A Glimpse into the Future: C41

[carlkay58]

T05 Production:

The supplies in units is dropping but the rest looks good.

[carlkay58]

T05 Production Analysis:

Now look at my 'control' game where I did not motorize any units. So motorization has caused 5.1K more vehicles to be in repair over the first four turns. This is large enough of a difference to rule out minor statistical anomalies and indicates that there is a large increase in truck damage due to the long term motorization of the three infantry divisions.

[carlkay58]

T05 Freight:

The freight shipping to the units is looking good still.

[carlkay58]

T05 Freight Analysis:

It is interesting to see that the Supplies Needed are almost equal between the two games but the control game saw about 5K more supplies delivered vs the motorized game.

[carlkay58]

T05 Trucks:

Unit truck usage is way down this turn as more of the new depots start supplying the front lines. The front line did not move dramatically this last turn so the depots are getting closer.

[carlkay58]

T05 VPs:

Time to look at the VPs. I have lost four by events but gained four through enemy events. Most of these are the usual shakedown in the Theaters. I am behind on capturing Pskov and Smolensk but neither are any surprise.

[carlkay58]

T05 Air Phase:

I setup a Naval Patrol air directive to cut off Odessa by sea. I have a panzer corps in the south now to make sure Odessa is cut off on land. I also adjust my Recon directives. Odessa is isolated by sea for the cost of 8 aircraft.

[carlkay58]

T05 AGN:

18th Army is marching north through the Baltics by itself now. 16th Army is protecting the eastern flank. PG 4 is working its way around Pskov with one corps while the other is resting on a depot to recover CPP.

[carlkay58]

T05 AGC:

9th Army has completed its relief of PG 3 from the northern flank of AGC. This frees up PG 3 to breakthrough the Soviet defensive line and help PG 2 pocket Smolensk and a Soviet Army. 2nd Army is force marching to the front lines while 4th Army has secured AGC's southern flank.

[carlkay58]

T05 XII Corps:

I kept the corps motorized as it shifted to the north as the 4th Army is starting to enter the front lines. It will continue to hold the front line for PG 2 and allow the panzer corps to pull back and recover CPP as 2nd Army reaches the front lines.

[carlkay58]

T05 AGS:

Odessa is now isolated by both land and sea. I will maintain that isolation for a few turns while Rumanian troops gather to capture the city. I have better uses for the German 11th Army than hitting a city fort. I have not hit the Stalin Line forts because I do not want to waste the CPP it would cost to destroy it. Fort units surrender if isolated so there is no sense to attack them.

[carlkay58]

T05 Cleanup:

Unfortunately the Norwegian AIR DAY has only hit 89%. It looks like it may take another two Flak regiments to bring it up close to 100%. Africa is now my problem theater with Ground at 89% and AIR DAY at 94%.

I move up the fighters and recon closer to the front.

T05 Files:

[carlkay58]

T05 Motorization Commentary:

So far I have examined the effects of motorizing an infantry division for the first turn only and three infantry divisions for four turns. To find that it has caused about 4K more vehicle damage over those four turns is rather disturbing. First because it is an increase of about 20% in truck damage. Second it is the first four turns of the campaign and the Axis will not see those trucks come back until late spring of 42 at the earliest. This means I have 4K less trucks for the rest of 41 and the winter of 42 ALREADY. That is a big cost to the Axis.

What did I get in return? I got a bit further against Smolensk so far and had more power in PG 4 for helping AGN advance. Except the AI really doubled down on trying to stop AGN from advancing with probably the most units I have seen it committ to defending against AGN in a long time. But I will also admit that I have limited the XII Corps to mostly guarding PG 2's flank and not really had them on the cutting edge of the thrust. Someone like HLYA or Tyronec would have 'damned the flanks' and gotten them deeper into Soviet territory and another mechanized corps can be quite effective.

I will also say that I have moved PG 1 more aggressively and effectively this game and that may have attributed to some of the additional truck damage but over 4K is still a lot of trucks.

[2ndACR]

I motorize all but a single Div of 18th Army on turn 1. Set to go back to regular infantry turn 2.

Turn 3, I motorize 1st Panzer Infantry Corps and sometimes an additional one for them to reach the front, which is usually over the Dnepr and cutting off Kiev. The go back to regular the next turn.

Have not seen that level of truck loss/damage in my games. But I don't think I have ever left them motorized multiple turns. I just need the infantry to the front faster. I use a single Panzer Corp to finish cutting off the Lvov pocket on turn 2. Everyone else, including one of PZ2 Corps, the one with the Lehr Regiment plow directly at Kiev, and usually over the Dnepr and cutting off Kiev on turn 3. 2nd Panzer Corps then heads back north, 90% of the time to assist taking Gomel area. I keep my advance towards Kiev above the normal double rail from Rostov. But I do dip down some to expand my advance some. Usually by turn 4-5 very few units get motorized. Maybe 17th Army units that were clearing the Lvov pocket to allow them to get to the front.

[GibsonPete]

My experience is similar to carlkay58 on truck damage when motorizing divisions. Depending on duration and number of units motorized, the truck pool will take a beating. The loss of trucks may create a supply issue come winter.