Strategy for Cherkassy

[kaplan71]

Hello --

I started playing the Red Storm - Cherkassy scenario, and I noticed that the Germans soon overwhelm my forces when I go after the objectives. Does anyone have a strategy that has proven to work in this scenario? Thanks.

[cool]

This is the Korsun Pocket scen, yes? I found it to be quite straightforward: move in from the east and west, connect the two prongs thus pocketing Korsun, defeat the rescue efforts and then liquidate the pocket. Almost all enemies come from the SW. Prepare to meet them with infantry in cover preferably backed up by AT (the 57mm without transport is decent and cheap). The forests east of Shpola are a good place for inf which then can encircle and cut-off enemy armour. In the west I had inf and AT in Jashkov. Try to encircle the enemies with your mobile units. Bring many artillery pieces with you but that's a given. For fighters the YaK-9T is very good against ground targets, too. What level do you play at?

[kaplan71]

Hello. Thank-you for your reply. It is indeed the Korsten pocket scenario. I am playing the middle level for difficulty. I believe my mistake is my using almost all tanks with the SU-152's as my artillery. So it becomes a question of force composition. My fighters are the Bell P-39 Aircobras, as they have proven to be more than a match for the ME-109 and ME-110 fighter.

I have Heavy Infantry, Regular Infantry, Marines, and Engineers available in my pool. I also have the SU-152 and Railray guns for artillery. What would you recommend for deployment?

[cool]

I also play at the middle level. I think you are correct in suspecting to have a bit too tank heavy force composition. It is easier to encircle or flank enemies with, say, two inf than one tank (6 CP). The P-39 is a good choice and even though YaK-9T is a bit better, the difference is small. I divided my core units so that both eastern and western group had about an equal number of units. Note that I don't use much transports, because it saves CPs (one per unit). According to my scenario endsave, I had these units deployed:

Infantry: 1 x Heavy, 2 x Eng, 3 x Marines (best inf), 2 x Guards
Tanks: 3 x T34/43, 1 x OT-34 (flame), 2 x IS-1
AT: 2 x 57mm, 1 x SU-85
Arty: 4 x A19 (six range) w/trucks, 1 x ISU-152
AA: 1 x 37mm
Fighters: 2 x YaK-9T, 1 x La-5FN (best dogfighter at this point)
Tac Bombers: 2 x Il-2 M3

These units got the job done for me, but there are of course other good force compositions. I'd definitely upgrade regular infantry to marines (naval infantry) or guards (cheaper) if they have 3 stars and you have the appropriate specialisation.

[kaplan71]

Hello. I 'll base my force on your suggestions, and let you know the result. Thanks for the feedback.

[cool]

Good luck for the battle!

[kaplan71]

Hello. I completed the scenario with a major victory to my credit. I went with the mixed force of tanks, heavy infantry, marines, and engineers. My air power centered on three P39 fighters, and two IS-2M3 bombers.

Once I sealed off the pocket, I gradually fought my way north. I did notice that several times, the Germans made a mad dash for one of my primary objectives. Other than that, the capture of the secondary objectives was relatively easy. Thanks for the advice.

[cool]

Great job - congrats! This kind of a mixed forced with a healthy portion of infantry works well in some other scens, too.

[Two Rocks]

I noticed that when the German pocket is sealed off, they still seem to have full supply and get reinforcements like normal. Is this a bug? I play in the medium level.

[cool]

It is not a bug. There are supply sources within the pocket, one of them gives even 50 supply (press space bar to see the appropriate hexes). If you happen to have strategic bombers, you can use them to reduce and even destroy the supply output of those hexes to help your job.

[Two Rocks]

Ok, thanks.