closer to enemy units and effective movement rate being 1 hex.

In a situation where movement rates are limited due to terrain, like in the Rominter Heide, that's less of an issue. Units can always move at least 1 hex provided they can move into the terrain type of the hex.

XXXVIII. Reservekorps will move south along the primary road, followed by Landwehr Division Königsberg.

XXIX. Reservekorps and the other half of 42. ID will move east towards Wilkowiszki.

3. RD will move south and will probably move east afterwards at Vistytis.



Nothing to report north of the Masurian Lakes, the Landwehr are still waiting for the pincers to turn inwards from the north and south before moving east.



2. ID's cavalry took out the two independent Cossack sotnias of III Siberian Corps after crossing the Pisa. The only Russian cavalry in the area should be the lone surviving squadron of 1st Separate Cavalry Brigade. That squadron is also likely to be the only Russian cavalry unit south of the Masurian Lakes, as XXVI Army Corps has no Corps Cossack units.

IB 5. will head north towards Johannisburg, everybody else will head east. Cavalry from 2. ID should be able to cut the retreat path of the brigade of 57th Infantry Division moving east from Kolno around Kossaki or the nearby streams.

XL. Reservekorps will keep moving east for now. The bridge engineers from 80. RD packed up their bridge after the bridge west of Czerwone was secured.

It will take KB 3. most of the day to reach the current frontline. It will move to Kolno.

At the end of the previous day, I managed to encircle 2 infantry battalions in the north (one from 56th Infantry Division and one from 73rd Infantry Division) and most of the III Army Corps Cossack sotnias, which explains the spike in Russian losses. As before, the remaining losses are mostly Russian cavalry, which is a good thing. Though I'd say there's a real chance of running out of time before pocketing and mopping up Russian formations in the central part of the map, removing the Russian mobile units from play will help tremendously. It will allow my divisional cavalry units to isolate rearguards along the roads and to scout ahead with limited risks to their own safety, so my infantry units can remain in T-mode and keep moving along the roads.