Panzers vs The Bear: A WitE2 MP AAR (Axis Perspective)

[squatter]

ORIGINAL: 821Bobo

I always set the most forward depot to priority 4, next one 3. Only thing I am sure is that my units don't have enough supply. I am using the soft factors to see the state of supply/fuel/ammo of units.

So in places where your troops are clearly not receiving enough, why would you not build an extra depot on every single railyard hex near the front on your working rail lines?

[821Bobo]

Because rails have limited throughput so having X depots within few hexes connected with one single rail(cap 12k) will not give me more freight. Only what the rails can carry. Having more depots is useful only if all can get enough freight and that depends from rails.

[coolts]

Stick a FBD on that depot at Vyazama once the railyard is repaired and watch your supply to Moscow double next logistics turn! Its a game changer. Im doing it on D-Town also as i sit out the mud.

You have to leave it there though and you cant move it, repair something then move it back. I tried [:)]

Have you set the depots around smolensk to "0"? they wont pull any supply then and wont supply airbases, etc.

[Nix77]

One question from waaaay back in the beginning of this AAR: how did you manage to get the naval interdiction levels near Ventspils so high on Turn 1? Tried some sorties with Ostsee squadrons but I'm getting only around 2 interdiction per mission. Do I just need to fly a huge bunch of them?

PS. noticed that in my test scenario there was a rogue Mig-3 squadron that slaughtered my naval ops team, so the missions were abruptly stopped. I think the values should be OK if I get rid of those pests

Extra question: any idea how many hexes I need to control (+2 interdiction) around a port to shut it down almost completely?

[821Bobo]

I usually do target only single hex next to the port and thats enough to cut off Ventspils. Regarding MIGs dont know, never happed to me and I did play T1 many times. Follow path set to yes and flying over see will(can?) help avoiding the MIGs.

[loki100]

ORIGINAL: Nix77

One question from waaaay back in the beginning of this AAR: how did you manage to get the naval interdiction levels near Ventspils so high on Turn 1? Tried some sorties with Ostsee squadrons but I'm getting only around 2 interdiction per mission. Do I just need to fly a huge bunch of them?

...

Extra question: any idea how many hexes I need to control (+2 interdiction) around a port to shut it down almost completely?

just to add here, there is a really neat trick with naval interdiction, not only does it put interdiction in target hex(es), it drops it along the flight path ... you can do all sorts of fun things with this feature. In a WiTW I effectively closed off the Bristol Channel in the turn of the invasion of France (didn't do me much good over the full game but it was very amusing for a wee while)

so this pattern



gets me this interdiction spread

[Nix77]

The Migs were just an error in my test, in normal opening they'd have been bombed on day 1

Oh that route trick is an absolute gem! Since you can select a different return route, the interdiction can be spread nicely.

[CaesarCzech]

okay possibly stupid idea but check the weather near sevastopol due to that early taking it might be actually possible if weather permits to have German winter offensive aimed at taking Krasodar and Maikop and in winter he wont expect it. Crimea is also quite warm so weather might give you a break and opportunity.

[Numdydar]

So is this AAR dead now? Just wondering [:)]

[821Bobo]

ORIGINAL: Numdydar

So is this AAR dead now? Just wondering [:)]

No, just busy [:)]

[821Bobo]

Turn 20, 2.11.1941

Next week the snow will come. I have been considering whether to pull out 4th Panzer Group (of all the Panzer Groups 4th is in best shape) during the mud season from Leningrad area and redeploy near Moscow. In OKH the safer opinion to cease all offensive operations except against Leningrad prevailed. So there will be no late offensive against Moscow.

But the weather is not co-operating. According to the forecast, there will be next week snow everywhere but of course not in Leningrad where heavy rains will continue. Now the decision going for Leningrad and not for Moscow looks like the wrong one and is too late to change my operational plans.

[821Bobo]

Turn 21, 9.11.1941

Not much to report. From Moscow northwards is still raining and southwards started to snow.
Kursk was finally taken.

[821Bobo]

Turn 22, 16.11.1941

In the middle of November rain returned and the whole front remains static. My air recon effort to find out where Soviets do build up for the winter offensive is futile.
What is worth to mention is cunning Soviet play when they are keeping distance from my units and therefore I can't dig in past the level 1 fort.

[morvael]

If he's giving up hexes for free why not advance? Also, never a fan of those straight front lines with optimised exposure to 2 enemy hexes 😀

[821Bobo]

ORIGINAL: morvael

If he's giving up hexes for free why not advance? Also, never a fan of those straight front lines with optimised exposure to 2 enemy hexes 😀

I probably should have advanced and in December retreated. But most of units is in really bad shape and I was worried Soviets will attack them.

[821Bobo]

Turn 23, 23.11.1941

Snow is back and operations against Leningrad resumed. Seems Manstein will keep his promise.
Soviets did launch few successful attacks but other than that, all quiet on the eastern front.




Romanians are returning at full strength from reserves. I don't want to burn my rail capacity so they will have to march.

[MechFO]

Having gone through an AI winter, those long lines in clear hexes look hideously vulnerable. Maybe too late now but it might have been a good idea to build a few fort units in key hexes with good terrain so you have a few anchors.

Forget about using the Rumanians for anything except digging. Even double stacked they die quickly. I think it's because of their low experience and low admin leader chain. They just melt away whein in sustained contact.

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: MechFO
Forget about using the Rumanians for anything except digging. Even double stacked they die quickly. I think it's because of their low experience and low admin leader chain. They just melt away whein in sustained contact.

If you can afford to back them up with Armor/Motorized divisions in Reserve and triple stack them, they can hold but even then the first winter is pretty rough on them. I'll often stack a couple of Rumanian divisions with a German infantry division or regiment to help reinforce rather than leaving them to themselves.

[821Bobo]

Turn 24, 30.11.1941

Another "quiet" week. In Leningrad area two hexes were gained and 4th Mountain division arrived from reserves after rest and refit. Using ships if possible is saving rail capacity.
Other than that only few opportunistic attacks by both sides.

[821Bobo]

Turn 25, 7.12.1941

First Blizzard turn. Because the weather changes during Soviet turn, GR "enjoyed" it already during his phase. Surprisingly few actions. Mostly around Tula where I did expect main thrust. Rest of the front still mostly quiet.
I did launch series of attacks that routed Soviets off my positions around Tula. That was the nicer part. The retreat losses in Blizzard are horrific. 18th Panzer Division started the week with 150 tanks but lost 90 during Soviet attacks. Only 20 in fighting and 69 presious Pz IIIj during retreat. [X(]