smokindave34 (Axis) vs M60A3TTS (Soviet) 41 CG

[Beethoven1]

ORIGINAL: M60A3TTS

Yes, fighters can provide naval interdiction.

If it is the ports providing the ones and twos, then how do fighters provide naval interdiction? Only bombers can run naval interdiction missions AFAIK. Sure, fighters could shoot down enemy bombers that are doing naval interdiction, but that would seem to just reduce the enemy naval interdiction, not add to yours.

???

[M60A3TTS]

You're saying that you can't do this?

[Kosciuszko]

Those fighters are not in the 'mission' part of the AOGs assigned. Meaning they'll escort whatever will fly, but will they actually provide interdiction points?

[M60A3TTS]

Not in this situation because there is no enemy to fight. The mechanics of all this involves keeping the disparity between Axis and Soviet interdiction levels in the area at not higher than +1. If the Axis flies patrols and I do not, then it will possibly climb to +2 or more in which case the port is isolated. If I shoot down enough of his planes, then there is a chance he can't get the +2 and the port remains in supply.

[M60A3TTS]

Week 11 - 31 August 1941

In the north, more random attacks but no real attempts are being made to push forward.




Similar situation in the center.




In the area south of Bryansk, the motorized formations are swinging northeast.




West of Stalino, some of the Soviet forward units have become surrounded.




In the Crimea, Sevastopol is soon to be a battlefield.

[M60A3TTS]

In the north at the end of week 11, the VVS makes their usual supply runs. One counterattack yielded results.




Very similar action around Smolensk.




At Bryansk-Orel, a flurry of ground and air attacks will cost the Germans extra fatigue and movement points as much of the admin movement in the woods is eliminated.




The Western Front as an assault HQ is in general need of a reorganization at some point, with over 586,000 men. Here is how it is organized now.

Western Front GP V. Sokolovsky
--3rd Army GL V. Kuznetsov
--4th Army GM K.K. Rokossovsky
--10th Army GL F. Golikov
--13th Army GL P. Filatov
--20th Army GM F. Tolbukhin
--28th Army GL M. Purkaev
--54th Army GM V. Yushkevich


Around Kharkov-Stalino, the Axis general advance continues. I go after any weak sisters that I can find.




In the Crimea, what forces we have around the fortress take refuge.




This is the last turn for 32-plane regiments, so a cursory glance at one of the air commands.

[xhoel]

Seems like Leningrad and Moscow will safely be in your hands for the year. Interesting to see a full Mot. Corps in the Crimea but cant blame the Axis player for commiting the forces there. Sevastopol carries a lot of VP weight.

Interested to see you continuing the GA missions. Is dave not flying his fighters to intercept? Or are they out of range?

I am quite liking the map mod, it is turning out quite nicely. Keep up the good work!

[M60A3TTS]

Dave hasn't done much in the way of intercepting my GA attacks. I would think that he has fighters in range of some spots.

In general, the A2A combat is starting to pick up now. At the end of week 9, my fighters had downed less that 100 aircraft in total. On week 10, Dave lost 270 aircraft and on week 11 another 92 to bring the total to 440. 8th Fighter Division of the Western Air Command has been credited with the destruction of 89 enemy planes. V. Bura of the 71st Fighter Regiment (Baltic Fleet Air Command) is the top pilot with 6 kills.

[M60A3TTS]

Unlike previous weeks, it was time for Timofei Khryukin's Long Range Air Command to step up the intensity of their attacks. Two sorties requiring 200 aircraft minimums were established. A total of eight targets were selected and the five long range divisions completed fifteen of the sixteen missions ordered. Air interdiction levels of ten and eleven were established at three targeted locations.



A total of 164 aircraft were lost on these missions. This included 103 DB-3Bs, 58 IL-4s and 3 TB-3s.


Air crews of the 96th Regiment were recognized for their overall contribution to the war effort.

[M60A3TTS]

Here is the dispersal of the Long Range Air Command among their many airbases. As the regiments drop to size 20, there will be fewer aircraft. The positive takeaway is that the number of operating bases should ultimately drop to five and free up airfield space for the frontal air commands.

[Beethoven1]

ORIGINAL: M60A3TTS

Unlike previous weeks, it was time for Timofei Khryukin's Long Range Air Command to step up the intensity of their attacks. Two sorties requiring 200 aircraft minimums were established. A total of eight targets were selected and the five long range divisions completed fifteen of the sixteen missions ordered. Air interdiction levels of ten and eleven were established at three targeted locations.

Are you sure that air interdiction actually does what you think it does? I ran a test (with both Soviets and Axis as human so I could see on both sides), and air interdiction had 0 detectable effect that I could see.



Here there were a large # of sorties of interdiction flown, resulting in 18 air interdiction. But still it only takes a single MP for a Panzer division to move there (likewise it is only a single MP to move out of that hex, and the hex where it is currently is also similarly interdicted).

Are you doing anything different from just setting up an air interdiction mission in the default way that makes it actually work, or are you just assuming that it works? Or maybe I am doing something wrong somehow?

[M60A3TTS]

ORIGINAL: Beethoven1

ORIGINAL: M60A3TTS

Unlike previous weeks, it was time for Timofei Khryukin's Long Range Air Command to step up the intensity of their attacks. Two sorties requiring 200 aircraft minimums were established. A total of eight targets were selected and the five long range divisions completed fifteen of the sixteen missions ordered. Air interdiction levels of ten and eleven were established at three targeted locations.

Are you sure that air interdiction actually does what you think it does? I ran a test (with both Soviets and Axis as human so I could see on both sides), and air interdiction had 0 detectable effect that I could see.



Here there were a large # of sorties of interdiction flown, resulting in 18 air interdiction. But still it only takes a single MP for a Panzer division to move there (likewise it is only a single MP to move out of that hex, and the hex where it is currently is also similarly interdicted).

Are you doing anything different from just setting up an air interdiction mission in the default way that makes it actually work, or are you just assuming that it works? Or maybe I am doing something wrong somehow?

Yes, in a sense you are correct that in some cases interdiction has no noticeable effect and you are also doing something wrong. The good news is that the latter is easily fixed.

What you are showing here is the effect interdiction has on clear, non-river hexes and these are exactly the places you do not want to use interdiction. Restrictive terrain such as forests, swamps, rough or clear hexes where the enemy unit must cross a river (far bank) are your targets. The loss of administrative movement at these interdiction levels will change nothing in clear terrain. Interdiction for motorized units in restrictive terrain will add +1 to movement of motorized units where interdiction is > 0.1. Here is an example.



Again, as your test showed you, even above 1.0 there can be no penalty to motorized units in clear terrain. So chose the right hexes to interdict, flip adjacent hexes where you can (cavalry can be very useful for this) and you can slow down an opponent. It will not happen all at once, but add it up over enough turns, and it has an impact.

[M60A3TTS]

Week 12 - 7 September 1941

Another flip of the calendar.

In the north, some rain is falling. The usual German attacks take place without any major effort behind it. You can see there are elements of multiple Soviet armies to bar the way to Leningrad.




Meanwhile, the 304th Rifle Division that fled from Tallinn has almost reached their one way out.




Around Smolensk, similar action to the north once again without the effects of weather.




At Bryansk-Orel there are elements of three German motorized corps pushing in this area. Some of our southern isolated units have given up the fight.




Around Stalino, the Axis forces are pushing here too. They also have re-sealed a pocket that I had managed to break earlier.




In the Crimea, Sevastopol is awaiting the first German assault. About 21,000 of our soldiers surrender at Perekop.

[Beethoven1]

How is your OOB looking at this point? (thanks also for the additional explanation on interdiction!)

[M60A3TTS]

[Gam3r]

ORIGINAL: Beethoven1
Are you doing anything different from just setting up an air interdiction mission in the default way that makes it actually work, or are you just assuming that it works? Or maybe I am doing something wrong somehow?

It works, but you need higher level to see reduction in MP.

[xhoel]

@M60: Thank you for your answer. Seems like the LW is hurting but at the same time not doing much to prevent the dreaded GA that is costing the Axis to lose MPs.

I am curious as to why you have so many units on refit. From some testing I have been doing, unless you have the unit sitting on a depot, refit basically does nothing. Are you seeing more replacements gained this way?

[M60A3TTS]

ORIGINAL: xhoel
I am curious as to why you have so many units on refit.

Interesting question. What makes you believe that I have many units on refit?

[xhoel]

Well in the Leningrad Front there are 16 units on refit and the other sectors also have a number of units on refit many of which are on the frontline. The issue isn’t as much the numbers per se but where they are positioned in relation to the depots which is why I asked whether you are seeing promising returns from doing this. From some tests I have done lately it doesn’t seem to help, unless the unit is actually sitting on a depot so was interested to hear how it is working out for you.

[M60A3TTS]

I was just curious how you knew they were on refit. I guess it was the fort level or lack thereof?

In any case you are quite right. 99% of replacements gained by way of refit is based first on what is set to that in the SR and secondly what is on refit at depots.

In that sense, I shouldn't be worried about setting practically any unit to refit that doesn't meet either criteria. Still, once units are refitted, I may have neglected to reset a number of them to ready as they assume another position in the line.