East Prussia '14 - Lodz campaign Central Powers AAR - Russians conceded turn 139

[ComradeP]

Turn 128, 06:00 28th of November 1914, Mud conditions.

The first day with Mud. This has a number of effects.

First, Local Supply Values away from the road network are abysmal. A Forest hex right next to a secondary road might still see a drop of 8 points compared to the hex on the road. I took care to pick locations where my units are reasonably close to the primary road network, as weather has no effect on primary road movement (and thus supply tracing).

Only a part of 38. ID and some cavalry units in the south are some distance away from the road network, but the cavalry are withdrawing and 38. ID is just screening the flank of 22. ID and protecting the north-south road from Sieradz to the north on the western side of the Warta.

For the Russians, this complicates logistics even more as my units are sitting on the east-west road primary from Warsaw and supply tracing now needs to trace a path through Lodz and/or Orzokow as the route with the lowest MP costs. Local supply values might very well be around 10 for some Russian units. For the units in my bridgeheads, local supply is 25-30 or so, though it might worsen for a short while when the Russians can ZOC-block the supply trace at Leczyca.

Second, non-Jaeger infantry units can only move 2 hexes at best when not in T-mode on a road. This is an issue mostly for the Russians, due to the third effect.

Third, only A and B quality regular infantry units and Jaeger units can move and assault in Clear/Field terrain. Mounted cavalry can move and assault as well. My opponent now faces the issue that he has D quality units in between my bridgeheads that can move 1-2 hexes per turn due to terrain and the state of being Disrupted tripling MP costs when moving closer to an enemy unit, while 3. GD and 1. ID can move and assault most of the time. As will soon become clear, that will (finally!) lead to the destruction of at least part of VI Siberian Corps.

I do need to keep in mind that the Russian Guards can still move and assault as well.

The B quality division 1st Grenadier Division is near Radomsko. As my cavalry has better mobility, it doesn't give my opponent the kind of advantage he would enjoy against the D quality Landwehr.



An overview screenshot will hopefully make it easier to follow the action.

In what will soon be the I. Reservekorps bridgehead, a charge by a brigade of 8. KD is about to ruin breakfast of a Cossack sotnia by destroying it outright. The first units of I. Reservekorps will move across the bridge afterwards. I'll construct bridges across two Bzura hexsides, for practical reasons. That will make it easier to move units in or out. As soon as the bridgehead is secure, the bridge engineers will pack up one of the two bridges.

1. ID is ready to push south-west from the second bridgehead, ideally pushing one of the Siberian divisions towards the Bzura. The other seems to be south of their position by now. The western brigade of 41. ID will move towards Piatek and will clear the area around the Mlogoszyn bridge. The eastern brigade will try to apply some pressure on the Russian reservists between it and the I. Reservekorps bridgehead.

Having brushed aside the cavalry units facing it, 3. GD is now south of Piatek and will advance east. It turns out that 2nd Infantry Division moved to the area south of 3. GD, but that's not enough of a threat to an A quality formation to consider halting the advance.

There are 11 hexes between 3. GD and 1. ID, by the end of the Dawn turn there would be 7.

West of Leczyca, XVII. Armeekorps will roll with the blows until II. Armeekorps arrives. The field guns of II. Armeekorps are already in position behind 36. ID.



Kavallerie Korps Hauer and IV. Korps (k.u.k.) will move north, I haven't decided yet where they'll go. 2. KD (k.u.k.) is crossing the Warta at the bottom of the screenshot, 9. KD (k.u.k.) is moving after IV. Korps (k.u.k.) in the center.

XXIV. Reservekorps with 48. RD, in the lower left of the screenshot, will assist Korps Posen with holding Sieradz.

Korps Breslau is still slowly withdrawing west, I'm trying to hold the objectives for as long as possible.



No Russians showed up in front of the cavalry screen. HKK 3 (minus 8. KD, which is at Lowicz) will stay in the area, to keep Russian cavalry or the Grenadiers from flanking the Landwehr.

Again, note the favourable loss points ratio. The Russians lost nearly 12.000 Men in the last 8 turns, while my losses were 4.261 Men.

[RichLink]

Why do you place the field guns behind the front line of 36 ID ( and I think in other cases ?)

[ComradeP]

I rarely place field guns at the frontline for several reasons.

They have a 15x chance to face a Morale check from "losses" suffered compared to other units, so they tend to become Disrupted at the first sign of trouble. "Losses" in this case means the abstracted losses in Men, the unit doesn't actually have to lose a gun. Unless a gun unit happens to lose precisely 10 (or 20, 30 and so on) "Men", a die roll is involved to determine whether the unit loses a gun.

Field gun Fatigue accumulation is currently extreme, WDS is looking at it. That's another good reason not to place field guns at the frontline, as they can become Broken from 1-2 shots.

Visibility is currently 2 hexes, which removes the range advantage of field guns compared to MG units.

Field gun (and MG) units can only move in T-mode, and switching to T-mode at the frontline can cause opportunity fire. That opportunity fire is likely to force the field gun unit in T-mode to become Disrupted. In Mud conditions, field gun and MG units switching to T-mode can often only move 1 hex (MG units) or 2 hexes (field guns) as it takes them 1/3 MP's to switch to T-mode. That makes it more difficult to get away from the enemy when the units start the turn at the frontline.

Keeping the field gun and MG units out of enemy LOS keeps my opponent guessing until the units open fire. I like to place an infantry screen in front of the field guns, so the field guns can't spot the enemy and won't fire as the enemy moves up. On my turn, the infantry sidesteps and the field guns fire at the enemy. With better visibility, this has the additional benefit that a field gun won't have a chance to become Low Ammo from ineffective fire at 4-5 hexes.

MG units won't take many losses from direct fire if moved to the frontline, but I only do so when the units in front of them are already Disrupted. Due to the way the fire/assault mechanics work, one of the units being fired at/assaulted (and assaulting) units takes most of the losses. If that happens to be the MG unit, it might be destroyed. This is less of an issue for the Germans and Russians with 90-120 Men MG units, but a problem for the Entente and the Austro-Hungarians with 30 Men MG units. Still, I prefer to keep MG units as close to full strength as possible so their effectiveness doesn't decrease.

There's also a purely practical reason in this case for moving the II. Armeekorps field guns from 3. ID and 4. ID a bit to the rear, as the field guns will remain Low Ammo after failing their first supply check until the divisional HQ's get there. Units can't recover from Low Ammo when Detached.

[ComradeP]

Turn 129, 12:00 28th of November 1914.



The Korps Thorn/XXV. Reservekorps sector remains quiet.

6th Siberian Rifle Division extends its line south into Lowicz as 67th Infantry Division changes its facing to the south-west and engages I. Reservekorps.



The leading battalion of 3. GD only encountered some cavalry as it moved south-east. It was Isolated for a moment when Russian units ZOC-blocked the hexes behind it, but it kept pushing against the cavalry squadrons in front of it as the brigade behind it widened the breach.

The Broken unit is the poor Jaeger bicycle company from 6. KD, which took nearly all 70 losses from an assault together with a Guards battalion. This is the second time the game punished it this way, it had only just regained its strength from the first time it happened. I prefer to launch "important" assaults with multiple units, to make sure the assault doesn't fail due to disruptions.

The flank of 1st Rifle Brigade has been turned. With most of 14th Siberian Rifle Division in a Disrupted state, there's not much my opponent can do about the pocket forming as 1 ID advances south-west. His units remained in place for too long and can now no longer escape due to the Mud conditions limiting movement. Even without Mud, his deployment was risky.

As was the case when I lost most of 37. ID and 9. KD, the cavalry screen at one of the flanks was too weak to contain the units trying to form a pocket.

On the flank of 3. GD, 2nd Infantry Division walks into a hail of bullets from MG's and field gun fire. As expected it doesn't make much of an impression on the Guards brigade holding the flank. My opponent would try to open a path with cavalry charges, and even though those inflicted 120 or so losses on a Guards battalion in two assaults, the assaulting units lost about 400 Men.

A bit to the west, 26th Infantry Division is still too worn out to threaten 26. ID.

55th Infantry Division, in between a brigade of 41. ID and the I. Reservekorps bridgehead, is also in an exposed position, but only the 2 Jaeger battalions and 2 B quality cavalry squadrons can move and assault. The Russian reservists can slowly withdraw.

Between Ner and Bzura, XVII. Armeekorps slowly falls back towards the north. 35. ID around Leczyca is a little worse for wear in terms of Men at this point, with the weakest battalion at 700 Men or so, but Fatigue is minimal.



The first infantry units of II. Armeekorps are moving through Dombie. The gaps in the column are due to the units not moving along a primary road all the time. It would've been more efficient to send 3. and 4. ID north from their starting positions, but when II. Armeekorps arrived I wasn't sure if the Russians would press Korps Posen or launch a counter-attack elsewhere.

The infantry units of IV. Korps (k.u.k.) are now (north-)west of Sieradz. The divisional HQ's are not at Sieradz yet. I didn't move them with the rest of the column, so the divisional cavalry assisting the Landwehr battalions of Korps Breslau would not be Detached.

XI. Armeekorps is still enjoying some relative peace and quiet, but 40th Infantry Division will soon attack 38. ID again.



Korps Breslau and HKK 3 are withdrawing in an orderly manner. The 1st Grenadier Division is putting pressure on 5. KD together with the 13th Cavalry Division. It's not enough to be a serious concern at the moment, I don't think my opponent can do much about the withdrawal towards the Warta at this point.

The spike in Russian losses comes from 7 infantry battalions and 2 MG companies of 14th Siberian Rifle Division facing 1. ID that couldn't retreat as a stack. They were destroyed outright through the Fragile Morale mechanic.

[ComradeP]

Turn 134, 06:00 29th of November 1914, Mud conditions.

More mud.

Slowly, but certainly, we're running out of daytime turns with about 40 turns left.

I Army Corps is moving east according to wireless intercepts, that should mean only IV Army Corps remains between Ner and Grabia together with a Siberian division or so.

XIX Army Corps is also redeploying, but I'm not sure if it is moving north to Lodz or north-west towards IV Army Corps.



More peace and quiet for Korps Thorn and XXV. Reservekorps.



The eastern part of the pocket, with most of 14th Siberian Rifle Division was destroyed during the night. As I wanted to speed things up in order to redeploy 1. ID and 3. GD, I kept assaulting at night. The 1st Rifle Brigade and the final infantry battalion of 14th Siberian Rifle Division would be mopped up on the 08:00 turn. I finally managed to destroy at least a Russian division worth of infantry battalions. A D quality division and a C quality brigade in this case, together with assorted cavalry/Cossack squadrons/sotnias.

36. RD will move clear the primary road between it and the easternmost brigade of 41. ID. 1. RD will slowly push towards Lowicz.

The weakest Guards battalion has less than 500 Men at this point, so I intend to give the division a day or so of rest if possible. I'll also try to give 1. ID some rest. The divisions will move towards Lowicz afterwards instead of pushing south.



II. Armeekorps will be in position behind 36. ID in a day or so.

IV. Korps (k.u.k.) and Kavallerie Korps Hauer will move in behind 38. ID and will attack IV Army Corps together with 38. ID between the Warta and Ner.



By noon, XXIV. Reservekorps with 48. RD will be in Sieradz. Each turn, I split the infantry stacks in the column to allow units from 2. KD (k.u.k.) to pass in T-mode without violating the road movement stacking limit. The infantry stacks are recombined afterwards.

XII. Korps (k.u.k.) and 16. ID (k.u.k.) failed to arrive at Dawn, but would arrive on the 08:00 turn. They arrived behind 5. KD along on the primary road south of the two full water hexes. As three Russian divisions arrive around Radomsko on the 29th, the Austro-Hungarians will join the withdrawal towards the west. The Corps HQ is Fixed at the map edge.

Due to the severe Russian losses in the last few days, the game is now mine to lose instead of mine to win. A major victory seems likely unless I make serious mistakes. There are no high value VP's up for grabs for the Russian counter-attack and the loss ratio will remain in my favour unless I lose units somewhere. Capturing and holding Lowicz is not essential, but it would seal the outcome.

[ComradeP]

Turn 137, 12:00 29th of November 1914



The Korps Thorn/XXV. Reservekorps sector remains quiet as Russian units move south.



Russian pressure on XVII. Armeekorps lessens as the Russian Guards seem to be redeploying.

3. GD and 1. ID press the remaining Siberian units before disengaging, there was a chance to pocket some of them that was too tempting to ignore.

41. ID and 36. RD try to pocket elements of the 55th Infantry Division. 41. ID is also forming up at the same time, as one brigade moves east to join the other half of the division. 1. RD pushes towards Lowicz, but has a tough time as it is now facing the 67th Infantry Division by itself.



XI. Armeekorps rolls with the blows as more battalions of IV Army Corps arrive at the front. IV. Korps (k.u.k.) will attack the Russian flank on the next day.



Korps Posen and XXIV. Reservekorps slowly probe towards Szadek and Zdunska Wola to see if the Russians are really gone.



The orderly withdrawal towards the Warta continues. Siberian units have captured Widawa.

Near the southern map edge, only Russian cavalry is in contact and I'm keeping a large cavalry stack on the primary road at the end of the column to make sure the Russian cavalry can't intervene.

[ComradeP]

My opponent panther421 conceded after Russian turn 139 as the outcome could no longer be changed.

He has taken snapshots of various 06:00 and 12:00 turns as well, I'll add some of them to the AAR when he sends them. For now, I'll show the final situation and will give an overview of my losses compared to initial strength.

Turn 140, 18:00 29th of November 1914 (night turn).



A Central Powers overview of the northern/central part of the map.



The first brigade of the 76th Infantry Division (red counters) moved towards the Bzura, relieving a Turkestan Rifle Brigade.

63rd Infantry Division is at Sochaczew, with some units moving south to relieve another Turkestan Rifle Brigade.

67th Infantry Division is at Lowicz, together with a Turkestan Rifle Brigade and 6th Siberian Rifle Division. That would've been too much for 1. RD to handle by itself.



A Central Powers overview of the central/southern part of the map.



10th Infantry Division crossed the Bzura at Leczyca, but I might've been able to destroy the two stacks with the remaining units of 37. ID.

A brigade of 43rd Infantry Division attacks east of it.

26th Infantry Division and 2nd Infantry Division attack east of them.

VI Army Corps comes to the assistance of 13th Siberian Rifle Division.

East of them, 55th Infantry Division is rapidly losing cohesion and 2 battalions have been pocketed. 2 MG companies were destroyed earlier.



The IV Army Corps flank is as wide-open as I suspected it would be. The units could move across the Ner to Poddebice, so I don't think I would've been able to pocket them.

24th Infantry Division is moving through Lodz.



Russian positions. It seems 22nd Infantry Division needed a lot of rest north of Lask, as it did not move north together with the 24th Infantry Division.



The Russians disengaged for the night.

As to the southern column: I intended to use the Warta crossing towards Wielun instead of the one the front of the column is adjacent to, as that is not connected to the north-south road network.

Final losses.



Late-game Russian reinforcements. The Guards Cavalry Corps (crossing the Pilica), III Caucasus Corps (on the primary road to the north and at Radomsko) and half of XVI Army Corps (east of Radomsko).

Current Central Powers strength compared to initial strength:

II. Armeekorps:
3. ID: +786 Men , +3 Guns
4. ID: +807 Men, +2 Guns

XI. Armeekorps:
22. ID -1.084 Men
38. ID -1.267 Men, -1 Gun

XIII Armeekorps:
26. ID -92 Men, +1 Gun

XVII. Armeekorps:
35. ID -4.098 Men
36. ID -962 Men

XX. Armeekorps:
37. ID – 12.643 Men, -9 Guns
41. ID – 2.749 Men

I. Reservekorps:
1. RD -2.071 Men
36. RD -1.394 Men, +1 Gun

XXIV. Reservekorps:
48. RD +488 Men

XXV. Reservekorps:
49. RD -319 Men
50. RD -148 Men

Korps Breslau: -181 Men

Korps Posen:
Division Posen 1: -966 Men
Division Posen 2: -10 Men

Korps Thorn: -17 Men

HKK 1:
6. KD -970 Men
9. KD -2173 Men, - 1 Gun

HKK 3:
5. KD -508 Men
8. KD -607 Men
7. KD (k.u.k.) +239 Men, +1 Gun

3. GD -2.845 Men, -4 Guns
1. ID -1.979 Men, -1 Gun
1. GRD (-): +917 Men

IV. Korps (k.u.k.)
31. ID: -387 Men, +4 Guns
32. ID: +688 Men, +2 Guns

Kavallerie-Korps Hauer:
2. KD (k.u.k.) +351 Men, +1 Gun
9. KD (k.u.k.) +222 Men, +1 Gun

Corps/Army assets are excluded from the overview.

German strength: -33.855 Men, -8 Guns
Austro-Hungarian strength: +903 Men, +8 Guns

Losses in Men: 59.162 Men, 26.210 Men were recovered/replaced including recovered/replaced losses to units that start understrength. That seems like a very high number, considering that 1/5 or so of the losses were permanent. It's about 188 Men per turn on average, which seems reasonable considering the short days. I'll check the math again later.

I've lost 26 Guns, but the total number of guns is identical to starting strength.

[ASPARTANSPEAKS]

Thanks for the very entertaining aar. It seems that the Russians are hard pressed to overcome the superior quality of German forces.

[ComradeP]

Due to superior German C&C and slightly better Local Supply Values, the Russians are likely to lose a 1 vs. 1 fight on the divisional level as they'll lose effectiveness per battalion due to Disruptions and Low Ammo at a higher rate. Also note that there were no quick breakthroughs by infantry anywhere, it was all about methodical murder. Mass field guns and MG and/or units of superior quality, slowly degrade the Russian strength and assault. Allowing me to deal with his formations 1 vs. 1 or ~2 vs. 1 led to a degrading of effectiveness that ultimately wouldn't be sustainable even if the losses were sustainable for a longer period.

[ComradeP]

And now, a view from the Russian perspective at various points during the game, from snapshots my opponent has provided.

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Turn 94: